Tuesday Truth or Dare: It's a Compliment Thing

Truth: Wishing and waiting for others to give you a compliment won't make it happen.  Yes, it would be fabulous if your great work or gourmet cooking or volunteer time were acknowledged with a compliment.  But the sad truth is most of our goodness is not recognized even with the simplest of gestures: a compliment.  Lack of compliments damages our self-worth and starts a negative pattern of questioning,  We begin to wonder whether or not we are good enough.

Dare:  Give yourself compliments!   When you finish a task including washing the kitchen floor, take a second to tell yourself "Great Job!".  After you get dressed, look in the mirror and say "I'm rocking this outfit!".  When you donate your stuff to charity or go and walk a shelter dog, pat yourself on the back for your good deed.

7 day Challenge: 

Commit to a Daily Compliment just for You!  

Commit to Giving Away a Compliment Every Day!  

Accept all Compliments with a Gracious Thank You!

My Compliment To You:

You are simply amazing and that's the truth!

So, What Are You Going to Do About It?

I have clients who will say to me I want to be like you to which I respond You Can with a little work and authenticity!  There is no magic pill, potion or spell that I can prescribe that will make you get up in the morning with a smile on your face looking forward to the day as an adventure in the making.  The prescription writer is YOU!

Not too long ago I found myself dreading the mornings.  I would wake up thinking yuck, another friggin' day, when will this end, what is the purpose of getting up!  I was dreary to say the least with absolutely no plans for the future and nothing to look forward to.  I was on the cusp of filling my prescription for anti-depressants. I was low and the few friends I had probably hated to hear from me.

I had no money.  I had a dead-end job in a big shiny corporate office.  I squeezed myself into a subway car at a god-awful hour of the morning to be surrounded by miserable looking lemmings.  I had a relationship that had run its course.  I had decided that my present and future would be lonely, broke, and defeated.

Sound Familiar?!?  I'm sure there are folks reading this right now who can relate to how I was feeling about life and you're wondering how did I turn it around.

It started with a good and true friend.  They are the friends who ask you the hard questions.  These are the friends you want.  Tip:  Get rid of the nodders! Nodders are your "pretend" friends - the ones who nod and agree with everything you say.  

We were having a coffee and I was doing my usual life is so rotten, I hate my life, blah, blah, blah.  She kept asking me one question:

So, What Are You Going to Do About It?

What a stupid, irritating question!  I was livid.  I wanted her to find the solution for me, NOW!  For some odd reason, my friend wouldn't cooperate and kept asking me that question.  I went home and decided I would not be friends with her anymore which of course, added to my Down on Life Story.  

A strange thing was happening though.....I couldn't get that question out of my head!  When I would think about my finances and wanted to wallow in self-pity, this little voice would ask "Well, Susan, what are you going to do about it?"  The question followed me everyday and everywhere. I wanted to answer the question just so it would go away!

Because of my encounter with a true friend, I learned two very important steps to get me on my way to writing a new chapter.  To begin writing yours, complete these steps:

1. Honestly think about your friends and family and determine who are the "nodders".  Nodders will not help you in your journey.  Drop them from your friends list and replace them with true friends who will ask you to be accountable to you.
2. When you find yourself feeling down because you're thinking about your debts, or how you will never be able to travel to Australia, or how you will be stuck in your dead-end job forever,

STOP, take a deep breath and ask

"So, ____________, what are you going to do about it?

Remove the nodders and keep asking "what am I going to do about this" and you're on your way to writing a new chapter in your life. Oh, and feeling so much better about all the opporuntities that are waiting for you!

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Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people discover and live their ideal life through NLP, Mindfulness, and G.R.A.C.E. Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Your Baggage-Free Life Begins with GRACE-ful Steps

Following up on my last post where I told my personal story of moving from Victim to Survivor to Thriver, I want to talk about how I healed and created my Big, Bold, Baggage-Free Life.

