Hilary Harwell

What's it Gonna Take For You To Leave that Job?

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:03:00 +0000

This is a tough question. What is it going to take for you to make the move and follow your dreams? Is the fear of not having a paycheck holding you back? It's a pretty scary thought, and one that I've been contemplating for several years now, especially with three little mouths to feed. It was in those little mouths that I found the motivation to let go of the toxic security of that paycheck.

I can't sum everything up in one blog post. But I can say that the thought of my kids growing up watching mommy 'suck it up' and 'tough it out' for that paycheck, all the while knowing that what I really wanted to do was create (art, jewelry, books, you name it...), would be teaching them exactly what I DON'T want them to do when they grow up. The thought of them wasting their life in some go-nowhere job where their true talents aren't merely unrecognized, but stifled completely, made my physically ill. So I made the decision to be the change. It's terrifying, but invigorating all at the same time. The first year is going to be rocky, I've accepted that. But at least I know that I'm living some of my most important values - freedom, creative expression, self-reliance. I've never been a particularly religious person, but someone said to me recently as we discussed my plan, "The Lord rewards those who have faith." This is my leap of faith. Making the decision and of course, telling my lousy boss that I was leaving, felt better than anything had in a long time, and doing so made it even more clear to me that I had made the RIGHT decision.

So, my question to you is, what's it going to take for you to make YOUR move? How are you going to feel at the end of your days when you look back at your life? Will you have lived it the way you wanted? Take some time with this question. It's an incredibly powerful one.

Sounds of Silence

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:07:00 +0000

It is only when we silence the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts. ~K.T. Jong

Knocking the Dust Off

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:24:00 +0000

It's been quite awhile since my last blog post, on this blog anyways, and it feels great to be back. The last year and a half have been quite a wild ride. We welcomed a new baby girl into our family (now of 5) last summer and I finished writing my first children's novel over the winter. It is now being shopped around for representation - fingers crossed. I have rekindled my love of writing via that endeavor and have penned a few short stories that I hope to spin into picture books sometime in the future. I have also taken time to get back into painting and will have some of my work on display at the local coffee shop here in Smyrna - REV. If anyone is in the area please stop in for a visit - they have FANTASTIC coffee. My coaching practice has picked up in the past months as well and I'm looking forward to working with new and existing clients. For today, I will leave you with a bit of creative wisdom that I recently stumbled upon:

"Your ability to create is intimately connected to your intention to matter." ~Eric Maisel

So, the question that I leave you with is: How much do you want to matter?

In Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:17:00 +0000

As you know, Thanksgiving is a day we set aside to reflect on that which we are grateful for in our lives. It is a moment to slow down, spend time with those who mean the most to us and celebrate all of the wonderful blessings life has bestowed upon us.

Many times however, we focus too much on the details of the day - getting ourselves ready, preparing a perfect meal, making sure that everyone gets along. We end up spending the holiday frazzled and harried instead of relaxed, joyful and thankful.

As you set out this Thanksgiving, I want you to do so from a place of peacefulness and gratitude. If you find yourself facing something unpleasant, take a moment to pause and figure out a way to look at the situation differently. Don't succumb to your emotion and initial reactions, but instead look at the situation from that place of peace and gratitude.

Take some time after your turkey dinner to sit and write down 25 things from the past year that you are thankful for... I'll share a few of mine to give you some inspiration.

1. I am thankful for my two beautiful, vibrant children who give me more joy than I could have ever thought possible.
2. I am thankful for my husband who values us above all else, and always comes back to center just when I need him most.
3. I am thankful for that last breath, and that one...
4. I am thankful for all of the wisdom that I have acquired throughout the years, from the mistakes and successes.
5. I am thankful that my parents allowed me to be free and live my life as I want to...never imposing their own limitations on me or using guilt or manipulation to hinder my progress in life.

Those are just a few from my list this year.... I hope you take the time to make a list of your own. It will give you strength and appreciation for the beauty in your life.

I hope you have a warm, joyful holiday this year!

Four Great Books if You Want to Live the Creative Life

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:03:00 +0000

How do you define creativity? As with most anything, you are able to conjure up your own definition of this concept. Perhaps you create ideas, works of art, play an instrument.... I stumbled upon these four fantastic resources for helping you live the creative life. Nearly all of my clients are embarking on a new journey in which they define their lives by a sense of purpose. This purpose involves creating and then taking those creations and using them to help better people's lives. I hope you take a moment to investigate these resources and pause to consider how your life is given purpose at this very moment.

