Where to look.

Years ago, when I was taking my motorcycle training, I learned a most important lesson. Everyone in the class lined up on their bikes single file at the bottom of a small hill. Our exercise was to drive up the little hill, turn around tightly at the top and then drive back down the hill. Sounds pretty straightforward. But it wasn’t for me. I would get to the top of the hill, try to turn, and I would drop my bike. Each time I would pick up my bike, feel frustrated and then I would drive down the hill. By the tenth time, I was in tears. I was tired from lifting my motorbike back up, and I was embarrassed that everyone in the class was watching me bite it time after time.

 

So what was I doing wrong? I kept going where I was looking, which was at the ground! My instructor told me to look where I wanted to go…not where I didn’t want to go!

 

I distinctly remember successfully completing the task for the first time. When I got to the top of the hill, I forced myself to whip my head around and look down the hill, instead of worrying about the ground. With my body following my lead, I eased my bike around that tight corner and cruised my way to victory at the bottom of the hill. Everyone cheered, including me.

 

You have got to look where you want to go in life, and sometimes you have to force yourself to do this as it is not an easy thing. Keep your focus on what you do want, and really try hard not to think about, or get caught up in, what you don’t want. Consciously remind yourself of this small lesson everyday, stay focused on your dreams even in the hardest moments and you’ll be cruising your way to success. Have a prosperous and fabulous week.    Follow me on facebook @bethatbooks to get inspired daily and find out the latest Be That news!

Let Go.

Throughout our lives, we take things on because we think that these things will fulfill us. We may end up spending our time doing things we don’t really want to do because we feel obliged. We may be hanging onto certain objects because we feel obliged, or emotional about them. I would encourage you today to think about how you fill your time, and how you fill the spaces you live in. Choose to let go of something today that is just no longer fitting in your life, whether it is a thing, or an activity. Releasing yourself from the emotional ties that you have to certain things in your life is an incredibly freeing experience, and one that will open you up to the possibility that less is always more. Give yourself more by letting go. Freedom is yours for the taking.

Success Laws: Know yourself.

Knowing what you want, and when you want it is the key to your success.

What I want is exemplified by a few simple lyrics in a Queen song…

“I want it all, I want it all,I want it all, and I want it now!”

Funny, but absolutely true. Wanting it all NOW creates an interesting dynamic in my life. The frustration and stress of waiting for the things I want forces me to have more patience, which is something I need to consciously work on everyday. Wanting it all now is also extremely motivating and it inspires me to take actions everyday towards getting what I want. The results are incredible, and usually worth the wait.

Today, I would encourage you to really think about what you want, and when you want it. Realize that you deserve to get everything you want and it is totally in your control to get it all. You may not have full control over when you get it, but the more effort you put in, the quicker it will happen. So, what are you prepared to do to fulfill your dreams in a timely fashion? What are you prepared to give up right now to secure your dreams? Just start doing it and you will amaze yourself in the near future. Action = Results. Go for it! Namaste.

My, Oh My.

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday! Today’s inspiration is a song that you won’t mind having stuck in your head…

“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay” -lyrics by Ray Gilbert.

Today is your day. Harness the power, and know that everything you need is on its way to you today. 🙂 Sing it! Namaste.

 

 

You get to decide.

4 years ago, I felt like the rug of my life had been pulled out. To avoid a complete mental breakdown, my wonderful mother suggested that I get a babysitter and go out for lunch with her. I agreed, found a sitter, and away we went. I had the most awesome afternoon, and I felt so much better. The following week, we met for lunch again, and my sister Brenda joined us. During that lunch, we asked ourselves if we could make this sort of thing work every Wednesday. Could we really pull off lunch together every week?
 
I am happy to report that 4 years of Wednesday lunches later, we have made it work almost every Wednesday, and we only reschedule if someone is out of town. We make Wednesdays a priority, and we have all consciously made a choice to find a way to make it work.
 
