Forget the Snow, Let’s Put Enthusiasm in Today’s Forecast

“Dare to dream! If you did not have the capability to make your wildest wishes come true, your mind would not have the capacity to conjure such ideas in the first place. There is no limitation on what you can potentially achieve, except for the limitation you choose to impose on your own imagination. What you believe to be possible will always come to pass – to the extent that you deem it possible. It really is as simple as that.” – Anthon St. Maarten

By Dawn Onley

This isn’t just some ordinary Monday. No, this is the Monday after we’ve sprung our clocks forward and consequently, lost an hour of sleep. Listening to weather reports, and depending on the region you call home, this is also the Monday that could dump a foot or more of snow along parts of the Eastern Seaboard.

Bleh.

Before I cue the yawns and sighs and complaints about how it was 70 degrees last week, complete with daffodil and crocus blooms that teased us into thinking we were in for an early spring, I think it most appropriate that I jump off of this negative thought train that I’m on, pull it back to the station and refocus. Enthusiasm, Dawn. Keep. The. Enthusiasm.

And if you are in the same hopper as me, let me repeat: Refocus. Keep the energy high.

Mkay? Glad we’re on the same page. After all, this is kind of the perfect day to launch a plan. With food in the fridge and the threat of cabin fever looming, what better time to harness our new-found enthusiasm to fine-tune an idea, work on that book proposal, set up a budget, research programs to finally start down the path of home ownership, prepare a strategy to eliminate debt or earn a second income stream, craft and post an online dating profile, plan that dream family vacation you’ve been pining for, or whatever it is you want to accomplish?

Use this time to write it into existence, to speak what will be as if it already is, to prepare like never before. Use this day, like I will now, to make your enthusiasm soar.

Are you starting to get giddy? Not yet? Below are a few weapons that I draw from when my enthusiasm wanes and I’m in need of a quick boost:

Attitude Adjustment. This one, we already did (above). We started out not super-enthused about this day, the weather forecasts, blah, blah, blah. Then, we switched it up. We reminded ourselves that we are blessed to see this day and that we would not let an opportunity slip from our grasp to see it to its full glorious possibilities. So, we took charge and are now fully energized, grateful and ready to create our splendid lives!
Get Drunk on Goals. Whenever I need a quick, pick-me-up, I jot down three to five things that are tops on my goal list at any particular time. Right now, those things are (in no particular order): Start Back Up Running/Yoga, Finish Book Proposal, Improve My Immune System with more whole foods, gradually cutting red meat from my diet, Grow Women Who Hope and refine our targeted audience, and Achieve a Higher Level of Financial Freedom to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. As I type these words, I already see me accomplishing them. Goals have a way of getting me dizzy with giddy, stumbling to walk straight with all of that hope. It’s because I believe in the power of goal-setting and I’ve witnessed first-hand the realization of dreams in so many manifestations that I’m already celebrating my accomplishments! (and I’ll bet some of you are already celebrating your accomplishments, too)
Thinking of A Master Plan. Because nothing is ever accomplished without some foresight and strategy behind it. Whatever it is we want to do, we can totally do, if we plan it out. Starting today. Above, we wrote down our goals. Now, let’s strategize and get to accomplishing them!
Settle Within Yourself the Worst that Can Happen: This may seem counterproductive, but if you struggle with fear, like I have from time to time, I promise you it’s not. With each goal that you write out, do this exercise: Think of the worst thing that could happen. Think of the worst case scenario. What if your goal is launching a business and that business fails? What if you can’t find an agent and no publisher buys your book? What if you are stricken with an illness right when you were making moves to get healthy through diet and exercise? Sometimes the fear of things going wrong imprisons us to the point where we don’t even attempt to fulfill a dream. I’m finding it helpful to prepare for the worst, without expecting it. ALWAYS expect the best. Plan for the worst. Sorta like a rainy day fund or an insurance policy. It’s great if we never have to use either, but if we don’t have them set up, we’re much worse off in the event that we do actually need them. I find that when I mentally prepare for any and all scenarios, nothing frightens me anymore. Like a child who bravely faces the dark and peers under the bed and in the closet for monsters, when we ask ourselves “what’s the worst that can happen” and then face our fears, we dilute the power that fears once had over us. Try it.