A Change in Direction
The Travel Life Calls...

​There's something about having to face your humanness that is very defeating. Not that I thought I was superhuman, by any means, but... stronger perhaps than others my age? Or so I liked to tell myself. Turns out I am just as human as the other fifty somethings and now a bit more fragile.
Because of the broken ribs, I've had to get my fair share of xrays over the last couple months. They have revealed more than two broken ribs. I am not one that seeks out the medical professionals at all if I can help it, so I honestly had no idea what was happening underneath my skin and I liked it that way.
Now don't be upset with me if I don't lay out all the dirty secrets here at your feet, but it should be enough to say that the doctors have discovered I have advanced scoliosis and my neck is... uh... crumbling away.  They flat out told me things were going to have to change. My body was breaking down faster than it should. They said they doubt I can go on doing the things I've been doing any more and I would have to start treating my body a bit more tenderly.

I took this information and internalized it. I cried for a bit. I followed the doctor's orders and was a good, well-behaved patient.
I tried to envision the kind of life that he said was in front of me.
I tried.
And then I thought... if this is really it... if these are the parameters of my future, I'd rather be happy than waiting for something to happen. What would make me happy? Being with my children, was my first thought. Since it's not fair for my children to have their adult mother sit on their doorsteps and interfere with their lives and be under their feet all the time... I had to think what ELSE would make me happy? That's easy...
Travel.
Traveling. Camping. Revisiting History.

With my children's blessing- because they don't want me under their feet either, I decided to make that option happen... not sure how, but I'm going after it.
Right at this juncture, without all the sappy backstory, I literally have nothing. No home, no camper, no job, what few items I do have are sitting in a storage shed in southern Missouri. I have a truck. An ornery black cat and my lap top. I'm not in a wheel chair yet, and have no intention of going down that road until there are no more options. 

I must shift my thinking. I must find a way to get back out on the road again.
This is the longest way around to have to tell you that A Touch of Spice will not be coming out December 2. Even if I finished the last word today, it couldn't get published in time. It's a Christmas story... and I want to keep it a Christmas story, which means it won't be able to be released until NEXT December. (It really is going to be a cute story and worth the wait, I promise.)

I opened up the History Revisited Group on Facebook again which I re-named Ginger Life Travel and was honestly a bit overwhelmed with the graciousness and amount of support that was extended to me. I felt so loved.

I really have no plan, but the group gives me hope. And... permission. Permission to be happy so long as I agree that they can accompany me on the journey via FB. And, I really am sorry the book isn't coming out this year. (It's been a really hard year, okay?) But I believe in order to be able to hear God's whisper,
He had to take away all the distractions and people that were in the way of me hearing my instructions.
He may tell me that I can't travel for long, and I need to be okay with that.
Also... and I guess this would be the "good news" there's nothing like getting a diagnosis that says you may not live as long as you thought to get your fired up about what legacy you are leaving behind. I have a LOT of stories I want ... NEED to tell. I guess I'd better get on it.
It's true, we don't know how long we have, but when someone comes along and so rudely tells you that you're not going to live forever... it changes the way you think about things.

Suddenly you don't want to waste time on people who don't deserve you. You don't want to waste time doing things you don't love. You don't want to waste a single moment not making sure those you love, never doubt it for a second. And... you think about the mark you will leave on the world. What will people say about me after I'm gone? I'd better make sure I have a good turnout while I still have some time.

My change in direction is... I am NOT going to "take it easy" and wait for my body to disintegrate. I'm going to go out and chase life. Meet new people. Tell others what I see in my travels and what I learn along the way. And I'm going to write. Write. and Write and Write!
So I am sorry you may have to wait just a bit longer for the next book... but not THAT much longer, I promise.

Writers on Writing

​​My latest manuscript, A Detour Home, has been sent away to my team of editors and I am supposed to wait patiently until they arrive back to me covered in red ink.
 
It is a most anxious time for me and I have to remind myself not to text them with silly, insecure questions like: Are you reading it?  Do you like it?  What part are you on? 
 
I just need to trust them and give them their space and hope it comes back marginally inked to death.  (With every book, I try even harder to watch my grammar and punctuation as a competition with myself to see if I can improve with every venture.)
 
I do have lots of work to do in between the time that the editors are reading and when I get it back to do the correcting and formatting, like marketing plans, new projects and more, but this time, I thought I would try something new.
 
Once people find out that I am a full time author, they first off, wonder why I’m not rich and then they have a multitude of questions for me.  I am all to happy to answer, and am flattered that people would be interested in my passion for writing and creating.

I recently put out a few memes that give snippets of some of the behind the scenes of being an author and they were well received prompting more questions.
 
So I thought, just in case you never get a chance to meet an author in person and ask questions, I would share the questions and the answers asked of me, here with you.  I have about a dozen questions lined up from those who have previously written to me or have met me out and about, but if you’d like to add one I’d be most honored.
 
