Inspired In Action

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”  — Albert Einstein

Problems come up all the time.  They are a fact of life, whether we like or not.  They are a vital part of life. 

Problems are what invited people to create solutions we use today, and are now common place.  Light bulbs and automobiles were created to solve problems.

If problems are an automatic and important part of life, why is it that the solutions do not show up just as easily? 

There are a couple of simple reasons for that.

When you are focused on your problem, it fills up your sight, and you can see nothing else, including the solution.

When you are ignoring the problem, you are closed up tight.  It is impossible to see a solution when you are pretending a problem doesn’t even exist!

Focusing on the problem, or ignoring the problem, is obviously not the answer.

Look beyond your problem to find the solution you desire.

How do you do this, especially if your problem is looming large in your sights?

Here are six tools and activities you can use to look beyond your problem and open up to the solutions that already exist.   

1.    Shift Your Perspective

Pretend your problem is a physical object.  Where you are in relation to your problem gives you one view of it.  You only see the one side. 

There ARE more sides to this object (your problem), and yet you cannot see anything else because of your perspective.

Put the object down and step back.  Begin to walk around it, and notice how it looks from different angles.  Look at the object as if it was the first time you’ve seen it.  Try not to label anything as you generally will stop observing once an object has been labelled.

What data or information can you gather from these different perspectives?  Make note of it.  Do not dismiss any of your observations. 

These observations may provide you with an immediate solution.  It’s amazing what a different perspective can give you.  If your solution does not come up immediately, tap into one of the other 5 solutions.  The information you gathered from this exercise will come in handy later.

2.   Powerful Questions

Problems are an opportunity to learn.  Asking questions can uncover the gift or lesson.  Once we are aware of the value of the problem, uncovering the solution becomes much easier.  Powerful Questions can support you to laser in, and discover the value you gain from the problem.

Here are some examples of Powerful Questions that may be of value:

What is this trying to show me? 
What value can I pull from this? 
What is my most obvious next step? 
What other perspectives are there?
What solutions have others found and used?
What would it take to move through this?
Where might I find support or valuable information?

Why questions are generally not of value.  They keep your eyes on the problem, or worse yet, on your past.  What or Where questions are of value, and sometimes who or how questions may uncover some juicy information.

Play with these questions, and tweak them to fit your individual situation.  Having a trusted friend or coach ask you powerful questions can support as well, as they are not
emotionally vested in the problem.

3.   Brain Dump

Another powerful tool is the Brain Dump.  When you get the solutions you see immediately out of your brain, there is room and an open channel for creative ideas to flow in.

Get out a piece of paper, or sit at your computer.  Ask yourself, “What would it take to…” and fill in the ideal outcome.  Build your solution right into the question.

Write out every single idea that comes up, no matter how ridiculous or off-the-wall it might be.  Make up stuff.  Be a cartoon or fiction story writer with it.  Get goofy and
have a bit of fun. 

Keep the piece of paper or document handy so when you think of more creative and fun ideas you can write them down.

Again, what this does is keep you from locking yourself into the “only solution”.  You may find an answer within your brain dump.  You may also fid that as you get back to your daily routine the answer comes up in an exciting and unexpected ways. 

4.   Creative Movement

Creative problem solving takes a creative mind.  Open up your creativity by participating in creative activities that are completely outside of your problem.  Choose a creative activity that pulls you all the way into it.  Choose something you enjoy.

An example from my own experience is jewellery making.  When I need to move into creative energy, one of the things I love to do is create jewellery.  I create bracelets, necklaces, earrings, or anything else that tickles my fancy.  I don’t create for anyone in particular, though sometimes that inspiration comes through.  I often make them for me.  I love wearing bracelets and anklets. 

What creative activity do you enjoy?  Is it art, gardening, or music?  There are so many wonderful ways to get creative!  The only criteria are that you enjoy it, and love immersing yourself in the creative moment.

As you open up to the creativity of your project, you automatically open yourself up to creative solutions.

5.   Laugh and Play!

One of the best ways to manage your energy is to get out there and play.  Don’t be so darn serious!  There’s plenty of time to be serious in our lives.  We don’t need to be in that place all the time. 

