What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do

So you think you are stuck, huh?  By definition is that even truly possible?  Even if you were in quicksand, a downward pull would keep you in motion; of course, that may not be the direction we were hoping for.

MacMillan Dictionary defines "stuck" as:  "caught or held in a position so that you cannot move; unable to solve a problem and keep on moving; in a situation that you do not like but cannot avoid; forced to have, use, or deal with someone or something that you do not want."  (I particularly enjoyed that last definition.)

We don't live here anymore.  I'm sure there's a more peaceful way to handle it.

"Forced" is a mighty strong word and, unless held by gunpoint like in the Old Wild, Wild West, I'm not quite sure I would agree. For me it robs us of the right of choice and the responsibility of said
choices.  There are always possibilities, even in what appears to be a disagreeable situation. Unlimited potential abound if one is in the right frame of mind and heart to see it!

For instance in this example of "forced," an attempt to run away or hide could be made or perhaps to fight back.  Well, you see what I'm saying...  Not wishing anything of the sort on anyone else, myself included, but to point out another perspective, only one of many.

Is it possible that the feeling of being "stuck" is only the inability to take action at that time, either as a form of procrastination or fear, or because the next step has not yet appeared to the conscious mind? If so how do you move beyond the inertia and into a place of more potentiality?  Is it merely making the resolution to proceed with what is already in place or to confidently step into a larger room?  

The answers are unlimited, and I am allowing for them but cannot yet share them as they have not formulated enough for me to do so.  Is there a technique that would aide us on that journey?

In the book, "The Spiritual Exercises of ECK," (ECK is simply another name for Holy Spirit), there are many exercises given.  This simple, easy to understand book can be used by anyone who would like to conquer fear, to learn how to use their imagination properly, tame their mind and emotions, and to master their fate, to name a few.

In this particular technique (not in the book but has been adapted from a similar exercise), imagine yourself in a small room.  Walk around the room in a circle.  As you do, you notice a doorway with golden light shining through it, walk through it.  Walk confidently into a larger space.  In this area, there is a big, blue, comfortable chair.

A guide (you can choose one you are familiar with: Jesus, Buddha, or any Master who you feel helps or guides you...it doesn't even have to be a religious figure) appears and invites you to sit in it. He or she is seated across from you and a consultation begins. You may ask, "What is my next step?" or "How can I overcome this obstacle?" or whatever comes to mind. Listen as you are given a more expansive view.

Afterwards do not question what has been given, unless of course it is harmful, just absorb it and then you can decide if it is worthy to act on.  This is one way of moving beyond fear and inertia. Numerous others can be designed to suit your situation.  Use your creativity and play with it; make it your own.  Having fun is key!

Success is a Verb

Success is perpetually in motion.  There is no destination, unless designated.  What do I mean by that?  If your definition of success is to create a multi-million dollar company and that target is achieved, you may consider yourself successfully at your destination if you choose to stop there.

What if you decide to go beyond that?  Will you set new objectives?  Having reached this landmark in your life, do you now set a new intention for a multi-billion dollar company? What happens when victory reigns over this creation as well?

“Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

― Albert Camus

In order to keep the momentum going, I would think that it now has to flow outward. For one to keep receiving, balance may need to be attained. There are many who could benefit from the successes being built: family, employees, and community. After all, how much money does one really need? How many houses, cars, TVs, etc are necessary?

What good are all these material things if you will not live long enough to enjoy them?  Or your family or health has been sacrificed at the expense of them?  A void of loneliness or low self-worth cannot be filled with things, eventually when playing with all the toys is finished, you will long for what we all come to long for...divine love.  Arrival here means a need to give out to balance the flow of what you are receiving.

Will your ambitions be for the love of power or for the power of love?  It is a choice that will be made continuously.

In the last post I promised to expand on criteria for success and I have not forgotten. What does it take to be successful?  If the only measure of success is how much money has been accumulated in the bank, the boat may have been totally missed, in my humble opinion.

Success, for me, is more often in the simple day to day happenings: the tiny moments that we can take for granted like a cup of coffee mindfully enjoyed on a quiet morning, an intimate walk barefoot on the beach, a shared smile or hug, or the knowingness that I have made some progress big or small in my life or in those around me.  It is knowing I make a difference simply by being here right now.  It is gained in numerous, subtle ways.

For others it may be just waking up in the morning, getting the children out of the house to play instead of staring at electronics all day, or finding ten minutes of sheer silence in their chaotic world.  It could be losing those last 10 pounds or finishing their To Do list. Success comes in all shapes and sizes.  It's a merely a matter of perspective and attitude.