You can ask it in the comments below, or shoot me a message via the contact page or through my Facebook page.
 
Hopefully it will keep you entertained (or perhaps if there are budding authors out there, it may inspire) and it will keep me from pestering my editors and slowing down their progress.  Fun experiment, wouldn’t you say?
 
Here’s a few inquires that I have gotten:

• Why aren’t you rich?
• How do you come up with your ideas?
• How long does it take you to write a book?
• Who or what inspires you?
• What are you working on now?

 
Please feel free to add to the list!
The answers can only apply to my writing quirks and you would probably get a different answer from every other author you meet, (or follow).  But this is me and for what it’s worth, these are my quirks.
 
Thank you for being on this journey with me.  I love writing and teaching and hope that my offerings touch your heart in the best of ways, even if sometimes it has to sting at first.  I write from a place of love and hope that it brings you happiness!
 
Stay tuned for Operation Keep Elizabeth Distracted… 

What Do You Really Want?

It seems like a simple enough question.  What do you want?  I mean, what do you really want?  Have you given yourself permission to even think about it? 

I now live on an island.  Everyday if I drive more that a few miles, I will inevitably go over a bridge.  Looking over the edge of that bridge knowing that the ocean is just a bit away, fills me with joy.  Seeing the sunshine bounce off those beautiful blue waves just... does something for me.  Simple right?  It was a need that I didn't know I had.  This time last year, I had to ask myself that question.  What do I want?  What do I REALLY want?  All I knew was that I was cold, and didn't like it.  But I didn't know what it was, specifically, that I wanted that would make me happy.

And when you first ask it a whole bunch of "superficial" answers come up.  I want cake.  I want a million dollars.  I want that new dress.  I want to travel the world.  I want, I want, I want...  and then, if you keep at it, you dig a little deeper.

I want more time with my children.  I want to sleep peacefully at night.  I want to live in a warmer climate.  I want to write and write and write...  and yes, if you keep going, it gets deeper still. You start to realize those deeper needs; the important ones that get glossed over as we push through our daily routines.  

It's hard to look in the mirror and realize that you are not where you want to be.  But you can't change that, until you know what you want.  So I offer this exercise up to you.

Take out a sheet of paper and write.  I WANT...
Then, set a timer for three minutes and write.  Write everything you want.  Even if it seems outrageous.  Even if it seems selfish.  Even if it seems impossible.  Write.  Don't pick up your pen from the paper until the timer goes off.  Don't worry about being descriptive or specific or spelling or what anyone else might think.  This is for you.  Write.

If you get stuck, answer these questions, but keep writing.
Where do you want your finances to be?  Where do you want to be health-wise?  Who do you want to be with?  What items do you want?  Where do you want to live?  What do you want to own?  How do you want to spend your day?  What do you want to do to earn an income?  How do you want to spend your down time?

Dig deeper.  How do you want to give back?  How do you want to continue to grow?  How do you want to be remembered?  How do you want to affect others in your life?  How can you show love to others?

When you have finished, choose the top ten things that matter the most to you and re-write them on another clean sheet of paper.  This time around, we are looking for balance.  Find at least one thing in each category.  Finances, relationships, recreation, health, career etc...

You can't find happiness if you don't know what it is.  It's like trying to hit a target that you know is "out there" but you just can't see it.  Bring it in to focus.  Once your brain knows what it is looking for, it will switch gears to try and get it for you.  (You have to take the steps to get there, of course...)  But the brain will start thinking of ways to get you what you want.

I believe that our purpose here on earth is simple.  We are here to give back.  Whatever gains you have been blessed with, give some back.  I'm not just talking about finances.  Giving of your time, your knowledge, your resources, your love... give what you have and it will be returned to you ten-fold.  I know this to be true for a fact.

And the other thing, how do you want to grow?  I believe that if you get all the best "toys" and are living the biggest house, it will never be enough until you find balance.  And part of finding balance is to make sure you're always growing.  Learn new things, see new places, meet new people, strive to become a better you.  

Okay... sorry, back to the exercise.  

Take your ten things in your various categories and write a sentence or two about WHY you want these things. Unveil your heart.  Again, this is only for you.  Why do you want your top ten list?  Your brain functions on reason more than want.  So write down the reasons you put this on your top ten.  (It would be helpful if you write down more than "just cause".  -Can you tell I'm used to working with teenagers? Lol!)

Then, when do you want them.  Write a time line for each of the ten items. (You might need to be a little more realistic on this one.  If you want a million dollars, it might need a bit more time to show up than 24 hours!)

And then, read your list.  Every day.  Every night before you go to bed.  Keep those things in your mind.  And slowly check them off when they come into your life. (Then replace them with new things!)  Trust that the future you want WILL come to pass.  

