Inspired In Action

How do you feel about change?

Does it excite you or scare you? Does it depend on the kind of change?

It seems that the majority of people don’t like change. If we maintain the status quo, there is nothing to fear.

What I have found, though, is that we cannot avoid change. It happens as surely as the hands on the clock change with each ticking second.

The automatic fall-out of that is that many people live in fear.

What if change was something you welcomed? What if your perspective shifted around change? What do you think would happen then?

Is it possible the changes would happen more effortlessly? If the changes happened more effortlessly, is it possible the changes might actually feel good?

And if the changes felt good, would you actually welcome changes?

That line of thought came full circle, didn’t it?

Change is something we cannot avoid. The more we try avoid it, the harder the change will slam us. Certainly being slammed does not feel good!

The next big question is, how do we welcome change?

The first step would be to accept that change is automatic*.

*Tip: Notice how I used the word automatic rather than inevitable? Automatic feels better to me than inevitable. As you make your shifts, choose words that make you feel better. It makes all the difference as you move through change.

This gives you permission to change, and the resistance to change will automatically begin to fall away.

When you are open to change, everything flows more effortlessly. Opportunities begin to present themselves. Things show up that move you through the change effortlessly, and, dare I say it, with more Joy!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could Joy-fully welcome changes?

What about the possibility of change actually being Fun**?

Is it possible that change could be an Adventure**?

**Tip: Notice again how I’m playing with words? I like fun and adventure, so connecting these words to change definitely makes me feel better about change.

Are you open to accepting change? How do you choose to experience change? Will it be something fun? Will change be an adventure for you?

How do you choose to welcome change?

Velma Gallant is an Author, Speaker, Trainer and Abundance Coach. She’s a co-author in a best-selling book series with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, and Wayne Dyer called “Wake Up Live the Life you Love: Finding Personal Freedom”. Velma is the creator of Living Abundant Joy where she interviewed 19 outrageously successful speakers, marketers and coaches on Abundance. She publishes a weekly e-newsletter called “Welcome Changes”. Velma coaches entrepreneurs and business people to be abundantly successful in both business and life. You can visit Velma’s website at www.WelcomeChanges.com, or reach her by email at velma@welcomechanges.com .

The opportunities of man are limited only by his imagination. –Charles F. Kettering

It all begins in the imagination. The computer I’m writing this article with started out in the imagination. The music I’m listening to started out in someone’s imagination.

The car, the house, the shoes, and even the business you work for (whether it’s yours or someone else’s) started out in the imagination.

I hear it all the time. People want more money. People want more things. People want to experience bigger and better. It seems to me that if this is what is wanted, the best place to start is to grow the imagination. If it can’t fit in my imagination, it can’t fit in my life.

Let me say that again.

If it can’t fit in your imagination, it can’t fit in your life.

All too often we shut our imagination down. If I don’t dream about it, I won’t be disappointed when I don’t get it.

The truth is, if you don’t dream about it, it absolutely won’t happen. It all starts in your imagination.

Are you willing to peak through your fingers and begin to imagine? If so, let’s get started. Let’s play with these questions together.

1. As with anything that grows, it begins with a seed—an idea. What is it you’d like to be, do or have?

I want to live in Maui.

2. The seed needs to be planted in soil. Soil is what carries the water and nutrients to the seed. The soil I use is my Journal. I plant the seeds of my imagination there. I write them as intentions or desires.

I bought a journal. It’s my connection to my imagination. I write my desire, “I want to live in Maui,” in my journal. The seed has been planted.

3. The seed needs nourishment. Give it water and food. Give it attention. Write more about it in your journal. Add details. Create a Vision.

I walk on the beach each morning. It’s a refreshing and invigorating way to start my day. My feet are bare, and the water washes up on them. The water is warm. I can feel the bubbles on top, and the sand slipping away beneath my feet. The sound of the ocean is relaxing. The breeze across my skin is soothing. My walk is a meditation. I enjoy every second of my walk. I don’t rush it. I savor it. By the time I am done my walk, I’m ready for my day. I’m grounded. The ocean has washed away any worries I may have had. I’m free.

4. Keep watering and feeding your seed. Remember, the seed begins to grow beneath the surface. Roots form long before a sprout reaches above the soil. Add details.

As I continue adding to my vision above, I’ll add in things like what I’m wearing, how I’m feeling, scents in the air. I may find something on the beach during my walk. I may see dolphins jumping or the spray from a whale surfacing. Add details from all 5 of your senses. The experience should be like you’re watching your movie on a high definition TV (HDTV). Make it a Technicolor vision.

5. Plant many seeds. A garden does not have just one plant. Write all your intentions and desires in your journal. Plant all the seeds of your imagination. Don’t keep them hidden in your mind. Let your garden grow!

