There is a great saying in coaching; when you fail to plan, you plan to fail, originally credited to Benjamin Franklin, that smart dude. While I don't believe we fail if we have learned from the experience, I do agree that a plan is very important. I know for years I was in survival mode and very often didn't have the energy to plan. This last year has helped me to realize that living that way was adding stress to my life rather than giving me the special go with the flow feeling I was looking for! 

So, this year I have created a business plan, an exercise plan, a prosperity plan and a joy plan. That is a lot of planning but what it really comes to is that I now have guidelines to help me thrive in life rather than being in survival mode. I don't know about you but I am about done with that survival thing. I mean, really, we aren't in the bush trying to make our way any longer, unless of course you choose that way of life, so why are we so focused on the surviving and not the thriving? 

Now, when I do a plan it is not written in stone. I like to be flexible and be open to brilliance. I can do this, I believe, because I have done the ground work of showing up for the other goals I have had in life. I have paid my bills every month so I know I have a good grasp on what goes into a prosperity plan. I work out on my own because I stuck in there when I didn't want to work out at all and now it is a way of life. So, the exercise plan is applicable. I have been in business for thirteen years, eight of that full-time employed without a structured plan so just imagine what could happen if I had one! 

The plans may not be in stone, but they are written down. Have you done this for 2015 yet? We are in the second month already. Whatcha waiting for? A magic planning fairy to come along? You may say you don't need a plan because you don't have your own business and that's fine but if you aren't planning in any way you are going to do extra work because you won't recognize a great idea or strategy when you see it. It is about being clear about what you would like in life and articulating it so it can start to manifest. See where I am going here? How about some examples of how you may be planning to fail without realizing it? 

• You hand everything over to the universe or a higher power or you say things like God willing or if the force is with me. That is handing over power of your own ability to create. How about having a little faith that when you decide to plan, there will be a force providing an equal amount of support to help you move forward into happiness and success?

• You do have a plan but you also have a plan B, C, D and E. The very idea of having a back up plan means you are planning to fail at plan A. Congratulations for having one, now believe in it and you!

• Hanging out with those that are not supportive of your plan. Even if your plan is to orbit the sun without a spaceship, as long as it's not going to hurt another person, I support you.  I may suggest flying lessons, but I support you.  The people you hang out with can either infuse you with energy for life, or they can suck it out of you like a psychic vampire. Be selective about who you plan to be with. Plan to be happy so that it can happen!

• Believing someone else or some opportunity is going to make you happy. They aren't. Plain and simple. What you want or who you want isn't going to make you happy. That is your job. The having of something isn't where the happy is or people would want one thing, get happy and never want another thing again. Happy is in internal process, not one to be filled by external circumstances. For example: When I get that job, I will be happy. When my tax return comes in, I will be gleeful.When she/he notices I like them, all my issues will go away. Um, no they won't but hey, don't listen to me, plan on that working long term...and then call me when it doesn't and we will create a plan for you that is complete with you realizing you are enough and what you would really like in your life. 

I believe with all my being that people do the best with what they have at the time. I know you are doing the same. I'm simply encouraging you to not settle within yourself with what you have at this time. Want more... be brave...be silly....be you. 

I happen to be fantastic at helping others create manageable plans that are in alignment with themselves, so if you need help, come see me. Until then I will be getting my papers, highlighters and fantastic ideas out to plan my next super brave move for me. I wonder what it will be.   :)

Learning to fly, 

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

So what does happen if there is no knot at the end of your rope? What if when you get there it is slippery, your hands (or paws) won't hang on and you find yourself falling, falling, falling?

Have you experienced this? I bet you have. I bet we all have because life is full of moments that are potentially freaking scary and falling, falling, falling, is scary...until you realize that wait a minute, I always bounce. I always get up, find my way, claw back up to the top of the rope where hopefully there is a platform to stand and catch my breathe and maybe contemplate what the heck just happened and how can we NOT do THAT again?

Many times it isn't the circumstance that is happening but rather how you handle it that determines how well you live and how bounceable you really are.

This past  year I have had the opportunity to learn this through my husband's illness. While we navigated the health care system as well as the mine field of emotions that happen with any unknown, I've learned that even though it created some diversion of what we considered our path, it has also given roads that we may not have gotten to so fast. For instance, would I have realized that asking for help is not weakness on my part but rather as much fun for others to help as it is for me? Would we have deepened a relationship that works well or would we have stagnated like lots of couples who have been together for over twenty years?