Head on down to the park, and play on the swings.  Built forts and have a snowball fight with the kids.  Pull out the monopoly game, or Trivial Pursuit.  Invite friends over for a night of laughter and fun.  Play Pictionary or charades.  Play dress up with the kids.  Make sock puppets and make a play together. 

Rent comedies from the video store.  One of the things I’d love to own is the whole Carol Burnet series.  Now that’s funny!

The intention is to bring your energy up and feel good.  Again, when you feel good, it gets those creative juices flowing.  Your mind and heart open up to possibilities.

6.   Return to Now

Living in the Now is very important, and in truth, vital. 

If you are focusing on your past, you cannot move forward.  Try walking forward as you are looking backwards.  Not very easy!  If you do happen to move forward, you do so slowly, and will often bump into or trip over things.

Focusing on your future for any length of time does not serve either, whether you are visioning something you desire, or are fearful of something happening.  When you are projecting forward, you are not living now.

The question then becomes, how do you bring yourself back to the Now?

Here are two exercises you can use to return to the Now instantly. 

First would be breathing.  Yes, we all do that.  We have to if we are going to live.  Take the time to observe HOW you breathe at various moments.  How do you breathe when you are fearful of something?  You take short, shallow breaths, and may even hold your breath.  How do you breathe when you are relaxed?  You take slow, steady breaths.  How do you breathe when you are active?  You take deep, full breaths.  If your physical activity was intense, your breathing will quicken, but the breaths are still full.

To bring you into the Now, consciously breathe.  Count in and out as you breathe.  Fill your lungs and belly.  Breathe deeply and evenly.

Another valuable tool is to take inventory of what’s around you.  Take a minute or two to list all the things that are within your vision.

Whether you choose the breathing exercise, or take inventory of your surroundings, you immediately return to the Now.  The Now IS your breathing.  The Now IS your immediate surroundings.  There is nothing else but the Now.

Get started today.  Give yourself permission to take just one or two of these tools and add them to your tool kit.  Try them each, and notice which ones feel good and are easy to implement.  If you pick up on them easily, they belong in your tool kit.  That way, you’ll be able to pull them out in a moments notice.

No matter which of these six exercises you tap into, you immediately move from being problem based to being solution based. 

You shift your focus.  You shift your energy.  You create and open up to possibilities.  You become the solution instead of part of the problem.

The solution is always beyond the problem.  Where are you looking?

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Velma Gallant, “The Queen of JOY!”, is an Author, Speaker and Lazer Clarity Coach.  Velma coaches Entrepreneurs to lazer in on what’s vital to create joy and balance in their life and work.  Velma can be reached at 1-800-992-2863 or by email at
velma@welcomechanges.com.  You can also subscribe to her weekly ezine at www.welcomechanges.com.

Can an Apple a Day Keep Failure Away

What an Apple teaches You about Success

How do you eat your apple? I’m going to guess one bite at a time…unless you’re my son who has to stuff his face silly and then sit there for ten minutes chewing one massive bite.

Success happens one bite at a time!

• Have you ever picked up a book, skimmed the index for chapters that pop out, and just read those?
• Are you the kind of person who rarely reads a book from cover to cover?
• Do you have a library full of half-read books?

In all my years of coaching, speaking and learning, one of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen people do (and I’ve done this too) is to consume a huge amount of information in a short amount of time, and then do their absolute best to put every bit of it into action immediately.

99.9% of the time this DOES NOT WORK.

You end up saying and feeling things like:

• I’m useless!
• I can’t do it!
• What’s wrong with me?
• It doesn’t work.
• This is impossible.
• Why do I bother trying?
• I give up!

It’s time to change the way you do things.

EAT SUCCESS
ONE JUICY BITE AT A TIME

What if you had the chance to sit and talk with someone who is a master of the law of attraction? Someone who attracts whatever they want, whenever they want. Would you love to hear their secrets – to learn exactly how that person attracts everything they want?

That’s exactly what you get in this e-book. It’s the juiciest bites from my coaching practice. Each and every page is loaded with the answers to the questions my clients have had over the years about embracing change and harnessing the power of the law of attraction.

