Teresa Cleveland

How Do I Know If I’m Stuck?

Teresa Cleveland — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:52:14 +0000

Recently, I’ve had conversations with clients who are moving forward in their lives, toward their specific dreams and goals. They have shared that when they look back, they now realize they didn’t even know they were stuck or when it happened exactly. At some point though, they noticed that something was out of alignment.

This became a topic of conversation with a friend and I decided to write about some of the signs…

It’s Saturday afternoon and while you had good intentions when you woke up, it’s now 3:00 and you haven’t made any progress on the things you were going to accomplish.

You sit down at your desk to tackle your to-do list. Before you know it, it’s lunch time and your list is barely touched but your desk & all the drawers are nicely organized.

Just thinking of everything that needs your attention is overwhelming. You tend to prioritize by which item screams the loudest for resolution. This could involve actual screaming of clients, family members, friends, vendors, etc.

Your friends and family are inviting you to get together and you always have somewhere else to be. In front of the TV, playing video games, reading another fiction book, thumbing through magazines.

You show up for work, do your job (and just your job), share banal exchanges with your coworkers, and head home for some much needed downtime.

You feel like something is off but you just can’t put your finger on it. And frankly, it feels like it will take too much energy to figure it out.

You try to make changes but something keeps holding you back. It’s less frustrating to just go with the old way of doing things.

We’re all different yet we have some common threads that run amongst us. Many people have experienced these feelings and typically more than once at different stages of their lives. I know I have. It can sneak up on us and before we know it, we’re knee deep in it.

I have studied different philosophies and processes. The first step every time is to notice. You cannot change anything until you notice that it is there to begin with. Take an honest look at your situation. Let’s face it, we all need downtime. Is this an isolated case of needing a break or has downtime become a way of life? Are you just putting in appearances and going through the motions?

Make a list of what you want. Really take the time to dream about how you want your life to look…the places you want to go, the people you want to interact with, the foods you want to eat…there is no limit. Once you have an idea of what you do want, you can begin taking steps towards making your dreams a reality. When you are connected to your heart’s desire you become excited and step into focused action.

I welcome you to share where you found yourself stuck and what you did to overcome it.

Act On Your Promptings

Teresa Cleveland — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:24:39 +0000

It’s mid-to-late morning on July 4th as I write this. I just got off the phone with a dear friend. She had been on my mind quite a bit recently & I was overcome with a sense of how much I love her and wanted to let her know. Now, I’m sure many of us have had those feelings or promptings before about different people or things, and not acted on them. I know I have. Thoughts like, ‘it’s a holiday’, ‘it’s Sunday’, ‘she’ll think I’m sappy’, ‘I have a million other things to do’ and others can talk us right out of acting on whatever the prompting may be. Today I just acted on it. What a sweet blessing was in store…for both of us!! We caught up on what is going on with each other & exchanged such great energy that will propel us forward in our endeavors, both personally & professionally! My day is brighter and I know I am connected with & supported by another beautiful human being. How much better does it get?

I want to encourage you to reach out & act on the next urge you have. It could be connecting with someone, going for a walk, going to the store, picking up a book…the possibilities are endless. You never know what beautiful gift is waiting for you!

Oh, by the way…Happy Independence Day!

10 Tips for Dealing With Self Doubt

Teresa Cleveland — Sat, 08 May 2010 07:12:12 +0000

Self-doubt.
It’s something we all deal with at various times throughout our life.

Can I accomplish the next thing on my list?
Do I really have anything to say?
How can I possibly make a difference?
Who am I to think I can do this thing?

The list can go on and on. There is a psychology behind it all and various assessments, articles, and explanations. Hit Google and you’ll find a plethora of information. My intention today is to offer 10 tips on how others just like you and I deal with it. I am grateful that when I am wrestling with self-doubt I can pick up the phone and reach out to the wonderful women listed here and they graciously share their strategies! Thank you all!

