my Oscar Moment: Living in New York City! What's Yours?

“New York New York! The city that never sleeps"

by Frank Sinatra, but originally recorded by Liza Minnelli. was my mantra from the time I can remember...

until the day I moved there.

My dream, my heart's desire..

my, what I call, “Oscar moment” had arrived!

My thoughts had been so hard at work, my images so clear and real, and my willingness to take action all rolled into one gigantic visualization...I actually saw myself there - in an apartment, getting a job, and spending more time with my family... Priceless!

There is power in imagination.

Emerson said,

"We become what we think about all day long"

We can feel, imagine and act on where our attention is located to take us there...

Make yours an award-winning Oscar moment!

Reducing Your Global "Footprint'" is more Poetic than Being a Couch Potato

Couch Potato!

*(It sounds so harsh...)

But when I attended a seminar, there on a big screen was a potato relaxing on a couch. The facilitator pointed out that the potato was there because he knew the person wouldn't do anything, so he thought he would hang out in the subconscious and wait to see if they would wake him up!

Now let me return to the title…

Footprint is in italics because it is usually referred to as a Carbon Footprint, and how we can reduce it by our energy usage... But I wanted to borrow it to mean our footprint on the world.

That being said,

reducing your footprint on the world is a lot less harsh than being called a couch potato! Remember that your subconscious is where all the ideas, images, information and creativity is stored from the conscious mind. And the subconscious is the problem solver...

Use it and wake up Mr. Potato.

Go out and make your footprint on the world!

“We all leave footprints as we journey through life - make sure yours are worth following.”

— Bob Teague

Motivation - Taking Your Inspiration. Seriously!

Everyone wants to get there and there can be anywhere you want to go or anything you want to do in your life. And it doesn't have to end there.

So why is it so challenging to get motivated?

The definition of motivation is the process of acting or behaving in a particular way and the general desire and willingness to do something.

The general rule is to have a goal or goals focused on a specific direction.

Let's face it - there are many tools to help us get motivated such as videos, YouTube videos, seminars, coaches, and self-help books galore! These all can contribute to changing our lives and catapulting us into a new dimension by motivating us! This is all a good thing...

But consider this...

When we don't take our Inspiration seriously, the books will be put back on the shelf gathering dust, the message from the YouTube videos, and seminars will be a slight memory, and the coaches will have to be revisited. In addition, there are so many benefits to being motivated. I think I'll let you discover for yourselves what they are...

“But remember, pay attention to your inspiration and nurture it until you get where you want to be!”

Someday is Not a Day of the Week

Someday… Somewhere… Somehow, Some way…

Words that sound a little vague. But let's look at the word “Someday”, which is often speckled into our conversations.

“This is not a reprimand, but just a friendly reminder that “someday” is not actually a day of the week.”

A book with the title of that phrase "Someday is Not a Day of the Week" by Sam Horn is a great read on this subject. Hopefully someone will read it someday!

Consider this only a shout-out on this subject. It's one of my favorites because it reminds me not to tell the whole world that someday I will do such and such! over and over!

For me it is usually a forerunner to never doing it and/or waiting too long to do it. And at the same time subjecting all those around me to the repetition of what I will do someday.

The solution might be not to say it and choose somehow, somewhere and someday…

to just do it!

Try it!

Please read my blog post: "Is Time on your Side"

“Does this address what we're talking about?”

The Why has to be Bigger than the How

WHY do we want to do something and how are we going to do it?

It’s a very important question and very well may contain the answer to how we are going to get where we want to go in life.

My experience with this question came to life when it was apparent that one of my biggest dreams had to be fulfilled - moving to New York City! Who does that after the "empty nest" hits you?!

It always was a childhood fantasy as I marveled at the tall buildings and moved about the busy streets of Manhattan looking for famous diners on family vacations.

