Volume 4, Issue 20

	Dreams to Reality: Creating the Life You Want

LIVING BY DESIGN NEWSLETTER
by Leslie Karen Sann, MA, LCPC
V4, #20
November 18, 2004

IN THIS ISSUE

SO WHAT - NOW WHAT?
Powerful People Make Things Easy (Part 18)

(This article is a continuation of a series about our personal power to create the life we want)

What makes a difference in our lives is how we relate to what is. What is, is.

There is someone struggling to open a door. So what? That just is what is. Your power lies in the question: Now what? Do you assist or get grumpy because she is in your way? Which choice will make a difference to you, to her?

When I am complaining about or angry with what is - I am dissipating my energy - draining it in a worthless endeavor. Like taking money and throwing it in the fire. Using it up needlessly - in ways that serve no one.

I have a client who came in post election very upset about the outcome. I encouraged him to go into the upset to find out what was really true for him about the election results. For him the issue is fairness and justice for all. His yearning is to see a country that includes all people, and is focused on the well-being of its citizens.

I asked him to consider on a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being no energy at all and 10 being 100% of his creative energy, how much was invested in his arguing with what is, the election results. Uh - the number was very high.

I then asked him to consider what else he could do with that energy if he were to invest it in his passion, his yearning to be part of making his/our world better. Many ideas emerged, and as his focus shifted to what HE COULD DO, his body relaxed and his face softened.

The remainder of the session was spent exploring the possibilities. He chose the one that had the most pull for him and agreed to take an action step.

What CAN YOU DO with your creativity, your passion, your caring to make a difference in your life and the lives around you?

If each of us commits to being all that we are; to contribute fully from our uniqueness and gifts; loved our self and those we care about fully; we could change the world.

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QUOTES:

"The time is always right to do right."
~ Martin Luther King ~

"Remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth."
~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D ~

"Follow your heart. There is less traffic."
~ from one of my recent birthday cards ~

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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:

Make a list of what is in your life that draws your attention:

where to invest your savings
my daughter who just moved
who won the election
my sheets are scratchy

SO WHAT?

For each item, ask yourself - what do I want? :

to be earning a minimum of 10%+/year
to nurture my connection with my daughter
peace and prosperity
soft sheets - restful sleep

Ask yourself item by item, NOW WHAT?

call my advisor to set up a meeting for long term investment planning
calendar calls, cards, visits, emails
when I notice myself arguing against to choose instead to breathe
to go shopping tomorrow for wonderful soft, silky sheets

Notice the actions are actions I CAN take. This is where my ability to impact/change my world occurs.

WONDER QUESTIONS:

Which has more power: Who is to blame? How can I make this work for me?
Now what? What do you choose? What actions will you take?
How do you value your energy? Where do you invest it?
Are you willing to be responsible - responding - engaging - involved - in your life?

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c Copyright 2004 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com

Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:

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