Friend-ly Motivation

I’ve been blessed with amazing friends, but there’s a part of me that’s been holding back from telling them about Live Love Life Now™.

But this week, I felt ready to confide in one of my childhood friends. After I sent the email, I started to worry about what she’d think of all my rambling thoughts. Would she get it? Would she like it? Would she think I was crazy?

Her response?

“I LOVE IT! I think you have a real eye and I like the vibe and message you’re going for…I have no doubt that you can do it.”

With a big smile on my face, I wondered what I’d been scared of all along? The support and encouragement felt amazing and was just what I needed. My confidence started to grow and I felt less scared about sharing my ideas with others.

The Moral? Don’t be afraid to share your dreams with your family and close friends. Their encouragement and support will be all the extra fuel you’ll need to keep going.

The First Baby Steps are the Hardest, Especially in Ice Skates

One down – nine to go!

Even though the execution was far from spectacular, it was a glorious feeling to glide inch across the ice in my pair of rental skates this weekend.

You see it was a victory on more than one level. It’s been close to twenty years since I last laced up because I’ve always let my fear (of falling, hitting my head, my knee, any part of my body really) keep me away. But for the past few years, I’ve been hearing about the outdoor ice rink in the sculpture garden downtown and wanting to experience it firsthand. So I added it to my list of goals for this year, knowing that would be the motivation I needed.

So while this achievement may not seem like much to some people, it meant a lot to me. And even though I was probably not on the ice more than 15 minutes (thanks to the slowest moving line ever and impending dinner reservations) I felt great! I had overcome my fear, and ensuing procrastination, and accomplished a goal I had set for myself.

I may have white knuckled my way through it, but I’ll save letting go for the next time around.

Leading Causes of Why I Put EVERYTHING Off

In trying to get to the root of my procrastination, I’ve come up with the top five reasons why I tend to put crap off:

1. Laziness – yup, I put this one at the top of my list because it’s a biggie. It’s also fairly self-explanatory.

2. Avoidance – sometimes it just seems easier to avoid things and have them eventually disappear from the To Do list.

3. Indecisiveness – I have a long list of things I want to see and do but I abhor planning them because they involve so many decisions: when to go, what time, who to invite, how to get there, what to do when we get there, etc.

4. Lack of motivation – I know plenty of people (including my boyfriend) who are able to self motivate enough to work from home. I’m hoping one day to acquire that ability through osmosis.

5. Fear – I have the normal fears of spiders and whatnot, but I also have a fear of success. This might sound crazy, but success comes with a lot of change and responsibility…both of which I tend to run away from.