I had to smile to myself today.

Less than two weeks ago I stood on a stage and presented to a room full of people about how to manage the emotional rollercoaster of building a business by using mindfulness techniques. I covered off three main points: overcoming fear, comparisonitis and finally the big one, procrastination.

Even if I do say so myself it was a pretty compelling presentation. The audience were taking notes, nodding their head, virtual light bulbs were going off above heads,  I even heard one woman turn to the person next to them and say ‘this makes so much sense, I can’t believe I haven’t realised it before’.

Fast forward 11 days and I (the person who delivered this epic talk) find myself in the throes of procrastination. And while it is somewhat ironic, I have at least developed my own sense of self awareness enough to understand what is going on and how to deal with it.

Today I have procrastinated about updating my LinkedIn profile.

I’ve never been a big fan of LinkedIn. I find it clunky, not very attractive (which is interesting because I am not a visual person) and it is also a link to ‘the past’. I don’t have a lot of connections on Linked In because I don’t spend much (or even any) time there and the majority of my connections come from my former life in the corporate world.

However I’ve got a seedling of an idea of how Mindfulness for Busy People can reach a bigger audience and that means not just delivering to individuals but also delivering it to organisations.

I’m not quite ready to do that. This whole picking the kids up from school every day is still pretty high up my priority list but the time is coming.

And I need to start building relationships now. It can take a while for an individual to make a decision to purchase something but Lordy it takes an organisation a super long time to decide!

But back to my procrastination… what is stopping me?

Well first of all FEAR.

Yep…. Fear.

What if people that I used to work with saw me post about what I am doing now and thought I was stark raving bonkers?

Those that know me (or knew me) would think I am the LAST person in the universe who would be teaching the principles of mindfulness.

Now, I can appreciate that is what makes the courses I run all the more powerful. I’ve been there (overworked, focusing on all the wrong things), done that (daily for years), worn the t-shirt (proud to be on the hamster wheel doing ‘all of the stuff’) and now see a different, happier, more joyful way of leading my life.

But it’s still scary to come out and say that to those that may still be on the hamster wheel. I don’t profess this is the way for everybody but it was for me and I’m so much happier as a result.

Then there was the lack of structure.

I go onto Facebook and I know what I have to do. I go on to Instagram and I just about know what I have to do. I go on to LinkedIn. Oooooff, where do I start?

First of all I’ve got a bazillion notifications, I’ve got a load of requests to connect with me from people I have never even heard of or have no idea how they found out about me and then I start to wonder how do I post an article and I disappear down an unfamiliar social media rabbit hole. The Facebook rabbit hole is a well trodden path but this is all new!

I then start to think ‘I really, really don’t want to do this’. Despite knowing that LinkedIn will be a great way to build relationships with decision makers in the SME and corporate world. I KNOW that it is the right thing to do. I know that to get the invaluable learning from my Mindfulness for Busy People course to more people it is the right thing to do. But it’s hard.

The good news is that I know what is going on in that head of mine!

I have finally got to grips with how my procrastination works.

I understand these emotions that I am feeling and instead of saying, ‘LinkedIn, it’s too hard, I don’t like it’, I will continue to push on through. I can acknowledge them and take action anyway.

That is the secret to overcoming procrastination. Becoming aware of the negative thoughts and emotions. Let them be there. Accept them and then do the right thing despite them!

So I’m going to spend more time hanging out on LinkedIn. If you are there already then come and find me. And if you know of anybody that might be interested in finding out more about Mindfulness for Busy People and bringing it to their organisation then please give them a nudge and send them my way. I’m feeling kind of lonely over there, I need some LinkedIn LOVE!

 

Work on our much awaited extension began a few weeks ago. Very exciting times. Anybody who has undertaken any kind of building project will know that it is a steep learning curve.

And it sure is.

I now know more than I ever wanted to know about the required size of soakaways, planning department requirements for raising a kerb (I know, everybody else wants to drop them but we need to raise one) and the pros and cons of concrete infills in retaining walls.

We seem to have lucked out and found ourselves an incredible team of builders. Perhaps we are still in the honeymoon period and things will change but so far so good.

What has surprised me though is that in addition to acquiring random construction facts there are a few lessons on how to lead a good life well lived being thrown in as well.

Here is what I have learned:

Life Lesson 1 – You Need To Have a Vision

This is something that I talk about a lot. If you want to have a good life well lived you need to know what you want that good life to look like.

Sounds simple but there are SO many people who struggle to identify what they want to get out of life.

When my builders arrived they already knew what they were here to do. The architect had drawn up a set of plans and it’s their job to construct the building that has been designed.

This made life incredibly easy for them. They could get to work straight away and take action to make that vision a reality.

If you don’t know what YOU want out of life then you won’t be able to take action to get it.

Ask yourself:

• What am I passionate about?
• What accomplishments am I most proud of?
• If I already had all the money in the world that I needed how would I spend my time?
• Who do I most admire in the world?
• Who do I least admire and would not like to be like?