Yes. Yes.  A lot more goes into getting what you want other than making a list.  But first thing before all else... you have to know what you want.
So, just for fun. Take a few moments and spend them on yourself and discover what it is that you want.

Some things you may realize that you already have in your life but have perhaps taken them for granted.  This is the time to freshen up or take a new look at what's around you.  Maybe you don't want things to change too much, but you just have to love (or find new ways to love) what/who you have a little more.

I knew I needed a different life, but I didn't know what.  It wasn't until I saw that I really needed to do some major changing to clean out the toxicity in my life, that I could make those changes.  And I did.  I see the ocean (or at least arms of it) every day.  It was one of those things I wanted.  Really wanted.  And I am happier for it.

I check my list everyday and am pleased to say that I cross things off and replace them with new items all the time.  It works to corral your focus and really get what you want.  

So let me ask you... What do you want?

(Did somebody say cake?)

Simplify Your Life By Letting Go

It goes against everything we believe in.  Letting go... 
Hold on.  Hold on tight.  To everything.  The more the better, right?  Sometimes we get blinded by this theory.  I'm not saying to sell all your stuff and move into an RV or anything... who does that? (teehee!)  But if we take a step back and look at our lives in a different light, what can we let go of to make a little more breathing room?  Thinking room.  Living room.  Loving room.  Here's a list of a few things that came to mind when I was thinking on the subject.  See if you agree.

Let Go Of Your Yesterdays- Let the past be in the past.  Been there done that.  Learn what you can from it but then, let it go.  Don't carry around regret, guilt or bitterness.  Don't carry your past into your future, it blocks you from new experiences and from clouds your judgement.  We all make mistakes.  Learn from them and then let them go. (For more help in this area, go here.)

Let Go Of Negativity- Let the glass be half full.  Let there be a silver lining.  Look for the good and you will find it.  Look for reasons to be grateful instead of complaining.  This slightest shift can do amazing things for your outlook.

Let Go Of Self-Doubt- Stop talking yourself OUT of living!  Take a risk!  Take a chance!  What's the worst that can happen?  You have been given the life you have to enjoy it!  So get out there!  What are you missing out on?  What have you always wanted to try!  Let this be your year!  Stop looking for reason why you CAN'T!  Take action!  Go ahead, take that first step!

And since we're taking chances now...
Let Go Of Perfection- Not everything we do is going to be perfect.  (Is anything we do perfect?) Don't expect it to be perfect.  We are human.  Enjoy the things you do in your human imperfect-ness.  By taking new chances, that opens us up for new mistakes... it's okay.  You're expanding your boundaries.  You are on a continuous learning journey.  Embrace it and don't expect it to be perfect.

Let Go Of Sources Of Stress- Chose people to be in your circle that will feed you and encourage you.  If they suck the happiness from your very soul, it may be time to let them go. It may be painful at first, it's tough to change, but if it for the greater good, then go for it.  A bad attitude is like flat tire.  You can't go anywhere until it's fixed.  So fix it and move on and away from those nails in the road. Chose to be around people that will lift you up, not stress you out.

Let Go Of Living For Others- Make yourself a priority.  Love begins at home in your heart.  If you can't love yourself, how can you expect others to love you.  People will take and take- as much as you are willing to give them.  Give of yourself, but be sure there is plenty left for you.  Follow your own dreams.  You are the only one that can live your life and if you are so busy living it for someone else, you are going to miss out on so much!

and finally:

Let Go Of What's Not Working- Change is good.  Not everything nor everyone is meant to stay in your life forever.  People come and go, experiences come and go, life is a steady flow of change.  And that's okay. See what is and what is not working for you at this juncture in your life and trim the fat where it needs to be trimmed.  If it is not moving you forward, it is most likely wasting more time than it is giving you benefit.  Let it go. 


Hopefully this gives you the motivation to let go and simplify your life in order to enjoy it all the more!  Have a happy day and a love-filled life!

How Do You React?

​We all have pain.  We all suffer loss.  We all have to go through experiences that we'd rather avoid.  The question is, how do you react when you are faced with unpleasantries?

We have no control over the things that life is going to throw at us.  Sometimes it seems as if we are being "picked on" by the universe or God or whomever you choose to blame.  When the truth is, we all have our fair share.  Some people get it dumped on them all at one time, others have a constant stream of disappointment, still others have it dispersed through out life at an even pace so as barely to disrupt their daily activity.

How can this be?  I believe it is how we react to these events that determines the radius of destruction it plays in our lives.  How you react places the value on the negative event.  Is it going to shut you down?  Move you to a cardboard box in an alley?  Is every event catastrophic? Or can you get through it with a few minor tweaks?  Is it something you have to work a little harder to push through?  Or something that would turn out better if you just lay low for a while?  Grief and tragedy affects each one of us in different ways.  Learn to know your telltale behavior when times get rough to learn if you need to alter a few things to make life easier, you stronger, thicker skinned, or whatever the change might have to be.

