Creating a Life by Choice

IF Only... THE Extraordinary Momentcomfortable, chances are you're doing things the way
There's your beginning. How does the rest of youryou've done them so expect the same results. If you
story go?want more, you must BECOME more First.
If you could write your own eulogy, what would you• Create a life plan like a business plan. Dream big.
write? What would be the significant decisions, events,Make your dreams into MUST. Imagine them fulfilled.
places and people of whom you'd speak? WhatWhat would it be like with no regrets? With
moments were missed, relationships not pursued,excitement? With fulfillment of knowing you gave your
opportunities not explored? Where did you "settle"best?
rather than opt for the passion? Where did you get• Make a PLAN. Write EXACTLY the steps you
stuck instead summoning energy to move ahead?need to do to get where you want to go. Some things
Where did you make a difference?will change as your journey unfolds. Be flexible in the
No ones life is either completely this or that. Whatsteps while locked into the vision as a MUST. Don't
would be your significant images? What would youwork on focus--work on the goal fulfillment, focus will
choose to remember?develop itself when the dream is a MUST.
For years, I've asked of many, "Is there anything that• Get used to feeling uncomfortable. It's the feeling
you regret or would do differently if you had theof growing, of being alive.
chance?" Initially, often comes the superficially positive,• Be specific about your wants. Put them on paper.
"If I had it to do all over again, I'd do the same things...Short term and long, once you write them down your
no regrets... it's all been great... a learning experience... I'dconsciousness and your decisions during the day
make the same choices, yadda yadda." And for most,change as your dreams become priority.
it's nonsense! That first level of response is like the• Chunk them down to make them approachable
automatic "I'm fine" to an casually tossed "How areand doable.
you?" When we delve deeper with, "If you could• Set a goal date for each accomplishment creating
rewrite your life, what would you change?" and wea sense of urgency and focus.
allow time for reflection, responses become more• Follow through and show yourself what you can
thoughtful. And now pours the stuff that therapistsdo, not what you can't. If you haven't been consistent
hear all day long.in the past, use those negative feelings of falling short
My wife, Nan tells a story of meeting a financier whento move you to create a better reality. Move past the
she was in her 30's and he was in his late 70's. Shelazy or challenging stage and when you find resistance,
asked why, with his considerable success, was hesee it for what it is (another step in the process) and
taking her program in personal growth and success ascontinue on. Distractions come in many forms. All
she had less than 1/2, at least in time and business, thedistractions are equal. All give you the opportunity to
life experience. He offered, "Years ago, when some ofshow yourself you can decide over and over in the
my friends began to age, experience illness or die, anddirection of your goals and dreams. This IS personal
I had the privilege of spending time with them, I asked ifgrowth.
they had anything they regretted... and ALL of them2. Choose Relationships with Care: Select your
said that they regretted far more the things that theypartners, friends and mentors well. Whom you choose
did NOT do, then the things they did." He'd decided toto spend time and thoughts with will help shape your
never limit himself with the words "I know that" and todecisions and life. To whom are you giving the keys to
stay open to what presented itself as new idea oryour life? You are known by the company you keep.
perspective. He saw that in her and encouraged her toPay attention to the time and mind vampires. More
say YES to life's big opportunities and smallestdistractions.
moments.3. Learn more. First, learn more about you. Make
I keep his wisdom in mind when I prepare CD'sPersonal Growth a daily DO. Your business will never
designed to support the next phase of anyone's life.grow more than you do. Read the popular business
So I ask, "If you were looking back on your life frombooks and autobiographies of those with accomplished
your death bed, are there things you would like tolives. You can't pick up a bad one. It more depends on
have changed? To what did you say "No" andwhere you are and what you think you need. Trust
wonder "IF ONLY...?" Would you have paid morethat book or tape to which you are attracted and read
attention in school, stood up to the bully, returned theit like it matters.
phone call, tended to a relationship, been more giving,• Take classes and seminars with a mindset that
practiced your faith, taken a chance on the stock orsays-"I'm new, I'm teachable and I'll use what's
business opportunity, said yes to the concert, read theimportant for me." Learn more about your business.
book, spent more quality time with kids, family, friends,When you're green you grow and when you're ripe
or said "I love you?" Hindsight is great, and the bestyou rot. Stay fresh. Keep your head in the game.
part is, we don't have to wait to have it. And with your• Act on any great idea NOW... even if only a small
desire and sincere intent, THIS can be THE MOMENTstep in its direction.
that creates your absolute satisfaction and joy when4. Take care of your HEALTH
it's your time to look back. This moment can be the• SLEEP: Improve your sleep patterns if you have
one where you decide to implement the use of theproblems there. Poor sleep impacts not only energy
CD and its personalized vision. This is THElevels and health by compromising the immune system,
Extraordinary Moment as soon as you say YES to itbut slows down the process of learning according to
and allow yourself to transform.recent university studies.
Obviously there aren't do-over's in the actuality we've• NOURISH: Learn and choose to eat better each
lived A day lost, gone or invested is a day lost, gone orday. You probably already know a lot of what you
invested. In Hollywood, rewrites are possible. Here'sneed to know, but with the changes in our food supply,
how we do it in our own scripts. We not only have thereal nutrition is harder to find. Do for yourself what's
opportunity to create ourselves differently in the time inright, not just what's easy. Start with small victories and
front of us, but, in THE Extraordinary Moment, we cankeep making better decisions. Form the right eating
choose a perspective that serves us even consideringhabits. Your energy, health and quality of life depend on
our past experience. The past is not fixed. It's asit.
kaleidoscopic as the memories and perspectives we• EXERCISE: Rust never sleeps. Stay ahead of it.
choose of it. Remember, it's never what happens thatDon't like to exercise? Do it anyway. The alternative to
matters, it's how we view it that empowers ormoving is not very attractive.
disenfranchises us from our goals.5. Learn to relax. There are lots of different ways,
So, what DO you want instead? You can't live a singlefrom meditation, yoga, self hypnosis, it's all good. And
day over but you can write a better script. Who andit's even better when done with consistency. To be
how do you want to be when you grow up? What's itable to switch gears, slow down and gain perspective
going to be like for you and those who experienceis what highly effective people do. The use of
you? If the best way to predict the future is to createvisualization especially in a relaxed mental state has
it, what do you want the future to be? When is NOWbeen used by athletes, students, those in pain and
the best time to make it happen?business people to facilitate change many times faster
'Tis the time of year to reflect and take inventory inthan would ordinarily be experienced. You don't need
setting your course. You don't need the three ghostlyto reinvent the wheel. Use what has already proven
apparitions of Scrooge to take you to the past,itself to work. Copy success.
present and future to impact your life now. It's not hardThe life that you have is a life worth paying attention
to make the changes happen, but it does take someto and enjoying. Each day as you create your
planning and follow through. Abort IF Only! Systemsmemories, these suggestions above can be the tipping
GO: The Extraordinary Moment!points that matter.
Here's how to create the rest of your time by yourThe economy will not determine how good any year
conscious design.. it's a perfect time.will be. You will. You can go kicking and screaming or
Here are 5 KEYS for getting back to or creating a lifeyou can go with ease, style and grace. It really is about
by choice not chance and HOW to use them.choice. Choose well.
1. Set goals for the year that stretch you. If you're