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Getting Started is the Key
Every month I sit in front of my computer, full of ideas about what to write in this newsletter. This is an opportunity to me to share with my readers ideas and techniques to better their lives. As any writer will tell you, it is often most difficult to find the first sentence.
That first sentence gets you started, and it is from that first thought that the rest of the article builds. As I went through that process this month, I realized that the challenge of finding the first sentence wasn’t just an issue for "writers".
In any project, getting started can be difficult. Sometimes we postpone getting started because we aren’t sure what that first step needs to be. We wait for that inspiration about HOW we are going to start our project. Some of us procrastinate. Some wait for divine inspiration.
The key to any successful endeavor, though, is getting started. Without that start, you aren’t going anywhere! If you often get stuck, or have trouble getting started, this article may provide some needed tips for you.
One way to begin is to “start with the end in mind,” as Stephen Covey proposed. Begin with a clear vision of your outcome. For example, if you are writing or preparing a presentation, think about what you want your audience to know. Figure this part out first.
Capture the vision portion of your project. (We talked about in the January newsletter, but if you missed that, email me at linda@InnerResourceCenter.com, and I’ll send you both January and February so that you can catch up with both vision and strategic planning). OR you can click on these links to view the newsletters online:
January 2009
February 2009
Knowing what your outcome is may help you take that first step to move toward that outcome or goal.
Sometimes, even after you’ve laid out all the steps to achieve your vision, as you (hopefully) did after reading the February issue, you might still feel paralyzed. You might still be trying to figure out how to take that first step. Sometimes people get hung up on trying to determine what steps should go first. Because they are struggling with this, they may not take any action.
When this happens, I believe it is important to start SOMEWHERE. If you are feeling stuck about where to start, go ahead and start with any small step. Sometimes doing a project is like cleaning a house–it doesn’t matter what room you start in, as long as you work through all of them.
When I’m doing a project and can’t exactly figure out what I need to do first, I jump in and do SOMETHING. This helps me get rid of the inertia that will otherwise keep me stuck. For example, if I can’t find that first ideal sentence to start out my article, I’ll just start someplace else. I’ll write a middle paragraph and worry about how to get there later.
Or I’ll just start writing something, and edit it out later (or not). Once the ideas start flowing, it is easier to put them into some sort of organization. The key is to take action and get moving. Once you do that, you begin to move forward. You can worry later about making it “pretty,” or putting it all in order.
I find that many people get stuck at the first step. Sometimes they vacillate back and forth between two approaches, unable to make a decision about how to proceed. My advice? Flip a coin. Jump in and do one or the other. Just make a decision and move forward. You’ll know soon enough if it isn’t the “right” decision. But more often than not, both approaches will get you there.
When you aren’t moving at all because you are feeling stuck, the important thing is just to MOVE. I’ve learned this from my horses. One of my horses, Preacher, doesn’t like to be led. He plants his feet and refuses to go forward. He becomes 1000 pounds of immovable force.
I used to struggle with him. Now, however, I just go with it. I’ve discovered that I can usually move him in a different direction–to the side, backwards, at an angle–anything to be moving rather than planted. This gets us going. Then, once you are moving, you can always change direction and go in the direction you want to go; the important thing is to be moving.
Why? Because an object in motion stays in motion. Once you are moving, there’s a better chance that you will move forward toward your goal. You’ll built momentum toward your outcome. Moving will become easier than staying still. Once you’ve started, you’ll modify your course if necessary, but you’ll be moving.
This is true whether you are moving a horse, cleaning your house, writing a book or creating a new program. The key is in taking some action right at the beginning. No matter what your project, getting started is the key!
WHAT’S NEXT?
If you are ready to take the next step, here’s an ACTION CHALLENGE for you:
1. Think of something you’d like to accomplish. Figure out the outcome you’d like to reach.
2. Determine some small thing you can do to get started on this project. Usually the smaller, the better. Try to think of something you can do in less than 30 minutes.
3. Do it.
4. When you’ve finished it, think about what you’d like to do next. Maybe it is the next step; maybe it is just the next easiest thing to do.
5. Do it.
6. Repeat steps #4 and #5. Notice how you feel after you’ve taken some initial action. Is it easier to move forward now? If not, just keep doing steps #4 and #5 until you start to feel the project moving along.
If you are completely stuck, and can’t think of ANYTHING, email me at linda@InnerResourceCenter.com. I’ll send you some ideas! Remember, it is ALL ABOUT TAKING ACTION!
© 2009 Linda S. Pucci, Ph.D.
DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
The above material is copyrighted, but you may retransmit or distribute it as long as not a single word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact information. However, you may not copy it to a web site without my written permission.
Last Chance to Download Fre*e E-Book
 If you haven't downloaded my f'ree e-book: Get Rid of Emotional Clutter: How Negative Emotions and Limiting Beliefs Block Your Dreams and What to Do About It, be sure to do it before March 31st! This $47 value is f'ree for you until that date—after that, I'll be charging for it.
Getting rid of your emotional clutter may be the single most important thing you do for yourself this year. I don’t mean to sound like your mother telling you to clean your room. But I know that when you clean the emotional clutter out of your life, you’ll feel lighter and probably much happier. Emotional clutter consists of those negative emotions from past negative experiences that you’ve been hanging on to–maybe for years. It is also made up of all those self-limiting beliefs that block you from achieving the life you really deserve.
