All About Women | Women

One of my coaches always provides a challenging question of the week to ponder, dream and intend. One week, the question was if she was to give me $10 million dollars, what would I spend it on ~ and I can’t just give it away, but I have to spend it. What fun it was spending $10 million dollars on paper!

So let’s bring it down closer to home. What if you were to win a $10,000 dream summer vacation, where would you go and what would you do? You can dream exceedingly big when you dream on paper. So dream big! Unfortunately, because of the “economy” people are not only postponing vacations, but they are also not dreaming big.

I remember as a child looking forward to summer vacation. I didn’t like where I went (to my mean aunt’s house in South Carolina), but I liked the idea of the summer break from school and the teachers; who were almost as mean as my aunt! There was something sacred about summer vacation. Remember, it was “winter break” but “summer vacation.” I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had a real summer vacation in a while. Why? Because like most, I have misplaced my “dream mojo.”

Then, I discovered HomeAway. No, it isn't a home remover, but a return of the lost summer vacation. HomeAway is standing up for your rights for the return of the summer vacation; a return of living the abundant life you once dreamed of. I just joined the movement to Save Our Summer Vacation. This movement is petitioning Congress to proclaim August 7 as “National Vacation Day.” It is so cool to sign a petition for something that is in alignment with my dreams. I invite you to join the movement and begin living the life of prosperity and passion you deserve.

These days, many people feel uneasy or stressed out about spending money, but living an abundant life begins with a dream. So, start dreaming! Journal about your $10,000 dream summer vacation, then enter it in the HomeAway Vacation Rentals contest. What the heck? You could dream your dream into reality!

Dream BIG!
Coach Carolyn

This month's Becoming a Woman of Purpose Meetup gathering focused on discovering our passions. The women were amazing, as usual. In addition to passion and purpose, we talked about negative thoughts, limiting beliefs, and staying focused on our goals. Nothing discourages passion faster than negativity and fears. As women, we have the tendency to beat ourselves up because we feel we are not doing or being something we think we should do and be. But I tell all women that when you beat yourself up, please use a feather.

One of the women, Sherri, shared a wonderful tip that I just had to pass on to all the Purposeful Divas. She said to create a "Self Care Menu." Like a regular menu in a restaurant, put items on that are about caring and pampering oneself. Because, as Nina shared, when we are in that yucky space, we cannot think clearly, so having this is on hand is a great way to take care of oneself. And Sherri says make it pretty, so be creative.

So what kind of items can go on your menu?

• A day at a spa
• A walk on the beach
• Reading a chapter of a favorite novel
• Taking a bubble bath
• Listening to favorite music
• A manicure/pedicure
• Seeing a movie -- alone or with a friend

The list is endless. And the list is yours. Place items in your menu that you are passionate about. When you create those passion moments, more moments will gravitate towards you. Like begets like. Passion begets more passion.

Also, one of my all time favorite things is a gratitude journal. Every evening, I write down three to five things that I am grateful for that day. I end my day on a positive note and I keep the negativity away. We tend to beat ourselves up at the end of the day about the things we should have done or should have said. Stop shoulding all over yourself!

Learn to practice random acts of self care. Create that menu and start that gratitude journal. Learn to take the time to listen to your inner child. What is she telling you? What is she asking you for? Would you deny her?

Taking time out to discover your passion creates a life of purpose and peace. And if you have lots of things that you are passionate about, do a little sifting. The wheat will separate from the chaff. Your true passion will remain when all others have faded away.

So I am off to create my menu. I am so excited about that! Thank you, Sherri for a fabulous creative tip. And thanks to all the women who shared their hearts, passions and light today.

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration; I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What do you continuously focus you mind on? What thoughts consistently invade your brain? And do you set up shop there, or do you consciously choose to discriminate?

Goethe's statement is perfect for me today. I have been having a one-person pity party. You know the kind -- Why aren't I...? I should be.... Yada yada yada! Blah blah blah! Then I read this quote. I made the conscious choice to believe and receive.

There are going to be those days when we are just in that funk; that place of darkness; that seemingly bottomless pit. My advice is to acknowledge that place. Ask yourself some tough questions. "What is this feeling all about?" "What's really going on that I don't want to face?" "What am I to learn from this place of darkness?" Then realize and receive the following truths:

• I have been given all that I need to do what I came to the universe to do.
• I am more than enough.
• Someone else's opinion of me is none of my business.
• I am a uniquely created expression of the Divine.

That's a start. Sometimes, we need to receive this several times a day. It took a lifetime of conditioning to create the negativity; so it will take time to re-condition. Don't give up. Create an affirmation journal, if you need to. If negative thoughts and limiting beliefs are plaguing you, first dump them in a journal or notebook; then create a factual counter-statement for each of them.

For example, my negative thought: I am not contributing to the good of the universe. I am taking up space. (Yes, this actually went on in my head this past weekend)

My factual counter-statement: I am creating the space to help women to find their passions and purpose after overcoming a deep life change or problem.

Replace the negative with the truth. If your truth is still negative, then you must ask yourself some more questions. Feel free to contact me if you need help in this area. We are women of passion and purpose, creating spaces of wholeness and wellness, wherever we go.

Live passionately and prosper!

Coach Carolyn

"What do you really want?"

How many times in our lives do we stop and ask ourselves this question? Well, hit the pause button, sit, and be still while you ponder and reflect. Then journal. If the answer comes as a surprise, don't let it go, follow up with another question. Then take a breath and sit with the question.

Let me know what comes up for you.

Peace,
Coach Carolyn