Welcome to "Surpass Your Dreams". The goal of this newsletter is to help you recognize your potential and surpass your dreams. This month's issue will focus on getting the ball rolling today, not waiting until tomorrow.

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Is the Ball Rolling Today?
The Top Things To Assist You In Getting the Ball Rolling
Are You Ready to Roll?
Last Month
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I. IS THE BALL ROLLING TODAY?

A lot of people say they need to "get the ball rolling," but few people get the ball rolling today. Living your dreams happens in stages, and you can't get there unless you start somewhere.

So what keeps you from getting the ball rolling? Maybe you are afraid that you can't reach your dream. Or, maybe you believe you can reach your dream, but it would take too much time. Maybe you've already tried to get the ball rolling, and failed, and you are afraid of trying again.

Whatever your inner conversation is, it may be keeping you from living your dreams. True, you get to play it safe, and you don't have to make any more mistakes, but is that how you want to live your life?

So how do you get started? You push the ball. This may involve writing a letter (or sending an e-mail), making a phone call, or visiting a web-site. You already know what you have to do to get the ball rolling; it's just a matter of doing it. Pushing the ball takes courage and a belief in yourself. Trust that if the ball hits a tree, goes over a rock, or moves faster than you think it should go, you will be able to handle it.

It's ok if you are afraid in the beginning. It's natural to want to know how it's going to work out. It's ok to want to have all the answers first. What's not ok is doing nothing about it.

Trust that you will have the answers to those unanswered questions as you go through the process. And, if you don't have an answer, or something seems too hard, trust that you will find someone who will help you. Trust that you will be able to push the ball and handle it because once the ball gets rolling; you will have no choice, but to handle it. (I don't mean this in a bad way. For example, having kids. You don't have the all the answers, but you make it work because you have to. And, through this hard work and effort, comes the joy and fulfillment of knowing you are making a difference in their lives. And, in the lives of the people that your children touch. All of this is possible because you had the courage to push the ball.)

So isn't it worth it to get the ball rolling? When you think of all the wonderful things that you are not accomplishing and experiencing in your life because you are afraid to push, how can you keep yourself from pushing the ball another day?

So push the ball today, and enjoy the ride. After all, these are your dreams we are talking about!

II. THE TOP THINGS TO ASSIST YOU IN GETTING THE BALL ROLLING

Sometimes the mere thought of moving forward in our lives overwhelms us. We become so frozen in our thoughts of what we can't do, that we are unable to make a start. Remember that one thing leads to another. If you start in just one area of your life, the next will be easier, and then the next and the next. Here are some possible places to start:

1. You as a person.

What do you like about yourself? Not like? How you feel about yourself is the one thing in life that you can always hold onto throughout the good and bad times. If there are things in your life that you would like to improve, great, but be nice to yourself along the way.

2. Your thinking.

Your unconscious takes orders from the programming you give it. Do you limit yourself? Talk negatively to yourself? Find all the reasons why not? Instead, become self-aware so that you catch your negative self-messages. Then, turn them around and make them into positives. If you keep giving yourself positive messages, then over time they will become a normal part of who you are.

3. Attitude.

This is an outward manifestation of our thinking. It is what others see. Would you want to be on the receiving end of what you offer to the rest of the world? If not, why should other people? It's up to you how you view life. You get to choose every day whether your attitude will be positive or negative. You have more power over your attitude than you think.

4. Associates.

Who do you spend your time with? Are they people you are proud to know? Are they people you would be glad to see your family or your work associates spend time with? If not, what are you getting out of these relationships? Isn't it time to bring more positive people into your life so they can help you reach your goals, and live your dreams?

5. Spare time.

How do you spend it? Does it enrich you or numb you? Do you use it to contribute or to consume? When was the last time you did something that helped you get the ball rolling? It's not outside forces that are keeping you from living your dreams. Everyday you get to choose what you will do in your spare time. It is not the other way around.

6. Work.

Are you proud of what you do? Do you enjoy it? Or do you dread going to work and spend the weekdays counting the days to the next weekend? If this is the case, then it is time to do something about it. Do something. By sending out just one resume, or making one phone call, will help you feel better about your situation. You will no longer be a victim, but a person who is taking control of the situation. This is a more powerful place to be.

7. Surroundings.

Do your surroundings make you smile when you walk into a room? Have you added flowers, frills, colors, or whatever lifts your spirits when you look at it? Or, do piles and stacks of stuff just waiting to be sorted, folded or put away surround you? If it's the latter, then it's time to clean this up, and clear the way for something more positive to come your way.

8. Eating habits.

Do you use food to contribute to your health and well-being or to numb yourself? Have you tried keeping a food diary for just one week? Or, are you afraid what you might see. The first step to get the ball rolling in this area of your life is to know what you are dealing with. And chances are, it is probably not as bad as you think.

9. Exercise.

Do you put more effort into maintaining your car than into maintaining your body? We don't have to run a marathon or win an Olympic gold in order to work at maintaining the machine that we expect to carry us throughout our lives. There are so many ways to keep fit today that anyone can find something they can do, even if it is just running up and down stairs instead of using the elevator. So put the car away, and begin an exercise program today.

10. Conversations.

Who do you need to talk to? The conversation that gets the ball rolling could include speaking with the one person who knows someone who can help you. Or, they might be able to help you themselves. Sometimes we don't ask people for help because we are afraid they will say no. Give up this fear, and start speaking to people today.

This list was based on a piece written by Diana Robinson, Ph.D., Personal & Career Coach. Diana can be reached at Diana@ChoiceCoach.com

III. ARE YOU READY TO ROLL?

Taking action towards living a life you love takes courage and a belief in yourself. It also means getting out of your own way, so you can get the ball rolling, and live your dreams.

If you are ready to get the ball rolling, then Personal Coaching may be right for you.

For a Free 30-minute Telephone Coaching Session, call me at (516) 432-2440, or send an e-mail to info@surpassyourdreams.com. This session will give you the opportunity to see first hand if a personal coach is right for you. My web-site is at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com

Last month's newsletter focused on how life is not all about you.

Most of us get in trouble when we focus on ourselves. This becomes our opportunity to worry about our aches and pains, what's not working in our lives, and how other people have it so much better than we do. What a waste of time. You are an awesome human being with many strengths. If you only took the time to listen, you would learn that your friends can't stop raving about you.

So why can't we see it? Because we are focusing inward. By focusing inward, we lose out on what's going on around us. We miss all the great things about the world and the part we play by making a difference.

Life is bigger than you so you must approach it that way. It may be hard in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you will not be able to go back to living any other way.

To read this issue, as well as other past issues, check the newsletter archive list at the top of the page.

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Dr. Donald E. Wetmore, a full-time Professional Speaker, one of the foremost experts on Time Management & Personal Productivity, and the author of "Beat the Clock" would like to know if you would like to receive a free copy of his article, "The Five Top Time Management Mistakes". If you do, email your request for "mistakes" to: ctsem@msn.com.

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Have a great month!

Deborah

Copyright © 2000, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute text from the newsletter or the content in its entirety so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author (Deborah J. Brown) is attached.

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