My journey from feeling small, worthless and deeply unhappy to an amazing and wonderful life filled with joy, happiness, and endless opportunities, was not smooth or without ups and downs.

But it was so worth it and I highly recommend taking the first step: Gratitude, Gratitude and More Gratitude

A friend introduced to me to the idea of keeping a Gratitude Journal and I remember thinking at the time "what a ridiculous idea!"  What on earth did I have to be grateful for?

She gently asked me to just do it for a week and if it's not adding positive value to your life, then stop.

The first day I opened my journal I sat and stared at the blank page and sighed.  My mind was blank and then it occurred to me that I had spoken with my baby girl that day and for that I was grateful!

That was my first entry and 20 years later, I am a faithful keeper of a Gratitude Journal!  It starts my day and ends my day.

Gratitude began my healing journey.  It opened my mind and my heart to what I had and all the amazing possibilities that were waiting for me.

Practicing Gratitude every day saved me from becoming a bitter, angry, lonely, depressed old hag and for that I am truly grateful.

Gratitude helped me begin the important process of Letting Go.  
Releasing all of my negative labels and emotions and putting my past in the past where it belonged.

There are 5-Steps in my GRACE-ful steps program:

Gratitude - What am I Grateful For?
Release (Letting Go) - What Can I Release (Let Go)?
Authentic You - How Can I be Authentically Me?
Challenge - What is my Next Challenge?
Embrace - What Can I Embrace as Possible?

I'll explore more about Release in my next post and continue the journey through all the steps.

Your life is so much more than the pain, anxiety, and despair you're feeling.  You can have a big, bold, baggage-free life.

It's waiting for you on the other side of the pain. All it takes to get there is one step at a time.  You can do this and you'll be glad you did.

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Tuesday Truth or Dare: It's a Complaining Thing

Time for Tuesday Truth or Dare!

Truth:  Yesterday I was out and about running some errands.  The errands took me to the bank, grocery store, clothing store and a local wellness centre.  What stood out to me was the amount of complaining I heard!  

People were complaining about everything - the line-up, the weather, their neighbour, the airline, their job, traffic, the driver that cut them off, and so on.  

I was amazed at how much valuable time people were spending on complaining, criticizing and gossiping.  Definite negative moods and attitudes.

Dare:  Change Your Perspective:  When a potentially negative situation comes up (standing in a long line at the grocery store), change your perspective and turn it into a positive moment.  I can escape and read the gossip magazines or I now have the chance to take a deep breath and just be. Stuck in traffic - listen to some great music and enjoy.

Airline - you are going or have been on a trip - speaks for itself!

10 day Challenge: Vow to not complain, criticize, or gossip for 10 days. If you slip, start again, and keep going. Vow to not waste your precious energy on negative thoughts and actions.

Notice your day-to-day world from a point of gratitude and be amazed at all the goodness you take for granted

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people Live a Baggage-Free Life.

Living Baggage-Free begins with Grace-ful steps.  Download your free G.R.A.C.E. ebook when you sign up for my newsletter.  

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

My Personal Journey from Victim to Survivor to Thriver

It happened in a split second and I almost let it negatively change my life forever.  But I didn't and I'm so grateful.

I loved him and I trusted him and then he hit me and choked me and sexually assaulted me and cheated on me.  I was devastated. My world was crashing down around me and I felt betrayed, powerless, worthless and humiliated.

I found a small bit of the feisty me and charged him.  In Ontario, the police file the charges and he was arrested and put in jail.  And then the insult upon injury happened - his girlfriend bailed him out of jail!

So it ended. I was unceremoniously thrust into the label of "victim".  At the time it satisfied many of my needs. I could cry and whine.  I could drink excessively.  I could feel sorry for myself.  I could be self-destructive.  I could treat men like garbage.  I could be a righteous bitch. I could believe that it was okay because I WAS A VICTIM!

I had other negative labels that had been attached by "that guy" - loser, stupid, useless, ugly, fat, etc.  You catch my drift.