I eliminate people from my life that create negativity & surround myself with those who are full of positive energy. It’s one of the reasons I created Damesbond.
~Mary B. Relotto, www.DamesBond.com

Don’t deny the feeling. I meditate, exercise, and stretch. Then I find an easy win to get me back on track.
~Meredith Liepelt, www.RichLifeMarketing.com

I remind myself what I am capable of and look at my wins and big accomplishments. I give myself a cheerleading pep talk. Then I choose to focus on my positive attributes.
~Wendy Pasquale, www.TravelingWithAPassion.com

I ask myself “what’s the worse that can happen if I do or don’t do this” and then “if that’s the worse that can happen can I live with it?” I find a little “what if” helps every time.
~Katrina Johnson, Success Point Consulting

I keep a ravings account passbook in my purse where I record compliments I’ve received, quotes, accomplishments, and other accolades. I can pull it out when I am doubting if I can accomplish something as a reminder of my personal power.
~A.J. Casey, www.AJCasey.com

I reach out and help someone else. I find that when I am inspiring and helping others I am open to being inspired & helping myself.
~Cheryl Burget, www.YourIntendedLife.com

I keep mind focused on what I know is true according to the promises of God. I choose to focus on His ability rather than my inability.
~Mary Jenkins, www.ChristiansOvercomingCancer.com

I accept and acknowledge it, I don’t try to fight it.
I look for successes in other things I have done well.
I take some action and seek out people that inspire me or find others I can encourage.

~Edie Galley, www.EdieGalley.com

I sit in a quiet place and reflect on what I have done and the good traits I have. When I look at how much I have going for me I realize that my current self doubt is just a glitch I am going through. I remind myself that I’ve survived it before and will again. I remind myself of my greatness and play the gratitude game. I also surround myself with people who recognize the things in me that allow me to live up to my potential.
~Connie Suson, www.AwakenYourPassion.net

I call a trusted friend and share whatever I am dealing with and ask for feedback. It’s a great reality check.
~Beth Freeman, www.ChoicesColumbus.org

I make a list to keep in front of me of what I have accomplished to remind myself that I can do whatever is causing the doubt.
~Renee Belbeck, www.NationalAssociationofWomen.com

Authentic Connections

Teresa Cleveland — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:04:59 +0000

I just got back from the Extreme Business Makeovers weekend on Monday. WOW! I am still looking for the words to describe the experience! I’ll write more about this soon.

Last night, I had the honor of being the guest speaker at the Everal Barn in Westerville to authentically connect with other women at the National Association of W.O.M.E.N. Columbus Chapter Kick-Off event. The focus was Authentic Connections. We talked about adding value to each other and in the spirit of keeping it interactive, I had everyone pair off with the goal of finding out as much about the other person in a five minute time period. They then had to present each other to their table. The feedback was that these women were able to walk away with the beginning of a new relationship. There was a lot of great energy in the room and it was a fun time. We are kicking off a 12-week Success in Motion teleseminar series called Authentic Connections very soon.

You can check out the article Trina Johnson wrote for examiner.com here.

In Perfect Time

Teresa Cleveland — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:00:59 +0000

Whose timetable is it anyway?

I noticed that Cheri, one of the women in my Passion Test master mind group, sometimes says “in perfect time.” This is when she is talking about things that are on the to-do list or that may not have been completed as she would have liked. As I really heard the words one day, I contemplated whether I believed that to be true or not. I thought about:

the times that I have really felt I was in a bind & things didn’t work out when I thought they should.
the times that I would have really liked to have had just the right contact to pull a project together & ended up passing altogether.
the time when I was wondering if I would ever meet Mr. Right when Mr. Wrong kept showing up on my Caller ID.

I also thought about the times that I have forced situations. They should have happened on my timetable so I decided to “settle” for what was at hand and run with it. Although these situations may have turned out ok (or not) it was never to the degree I would have liked. It occurred to me as I examined these different situations that they all did indeed happen in their perfect time. What if I met that perfect business partner or client & I could only give a thrown together, partial presentation? Did you just hear that door close? And thank goodness I waited for Mr. Cleveland to show up. He may not be perfect but he is perfect for me! The truth is that in everything we simply are not properly prepared until we are. And then in perfect time, everything falls into place if we allow it. I’m grateful to be learning this and to appreciate the here and now!

I had been thinking about writing about this for a couple of weeks and then, as if in perfect time, I received the following daily quote the same day I did write it from Abraham-Hicks which was right on time & summed it all up.