Shifting from Fear to Empowerment

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:03:00 +0000

I recently started up my fall group coaching program, which has been centered around the fears that first time entrepreneurs face as they follow their dreams and launch their businesses. One of the things that we've been working on is how to change your outlook of the future from a perspective of fear and concern to one of empowerment.

If you find yourself with a list of reasons why you won't be able to accomplish something or are concerned because you are taking on something you've never done before, perhaps you are in need of a change in perspective. How can you shift your view of the future from something you may not be able to handle, to a view that you are competent and capable enough to handle any issue that comes your way?

1. Pick something you can do every day that makes you feel good about yourself. Perhaps it is something you are fearful of doing or something that makes you anxious. Push yourself to do it, and when you do, congratulate yourself. Acknowledge the courage it took and recognize your own strength.

2. Develop a mantra for yourself. Devise a phrase or way of thinking that affirms your courage and abilities. Make sure your mantra is in the present tense. A great example that one of my clients recently came up with is, 'I face my fears head on and am brave enough and sharp enough to handle everything that comes my way.' Affirmations are a great way to reassure yourself of your amazing abilities. The more you affirm the more you believe!

3. Change how you look at the future. If you hold the belief that the unknown is scary, question it. How do you feel when something amazing and unexpected happens? Surely these types of things happen as often, if not more so, than the unexpected and not-so-amazing events... Be aware of what you are choosing to focus on. You are allowing that focus to shape how you step out into the world. Practice looking at the future as something full of wonderful abundance and pleasant surprises.

These three things will help boost your confidence and kick fear to the curb!

How I Changed Careers

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:28:00 +0000

I was recently interviewed and featured in Terry Carter's blog, How I Changed Careers. Terry is the CEO of Travertine Spa and is currently working on authoring a book on how people can break free from a dull, uninspiring career and follow their dreams. You have to check this out - he's a great guy doing great things!

Good Vibes

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Today's post is brought to you by a wonderful site that I receive daily information from - Daily Om. I highly recommend signing up for their daily inspirational emails. The following is some food for thought. Enjoy.

The Joyful Flow
Good Vibrations

Feelings vibrate, just as all things in the universe do, at a particular frequency. Negative feelings like anger, guilt, and depression vibrate at low frequencies, while positive feelings like joy, appreciation, and passion vibrate at high frequencies. These high frequency vibrations make us feel good. This is why people and places that inspire and cultivate positive feelings have what we call good vibrations.

Good vibrations inspire health, happiness, and optimism. When we are tuned in to good vibrations, our bodies heal, our hearts open, and our minds shift toward the light. We see new possibilities and feel powerfully energized to follow our inner visions. At the same time, we feel relaxed and capable of manifesting these visions without giving in to stress or struggle. Good vibrations put us in a state of perfect receptivity so that we feel it is the energy flowing through us that accomplishes what needs to be done. We feel guided, supported, protected, and nourished within this joyful flow. We sometimes forget that we are allowed to feel this way all the time.

Lower frequency vibrations are not bad in a moral sense, but they are bad in the sense that they simply don’t feel good. Still, they have a purpose, which is to alert us to the fact that we are blocking out the higher frequency vibrations that we need to function well. They are a call for healing ourselves from within. The key to our healing lies in remembering that it is our birthright to feel good and that feeling good is the essence of our true nature. When we are receiving and sending out good vibrations, we are in the flow. When we are not, we can begin to raise our vibration by seeking out people, places, and situations that vibrate at a higher frequency. Whether we need to go on retreat or just call a friend who makes us laugh, seeking out those good vibrations and basking in them is a sacred and loving practice that returns us, time and again, to the joyful flow of the universe.

What kind of vibe are you giving off? Notice when you speak with the people you encounter whether you are getting warm, expansive vibrations from them or dull, contracted vibrations. Tune into these and use them as a guide as you navigate through life.

Inspired Action

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:28:00 +0000

As an entrepreneur I sometimes find myself compelled to take action but not totally inspired to do so. It is very important to me that inspiration drives my actions, so when this occurs I find myself in a bit of a quagmire. I have worked with clients, both artists and entrepreneurs, who often experience the same scenario. It resembles procrastination to a certain extent, but I think its root source differs. So, what do we do when our enthusiasm for our business wanes? How can we move forward from a place of inspired action?