And if you are still struggling to come up with your Good Life Well Lived Vision then it’s worth taking a look at this advice from Oprah.

 

Life Lesson 2 – You Need To Have A Plan

It’s one thing to have a grand vision of what you want your life to be like but you are not going to get there overnight. In which case you need to have a plan that breaks down all of the steps to get you there.

Our builders know the overall objective is to build the extension that the architect has designed but they have had to break the project down into various stages.  Then then need to work out exactly what they need to do at each stage.

A degree of flexibility is required (snow in the middle of March, who would have thought?) and they may need to flex the order in which they do the work but they know the steps they need to take to get to the final destination.

The same goes for creating a plan for your good life well lived.

Perhaps you want to make a career change or move geographical location. Realistically such a big change is not going to happen overnight. But you can make a plan of how to get there. And you can take steps each and every day to get you there.

Remember they don’t need to be big steps.  Tiny actions all add up.

Ask Yourself

• What do I need to do to make my vision a reality?
• Do I need to complete these steps in a particular order?
• What is going to be my first step?
• What am I going to do TODAY to take me closer to my vision?

Once you start to take action and see that it is possible to make progress this will help to motivate you to keep taking action, every single day.

 

Life Lesson 3 – No Man or Woman Is An Island

As the saying goes ‘No Man Is An Island’.  Time and time again human connection has been proven to be one of the key components of happiness for human beings.

I have been struck by just how much fun the building team are having. Despite a very early start, they make the effort to have breakfast together at the start of the day.

There is a genuine sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. They know what they are here to do, they work hard to get it done and they have fun along the way.

Our lives are now so busy it is easy to slip into the ‘I’m too busy for small talk’ mindset. But sometimes taking a few minutes to interact with another human being is exactly what you need. And you never know the difference you might make to somebody else’s day by taking the time for a chat.

Ask Yourself:

• Am I spending time with the people that matter to me? If not, what can I do to change the situation?
• How can I fit in a few more minutes of human connection into my day?
• Who do I know that might benefit from a couple of minutes of my time today?

For those of you that run your own business, I’ve also started to scribble down some business lessons from living on a building site but that is a post for another day!

Music is one of, if not the most, powerful ways of shifting our mood. Create your own soundtrack of inspirational and uplifting music so that you can press play at the start of every day to get you motivated and also  when you need a pick me up.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Katy Perry: Roar

“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am the champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar!”

Listen HERE

 

D:Ream:  Things Will Only Get Better

“Things can only get better
Can only get, can only get
They get on from here
You know, I know that
Things can only get better”

Listen HERE.

 

Eminem: Lose Yourself

“Look, If you had
One shot
Or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you capture it
Or just let it slip?”

Listen HERE.

Oasis: The Masterplan

“I’m not saying right is wrong
It’s up to us to make
The best of all the things
That come our way

’cause everything that’s been has passed
The answer’s in the looking glass
There’s four and twenty million doors
On life’s endless corridor
Say it loud and sing it proud today”

Listen HERE.

The White Stripes: Seven Nation Army

“I’m gonna fight ‘em off

A seven national army couldn’t hold me back”

Listen HERE.

 

Journey: Don’t Stop Believing

“Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to the feelin’
Streetlights, people”

Listen HERE.

 

Travvie McCoy: Billionaire

“Oh every time I close my eyes
I see my name in shining lights, yeah
A different city every night, oh I
I swear the world better prepare
For when I’m a billionaire”

Listen HERE.

 

Haddaway: Life Will Never Be The Same

“Life will never be the same life is changin’ yeah
Yeah
Life will never be the same life is changin‘

Listen HERE.

 

Ricky Martin: The Cup of Life

“The world is at your feet
No one can hold you down
If you really want it
Just steal your destiny
Right from the hands of fate
Reach for the cup of life
Cause your name is on it
Do you really want it … (Yeah!)
Do you really want it … (Yeah!)
Do you really want it … (Yeah!)”

Listen HERE.

 

The Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling

“I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good, good night”

Listen HERE.

Every now and again we all need a little kick up the backside to crack on and do the things that we need to get done.  If you are feeling stuck and need a little dose of inspiration take a look at these 10 motivational videos to watch if you need a kick up the backside to help you get over yourself.

Marissa Peer: The Biggest Disease Affecting Humanity “I am not enough” (42:22)

Marisa Peer is a leading motivational speaker, celebrity therapist, columnist, author, and television expert.

In this 40 minute presentation, first heard at Awesomefest in July 2015 she teaches us how to shatter our limitations and feel ‘enough’ through touching stories of helping burnt-out Hollywood celebrities, regular clients and even her own family.

Watch this if you are having a wobble and wondering if you really are clever enough, professional enough, outgoing enough, <insert your own insecurity> enough to do the things that you want to do with your life.

You can view the video HERE.

 

J.K. Rowling: Harvard Commencement Speech (20:58)

J.K. Rowling is a British novelist, screenwriter and film producer, best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. The books have gained worldwide attention and have become the best selling books in history.

Rowling’s rags to riches story has been well documented in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multi-millionaire status within five years.

