Ready to live bigger? Start with these 5 steps!
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Most accomplished women I talk with express a desire to live a truly balanced and fulfilling life. While they yearn to show up fully every day, have an impact, and thrive, many confide that they feel limited and frustrated in their efforts to make that vision their reality.
Most take on too much.
Some don’t advocate for what they want — in their professional lives and in personal relationships.
They put their needs (for self-care, pursuit of personal interests, quiet time and more) behind those of others.
They compromise.
While they love the idea of living their biggest life, it does not feel natural for many of them to think of changing the ways they currently operate. Or they simply do not know where to begin to make changes.
Some even feel that the idea of living big may be too much — too much to expect for themselves, and/or too hard to achieve.
You cannot think too big, or live too big
One thing I know to be true is that all of us can learn, small step followed by small step, to show up fully in the world.
We can create the lives we yearn for!
We can overcome our doubts and limitations to pursue all that we desire and to have our biggest impact.
Can you embrace this truth?
When you choose to pursue your biggest life, I urge you to be mindful that making significant changes is a process that unfolds over time.
These 5 steps will get the ball rolling.
1. Start with one small shift
When you start with new awareness, add commitment, and are willing to be patient as you make small shifts, you will begin to experience meaningful change.
And you can build on that change over time.
Here is a great place to start:
Ask yourself what small change will have the biggest impact for you now?
Maybe it’s getting more sleep.
Maybe it’s speaking up more clearly and boldly for something important.
Maybe it’s saying “No” without feeling guilty.
Maybe you will choose something else.
Make a choice!
2. Focus on that change
To help you stay focused, make reminders for yourself.
Use your phone, or put colored post-it notes on your desk, your bathroom mirror, your coffee-maker, and your laptop.
You can ask for help from a trusted friend. They can be a sounding board, and might text you every day at a particular time to see how it’s going.
Be creative and have fun with ways to keep yourself focused on this meaningful change.
3. Make a plan
For instance, if more rest is key for you now, will you get to bed earlier? Might you take a power nap at a time when your energy drops?
If you want to feel less discomfort saying “No,” you might journal in the morning and write about why it is important for you to stop crowding your days with obligations to others, rather than yourself.
Then, if you know a request is pending, or someone is waiting for an answer, or you simply want to be forearmed, take some time to practice kind ways to decline the request.
4. Track your progress
Subtle changes can be hard to notice. Keep a small journal, or a running record on a device, to record the daily efforts you make and the outcomes you experience.
Take note of what works and what does not meet your expectations so you build on positive approaches. And note specific outcomes as they occur.
If you have an accountability buddy or a coach, ask for feedback as you share your progress and your outcomes.
And acknowledge your progress — even small shifts are worthy of celebrating! It is the small shifts that become new habits, and your new normal.
5. Keep going!
As you bring small changes into your life, and experience the way they enhance your wellbeing, momentum will build.
You will be ready to identify and embrace new changes you want to make, and you will likely feel increased confidence and enthusiasm about pursuing them.
This is how living big works.
As we each expand and live the satisfying life we desire today, we see more and more opportunity ahead.
We can all continue to step up and live with even more passion and authenticity and joy. And our impact is amplified as we continue to shine more and more brightly.
I invite you to join me on this path of expansion. My dream is for all of us to live all of our greatness. Let’s Live Big together!
(And if you’d like to share your vision of your biggest life, I’d be delighted to hear about it. Email me and we’ll make a date to talk.)
