Alisa Steady My Life My Way

Coping Mechanisms & Practices On The Job #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:23:00 +0000

So, it’s a Monday morning and you’re sitting at your desk at the McJob. And the whole week ahead feels like another epic climb up Mt. Everest with a suitcase in one hand, and a watermelon in the other. You ask yourself, “How am I going to get through another day, let alone another week?” This is an especially difficult question to answer if you are focusing on your passion - whether it be building your own business, or learning a new skill (like painting, or swimming, or a new language).

When passion is reintroduced into our lives, it’s pretty common to feel like you want to ‘live’ in that passion twenty four seven. But for most of us, the reality is that we have jobs to tend to, and all the other stuff that demands our attention after 5:00 p.m. Wanting to live in your passion all the time vs. what is expected of you on a daily basis (job, family, dinner, PTA meetings, project deadlines) can create feelings of impatience, anxiety and hopelessness.

But I have good news! There is a way to address those nasty unhelpful feelings of impatience, anxiety and hopelessness (along with a slew of other feelings that make us feel depressed and lethargic when we have to be somewhere we don’t want to be) and that is through learning the technique of Acceptance.

Acceptance means accepting things the way they are right 'now' and redirecting any negativity you may have toward your 'now' (i.e., sitting at your desk at the McJob on a Monday morning) and turning it into positive thinking. It sounds difficult, but it’s really not. The biggest hurdle is getting over your pride (or ego) which wants nothing more than to rally against where you are ‘now’ and whine and moan about it all day, “Blech. I really don’t want to be here. I really don’t like my boss, and what’s more, I want to take this crummy boring job and shove it.”

Here are three techniques guaranteed to make you feel better about your ‘now,’ especially when you are where your heart doesn’t want to be:

Practice Acceptance. You are where you are right now, and it’s okay. Because it’s where you’re supposed to be. The Universe has your back.

Focus on your job (McJob) activities in the moment. Focusing on your now (working the tasks at your McJob) helps to alleviate anxiousness. Because when you’re at your McJob and all you can think about is what you’d rather be doing, it’s torturous. It makes for a long day rife with stress. This is a useful coping tool. Being 100% all-in at your McJob helps you to focus, get clarity on what you need to accomplish, and believe it or not - promotes joy!

Breathe through it. Honestly, going to the washroom to do breathing exercises WORKS. Here’s what to do: breathe in deeply and count to three then exhale slowly until your breath runs out. Do this two or three times and you will feel a sense of release and ‘letting go of’ which frees up your mind, body and soul to take on the rest of the day feeling in control and in the moment.

When we battle and rage against our 'now' in life and fight it constantly with negative energy and hateful thoughts - it's all energy that if released with acceptance and let go of, can be converted into positive energy that will help fuel your transition into the life you want to live, fulfilling your passion. Something as simple as practicing acceptance of where you are 'now' can change your whole life in ways you can't even fathom.

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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

You can also find me on Instagram. I post pictures of painting and other good stuff there. (Disclaimer here: I like to grow my following organically - not through a paid for pipeline of bullshit - so like / follow me if you want to. I'm not going to shove me down your throat).

Work Without Passion is Exhausting #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 19:54:00 +0000

Photo Courtesy of Ardith Goodwin

Happens. Every. Time.

In fact, it happens so often I can have this very conversation in my sleep (or on a roller coaster, or using only hand signals, or...) - I'm talking about the Monday Morning Workplace Banter. That same old repetitive conversation Monday after Monday after Monday - ad infinite - that goes something like this:

Person No.1: Morning! How was your weekend?
Person No.2: Good. Too short.
Person No.1: What'd you do?
Person No.2: Nothing. I'm still exhausted.

This conversation is so recycled it's pathetic. And it's not authentic. And it sets the mood for the rest of the week. It's really code talk for: Working for this paycheck feels like I'm trapped on a merry go round that will never stop!