What is the criteria for success? This author thinks it may be purely subjective but what do I know?

Arms and Heart Wide Open

Worthiness is a key element to receiving.  Positive affirmations and all the positive thinking in the world cannot bring you what you don't truly believe you are worthy of receiving.  A lack of self-worthiness has the potential to block the acceptance of gifts from the universe and will undermine all else.  This is how powerful belief and emotion are.

There is a great book called:

Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath.

http://books.google.com/books/about/Switch.html?id=XmzbeoN-KZ0C

No, I am not getting anything to promote it.

If you don't read another book, read this one!  It's so easy a child can understand it, and it shows how one person CAN make a difference in business, at home, and in the world.  It shows example after example of how the power is within you to make small changes with tremendous impact.  (I have read it twice already and I'm thinking about a third time.) Enough said!

From my own little side of the mountain at this moment, I will tell you that abundance is our divine inheritance, but like most anything else, it is an inside job.  If the world you see reflected on the outer is not in keeping with what you would like then it is within you to change it.  It may not be in the way you think, though.

Most people assume they will triumph if they toil a little harder or if, instead of working 10 hours, they work 14 hours a day.  They push and push and push.  It may produce eventually but is there a better way?

Could success be attained more smoothly by contemplating each major move?  Would it be achieved more easily by relaxing, listening, and paying attention more to that inner voice within you?  YES!  The truth is, at least as I see it so far from my own experiences thus far, is that the sweet victory of accomplishment in any area of your life requires a healthy balance of inner and outer work.  Not too far to one side or the other, and a view of detachment, meaning doing the work but not being attached to the result of that work.  It is to allow for other outcomes that may be better for us in the bigger picture so be flexible!

In summary, all I can say is, we've got this!  We are learning and growing every day; opening ourselves up to all that we deserve and more.  We will assist others along the way, too, because in giving we naturally receive.  By helping each other, we climb the ladder quicker and we become successful together.  You cannot help another without helping yourself, too! Competition is pointless.

Slow and steady wins the race at any leg of the journey.  It is wise to strive only to be better than we were the yesterday and not compare ourselves to others.

What race?  Just having fun!

Next stop....Criteria for Defining Success.

What Does Love Have to do With Success?

Staying active is essential and is one example of love of self because when you truly love yourself you take care of every part of you.  Swimming, hiking, walking...whatever your physical exercise is of choice is vital to all the bodies:  physical, emotional, mental, and Soul.  (It doesn’t have to be an hour at the gym every day:  a leisurely stroll, if you are living a sedentary or even a busy lifestyle, for 1/2 hour every day would be a great start and will build its own momentum.)  

Contemplation Trails at the Temple of ECK, Chanhassen, MN

When there are disturbances that cause pain in the physical body, this becomes more challenging and another opportunity to grow presents itself.  While it is tempting to curl up in bed and pull the covers over one’s head, it is that much more critical to keep moving and to keep showing up.  

Pain in any form is not to be ignored.  It is helpful to ask key questions to aide one along their way.  Some of the questions I might ask are:  what is it trying to telling me about my current state?  What can be done to discover the cause or the root of this, most times, “unwelcome” guest?  Is a change in diet needed?  What small adjustment can be made with maximum benefits?  Is this related to a past event or to something I am doing or not doing now?  

While it is good to have some kind of mental analysis of it, it is every bit as important (if not more) to look at it from a higher viewpoint; this means at least some time spent in silence allowing the questions to float softly through as if observing feathers floating upon a river and then letting them go.  This is easier than trying to block all thoughts from your mind because “the more you resist, the more they persist.”  Meditation is a wonderful tool but for those of us with a more active mind, contemplation (a more active form of meditation) is much more agreeable.  

A chant can be used.  I choose HU, (pronounced hue), which is the highest vibration one can sing. It has had tremendous results for me, although I don’t sing it with the intention to do so, only to open contact between the highest power (whatever you may call that power:  God, Jesus, Allah, divine love, Spirit, etc) and myself.  You can learn more about HU at: http://www.eckankar.org/hu.html.

If you would prefer to sing OM, love, or just focus all of your love upon someone who opens your heart and makes you feel happy than please feel free to do so.  It is a matter of personal choice and what works for you.  Be assured...taking this time every day is a gift that you give to yourself.  

Now what does this have to do with your business/dreams or your journey to a successful new you?  Everything!  When you are feeling good, happy, and relaxed then you are open to all the wonderful opportunities and adventure that life has to offer.  Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Note:  My Etsy store is temporary suspended.  No worries, it'll be up again soon.  Thank you for your patience.

