I am
pleased to announce the launch of my new web site! The
address is http://sharondemarte.com . Check it out! Creating my
website has been a dream of mine and I'm excited to see that
dream come to fruition.
This
issue of One of a Kind News is devoted to helping you
create your dreams. Enjoy!
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2. Take a Journey to your Dreams
Whenever
I am going to travel to a place for the first time, I hop
on the Internet and go to Expedia.com. At this site, I can put in
the address I'm starting from, the address of my destination and
receive a map and detailed directions on how to get from where I
am to where I want to be. It's simple, fast and efficient.
Sixteen
years ago I took a trip that taught me the importance of
paying attention to the details on a map before setting off on a
journey. It was my first trip by myself. My plan was to visit
relatives in Moscow, Idaho and then travel to Bend, Oregon for a
much-needed R&R stay at Sun River Lodge.
The
first leg of my journey went fine. To begin my second leg, I
quickly looked at my map, used my fingers to determine the
shortest route from Moscow to Bend and set out on my way. It
was noon on a Sunday and I anticipated a seven-hour trip. As I
settled into my little VW Rabbit, I noticed my gas tank read ½
full. Anxious to get going, I told myself that I would fill up later.
To
make a long story short, this trip took me 13 hours. The route
I so haphazardly chose took me through seven mountain passes
(called The Seven Devils as I learned later – apt description). On
these passes, I traveled through snow storms, hugged the sides of
mountains on narrow rutted roads, and experienced the terror of
being in the wilderness alone at night without seeing another soul
for hours. And as if this were not enough stress, during the last
two hours of the trip, my gas gauge registered empty and there
were no gas stations open in this remote area on a Sunday in this
remote area. All of this was the result of not taking the proper
steps to make it a safe, enjoyable trip.
What
does all of this have to do with dreams? A couple of
things. First, I got to thinking how wonderful it would be if there
was a software program available where you could put in your
dream and receive clear directions on how to reach it. As far as I
know, there is no such thing. Second, when you set out to create
one of your dreams, you can just jump in and go for it, like I did
on my trip, or you can choose to take steps that will help you
achieve your goal in a much easier and more enjoyable way. I
vote for the second way. How about you?
Do
you have a dream? Perhaps it's a big one such as having a
great relationship, financial success, building a business, or
having a more balanced lifestyle. Or, perhaps it's a relatively
smaller dream such as creating a web site. Following are some
tips that can help you grow your dreams no matter the size. Pick
one of your dreams and try out the following tips for yourself.
Top
10 Tips For Creating Your Dream
To
create your dream you need both a clear picture of where
you're going (your vision) and where you are starting from (your
current reality). Creating your dream is about closing the gap
between your vision and your current reality. Tips 1, 2 and 3
will help you create your vision and tip 4 will help you determine
your current reality. Tips 5 through 10 will address the 'how' of
creating your dream.
1.
Create a vision of your dream. The first step in creating your
vision is to capture the concepts of your dream. One way to do
this is to get into a quiet, meditative state in a place where you
won't be disturbed. Have pen and paper in hand as you will be
taking dictation from your Inner Self – that part of you that has
the answers. Ask yourself "What results do I want to create"?
Stay away from the 'how' for now and don't get into what is or
is not possible. Write down any and all thoughts that surface –
they generally do if you let go and trust the process. And trust
yourself – tell yourself the truth about what you want. If you feel
like you're just making it up, that's ok too, go ahead and make it
up. Have fun with this and let your imagination soar.
2.
Test your vision. Ask yourself "Does this fit with my values
– what I'm naturally drawn to?" (A vision based on your values
is a powerful vision!) "Do I feel excited and energized by this
vision?" (Make sure it's really what you want and not just a way
of eliminating an undesired condition – that is energy draining.)
"Does this vision feel like it will pull me forward rather than me
having to push, struggle, and strive?" (A powerful vision will
naturally pull you toward it.) And finally ask yourself "If I could
have this, would I take it?" If your answer is 'yes', this is indeed
what you want. If the answer is 'no', re-visit number 1 and keep
working it until your answer is 'yes'.
3.
Commit to your vision. Ask yourself, "Am I willing to
devote my time and effort to making this vision come about?" If
your answer is 'no', why is it 'no'? If your answer is 'yes', what
words would you use to describe it? Start writing your vision out
in present tense, as if it's true right now. Be specific. What does
it look like, feel like, etc. Describe it to the point where you will
recognize it when you get there. This is a very important step.
Have you even written an outrageous want and then gotten it?
There's power in writing down what you want. And last, set
your intention to create this vision.
4.
Determine current reality. Ask yourself, "What is the current
situation as it relates to my vision? What does it look like, feel
like, etc.?" This is time to be brutally honest with yourself.