I've had this workplace conversation a million times over throughout my work tenure, and I'll be honest - it was my code talk to other colleagues and what I was really saying was: Another Monday? Holy shit - is this what it's going to be like for the rest of my life? This unstoppable merry go round of predictable workplace conversation because I haven't found my true calling and I'm trapped here instead?

Yeah, that.

And I truly believe the reason why so many of us are exhausted in the workplace at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday morning is because...when you find zero meaning in a day job, and you find the work is meaningless and the climb up the day is tiring, and holy crap - it's only Monday...you feel trapped. It's exhausting to the mind, the body and the spirit to always have to be where your heart doesn't want to be. Make sense?

This is why I am big on practicing acceptance in your work life and especially when you're feeling trapped. (Click here to read my article about acceptance). Accepting things the way they are right 'now' helps to calm the negativity you may have toward your 'now' and redirects that energy into positive thinking and personal power (to be invested and used to create the life you desire for yourself). When we allow acceptance into our lives, we are in control instead of the anger, resentment, bitterness, resist, etc. that feeling 'trapped' evokes.

Here's what I want for you and me: I want to see us wake up on a Monday morning and treat it just like every other wonderful day of the week that starts beautifully, and ends on a high note - Monday through Sunday with zero emotion attached to whether or not it's a Friday night, or a Sunday evening. This is what I desire most for you and me - because when we are in THAT PLACE, it means we are living our life our way.And that means Monday's are exquisitely beautiful and full of promise, sunshine and fucking rainbows!

And to get to that point, we have to accept where we are 'now' which will help us get unstuck so that we can focus on building a life that is more meaningful, and full of joy.
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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Don't Let Your Ego Wreck Your Progress #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Photo by Alisa Steady
Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

Here's something interesting and new - something I never really encountered before...

Ego. Sure, I have one (who doesn't?), but it's not one of those unbearable ones that can squeeze the air out of a room full of party happening people, or the dangerous kind that leads to wars. My ego is your basic cable kind - average, not that superior, whatever...

...unless it comes to me and fulfilling #mylifemyway. Yep. Then my Ego starts capitalizing itself as if it should always be without question at the start of every single sentence in my life. It inflates and gets so big, it can squeeze me and my groundwork out of the picture.

It's not cool. Ego is like a sponge...it's all dried up and non-threatening when I'm living my life in 'Meh.' But as soon as I sprinkle a little #mylifemyway magical hope, ah-ha! I have an idea! and 'shit, this could really happen' onto it, my Ego expands like the most impressive sponge in the Universe.

Yeah, but guess what? There is no time or need for Ego to put on this big stupid show because, frankly, all it does it take up valuable head space.

The Ego likes to 'Dream Big!' and 'Go Big or Go Home!' and 'Big Ideas Aren't Big Enough!' and what ends up happening if you're not careful is - Ego will mislead you for a very exciting short period of time before it realizes it has nothing to stand on. Then what? It deflates back down to the size of an unimpressive little sponge sitting quietly on the corner of a stainless steel sink...waiting...inconspicuously...for the next drop of EPIC MAGIC! Meanwhile, you find yourself back in Bland Land of 'Meh.'

What I'm telling you is that when you take the reigns of your life, and you map out and create a vision for how you want to see your life manifest, keep your ego in check. It is vitally important for you to remember (and for me) that forward movement toward an end goal can happen with small, well thought out, not scary steps. You don't have to dive into an idea head first from the tallest diving board in the sky (like ego would). Instead, survey the pool (your life and how you'd like to see it unfold), and dip your toe in. Then maybe a foot. Then maybe the other toe, and foot.

Take your time, make a plan, and tell yourself that the biggest changes happening in your life are starting with small, easy bites. That it's not all 'Go Big or Go Home' - because that kind of 'BIG!' thinking is overkill, and will definitely murder your amazing idea(s), calling, passion, if you don't keep yourself and your Ego in check.