"How Many Licks Does It Take to Get to the Center of..."

If this were TV and this was a 1970s commercial, it would end with "...a tootsie roll pop" but we aren't traveling back in time.

I think he's still counting....

We are rolling right along and wondering, "What are buyers looking for?"  "How many posts need to be written?"  And that's our first mistake of many so we are going to allow ourselves to enjoy whatever it brings, regardless of the many questions that may plague us.  We can't lose the fun and the sense of adventure, even when there are days it doesn't seem so fun anymore....especially when it doesn't seem so fun anymore.

Glitches happen.  There will be setbacks or hiccups so it becomes a choice of how we will react. It's a vicious circle if you allow yourself to get caught up in reactions so what's the solution? Sometimes it's waiting and sometimes a different approach is needed.

When in doubt, keep doing what you can do and leave some space for an opening or an opportunity to resolve the issues because there will be issues...it's a given.  No amount of pushing will help if the time is not right so why bother?  Relax and keep doing what you can do.

This pretty much says it all...

Baby steps.  One tiny step at a time.  Rinse and repeat.

Also this applies to life as well as business.

How to Market With a Zero Budget

Zero dollars to spend?  Don't let it get you down.  There's more than one way to iron out the details until you are generating a positive cash flow.

This is hard work! (Thanks, Beth, for indulging me in my photo endeavors!)

Google Adwords is free until you bid.  How do you use that to your advantage? Remember all those sites that ask for tags/keywords? You can see what tags are popular, and even not so popular, and you can build our keywords around them. This will drive more traffic to your store and, hopefully, lead to more sales at some point.

Social networking has already been covered but, at the risk of repeating myself, it's FREE!  If you don't have an account with Twitter or Pinterest or any of the number of other sites, maybe the time has come? Also, something I've only now discovered myself is there are groups for everything on Facebook.  You have an Etsy store?  There's a group for it on Facebook (FB).  How does a group benefit you?  Just one of the Etsy groups on FB has over 2,000 members with the same interest as I do.  This translates to lots of sharing and possibly exchanges of knowledge and goods.  (Artists will often buy or trade with each other.)  It also lets like-interested minds know, "Here I am!  Come and check me out!"

If Pinterest is your network of choice, there are also groups on there.  You're on your own there until I get a better working knowledge of how it works.  So far, I've been able to join a few groups but haven't figured out how to actually post to them.  If you figure it out before I do, let me know.  If not I'll get back to you on it.

Wishing anyone celebrating a Happy Fourth!

Tag You're It!

For years now I have played on social networking sites beginning with MySpace and then moved onto sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, and others.  It was a way to stay in touch with family and friends that, unfortunately or maybe you will say fortunately, lived on the other side of the country or even world. Not to mention, it was a fabulous way to spy on my boys.  Did I say "spy"?  I meant...keep tabs on.

As I began to think in more of a business fashion, I got involved with Linkedin, which I still do not completely understand how to utilize properly but appears to be more of a professional networking site. Why is it difficult to promote yourself and your business in a world where there are so many social networks?  My guess is, because you and thousands, maybe even millions of others are doing the same thing!  How do you set yourself apart from everyone else so you can be noticed?

Keywords!  Tags or keywords will assist your potential buyers in discovering you, providing you have the right ones.  What is the right keyword, you say?  Here's where things can get a little sticky.  

What do you mean there's no fish in here?

Some may even say it can be like fishing in a mud puddle when there's a river right behind you if you aren't choosing the words that your average user is searching.  Of course, fishing in a river where the fish are plentiful isn't any guarantee either.  You can have a great keyword like "photography" but so do 300,000 other photographers, amateurs and professionals alike.  

Do you know where that puts you? Out in the internet boonies, no man's land, that's where!  Help!  I didn't mean to use my invisibility powers so well.  

What does this mean exactly?  We are going to have to get a bit creative.  You can use Google AdWords to help you out.  They have a neat tool called keyword planner.  Use it! It's free!  It will tell you what keywords are being searched in that category, how many users per month and, if you have a budget to promote yourself, how much it is going to cost you to bid on that word.  

Bidding for a keyword?  What does that do?  It gets you the primo spots on page number one of Google search engines or its conglomerates, that's what.  It can get expensive, though, so choose your tags wisely.  For instance, "photography" is searched 450.000 times a month but it's going to cost you $1.83; if you bid on "outdoor photography", you will only get 3,600 searches but it's only $.74.  It also narrows your search down to buyers who are looking for that category of photography.  Still with me?

Well, folks, let's leave it there for now.  Smoke is coming out my ears, and I can take a hint.  Til next time....