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Passioneering Moment #11: Walking Your Integrity Talk

June 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This Passioneering Moment is on Integrity

To me, integrity means wholeness, completeness, and simply honoring your word.   Self-development organizations like Landmark Education define integrity as “planning your work and working your plan.”   Bottom line?  It’s about walking your talk.  I notice how often I choose not to honor my word, especially in today’s chaotic lifestyle.  Excuses abound for my not choosing to do so:  “I forgot,” “I didn’t have time,” or “something just came up.”   Notice my emphasis on choosing, which acknowledges that I am not a victim of circumstances, but rather the captain of my life.    Consider the possibility that your word is powerful and creative; that what you say not only impacts your reality, it IS your reality.  Below are three ways to begin immediately to up the ante in your integrity game:

1)  Be on time or early. I choose to honor the platinum rule.  Remember the golden rule, which is about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you?  The platinum rule requires that you treat others as they would like to be treated.   It’s a big difference.  So, even if you don’t mind when someone is late, trust that your own punctuality shows respect and appreciation to others.

2)  Make clear declarations. There is power in declaring that you will do something by a certain time.    It’s easy to allow squishy terms to come out of your mouth, like “maybe,” “if I can,” “I’m going to/will” or “I’ll see.”  Do you use any of these terms?   I still do, although I’m more aware of it!

3)  Follow through.  It is one thing to make a powerful declaration, and quite another to actually fulfill on it.  The most powerful people in the world are masters at declaring and fulfilling.  When you follow through consistently on your commitments and walk your talk, you are letting the universe know that you are proactively creating your life.  Follow-through also engenders trust and respect in your relationships.

An Invitation

Make this a walking-your-talk week!  Declare and write down at least three action steps that you’re taking to create something extraordinary in an important area of your life: relationships, career, health, finances, being on time, etc.  Bonus points for agreeing, with three individuals, to be accountable for completing these three steps.

 

For more information about Passioneer coaching, consulting,  the charitable non-profit, or if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com or subscribe to the bi-weekly PassionBlasts.   Happy Passioneering!

Image: anankkml / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Radio Interview with Passioneer® Karen Drucker, Recording Artist

June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We recently had the honor to interview Karen Drucker, a gifted singer & songwriter who travels around the country performing and speaking at conferences, retreats, churches, concerts, workshops, and her own spiritual retreats. She has created 13 CDs and has worked with such inspirational authors as Joan Borysenko, Mary Manin Morrissey, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Alan Cohen, SARK, and have been honored to receive an honorary doctorate from the United Centers for Spiritual Living.  You can reach her at http://www.karendrucker.com. If you or someone you know would make a great Passioneering guest, please let us know!

Below are the archived show and highlights:

Radio Interview Highlights

  • Taking action is critical: Having a “by” in front of your name is more important than having a BA (or other designation) after it, according to Karen.
  • What you gain from a mundane j.o.b. is what you need to do your dream career, especially if you do the j.ob. with passion.  Karen used to sing at weddings and gained valuable experience and lessons about singing and songwriting in the process.
  • From an early age, Karen learned the importance of making a difference in the world: she garnered support and financing to fix the broken Hollywood Hills sign.  If not her, then who?
  • A caller-in to the radio show expressed his gratitude for how Karen’s music touched him and his mother, who had gone through chemotherapy for cancer treatment.  His story brought Karen and me to tears.  (Thanks Mark!)
  • Karen performs at Seattle Unity this upcoming weekend, June 18-19, for a music symposium and Passions workshop.  More information, see Karen’s website.

Listen to internet radio with Sue Oliver on Blog Talk Radio

Thank you Karen, and Happy Passioneering!

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From Your Ugly Duckling Fairy Tale to A Swan’s Song

June 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I love the fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling, written by Hans Christian Anderson in 1844.  Here’s the Cliff Notes version.  One spring day, a baby swan is born into a duck family and it’s immediately apparent that he just doesn’t belong: His egg is much larger than the others and after he’s born, he’s physically bigger, more gray, and gangly than his siblings.   His family members and the rest of his community shun and criticize this ugly duckling, so he leaves home in shame.  He then travels around the countryside looking for a home among a variety of other animals and humans, although they all shun and drive him away.  Finally, in the Fall, the ugly duckling arrives at a small pond, where he sees several swan flying across the sky and honking as they depart.  He feels a stirring inside himself as he watches these elegant creatures fly away, unaware that he himself is a swan.  So the ugly duckling remains in the pond throughout the winter, bearing the freezing ice and snow.  When Spring arrives the following year, the migrating swans return to the pond, and the ugly duckling, upon noticing them, bows his head in shame.   Suddenly, he sees his own reflection in the water and finally realizes that he is a swan!

