GET A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE

Having the right outlook can make a huge difference. 

It can literally change the direction and the opportunities that life brings you.   How often do we look to the negative and when something seems like it is not going our way.  In adjusting our attitude and shifting our perspective, we may just see that gratitude and seeing the glass half full will actually afford us a completely different lens to see a situation.

The next time you find yourself slipping into a can't do attitude. Stop, take a breath, force yourself to look at it a different way and see the potential of your situation. Find good in the midst of darkness and be open to seeing the potential of what positive outcome could happen.

AT A CROSSROADS? PICK A LANE AND STRIDE CONFIDENTLY

Life can knocked you done and take you through the ringer some times can't it? When feeling weary and lost sometimes, being able to make decisions and trust those decisions can become polarizing, keeping you in a place of indecision and stagnation.

The beauty of decisions is that you can always pivot and change directions when you make the choice.  Pick a lane and go confidently toward that direction. Even when you stray on the wrong road, you will always learn something new about yourself, about what you do and don't want so that you can find the right road to be on.  

Trusting yourself to get through the process of life can be weary at times. Not knowing what God has planned or the next steps can make decision making really difficult.  That is usually the time where you start wrestling and your faith is put to the test.  Know that there is a plan and purpose set out for you.  Jeremiah 29:11 is a favourite verse for many as it promises that God has a plan and a purpose and wants to bring hope to you for your future. Lean on that understanding and appreciate the view as you live through the good times and the bad times of life as down every road there is something to experience. 

EVEN THE SMALLEST DROPS GAIN STRENGTH

It's a beautiful thing to have a big dream. 

The kind of big, out there, "Can I really do this?" type of vision.  
It is one thing to grab the dream and start the process, but at some point the speed in which it is moving might turn into frustration or exasperation with the sheer amount of things that must be accomplished.

Through the years, I have experienced both sides of the equation.   My vision, not moving along fast enough in one scenario and in another, having it move so quickly it is nearly impossible to keep up.

I have learned very clearly that the little things matter.  The summation of doing one thing at a time will always keep you inching along the way toward your dream. 

The best way to move along is to make decisions quickly, take action and even if you need to pivot to a new direction at least you are moving.   

There is always a way to keep moving!

KEEP YOUR EYES FOCUSED

Feeling a little cluttered or unsure?

You aren't alone. Many people feel as if they are adrift in the world, seemingly drifting along and taking life as it comes to them. They work hard, but they never seem to get anywhere worthwhile.
A key reason could be, you haven't spent enough time thinking about what you want from life. How can you set any goals if you can't make a decision about what you want? That is really true for anything, isn't it? After all, would you set out on a major journey with no real road map to get you to your destination? Probably not! 

Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality.

The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life so you can be ultra focused to get there. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you then know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily, lead you astray.

Goal setting plays an important role in:

• Saying NO to the things you don't want in your life so you can say YES to what matters.
• Separating what's important to focus on from what is a true distraction
• Building confidence and fueling passion for your vision
• Keeping organized and reducing clutter in your head and in your life

Enjoy the journey and don't forget to celebrate those milestones, even if they seem like small ones.

EXPAND YOUR MIND

Possibilities are always waiting to be uncovered and discovered. Think about that for a moment. That is so exciting! I was conversing with a client this week who shared that it is not easy for her to think out of the box as she can't be creative to think of what could actually be outside of the box.

If you have always eaten a red apple, view apples as red and expected apples as red, then how could they be any different? 
Do you actually know if apples were red to begin with or is more important that you experience with apples being red are what matters?

We should constantly be inquisitive enough to continually want to ask questions.   I have said for years that asking "What If" in most any situation can spur conversation, ideation and action.

Having trouble being creative and seeing possibility?  

Let go of what you assume what can and cannot work and just let your mind wander. Think of all of the possibilities before you strike them down as being unattainable and generally unthinkable.  For it is in the unthinkable that true innovation is born. 

Thoughts to ponder....

Check out my website 
@paulamorand.com or follow on twitter @paulamorand.

NO MOVEMENT = NO GROWTH

One of the most detrimental places to find yourself in as a leader is the land of indecision. That place of fear where it seems impossible to land on the right decision so you do nothing.  Unfortunately, it is quite often in the doing nothing stage that disintegration happens. You lose momentum on a business sale, your employees become disengaged and apathetic and you become disenchanted with the vision you are trying to fulfill.

Making decisions are key to building confidence, gaining momentum and reaching success.  

We make hundreds of decisions every week, some are bigger than others granted but putting it in perspective you need to realize that you are already a pro at making decisions.  

You've got this!  