I do not belittle any tragedy that goes on in people's lives.  God knows, I've had plenty to try and keep me down.  The Devil loves to challenge my faith on a regular basis.  And yet...

The doctors of the medical community have diagnosed me with clinical manic depression.  Which, basically gives me permission to have crying jags, eating binges and months of solitude and a list of medications to choose from if I so desire.  Because of this condition, I have the green light to turn my heartbreaks, my letdowns, my bumps in the road, my catastrophes of any size to take control over my life, my emotions and my well-being.  Well, guess what...

I choose not to let the weight of the world control my destiny!

Let alone my month, my week, my days.  Okay,  sometimes... many times it can have an hour or two, but then it's time to get back up and get back to life.

Being diagnosed with depression, means that I sometimes have to work harder to see the sunshine instead of the rain, but since I know that about myself, I know what I have to do.  It isn't easy.  Like I said, I have permission by the professionals to sit around in my pajamas for days on end and wallow.  But that's not the kind of life that I want.

I choose to keep the sunshine on my face so the shadows stay behind me. I am not in denial.  When these bad things come up, I make a choice as how to deal with them.  I do my best not to make mountains out of molehills.  I don't let gossip or what others think of me take a hold of my life or alter me.  

I know, that I am being the best person I can be under any circumstance.

So, how do you react?  When bad things happen, do you let it sink in and take over?  Complaining doesn't help.  Constantly bringing it to the surface doesn't help.  Gossiping, or using the feel-sorry-for-me-card doesn't help.  Don't discuss your problems with others unless they can help you.  Either by support, or getting you through the situation.  By constantly telling everyone how miserable you are only makes you a whiner.  Enough of the reality tv show attitude.  Your dirty laundry wasn't meant to be scattered all over the front yard.  I'm not saying hide it.  But I'm saying don't flaunt it.  I'm not saying pretend everything is fine when it isn't, I'm suggesting reserving your comments on the situation for specific people.  People that can help you and have your best interests at heart. 

Like I said, what life throws at us is out of our control.  But you can make it three times worse if you give in to pressure, or depression, or bullying, or grief, or brick walls.  There is ALWAYS another way.  There is ALWAYS another choice.

Choose the sunshine.... Always choose the sunshine.

A Big Announcement

​Now that the release of my second novel Waiting for the Sun has passed, I can move on to my BIG announcement!!

This has been a long time coming!!  I am so excited to announce the official 2014/15 Nationwide Tour of the Total Truth Workshop!!

All year I've been doing smaller beta tests of the workshop to get out some of the bugs and to make sure I'm offering up what the kids need most and I am pleased with the results as are the kids.  So the only thing left to do is to take it out on the road!

This is will be my first attempt to travel with this kind of event, but I see it as an adventure!  So many new places to see and new families to meet!  And lots of good information to be passed around to make a difference in people's lives and futures!  I am so excited! (& terrified!)

"I'm so glad someone finally listened to what teens need and not what they think we need."

"I love this workshop.  I think it will help a lot of people.  Miss Elizabeth is awesome."

"The Total Truth Workshop wasn't boring at all.  Miss Elizabeth always thinks for fun things for us to do and before we realize it, it became a lesson."


I'm kicking things off here in my home town of St. Louis, MO first on the last  weekend of June, 2014 and then starting off slowly.  A weekend here, a weekend there and when school starts back up, I'll really swing into gear hopefully offering two workshops per month through the winter months.  What a life change for me! But I welcome it with open arms.  I could use a good challenge to keep me on my toes!

I've been working diligently on the website which is now live.  (I wish I was more tech savvy, but I am not!  So, I had to work at it  in bits and pieces at a time.)  I am thankful for my support system at St. Louis Onsite (Shout out to Paul Arthur and Joey Felps) and to the newest addition to my tech crew, Ryan Lambert.  Ryan is working on making the teen website pop with awesome videos.  I am so very blessed to have so much talent around me.
I am also so thankful for my Personal Assistant, Sarah Arnold, she gets my phone work under control and helps keep me on track to what my most present task is. If you only knew how much I needed that!! Lol!

The workshop is starting to get press and is moving along faster than I'm ready for!  So that just means I need to work harder and faster!!   But I wanted to let all of you know first before it is released to the rest of the world!  I am excited that it is getting positive feedback.  I hope that helps the Total Truth Workshop get off the ground and have all the weekends sell out!

For those of you that don't know about the Total Truth Workshop, it is a project that I have been "working" on for about six years now.  It was going to be just a book called Do It Now or Re-do It Later- and it still will be, but it seemed to me that teens would get more out of the information if it was presented to them in a live, interactive format.  When we have the opportunity to experience something over just reading about it, those experiences are more likely to make an impact and stay with us longer.  And since creating fun camps and classes are my forte, this seemed like a perfect fit.