If you find yourself pushing forward on a project or business idea with only a measure of your usual effort perhaps it is time to investigate what is missing from the equation. What don't you currently have in place? When you lack passion for what you are doing, it becomes tedious, forced and many times this is reflected in the quality of work that you do. How do you reconnect with the passion that initially motivated you? There are several different approaches that you can take...

1. Look back over all of your accomplishments with your business. If you kept a record or journal of thoughts and feelings as you launched your endeavor take a look at those. Many times, we get so bogged down in the details of our businesses we forget how much fun it really can be. When you lose sight of the bigger picture the passion and inspiration you once had dwindles.

2. After looking back over your accomplishments, work on your vision. Usually, when you start out you have lofty dreams and big picture goals that are driving your actions. Take some time to revisit these initials goals and determine whether they are still in line with the vision of your business. Let it be okay if they are not. Redesign your big picture vision if need be. Know that this revisioning is part of the journey - not a determination of success or failure.

3. If your interests take you away from your business for a short period of time and you feel inspired to put your efforts into another area of your life, let that be okay. It is important to pay attention to what inspires you - it is a way for the Universe to guide you to what you need right now in life.

You may find yourself focusing so much on your business that other areas of your life are neglected - family, spouse, home, etc. If you become inspired to focus your efforts away from your business, don't beat yourself up about it....just go with the flow. Your attention will come back to the business soon enough, and most often it will do so with renewed enthusiasm and gusto.

Pay attention to these signals from the Universe and move forward in life from a place of inspired action.

Announcing Open Enrollment - Kick Fear to the Curb

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:29:00 +0000

I am happy to announce open enrollment for my Fall 2009 group coaching program:

'Kick Fear to the Curb'

Ever find yourself holding back from playing a bigger game in life because of worries and doubts about taking risks?

What if you could push past your fears and self-doubt once and for all and pursue your dreams?

======================================

Join me and a small, intimate group of others who are looking to work through their own fears and doubts in a supportive, inspirational & empowering environment. Learn how to recognize and push past your own personal obstacles once and for all with this dynamic, interactive and effective group program. Spots are limited and will be filled quickly - act today to secure your seat.

* The group will kick off in mid-October and will run for four weeks.
* Sessions will be conducted via teleconference bridge line for your convenience.
* Each week will be dedicated to understanding your own unique concerns and creating a game plan for taking action to overcome these obstacles.
* Sessions will be structured to include educational information from Hilary as well as laser coaching for each participant every single week.
* You will walk away from the program with clarity, confidence and a strategic approach to dealing with your own personal obstacles.
* The group coaching environment offers a more affordable alternative to one on one coaching yet still offers the direct exposure to Hilary's powerful coaching.
* Investment in yourself: $135 per month

If you are interested in learning more about the opportunity to join our group, please contact me by visiting An Inspired Mind today. Make the investment in yourself and stop allowing fear and self-doubt to prevent you from following your dreams!

How do you slow down?

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:28:00 +0000

We live in an up-and-at-'em, fast-paced society. Our culture, which is based upon a puritanical work ethic, frowns upon so-called down-time. These natural cyclical phases of introspection and re-evaluation are critical to maintaining balance and ultimately, happiness in life. As human beings, we need time to slow down, take stock and pause to determine where we really are versus where we need to be. When was the last time you allowed yourself to slow down and take a look at all of the elements in your life? How do you use down-time to achieve a greater sense of balance?

In Harmony with Nature

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:22:00 +0000

I have always been a fan of the change of seasons, and of change in general. I recently made a trip up to my home state of Connecticut for a friend's wedding and was immediately (and a bit prematurely) given a dose of autumn. Cool, crisp breezes, falling leaves and a chill in the air changed something within me and I could feel my body begin to prepare for the fall. Of course, once we returned to Georgia, we were faced with swampy humidity and hot temperatures for another week or so, but that has moved off and is now replaced with those same days that we were able to experience in Connecticut.

I'm writing about all of this because I think that there is great value in living in tune with the seasons. This past spring, I noticed within myself tremendous growth and an outward projection of my thoughts and activity. This continued on through the summer but as August came to a close, I noticed myself winding down. The change of season has triggered a shift in perspective away from my business and towards my family and the coming holidays. Autumn is a time of preparation for winter dormancy. Leaves fall, animals prepare for the cold, harsh days of winter and we as humans msut tune into what we need to do in our own lives to prepare for our own cyclical changes.

