It is a Saturday afternoon, and I am stressed! Yes, even life coaches get stressed out occasionally. Why am I stressed, you ask? Well, I am looking at my calendar for next week and it is pretty crazy. I will be in Ft. Myers for two days giving a presentation to a large group of Realtors and then I will be in Atlanta on Thursday and Friday of that same week presenting to the Atlanta Homebuilders Association Sales & Marketing Council. Whew….So, I am diligently trying to pre-plan, pre-pack, and pre-anticipate any last minute challenges that might arise.

If you have been following my blog, you know that I am a BIG proponent of being PROACTVE rather than REACITVE in all areas of my life. My husband would probably tell you that I can be quite anal about doing so, but that’s a topic for another blog. Anyway, that is why I am spending some extra time this weekend working to insure that all flows smoothly next week.

However, I am also a huge proponent of creating balance in all areas of my life, and part of that means scheduling time for fun and relaxation. I am very selfish and selective about my “relaxation” time. We ALL need to have that special “downtime” in our lives. You know, when we can figuratively and literally “unplug” from the chaos, stress, and non-stop activities that make up our busy lives.

Have you ever been driving in your car, and you look down and notice the gas light is on EMPTY? All of a sudden you get panicky and anxious! You can’t concentrate. All you want to do is find the nearest gas station so you can fill up and NOT run out of gas, right? I like to use this example with clients when I am talking about the importance of “downtime and relaxing”.

If we are in a constant state of “doing” all the time, it’s like driving your car non-stop, and not ever stopping for gas. Obviously this isn’t good for your car, and it is even worse for you!

Believe it or not, a lot of people (especially women) feel GUILTY about taking time out just for themselves. We are MASTER TASKERS, and often feel that if we are not actually “doing something productive” we are wasting our time. Do you know what I say to that? STOP THE MADNESS!

So, in your busy week, remember to take some time just for you….and relax! Maybe that means spending 30 minutes alone reading a book you have been meaning to get around to, or perhaps it means treating yourself to a manicure/pedicure. Whatever it is, just do it.

I know for me, I will be boarding a cruise ship next Saturday with several of my dearest friends from high school, and we will be heading out to sea for five glorious days of rest and relaxation, and a lot of fun! Bon voyage!

Guest Blogger: Leah Turner
email: Leah@CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
website: CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
407.709.6816

A couple of weeks ago, my business partner and I had the opportunity to interview Bob Burg on our weekly podcast show. Bob is a well renowned author and speaker. He and John David Mann co-authored the fabulous little book The Go-Giver.

The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe, who yearns for success. Joe is a true go-getter, though sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be.

The book introduces us to the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success, and by learning these laws, Joe learns how to truly be a “go-giver” and open himself up to the power of giving.

While all of the laws are important and relevant, the one that I wanted to discuss in detail is the 4th Law – The Law of Authenticity.

“…No matter what your training, no matter what your skills, no matter what area you’re in, YOU are your most important commodity. The most valuable gift you have to offer is YOU!”

This law illustrates that in order to flourish and be successful in life, you must discover your true authenticity.

An example given in the book, to further explore this law, highlights a real estate agent – Debra Davenport.

Debra had struggled in the real estate business from day one. Even though she had taken every class, earned every designation, attended every seminar and workshop under the sun, at the end of her first year she had still not sold one home. On her 43rd birthday, she had made up her mind to get out of the business altogether, but she had one last showing with a prospective buyer.

She took this buyer to the house, and something switched in her attitude. She knew this was her last gig as an agent, so she didn’t worry so much about practicing her closing techniques, or “hard selling” the buyer. She just decided to be herself. She laughed with her client, they exchanged stories about being moms, in fact Debra wasn’t even sure she ever told the buyer the asking price of the home. Well, guess what happened? The buyer bought the house and Debra went on to become the top real estate salesperson in her office – and in her town.

Debra learned to open her gift…the gift of authenticity!

She discovered that when she quit trying to be someone she wasn’t – and simply allowed herself to be authentic – the results were life changing!

Ask yourself, “Are you being your true authentic self?” It takes a lot of courage. You run the risk of being vulnerable by showing the world who you really are.

Each of us is as unique as a snowflake! Instead of trying to bury yourself among the flurry of other snowflakes out there, embrace the fact that there is only one YOU in this world, and learn to celebrate and honor that fact!

So, do you have the courage to be your authentic self? Try it. You owe it to yourself!

Guest Blogger: Leah Turner
email: Leah@CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
website: CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
407.709.6816

“We give you thanks, dear Lord above,
For all your living, giving love.

For life itself, that gift most dear –
For wondrous scents and things to hear,
For things to taste and feel and see,
For things to love and do and be,

For mountains, tow’ring high, to climb,
For valleys, cool, and hills sublime,
For oceans, rivers, lakes and streams,
For sun’s bright rays, and soft moonbeams,

For all the gifts that we enjoy
Our thanks we raise and praise employ.