Make sense?
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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

How Practicing Acceptance Inspires Your Passion #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Photo of Mobile, AL by Alisa Steady
Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady

Earlier this week I wrote an article on permission and how the importance of a verbal, "Yes, you can - you got this," from someone you trust can be the spark that ignites your passion into a full time pursuit. Let's face it, we struggle with giving our own selves permission because of all the inner negative head talk disputing our desires with pangs of self doubt and lack of confidence. Hearing a voice outside of your own tell you straight to your face 'Yes, you can,' contains immense power that erupts into instant personal power.

But how do you sustain personal power when you still have to surround yourself with daily routines that make you feel hopeless, stuck, and wondering if you can ever make a life you desire really manifest?

Here's what I have learned: It's all about acceptance (spiritually speaking)

Hear me out. For 20+ years, I have fought against, struggled with, and felt resentment and bitterness toward living a conventional life that glamorizes working full-time in corporate America as one of the main components of 'Living A Successful Life.' After many years living a lie, I became angry with myself for allowing it (the day job) to happen and for not being able to think outside the 'life box.'

And that created a lot of pent up yuck.

When I decided to live #mylifemyway, I was not going to take any prisoners - and that specifically meant me. In order to successfully transition from the conventional life into my life my way, it meant I had to delete everything I had been taught and reboot at ground zero (because obviously, what 'they' had told me about living a life of happiness was not working for someone like me!)

Photo by Alisa Steady.
Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

One of the insights I have gained from my own 'reboot' and personal pursuit of happiness is the practice of acceptance.

What is my definition of acceptance (spiritually speaking)? To me, it means accepting things the way they are right 'now' and redirecting any negativity you may have toward your 'now' into positive thinking and personal power (to be invested and used to create the life you desire for yourself). Pretty simple.

Here's how I'm applying acceptance to my life today: I'm currently still working a day job in the corporate arena and I am learning to accept where I am 'now' by simply stating the facts: I am working full-time 5-days a week, 8+ hours a day for a large company where I am paid to provide my professional services.

When I approach that statement with acceptance, I feel the years of bitter, resentful, angry yuck disappear, and replaced with a sense of control over me, and my life. By learning the practice of acceptance, I am taking the initiative to control my feelings and emotions tied to the day job, which leaves an abundance of positive energy to be applied toward living a life full time in my passion.

When we battle and rage against our 'now' in life, and fight it constantly with negative energy and hateful thoughts - it's all energy that, if released with acceptance and let go of, can be converted into positive energy that will help fuel your transition into the life you want to live.

I'm telling you - something as simple as practicing acceptance of where you are 'now' can change your whole life in ways you can't even fathom. Already, I feel lighter and less stressed in the workplace, and knowing with certainty that by sticking with my practices, #mylifemyway is unfolding with purpose, and has made all the difference in my world.

If you want to discuss in the comments below...I'm all ears.
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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

It's All About Permission #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:49:00 +0000

Alisa Steady. Photo courtesy Ardtih Goodwin
Copyright 2015

Where have I been you ask? On a bit of a sabbatical. But, now I'm back. Full force.

I spent a week in Mobile, AL at the beginning of the month to do what I love most - paint. I attended a workshop given by a gifted artist who is not only an exceptional teacher, but a good friend and excellent host. I learned a lot of new techniques and worked on different substrate surfaces, but the greatest take away from this workshop for me overall was permission.

It's becoming clear to me that permission is vital to living #mylifemyway. And who knew that something as gentle and unassuming as permission is really the key to ALLOW your passion to lead?

Let me explain.

In 2010 I went professional as an artist. I worked tirelessly running a very successful Etsy shop and sold a lot of original art to collectors and fans from all over the world. I loved it! But by the time May 2013 arrived, I was over it. So over the style of art I was producing, and the small canvas artwork. I wanted more. To grow, expand, really dive into my creativity (blah blah blah, stick with me...)...so I put my big girl panties on, and took a workshop with an artist I loved in North Carolina. She was the one who told me I was painting too small and that I'm a big canvas painter because what I have to tell the world needs the space of painting big. Then she looked at me and said, "You got this!"