How will you let the change in season trigger a shift in perspective or activity this year? What does autumn mean in your own life? What significant memories are stored in the smell of accumulating leaves, the sight of scarecrows, pumpkins and Indian corn, and in these cooler days?

A Little Dose of Astrology

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:56:00 +0000

I've always looked at astrology with a healthy skepticism and mild curiosity. So I find it very interesting that an email newsletter that I received from author Carolyn Myss contained an article that was so insanely on point in explaining how a mercurial shift is currently influencing the way we approach life. The article was written by Robert Ohotto, an intuitive life strategist. The effects, which I have taken directly from her newsletter and included below for your benefit, so accurately mirror my life right now that I simply had to share. I'd love to hear if any of you are experiencing something similar...

'Essentially astrology is the art and science of intuiting and interpreting the energetic and archetypal cycles of life and your soul’s schedule of unfolding into the world via those cycles. All those planets out there in the heavens are mirrors for what’s happening in us……as above, so below. So any planetary cycle that we observe in the sky/Zodiac is also occurring within, because (as all mystics have said for ages) the ultimate reality is that there is no separation from what’s out there and what’s within. The gift of astrology is born out of learning to work with the cosmic/archetypal cycles of life consciously, as a co-creative act if you will. So if you can learn to understand the inherent function of a planetary astrological cycle, you can use that energy in a more consciously empowered manner, and bring your timing/efforts more in line with Universal Will; which means more in line with your soul. Onto Mercury Retrograde!

What is ‘Mercury Retrograde’ anyway? When Mercury is direct, which it is 80% of the year, we can look to the sky and see the planet’s motion going forward against the backdrop of the Zodiac in the heavens. However, about every 3 ½ months the planet appears to start going backward for about three weeks. I say “appears” because in reality it’s the orbit of the earth in tandem with the planetary orbit of Mercury that makes the planet appear to move backwards, though it is not really moving backwards. Nevertheless, this period of time is called Mercury Retrograde.

That being said, what does Mercury Retrograde symbolize as a process within each of us? How does it point our ego toward our soul’s timing? As a function of consciousness, Mercury represents our thinking and communicative processes, the ways we access and use information, make decisions, pay attention to details, and express ourselves. Perhaps most importantly, Mercury also symbolizes the way we perceive reality via the mind.

Much of this gets reexamined during a Mercury Retrograde cycle via the astrological sign’s themes it’s retrograde in (Libra and Virgo this time!). We are asked to retreat within and reevaluate what serves our life with regards to this Mercurial function of consciousness, and what needs to be upgraded, reworked, rethought, refined, and/or let go of in the ways that we think about and experience things. If we resist this, then we invoke the “Trickster” side of Mercury contained in Mercury’s function. You all know this too well: miscommunications, missed flights, accidents, computer and other tech breakdowns…need I go on?! All of these are designed to help you realize you’re not in control and that a deeper design is trying to emerge into your consciousness by putting your ego-mind in the back seat for a time.

When Mercury is moving direct, our minds tend to work on a more functional/forward level. Our energy is invested in more assertive decision-making and action with less retrospection and reflection. However, we are unconsciously picking up on intuitive information, which will come to call during the retrograde cycle for further integration. There needs to be a time of rest and assimilation of all the information that we perceive consciously and unconsciously – much like our need for sleep every day. And a time for our inner wisdom to come forth and guide us to re-organize, rethink, reevaluate, redo, and reboot. This is part of the organic, natural flow of life. Our culture, however, made up of schedules and deadlines, doesn’t often accommodate a cycle of introspective reflection and re-evaluation. This is why this cycle can be so brutal for some of us……especially those of us, like me, with a thousand deadlines and agendas!

Even though Mercury is moving direct, it will eventually enter into its retrograde zone (the degrees of the astrological sign it will retrograde over) about two weeks before it goes retrograde. This set up phase began back on August 17th for this current cycle. Around that time signals from the environment would have begun alerting you towards inner and outer situations that are in need of some reflection and reevaluation – which for this retrograde will be connected to themes of Libra and Virgo. Take a moment and reflect on what was happening in your life in late August and how the themes have been shifting since then in your experience.'