The Ugly Duckling (w/Danny Kaye)

 

There are many interpretations of this story. To me, it is a calling for each of us to step into our “swanhood,” no matter how often we feel separate, different, ugly, and alone. You probably have had many ugly duckling incidents where you heard different versions of “You don’t belong!” from various characters in your life (e.g., a partner, family member, childhood crush, teacher). If you’re like me, you made those events mean something very negative about yourself (e.g., “I’m a big loser.”).   Perhaps you survived, as I did, by stuffing those ugly duckling stories into an overflowing recycling bin, where they played over and over again.  The situations and characters in my life may have differed, but my starring role never changed. Hmmm.

Take a moment to ask yourself this question:

Question: Where in your life’s journey have you felt rejected, criticized, shunned or alone?

Now ask yourself: What’s the real deal – the T.R.U.T.H.??

Instead of rejecting, resisting, or recycling your ugly duckling stories, there is tremendous power in bringing them to the surface and then releasing them.  Why?  Because they are fairy tales. Here’s the truth of who you are: You were born whole, complete, and perfect; nothing missing, nothing lacking, and nothing wrong.  You are a divine spark that is here to shine brightly and unleash your unique gifts, talents, and creativity in the world as your beautiful swan song.  Since you are a child of the most High, you’ve inherited the queendom and kingdom already, so there’s no waiting line.  There is absolutely nothing you need to be or do to receive your inheritance.  It is grace, and it is your divine nature.  Your purpose and passions came fully funded, orchestrated, and supported by the universe, as you entered this world.  Just as the acorn knows how to be an oak tree, and just as the baby swan has everything it needs to become a swan while in the shell, so too you are fully equipped to experience and express the magnificent you.

Breathe. Isn’t that awesome?

Now, you might be wondering, why, if you came into this world with everything that you need and more, you still feel like an ugly duckling who’s not living the life you love?

Question: “I’m not experiencing the life of my dreams? Why not?”

Answer: You’re buying into the myths that your ego and the world tell you are the truth.  You know, those stories of how you’re not being, doing, or having enough;  the myth that you are not worthy of living the life that you love. (More details on these myths in the next blog installment).

This week, I invite you to take on three ugly duckling antidotes, in order to remember the gorgeous swan that you are!

Ugly Duckling Antidotes

1)  Write down three qualities or values that are really important to you; not what you do, or what you have, or what you look like. Instead, list the aspects of who you are in the world.

2)   Complete this affirmation with those three aspects, and post it in a visible spot throughout your week: Who I Really Am Is _______________, __________________, and __________________.

3)  Ask three trusted friends to tell you what they love most about you.   Take a deep breath.  Allow their feedback to sink in.  Then ask yourself: What is possible for me, if what they say is true?

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” ~Helen Keller

Image: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Passioneering® Life Assessment: How Passionate and Possible Are You?

June 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The first step in creating a passionate and possible life is to assess where you’re at right now, without blame, shame, or discouragement.  If you’re like most individuals, you’re living large in a few areas of your life, and not so much in others.  Here’s the real deal:  you CAN live the life you want to live in ALL areas of your life.  How?  By simply declaring it to be true and then aligning your actions with that truth. Simple, if not easy, yes?

Below is a brief life assessment to download, print and review with your coach, accountability buddy, close friend or partner. Allow for at least 30 minutes for quality time and reflection in your answers. Simply completing the questions is a big step in creating your dream life. Why? Because you are becoming more awake and aware of what’s so right now in your life.

We do not collect your answers, however, you may send me your answers and receive a private, complimentary 30-minute coaching call to discuss them (details below).

Schedule Your Complimentary 30-Minute Session Today!

