Shera R. Sever: Igniting the Spark™

It’s the new year and according to almost everybody, not just any new year ..

it’s 2012!- the long awaited for and anticipated year of great change, transformation and awakening ! 

There is so much information from various cultural/historical, and religious perspectives about what this year is going to be.  What I believe is going to most important this year is  RESILIENCE, i.e. the ability to adapt to  change quickly and with ease, the ability to be comfortable with not-knowing, while staying clearly focused on and in integrity with your intentions. Trust is a golden word for 2012.

Yes.  . .and what about GOALS?

From a neural programming standpoint, establishing a goal is different from achieving it.

To establish goals, you use the declarative, explicit part of your brain. Achieving goals, however, means changing your behavior, which involves an entirely separate brain region. Many psychologists, coaches, and facilitators familiar with NLP know that your brain becomes accustomed to certain patterns and if you don’t retrain your brain to release some of the patterns of thought (core beliefs)  that you have, you won’t be able to  release some of the behaviors that are responsible for your results. Instead,  all you’re going to do is gather more information supporting your current situation.

Fortunately, we can retrain the brain.

Here are 5 techniques that you can start TODAY to do just that:

TECHNIQUE 1:  Start by having a clear picture in your head of the biggest, boldest, most fulfilling life that you can imagine living. IMAGINE THIS:
YOU: A healthy, vibrant, joyful abundant being living in full integrity with your deepest desires, values, and soul purpose. Positively contributing to the well-being of your friends, family, communities, and our world!
What does this look like? How do you feel? Who are your co-creators, players, and collaborators? WHERE are you?

Now, write about who you are and what you’re doing in glorious detail, because you are there!

TECHINQUE 2:  Imagine it is December 31, 2012. Imagine you are looking back over the year 2012 and reflecting on all the wonderful, successful outcomes you had. See them. Touch them. Feel them. (It is through the power of emotion that we manifest our heart’s true desires.)

Now take pen (or computer) in hand and write yourself a letter describing everything that happened in 2012.

What do you have in your life on December 31, 2012, that you are grateful for?  Maybe a new job or career; your book published and on the best seller list,  you soul partner? Or  you may have a new home, a more stable financial situation, better health, a changed lifestyle where you spend are doing the things you really want to do. Whatever it is, write it down. Be specific. For instance, if it’s increased income say how much.

Now, take a look at each item and see decide what action steps you took during the year 2012 and when you took them that produced the wonderful outcomes you are enjoying. Write those actions in your 2012 calendar, indicating when they took place.  Examples: Final draft of book and publishing plan in hands of publisher August 1, 2012. Closed escrow on new home, April 30, 2012.

Now, put the letter away, and review it only when you feel you are off track, need to re-focus and be re-inspired.

TECHINQUE 3: Build Your Vision-Create a Vision Board
To force your brain to change, you’ve got to “create a bigger vision than you’ve got right now. ” You’ve got to BLOW it OUT! Setting goals is just one strategy in helping us focus. Intention and attention are the most powerful elements of manifestation

Having a daily visual reminder assists in reprogramming your brain.  Vision Boards keep you on track and on purpose with your dreams and declarations  by adding fuel to the flame of your deepest longings and desires.  I’ve been creating vision boards now for 7 years and leading Ignite Your Vision Board workshops in my community.  By utilizing Technique 1 or 2  above, you will have laid the groundwork for finding the visuals for your vision board (from magazines, old calendars, postcards, photos). There are many ways to lay out a Vision Board, all of which I teach in  my workshop.  Waking up every morning and looking at your Vision Board retrains the brain for what is possible! 

TECHNIQUE 4: Commit to your “inner-cise” every single day of every single week, no matter what by giving attention to  Self Care with daily meditation, yoga or  prayer.

