“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.” I love this quote from Dave Hollis. It has resonated so much with me. Not every part of my old normal will be returning from this point on. There are some things that no longer serve me. They don’t serve my growth, my future, my life or that of my family. This time has really caused me to pause and reevaluate my life and what serves me and what does not. Anybody relate? Some things might have worked in the past, but they do not belong in my future.
This is the start of week nine for me during this pandemic of 2020. I have talked before about all of the things I have been doing, but I felt today that somebody might be searching, as I was, for growth but they don’t know where to start. I’m afraid that sometimes if we don’t know where to start, we won’t start. The task seems great and daunting. If you find yourself feeling in the pit of your stomach that you have more you’re supposed to be doing in life, that you need personal growth, I hope something I say resonates today.
First you have to ask yourself what you’re chasing in your life? Is it negative things or positive? Are you chasing money, fame, stuff, fake friendships and people what won’t satisfy your soul, trying to keep up with the Jones’, or are you chasing meaningful relationships, personal growth, loving and helping others, being better, leaving a legacy? Only you can answer that. Before I started on personal growth, my answers would have looked very different. What am I chasing? What is my WHY? Well, that’s getting very clear for me these days! I am chasing:
- A closer relationship with God.
- A hot marriage.
- To be an amazing step-mom.
- To better be able to help and serve others to the best of my ability.
- To have closer relationships with my family.
- To be a better friend, but not just a better friend, to have real in depth relationships.
- To leave a legacy.
- To grow and stretch and live a life that I am proud of.
- To be able to some day go to Heaven and when I leave this earth have people say she touched my life like only she could.
So what do I have to do to try to achieve these things? Well, one thing I have learned is that I have had to toss out my to do list. I used to be the queen of to do lists until I heard from a few of my mentors that to be intentional, you must calendar things out. If they’re really important, put them on your calendar and stick to the schedule. One thing we tend to do with to do lists is be okay with not checking everything off. Unless you’re like me and my perfectionist tendencies, I would feel like a loser if I went to be bed and not everything was checked off. So you’re either one who just procrastinates and doesn’t get it done, or stresses over getting it done, but either way, not healthy, so be intentional and put them on your calendar. My calendar starts every day between 6:30-7 with coffee and devotion and prayer and then goes from there. I have a few things that I do every single day, which I will talk about a little later.
Whatever you want in life, whatever you’re chasing, has to be done intentionally with discipline and consistency. Remember, if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every single time. I am no way an expert in any of this, but I am a witness to setting a plan for growth and for those things you want and working toward them! It will pay off and change your life. I am going to share just a few of my favorite things that I am working on daily. I talked earlier about my calendar. These things are literally on my calendar every single day!
Here are my mentors: Dani Johnson, Rachel and Dave Hollis and John Maxwell. I have never met any of them, but that’s okay, they can still greatly impact my life in huge ways. I have been lucky enough in recent months to have a mentor in real estate that has had a huge impact on my life and will forever! Thank you Lauren Buchel for believing in me. I urge you to find mentors in your life. Look at people who have what you want and follow what they do!
Here are the programs I am currently doing: Devotions each morning on either the Bible App, iDisciple or First 5 apps, Next 90 Challenge at http://www.thehollisco.com, LifeMap at http://www.danijohnson.com, several programs at http://www.johnmaxwellacademy.com. Some of these are free and some I pay for, but can I just tell you that all of these people have put free content out there during this!! I cannot even tell you how much free stuff is out there if you get serious about looking.
Here are the podcasts I consistently listen to: Lewis Howes The School of Greatness, John Maxwell Leadership Podcast, Trent Shelton Straight Up, Oprah Super Soul Conversations, The Ed Mylett Show, Rise Podcast with Rachel Hollis and The Dani Johnson Podcast. I literally listen to something while I am getting ready in the morning, while I do my cardio and when I am in the car.
Here are the books I have read or am reading: the Bible, Live the Let-Go Life Joseph Prince, Fierce Free and Full of Fire Jen Hatmaker, First Steps to Wealth Dani Johnson, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth John Maxwell, Co Dependent No more by Melody Beattie, Mindset by Carol Dweck and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. You have to find things that speak to your soul. Not everything everybody else is reading is right for you. I have found that out the hard way. Maybe visit your local library to start and just make sure the authors resonate with you. My husband has accused me of starting a library because every other day a book arrives, but some of these have not been money well spent for me.
So, there’s just a taste of what I am doing. If you’re looking for some changes in your life or want to grow in some area, hopefully something here you can use! One important thing I want to say in closing is this. You also have to schedule time for rest and reflection! That is so important in your journey! I hope you all listen to that fire in the pit of your stomach, if you have one, that is telling you that you were made for more! Don’t stay the same if you have room for growth. Maybe you are happy with where things are for you and your family, and where your life is, but you still can strive to be better in those areas and show up for the people in your life who need you. We all can be just a little better every single day.
With love for you all,
Shauna
Shauna's Sisters 