Take a deep breath, check your perspective and see all sides of the equation and ... just like ripping a bandaid, sometimes you just have to get it done and the pain goes away.

At the end of the day it's up to YOU! 

Check out my website at paulamorand.com 

THE FASTEST WAY

Any good leader understands the value of asking for help.  

It is a terrific strategy to gain momentum in any area of your life if approached in a smart way.

Here are a few ideas to get you on the right track.

1. Identify people who could bring great value to you. 
Surround yourself with people who just do things well, whether it is business, finance, health, family and the list continues. It is in these people that we find mentorship, inspiration and focus.

2.  Learn to ask smart questions.  
There is great value in learning how to be specific with your ask.   More than just asking for help, make a list of smart questions that will glean results.  

3.  Be authentic
One of the most important lessons that I have learned from being an entrepreneur for two decades is the value of understanding my weak spots and my willingness to find ways to support those weak spots.

4.  Don't wait
If you need help go get it!  Don't wait and see if you can figure it out. That is the purpose of building a great network around you. Even if you are just in need of a cheerleader to support you as you weather a rough patch or celebrate with you when you have a success.  

Thoughts to ponder ...

Check out my other blog posts @ speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca or www.paulamorand.com

LIFE IS TO BE TREASURED

I love time spent with those I care about.  Sharing stories, heartache and laughter... lots of laughter.   There is no greater gift you can give than that of your time and interest.  

Show people that you are willing to set aside time to be with them, without distractions and to just be in the moment and enjoy.  It really is refreshing and unfortunately, so many have forgotten the art of just being with others. Technology has certainly changed the way we communicate and some really do consider texting a form of true friendship.

I challenge you to change the story and meet with people face to face making memories that matter. Life is too short not to embrace those that want to share it with you.

Thoughts to ponder....

Check out my other blogs at speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca or my website www.paulamorand.com

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE

Do you remember the old adage, "You are what you eat?".  Well I believe the same is true for the types of people that you choose to surround yourself with.  How many of you are putting up with negativity, judgement, gossip and competition?  How could life change for you if made the decision to start surrounding yourself with positive people.

People who find joy in the moment. People who love to laugh.  People with great insight and who are smarter and wiser than you? Those who have challenged life and have shown resilience to overcome barriers only to be grateful and view life as a wonderful journey and not as a living hell?

Take stock of those friends you keep and ask yourself if you need to make some changes. What decisions do you need to make in the best interest of a fruitful and full life.

When you intentionally remove negativity, you allow for the sweeter things in life to appear.

Dare to Dream!

Check out my other blog posts at speakerpaulamorand.blogspot.ca

THREE CHOICES

Making decisions can at times be challenging.

You can give up and just quit or maybe you need do to give and flow with the way things are moving, meaning you might have to pivot and go in a different direction or for the more persistent and tenacious souls you just need to press in and give it all you got.

There are times in my journey where I, like many of us, have faced all three scenarios. None are wrong and all are purposeful at the right time and place.  The key to making any type of positive change and impact is to have the courage to make decisions that are right for you and the vision of what you want to do and where you want to go.

Courage is not easy at time but the confidence you build on the other side of owning that decision will be what you can keep building upon and where true leadership lives.

LOOK FEAR IN THE FACE

Life is all about a series of decisions.  

Our emotions don't have to play as large of a part as we let it. Especially in times of stress or duress.  Learning to cope with fear and self doubt is a journey for many.  A different approach would be to not take yourself so seriously.   Laughter is a great remedy for many things and when you tell fear to take a hike and choose adventure and enjoyment over fear, it changes perspective quickly.

Is it easy to do?

For many, I would say no. It is a discipline to be learned.  Fear is many times just the unknown of not having experienced something or your memory is triggering something associated to your fear.  Those situations you can control. The ones that are irritating but not life threatening.. learn to let it go and take it in stride and lighten up.

THE BEST WAY

Stress can be a serious problem.

Not dealt with, it can result in serious ramifications including negative impacts on work, relationships, finances and especially health.  There is great value in learning to relax. Taking time to just breathe and be peaceful not only rejuvenates your adrenals but also allows a reset for your brain and your ability to create as well.

Make time every day even for a few minutes for yourself. Turn off technology and anything else distracting and give yourself even 10 minutes.

With practice this will be a regime you will be sure to take advantage of more and more.

THE RIGHT TRACK

Isn't it wonderful when life feels good?  

When everything you do just seems to put a skip in your step and a smile on your face?   

Getting yourself on the right track takes work. 

