Play A Bigger Game

Last week I had a conversation with a friend about playing big. She shared with me that she sometimes feels judgement from me that she is too “small”.  It made me sad to think that she heard the message at some point that I think she is playing too small.  It made me wonder, “Are there other people who think I am judging where they are?  How am I making people feel that way?”  I get it.  I talk a lot about living to your potential, living your dream, playing a bigger game.  I have fallen short of defining what it means for me to say, “dream big”.  In working with my clients, I have found that the majority of them have little idea of what their dream is, until asked, until I give them permission to attend to it.  When was the last time you gave yourself permission to really dream BIG?  For me, playing big is not associated with anything tied to the ego.  It is not measured against someone else, it is not scaled as in BIG or SMALL.  Instead, playing BIG means FULLY living out who you are.  Give yourself permission to be you. If living in a cozy one-bedroom apartment is your dream and you’re LOVING it, AWESOME! If your dream is traveling the world with your family, AWESOME!  I am not attached to what your ideal life looks like.  It may appear small, it may appear luxurious, it may appear humble, what it looks like doesn’t matter.  What matters is how it feels on YOU!  When you hear me say play BIG, it means, PLAY BIG at BEING YOU!  Playing BIG at being you means you stand up for your values, you are unapologetic about who you are and what your convictions are.  It means you are comfortable, confident, and secure in the life you are living.  Playing BIG at being YOU means you are maximizing your opportunity for joy.  It doesn’t mean that you’re eating steak and lobster ever night (although for some it may mean that). It means celebrate, honor, treasure, and value who you are, the gifts you bring, and the life you live.  If you’re feeling removed from that in any way, that is an indicator that there is more of you to be shared, experienced, celebrated, and expressed.  When you reach that space of fully expressing and living as YOU, you’ll experience the greatest joy you have ever known.  You’ll be energized, full of life, and have the ability to creatively navigate through obstacles. 

How to identify that you are playing BIG: 

Are you feeling fulfilled at the end of the day?  Do you go to sleep most nights saying to yourself, "Today was a good day.  I served the world today."? 

2. Do you spend the day doing what you love?  Are you doing tasks that leave you feeling connected to your joy? 

3. Are there times when you do not know what the next step is?  If you know the next step and everything is ordered, planned, and structured, I would suggest that your dream is not big enough! A BIG dream requires that you let go of being in control.  It requires you to be open, curious, and BOLD. 

4. Are you feeling valued, honored, and celebrated?  When you're living your dream and are in alignment with your truest essence, you no longer hide your gifts.  When you share your gifts you are celebrated by being compensated. 

5. You cannot do it alone.  No one ever does.  It is a myth we tell ourselves, that we should be able to achieve everything all on our own.  The truth is, every successful person has a someone -- maybe even a team of people -- supporting them. Do not hesitate to ask for help and delegate the tasks that take time from your serving in a bigger way.  Hand those tasks over to someone who will LOVE the opportunity to do them. The irony is that while I was attempting to make everyone happy, the result was that everyone was being deprived of the joy that I seek to create in the world.  In taking up that space in the job that was not serving me, I was also denying someone more qualified and more motivated the opportunity to THRIVE in it.  As I released the burden of thinking that I had to stay, I opened up opportunities for a better, more productive space for all.  

6. Are the relationships in your life leaving you feeling supported and nourished?  Do you feel encouraged to be yourself?

Happy Mother's Day

In a recent post, I confessed that for Mother's Day all I wanted was some time to myself.  I certainly got what I asked for, and then some!  Watch the video below to hear about my experience of being away on Mother's Day.

Raise Your Radiance

I recently attended a conference put on Fabienne and Derrik Fredrickson.  The energy in the room was amazing!  They inspired me to step more fully into my own voice and I realized that as I connect more fully to my own aliveness, I notice the powerful impact it is having in my life and those around me!  I am passionate about supporting others to come alive with radiance! Why care about your radiance?  As you ignite your inner flame, you spread a spark for others to do the same.  That flame spreads like wildfire!  Can you think of a time when you've noticed this happening?  Have you ever been in the company of a great speaker, one who lights up the audience?  You have that same ability to pass your light onto those around you.  Your energy is contagious.  When you raise your inner and outer radiance, you shine brighter for the world to see.  Shining brighter means you serve the world in a bigger way. It is not a luxury to give attention to my radiance, it is an obligation.  It is how we elevate the level of JOY on the planet! View my recent video about raising your radiance!

5 Steps to Come ALIVE with Radiance

COME ALIVE with radiance, joy and passion! 

1. BE curious!  
    
 ~ Allow yourself to be open to the opportunities that are flowing your way!  What does it look like to be curious?  Sometimes it is as simple as noticing that you have a vision of how things should be.  When that awareness creeps in, when you notice yourself feeling attached to an outcome, turn up the curiosity.  Allow yourself to question, is there more here for me to experience?  Is there a different way to see this?  Could I experience a different turn out than what is expected?  Is there another way to achieve the goal?

2. Claim what you LOVE about Life!

    List 5 things that you LOVE about your life! Claim it, own it! What are you loving about
    your life?  Feel yourself connect to that love of life, as it is in this moment.  Gratitude is
    synonymous for happiness.  

3. Say, "YES!"  

    Yes to receiving; gifts and compliments. When someone offers you a compliment, it is ok
    to say, "Yes, I do look good today.  Yes, I will accept that invitation for a coffee. Yes, I will
    receive support.  Yes, I like these earrings, as well."

4. Give to Yourself ~ 
    
    Give yourself something special; a bubble bath, a coffee break, luxurious night's sleep, a
    bouquet of flowers.  Take the time to do something special for YOU!  

5.  Listen to the whispers that are calling you to be the best version of yourself. 

     What is calling you to attend?  What do you KNOW that if you started doing it today,
     your quality of life would improve?  Drink more water?  Earlier bedtime?  Listen to your
     whispers.