Juicy Bites of Welcome Changes was deliberately written in BITES to support you in the easiest way possible to create

• SUCCESS
• JOY
• FREEDOM
• PEACE
• PASSION
• FUN
• BALANCE

“I love your book! It is a real masterpiece. There is so much practical wisdom and so many gentle (or not so gentle) reminders of the real keys to success. I have been sitting here for about an hour, thinking, “Yep, I’ve let that one slip, Yep, forgot that one..” It is brilliantly written and I feel like I am having a friend-to-friend conversation with you.” ~ Amanda Goldston, GetYourDeamLfe.com

“This is a terrific book loaded with wisdom in digestible pieces. There are so many powerful and heartfelt messages to be gained by each reading. Velma you have done an outstanding job and elevated the energy of the universe.” ~ Joe Nunziata, SpiritualSelling.com

Are you ready to change the way you do things? Ready to take bite-sized leaps to success?
Well now’s your chance.

I’ve done all the work for you. You can grab my years of experience in an easy-to-read e-book that you can have in as little as five minutes.

“Velma’s book is revelation after revelation of what works. Practiced, tried, and true; she’s come from behind, embodied all she’s learned, and is now an inspiration to those who know her, including myself. Juicy Bites is filled with wisdom and the steps necessary to incorporate it into one’s life; delightful, real, and, if you’re ready, life changing.”~ Mike Dooley, Tut.com

Go here to get your copy of Juicy Bites of Welcome Changes:

http://www.juicybites.com

When you buy Juicy Bites today, not only do you get the life-changing book, you also receive more than $2100 in Launch Bonuses that will inspire and motivate you to do even more with the Law of Attraction!

Dream BIG!

Velma Gallant
“The Queen of JOY!
Lazer Clarity Coach

PS: One more thing. When you buy Juicy Bites, you get an 8 week 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If Juicy Bites doesn’t do everything I’ve promised you it will – if it doesn’t offer you steps to welcome change, use the law of attraction more powerfully, and inspire you to invite everything you want in your life then simply let me know and I’ll be happy to refund all of your money. You have nothing to lose! And you get to keep the bonuses!

http://www.juicybites.com

“The only competition you will ever have is the competition between your disciplined and undisciplined mind.” ~ James A. Ray

Have you ever noticed that successful people stay focused and unsuccessful people stay distracted?

Have you ever noticed how unsuccessful people blame their distractions rather than accepting responsibility for deciding to be distracted?

What if you could use your distractions as a tool, instead of the distractions holding you back?

You can do that if you use The Laws of Distraction.

Before we discuss The Laws, let’s first get clear on what Distractions are.

There are two kinds of distractions: ones that do not serve you, and ones that serve you.

Yes, you heard right. There are distractions that serve you.

The key is to notice the difference between the two, and to know when to use the distractions that serve. That is where The Laws of Distraction come in.

(Hint: Even those distractions that do not serve can be used to serve you. Keep reading to find out how.)

Law of Distraction #1 – Observe Your DistractionsSpend one to five days observing your daily actions. Make note of the distractions you notice during that time. Notice what activities you are avoiding and the distractions you are using. Are some of your actions actually distractions?

Keep a written record of these observations, whether in your Journal, or on your computer. You will need this information as you utilize the next Laws of Distraction.

Law of Distraction #2 – Know Your DistractionsThe first thing to know about Distractions is that they are not bad. They are valuable when utilized properly.

As mentioned earlier, there are two kinds of Distractions: Communicating Distractions and Energy Shifting Distractions.

As you review the information gathered from observing your distractions and actions, you will be able to determine which distractions are communicating and which distractions are energy shifting.

Communicating Distractions

The Distractions that activate during specific activities are your Communicating Distractions. Upon first analysis, these Distractions do not serve you. They are distracting you from completing your tasks.

The truth is, these Distractions are letting you know that a shift or tweak is required to move through the activity.

Energy Shifting Distractions

If a particular activity is lengthy, taking hours or days to complete, Energy Shifting Distractions serve as the breaks allowing your energy to be recharged. They are valuable in supporting you to maintain focus through to completion of your tasks.

Law of Distraction #3 – Use Your DistractionsYou have now determined the purpose for each of your distractions. This information will serve you to get things done and begin moving forward again.

Communicating Distractions

Ask yourself the following questions regarding the activities you are distracting yourself from.