It's a process of identifying and discovering what it truly is that you want to do. Defining what gifts you have that you should be sharing with the world and defining where you want to go.  When you start to get an idea about this and then start to take action toward it, you will be postured to see opportunities and reminders that support your vision over and over again.

Just like any route, you can always course correct and choose a new path. 

That is if you are driving. Thoughts for another day...

CHOOSE TO BE AMAZED

Let me put it quite simply. You can't shoot for the moon unless you have the right attitude and commitment. The journey albeit beautiful in many respects is often challenging, lonely and a lot of hard work.

What often sees so far away will once in a while give you a much closer glimpse of what seems so intangible.  It's kind of like our dreams. You know, those big hairy audacious goals? The pie in the sky, "What if nothing could hold me back?", kind of dreams.

The big picture seems impossible at the best of times, however, one day something happens or someone says something to you that gives you hope that it really is not as far off in the stars as you once thought.

The power of choice is an absolute gift.

It can be uplifting and strengthen your resolve or the lack of choosing for yourself, can be debilitated and confidence crushing. In the end it's your life, your choice.  Choose to be amazed and keep seeking opportunities.

LIVE HAPPY

It is amazing what we don't see, isn't it?  

So quickly, we can get into a pattern of responding negatively to what life looks like in the immediate present before we catch ourselves to stop, think, reflect and be thankful for the reminders of goodness that are around us.

In the most random of places you can find reminders.  Just like this sign, found under a bridge. In the midst of dirt, darkness and damp surroundings, I am reminded of someone that is pressing through and finding the good in the situation.

What good do you need to find today?

Choose to live happy!  If you are living and breathing, you might as well inhale and exhale with hopefulness and happiness.   It's that simple.  Changing our behaviour and the way we react...well that is the hard part.

A NEW CHAPTER

Life gives us many wonderful gifts.  One of which is called change.

The one thing I have learned from living my life thus far is that learning is constantly happening and the ability to change is up to me and how I choose to live.  It doesn't matter what age you are or what you have or haven't accomplished in your life so far.

What does matter is that you understand that you have the opportunity to include a new chapter in your journey.  You just have to make the decision and lead from there.

Leadership is not just for business. Leadership is about YOU and the confidence to make decisions and look for to possbilities to thrive!

This could be your best chapter yet!

WHEN THE WHEEL FALLS OFF

The best laid plans can always have glitches.  

It often times doesn't mean that you did anything wrong but rather like a wheel falling off a cart, something got worn down or just fell off as it wasn't fastened tight enough to the main structure, or maybe it was just the wrong fit to begin with.

Take a look at your business, career and your life.

If you feel like you are off track, decide what needs fixing in order to get back on the road.  The only way to gain momentum is to fix what is broken. Figuring out how the right solution however, is often times the the most challenging part. Once you do, the wheels will be rolling and you will be off and moving again.

ASK FOR HELP

I don't know where we were taught to go it alone, believing that we should know everything and it would be embarrassing to admit otherwise. Guess what?  A lot of people live with that same message.

If you don't know the answer to something, then ask for help!
If you need something, ask for help?
If you are in trouble, ask for help!
Don't be stubborn. Just do it.

And guess what?  The majority of people out there. loved being valued enough to be asked and will most likely give you a helping hand.

Many times our assumptions can get the better of us. We assume that noone will want to help us share ideas for business, to help write that cover letter or fix up a resume or be a listening ear to talk about life's problems. Whatever it might be, you are wrong.

It takes confidence and courage to ask because being the receiver is often much much harder than being the giver.

You're worth it!

GET MOVING

It's easy to waste another day by lazing around or getting caught up doing the tasks and chores that are on your long list of to do's. Why not add getting outside to your list. The benefits of walking for even 20 minutes a day can impact your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

It costs nothing but the benefits to your health are invaluable.  

Put your health on that to do list!  One step at a time and just start.  You might even find you like it.

Have fun!

CAST YOUR EYES

Taking the time to just stop, watch and listen often is the best gift that you can give yourself.  How many leaders do you know that are wound up, stressed out and pushed to their limits?  I would guess that if asked none of them schedule in time to be alone and just to be quiet.

We need to do this on so many levels.   Emotionally it allows us to breathe and diffuse negative thoughts. Mentality it gives you a moment to allow other possibilities to present themselves to solve problems or make decisions and physically, your body will love you if you give it a chance to slow down and kick back for a moment or two.  Finally, spiritually, it may remind you that you don't always have to be in control and that 'letting go' may actually increase your life in more ways than one.  You won't ever know unless you try.  Being quiet and sitting in silence is a learned skill and a very important once that if mastered will keep you grounded, peaceful and productive.