There I was stuck with labels and limiting beliefs that were certainly not the kind to live a vibrant and happy life.

I longed for the me that was free and confident and could do anything she set her mind too.  I wanted to find her again and love her and be her.  I wanted to fulfill my dreams.

Underneath all the labels I had acquired was "me" and I wanted her back.  I wanted to write new chapters for my life.  Chapters that were filled with happiness, brightness, joy, passion and life.

I wanted to reclaim my light spirit and I did.

I met a friend who dedicated her life to helping others and was very successful.  She told me that words have power and that by changing my words, I would begin to change my life and find the me I had lost.  

That day I changed my biggest negative label Victim to Survivor. Immediately, it had a positive impact on my behaviour and it boosted my self-confidence and my will to achieve my goals and dreams.

I was coming back.  I was scared to let go but I knew that I couldn't embrace new beginnings while I was hanging onto the past.

It was a journey and sometimes I felt I would never be able to live a life light of heart.  But I persevered.   I accepted the challenge and stepped into my life beyond the hurt.

I have successfully achieved many of my goals - learning to drive, graduating with honours from the University of Toronto, travelling and experiencing vibrant countries and falling in love again.

Me and my beautiful daughter on my wedding day!

It is possible to get your life back after a traumatic setback.  Not only can you get it back, it will be bigger and bolder than it was before.

I can confidently declare myself a "Thriver" who's loving life every minute of every day.

I let go of the past and

embraced my bright future.

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people Live a Baggage-Free Life.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Tuesday Truth or Dare: It's a Nature Thing

Time for Tuesday Truth or Dare!

Truth:  Nature is all around us.  We are surrounded by natural landscapes, parks, trees and water.  Even when the weather is less than perfect, nature is still there.  We spend most of our time inside and away from nature.  Even when we step outside, we're looking at our cell phones and not our natural environment. If we're inside or looking at our phones, we won't benefit from the healing power of our natural world.  

Dare:  Go outside.  Leave all your electronic gadgets in the office, at home or in the car.  Take a walk to a park and sit on a bench.  Look around and really see and notice.  Listen and breath slowly.  Smile at passersby.  Feel the sun on your face or the cool breeze.  Focus on the moment ONLY!  Mark time in calendar every day that is reserved for quiet time in a natural setting.  Do it and you will reduce stress and increase your wellbeing exponentially.  It's well worth the investment.

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people Live a Baggage-Free Life.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Tuesday Truth or Dare: It's Giving Thing

Time for Tuesday Truth or Dare!

Truth:  When was the last time you looked around at all your stuff and wondered what your life would be like if you got rid of it.  We tend to put a lot of value on stuff and possessions.  The more we have the more we want.  Sometimes it feels we will never have happiness because we don't have enough stuff or the right stuff. 

Dare:  It's time to let go! Open a cupboard or drawer or closet and find 3 things to giveaway.  No hesitating.  Just pick it and give it away. Pick one day each week that you will spend 15 minutes gathering stuff to give away. After a month, sit down and write a list of the stuff you gave away. You'll discover you can't remember all the stuff.  Why?  Because it wasn't that important in the first place.

You can read about the negative impact of coveting by clicking Here

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people Live a Baggage-Free Life.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

 

Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people discover and live a Baggage-Free life through NLP, Mindfulness, and G.R.A.C.E. Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Want Your Life to Change? You Have to get Naked First

It's impossible to change your clothes without getting naked.  You have to strip down to your bareness in order to rebuild your outfit. Once you strip down, you can add the layers of clothing that "feel right for you".

The same applies to your life!

You may have no idea what is making you feel depressed, angry, sad, confused, hopeless.

That's the time to start stripping!  Layer by layer - stripping off to find all the shit you're really holding on to.  What baggage you're dragging around with you.  What it's time to let go of!

When you want to achieve lasting change, you have to strip away your life-layers!  Peeling each one away to get them off once and for all.

