Change Can Be Messy, Especially in Texas

Dear Friend,

Things often fall apart before they come together and can look quite messy in the process… to a new and better way.

I know life looks crazy now, but consider this.

If there’s an infected wound, it must be cleaned first before it can heal properly.

There is a silver lining to our current time of changes, from a virus that quarantined the world to a damaged economy and an overworked energy grid.

Time will reveal more of what that lining looks like after a much needed, overdue cleaning.

The clarion call to respect life is finally being heard. What’s a life worth? Let’s put things in perspective.

• Respect life of those who are more susceptible to a virus or reopen an economy? Do older lives matter? I watched the Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick say, in essence, that older people should be willing to give up their lives for the sake of the young people’s future economy.
• I read about a college student who was saddened because of COVID-19. He couldn’t graduate or get a job and had to live with his parents. I thought about the movie I’d seen, 1917, when men his age were getting blown apart in WWI. Not for months, but for over four years.

The process of change and healing often is messy.

Have you ever cleaned a room, or anything, and partway through the process found it looked even messier than when you began? Stuff got moved around, some piled up to be discarded. But then a reorganization shifted the environment to something better.

Some Texans have experienced extreme hardships because of an Arctic blast that left many without power and water. Homes are left flooded. Broken pipes. Broken dreams.

However, although it’s often difficult to see while in the midst of challenges and as many are licking their wounds, somewhere, somehow, this will bring us to better days.

Priorities change. I’ve observed, for example, how many people are taking care of each other more, and there’s a greater sense of community.

If some don’t shift away from thinking about themselves first, they have an opportunity to learn some harsh lessons. This includes politicians.

Things that annoyed us before take a back seat to current needs during stressful times.

Years ago I was in a business transition, and I was worried to tears because I didn’t know what to do. My marketing pipeline of how clients came to me finished months earlier, and I felt emotionally and financially vulnerable, distraught and directionless.

Then a FEMA-level flood came to my town. I ended up with mold in my house and me for six months. This was followed by six months of sleepless nights because of caretaking my sick cat whose weight dropped from 14 1/2# to 4 1/2# in three weeks because of an untreatable thyroid condition.

I asked a teacher of mine in the first few days of what was to be a difficult, year-long journey, “Why did this happen? What was this about?” 

The reply I received was something on the lines of, “You stopped worrying about money.”

I used to have fear running in the background like a software program in a computer that’s always on.

By the end of that year, I learned to let go of fear and worry. They only add to problems and don’t help anything. Amongst other things I learned is to trust that it all works out. Now it’s part of what I coach, and it’s made me a better teacher.

Remember that all of us have things to learn personally and collectively during challenging times.

In addition to people reaching out to each other, could there be other silver linings from the effects of the Texas Arctic blast?

With deep respect for the suffering of my fellow Texans, this event may provide a turning point in the way some Americans consider how we generate energy. While the United States is about to embark on addressing our infrastructure and climate change policies, perhaps more people will be open to alternative energy sources.

What are you learning?

With gratitude,

Virginia

If you’d like help overcoming fear or worry,
so you can enjoy your life more,
contact me for a free consultation at:
virginia@soulgoals.com

I work with people who choose to share
their gifts or business in a BIGGER way
but don’t know how, feel stuck or could 
use new tools or support.

I help them ignite their Soul’s goals
and be richly compensated doing what
they love.”

www.soulgoals.com

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This Couldn’t Have Happened to Me at a Worse Time

Pianist James Dick. I sat in the front row. Notice the mirrors that reflect everyone in the room.

There I was sitting so close to the piano that, if we both leaned forward, I could touch the hands of internationally renowned concert pianist James Dick. This man of great “talent, vision and class,” is a highly acclaimed competition winner and the founder of the Round Top Festival Institute in Round Top, Texas.

I watched in awe as his fingers nimbly danced across the keyboard while he played mostly by memory. He invoked in his audience indescribable emotions. As a woman who sat next to me said, “We can go a hundred places while listening to that.”

He played a selection by Chopin inspired by a Polish Christmas carol. Softly, sweetly, endearingly.

I was deep in the soul of the music, which touched my heart and ancient memories.

The audience was in quiet reverence, listening.

Then I had to cough. It wasn’t a simple cough. It was like what happens when you swallow something and it goes down the wrong pipe.

During this still and sacred moment, I quickly left parading next to James Dick, coughing my way in front of the mirrors and the entire audience while wearing my bright, yellow shirt.

At the end of the program, I had an opportunity to talk with him. He graciously allowed me to take pictures, too.

First, I asked why he pauses before he plays each musical segment.

“I quiet myself and focus.”

Next came my apology for disturbing his performance while walking and coughing loudly next to him in the middle of his playing hushed tones.

After a brief reflection he calmly replied, “I didn’t notice.”

The man lives and breathes focus. He’s mastered his art so much that he didn’t even notice big distractions!

FOCUS.

A couple of my clients are involved with sports that require focus, too.

While kayaking, Melinda told me that if you focus on what to avoid, you’ll hit it. If you focus on where you’re going, you’ll go there.

In mountain biking, Michele told us during a mastermind team meeting that if you focus on obstacles, like the rocks and bumps you go over, you’ll fall. She said that it’s amazing how when you keep your gaze in front of you, where you’re heading, the obstacles don’t effect you and you keep going.

Your life, business, work and finances reflect what you consistently focus on, think about, talk about, complain about, imagine and enjoy – whether you want that thing or not.

In my Soulgoals’ program, there’s a segment called Focus on the Donut and not the Hole:

“One group member said, ‘We’re trained to focus on worry. Now I’m retraining my focus on what I choose instead.'”