So basically, for one weekend, these kids will come and hang out with me and we will work on life lessons, accountability, goal setting, and all the things they won't be taught in high school but NEED to know to be successful in the grown-up world.  It's called Total Truth because I won't pull any punches or sugar coat the facts.  The real world doesn't care whether you're tired or not feeling well or ran out of money.  The world moves on and you need to be ready to move with it or get trampled by it! (I know the trampled part!  I don't wish it on anyone!)

It's so much more than sitting in a room and being talked at for three days.  I wouldn't want that... I can't think of anyone that would!  There are games and dancing and a fun atmosphere.  These kids will come out of this event with a good idea of where to go next to make their future one they can look forward to.  Instead of waiting to see what opportunities or jobs "fall into their lap" they will have the power and the know how to go and get what they want.  They will be given a set of tools to help deal with bumps in the road and letting go of harmful habits and replacing them with productive ones.  The workshop also deals a great deal with relationships and communication.  Two things that everyone needs to be comfortable with so they can be prepared to deal with the relationships of their future.  Bosses, teachers, family members, love interests, co-workers.  The information they learn at the workshop will be of use to them the very first day.   

This workshop will be a huge asset for those kids who choose to use it.  They are not only creating a future for themselves, they are linking with like-minded teens and developing a support system, a mentoring group and new friends that will last them a life-time.  And me.  I'll be there with them for as long as they need me.  I've set up a members only Facebook group, their own membership pages within the website, on-going blog posts to keep them on track and they will have life-time access to me and to any webinars I host.

I am just so excited about this whole thing!  This is my life's work.  This is what all my years of experiences have led me to.  I wish I had something like this when I was in my teen years.  I certainly wouldn't have made as many mistakes trying to figure things out as I went.  I hope you will come on board and help me spread the news about my new "baby"!  I can't wait to share it with the world!   I love this age.  So many new things coming their way and so many things to learn.

Please comment below or shoot me an email if you'd like to know more information but I'll try and keep everything posted on here so you can see my progress.  To find out more about the Total Truth Workshop, please visit the page on this website or you can bounce right to the brand new website to learn all the details!  www.totaltruthworkshop.com

Please be happy for me and keep theses prayers and well wishes coming my way, because I need all the encouragement I can get!

BONUS if you or would like to sign up for the Total Truth Workshop (in the St. Louis area), please send me a message in the Contact Me and I'll give you a discount code for HALF OFF!!  This offer is only good until June 17th.  
(Not in the St. Louis area?  Message me anyway and first, let's see when I'll be heading to your city and second, I'll give you a special friends and family discount offer that you can use!)

Shift Change

​I had something completely different planned for my blog today, all nice and neat and written out, but I was side-tracked. So please bare with me.  I just have to get this out there...

I am participating in a marketing program that is taking my web-site, my blogs, my writings and the things that I offer and scrutinizing them to  find my strongest areas and creating the best ways monetize them.  This is so very overwhelming.  First of all, yes, I do want writing and training to be a career for me.  So, I need to change my way of thinking that I can't just write whenever and whatever I want.  It has to shift into more of a business mind-set.  When they asked where my heart was; what my passions and personal goals were, I told them MY personal goal is to be able to offer fun and interactive workshops for teens.  I want to be able to travel from city to city and give them this amazing opportunity to become the best part of themselves and face their future with confidence.  I've called it the Total Truth Workshop.  I am really proud of it but have not put it into action as yet.  (I was waiting until this marketing team gives me feedback, I guess.)

I enjoy all the aspects of my writing "career", but they, the marketing team, have a point, and it is that I am spreading myself too thin.  Try as I might, I cannot be all things to all people.  I was told to choose.  UGH!  The agony!!  I want to help EVERYONE!!!  Why can't I help everyone?? 

With my history and my happiness, I return, always, to teens.  My work in coaching leads me in that direction as well.  I enjoy working with families and I do well with relational coaching and seminars.  I have been working with kids for over twenty-five years!  Whoa!  That's saying something!

Why teens:
That time in their life is such a struggle and it seems like we are in a weird "pretending it's not happening" to "micro-managing" to "it's someone else's fault" way of dealing with things.  These kids on the verge of adulthood are amazing but no one gives them the credit or the directions they need to make that transition!!  I want to help them get everything they want out of life.  I want their teenage years to be happy memories.  I want them to have the confidence to go after whatever their heart desires regardless of where they came from.  There is no other program out there that is offering what I do.  It's fun, it's interactive and it's a life-time of support and new friendships.  I am excited to get it out there.

Back to the marketing people...
Teens don't pay for my kind of programs.  That's where the parents come in.  So they suggest that I work on things for parents and then lead the parents into the Total Truth Workshop.  
I can do that.  I would enjoy doing that...  but...