Simple Steps for A Happy Day

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Ever feel like your thoughts are a thousand miles ahead of what is really going on in your life? You may be experiencing feelings of frustration, anger, overwhelm...any emotion that makes you feel contracted and unhappy, but have no real tangible thing to tie those feelings to in the present moment. So, how does one go about dealing with this type of situation and shifting your perspectives to increase happiness?

The first step in growing your level of happiness right now is to detach from the negative emotions that you are experiencing. Easier said than done, right? We give those negative emotions so much power despite the fact that they only really exist in our minds. If you want to generate more happiness learn to recognize the emotion as it arises and detach yourself from the feelings it generates within you. Realize that those feelings are just that - feelings. They don't exist outside the realm of your mind.

The next step is to practice letting go. Understand that you cannot control what happens in life. The only thing you can control are your thoughts and subsequent reactions to what happens. Work on improving your thoughts and reactions to all that happens in life. Recognize the power that you have in choosing your thoughts.

The final step is to be proactive about things in your life that are making you unhappy. Once you have begun to recognize and change your thought patterns about these things, take the next step and do something to change what is bringing you down. Use your new perspective as impetus to make positive change in your life.

New Layout - Yeigh or Neigh?

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:58:00 +0000

For those of you who are regular visitors here I'm sure you have noticed that I have been playing with the layout of my blog quite a bit lately. I'm extremely creative and feel rather restricted by the limited number of layouts that this platform offers...

I'd love to hear any feedback you have on the latest layout...I dig it but wish I could incorporate more art or photos somehow...

If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to share!

What's Your Excuse?

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:33:00 +0000

Sometimes we find ourselves incapable of moving forward with plans in our business, career or personal life. Many times the issue is not that we don't know what we should do, but instead that we find innumerable excuses why we can't or don't follow through on those plans. Take a moment to consider what some of your current excuses are…

One of the most common that I have heard from clients lately is that they are not ready to move forward with plans to grow a business or make a career change because of the uncertainty in our economy. Others include scarcity of funding, timing issues such as having a young family and also concern over the success of a new venture. All of these are coming from a perspective of scarcity. This perspective has been the dominant view in our society in the recent years. The issue behind adopting this type of perspective is that when you do so, you also create self-imposed limitations on your growth, both personally and professionally. The scarcity perspective is one that is based upon fear. Fear that there isn't enough to go around. Fear that now isn't the best time to start a business. Fear that making a significant change is too daunting a task and that one will be overwhelmed with the enormity of the project.

I recently came upon a post by blogger Scott H Young entitled 'How to Stop Making Excuses' and I thought it shed an interesting light on the subject. In this post, Young recommends organizing priorities and breaking down discomfort as two of the important steps in breaking the cycle of excuse-making.

I also recommend looking closely at the excuses that are currently deterring you from taking action. Determine the root cause of the excuse. Is there something that could potentially happen in the future that is preventing you from taking action? Are you reacting out of a fear of the unknown? What would change if you took on a new perspective of the situation...perhaps one of confidence and faith. Understanding the underlying issue is a critical component to being able to move from excuse phase to action phase. In life, you either have excuses or you have results. Which do you prefer?

Dealing with Discouragement

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:11:00 +0000

Left to our own devices, we are able to dream enormous, exciting, inspiring dreams. We grow with our visions and step out into the world with confidence. Then all of a sudden, we come across a bump in the road and all that confidence goes right out the window. Why is it that we let minor setbacks completely derail our progress? One of my clients had such an instance occur just recently. She acknowledged that a day of her life was spent worrying about what someone said to her about a particular part of her plans. This someone was a veritable stranger to boot. The point in this is that we all do this. We all allow people of no real consequence to govern how we step out into the world. Take a moment to think about the last time you let someone's comments ding your confidence and leave you feeling discouraged. Now, consider how you really want to step out and live life. When faced with situations that leave you questioning yourself and your dreams, how will you stand up? Be brilliant. Step out into the world from a place of strength within yourself. Cultivate this strength by resting in the knowledge that you are on your path to greatness.

5 Simple Ways to Lead an Inspired Life

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:55:00 +0000

1. Take a moment every day to contemplate the magnitude and connectedness of your world. Instead of inhaling your food at mealtime, pause and consider where each element originated. Consider the process it had to go through to get from its origin to your plate. Take this concept and translate it to all aspects of your daily life. Doing this will help put things into perspective. It will make all of your big, huge problems seem a bit less significant and will actually help you move past them more effectively.

