I spent much of last week in Toronto with the lovely Stella Orange.
We landed in Canada on Tuesday with the intention of having a full-day, in-person strategic planning meeting on Wednesday. Before participating as the Main Stage Sponsors at Pat Mussieux’s WealthMakers Event from Thursday until Saturday.
The trusty red-eye got me home in time to sit front-row as my twins received their 3rd grade Bibles – a special rite of passage in our church – at 8:30 Sunday morning.
It was a full week. Both in the amount of time in my client’s business, and in terms of my own development.
A success all the way around.
This is us late Saturday – still smiling – which is the way I like to end all of my days.
I consider myself very lucky.
At the moment, I am partnered up with four amazing business owners who are all doing their own thing. I am in the throws of two product launches, a program launch, a live event launch, and a telesummit (and remember, I was still smiling in Toronto).
I am a PTO and Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore board member. I am proud to serve on committees that benefit my community. My kiddos are involved in Boy Scouts, 4-H, youth group, and sports – which means that I am, too.
We have 32 chicken eggs incubating in our garage as I write this morning.
All of our laundry is done.
Heck, I had the pleasure of enjoying a mom’s brunch with the ladies from Colin and Sam’s school on Tuesday. Complete with mimosas and Nutella-infused croissants.
I am so grateful.
What I want you to get from my week-in-review is that I haven’t always been this healthy and effective.
In fact, there was a time in my life when I cracked. And I don’t mean a clean break down the middle that could be fixed with a swipe of KrazyGlue. I mean that I fragmented. I came undone. I fell apart. I was a literal mess of something once beautiful and meaningful on the floor.
Surrounded by people who were sapping the joy from my soul.
I’d like to tell you that I only fell once – but that would be a lie – and you probably already know that I don’t subscribe to anything but the truth (and if you don’t know it, you can read about it here).
I cracked more than once. More than into a million pieces. More than into anything that should have been able to be put back together.
But here I am. And here I will remain.
It took me realizing that it was on me how I was feeling in order to put myself back together once and for all. And not just realizing it, because I think most of us know that intrinsically, but also acting like it was on me.
What do I mean by that?
I mean implementing. Taking action. Holding myself accountable. Changing what wasn’t working. Doing more of what was.
Last week, Pat Mussieux drew a beautiful analogy of a staircase where her vision was at the top. And on each step, there was a premise that was either going to bring her up or down that staircase – closer or further away from her vision. Attitudes. Egos. Behaviors. Habits.
It brought back the memory that just a few years ago, I created my own vision on an index card. I’d like to share it with you here. It read that I wanted “an inspiring, life-blessing marriage with children, laughter, time, silence, wealth, success, and abundance.” Pretty straightforward, right? There’s nothing super awe-inspiring about it.
Or is there?
Because here’s what happened.
When I wrote it down, and took the time to see it for myself – to think about what it would feel like to have that life – I began to recognize that every decision I made, every step I took on that staircase, was bringing me nearer or further from what I wanted.
Every time I took on a client that I didn’t resonate with. Each time I spent money that I shouldn’t have. Whenever I said yes to something that I knew was a no in my belly. Any time that I didn’t share my best self with Domenick, Alex, Colin, and Sam.
Having that vision has made me comfortable with saying to people:
I am not the best woman for this job.
I’m able to feel good about those decisions because I really dig my goal.
It hasn’t always been comfortable, but as I get closer and closer to the top of the staircase, I can honestly say that I am now vigilant in my steps.
If I tell you no, it’s not because I don’t care about you. It’s not because I can’t do it. It’s not because I’m taking the easy way out.
It’s because what you’re asking me to do will not help me achieve my vision, so I’m not the best woman for that job.
As you look up today, what do you see?
Is it financial freedom? A baby? A new career? More time? A better marriage?
You need to be able to see it in order to climb toward it. Write it down. Hold onto it tightly.
Is it less clients? More clients? A promotion? Health?
Ask yourself, “Is this next move I’m about to make going to draw me closer or further from that goal?”
Because being a fragmented soul is not a life-blessing place to be. It doesn’t inspire and laughter does not abound. Abundance does not exist.
My prayer for you today is that you are the most whole version of yourself that you can be. And that you end every day smiling.
PS I know it’s Thursday – I hope that you can overlook the delay and take something away from the message anyway J And if you can’t, I’ll be back for you next Wednesday. Stay tuned.