 

***********************************************

Passioneer® Life Assessment

(Click here to download a PDF-version of the Life Assessment)

1. On a scale of 1 to 5, please rank your satisfaction in the following areas of your life (1 = Very Satisfied; 5= Very Unsatisfied)

  • Overall happiness _____
  • Overall energy level _____
  • Overall stress level _____
  • Health/fitness _____
  • Finances _____
  • Partnership/marriage _____
  • Family _____
  • Career _____
  • Friendships/social network _____
  • Spirituality/spiritual practices _____
  • Time management _____
  • Fun/play _____
  • Creative outlet/expression _____

2. What observations do you have about the areas above that you ranked high or low?

3. Assuming that you could not fail and could create the life of your dreams, what would it look like?

  • What is your life’s purpose or mission?
  • Who/what would be present?
  • Who/what would not be?
  • What would you be doing/being now if you were guaranteed this life?

4. What are the biggest barriers between you and this dream?

5. What are your biggest areas of procrastination lately?

6. What are you most passionate about?

7. What talents, gifts, or strengths do you have that are obvious? Not so obvious?

8. What are you most grateful for in your life?

9. What does your support network look like now?

10. What are your personal values? Which are the most important (place an asterisk next to them).

11. What’s the minimum annual income required to cover your expenses and survive? What’s the annual income you want to thrive?

Are You a Passioneer? (Select Yes or No)

1. Are you a big thinker with big ideas for your life and the planet? Yes/No

2. Do you believe that happiness involves a healthy mind, body, and spirit? Yes/No

3. Are you ready and willing to make courageous leaps in inspiring and serving in the world? Yes/No

4. Are you clear about your passions and your purpose? Yes/No

5. Does your definition of prosperity embrace much more than material gain but isn’t the “starving martyr syndrome”? Yes/No

6. Do you follow a path of regular self-reflection, self-development, and spirituality? Yes/No

7. Are you an open-minded, lifelong learner, and wisdom-seeker? Yes/No

8. Are you big-hearted and compassionate? Yes/No

9. Do you believe in the power of oneness, connection, and relationships? Yes/No

10. Are you a good steward of the earth, including resources, plants and animals? Yes/No

11. Do you actively and consistently walk your Passioneer talk throughout your day and with every being that you meet? Yes/No

If you circled “Yes” on 7 or more of the questions, you are a full-fledged Passioneer – Congratulations! If not, then you’re probably a budding Passioneer® J, woohoo!

Thank you for exploring. Feel free to send this to me at sue(at)passionsandpossibilities.com, if you’d like a complimentary 30-minute exploratory call.

Happy Passioneering,

Sue Zeal Oliver, Chief Passioneer

Powerleaps LLC Coaching for Passioneers

http://www.powerleaps.com

http://www.passionscoach.com

 

 

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A Smile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Smile-ologist and HealthTap founder, Ron Gutman has studied the relationship between your smile and quality of your life. In this compelling TED video, he discusses various research studies that show a direct correlation between a big smile and a happy life.  One study examines yearbook pictures and the students’ longevity, while another considers baseball players’ smiles and their performance.   The good news?  We’re smiling when we’re born, according to Ron’s research.  It’s no surprise to most of us that smiling is a basic human characteristic that indicates joy and satisfaction.  Did you know that more than a 1/3 of adults smile more than 20 times a day, while children smile as much as 400 times a day?  Ron cites several studies that show how another person’s smile is much more effective than chocolate or money in bringing a smile to our own face.   One smile, he says, can impact you as positively as several thousands of chocolate bars or dollar bills.    So, Ron notes, our children are truly the richest beings on the planet.

Thanks Ron and Happy Passioneering!

If you have a story of how someone is paying it forward in your life or someone else’s, let us know so we can acknowledge them.

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Passioneering Moment #10: Step Away from the Hamster Wheel

May 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

I caught myself rushing today, from the get go.  One look at my To Do list, and I was on a roll, checking email, posting to Facebook, and returning to three open projects from the prior evening.  Had I stopped to eat?  No.  Meditate?  No.  Journal?  No.  Enjoy the glorious Northwest sunshine and singing birds?   Heck no.  I was on a mission to conquer my day, rather than to savor it.  It certainly was not going to be a mission of j.o.y.  So why the rush?  In truth, the rush was all in my head, since the activities I was doing were neither urgent nor important.