1. How does this task serve?

You have found that you are using certain distractions to avoid a specific activity. What is the purpose of this activity? Is it an income generating activity? Will it serve your highest good to complete it?

The reason for this particular question is to determine if you want to complete the activity or drop it from your action list.

If there is a clear purpose, move on to question two. If there is no clear purpose, your activity is actually a distraction.

Remove the activity from your action list. Then, take time to notice which actions this activity was distracting you from completing. Use this question to dig down until you reach the root activity that requires completion. Then move onto question two.

2. What would it take to get this done?

You have now determined that it does serve to complete this action. What would it take to get it done? Is this something you have the ability to do? Is it something you enjoy doing? Is it something you can delegate?

If the task is something you can delegate, do so immediately, and your distraction will quickly fade.

If you are not able to delegate the task, move on to question three.

3. Are there other ways to achieve the same end result?

Ultimately the reason we do things is for the end result we expect or desire. The distraction comes in when we have chosen a “how” for achieving the end result that does not fit.

Research other ways to achieve the same end result. Choose the activity that fits within your strengths and talents. By choosing activities through this filter (strengths and talents) the distraction no longer has value and will quickly fade.

Energy Shifting Distractions

As you move through your actions of the day, you may find your energy lagging from time to time. Perhaps you are trying to figure out your next step and the answers are not coming easily. You may find there is a necessary break of time between action steps. It is during these times where you bring in the Energy Shifting Distractions (“ESD”).

Examples of ESD’s are mind puzzles such as Sudoku, crosswords or word-finds. Other ESD’s may be reading, including joke books, or “bite” books such as “Chicken Soup” or “Juicy Bites of Welcome Changes”.

The important thing to remember with ESD’s is to choose specifically how long you use them. Typically ESD’s should last for 5 to 15 minutes, and no longer than 30 minutes. If your ESD lasts longer than this, return to the Communicating Distractions section of Law #3.

As you use the Laws of Distraction (Observe – Know – Use) you bring in clarity and choice to your experience. You transform the Distractions from an anchor that holds you back into a tool that guides and maneuvers you forward.

Observe, Know and Use your Distractions through The Laws of Distraction, and you will create and sustain focused action towards your goals.

Are you ready to use your Distractions to succeed

<><><> Velma Gallant, “The Queen of JOY!”, is a Lazer Clarity Coach, best-selling co-author, and international speaker. Velma coaches Entrepreneurs to lazer in on what’s vital to create joy and balance in their life and work. Velma can be reached at 1-800-992-2863 or by email at velma@welcomechanges.com. You can also subscribe to her ezine at www.welcomechanges.com.

<><><> To request your complimentary 30 minute conditional Lazer Clarity Coaching consultation click here. (Value: $125)

The “Right Thing to Do”
Is Not Always the Right Thing to Do

How many times have you put yourself in a bind by doing the “Right Thing” only to find that the right thing didn’t feel good at all?

How many times did you move into judgment about yourself because you didn’t feel good about this “Right Thing”?

What if the “Right Thing” wasn’t the right thing after all?

The truth is, those “not good feelings” are an indicator to you that what you are doing is not the right thing.

The next question is, what do you do about it? How do you find that balance between what you judge or think (Mind) to be the “Right Thing” and what your feelings (Spirit) knows is not the “Right Thing”?

It’s times like this that Clarity of Truth is required, and an open dialogue needs to be created between your Mind and your Spirit.

The best thing to do, to gain this Clarity, is to ask questions. When you ask questions it gives both your Mind and your Spirit the chance to speak up.

What makes this the right thing to do?
What does not feel good about this?
What would feel better?
What would it take to make the right thing feel better?

You may find two answers come up for each question. You may find just one answer comes up.

What you are doing with these questions, and by listening to your answers, is that you are creating a dialogue with your Mind and your Spirit. Both are getting the opportunity to share their truth. This allows for you to come to this place of Balance between the two.

What if, during the process of questioning, you find that there is a middle ground that works better? What if you find that there is a solution that supports both your Mind and your Spirit?

This self-coaching process of asking questions can be incredibly powerful.