At the moment, I am feeling so overwhelmed and pulled in several directions.  I have my fiction followers, my motivational followers, my relationship followers, my Christian followers, my fitness followers and (deep breath)....  I don't want to disappoint a single one of them.   I do however need to eat.  So I am trying to "chunk down my niche."  Not sure how I'm going to do this and for just a moment, I wasn't going to do it at all.  I was just going to keep on doing what I've always been doing for as long as I could do it... but then...

I went to a couple of the teen support group pages I regularly comment on, and was so overwhelmed by the sadness that was coming from the posts.  So much sadness and confusion.  They have no foundation within themselves to turn to for strength when times get hard.  I help provide that.  I can help them.  My workshops for teens are created for them.  My seminars for families can help heal them.  This is where I need to be.

So, it is decided.  I will start shifting things in that direction.  Teens and family will become my main focus.  I do have some projects that are currently in the works that I will complete but I need to narrow my focus to where my heart is needed most and I feel that I am called.  So hang with me as this slow shift happens.  The exciting thing is that I still get to do all the things that make me happy, write, travel, speak, create, motivate, help others, I'm just narrowing down my target audience even more than before.

So- if you are part of a family (and there's a good chance that you are) and you need to communicate with others, (my area of expertise) then chances are you still might be able to find some value here on my site.  

No! No! No!  You've got to stop me!! Don't let me try to go back to writing for everyone!! Lol!!  I need you to help keep me focused!!  I'm so weak!!
Thank you for letting me go off track and vent just a little... I will get things back on track soon!  Please, feel free to leave your comments below.  I love to hear from you!

Your Asset List

​Sometimes in life we fall into patterns that seem to slow us down or even bring us to a complete halt.  These are the times when we can feel defeated or overwhelmed.  And we make the mistake of listening to those negative voices either from within or without and think we can't do something. It's times like these when making an Asset List will help get you through.

If you have been to one of my motivational speaking engagements, you may have heard me talk of a Victory Log (or Victory Wall).  This is a tool I use to write down in a specific journal (or post-it note my wall) all the victories, large or small that I achieve.  I sold X amount of books.  I got new subscribers, I lost weight, I got a new gig, I got a letter of thanks or an awesome review...  You get the idea.  I write these down and when I'm feeling unaccomplished, I go back and look at all these victories and I am replenished again.  I know that I can face whatever challenge because look at how far I have come!  An Asset List can be a similar tool to use to help you through those "stuck" times.

If you were to go to a bank and request a loan, the banker would want to know about your financial assets, to make sure you are "worthy" of this sum of money.  So you would write down your assets to assure the banker that, yes, you can repay the loan because, clearly, as it states on this paper,  you are worth more than that sum.  An Asset List is similar in how it is directly related to you.  It clearly puts in black and white how valuable you are. What are those great qualities about you?  What things can you do that come easily that to others may be a challenge?  What are your talents?  Your skills?  Your gifts?  Your experiences?

They are all right there, but sometimes we forget how wonderful we are, or sometimes, we have never taken the opportunity to look close enough.  There's a story about a man who owned some property.   The land was flat and dry and nothing could grow on it.  One day a business man came along and asked if he could do some testing of the land.  The owner said, "Sure," and scoffed at the man, warning him that the ground was useless.  Well, the business man puttered around for a few days and ended up tapping into one of the largest veins of oil ever found!  Of course, both men became quite wealthy from that big ole' hunk of useless ground.  They never would have found it had they not scratched below the surface.  Had they not looked at the land from a different angle.

What will we find if we scratch below the surface?  What treasures would we find if we only took the time to search your beautiful heart and complex brain and worldly soul?

I'd like to recommend that you do just that.  Get pen and paper and start writing, in no particular order, all the wonderful assets of you!  Some of you will be able to pour out lists and lists, but for others, you might need some encouragement.  So ask for help!  Ask those people around you what they think your assets are and then write them down!  Keep your list close by and review it regularly and alway keep adding to it as you grow and change and learn new skills.

Whenever you need a boost, take a look at your Asset List and remind yourself how valuable and unique you are and then go face whatever challenge is intimidating you!  You can do it!  If you can't do it personally, you can find a way to get it done!  I believe in you.  You need to believe in you too!!

Other posts you might find helpful:
Success Is...
Fear Not
When In Doubt...

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog today!  Don't forget to leave your feedback below!!

Success Is...

​What is success?  Is there just one answer?  If you get if wrong are you doomed to failure for the rest of your days?  I think not.

With the beginning of a new year people tend to reflect on their life.  Where are they going?  Where have they been?  What's worked and what hasn't.  What happens next.  I think we all strive for success, some more than others.  But in the end, we want to look back on our lives and say ,"Yes, I was successful". 

The common answer for "What is success?"  is usually equated to making money.  Lots of money.  Ridiculous amounts of money.  Success equals riches.  But hopefully after reading today's article, I hope you will view things a little differently.

