Magnet by Aimee of Artsyville. Put these back in your shop, Aimee!

Believe it or not, with all the excitement going on, I couldn’t think of a “good” question (isn’t that such a relative word?) for today’s installment of Tough (Question) Tuesday. So I started looking through my Inspiration folder on Evernote (yup, I clip all the images that I come across that excite me & keep ‘em there for a rainy day/blog post) & came across this wonderful saying from Aimee. It got me thinking about how I’m taking myself away from an environment where I most certainly do not bloom (thank you very much!), & into one where I thrive. I grow. I stretch. I reach. I spark. I love. I connect. I bloom.

So tell me, tell me:

Where do you bloom?

Do you need a lot of sunlight, fresh air & water? Do you need a quiet room & a paintbrush? Do you need a bathtub full of suds & a glass of wine? Think about where you feel inspired, & inspiring. Think about where you are & what you’re doing when the time flies & it’s been nothing but fun.

Then tell me, tell me your bloomin’ place in the comment section so I can help you till the soil.

Wow, this was a good analogy.

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What do I definitely not want any more of?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the most obvious question you can ask yourself to get closer to the outcome?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What does your heart want?

Sometimes not being in control is the most beautiful thing in the world by kirstypaterson

Sorry I still hafta be so cryptic after yesterday’s post, y’all – but believe me, nobody wants to tell ya what’s going on more than I do! But because of the BS I’ve had to put up with, as well as a recent conversation that I had with a client, I started wondering:

What are you worrying about that’s beyond your control?

Don’t even think about how you’re not going to worry about it, or how to make it in your control. Just stick with the basics in identifying it. Once you have, leave your answer in the comments section. I’ll be there too & we can all take deep breaths together.

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: How do you not fit in?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the most obvious question you can ask yourself to get closer to the outcome?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s a goal you’ve walked away from that you want back?

#315 by Things We Forget

I’m taking fantabulous group coaching sessions lead by the super cute Coach Cassandra Rae called the Simply Fearless Fempreneurs. As I’m focusing more & more as to what my full-time coaching practice is gonna be like, I’m focusing more & more on having it be a values-based business. I want some clarity as to which projects/ideas/routines I have in my head are really serving/going to serve me, & what I really want to be working on. It’s funny, because there are so freakin’ many things I want to do with this business (ebooks, regular books, in person coaching, workshops, retreats, yada yada yada) it’s hard for me to prioritize ‘em & allow myself to really determine what’s most important. But that’s not the point of this question.

The point of this question comes from the first session of those group sessions, where the idea of focusing on what’s working was really driven home for me. If I can see & focus on what’s working (as opposed to what’s not working), then I can get to the quick of what’s worth looking at even further – and I can better identify the things I’m doing that I should (you know I hate that word “should”, but the context here is OK) keep doing.

So, ask yourself:

“What’s working?”

If it’s too broad a question, then think of the specific goal or challenge you’ve been working on. It might be hard to see at first (that’s why I call it Tough (Question) Tuesday, people) but I promise that it’s there.

Last one to the comments section is a rotten egg!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What does your heart want?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: Is there anything in this situation I can find to be grateful for?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the most obvious question you can ask yourself to get closer to the outcome?

Be Nice To Yourself by laurageorge

What with the bath I finally allowed myself last week, I realized that the person that’s meanest to myself  is me. Not counting some Mean Girls at work. They suck big time. If I was as mean as them I’d have no friends. But I’m not counting them because they are so not my friends. OK, let’s rephrase: out of all of my friends, I’m the meanest to myself. So not cool of me. Do you feel the same? Like you’re your own worst enemy? Like if someone said to you what you think to yourself, you’d classify them as “a mentally ill asshole“, but since you say it to yourself it’s not only OK but valid?

Well, let’s take that Mentally Ill Asshole Vampire that lives in your head (is it comforting to know that we all have one in our own heads?) & kick him in the shins.

What aren’t you being nice to yourself about, & how you gonna start?

You know how this works by now. Meet you in the comments section!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What is your Vampire saying to you, and what will you say back?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: How, exactly, would you like things to be different?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What do I definitely not want any more of?

#313 at Things We Forget

OK, I admit it: I ditched my Me Time this weekend. There was just no time for Me to be found in my Sunday, heavy with a hangover & Things To Do. And while I know those 90 minutes would have been much-needed, I chucked them away. Even Luke said to me, “It’s your Me Time now” (I put it on my calendar, so it pops up on our computer a few minutes beforehand) & I responded, “I know. It’s just not going to happen.”