You will notice above that the questions each start with “What”. “What” questions generally look forward towards a solution. “Why” questions generally look backwards and focus on what’s not quite right.

If you are feeling a need to ask a “How” question, try phrasing it as “What would it take to…” instead. This again opens things up to solutions and possibilities, whereas “How” can get locked into the details and distract from possibilities.

By moving into questions and creating the open dialogue between your Mind and your Spirit, you will create and build a trust and friendship between these two equally important parts of you.

What would your life look like if your Spirit and Mind partnered together to create your Joy-filled Life? What would it feel like to create from this place of Balance and Harmony?

Are you ready to create a conversation between your Spirit and Mind?

<><><>

Velma Gallant, “The Queen of JOY!”, is a Lazer Clarity Coach, best-selling co-author, and international speaker. Velma coaches Entrepreneurs to lazer in on what’s vital to create joy and balance in their life and work. Velma can be reached at 1-800-992-2863 or by email at velma@welcomechanges.com. You can also subscribe to her ezine at www.welcomechanges.com.

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Permission to reprint is granted provided the article is not altered in any way, and the biography paragraph is included. If you would also like to include your own affiliate link for Welcome Changes, please contact velma@welcomechanges.com.

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To request your complimentary 30 minute conditional Lazer Clarity Coaching consultation click here. (Value: $100)

Stop Floundering in the Kiddy Pool and Stand Up
or Leave the Distractions and Get in Action

“Doubt, of whatever kind, can be ended by action alone.”
~ Thomas Carlyle

What are your distractions? What keeps you from getting into Quality Action?

Distractions can be distilled down into two areas:

In-Action

This is often described as “paralysis by analysis”. People spend hours and hours learning, listening and reading. They are looking for that one key or secret that will give them the answers they are looking for. Once they find the key, their success is guaranteed. Years later, many of them are still reading, listening and learning … and they’re still looking for that key to their success.

Action

I have described this distraction as “Do-Do”. It has also been described as “banging your head against a wall”. It’s taking action on anything and everything. They move from one action to the next, in hopes that this one will be the key to their success. This can show up in ways like moving from one network marketing business to another or buying a turn-key business. They saw someone else “do” this, and they succeeded, so it should work for them. Other times, it’s doing things that have absolutely no connection to their goals and intentions. This includes things like redoing the filing system to be more organized, or sorting the books in the library to be either alphabetic, by category or smallest to largest. “I’ll feel better, and be able to take more action when this is done.”

In order to achieve your success and live your life to its absolute fullest, unplug from the Distractions, and plug into Quality Actions.

Here are four steps you can take to make the appropriate shifts.

1. Observe: Take some time to observe exactly where you are at. Note which Quality Actions and In-Actions you are already taking. Observe which Distraction Actions and In-Actions you plug into the most. Write your observations down in a Journal. Do not just do it in your mind. You must truly look at these observations, and when you write them down, you cannot distract yourself from looking there.

2. Decide: Pick 1-3 of your Quality Actions and In-Actions to plug into more often. Pick 1-3 Distraction Actions or In-Actions to unplug from more often. If you only pick one, pick the biggest one. This will make the most difference. Consider this. Do you really want to achieve and succeed, or are you comfortable being where you are? Which Quality Actions move you further? Which Distraction Actions pull you back?

3. Implement: Take what you’ve observed and chosen, and put your Decisions into action, one day at a time.

4. Repeat Steps 1-3: Celebrate what you have achieved, whether it’s taking more Quality Actions, or unplugging from Distraction Actions. This is an ongoing practice. You may find new Distractions as well as new Quality Actions. It’s all good. Keep going.

This process, although clear and simple, is not an easy process. You’ll end up looking in places you’ve been distracting yourself from. You’ll be taking responsibility for your life, including all your thoughts and actions.

For many it will be easier to keep floundering in the kiddy pool. Their eyes are closed from all their splashing (Distraction Actions). They keep looking for someone or something to help them swim (the Secret Key).

The truth is the pool isn’t deep. If you stop (the Distraction Actions) long enough, you’ll notice all you have to do is stand up. Then you can effortlessly step out of the pool into the soft grass and begin walking through your life again.

Are you ready for the REAL adventure of life? Or are you staying in the Kiddy Pool?