What if I had chosen instead to create a day of joy and delight?  What would my morning have looked like, and how much more would I have enjoyed the rest of the day?  What would it have required for me to stop, breathe, and chose peace over chaos?  It would have required my letting go of control, surrendering, and removing the unimportant tasks from my calendar.  Sounds simple, if not easy, yes?  Then why do I make it so complicated?

“Whys?” are killer questions that can tie up my time and mental energy.  I notice that they are also a strategy for me to procrastinate and stay stuck.  After all, if I can’t figure out why I’m doing something, how can I possibly figure out how to stop it, right?  This is so NOT right!  Instead, my days go much more smoothly when I focus on answering the most important  question: “WHAT do I want my day to look like?”.  Starting with the end in mind is a powerful, creative way to begin any day, especially if you load tons of stuff on your plate like I do.

My Invitation

Tomorrow morning, I invite you to create a mission of joy for your day, one where your sole To Do is To Be.  This approach entails your focusing on what you want to be, not how on you’re going to do it.  Simply remember that you truly have all of the time in the world, if you choose to believe it.  So there is no need for you to rush, strain, or struggle.  Instead, you can choose to relax, release, and enjoy.  Your body and soul will thank you, so will your household and the world around you.

Happy Passioneering!

I’m Sue Zeal Oliver, the Passions & Possibilities coach who supports individuals and groups to leap vibrantly and prosperously into their passions for paying it forward, as Passioneers®. I’m on a mission to prove that when you do what you love AND give back, the rest DOES follow. For more information about Passioneer coaching, consulting, and marketing services OR if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com. Happy Passioneering!

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Passioneering Moment #9: Don’t Just Do It. Be It!

May 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

Often I ask individuals who have successfully leaped into their passions if they have any regrets. Without exception, they have responded with a resounding “No”! Their most common tip for individuals who are considering the leap is to stop procrastinating and to just do it. Here are a few easy, powerful steps to move forward today:

  • Hang Out with Passionate People. When two or more individuals discuss together their passions, magic unfolds. So over the next week, find at least one social or professional group that shares your passion. Attend one of their events.
  • Explore a Career Change. Your dream life may require a career change. Write down at least five alternative adventures that would allow you to more fully express your passions. Consider hiring a career specialist.
  • Face Your Fears. Write down your ten biggest fears about fully leaping into your dreams. Then examine which of the fears are facts and which are really your interpretations.
  • Spread the News. Tell at least ten people that you are pursuing the life of your dreams now. Ask them to tell at least ten people. Leverage new and existing venues, especially social networks on the internet.
  • Build a Cheerleading Team. Make a list of ten individuals who could be strong supporters of your dream. Meet with all of them over the next month, and make a specific request for their support.

I’m Sue Zeal Oliver, the Passions & Possibilities coach who supports individuals and groups to leap vibrantly and prosperously into paying it forward in the world, as Passioneers®. I’m on a mission to prove that when you do what you love AND give back, the rest DOES follow. For more information about Passioneer coaching, consulting, and marketing services OR if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com. Happy Passioneering!

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Multi-Passioneering: When One Passion Just Won’t Do

May 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While many social and spiritual entrepreneurs are focusing on one primary passion as they pay it forward in the world, there’s a growing trend of “multi-passionate professionals” as described by Sonja Haller during her recent interview with Gilat Ben-Dor in AZ Central.  Gilat is the author of three books, including The Confetti Path, that give people permission to pursue multiple passions, to “be who they are, and to quit being apologetic about having so many interests and passions.”  Right on Gilat!  For Sonja’s full blog post, click here.

Often we hear that it’s important to specialize and become an expert in one particular topic or career.  Career specialist, Paula Caliguiri, disagrees.  In her book Get a Life, Not A Job, Paula highlights the following benefits of having what she terms “multiple career acts,” including;

  • Greater ability to manage your career
  • A career built on what you love
  • More excitment
  • More freedom
  • Work-life balance
  • Financial freedom
  • More control

Paula’s book has been receiving fabulous reviews, and you can hear her radio interview on The Passions and Possibilities Network, where she discusses her own journey and passions: Paula’s Radio Inteview.