There are a number of places you can plant the seeds of your imagination. The Journal is one. It’s a very powerful tool. The Vision Board is another.

The most important thing you can do is give yourself permission to imagine.

Give your imagination the freedom and space to grow.

*~*~*

Velma Gallant is an Author, Speaker, Trainer and Abundance Coach. She’s a co-author in a best-selling book series with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, and Wayne Dyer called “Wake Up Live the Life you Love: Finding Personal Freedom”. Velma is the creator of Living Abundant Joy where she interviewed 19 outrageously successful speakers, marketers and coaches on Abundance. She publishes a weekly e-newsletter called “Welcome Changes”. Velma coaches entrepreneurs and business people to be abundantly successful in both business and life. You can visit Velma’s website at www.WelcomeChanges.com, or reach her by email at velma@welcomechanges.com .

Evolution seems to be the theme right now. Everywhere I look I’m seeing the word.

It got me to thinking how much I’ve evolved over the years. When I was looking forward, it seemed to be taking so long. When I look back, it amazes me how quick it truly was.

The events of my life created transformations I could have never predicted.

The abuse in my teens created an insecure young woman, and as the wounds healed, a strong, wise and warm woman emerged.

The marriage in my early 20’s transformed me too. It was entered into while I was healing the wounds and was insecure. It was trying at times. I thought I wanted someone to take care of me. Eventually I realized I wanted to take care of myself. It built my strength and courage.

As you look back on your life, notice your own evolution.

There were events which created wounds. There were events that opened old wounds allowing for them to finally heal.

There were burdens and sufferings that, though painful, opened your heart and built your strength. A courageous, strong and divine being has emerged from it all.

I see it in you. Do you?

I really want you to look. Look past the pain. Uncover the truth…the truth of you.

You are Divine!

Velma Gallant is an Author, Speaker, Trainer and Abundance Coach. She’s a co-author in a best-selling book series with Mark Victor Hansen, Deepak Chopra, and Wayne Dyer called “Wake Up Live the Life you Love: Finding Personal Freedom”. Velma is the creator of Living Abundant Joy where she interviewed 19 outrageously successful speakers, marketers and coaches on Abundance. She publishes a weekly e-newsletter called “Welcome Changes”. Velma coaches entrepreneurs and business people to be abundantly successful in both business and life. You can visit Velma’s website at www.WelcomeChanges.com, or reach her by email at velma@welcomechanges.com .

November 24th is my birthday, and I turn 40.

Once I hit 35, I began dreading turning 40. I was going to be … da da da … OLD!

I’ve had conversations with my Mom where she shared that “Life began at 40″.

This is my Mom, by the way. Isn’t she beautiful?

Anyway, a thought occured to me, while I was writing my newsletter, that it would be a wonderful conversation to talk about what’s great about being 40.

So here’s the questions:

What’s BEST about being 40 (or more)?

-or-

What are you looking forward to when you are 40?

Here’s some of my answers.

I know what I like better.
I am stronger in standing up for what I want.
I like myself better.
I’m more confident.
I care less about what others thing, and care more about what I think.

I am looking forward to your answers. Have fun!

Dream BIG!

Velma Gallant
Abundance Coach
http://www.welcomechanges.com

It wasn’t what I expected, and I’m glad.

I went to a Toastmasters event this weekend. I listened to a speaker regarding the “basics”. I had thought, before I went in, that I’d be getting a lot of technical how-to’s with respect to public speaking. It’s what I thought I was looking for too.

He ended up sharing some of his journey with Toastmasters, and how Toastmasters changed him. He thought he was in it for the glory (he competed) and he learned his craft very well.

What he didn’t expect was that Toastmasters would change him on the inside.

He shared that the most valuable lesson he learned from Toastmasters was that when you speak, you need to do it for the right reasons. It isn’t about the glory in the competitions.

It’s about your audience. It’s about what you’re sharing with them, and what they are getting out of it.

One of the things I wasn’t sure I’d like is the technical stuff in Toastmasters—the counting of um’s and uh’s, evaluating grammar, and things like that. I didn’t want to study a dictionary and learn new bigger words to dazzle people with my intelligence.

After the workshop, I asked him about this. He shared that when he speaks outside of Toastmasters, he’s not as careful about these things. He also told me that if I’m not a “big word” person, not to try and do this. People will know. If I were to use big words to dazzle, then the content would not be coming from my heart. I wouldn’t be sharing the information for the right reasons.

I felt so good after this conversation! I had always felt that my um’s and uh’s, and little grammatical blunders actually made me more human. I felt it helped me to connect with people. I felt it helped me to share my message from my heart. I wasn’t trying to impress people. I was just wanting to share what I was learning in hopes it would support others.

When you’re out there in the world, doing what you’re doing, are you doing it for the right reasons? Are you sharing your message? Are you sharing your message from your heart?