 So what is success?  I'm going to tell you.  And I think you might be surprised by my answer.

Success Is Perception.  You're idea of success and someone else's idea of success could be completely different.  When you look at other people's lives and are perhaps unimpressed with what they have achieved you may be shocked to find that they are gleefully happy with the abundance of success they've had.  Something as regular as cooking a meal for a large number of people comes as second nature to a person that comes from a large family or works in a restaurant, but could have been a major challenge for the new bride that is taking on Christmas dinner for her new in-laws and her own family.  If she doesn't serve the turkey raw or the potatoes lumpy and keeps the tiered cake on top of each other, that... is success.  

Success Is Personal.  Success can only be found by pursuing your own dreams, not by following the dreams others force on you.  Meaning, you and only you can decide what success means to you.  I met a man once who became a doctor.  His father was a doctor, his brother was a doctor his grandfather was a doctor, even his daughter was studying to be a doctor.  He had his own practice, the nice home, the nice car and all the other cushy stuff that comes along with it.  By anyone else's standards, he was a success.  But by his own, his was living his father's dream for him.  He wanted to work on cars.  Rebuild cars.  It wasn't until he gave up his practice to "retire" and built a garage in his backyard and started to rebuild his first car, that he considered himself a success.  His path to "success" was a long time coming.  

"Success is when you've reached a personal goal."
- Katherynn Bourgeret-Caldwell

Your vision of success is completely your own.  You may achieve the exact same thing as someone else and not feel anything, because it wasn't what your idea of success was.  You're idea of success may be as simple as a balanced checkbook, filling up your day planner with activities or owing a Lexus.  Whatever you have in your mind that is success, will have a greater impact on you than fulfilling someone else's goal list.  (Which is why they say if you don't have a goal for yourself, you'll be helping someone else reach their goal!)

Success Is Satisfaction.  There is no point in being rich if you can't enjoy it. I'm sure you've heard of the people who've "made it".  They reached that such-n -such dollar amount and are considered successful, but they are so busy working that they can't even enjoy their success!  If making more money is going to be your idea of success then absolutely, go for it!  but I can't help but feel that you're are more likely to enjoy the "rich" part if you enjoy the getting there part.  Do what you love and you will be "rich".  Know when it's enough.  Don't lose your happiness for the sake of your success.

"Success is getting what you want.  Happiness is wanting what you get."
- Dale Carnegie
"Success is measured by your happiness and not the material things you have in your life."
-Jennifer Largent

Success Is Happiness.  The truth is, we have little successes everyday.  As we lay our head on our pillows at night, if we were only to take a moment and reflect on the things that happened that day, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we found many, many successes that we just forgot to celebrate.  If you are pushing and pushing toward a goal and it has lost it's happiness factor, perhaps it isn't for you.  Even if it's something mundane and unexciting as eliminating debt, it should still bring you some joy.  It might mean that you have to work extra hours, (not fun) or cut back on your spending (also not fun) but if you don't feel a sense of accomplishment watching that big overwhelming number get smaller and smaller, then it's not bringing you happiness.  And you should perhaps find another way to reach that goal.
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, your large goals are made up of smaller, achievable, daily goals.  Learn to recognize the daily successes you reach and be happy.  It's not worth it in the long run if it steals your happiness.

"Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you'll be successful."
-Albert Schweitzer

Success Is Sharing.  Success can be learned.  We are not all born knowing that we can have all the things we want if we just go after them.  Some have been trained that you get what you get and that's all there is.  That makes me so sad.  There are hundreds upon hundreds of examples out there of people who came from nothing and have made something of themselves.  They became successful.  They could go to sleep at night knowing they did what they needed to do to feel successful.
Success is Action, Determination, Passion... success is all those things but it is also learned.
One of the best ways to enjoy your success is to share it with others.  Don't keep it all to yourself.  Teach, help others to rise up from where they are and be the person they want to be. When you help others get to where they want to go, the universe gives back to you.  And while that may sound like mumbo-jumbo, I promise you that it is fact.  
Be grateful for your successes.  And make sure the people around you, the ones that helped you get there know how much they mean to you. Give.  Share.  Teach. Show gratitude.

"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success is how you treat other people.  Your family, friends, co-workers and even strangers you meet along the way."
-Barbara Bush

Success Is A Continuous Journey.  Success should never be considered a one way street.  It's more than one street.  It takes alleys and intersections, mountains and valleys.  It goes up and it goes down.  It is never-ending.  One success will lead to another.  You're constantly building and growing and learning.  And when you reach your life goals... make new ones.  Keep doing the things that work.  Cut out the things that don't.  Nothing stays the same.  Be flexible and always hunger for more.  If you reach your life's goal and then quit, watch and see how fast everything will unravel!  You have to stay in the game.  Keep moving.  Keep growing.  Keep setting new goals.