Move your beautiful body with daily aeorbics, walks, marital arts, swimming, biking  ( the sky really is the limit).  And raise your own bar with  conscious nutrition. Keep your diet  akaline  and buy local, organic produce as much as possible. Start a community garden. Work to stop  GMO’s. Help others do the same.

Technique 5: To be happy, be with Happy People who Dare to Dream Together!

I believe we are all being called upon in  2012  to allow a new dream for ourselves and the world to emerge. It’s not enough to write out a short vision or list a particular goal. In order to step into the next greatest expression of your soul’s highest desires, we must dare to dream. We must allow a dream that already exists   deep in our souls to come to the front of your conscious awareness. So  ASK, LISTEN, and RECEIVE.

Happy New Era!

What’s Inner Ecology?

It’s inner balance, clarity,  & motivation. It’s personal integrity. It’s an alignment of your desires and life purpose.

How’s Your Inner Ecology? Is it time for a tune-up?

Do you need a grounding chord, a compass, or a new lens?

Are you in transition? Are you ready to reinvent yourself?

Through March 31, 2011, I am offering you an opportunity to contribute to a healthier, greener economy while giving your” inner ecology” a spring cleaning by investing in any one (or all!) of my 3 coaching programs:

You, Inc. Career Coaching

Demystifying Social Media Marketing

Awakening Entrepreneurs Business Consulting

I believe that the future of America depends upon an assertive commitment to creating a environmentally sustainable, social just, and personally fulfilling presence on our planet.  Aggressive investing in Clean Energy,  Sustainable Technologies, and Green Building is essential.

As part of my personal commitment to this, I am donating 20% of my business consulting & coaching revenues from Feb. 15- March 31  to a Micro-Grant Fund supporting

Van Jones’s Green Jobs For All Initiative.

Are you ready to invest in your own inner ecology AND a greener economy?

Click here for more information on my 3, 6 , or 10 week coaching programs.

In our coaching sessions, I can promise you a potent, focused,  transformational journey with on-going support to reach extraordinary goals in your business and your personal life.

If you are a new client, I offer complimentary sessions.

You can also give the gift of coaching to a friend, colleague, or loved one, by purchasing a gift certificate .

Transform your life, change the world!

February 15- March 31: 20% of your investment is tax-deductable

and will be donated to the Green for All Micro-Grant Fund which supports 100 grant recipients across the USA

Thank you for contributing to a healthier, greener economy.

Like you, I  have  been receiving many wishes for this new year, with suggestions and encouragement for settings goals, intentions, and making resolutions for change.

As we said farewell to 2010, we may have reflected upon where we are and where we are going. .  .how satisfied we are with our lives, our relationships, our communities, the condition of our planet, and what we are committed to changing.

We also may have asked ourselves:

How well have I loved? What small part have I played in making the lives of other people better?

What were your 2010 highlights? Holding gratitude for all that has occurred in the past year allows us to move forward open and ready to receive.

And now it’s 2011

As you are conjuring your new year, ask yourself what is it that you want to create, personally and collectively? A new career or business? New daily rituals that uplift your spirit and honor your health? A new home? How can you simplify your life? And how can you contribute to the sustainability of your community and our fragile planet? How much more can you love?

Hold this vision. What are you doing? Where? Describe the environment (sounds, colors, temperature). What activities and people are involved in this vision? How do you feel at the end of the day or week?

Now, imagine it’s Dec. 31, 2011. You are sharing with a friend how magnificient 2011 has been for you, your business, your family and community. What will you say? What “miracles” did you create? Be specific, give dates.*

If it’s humanly possible, you can do it!

I believe that 2011 is the Time to get our of our Comfort Zones and take a huge LEAP. Reach out and connect with your spiritual tribe of kindred souls; those that have the same yearnings and concerns that you do. Engage in dialog. Discover the deeper purpose that unites us. It’s a year of engagement. Above all let love guide the way.

If you feel fear, experience  resistance, or a block in doing the above exercise ask yourself:  What is preventing me  from claiming my vision and playing a bigger (or new) game?