Right there...in that moment...that little nugget of permission from someone I trusted blew my creative life wide. open.

When someone looks you in the eye and says yes, you can. You can do this. You got this! it's a life changer. And here's why I think something as inconspicuous as permission is so integrally important to pursuing you passion with wild abandon:

We are taught from the get go (in our schools, from our elders, by society) that living your dream first is foolishness. That it'll lead to a life of degeneration and chaos. Instead, following a predetermined formula (aka, The American Dream) is the way to achieve success, and that dreams are really for hobbies, if really worth pursuing anyway.

I call BULLSHIT on that. BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT!

That's bullshit, Gambino. Photo courtesy
of Ardith Goodwin. Copyright 2015

And yet, I believed 'them' all through my teens, 20s and 30s. How many of you sat in classrooms throughout your schooling years completely confused by the system, and knowing deep deep down to the very core of your being that you didn't fit in? That this was not the way your learned how to do things, and even more so - being integrated into this pre-fab framework of 'learning' was actually doing more harm than good? That the 'American Dream' was not necessarily YOUR 'dream'?

I turned 40 and that was it. I reclaimed my dream to be a full time artist, and have been working it ever since. Not only that, but I am also pursing my passion and calling to give YOU permission to follow your passion, your dream (not the one they told us to follow).

Yes, you can.

You can do this.

You got this!

Our world needs us. Our world needs us to commit to rediscovering and reclaiming our passions so that we can work full time in our calling and be lights in the world.

Time to shatter your glass box of bullshit, and figure out how you want to live your life your way.

I'm here to help. I'm documenting how I'm going to live full time in my passion so that there is proof YOU CAN.

Watch me. Learn.

P.S. I got your back, too.
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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Do You Know What A Goal Is? #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of morguefile.com

My post on Wednesday talked about the compound effect - how small decisions you might make right now add up to a big deal down the road (whether it's your health, finances, relationships, etc. - good or bad). Deep stuff.

I also mentioned I'm reading Darren Hardy's book The Compound Effect. This was a book that was recommended by one of my mentors. I love this book because it's forcing me to look at #mylifemyway in a whole new light, like, for example - every Score bar I scarf down while I'm painting = rapid weight gain one year down the road.

Another section in this book talks about goals. I gotta be honest, I was never really a 'goal' setter in the traditional sense. I mean, I never sat down and mapped out my life and future, or anything like that. All my life I just kinda went for it. And 'workplace' goals meant nothing to me. It was just another half-hearted meaningless annual 'must-do' to satisfy the corporate leaders.

Then I turned 38 and realized three things I wanted to accomplish before the big 40 - 1) to finish my undergrad, 2) reconnect with my inner artist, and 3) get the hell out of my then awful work department. When I wrote these items down, I made a plan. And by August 19th of 2010, I had successfully graduated with my degree, started painting and selling art, and left the horrible work department for brighter, greener days and colleagues.

So, the difference between 'just kinda going for it' vs. having three activities I set a deadline to achieve and then mapped out how I was going to do it is...that I had a very clear vision for myself for the three activities in 2008 (instead of feeling vague about what I wanted), and I set the wheels in motion to get it done.

That's the big takeaway today. A goal is the same thing as a clear vision. And a clear vision is supported by mapping out the who, what, where, when and why. Just a simple act of writing down what you want, and how you're going to get it.

This is the paragraph I read today that inspired this post from Darren's book (page 69):

"The one skill most responsible for the abundance in my life is learning how to effectively set and achieve goals. Something almost magical happens when you organize and focus your creative power on a well-defined target. I've seen this time and again: the highest achievers in the world have all succeeded because they mapped out their visions. The person who has a clear, compelling and white-hot burning why will always defeat even the best of the best and doing the how."

So really, a goal is infused with PASSION. It's Passion-backed, Passion-Certified, and Passion-Approved. I like that.

