What Are You Waiting For?

Time to read: A nice short one. 43 seconds.

My clients have said things recently like:

• "I'll retire next year when…."
• "I'll look for a new job when…."
• "I'll go visit that old friend when…."
• "I'll move to my dream city when…."

When is when? This thinking operates on a fallacy that there is more money, time, and motivation in the future than there is in the present. This fallacy keeps you waiting, but for what?

The future is built upon who you are and what you do with this minute, this hour and this day.

So instead of looking to a false future that you think holds all your dreams and desires, ask yourself what you can do now to bring your current reality closer to your dreams and desires. If you want more fun and freedom in the future, what can you do this minute to have more fun? If your future self is carefree and calm, how do you become carefree and calm today?

This is a simple concept with wide-reaching impact. If you have a minute, I'd love to hear you what you think. Hit reply to share your thoughts.

If you are one of the many people who forwards my blog articles to your friends and colleagues, please make sure they know they can sign up for my newsletter by emailing me here.

Be well.

Are You Aligned With the Future You Want?

Time to read: A little over one minute to read the newsletter. Maybe 4 minutes if you actually do the exercise.

I am aligned with THIS future!

Before you read any further, please do a quick exercise.

For two minutes, tell a story about the thing that has been on your mind the most in the past two weeks. (You can tell the story out loud or in your head.)

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Now, take a quick inventory of the story you just told. What was the energy? What are a few key words from the story?

Got it? Great.

Now you're going to learn something cool. I heard a concept recently that completely blew my mind and of course, I immediately thought of sharing it with you!

It is this:

Your reality is not created by your past. Your reality is created by your future.

What?! Doesn't it make sense that your current reality is created by a combination of events from the past? Like your parents who told you you could be anything you wanted? Or your competition with your older brother? Or the teacher who told you you weren't smart enough for advanced math? Or that time you got fired?

Try this on instead. You have a million and one possible futures. You can probably envision a thousand potential futures. You are aligned around a potential future right now, and it may or may not be the future you actually want.

Here are examples to help this make sense:

• Imagine you are dealing with family issues which have left you angry and exhausted. When you talk about the future you want, that future is full of connection, peace and home. However, the future you are currently aligned around is filled with judgment, blame and depletion.
• Now imagine you are making a huge life change. It's scary, and you're excited and motivated and relishing the thrill of the mystery and discovery inherent in the unknown. You are aligned around a future full of possibility.

Do you see the difference?

Now imagine the future you want. Where are you? What are you doing? How can you dream that future to be even bigger? Bolder? More vibrant? More alive?

Think back to the story you told a minute ago. What future are you aligned around right now? Is it the future you want? If it is, great! Keep going. If it's not, what do you need to change to align yourself and your life right now around the future you do want?

This exercise will help you get closer to the future you want by creating that future starting right now.

I'd love to hear what you discover in this exercise. Email me at christina@boydsmithcoaching.com and tell me all about it.

With rebel love,

Christina

P.S. Do you have a friend who wants to get aligned with the future they want? Forward this newsletter to them. Then invite them to join you by signing up for weekly wisdom for work and life right here.

Do You Worry About the Future?

G'day! (I learned that from my Aussie friends this summer).

Fear of the future is as common as the vanilla ice-cream that I hope you slurped up this summer (or this winter for all you southern hemisphere folks). 

You get to see your past in vivid technicolor, and the future is a hazy path with elusive, invisible twists and curves. No matter how much you lay awake at night running scenarios in your head or how many legal pads you fill with detailed plans, your future is coming, and it is unknown.

Just the word "unknown" is enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most experienced vice president or analytical engineer. 

Can you relate to any of these experiences?

• Feeling that it's time to shake things up, do something different, pump some new creativity and inspiration into your work and uncertain how to do that?
• Realizing that you spent a fortune getting trained in a field where you don't want to spend the next 25-40 years and lying awake worrying about what to do next?
• Feeling shaky about the process of becoming an adult (even if you technically already are one) and resisting the sacrifices to your freedom and happiness that you assume come with adulting?
• Forcing yourself out of bed each morning to fake your way through a job that is sucking your soul because you're afraid you won't be able to afford your mortgage?

Each of these examples is about fear — that you might make a seismic mistake that will haunt you forever — worry that you'll end up sitting at your kitchen table in a few years wishing you had chosen something else. Or worried that pursuing what makes you happy means no house, no college for your kids, and no financial security. 

I am here to tell you one simple truth. Life doesn't have to be hard. Work doesn't have to be hard. You are in the driver's seat. You make the choices. You get one go-around in this life, wouldn't you like to be happy and fulfilled?

Because you follow The Corporate Rebel, here is what I know about you:

• You are committed to making bold moves in your career and life;
• You want to align your work with your values; 
• You strive to choose courage and consciousness in your decisions;
• You want to create happiness and success on YOUR TERMS.

Even so, do you sometimes feel uneasy, fuzzy, uncomfortable, or stuck?

Maybe you are missing a sense of clarity or permission to take the next step toward your future. Whatever you are out to accomplish and whatever is holding you back,the fastest and easiest way to get clear is to sort it out with someone who gets your world and is committed to your success. (Otherwise, it is all just rattling around in your fuzzy and overfull mind!) 

If having a conversation with someone who gets you will help, let's talk! We'll unpack your personal situation, and I'll share my best ideas and insights about what might be possible. I'll help you get clear about where you're heading and together we'll create a plan for your next move. Whew. All of that in one free call!

I've opened a few spots in my personal calendar to talk to YOU. Choose a time that works for you right here. 

I look forward to connecting!

Christina

P.S. Now is a great time to start a plan for your next move. Wouldn't you love some clarity and access to my best ideas and insights? You can get all kinds of ideas and insights by hopping on the phone for a free phone call. Choose a time that works for you here.

If you don't see a time that works, email me at christina@boydsmithcoaching.com and we'll find one!