As your coach, I am here to help you move through your resistance, excavate a clear, exciting vision.

What would it be like to live in alignment with your purpose and truly experience a year unlike any other?  What would it feel like to jump out of bed every morning, ignited with passion for your life, your work , and the unique contributions you are making in the world.

Curious? .. .Ready to make that change?  Contact me to discover more.

You may have heard this true story from several years ago:

THE SITUATION
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. 

About 4 minutes later : The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes :
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent – without exception – forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

After one hour :
He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

How many things are you missing this holiday season, as you rush through your days to get it all done?  Just like nature in her stillness of the approaching solstice, take some time to slow down and appreciate the beauty and miracle of the moment.

Success Principles start with taking 100% total responsibility for everything in your life. It’s mid-year, 2010.

Take a look at the goals you set for yourself, your family, community, your business, your employees and clients at the beginning of the year. Where are you in your achievement and level of fulfillment and satisfaction?

All success starts with 100% personal responsibility and accountability.

Here is a great little exercise, that when completed, is a powerful jump start for goal refinement, redefining your direction, taking new action.

This can  be used for personal assessment,  as well as in pair and small group discussions around community building, team building, employee engagement, and more.

I
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for my life, I would. . .(state action)
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for my happiness,  I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for my health and fitness, I would. . .
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for  the quality of my relationships, I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for the effectiveness of my business, I would. . .
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for the development of my employees, I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for quality of life in my community, I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for the health of this planet, I would. . .

Just think if BP could honestly answer these questions.

Thanks to Jack Canfield for inspiring this exercise

I’m sure many of you have seen Julie & Julia, the film with master actress, Meryl Streep, starring in  possibly one of her very best roles as Julia Child. Streep so rightly earned the Golden Globe Awards for best actress a few nights ago.

And we saw the character of Julie Powell (Amy Adams), offering us an inspiringly candid reminder of self-mastery qualities: Vision, Passion, Focus, Practice, Set-Backs, Failures, Commitment, Discipline, Courage. Julie Powell set a very specific and ambitious 365-day goal, and achieved it- actually superceded it.  She became a master, by self-mastery.

As we enter a new decade, we are all crafting  our vision maps for what we would like to master this year and beyond.

What would you what would you like to master this year? A new leadership role, a published book, a new business, a long forgotten passion, a new sport or language, buying or selling your home,  reducing your footprint, living more simply, or possibly just having more compassion for self and others?

The time of the lone wolf is over- none of us can do it alone. If you need a jump start on your master plan, I invite you to contact me by Feb. 1 to a schedule a complimentary call. Let’s discover how we can best work together this year.

The future is now! What do you want to create?

In 2010, anything you desire strongly will manifest quickly.

We have a chance to reorient ourselves, bring our wishes into manifestation and truly assert what we want to be. We are literally dreaming our new realities into being.

The more creative we are in dealing with what has held us back in the old consciousness, the more healing will take place within ourselves and as a result in the world around us. Continue focusing on your highest truth and reinventing your lives.

There is a quickening and a deepening of our life directions. We are anchoring our dreams into manifestation and becoming more grounded in our own light. This is a time of great reward for those of us who have done our homework.

Happy Holidays!

What a wonderful time of year for giving and receiving, sharing love and reNEWal!

If you survived the last 3-6 months with your sense of humor still intact, take a moment now to CONGRATULATE yourself for your amazing navigation and accepting “what is” skills.

A friend recently shared this wonderful reminder with me:

LIFE is an endless transition. Go with the flow, change the flow, surrender to the flow,

be the flow, create the flow… the essence of the flow is: Transition

When we look at nature (biomimicry) we see how true this is.

It’s been quite a time of transition and reorganization for so many!

Most everyone with whom I speak has commented on the “intensity ” of the times with many of us undergoing, slow, yet massive changes in our homes, careers, businesses, and relationships. I believe we are all undergoing a collective re-organization.