I think that's how I'm going to roll from now on.

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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

When You Take The Wheel #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 18:44:00 +0000

Alisa being naughty, Longwell's in Lincoln, NE

This is my first posting this week. Had a whirlwind weekend visiting my step-kid at her college in Nebraska. And I came home having learned two things:

1) Nebraska is a long ride from Illinois. Nine hours one way, a total of 18 hours spent in the car Friday and Sunday.

and

2) Shit. I need to lose weight (again).

Here's the deal: I had a wake up call over the weekend. Like a real life 'holy shit I could die if I don't do something!' moment. Once upon a time, I could walk endlessly and hike up hills and run up stairs with nary a side effect. Today, not so much. I found out the hard way that years of eating poorly and not taking care of myself meant huffing and puffing up slight hills, and stairs? Forget it. Which, honestly, took a major chunk out of the fun. Me feeling sick and worried my heart would break, instead of enjoying the beautiful day with my family, and gorgeous scenery.

#mylifemyway means getting real with yourself. Enough with the excuses and the 'I'll do it tomorrow' and the overeating because 'dang, this taste good!'

ENOUGH. It's Time I Take The Wheel.

I realize poor health is the result of poor choices - small ones - that have compounded over the years. Right now I'm reading The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, and he puts it pretty succinctly: poor micro decisions today end up with awful long-term results down the road. This applies to health, finances, bad habits, you name it. The Compound Effect is a very real thing and once you understand what it is, you can change all of it.

It's All About The Smoothie.

I'm going to change and bring my body back to health. Cause, I can't Change The World if I'm 6 feet under. I can't Change The World if my resistance to ice cream and cheese burgers is defeated with one single whiff. I can't be Who I Really Am if I can't get through a workshop without having to sit down and gather my breath. Bullshit.

Day 3 of healthy eating. That's right. I hauled my ass to the store on Monday and bought all the healthy things I could get my hands one to make smoothies, and awesome salads. Protein and tea. Water and red wine (a glass a week does the body good). The difference between today and last June (when I went on a no sugar diet) is that I realize how serious poor health can be. And what a negative effect it can have on living #mylifemyway.

Basically, I'm driven not only to live #mylifemyway, but to also be as healthy as I can be to achieve the grandest vision of myself, and my contributions to this wonderful world.

So, I'm in the market for good smoothies. You have a favorite you'd like to leave in the comment section? I'd greatly appreciate it.
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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

What Living Your Passion Looks Like #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

+Gabriel Fluffy Iglesias, March 15th at The Genesee, Waukegan, IL

So, with all this writing and self discovery into #mylifemyway, I'm developing an uber awareness of what passion realized looks like. This past weekend I got a double dose .

I think for a lot of us, when we are unclear of what our passion is, it creates foggy uncertainty and tendency to ignore the nagging feeling in our guts. This feeling is put there as a constant reminder that there is more to life than what we have half-heartedly accepted. Some call it the mid-life crisis. Others refer to it as one of the symptoms of long-lasting depression.

Well, I'm here to remind you that you don't have to stay there. That you can change your life and be the Leader of how it manifests, vs. following what we were told life is supposed to look like. And one of the ways to do that is to recognize when someone is living in their passion realized. Or, living their dream life. It's pretty easy, because believe it or not, there are far more people living their daily lives fueled by passion than you think.

Saturday afternoon, I had the great pleasure of taking my lovely Mom to high-tea in a town near where we live. It was wonderful from start to finish - the whole event. And what made it so wonderful was that passion was evident in the shop owners product - all the way from location, to design, right down to her hand made goodies. It occurred to me as Mom and I sat together sipping a blend of English Breakfast and Earl Grey tea, that we were sitting in the middle of someone's passion manifested into reality.