You can make these kind of choices in your life too. Start by asking yourself a question, like “could I write a book?, or could I take 1 afternoon off a week?, or could I work from home?” As soon as you answer yes to the question, you will be on track to actually do it. Make your dreams a priority. You can have, and do whatever you want if you think you can. So go for it! Namaste.

The Great Exchange.

This morning, our three daughters were up early and Ryan and I were desperate for a half hour more of sleep. So, I asked my oldest daughter to help us by getting breakfast for herself and her younger sisters. A blissful half an hour later, we walked into the kitchen to find cereal all over the floor, and our kids dining on a crazy oatmeal concoction laced with chocolate chips, honey and marshmallows out of soggy paper muffin cups. The kids were happy, and high on sugar. The kitchen was a disaster. Ryan and I eventually felt like it was a fair payment for the extra sleep.
 
Remember that nothing is FREE in this life, and in order to get, you must be willing to give. This is the great exchange. Realizing the inevitability of this exchange can change your perspective on everything that happens in your life. So, what are you willing to do, or give up, to get what you want? It is always your choice, and in your control. Have a fantastic week!

Appreciate the small stuff.

The other night, in the midst of a crazy Calgary spring snowstorm, our power went out for 2 hours. Thankfully, the shutdown happened just as we sat down to eat our dinner. Having no power helped me realize how lucky I am to have the everyday luxuries of running water, a heated home, indoor cooking facilities, and lights that can be easily be turned on and off.
 
Sometimes, it takes going without something to really appreciate the value of having it. When we are used to having things, we tend to forget how much enjoyment and value we get out of them…until they are gone. Today, I would encourage you to write down 3 things that you are thankful to have in your life, and send out a “thank you” to the Universe for providing it. Happy Saturday!

Something to consider.

Something to consider. Is what you have right now really what you want?
 
If you answered yes, then get excited and be happy and enjoy every moment. Strive every day to maintain, and get more, of what you have. You must nurture what you have to be able to keep it.
 
If you answered no, then get excited and be happy because you have the power to change it! Stop embracing the comfortable, and start embracing change. You can have what you want, but you need to do something different. Remember that thinking about doing it is way more painful than actually doing it. So just do it!
 
Have a wonderful week!

Be Proud.

On Friday, I was invited for an interview at Calgary’s Independent Radio Station, CJSW (90.9 fm). I feel blessed to have met and chatted with Kevin Brooks and Grant Burns on their show ‘Road Pops’.
 
The station is located inside the University of Calgary. Strolling through the campus, I became aware of how rapidly time had passed for me. Walking past the old smoking lounge, the ‘Black Lung’ immediately brought back vivid images of chain smoking, coffee drinking and late night studying.
 
I suddenly realized how far I had come since my University days. A degree in Psychology, quitting smoking, a wedding, 3 children, 2 liquor stores,  4 years of Wednesdays with my mom and my sister, and the release of a sensational new book. I realized that I should feel proud of myself for my achievements to date. So I gave myself a good old “Thatta Girl Tina”!
 
I would encourage you to be proud of yourself for where you are today…right now. Don’t wait until some future date when you feel that you will have achieved even more. Tell yourself now how proud you are! Do not compare yourself to others; that is not what matters. What matters is what you have done with, and for, yourself to date. You are amazing, and you should tell yourself that more often! Talking positively to yourself will motivate and encourage you to go farther.
 
You are your own worst critic, and unless you stop and say “Great Job!” to yourself, your achievements may never be good enough for you. It is okay to want more and strive for better, but you need to embrace the present and look at what you have accomplished already.  Be proud of you. You deserve it.
 
Namaste.

When in doubt…

When in doubt, write it out!
 
Having a journal that you keep on you at all times is a powerful way to talk to yourself and to the Universe. If you are questioning things, you have a decision to make, or when you are experiencing doubt, simply write down how you feel about the situation, without over-analyzing. After you write down your feelings, sleep on it. Assess your feelings again in the morning. This process can really activate the Universe, and you! Namaste.