What’s in your focus? It may be a key to what’s in your wallet and happiness!

I work with people who choose clarity and to share their gifts or business in a BIGGER way but don’t know how, feel stuck or would benefit from new tools or support. I help them ignite their Soul’s goals and be richly compensated doing what they love.

Reposted from Soulgoals’ Blog February 27, 2017

If you’d like help to stop focusing on what you don’t want
and replace it with having a great life, 
contact me for a free consultation at:
virginia@soulgoals.com

Copyright © 2021 Soulgoals, All rights reserved.

You Don’t Have to Push Yourself Harder

What I’m about to tell you is opposite of what most of us learned is the way to achieve success.

Forget about:

• No pain, no gain.
• You have to work hard for what you want.
• Put your nose to the grindstone.
• Success requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle.

Beliefs like these often don’t create sustainable results that lead to a happy life. Furthermore, trying hard is exhausting.

When we align our positive energy first and then take inspired action with grace and ease, we can create better outcomes while feeling good, too. 

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A client, whose career is in the fitness industry, shared how his life is working better.

“I let go of pushing harder. I had the kind of personality to be hard on myself, more disciplined. It left me feeling out of control, especially about things I can’t do anything about.

“I had mind-numbing, self-critiquing all the time. I was looking for approval. 

“Now I see how when I’m softer and centered, I’m in control. It’s easier to be in my own skin. People are more at ease around me because I’m more at ease with myself.

“I make choices moment-to-moment instead of worrying about the future and what others think.

“I catch myself a lot quicker instead of having long periods of anxiety. I chart my course by mentally creating my ideal scenario and letting go of the pushing.

“Week by week, this new way of living life is sinking in as I allow myself to go from efforting to grace and ease. 

“I’ve reclaimed my natural power and feel myself evolving to my true potential as I achieve my goals.”

There was more joy, confidence and lightness in his voice as well.

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You can tap into a zone where you won’t need to push yourself. By getting out of your own way, you can get more done with better results and even go beyond limits.

It starts by shifting from trying to relaxing into a flow of doing what you love.

Olympic athletes center and focus themselves before taking action. The winners go beyond worry and ride the wave of their event – even when changing winds seem to be against them. They’re at the right place at the right time to avoid the hazards.

You can, too.

Ready to make your life easier? 
Contact me to find out how:
virginia@soulgoals.com

I work with people
who choose to share their gifts
or business in a BIGGER way
but don’t know how, feel stuck or
would benefit from new tools or support. 

I help them be richly compensated 
doing what they love
by aligning with their Soul’s goals.

Reposted from February 12, 2018

Copyright © 2021 Soulgoals, All rights reserved.

Procrastinating? Here’s How to Get Motivated.

What would you like your year to bring? More money and time? Smoother family life? Fun and friends? Relaxation and vacations? Better health? Big dreams coming true?

Without knowing “your why,” the reason your goal is important to you, your motivation can become like a wind-up toy that ran out of its wind-up. Soon after, you return to the same ole, same ole way you’ve always done things. Add to this frustration and disappointment.

More money is appealing. But money for money’s sake may not provide enough incentive to create more cha-ching in your life.

In the movie Joy, Jennifer Lawrence’s character was highly motivated not to quit. Against all odds, she dug deep and found reasons to keep going. Because she knew her “why,” she found a way out of overwhelming failure to experience success.

Interestingly, sometimes a reason to accomplish goals is a gut-level determination to take care of yourself or stop playing small. The line is drawn in the sand. You’re no longer going to tolerate what’s not working. You’re inspired.

Following are excerpts from my Soulgoals program to help you stay motivated and get in touch with your why – the soul of your goal:

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Have you ever desired something and, when you got it, realized it wasn’t what you really wanted? You asked for a specific outcome but didn’t clarify the soul of your goal, its essence.

Well, that explains the divorce rate.

Have you ever desired something, got something else instead, and then realized it was better than what you asked for? You tapped into the soul of your goal.

Sally’s ideal scenario included very specific details, including marrying a 6’ 2” red-haired man who owned a 10,000 acre ranch.

I asked if she would like to have several employees around all day because, with a spread that size, she could attract a working ranch.

That was absolutely not her intention. She wanted the acreage for privacy. She could have received what she asked for and not been happy… along with a man who fit her description but didn’t share her values. She didn’t mention any.

When I looked for a house, the soul of my goal included a low maintenance, wooded area offering privacy but not seclusion.

I bought a home at the end of a cul-de-sac in a country subdivision with a xeriscape lawn. It’s surrounded by trees, a greenbelt in the back, and a fenced-in exotic wildlife ranch next to a neighboring, tree-filled lot.

Have you pursued a goal, got discouraged or sidetracked, then lost energy to keep going? If you don’t have a compelling reason, “your why” that underlies your goal, it’s easy to get off-track, lose motivation and quit.

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TIP: How to Get Motivated

Be still and go within. Ask your soul why your goal is important to you. Intend to get an answer. Now write about it so that you tap into your gut-level reason of why you choose this. Write so authentically that it can bring tears to your eyes.

Your brain may not be able to fathom how your goals can occur. However, if your intention is in alignment with the soul of your goal, miracles happen.

Be open to receive.


Ready to increase your motivation?
If so, contact me for a complimentary
Do What You Love Break-Free Session at
virginia@soulgoals.com

I work with people
who choose to share their gifts
or business in a BIGGER way
but don’t know how, feel stuck
or would benefit from new tools
or support.

I help them be richly compensated
doing what they love by aligning
with their Soul’s goals.

Reposted from January 11, 2016 Soulgoals’ Blog