So today, on a random Tuesday, for no special occasion, I’m going to give myself that Me Time. Not that 90 minutes – that would be too tough, & too easy to let go – but something, whatever I can do. I’ll share what it’ll be in the comments & hope that you answer my tough question there, too:

What are you going to do for yourself today?

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the most obvious question you can ask yourself to get closer to the outcome?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s your role in the world?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What are you doing right?

The Tiny Little Adventurous Bird by FreyaArt

Even with all the fantabulous stuff that’s been going on with me lately, I’m still feeling the agita as to whether or not I’ll “make it” as a full-time coach. So, instead of thinking of this as my Goal or My Life’s Purpose (ack! scariness!), I’ve decided to think of it as An Adventure. That frame of thinking – that my Goal isn’t the end-all-be-all-most-important-thing-of-my-life-ever – certainly keeps me focused on enjoying the journey, making sure there’s fun involved & seeing where these opportunities lead – which is what the Grown-Up (& innerpreneur) in me wants to focus on!

Join me in the comments by answering:

What’s your next adventure?

Ooh, I love this! Is anyone else thinking of themselves in a Western with a lasso? No? Uh…me neither – if it was opposite day!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: How am I going to celebrate this achievement?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What “should” do you want to let go of?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What do I definitely not want any more of?

Flying Girl Cuts It Away or Let Go of All That is Not Yours by Rowena Murillo (of the fab blog Warrior Girl)

I won’t lie -I’m feeling a bit of Overwhelm lately. There’s a lotta stuff on my plate – a lot of it things I want to do, which makes it tough to prioritize – and I’m starting to get a case of the Shoulds. Do you feel the same?

Then join me in asking yourself this:

What “should” do you want to let go of?

I’ll join you in the comments with my answer to this question, which may surprise you. It surprised me, once I realized it.

Suspense!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the risk you’re going to take?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s your role in the world?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the most obvious question you can ask yourself to get closer to the outcome?

I am so proud of me by teaforthoughts

OK, twist my arm, I’ll admit it: I’m so very proud of me. To the Newsweek video interview that’s supposed to be live tomorrow (aaaaahhhhhh!) to ensuring that my site is ready for re-launch by then to taking many, many, many (many many!) steps in creating this life that is my purpose, even if I’m still reaching, reaching, reaching to get there (& while I have an immediate finish line in mind, I know it’ll be an everlasting journey that is mine to create)….I’m doing it, I’ve done it, and I’m proud of me.

What are you proud of today? (If it’s really early by you & the day’s barely begun, then share what you’re proud of you for doing/being yesterday. It’s not cheating.)

It can be big, it can be small, it can be for an action or an intention or a thought or just a word. It all counts! You better comment about it, too – I want nothing but love here this week for my birthday on Thursday!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: How am I going to celebrate this achievement?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s the smallest step you can take?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: How, exactly, would you like things to be different?

Resolve by Creative Kismet

These are resolutions I can get behind, even though I’ve recently decided that “resolution” is a dirty, dirty word. These read more like intentions, which I think is a sweet, sweet word that almost provokes me to hug it. Yes, the Spring girls have made me think long & hard about intentions, and how they differ from goals & resolutions, & why they’re superior in a lot of ways.

Last year, my intention for 2009 was one word: Focus. That word drove a lot of my goals & action items. Because of that, I’ve learned to focus (aka not have my Gmail open every minute of the day, do one thing at a time before going on to the next, not put too much on my plate) pretty damn good this year. Now I’ve disclosed that my 2010 word is “Simplify.” Even if you don’t answer any other questions from my 1 Thing post, answer this:

What’s your intention for 2010?

Whether it’s a word, a phrase, a sentence or a paragraph, share it in the comments section & then write it down & put it in an often-seen place (or places)!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: Will (your goal here) make you happy?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: How do you not fit in?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: Are you making things too complicated?

Spam One Liners: Happy Life by Linzie Hunter

As you focus on your goals/intentions (not resolutions! Find out why on Spring next week!) for 2010, ask a very simple (but often overlooked) question:

Will (your goal here) make you happy?

If you don’t know or you’re not sure, close your eyes & see that goal coming to fruition (I love that word, “fruition”). If you meet it’s end with a shrug, then cross it off your list or revise it until it excites you. If you see the finish line in your mind’s eye & you’re full to bursting, then keep that image & that feeling in your front pocket & carry it with you on your journey.

I’ll be dissecting my plans for 2010 in the comments section. It won’t be anything like 7th grade science class (am I the only one who thinks of frogs whenever I hear the word “dissection”?) No blood – I promise. Hope you’ll join me!

Related posts:

1. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s a goal you’ve walked away from that you want back?
2. Tough (Question) Tuesday: Is this the real goal or do you want to do it because you feel that you should?
3. Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s your next adventure?