In this Harvard Commencement speech she focuses on two key areas – the importance of failure and the power of imagination.

Rowling reassures us that “Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default”.

Watch this if you are not taking the action that you need to take because you are crippled by the idea of failure.

You can view the video HERE

Jim Carrey – Highlights of Commencement Address Maharishi University of Management (8.28)

Jim Carrey is an actor, comedian, impressionist, screenwriter, and producer best  known for his highly energetic slapstick performances.

As with many public figures Jim’s path to success was paved with challenges and hardship. In recent years Carrey has spent time inspiring his followers young and old to follow their dreams and to do what they love.  He reminds us that   “You can fail at what you don’t want so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love”.

Watch this if your vision and dreams for your life seem completely out of reach at the moment and you have no idea how you will make them a reality.

You can view the video HERE.

Oprah Winfrey  – Inspiring Words from Oprah Winfrey (10.25)

Oprah Winfrey needs little introduction, the first African American Billionaire, an actress, philanthropist, publisher and producer and undoubtedly one of the greatest female role models of our time.

There are hundreds of hours of video footage of Oprah sharing her inspirational thoughts and watching any one of them will be time well spent.

This montage provides some of Oprah’s key messages including finding your purpose, keeping your eyes on your own race and taking responsibility for your own actions.

Watch this if  you need a reminder of the importance of being true to yourself and going after the things that are truly important to you.

You can view the video HERE.

 

Steve Harvey – Oprah’s Lifeclass ‘Stop Telling Your Big Dreams To Small Minded People’ (3:24)

Steve Harvey is an American comedian, television host, producer, radio personality, actor, and author.  The son of a coal miner from West Virginia, Steve is yet another example of somebody who has risen from humble beginnings to do great things in the world.

In this video Steve is interviewed by Oprah (Oprah is the Queen, of course she had to pop up in this list twice!) and he talks about how he overcomes his fear to follow his dreams. He also explains the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people who will support you in going after your dreams.

Watch this to learn what is actually required to turn your dreams into reality.

You can view the video HERE.

The Most Inspirational Video for Women Ever – How to Have Motivation and Never Give Up (4.15)

Originally compiled for International Women’s Day this montage of video clips contains snippets from Oprah, Michelle Obama, Adele and Margaret Thatcher.

A short sharp burst of inspiration for those days when everything seems like hard work and once again you ask yourself ‘is this really worth it?’

Watch this if you are wandering off your path and need a nudge to remind you that you can and you must live your calling.

You can view the video HERE.

Lizzie Velasquez – How Do You Define Yourself? (13.10)

Lizzie Velasquez is an American motivational speaker and author. She was born with a rare congenital disease that, amongst other symptoms, prevents her from accumulating body fat and she has been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. Her conditions resulted in relentless bullying during her childhood and inspired her to take up motivational speaking.

With humour and passion Velasquez reminds us that our lives are in OUR hands and we can choose how we perceive and react to every situation.

This is one to watch if things are not going as well as you would like in your business. Lizzie will show you how to use the negativity around you to fire you up and motivate you to keep on going. As she says ‘Brave Starts Here’.

Watch this for a massive reality check – you might think your current situation is tough. People have gone through tougher and come out shining at the other side. You can too.

You can view the video HERE.

Tony Robbins – Limitless Passion (6:51)

Tony Robbins is an author, speaker and philanthropist most well known for his self-help books: Unlimited Power, Unleash the Power Within and Awake the Giant Within.

Again, there are hours and hours of footage available online of Tony sharing his teachings and working with coaching clients.  Any one of these videos will give you an insight into what Tony believes and how he works.  This montage summarises Tony’s key messages.

Watch this if you are feeling the fear and need to get focused on doing the things that will help you build the life you want.

You can view the video HERE.

Victoria Milligan – Time is Precious (17.59)

Victoria Milligan was an ordinary woman, leading an ordinary life with herhusband and four children until tragedy struck in 2013 when she lost her daughter, husband and her leg in a tragic accident.

Victoria’s story is incomprehensible to us. Understanding how she picked herself up and not only recovered from such a horrific event but helped her family to recover as well.

She reminds us of the great duty that we have to make the most of every single second because we never know what is around the corner.

Watch this if  you are having a ‘woe is me’ day and let’s face it, we all do from time to time, her story is a reminder of the sanctity of human life, the great privilege we have to be on this earth surrounded by the ones that we love.

You can view the video HERE.

Gary Vaynerchuk – The Most Motivational Statement Ever in 3 Words (0:30)

Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur, investor, author, public speaker and internet personality. Most famous for taking his family wine business from $3m to $60m a year in just five years, Vaynerchuk now runs Vayner Media, one of the world’s biggest digital agencies.

Vaynerchuk’s energy and passion for business has established him as a modern day guru with a massive social media following and thousands of raving fans.

Watch this if you are short on time and need a quick jolt to remind you why you need to focus on the things that matter to you. If you don’t have time to watch ANY of the other videos, watch this one.

You can view the video HERE.