A Boomer's Footprint

Tag: dreams

  • Create a vision board

    Today’s lessons includes an activity – to create a vision board.

    Fifteen weeks ago, we completed an exercise to write down the biggest dream we desired. This was a hard task for some of us.

    First –to find the time and energy to sit down and write out the specific details describing the best life we can imagine.

    Second – the task may have been difficult if we did not have a system  which supported our belief that we could make our dreams come true. But we have since begun to develop a positive mind set and belief system.

    We identified 15+ aspects in our lives to include in our dream statement:
    – Life’s purpose, Passions, Personal accomplishments,
    – Family, Friend / relationships, Community, Fun, joy, hobbies,
    – Adventures, Experiences, Recreation, Health / Fitness,
    – Service, Career, Abundance, Financial plan, Other

    This week we will create a visual representation of our biggest dream imaginable.  A dream or vision board is simply a graphic detail of what we want to have, be and accomplish in life – our big dream.  If you choose you can internet search dream or vision board on life. There are many versions and samples available.

    Pull out your writer dream plan for reference – using any size, color or style of paper, card board or poster board – search through magazines, books, internet, photos, pictures, words and saying to include on your board.  Cut and paste.  Yes, it can be that simple.

    Here is the board I created last month.

    vision board

    Display your board in a prominent place which you can look at on a regular basis.  As you look at it, keep a positive outlook and beliefs that you can make all of your visions come true.

  • Positive Thinking

    We are beginning the next chapter of the Kelly Coach blog and online coaching program – using positive thinking, affirmations,
    visualization to achieve our goals and dreams.

    Positive thinking is a mental attitude that looks at life on the bright side, seeing a glass as half full rather than empty. A positive mind anticipates that good things will happen with favorable results and successes.

    Positive thinking begins with self talk. Our mind is constantly processing our own thoughts as well as the deluge of media input we receive on a regular basis. Why is it harder to focus on the good ones rather than the bad?

    There are so many benefits from thinking positively:
    – Increased life span
    – Lower rate of depression
    – Better psychological and physical well-being
    – Fuller enjoyment of life
    – Ability to bounce back quicker from setbacks

    Let’s move forward to align our beliefs, thoughts and emotions so that we can attract more of what we want in life.

  • Beliefs and our emotions

    I think of our beliefs, thoughts and emotions as a chicken and egg scenario. Now I’m sure there are scientific theories, which explain the relationship between them but I struggle with the concept.

    There is a connection between our beliefs, our thinking and our feelings, which can have the power to change our actions and behavior, to help us make our dreams come true.

    Beliefs – We have some beliefs which are very old – some are true,  others are false.  Some of these beliefs, direct our thoughts.

    Thoughts – Every day we are bombarded with so much stimuli. This constant input can affect our thinking. Over time, new information can become powerful enough to dispel older beliefs or to create new beliefs. Sometimes, however, our beliefs are so strong that regardless of new information learned we refuse to change them.

    Emotions – Our feelings or emotions are indications of how we are thinking and what we believe. For me, an emotion is a good barometer to determine if what I think and believe is true.

    “Beliefs can lead to feelings and feelings make thing happen.”

    We believe in ways we are supposed to feel and react to life:
    If we feel angry, we belief we are wronged
    If we feel sad, we believe we caused ourselves pain
    If we feel happy, we feel it will not last
    If we feel frustrated, we believe we can never accomplish our goal and so on…

    Be aware of your feelings. When you experience an emotion good or bad, take a moment and analyze your thoughts and beliefs you are attaching to the emotion to decide if they are all aligned to help you achieve your dreams.

  • Thoughts and our beliefs

    As we identify our goals and dreams, and we create our action plan, we must align our beliefs system to achieve success.

    “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become words, your words become actions, your actions become habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.”
    -Ghandi

    Our beliefs formulate how we think about ourselves and our lives. What we believe, we bring into our lives. We are what we believe and think.

    A belief is a thought that we make real or accept as fact. We must believe we deserve to have our dreams come true.

    We may be stuck with beliefs we developed at an early age, even ones  that are no longer  true for us. The wrong beliefs can limit our ability to reach for our biggest dreams.

    For instance, if you believe that are intelligent, you may believe you deserve a good job or career. If you believe you are not smart,
    you may believe that you can never advance in your chosen profession.

    Our beliefs are thoughts we keep thinking until they become our reality.

    So the next time you have a negative thought beginning with — I can’t, I shouldn’t, I couldn’t, I won’t, I wouldn’t, etc. — stop and replace the thought with a positive statement….

    Remember, “If we think we can, we can, if we think we can’t we can’t.”

  • Share your Joy

    Good job.  We are increasing our joy and happiness experiences.

    While the suggestion last week was to include 15 minutes of conscious, active FUN every day, even if you only succeeded two or three times – you just doubled or tripled your amount of FUN.

    As a reminder by conscious, I mean when doing you fun activity, you are mindful of your experience and your purpose to have FUN.

    Say to yourself – “This is fun.” (or a quote of your choosing.)

    The more fun we have, the better we  feel, the more energized we  become, the more inspired, the more active, the more satisfied.
    We can create a higher quality of life – the life we want and dream about. Because if our dreams do not bring us joy, happiness and FUN, it’s time to rethink them.

    What if this weekend you threw caution to the wind and took an entire morning or afternoon for FUN.  Skip the laundry, house cleaning, boring planned activity and do what you want to do – just for FUN.

    What is on your someday list?
    – an art project
    – see the wildflowers – hike
    – dance class
    – golf, tennis, badminton game
    – knit a scarf
    – take a yoga class
    – cook a gourmet meal
    – clean out the closet (I’m not kidding – there is a great relief
    – from tackling a project – enjoy the memories attached to
    – your things and then let them go!)
    – see a double bill at the movies
    – go wine or beer tasting
    – play a game
    – sit out in the sun with a good book…

    And to make it even better, take along a friend.

    Share you joy, set an example, lead the way. Go ahead – have some FUN.

  • Keeping a Journal

    Journaling is a powerful tool to help you achieve your dreams. You have the right to the best possible life you can lead! When you start journaling, you begin to take charge of your life, your plans and dreams.

    Journaling is simply the act of writing. When you write down thoughts, it makes them real.

    Our mind is so cluttered, full of thoughts and outside input. How can we believe that keeping our plans and dreams in that mix will actually make them happen?

    For example, we can walk into a room and immediately forget why we went there.

    So, let’s not trust our mind to be responsible to implement the vision and goals we have. A few benefits of journaling are to:

    -1- Map out a dream
    -2- Free your mind from replaying the same tape loops
    -3- Solve problems
    -4- Gain a different perspective on a issue
    -5- Use a third party perspective to analyze a problem
    -6- Separate statements which are emotional, rational, from reality
    -7- Keep track of  progress
    -8-  Self expression
    -9- Brainstorm
    -10- Tell stories
    -11- Reveal your fears and doubts
    -12- Acknowledge your success

    To get started with your journal –

    First, choose and decorate a journal, notebook, or tablet. Make it yours. Enter your name and date in it.

    This is my binder cover for worksheets.
    This is my binder cover for worksheets.

    Second, set up a comfortable writing space where your journal lives.

    Third, Commit to a time to write.

    Fourth, remember, there is no grade, no critiquing, no correcting necessary.

    Fifth, let your words and ideas flow freely in your book.

    And finally, use your journaling experience on your path to achieving your dreams.

    Next week, we will create our biggest dream.