“Some things you’re not letting happen right now because the timing isn’t perfect for you. Some you’re not letting happen because you are very aware of where you are. But all things, as they are happening, are happening in perfect order. And if you will relax and begin saying, “Everything in its perfect time. Everything is unfolding. And I’m enjoying where I am now, in relationship to where I’m going. Content where I am, and eager for more,” that is the perfect vibrational stance. ”
— Abraham
Excerpted from the workshop in Kansas City, KS on Wednesday, September 17th, 2003

Rushing and Hurrying=Lack

Teresa Cleveland — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:51:07 +0000

Do you find yourself rushing from one appointment to another? Hurrying from one networking meeting or workshop to another? You are not alone!
I am hearing this a lot lately. I have a friend who shared that she will sometimes leave one event early to arrive at another event late! Of course the result is that she does not receive the full benefit of either event. She also misses out on connecting before or after the event with people who share some of her same interests. While she realizes this is the case, she shared that she loves to learn and does not want to pass anything up.

We are presented with so many opportunities it is indeed sometimes difficult to choose where to put our time and attention. It is easy to get caught up in scheduling teleseminars, workshops, networking meetings, charity events, and coffee get togethers. The next thing we know, it’s the beginning of the next week. We realize we have not accomplished many of the things we needed to have done in order to further our professional and/or personal goals. We find ourselves in an endless cycle of rushing around trying to learn what we need to get ahead just to become so busy we never have time to apply what we learn.

The truth is that when we rush and hurry we are in a lack state of mind that says “There’s not enough.” It could be not enough time, energy, knowledge, or opportunities but it is ‘not enough’ just the same. Over the next week or two I challenge you to shift out of automatic and truly consider each opportunity and ask yourself a few of questions that will help you live a life aligned with your authenticity and passions.

Will attending this (event, workshop, meeting, etc) move me closer to or away from my passions and goals? (Yes, this means my events too.)

How will attending serve me?

Is this the best use of my time at this point in my journey?

When will I be able to put this information to use?

Others have shared with me that when they have stopped to consider these points, they begin to break through that cycle and start seeing results. Time and time again I have experienced these break-throughs as well. I’d love to hear your experience as you put this into practice.

To discover your next best step, shoot me an email & we’ll discuss your solution!

Fowarding Ezines and Newsletters

Teresa Cleveland — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:16:23 +0000

Did you know when you forward your copy of an e-zine or newsletter through the forward button in your email browser that the person you forward to has the ability to unsubscribe you?

It’s true! Subscribers have always been kind enough to forward their copy of Life Strategies to friends. Recently, someone amongst the people they forwarded it to decided it was not of interest to them and they hit the unsubscribe button, thus unsubscribing the original sender. Most e-zines now come with a ‘Forward Email’ link such as the one just below this e-zine. When you use that button, your friends receive a message with the forwarded copy saying that you thought they may find value in the e-zine. They are also alerted to the fact that they have not been subscribed to anything and they are given the option to subscribe if they would like. Please keep this in mind when you forward Life Strategies or any other valued newsletter/e-zine you receive so you will continue to stay connected to the information you want have chosen.

Thank you to everyone who forwards Life Strategies, that is one of the biggest compliments you can send my way!

If you have not yet signed up for your copy of Life Strategies click here.

3 Elements Necessary for Living Your Personal Destiny

Teresa Cleveland — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:27:11 +0000

Do you have a personal destiny? Sure, we all do. Destiny is a life’s journey.

Our uniqueness, our individual gifts set us apart from one another. We all have a special part to play in the world and when we share those gifts we are living the life we are meant to live. I was talking with a friend who was amazed that someone she knows was able to write a song in an afternoon and set it to music within 45 minutes-without formal lessons or training! I agree that it’s impressive and I could never do that. I appreciate and admire that this young lady is able to “own” her gift and bless us all with it. I reminded my friend that she also has special gifts and to let them shine. I am reminded of Les Brown (LOVE him & his message!) who talks about some who die an “un-lived life.” He is referring to those people who take their gifts to their grave, allowing fear to stifle them, never sharing them with the world. Please remember that your gift is always needed by someone, somewhere in the world…let it SHINE!