We thank you, Spirit, breath and fire,
For all the gifts that you inspire,

For faith that makes our futures bright
And fills our lives with hope and light,
For love, that seems to have no end,
When shared with family or a friend,

For joy that lifts our happy hearts,
With music, hobbies, sports and arts,
For fellowship at feast and meal,
For hugs and laughs and smiles that heal,

For all the gifts inspired and true
We offer now our thanks to you.”
~author unknown

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
– Oprah Winfrey

When I was a child, every thanksgiving as we sat around the table and before we were allowed to nosh on the holiday bird, my father would ask each of us to say what we were thankful for. Back then, the answers that my brother and sister and I would give ranged from “my friends” to “the great meal we are about to eat” to “the new bicycle I hope to get for Christmas”.

So, this year, as an adult, I have decided to continue the tradition and have been giving some serious thought to what I am really thankful for this year. Here’s my list:

1. I am thankful for my health. I don’t know if it was turning 40 or what, but I have always taken my health for granted. Maybe it is because I am now at an age where people who I know have died or have suffered greatly from health issues! I no longer take my health for granted, and I realize that I am responsible for taking care of it.
2. I am thankful that I have everything I truly need in life. I don’t mean the material things. In my early 30’s those things were very important to me, but now…not so much. I appreciate the fact I have a roof over my head, great friends in my life, and a job that I find very rewarding and satisfying. I may not be a millionaire, but I feel very rich indeed.
3. I am thankful that I no longer rely on drama in my life. I am ok with spending a Friday night at home with the husband and puppy and reading a good book, or enjoying quiet time with those I love and care about. There is a big difference in being content and being bored. I am thankful I am content in my life.
4. I am thankful that I always have a choice. I am not a victim of any circumstance; I am a strong person who can make decisions about what I want in life. I have the wonderful capability of being able to choose my attitude each and every day! I choose to be happy! What a wonderful feeling!
5. Finally, I am thankful for *the journey* that I am on in life. Each and every day is a gift! I don’t know what is going to happen, but I do know I am ready to take it on!

As this holiday season approaches, I ask that you each think of what you are truly thankful for in life. And, better still, I challenge you to do this on a regular basis! I have a journal that I call my Book of Gratitude. And, each night before I go to bed I write down 5 things that I am thankful or grateful for on that particular day.

Trust me, some days the entries are pretty simple…who knew you could be thankful for a bottle of chardonnay?? But, it reminds me on a daily basis that all is OK in my world. And that no matter what tests or challenges are presented to me throughout the day, week, or year, I am a very lucky and blessed person! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Guest Blogger: Leah Turner
email: Leah@CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
website: CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
407.709.6816

“What lies ahead of you and what lies behind you is nothing compared to what lies within you.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present’.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

These are two of my favorite quotes. They really speak to the importance of living in the present. It may sound simple, but too many people live their lives in the past or in the future, and they never really get around to living in the present.

Here’s how I like to look at it….

The Past – We ALL have a past. And, we have all done or said things that we wish we could take back or change. However, last I checked, that was not even remotely possible. Yet, we have a tendency to re-play these events over and over in our heads. The ironic thing is, most of the events or situations that took place in our past, happened just once. But by replaying them over and over again, we keep them alive and thriving in our present! Remember the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie McDowell? Bill Murray keeps reliving the same day (Groundhog Day – February 2nd) over and over again until he finally reexamines his life and his priorities, and only then is he able to break free of the past. So, take a look at your life. Are there any Groundhog days in your past that you need to break free of?

The Future – No one can predict the future. We can speculate on what we think may happen, but normally when we do, we tend to forecast the doom and gloom report. The only thing we can control about the future is our attitude. So, if we have a choice to think either positively or negatively about the future (knowing that we really don’t know the outcome), I would encourage you to think positively!

Many times people choose to think negatively because that is a protective defense mechanism and many think it will safely prepare them should the worst happen. For example, I have a client who is looking for a job. After each interview she goes on, I ask her how she thinks it went. Her response is ALWAYS something to the effect of: ‘Oh, I am sure I won’t get the job. I can just tell that they didn’t like me’ (or think I was qualified, or WHATEVER excuse you want to insert). This is her way of mentally preparing herself should she not get the job. But, it actually is counter-productive! Not only is she sending out negative vibes to the universe, she is also now depressed over an imagined outcome that she has created for herself. It’s like trying to predict the end of a movie after the introductory credits have played. It is going to affect how you feel for the next 2 hours of your life, and not in a positive way!

The Present – This is really all we have. The here and now! Instead of spending that precious time analyzing and trying to rewrite the past or predicting and fretting about the future, I challenge you to just live in the present. You might be surprised to see how much fun you can have. After all, it is called the Present, so remember that it is a gift and enjoy it!

Guest Blogger: Leah Turner
email: Leah@CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
website: CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
407.709.6816