"Success is not final: failure is not final; it is the courage to continue that counts."
-"Winston Churchill

Success Is Balance.  To me, this is the meaning of success.  You can have it all, and you should strive for that.  
Money - Happiness - Family & Friends - Security - Health - Peace of Mind - Hope
You need all these things to be balanced and feel successful.  Take even one off the list and you are thrown off-balance.
If you have all the money you could ever want, but you have lost your family in the process, that is not success. 
If you have the biggest mansion on the street but have worked yourself to near death, and you are alone, that is not success.  
If you stole the money to get that need met, you would have it, but you would no longer have peace of mind.  You'd always be looking over your shoulder, wondering when you'll be caught.  That is not success.
You have reached your goal but have lost everything else in the process and finally you lose hope.  That is not success.
We all know examples of the above stories.  The news and celebrity magazines are covered with them.
Balance is the key to success.  You need happiness, health, enough money to not have to worry, security, friends and family, when you lay your head down at night you have peace of mind and hope.  You need a little bit of all these things to find true success.

Not everyone's list will be prioritized in the same way, but every one of these needs should be met for a balanced, successful life.
If you are struggling to make ends meet, then I can see how finances would be top of the list, but don't sacrifice the other items to secure more money.  There is nothing wrong with wanting money.  There is nothing wrong with wanting lots of money.  The problem comes when that's your only focus, and it will cost you in the long run.
Your list will change in its order, but if you find happiness in each of these, you will be truly successful indeed.

"What money can't buy...
Money will buy you a house, but it won't buy a home,
Money will buy you a companion or followers but it won't buy you a friend,
Money will buy you a bed, but it won't buy you a good night's sleep,
Money will buy you a good time, but it won't buy you peace of mind."
-Zig Zigler


Coming soon, I'll discuss the critical success factors to help you reach every goal on your list!! Be sure to stay tuned and check back often!

Follow Your Dreams

​My daughter gave me a necklace for Christmas.  It’s a pretty, simple, elegant silver ring with the words Follow Your Dreams etched into it.  I love it.  My girl knows her momma.  Knows that I’ve been itching for more, but too afraid to go after the things that I really want.  Always coming up with excuses or finding what seemed to be legitimate reasons for why I couldn’t do certain things.  I would let the wrong people influence me so I would catch myself giving up or procrastinating. This thoughtful gift gave me permission to go find the “more”  I am so desperately needing.  So, more than the esthetics, I’ve decided to take the advice of the jewelry and my girl.  2014 will bring on a different set of resolutions for me.  Instead of following my usual routine that helps me get through the year, I’m going to focus on things that I think are going to make me happy.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to dive off the deep end, but this year I’m going to add goals that specifically will get me closer to my dreams.  If the goal doesn’t get me closer to where I eventually want to be, then it gets put off lower down the list.

Which leaves me to decide what my real dreams are and create a break-down list of things I need to do to get me there.

The dreams, they have to be realistic.  They can be big, fantastic even, but they must be reachable.  Most of my “dreams” have been put on my long-term goal list.  Meaning something that I could eventually reach, but I’m not in any real hurry to get there.  And every once in a while, I’d work on them.  But this year, I’m switching things up.  I’ve decided to pull a couple of my smaller dreams, ones that could actually be reached in twelve months, and bring them into focus.  They are the ones I’m going after this year.

The break down.  My usual goals, which have become habitual, like setting money away for savings, or paying down debt, simplifying life, those are still in place.  Every year, I try to add new goals to always help me continue to grow and become the Elizabeth 2.0 version.  This year will be no different, just more focused.

You can do it too.  We can compare notes!

What are your dreams?  Are there a couple that could be reached in a year if you concentrate specifically on them?  What do you need to learn to get you closer?  Are there any books, courses or college you need that will benefit you?  Do you need to start setting aside money for your dream to come true?  How much?  How much can you afford to set aside each week?  What time adjustments to do you have to make to work on these goals?  Do you have a support team in place?  If not, who could you ask to encourage you?  Who could you call on to help you?  Think of people that could mentor you, support you, teach you, fuel you.  Can you handle the naysayers that ARE going to come at you?  Create your timeline of how long and when things need to be implemented on your plan.  Break things down to where they are comfortable and reachable for you.  If you try to take to big of bites, you’re more likely to get intimidated and give up. (Trust me on this...)  Plus, the smaller completions, the more you have to celebrate!  And you’ll look forward to the little successes almost as much as the big one.

It’s a new year.  Time to wipe the slate clean and make 2014 the year you want.  Make it the year that when you look back on it from 2015, you’ll be proud.  And you’ll have grown as a person and your self-confidence has gotten bigger: stronger making your future options better and better.

I’m excited at the possibilities of 2014.  I am excited to seem my dreams come a little closer.  I’m excited to hear what you are doing to make your dreams come true.

It’s 2014, y’all.  Follow your dreams!!