So how do we consciously figure it out? Our passions are breadcrumbs to discovering our destiny. There are 3 basic elements that are essential to guiding us along the path:

Intention-Attention-No Tension

Intention is the first step in manifesting what we want by consciously stating what we choose to create in our life.

Attention is when we spend time on or with what we choose to create in our life so it can begin to show up.

No Tension is being open to what is appearing in the moment and allowing God’s will to move through us. When we hold tightly to our concepts of how things should be, we shut off the flow of life, which in turn prevents us from enjoying the fulfillment of living our destiny.

Here are some action steps to put these 3 elements into practice.

• Set aside some time to spend with yourself and really drop down into your heart, your core (*hint-that’s where passion arises from ) to figure out what you really want in your life. Write it down.

• Find a way that allows you to give it attention. Carry a list with you, keep it where you can see it, create a vision board, whatever works for you.

• Consciously look at the opportunities that present themselves. Be open to whether something is a good fit, ask yourself if it will take you closer to or further from your destiny. Be true to yourself.

I would be honored if you share how you use this and the things you notice as you put it into action.

Are You Bumping It Up?

Teresa Cleveland — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:22:44 +0000

I’ve been hearing chatter about an As Seen On TV hair product called Bumpits®. If you haven’t heard about or seen them, you can check them out here when Ellen tried some out on a guest. The Bumpit website boasts “Celebrities, Beauty Queens, and Fashionistas are Bumping It!” I have to admit I really did laugh out loud when I saw their commercial. Bumpits, Mini Bumpits, Hollywood Bumpits, oh my! What won’t they come up with next?

Later, my mind began processing the general idea of a Bumpit. (Don’t ask me why, it’s just the way my brain works, I dont even question it anymore.) Are there places in our lives that are flat and we would love to move them to the fabulous category? Relationships, careers, spiritually, environmentally, financially? Absolutely! Like the Bumpit (in theory), the steps we take to achieve that boost are not always evident to those around us, the results are what the world sees. Unlike the Bumpit, it takes a bit longer than seconds to achieve the level and posture we desire.

Have you ever looked at someone you admire and thought they make it look so easy & effortless? I guarantee if you ask them how they got where they are, they will say they have used a variety of tools to bump themselves up to their current level. I’m also sure they will share with you they had to continually use these tools to get to a place of ease. Coaches, seminars, books, courses, virtual assistants, mentors, accountability partners and support groups are just a few to choose from. I have had the good fortune to meet and build a network of phenomenal people over the last few years. I’m always happy to share whatever resource I can, let me know what you need.

Which areas will you be concentrating on this year? Go wild…reveal your fabulous self! The good news is that you don’t need any hairspray or teasing and you don’t have to be a celebrity, beauty queen, or a fashionista to bump, bump bump it up!

~I am neither endorsing or an affiliate of Bumpits®.

I’m Not Sure My Job Is A Good Fit Anymore

Teresa Cleveland — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:55:28 +0000

Recently I had the opportunity to work one-on-one with a client who felt restless in her job. She is happy to share her experience. Due to the delicate job climate we’re in and to maintain her privacy, we’ll call her Chloe.

Chloe shared that she only had a few years before she retired. She didn’t want the added responsibilities of moving into a management position but she just wasn’t clear whether she wanted to look around for something different or stick it out for the next few years.
As we worked through The Passion Test process together, Chloe came up with her top 5 passions, the things that are important to her right now:

Maintaining mental & physical health while aging gracefully
Time together with husband
Enjoyng financial security
Spending meaningful, fun time with grandchildren
Laughing & sharing memories with entire family

As we looked at the list, Chloe found a renewed sense of appreciation for her job! The demands of her job have not changed but she has been able to focus on the benefits she experiences. You see, she has a considerable amount of flexibility in her current position that many do not. She saw with fresh eyes that the job actually empowers her to spend time doing the things on her list, like picking up the grandkids from school if they’re ill or attending a school function during the day if need be. She has enough seniority that allows her to take several vacations, spending time alone with her husband as well as time with family.

Isn’t it nice to know that aligning with our passions doesn’t have to mean we have to upset the apple cart and get a new job, leave a relationship, or move to a foreign country? Sometimes it’s as simple as adjusting our perspective, refining our focus to be able to see more clearly where we want to be. That can definitely add a spring to our step!