Look in the Mirror

Your naked-life begins with your Personal Discovery Session where you ask yourself:

• What is not working in my life right now?

Write an honest, open, naked assessment of what is not working in your life.  Relationships, career, friends, children, finances, family, health, fun, leisure, personal growth and learning.  

Start Stripping

Here's where the ripping off the layers begins.  Ask yourself "Why" it's not working for you.

Why?  Is it because you're still angry or upset about something that happened at some point in the past?  Is it because you feel you were hurt or disrespected in some way?  Is it because you feel you are unworthy of something better?  Do you feel you are justified in your why?

Answering your "why" requires honesty and sometimes painful introspection.  You will be asking yourself how did I get here and what were the events in my life that had a significant impact.

Our lives are built from experiences.  Some are happy, some are sad and some are traumatic.  Each adds a life-layer and as time goes by, we start to feel weighed down by our baggage, what we're carrying around with us every minute of every day.  

The Naked Truth

Now it's time to truly look at your "why" to discover the naked truth.  To get to it, ask yourself:

1. What am I holding on to this for?  
2. What purpose does it serve?

The answer will show you how you are robbing yourself of happiness now by being overloaded with baggage from your past.

Now that you have a snapshot of what you're holding on to and why, you can see clearly where you are now and where you would like to be.

Take Naked Action

Commit to taking action now while you're naked and ready to change into a brand new and improved you.

Write 3 quick goals or actions you will take that will have a positive and lasting impact on your life.  Choose the areas in you life where you discovered you have the most baggage. 

Give your goals a timeframe - I will complete action 1 by ____date___.

Keep going, keep letting go and opening your life up to new adventures and opportunities.  

Join Me for a 4-Week Virtual Program

and Spring Clean Your Life

Click Here for all the Juicy Details

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people Live a Baggage-Free Life.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people discover and live a Baggage-Free life through NLP, Mindfulness, and G.R.A.C.E. Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

30 Spring Affirmations - Inspiration for Change & Renewal

Spring is a time of renewal and change and a fabulous time to review your current life situation.  Affirmations can be a powerful tool to help you change your mood, state of mind, and manifest the change you desire in your life.

Affirmations want to be repeated daily either in writing or aloud.

Speak the affirmation out loud three times a day or when needed! Or write out the affirmation several times in a notebook.

Every time you write or say your affirmation, you are reinforcing your new positive belief and overwriting your old negative one.

Here are 30 Positive Affirmations to get you started.

I am beautiful, capable, and lovable. I am valuable.

I love myself unconditionally and nurture myself in every way.
 
I trust my inner guidance.  

I am successful and Life is effortless and easy.

The universe supports my process and my success.

Abundance is present for me here and now.

I have abundance in friends, money, creativity and love.

I am open to the love, devotion and respect of another.

The perfect partner is waiting for me right now.

I am attracted only to those relationships that are open, honest, and healthy for me.

I maintain healthy boundaries in all my relationships.

I am surrounding by loving, supportive, and positive people.

My relationships are passionate, exciting, and fun.
 
All my relationships are based on integrity and respect.

I relate easily to people in all kinds of situations.
 
I am comfortable and confident in all my relationships.

I exercise regularly, I have plenty of vitality and energy

I take care of my physical body, am kind to it and feed it well.

I sleep deeply each night, I have tremendous stamina

I am extremely creative, I enjoy coming up with new ideas

I like to meet in harmony with my positive minded friends to mastermind my goals.

I start each day with enthusiasm, eager to act.

I am creative and resourceful and have all the abilities I need to succeed.

I love challenges and learn from every situation in my life.

I live every day with power and passion.

I feel strong and excited, passionate and powerful.

I feel tremendous confidence that I can do anything.

I am timeless being and awareness.

I have no shape, no name.

Before all beginnings, after all endings, I am. I am Love itself.

Join Me for a 4-Week Virtual Program

and Spring Clean Your Life

Click Here for all the Juicy Details

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people Live a Baggage-Free Life.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook