How Will I Measure My Life...
Core Values:
When comparing the person I am today with my ideal self I notice gaps that I am striving to close through identifying attributes I want to display and creating my personal core values. As I am gaining a clear sense of the type of person I hope to become, I am committed to visiting my "holy ground" to ponder and pray - searching for answers and a concrete plan that will get me from where I am today and where I would like to be in the future. Identifying core values that I esteem to be of great worth has been an empowering experience. I have identified being virtuous, honest, inspiring, dependable, grateful, humble, respectful, reliable, and loving as core values that are important to me becoming the person I want to become. Through this experience, I have not only had the opportunity to ponder and reflect what I see my core values to be, but also took the time to define what these attributes mean to me and expand my definition into an active statements, while writing positive affirmations. This experience has been an eye-opening incredible experience. I have learned so much about myself through this opportunity.
Deconstructing My Fears:
Starting a business is something my husband and I have talked about for years. We have both dabbled in business ideas and opportunities, but have allowed fear to prevent execution. I know for me personally, I spend hours a day thinking about what I should start, how I should invest, and what more I could be doing. Yet, I let fear get the best of me. This week I was taught how to manage those fears by creating a list of my greatest fears - 1 - Losing my family's life-long savings and/or going into to debt to a business that fails. 2 - Damaging my relationship with my family by placing all my attention to my business. 3 - Failure in general. Realizing I am terrible at my business and failing miserably. 4 - Starting a business I later realize I do not enjoy and being tied to an obligation that does not bring me joy.
After identifying those fears I created a strategy to mitigate risk and identified a way back to status quo. This is exactly what I needed to do. As I created a strategy to mitigate risk for each risk identified, I was putting together my must do before opening a business list as well experiencing less fear. Being prepared is the key and knowing how to overcome my "biggest nightmares" was so eye opening. If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear (D&C 38:30).
Little Things Are Important:
We have all read the scripture "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" - Alma 37:6. This scripture has always been one I have held tightly to and have applied in my life in various moments. This week it hit me again - only this time in a different way. I spend hours agonizing over what I want to do and become. I want to invest in business opportunities and I want so badly to start a program in a third world country that would be life changing, but I spend more energy thinking about my end all goal (of which I still don't know what is) than I do actually doing. I spent time thinking of the perfect and grandiose life changing event rather than working daily on the small things that will eventually lead me there. Among those "little things" include working on my relationships with myself, others and God. As I strengthen, little steps at a time, my relationships, I will discover my calling in life and will gain some great relationships along the way.
Do What You Love:
Could this be any more important? "Do what you love because you'll be better, you'll be willing to put in the extra time; the extra mental energy because you love it" (Tom Kelly - Do What You Love). I was posed with questions such as what are you good at? What are you born to do? What will people pay you to do? What am I born to do? and Who are you going to work with? This was powerful to me. I am a big believer that I need to do what I enjoy and not marry myself to a job or career that does not bring me joy. I will continue to keep a log of responses to these questions. My immediate responses were: I am good at helping others improve. I am good at seeing a need and filling a need. I was born to serve others. People will pay me to coach their kids in volleyball. I am going to work with other coaches who are positive and share the same values. This is a list I will continue to build on and keep record of.
Lifelong Learning:
Magdalena Yesil was a true example of perseverance, strength, hard work, and determination. While all of those are amazing qualities to have and develop, her example of being a lifelong learner - what I like to call a student of students is what touched me the most. She accomplished so many huge milestones in her life, yet she never stopped learning. In every experience she was having and pursuing, her desire and ability to learn more opened so many doors for her. She engaged in a lifelong learning pattern - constantly looking for what she could do more and better than others. Learning is empowering and can be used so much to benefit others. Learning is freedom.
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