But the bigger question was how was I going to actually move there? It seemed far away from Houston, where I was living at the time, and suddenly it came back to me how daunting New York is!! So many thoughts were swirling around! But I didn't have to think about them… everyone was asking those very questions! But one thing was for sure..it was on my wish list and there was no holding back.

The first thought was seriously How was this going to happen? The Big Apple was still BIG and a little unapproachable... So now there is a choice along the journey - to go or not to go... that is the question!

Pretty simple only when the realization was that the desire to go - the WHY - was so much bigger than the HOW to get there!

It seemed very apparent that after deciding really to make the move, all kinds of opportunities and answers came into play. A family friend's son said he knew of an apartment, there were unexpected invites to make trips and explore the city, and on and on.

I did make it to the Big Apple and what an adventure of a lifetime!

Now I have a bank of beautiful memories...

So all I can say is the WHY will set the HOW into motion...

Try it!

“What WHY do you have to set in motion?”

Decisions Decisions, Decisions

Decisions...

it has always been a dream of mine to have a day - a holiday if you will -when we do not have to make a decision! But life is not that way... Every day requires some level of decision making and that includes the famous phrase "Not to decide is to decide"!

Decisions are often uncomfortable and off-putting because we don't want to make them. Usually, behind these feelings, we are afraid it won't be the right one. This can lead to analysis/paralysis, where if we don't make the decision, the decision could be made for us.

But consider this - some decisions don't have to be made right away. If we give them some time, they will eventually meet us where we are in the process... and we will finally come to know the answer.

And if you like the theory of Malcolm Gladwell's book “Blink”, that a decision made quickly could be as valid as one made cautiously, it's very exciting to rely on "limited information from a narrow period of experience" to come to a conclusion!

But in any case, the one thing decisions have in common is that we don't have a clue about the answer, we don't know what they have to deliver. So the question is… are you ready for the delivery?

Life Can Be Like A Traffic Jam

Stuck!

That is usually the word used for traffic jams,

but we also use it all the time when we can't go forward in our lives. But being stuck in a traffic jam seems to be the ultimate for frustration and anger - and that can continue on through the whole day!

We can also add stress, anxiety, and aggravation.

But while we are there in the traffic jam, do we ever use it as a barometer in our lives?

There are many suggestions about what to do in a traffic jam but try this...

“When we contemplate where we are in our lives, just like the line we are in, we won't be there forever...”

Downsizing Your Life is Upsizing Your Life

Who else wants to de-clutter?

The idea of going into drawers and closets sounds so boring and tedious! And isn't this one of our many vows at New Year's?.... only beat out by losing weight and paying off our debt.

But let's make this subject approachable and embrace the fact that it promises to benefit our lives.

The word de-clutter sounds like work. But downsizing is simply putting things aside and out that we no longer use, want and can very well live without.

How wonderful it will be too look around and see what really belongs in our life.

What can happen if we actually downsize?

There should be a benefit at the bottom of that drawer or in the closet we can now walk into! When we take this big step, we are actually making way for all the wonderful things that can enter in and flow through our lives and our homes.

Downsizing can immediately make us feel lighter - less burdened.

Unwanted "stuff" seems to weigh us down over time... this is especially obvious when we move or simply try to locate something we can't find. Marie Kondo, who has made a name for herself in this area, suggests to put aside anything that doesn't spark your joy!

“Time to downsize and upsize your joy!”

Attitude is where it's AT

Attitude is definitely a word that has enjoyed the spotlight for a very long time.

It seems we are constantly asked to change our attitude, or at the very least adjust it.

Could we then really really change our life and our world? The subject of attitude can become very complicated and I found it to be a much larger tent than expected. You can dig deep into the psychological components, sources, types of characteristics, and more...

My brand is simplicity and I like to keep it that way... and with all due respect to the community that researches and educates, my delivery might be the shortcut.

There are four types of attitude:

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• Sikken

At first blush, it's easy to see which one may be the first choice...
and hopefully, that will make a difference.