What has changed for you this past year?

How are you reorganizing your life/business?

Any new approaches/attitudes you’d like to share?

The on-going theme for me  is SIMPLIFY. I didn’t realize how complicated simplification could be. It takes tremendous courage and trust to get out of our own way, surrender, and let go! As all manifestors know, the clarity of our intentions along with committed action/discipline is what creates “so-called” miracles.

Now is a wonderful time to move from hoping to knowing/feeling what it is we are creating in these times.

“Everything comes to us that belongs to us when we create the capacity to receive it.” -Rabindranath Tagore

Clarity, love, acceptance, and gratitude are wonderful gifts to give and receive. In this holiday season, I am wishing us all more ease, beauty, moments of peace and rest, more compassion and understanding as we continue to navigate and reinvent our lives, businesses, and relationships.

Change cleanses the soul. Enjoy the ride and be kind to your fellow travelers.

Wishing you warm and happy holidays!

I’ve been a member of  publisher Dave Riflan’s  Self Growth Community for over a year now. He/we just published  a new e-book:

“How to Survive & Thrive During the Economic Crisis”

I contributed to several sections including “How Do You Keep a Positive Mindset”

A few of my tips:

Turn off the news-or choose Good News for a Change at All-Top

Focus on what you want (rather than what you don’t want).

Take time everyday to tap into your inner wisdom with meditation, yoga, or some other form of body/mind/spirit discipline.

Laugh and Smile more- it’s the second best thing you can do with your lips!

Learn a new skill (or language)!

Do more with less-it cultivates creativity

Practice the Attitude of Gratitude- write down 20 people/things/places you are grateful for- DAILY!

“How to Survive & Thrive During the Economic Crisis”

Download now It’s our gift to you!

An article this past weekend in the NY Times referred to a new phenomena in todays’ economy, what Mark V. Cannice, Executive Director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of San Francisco calls “Forced Entrepreneurship.”

According to the article, the motivation for these new “forced” entrepreneurs (mostly laid off GenY job seekers)  is to produce quick revenue streams, rather than millions of dollars over the long term.  Jerome S. Engel, Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Berkeley Haas School of Business, most of these “forced entrepreneurs” are focusing on serving immediate needs for individuals and businesses.

“Forced Entrepreneurship” . . . maybe, or . . ?

What if this whole economic shift is yet another opportunity for us (personally and collectively) to awaken to our purpose?  What would that look that?  How would it FEEL to be living in purpose with our work while making the contributions and leaving the legacy that we so desire to offer to our communities and the world.

Is the “job” obsolete?

Imagine starting a business, not with “forced” entrepreneurship, but with deliberate intention- a choice that is in alignment with our values, priorities, gifts, and passions. What if we declared “the job is obsolete?” Plenty of other laid-off workers across the country are doing just that- burned out by a merciless job market- they are building business plans instead of sending out résumés. For these people, recession has become the mother of innovation and reinvention.

Reinvent Yourself!

Whether you are looking for a  personal career branding plan (including social media marketing tools)   or ready to lay the foundation for that long-held dream  enterprise (even part-time),

NOW IS THE TIME!

Contact me for a complimentary consultation (through April 10).

Stay tuned for my NEW!

” INNOVATION & REINVENTION“

6-week coaching program starting in April.

THE FUTURE IS NOW!

I think this recession is a phenomena much more exciting than an economic downturn-

It feels more like a planetary upswing, and right now we are on quite a ride!

It’s a collective transformation and a huge opportunity for all of us to not only live more authentically and in purpose, but to live more simply with less consumerism, less waste, and much more attention to the health and wellness of each other and the planet.

Compassion in Action. Intentional Acts of Kindness.

There is an increasing shared consciousness  that we really are all in this together.

By letting go of the cultural influences of “entitlement” and the illusions of what “security” is,

we ‘re growing up!

Would love to hear your comments- include your website.