In the 350+ interviews with Passioneers®,  I found that about half of them are focusing on one career passion, while the other half are multi- or serial-Passioneers.   There were no significant differences between these types of Passioneers in terms of their success or happiness.  My take-away is that there is no wrong or right way to unleash your passions and possibilities in the world.  The only way is YOUR way!

 

Happy Passioneering,

Sue Zeal Oliver, Chief Passioneer

 

 

 

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Marketing Guru Marsh Engle Interview on Passioneering Journeys

May 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

On May 4, 2011, we interviewed Marsh Engle on her passions, possibilities, and making a huge difference in the world. Below are some highlights and quotes from the interview:

Radio Interview Highlights

  • There’s power in shifting your story.  How can you tell it with deep wisdom?
  • When you share your journey through story, you’re creating something that will be history.
  • Marsh shares her own journey through a successful marketing & branding career, her dark night of the soul, and her current success as a marketing and entrepreneur coach, speaker, and author.
  • Her new book is Amazing Woman, What’s Your Story.
  • You’ve got to be passionate about what you do, and the world will receive that energy from you.

Marsh’s Bio

Marsh Engle is an international speaker, success coach and author who offers the Essential Feminine Principles of Success. For over a decade she’s facilitated hundreds of hours of coaching to transformational entrepreneurs, coaches, authors and experts helping them to reveal their purpose, empower their relationships, expand their platform and propel unparalleled success. The Marsh Engle Show broadcasts each Monday on Voice America Business. Her website is: http://www.marshengle.com.

The Passions and Possiblities Network Radio

During each show we interview inspired leaders and entrepreneurs who are paying it forward vibrantly and prosperously in the world (aka Passioneers®).  Each show, these amazing guests share their ups, downs, tips, and wisdom, as they stay committed to their Passioneering journeys, regardless.  Share your own journey and questions, and join the thriving Passioneer community on Facebook and Twitter where we connect, commune, and collaborate. When two or more Passioneers gather, there’s sizzle, synergy, and transformation!!   Join us live on Wednesdays at 9am PST, by phone (347) 205-9038 or via streaming internet.

Happy Passioneering!

 

 

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Passioneering Moment #8: The Boogy Man in You: Fact or Fiction?

May 3, 2011 By 2 Comments

I never knew until recently that I am a master horror film director and producer.  Over the years, I have created scores of terrifying stories that featured me in the leading role, in various areas of my life, especially relationships, health, and career.  I should have won an Academy Award!  Isn’t it tragically funny that we are the authors of our own lives and then forget that we wrote the script?

I love the work of Byron Katie and others who call us into distinguishing between fact and fiction.  That is, what is so and what is not.  In every situation, there are actual events that occur and then there’s the story that we make up about these events, based upon our point of view.  For example, I lost my management job at a large regional bank when it went bankrupt in 2009.  Those are the facts.  The story (or nightmare!) I made up about these facts is that I would never be re-employed and would end up homeless, all alone, on the streets of Tacoma.  Byron Katie, in The Work, calls us into intense questioning about our stories:  Are they true? How do we know?  Most importantly, she invites us to ask ourselves “What would life be like without the story?”

True power comes from knowing who writes the book of your life.  Guess what?  It’s you!

An Invitation

Take a moment and consider the area in your life where you are feeling the most afraid, frustrated or angry.  Notice the thoughts that arise in your mind about this situation.  What is the nightmare that you have been creating?  Ask yourself, “Is this story true?”  “What are the facts?”   Notice the big gap between what’s really so and the story you have made up.  Then ask yourself what would be possible if you simply acknowledged the story and dropped it?  You find the boogie man in the dark is really you.   If you are like me, you might even get a big chuckle out of this process, if not an Academy Award!

 

I’m Sue Zeal Oliver, the Passions & Possibilities coach who supports individuals and groups to leap vibrantly and prosperously into paying it forward in the world, as Passioneers®. I’m on a mission to prove that when you do what you love AND give back, the rest DOES follow.  For more information about Passioneer coaching, consulting, and marketing services OR if you’d like to connect with the wisdom of over 350 Passioneers around the globe, check out www.passionsandpossibilities.com. Happy Passioneering!

 

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