One straightforward fact was an ABC component:

• Affective

• Behavioral

• Cognitive

There... you have it! ! It is definitely a subject worth pursuing in greater depth.

But let's take a look at just the behavioral component. It's estimated it can take anywhere from 18-254 days for a person to form a new habit. (I have seen the specific number 21!)

There’s also the 66 days for a new behavior…

Upon reflection, I love the phrase "How I look at my world IS my world". My take is that I don't want to wait that long to change my world!

“Think about it and change it - your attitude and your world!”

Want to Stay on the Present? Stay Out of Tomorrow!

Staying out of tomorrow when you are in today is very challenging, because it is so tempting to go into tomorrow.

Why is tomorrow... or any further, such an intriguing place?
It may be that the present is not at all where we want to be.

Here's a thought - why not maximize the present?

Every minute can be seen as a real gift to each moment, such as an ocean view, the statuesque trees with the sun streaking through the branches, or a small child laughing uncontrollably. Those moments can be suspended in time long enough to forget about tomorrow… for tomorrow will come soon enough.

“So every day, make the best of the present moments!”

When Climbing the Mountain, what are you Thinking About?

Is your mountain high and your problem big?

For many the mountain is symbolic arriving at the peak and being close to the heavens. But it is also a reference to a hurdle or a difficulty to overcome - and conquer. But my questions is what are you thinking as you climb this mountain?

Usually each step presents its difficulties and challenges... and we ask "will I ever get to the top?" But a closer look at this "mountain" revealed some interesting facts (to me at least). Mountains are actually nature's water towers and provide water to rivers and freshwater resources to more than half of humanity! (Mountain and freshwater)

All that being said, mountains are majestic, mysterious and practical. So when we approach our particular challenges and we are making the climb, think of the mountain as a very important resource.

This may diminish the difficulty of the climb and you can look forward to the panoramic view from the top!

What's in your Life that Needs No Pricetag?

All of us have heard the phrase some things are so important and valuable that…

"you can't put a price tag on it"

Is this true for you?

Let's take a closer look: There is the theory that money can bring you happiness, and there is a price tag there. But no matter how much money you have, you will be still left with you - that's my theory!

But back to the original idea of something being so important or valuable, you can't put a price tag on it.

When we look at our family, health, relationships, spirituality, and whatever we deem important, where is the price tag? Even when money has the ability to bring a degree of happiness, ceilings, thresholds, and degrees will all play a part!

This is not to say we should throw the idea of money out the window... but when my life in Paris and New York come to mind, it's very hard to put a price tag on these two life experiences.

My suggestion is to constantly look for the areas in your life that are priceless and see if they bring happiness...

Progress Gives Meaning to Life

“What is the meaning of life?”

This is a big question, and a very old one, that is being posed no matter where we are.... It can be an intimidating and baffling lead question which often leaves us unfulfilled.

Let's simplify things.

Why not combine perspective and movement to start navigating towards what is meaningful in your life and make PROGRESS in that direction.

The main thrust of this short message about a question that probably begs a much longer answer is when you step into the driver's seat and begin your journey, you will automatically be participating in something meaningful, and the PROGRESS; through many choices, actions, and thoughts will all highly contribute to the meaning of your life.

“The point is that the big question will materialize in ways you never imagined because you will always meet your progress along the way!”

Stay Outta the Box!

To think outside the box... Little did I know when I heard this praise, which we hear so often, that I had already totally understood what that meant.

First of all, where in the world did this saying come from?

Evidently, management consulting groups in the 1960's and 1970's began using a puzzle from a 1914 book by Sam Lloyd called Encyclopedia of Puzzles - it was the 9 dot puzzle. The challenge was to connect 9 dots - 3 lines of 3 dots evenly spaced across forming a "box"- and connect them all together without retracing or lifting the pen from the paper! You can watch The 9 dots video on youtube if you need help.

The point of the 9 Dots exercise was to encourage people to think in ways beyond the norm and spark their imagination. I totally get it! But that being said, let's not get into the box in the first place!

Every time this phrase comes up, I look at my life and ask myself "Am I in the box?” It is refreshing to always be thinking of new things, new places, new techniques, well everything new!

So those of you who like to color outside the lines, march to a different drum, and want to be open to and meet all possibilities, all the time…

stay outta the box!

Faith lives in the Unseen World

The question has often been asked can faith and fear live in the same house? And this leads to another question - Is life more difficult to live without faith?

These questions are always around us, I think because it is my experience the majority of situations spark an
insatiable desire to know the outcome.

We rarely know the outcome of any situation, whether we have faith or not. But faith will most likely appear when we take that "Leap of Faith"!

It could be anything from parachuting out of an airplane or moving cross country. That leap into the unseen world where the unknown experience lives is also a reminder that at any moment, there is so much we can't see.... yet.

My inspirational, business-coach (and daughter-in-law!) recently did a TEDx Talk by Pia Silva,

It’s about “Taking the LEAP” and shares all the amazing benefits of taking leaps into the unknown even when you aren’t certain of the outcome. In my life, it has been a wonderful journey to exercise my faith by expecting good things, go through the process, and persevere until the actual outcome...

sight unseen... accepting it…

good or bad…

“Are you ready to take the leap?”

Comfort Zone - Are you in it?

“Oh no! The comfort zone...”

are you in or out? We are often asked if we’re currently residing in the comfort zone. And it is just as often perceived as a very negative, even dangerous place to be.

What happens if we stay too long? My experience has been frustration, restlessness, dissatisfaction, and loss of momentum. The comfort zone sounds as if it's a place I'd like to visit once in a while, but I definitely wouldn't want to live there permanently.

But let's take a closer look... How did we arrive in such a place for, sometimes for a very long time? Well, think about it. They call it the “comfort zone”.

Who DOESN’T want to be comfortable?!

I, myself, have not only visited the comfort zone but owned property and lived there on and off again for extended periods of time!

At first, the comfort is warm, cozy, and easy...

But over time, and sometimes quickly, the energy, opportunities, and satisfaction, disappear and all of a sudden, I find myself STUCK! (again!)

Now I have to ask myself, how did I end up staying there so long? How did it sneak up on me like that? It’s as if my subconscious became a couch potato and went to sleep on me!

But I was getting signals that my limits and capacity to change had been reached.

Ever feel that way? Every exit has to have a plan to leave. My tip: It's never too late to think about waking up the subconscious... But keep in mind, it may be like waking someone up from a nap!

When you do wake up the subconscious, the storehouse of information can be released and spark your imagination. Your dreams can come alive as soon as the exit sign goes on, and action can turn into steps towards going out the door!

Do this as soon as possible… this offer may expire!

Seek your Passion... or never give up?

“Where is the passion?”

Over the last 15 plus years, this question has been asked many times, as well as “have you found it?” The hunt is on for passion! But does that mean we have to immediately give up our 9-5 job and go out into the deep to find something super purposeful and become famous to boot? Not necessarily.

Let's take a closer look.

My experience is that passion comes in many forms and most importantly doesn’t have a timetable. To actually force this precious and compelling feeling is like the caterpillar coming out of its cocoon prematurely. My message is that as you go through life - whatever stage - look for the signs.

“Become a detective for the clues to your life's passion”

We certainly are detectives for the best car, the best vacation, and even where to go for the best French fries! Why not take that process to a serious level and see what it is that we love to do, love to be around, love to engage in, and on and on...

It is even a spiritual mandate to uncover our talents and develop them for the greater good.

And these talents can be natural or developed and have the same exciting effect on our lives and others.. Take Michael Jordan as an example. He didn't make the varsity team as he wanted, but after that, he developed his skills with an undying passion, and we watched with wonder and cheered him on.

So what's the challenge?