Learning to be bounceable (admit it, you just had a vision of a me bouncing) also known as trusting is where I learned I had a knot that I just couldn't see. I learned that all the other smaller trials and diversions helped me trust that whatever the outcome we would be ok. I would be able to move forward and look for the next side road that shows up. Sure, it was incredibly scary and tear producing but even that helped me to accept that sometimes things are just hard and that's ok. That knot will always be moving and may be invisible at other times but the knowing that I have it will be the strength that helps me hang on to that rope or cliff or side of the building.

So trust in myself and the universe eventually lead me to the knowing that whatever road we were on, I would eventually find my direction again and my endurance. What is your rope? Is it your faith? Your belief in the universe? Your commitment to working out? Your track record of thriving through some tough times or are  you just developing it now and could use some help in tying your knot.

Ask yourself how you have made it through and eventually learned from past experiences. Also think of when you have seen others hold it together, or not, but move through trying experiences and advance themselves both emotionally and spiritually. What did they do that may inspire you to try?

However you find the knot, create a reminder that you have it. Place a sticker on your odometer, a reminder on your phone, a bracelet or something that says, hey, you have created a safe spot, why don't you use it?

Viewing the journey from ALL the roads offered,

Vicki

Vicki's website

Change really is a good thing. It doesn't always feel that way when you are right in the middle of it but one of the gifts of life is that there is always change. The secret is getting good with it and realizing if it is always going to be there, it may be in your best interest to embrace it.

Now, you can embrace it with the wimpy hug some people give, you can go in with gusto and squeeze the stuffing out of it, or you can greet it like a dear friend, a good squeeze with an honest to goodness happy to see you feel.

I choose the last one for the most part. I feel that if nothing is stagnant then I better be good at going with the flow and recognizing what is in front of me so I can use it to my best interest. I have learned over the years that if I go in wimpy, I freak myself out. I will over analyze, I will be in my head way too much and I will inevitably create an outcome that I really don't want. It is best to see it as an opportunity to grow and to assess where it is I still require some patience.

Recently, I decided if my business was going to grow in the direction I would like it to, I had to start making some decisions and changing how I do business. Basically, it had to grow up. It had to become a business with an intention of moving forward and it needed me to be decisive and not so go with the flow. So there is constantly tweaking in this change process I am realizing for myself.

I also had to stop worrying about how others would be when my business changes and instead be the example of that loving change with grace and humor. My current task is in hiring an assistant. Someone who could be independent in their thinking but get that when I say there is a deadline on something, I'm not kidding and I'm probably not going to hug you when it isn't met. Someone who loved what they do as much as I love what I do and would be willing to grow as my business grows. People say they want to but a lot of the time that is a platitude they are offering because they think that is what I want to hear rather than what they really want.

So, this time the change is being methodical, business oriented and clear about what I am expecting and not being willing to settle because the person is a good soul and just needs a chance. This has been my pattern in the past and it doesn't work, does it? Have you ever giving someone a job, or hung out with them or kept them in your circle because they were a good person but you didn't really align with them? I realized how condescending that was the other day. Like I was the only one that could help them? Please. They have to help themselves and want to and no amount of me wanting them to is going to get anyone anywhere.....and often the job didn't get completed so there was the universe with my cosmic 2x4 telling me, Vicki, seriously, do you want someone to do a job or do you want to offer a safe haven. Ummmmm, option number one please!

I bring this up because often our change involves others around us and the tendency is to hold back on our expectations for desires for a fantastic life while we wait for others to join us. This waiting can lead to frustration, resentment or a really nasty attitude and then who wants to hang with a person like that..except others that know you are really a good soul and they are waiting for you to show up....what a cycle we get into.

I know the person I end up working with will be a good soul, because we all are inherently, but I also know that because I looked at an old pattern and decided to change it that we will match well and not only be productive, but FUN!

Where is there a place in your life that requires some change? What could use a little cleaning up, changing up, fluffing up to where you feel like you have seen change, met change and been excited about it? If you feel some resistance to change chances are you have already grown past it and just don't want to admit it. We have a class this weekend that would help with that...if you are ready for some change.

Take one small step today to address the area you feel could use some change and then celebrate yourself for taking action. It really will feel good to do something about it instead of sitting in the what ifs of it all. THEN you can start creating the life you really want to have.

So, as I sit on my couch typing this is occurs to me I will want to have something written up as I meet with all of the applicants to remind me that I've changed....and it is for the better. :)

Viewing life with new eyes and intention,
Vicki