In these challenging times, we don’t need internal obstacles keeping us from achieving what we’re capable of, and we definitely don’t need to keep sabotaging our success and happiness.
If you want to find some simple things you can do to rid yourself of these negative emotions and limiting beliefs, download my e-book—F*R*E*E until March 31st.
Click Here for Free E-Book
(For other f'ree stuff, I urge you to regularly check out my website at http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com . You'll find f'ree downloads, f'ree audios, and links to other great resources).
Get a Fre*e Thought for the Week and Action Challenge
Want ongoing inspiration for 2009? Check out my blog, Thought for the Week, at http://www.InnerResourceCenter.blogspot.com . Approximately every week or so, I pick one of my favorite inspirational quotes and give you my thoughts about it as well as a weekly challenge. It is an easy way to keep moving forward in your personal growth. I encourage you to subscribe, so that you can receive each entry in your email–no muss or fuss. Also, I’d love your comments, reactions, challenges–let me know what you think!
Finding Your Life's Purpose Class at UT-Knoxville
There are still spaces available in March 28th class I teach for the University of Tennessee's Professional and Personal Development Department: Finding Your Life's Purpose. If you'd like to attend this 1/2 day class, register TODAY. You MUST preregister.
Do you feel that you are destined for something, but aren't sure what? Do you wonder if you are living the life you were intended to live? Would you like to better understand your Life's Purpose? You will utilize your own value system to develop a life mission statement. The outcome of this class will be the beginnings of a plan for living your life in accordance with your life's purpose. A $5 materials fee is payable to the instructor at the first class.
Course #: 09WI786
Instructor: Linda Pucci, Ph.D., Psychologist & Life Coach
Saturday, March 28, 2009 9:00 a.m. to Noon
University of Tennessee, Morgan Hall, Room 212A
Cost: $49 + $5 materials fee
Step Over It Program Lets You "Step Over" The Beliefs that Limit You
If you have had difficulty accomplishing your goals, reaching the next level or getting consistent results, consider the possibility that you may have a few limiting beliefs that are stopping you. You may be unknowingly sabotaging yourself.
Because limiting beliefs are usually unconscious—in other words, below your level of awareness—they may be chugging away like a bad computer virus messing up your best plans.
I've designed a new program to help with this. The Step Over It Program is a "mental clutter tune-up" which helps you identify the belief(s) that keep you stuck, and more importantly, takes you through a process to let go of them. It is a quick and inexpensive way to move yourself forward beyond those limitations that are keeping you stuck.
You'll spend 3-4 hours learning how to identify your limiting beliefs and letting them go easily and quickly. Most people tell me they can immediately tell the difference in what they believe and what they are capable of achieving.
Some common beliefs cleared are "I'm not good enough;" "I'm not loveable;" "I don't deserve;" "I can't…" We'll determine exactly what beliefs are blocking YOU and clear them away. You'll be able to "step over" the limitations that used to be there.
Contact Linda@InnerResourceCenter.com or call me at 865-983-7544 or toll free 866-665-6103 to find out if this program is what you need in order to stop being stuck and move forward in your life and your career. Invest in YOURSELF by getting rid of those limiting beliefs that are blocking you!
Emotional Clutter Intensive Personal Breakthrough Sessions
If you want a makeover in some area of your life, if you want to really blast through the things that are limiting your success and your happiness, consider coming for an Emotional Clutter Intensive Personal Breakthrough Session.
Want to transform your life? Want to overcome the obstacles that block your success and happiness? Are negative emotions and limiting beliefs getting in your way? Do they keep you stuck in a rut? Do you sabotage yourself? Are you frustrated by how your life is going? Sometimes people are buried in "emotional or mental clutter." When this old baggage from our past gets in the way, it is hard to see what options we really have available. Just like physical clutter, this "junk" clutters up our lives in negative ways.
 If you'd like to get this baggage out of the way, get unstuck and be able to move on with your life, consider Emotional Clutter Intensive Personal Breakthrough Sessions. Getting rid of old baggage doesn't have to take months or years of therapy.
It just takes a willingness to let go of that mental clutter, and a willingness to imagine your life without it.
Overcome the issues that are really blocking you in a selected area of your life. Imagine transforming some area of your life so that you have ALL the resources you need.
An Emotional Clutter Intensive Personal Breakthrough Session can be done in as little as 12-20 hours over the course of four to five days.
How does it work? You make arrangements to visit the Smoky Mountain region of East Tennessee, right outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. We'll help you find lodging to suit your budget and will work with you 2-6 hours every day to help you break through your limitations and turn things around. No matter how long you've been struggling with an issue, if you're willing to, we'll help you change it during your stay here. You'll work intensively to make those changes, and it will be well worth it!
One participant wrote:
After 4 days of an "intensive breakthrough session" with Linda, I walked out of that last session with the deepest sense of freedom and inner peace. The obstacle that kept me fearing moving forward was no longer a mountain that was impossible to climb, but a hill that had many paths to take. Linda helped me change my perceptions. I was able to rediscover and reconnect with my own inner wisdom. Linda, thanks for giving me the inspiration again to inspire others.
- C.A.L.
Call for more information: (865) 983-7544 or toll free (866) 661-6103 to see if this approach is appropriate for you.
Whatever you do, make 2009 count! We are in challenging times, and I'm a strong believer that you can accomplish anything if you have the right tools. I want to help you find the resources to transform your life and to be more successful and happy than you ever dreamed possible!
Warmest Wishes for Your Personal Growth,
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