Before and After
/“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
Think about your life. Do you struggle to find purpose, make decisions, and find flow as you go about your day? What if things could be different?
What might your metamorphosis look like?
Imagine the next time you are faced with a challenge, issue, or task, and you handle it right then and there. Feelings of indecisiveness, struggle, unworthiness, confusion, or self-doubt are gone. You are led by your clarity and decisive action. There is an ease and flow in your existence. You are living a life of purpose and balance.
You prioritize, address, delegate, or dismiss tasks one at a time.
You put on your calm mediator hat to resolve conflicts.
You find a way to bring your big ideas to life.
You gather the facts, check in with your gut, ask advice of your favorite supporters, and feel good about make the decisions you make.
Your emotions have changed to confidence, clarity, and decisiveness. You are living a life of purpose and balance. I like to think of it as being my Best Self and living my Best Life.
Stephen Covey, author of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” might describe this visualization as “Beginning with the end in mind.” We create an image of the person we want to become or the outcome we want to achieve. In our mind’s eye we live by the values we deem most important. Then, we step outside of our minds and actually take that journey. However, visualization isn’t enough. The bigger the change, the more it requires a shift in your way of thinking, being, and doing. This takes time, practice, and a long-term commitment. It takes a million little steps to see big changes.
As of this moment, you are on a personal journey. You know better than anyone what challenges you face and the goals you want to achieve. Only you can define your Best Life or your Best Self.
There is no shortcut, no magic wand or futuristic portal to take you there. You must take yourself there — one mindful step at a time, complete with ups and downs, challenges, and accomplishments.
To plot any journey on a map, you must first identify where you are and where you want to go. It is the same with achieving goals and setting intentions. Reflection and deep awareness inform you of your starting point— where you are now, and what obstacles and challenges stand in your way. Deciding what you want will define your destination.
I’m at Point A, and I want to get to Point B.
If you are up for a little personal development exercise, take some time to write out the descriptions of Point A and Point B:
Point A. What is here now— what you like and don’t like.
Point B. What you want in the near future— what you want more of and less of, what you want to stop or start, and what you want to let go of; who you want to be.
I facilitated a recent meeting of my Authentic Connections group and when asked, “What are you going toward?” I heard words like nourished, thriving, empowered, confident, capable, strong, independent, clarity, liberated, productive, and joyful. Who doesn’t want some of that?!
Let’s reframe our thinking. When life feels overwhelming or chaotic, shift your thoughts from It is what it is, to, Create what I want.
I’ll be hosting a webinar each month on a variety of topics, and the first one, offered May 10 at 9 am and 4 pm Eastern, will be Define Your Before and After. The first step to a transformation is awareness, so let’s start noticing and declaring what we want. You already have a headstart but I hope you’ll still join me. There is nothing like a group discussion to help clarify your ideas and set intentions. Watch for the registration announcement, coming soon.
Please leave comments. I’d love to hear what you are moving toward.
I’m grateful to have you on the journey,
Monica
Go from Point A to point b with curiosity, clarity, and joy.