Guts, Grace & Gusto

“Shake it off. Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Regroup. Bounce back and start again.” These words were printed on a notepad stuffed into a gift bag for guests at the Grand Opening of Speedy Printing in Fairfax, VA. I’m going to make post-its from them and display those winning words in strategic locations whenever a zinger lands in my lap to manage.

Have you had a few of those hurled your way? Events that rocked your world for awhile, you didn’t see coming perhaps, never imagined you’d have to deal with it, but there it is, smack dab in the middle of your reality.

“Now what?” you may ponder. For a time you may not have any answers which is another source of angst, of not knowing what to do. However, resilient souls discover paths that lead from the darkness and light up the way. Those with a powerful will to survive find or attract solutions to rise up to succeed.

Such was the case of Kia and Brahm Arian, owners of Speedy Printing who included those inspiring messages in my gift bag. I met the Arians a few years ago after Kia read my book, Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto, at a time when my world was shifting and shaking. She had such creative flair and impressed by her graphic design capabilities coupled with excellent customer service, their business got my design and printing projects.

Even with all that talent, their business wasn’t thriving. Last summer they set their intention and focused on landing upon the path of success to turn around their reality. With that clear intention, solutions materialized. Enter Ben Glass, a marketing genius for business who provided guidance that turned around their reality.

The steps to success are repeatable with patterns designed to take you where you want to go, but action is required. The Arians took those steps and went from survival mode to thrival mode. They moved to a new location this year and business is booming. Effective marketing catapulted them into gusto mode, fully energized, vibrant and thriving.

The Grand Opening was truly a celebration of their unstoppable attitude, of finding a way that works when nothing seems to be working. There is always a way. Winners dust off the old, fire up resilience and bounce back—soaring into a welcome reality of success. The Arians did it.

Note those winning words. Keep them handy and put them into action when life has different plans. S.S.

Labels: overcoming obstacles, resilience, success

In preparation for a session I’m facilitating this week on “Envisioning Your Favorite Future,” I envisioned setting the tone with Jana Stansfield’s CD, “If I Were Brave.” Its lyrics repeatedly beg the question, “What would I do today, if I were brave?” Works magic inspiring people to think about their own answers.

Saturday morning I rummage through my workshop prop box only to come up empty handed. The CD jacket was there, but no CD. Another opportunity for letting go, but the lyrics are permanently implanted in both my head and heart. I really wanted to share this inspiring song because those lyrics reflect the power of the heart, of blasting through fear and taking steps toward your dreams.

I didn’t let go of my desire for musically getting to the heart of the matter and having that question, “What would I do today, if I were brave? “ echo in their hearts. I just wished it would materialize.

I’ve found through my workshops, sometimes people are fuzzy how they would put their courage to work. I hear “I don’t know.” Yet, more often they do know. They have lots of reasons (AKA fears) to keep a lid on their dreams because unleashing the secrets buried within would create a world of change, and that can lead down some scary roads of intentionally walking down an uncertain future. Yet, everyone has the potential to act courageously and manifest dreams. It’s the unwillingness to let go of fear and focus on the “what ifs” that overrides them.

In my desire to let go of stuff no longer needed, I participated in a local “Circulation Day” last Saturday. A brilliant form of exchange—a no-sale yard sale, of bringing what you don’t need or want any longer, and taking, if so inspired, something in exchange. So, I gathered together a carload of stuff that needed to go-- clothes, boots, books, CDs, my mom’s tap shoes, in hopes others would find them useful.

They say nature abhors a vacuum (my nature is I abhor vacuuming, but that's another topic!) When we let go, something else takes its place. Getting all of that stuff out of the house immediately made me feel lighter and hopefully freed up some space for more good to flow.

After unloading it all, I scanned the treasures others were letting go. What an instant lesson that provided! For sitting right there was “If I Were Brave” CD, just hours before I had wished would materialize.

What a perfect illustration of getting clear on your vision and watching the Law of Attraction manifest, in wondrous ways, just what you do want. Sandra Strauss

Labels: brave, change, courage, If I were brave, Law of Attraction, letting go, letting go of fear, manifestation

David Smith of Phoenix, AZ weighed in at 650 pounds in 2003. He was so embarrassed he only went out at night. He didn’t work or have friends. His days were mainly composed of eating and sleeping. David wanted a better life, as well as a healthier one, since he knew obesity was putting his life at risk. So David went public contacting a local television station. A week later a personal trainer came forward to tackle the biggest assignment of his career. Together they created a miracle

This morning David burst through a photo mural of his former self on NBC’s Today to reveal his amazing 400 pound transformation. A story of sheer guts and determination to let go his bondage of obesity. His story also illustrates the possibilities that become realities when focused on a goal.

Changing habits takes motivation and that takes desire and commitment. Without these critical components, it’s unlikely your intention to achieve a goal will actually materialize. That’s just wishing. That means accepting a reality you don’t want, and wishing it would change. But until you’re ready and willing to take action, you’ll stay stuck, frustrated and angry at your circumstances because you have a dream of a different reality. The space between your current reality and what you desire is the gap of growth. Getting to a greater state of well-being and closing the gap requires action.

When motivation rises up within and you take action to make a change, you attract more of what you need to achieve it. The very private David got to a point he was so sick of his situation he went public. He contacted his local TV station which got a personal trainer motivated to step up to serve.

Help awaits when you set your intentions and are willing to let go of old ways. What changes would you like to see in your health? Your relationships? Your job? Are you ready to take action to make them?

Like a trapeze artist who has to let go of one ring to soar to the next one, you must move in the direction of your desire. Perhaps for a time, you’ll be suspended in the process, without a safety net, not sure of your next move. Growth is in closing the gaps, and letting go what you really don’t want to hang on to, so you can soar toward what you do want.

Sandra Strauss

Labels: change, dealing with change, personal growth, weight loss, well-being