Write it down. (If you take the time to do this well, you will
have an easier time organizing your actions toward the final
result you want) Though not nearly as much fun as writing your
vision, this process is equally important as it will establish the
gap between where you are and where you want to be. This gap
will initiate what's called "creative tension", which will pull
you
toward your vision. And, you do want to be pulled instead of
having to push – it's much easier!
5.
Create a strategy. This is the 'how' you will do it. Ask
yourself, "How can I create my vision? What are the things that
are in my vision that are not in my current reality? What action
steps will I need to take to make my current reality match my
vision?" Write them down. Don't worry about having to know
all of the 'how's' right now, you really only need enough to get
started. Creating your vision is a process and chances are you
will know the next steps when you get to them.
6.
Create reserves of the resources you will need. Ask yourself,
"What will I need to implement my strategy? Will I need extra
time, money, energy, supportive people or material resources
such as a computer, phone, tools, etc? How will I get what I
need?" Start building reserves (more than you think you need) of
those resources. Having more than you need frees you up from
worry and allows your creative juices to flow. But, don't get into
thinking you need every item to get started. This is a process and
some things you can accumulate as you go.
7.
Clear the path. Take a look at what might get in your way
and deal with it. Ask yourself, "What are the things that might
get in my way of creating my vision?" Are they personal things
like self-limiting thoughts or fears? Or are they energy drains,
like tolerations, unfinished business, poor relationships, or unmet
needs? If you get stuck in any of these areas, get a supportive
friend or a coach to help you handle them.
8.
Start implementing your strategy. Start taking action.
Consistently take one step at a time toward your vision.
Sometimes you'll have to course correct. I've heard that an
airplane is off course 98% of the time and that the process of
flying an airplane is to keep getting it back on course. With each
choice you make, ask yourself "Is this leading me to my vision?"
If not, course correct. One way to do this is to re-visit your
vision and your current reality – re-experience the gap. Another
is to look at your strategy, what's working and what's not
working, and make some revisions.
9.
Enjoy the process. This should be fun. If you're not enjoying
the process, ask yourself, "What's happening that's taking the
fun out of this?" And then deal with it – do whatever it takes
to
get back to a place of enjoying the process. And, be patient with
yourself and the process. Sometimes you may get into a place
where it seems like nothing is happening – be with it instead of
trying to resist it (what we resist persists). Remember that you
can't plant a seed one day and expect it to sprout the next.
10.
Success. You Have Arrived! At this point of completion,
your current reality matches your vision. You have come a long
way Baby! This is the time to acknowledge your
accomplishments and celebrate your successes. It's also the
perfect time to start on your next dream. Let the momentum you
have built carry you forward to your next dream. Go for it!
I know
I called this a top 10 list, but I want to add one more.
11.
Don't give up! You will experience successes and failures
throughout this process. Enjoy the successes and love the
failures for what they teach you.
- R.H.
Macy failed seven times before his store in New York
caught on.
- Novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he
published the first of his 564 books.
- Thomas Edison was thrown out of school in the early grades
when teachers decided he could not do the work.
- Harry S. Truman failed as a haberdasher.
- When Bob Dylan performed at a high school talent show, his
classmates booed him off the stage.
- W. Clement Stone, successful insurance company executive
and founder of Success Magazine, was a high school dropout."
--Joe Griffith
Creating,
A practical guide to the creative process and how to
use it to create anything—a work of art, a relationship, a career
or a better life, by Robert Fritz.
This
is an important book that will give you more detailed help
in creating your dreams. "Fritz's most astounding finding is that
once an individual makes a conscious choice to be the
predominant creative force in his or her own life, that life is
changed forever: possibilities open up, projects are born from
other projects, and the practice of being true to yourself, your
project, your vision of life, becomes more and more effortless.
Most important, he dispels the idea that you have to be born
"creative"; creativity is a skill that can be learned, practiced,
and
mastered."
Count
your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall.
Count your days by golden hours,
Don't remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows.
Count your years with smiles, not tears.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Count your age by friends, not years.
--Author Unknown
Blessings
to you and yours,
Sharon
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Sharon Demarte is a Life Success Coach. She coaches
individuals by telephone and Internet, helping her clients close
the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Her
clients come from all walks of life: small business owners who
are growing their businesses, professionals who are growing their
practices, people in all kinds of life transitions and those who just
want a more balanced lifestyle. She works with people of all
ages, from the young who want to get a good start in life to the
Too Young To Retire – those who are the age of customary
retirement, but choose to go on to yet another career.
She
works best with people who have a strong desire, a
willingness to take action, and are motivated to increase the
quality of their lives – sometimes even in difficult situations.
If
you are a person who wants more out of life and would like to
explore the possibilities of partnering with Sharon as your coach,
please contact her in whatever way is comfortable for you. By
email: demartes@nventure.com; by fax (confidential): 253-568-
0453; by telephone: 206-938-1867.
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