Live life and come to a point where we step up to whatever it is we want to embrace with passion. And watch what happens not only with our lives but to those around us.

Oh, and remember, don't give up.

The caterpillar didn't!

Advice - Taking Your Own

Advice, advice, advice...

There seems to be a lot of it to go around!

Even Alice in Wonderland sang about it - "I give myself very good advice, but I seldom follow it and that explains the trouble I'm always in!"

It can be complex about why we don't take our own advice, but Pat, the Goal Coach. has come up with a thought to ponder. Why do we give advice to others so freely and easily? wow! and seldom take our own?

Consider this...

when we give advice, we are really saying "NO" to ourselves and transferring what we really might want for ourselves in life to someone else! Now there is nothing wrong with spreading gems of wisdom, but they very well may be for us.

In a Psychology Today article 6/18/2019, "What Advice Would You Give Yourself?" by Robin Kowalski and Annie McCloud showed a survey where they concluded half of the people said they lived by their own advice and it helped them become the person they wanted to be and helped them become the person they admired. This is in no way the complete context of the article, which is definitely worth a read.

What impressed me was the bold move to take one's advice and drawing people to you...

Why? To ask your advice!

Go forward and take your own!

Attention! Direction.

Wow… Attention Direction?

That's quite a command to make and I am asking you to direct it to your life!

The question is what direction do you want your life to go? Too big a question you say? Better to ask it now rather than wait until it's too late. Let's face it, we all have desires, ambitions, goals, purpose...

but let's simplify it.

Like taking a hike to explore a trail.

First, we have to find a trail to get on.

There are many books (I just bought 3!) tapes, lectures, and youtube videos that can get us on our way, and these are all good and helpful, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. So before wandering on to the information highway,, jot down a few thoughts to Launch yourself on the trail.

It's a simple and stress-free way to get started...

Ask yourself where you want to go, why you are going there, and how you want to get there.

It will come to you. I will leave you with this:

“Follow your dreams... they know where they are going” — Kobi Yamada

Listen Up and Launch Out GoGetters!

Pat, the Goal Coach here, checking in again to see how you are doing.

You might have read, and I hope you do, "Is Life on Session, or is it?”, and “Is Time on Your Side?”, which were my initial thoughts about this most unprecedented time we are experiencing.

We can appreciate our lives have dramatically changed, and at the same time take a closer look at how our lives are still moving forward.

On a personal note, my life has changed more than expected...

I thought things were just “on pause”, but they had come to a complete stop...

Any routine was totally disrupted, no side gig to engage in or realize a stream of income, and stay at home restrictions which resulted in a myriad of emotions and frustrations.

All of this spires me on to new, exciting, and inspiring activities and endeavors once it was obvious that this situation was going to lay longer than anticipated.

The day started with an encouraging and totally new "Clearing and Creation" exercise with Kelly Smith on the Facebook Group "Think Big Play Big", followed by joining a 30 Days to Change Program for Self Mastery with Lisa Meta, a Manifestation Coach, a Breakthrough Breath Workshop, again with Lisa Meta, who is also a Breathwork Practitioner AND a Badass Business Bootcamp Course with Pia Silva, Brand Strategist, Coach, and Author.

WOW! Collectively these programs were seriously life-changing and all helped to Relaunch my GoGetter business..! Added to the mix was an exercise of walking on the Texas Gulf Coast seawall in Galveston. This new beachside living was coming alive and it was so invigorating.

In addition, there were many zoom calls to attend for information, inspiration, and a reunion with my friends from Wellesley High School!

Truth be known, none of these activities were in my routine before we were asked to social distance.

Hopefully, you are searching for golden nuggets that can fill up your life in a purposeful and impactful way. In the coming weeks, there will appear for you GoGetters, and those who want to be GoGetters, motivational shout outs to say goodbye to 2020 and lead us into the New Year of 2021.

If you want to be a GoGetter, see how you can get started and Launch into 2021!

Here is to boldly Launching into the New Year!