2. Spend time in nature. Go for a walk in the woods or a bike ride. Sit outside at night and look at the stars. Take time to pause and tune in to all that is going on around you.

3. Create. Even if you have dubbed yourself uncreative, take time to make things, to think of things all on your own. You have an amazing wealth of talent and knowledge within yourself. Use it to make life around you new and unique.

4. Do things that make your soul shine. Paint, draw, climb a tree, sing, jump in puddles, build a fort, throw a baseball, ride a horse. Don't let your responsibilities become so 'important' that you don't take time to have fun.

5. Look for the good in every situation....even the exquisitely crummy ones. Every experience in life is a learning opportunity - an opportunity to grow as a human being.

Help spread inspiration to the people that matter most to you!

My book

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:29:00 +0000

I just had to take a moment to share with you how wonderful this journey has been. I have spent my entire life observing how people approach life. I am currently in the process of putting the finishing touches on my latest creative endeavor. I'm authoring a practical guide to living a purposeful life. It is my hope that this book will help others along their own journeys of self-discovery.

Everyone deserves to wake up each morning energized and enthusiastic about life. We only have one shot at this lifetime, and we never know which moment will be our last. My mission in life and with this book is to help as many people as possible to have meaningful, fulfilling lives.

I can't wait to offer this to the world!

How Far Out There are You?

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:41:00 +0000

As you can see, I like to play with the titles of my posts. I could start discussing some 60's era Utopian ideology - that might be fun. Instead however, I'll keep this relevant and let you know what brought about today's discussion of being far out.

I love my morning cup of green tea, brought to me by the makers of Good Earth teas. I was inspired by a quote I found on today's tea bag from none other than Ralph Waldo Emerson. It read:

'Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.'

The wheels started turning and I started thinking about how you can make the most of yourself. How do you put yourself out there for the world to see? I don't mean this in the dress to impress sense....I've never been much for superficiality, although it is an unfortunate part of human nature that we make our first impressions based off of visual cues. I digress. If you have a dream, an inspired vision of how you want life to be - how do you go about getting yourself seen and your voice heard?

Are you living out loud? Are you taking decisive action to make your vision become your reality? Do you let fear control your decisions? If you find yourself making excuses like I can't afford it or I just don't have the _______ to do it yet, these are all preventing you from making the vision your reality. It all ties back to the wonderfully insightful quote that I stumbled upon today - make the most of yourself. You are bigger, more amazing and more capable that you ever give yourself credit for. Live out loud. Be ready when opportunity knocks...perhaps in doing so you will eventually create your own utopia....

I really enjoyed your responses last time - so please, feel free to share some of the ways that YOU have put yourself out there and found amazing opportunities in doing so!

Creating Your Space

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:59:00 +0000

I recently coached a client who was feeling stuck creatively. As we discussed this feeling and what was preventing her from moving beyond it, it dawned on me that creative souls need space in their life to create just as much as they need skills, or their medium or inspiration. In fact, the creative environment needs to be a source of inspiration.

In order to tap into your creativity you have to designate a zone that you enter both physically and mentally when you are ready to engage creatively. How can you come home to a desk piled high with bills and expect to be inspired? When you have to rearrange your environment and make physical space for your creative pursuits you may interrupt the flow of energy that you were previously maintaining. Interrupt that flow and your spark is gone.

As I look around at my office I realize that I have very much established it as my own creative zone. When I sit down behind my computer my mind switches into a different mode and the thoughts, ideas, words just flow out of me. I can't access it in other parts of my house. Same goes for my painting. There is definitely something to be said about establishing a specific area dedicated solely to tapping into the flow of creative energy. If you find yourself tapped out creatively, take a look at your surroundings - Do they inspire you? Do you engage when you enter your house or creative space? Figure out a way to carve out your own little creative nook and boost that creativity!

How do YOU do it?

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:59:00 +0000

Alright everyone...I'm opening this post up to you. I'd love to hear your suggestions and insights about the following dilemma....

Have you ever signed up for something - a teleseminar series, training course, art class, or other longer-term endeavor - and been totally gung-ho about it at the outset...only to find your interest and enthusiasm waning as you progress along? Perhaps it was a disappointing curriculum or a less-than-stellar instructor that caused you to lose interest. Perhaps your attention was grabbed by something new and exciting. Whatever the cause, you have a vested interest in sticking it out and completing whatever it was you signed up for. What do you do?

What have you done to stay interested and see the situation through to completion? How do you stave off boredom? What are your key ingredients for persistence and perseverance?

I'm looking forward to your responses!

Six Basic Fears

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Upon completing Napoleon Hill's 'Think & Grow Rich' I feel compelled to share one of the most striking concepts this book presents. Hill discusses what he calls the Six Ghosts of Fear in the later chapters of his book. While introducing these fears, he makes note of 'an unholy trio' of negative thought patterns that prevent people from truly receiving his message. The three members of this unholy trio are indecision, doubt and fear.

'Indecision is the seedling of fear! Indecision crystallizes into doubt, the two blend and become fear! The "blending" process is slow. This is one reason why these three enemies are so dangerous. They germinate and grow without their presence being observed.

What Hill touches upon here is critical to understanding why people are not able to reach their goals on their own. Many find themselves avoiding situations or avoiding taking action. If you find yourself in a similar place, challenge yourself to explore what is driving the avoidance. Get clear on what is keeping you from realizing your own success. Be open and honest with yourself. When you see these patterns of avoidance show up, explore what is driving them. Once you fully understand why you react in the way that you do, take action and push past the fear.

Hill then goes on to list the six basic fears - fear of poverty, fear of criticism, fear of ill health, fear of the loss of love of someone, fear of old age, fear of death. He mentions that all other fears can be grouped under one of these headings. Then, he says something profound and worthy of great consideration:

'Fears are nothing more than states of mind. One's state of mind is subject to control and direction.'

After giving this some consideration, I implore you to analyze which fears impact your thoughts and decisions. In order to effectively manage your fears, you must get clear on what they are and how they influence your mind. How do you go about raising awareness of these fears? How can you begin to recognize and master your fears and reactions to those fears? How well do you control your own mind right now? What could you do today to change your state of mind and better manage your fears?

A Purposeful Existence

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:23:00 +0000

I find myself drawn to helping others discover their purpose, or at the very least, live a more purposeful existence. It seems to me that if more people on this earth were living in harmony with their essence, their true nature, that many of the social ills we see today would be reduced. I'm not going to launch into some idealistic rant about saving the world, but I think that if more people were able to tune in and have faith in their infinite potential that the world really could become a better place.

I've always been a pacifist, preferring the use of language and intelligence to deal with conflict and disagreements. I know that when you are given the gift of being able to see things from the perspective of another human being the need to fight, to go to war, becomes irrelevant.

I know that having compassion for each and every human being you encounter is both necessary and challenging. Sometimes we come across people who just get under our skin. When our buttons are pushed it can be really tough to override the emotional reaction in the moment. It is the letting go of the sense of self that is difficult. Once we recognize that we are only feeding our own ego through our emotional reactions, it is far easier to exhibit loving kindness, even for those who may irritate us.

I know that when people are doing things that mean something to them they are infinitely happier, more relaxed, and more peaceful. The energy that they create works its way outwards into the world, creating a ripple effect of positivity. The more of us that tune in and start living a purposeful existence, the more of an impact we will have on the world as a whole.

Get Your Act Together

noreply@blogger.com (HILARYHARWELL) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:14:00 +0000

Having a hard time finding time in your busy day to dedicate to yourself? Are your dreams being pushed too the back burner because you have too many other pots on the fire? If you don't seem to have enough time in the day to focus on making the changes you want to see in your life, perhaps its time for a priority check.

On a given day, what are you giving the most attention? Where is your energy focused? What things have top priority? Make a list of the top 5 current priorities. Now, once you have done that ask yourself what you would do if all of these seemingly important priorities suddenly disappeared? What would you do if nothing would stand in your way? Make a list of these top 5 aspirations/goals.

Take a look at both of your lists. How closely does the second list mirror the first? If you're like most, it doesn't. It's time to ask yourself - what can I let go of from the first list in order to make room for something from the second? How can I shift my priorities to make more room in my life for what I want?

Re-prioritizing is about making change. Many of us are very resistant to change whether we like to admit it or not. In order to really create more time in your busy life for your dreams and goals you'll need to embrace change and take action to see that you give your new priorities due attention. What you give your attention to in life grows. If you want to live your dreams, start giving them more attention.