I talked to the owner a little bit to learn from her what I already suspected was true - and that was she lived for high-tea, and all the rituals and elements that come together to make the experience authentic and delightful. She even made her own Victorian era clothing! Everything was perfect down to the minute detail, including fine laced handkerchiefs which she used as delicate napkins. I thought to myself, "Man, this right here - this is what Passion looks like in the physical world!" And, as a secondary note to all this - she was also making her living doing it.

The other installment of Holy Shit - Living in Passion Realized was seeing comedian Gabriel Iglesias live, right before our very eyes, performing on stage 50 feet in front of us. Addison and I both love Fluffy. We've been big fans of his for many years. And Addison surprised me with tickets to see Fluffy, in person, for our anniversary.

Fluffy is an incredible performer. You know he loves it up on stage doing what he does best - making people laugh. He's engaging, joyful, a wizard at comedic timing, and is super generous with his energy. He gave us a show, and then some! He went forty minutes over the original end time to laugh with us, and tell his classic jokes we all know and love.

Now, that is a man living his passion realized! And he shared that his only expectation starting out in comedy was to cover his rent. But the joy of executing his passion expanded way beyond his wildest dreams. And you know what? The same thing can happen to you, and me.

This is what happens when you live in your passion - you manifest the life you've always desired. Pure Magic.

Next time your out in the world, take a moment to look around and see if you recognize someone living in their passion realized. And if you do? Ask them to tell you about it. They way their eyes light up and the joy spreads across their whole body is infectious.

You got this. We all got this!

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

My Life My Way Re-Cap - It's Starting To Work! #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

It's important (at least for me) to recap the valuable tools that have shown up in my life that are helping me get from my current here to my desired there (there being where I see myself living a life of freedom, abundance, and using my gifts to help change the world).

I can't highlight enough the rewards and support the Universe showers upon you when you Just Ask. For Guidance. For Mentors. For Tools that help lead the way.

These are the tools and mentors who have shown up bright and shining in my life as I resolutely claim My Life My Way. Books of encouragement and spiritual healing that not only have enlightened me in such a short period of time, but have also changed my life. I am an Artist and I am a Creative Spirit. I am aware of my gifts, I and I know how to use them to help others. One thing I've learned: Making statements (like mine above) is not a sign of Ego, but a testament to Love.

Question: What is your statement? Think about it. Write it down. Clarity is important when it's #mylifemyway.

I know who I am and what I have to offer the world. I am ready to expand into Love. So, below I've outline some of the tools that have arrived and are helping me do just that:

MarieTV on Youtube. If you don't know who Marie Forleo is, do yourself a favor and find out. I've even linked MarieTV to her name to make it that much easier FOR YOU. This gal will teach you how to advance in your business, and has interviews with the. most. incredible. people on the planet (and that includes you too, you know...)

Kary Oberbrunner. +Kary Oberbrunner showed up on my Twitter feed last week via @inspirepodcast (Inspiring Awesome). He, like me, is called to reignite passion in others. In fact, his website is called Igniting Souls. Also like me, he had a day job he wasn't passionate about (and probably harbored the same feelings and observations as me). I listened to the podcast (here) and totally 100% resonated with Kary, and confirmed in my mind that one of my callings is to also re-carbonate the passion in people's lives. Passion is a vibrant and necessary component to living a life that creates an abundance of happiness and total satisfaction. It also lifts up the World Changers, and reminds them of why they are here.

Danielle LaPorte. I'm reading her book The Fire Starter Sessions. Life Changer. Among a billion other things, one of things she teaches is that how you want to *feel* in your dream life is just as important as visualizing it. Take a minute and think about this. How do YOU want to feel about the life you really want to live? Powerful fucking stuff.

Tony Robbins. I didn't really give him much thought until Marie Forleo interviewed him about his new book Money: Master The Game that just came out in 2014 (his first book in 20 years). Gotta tell ya - I was very impressed with Mr. Robbins. I personally don't get the Pyramid Get Rich Quick vibe off of him. He's the real deal in my opinion. I'm reading this book right now. Already several pages in and I'm totally On Board. You'll see me writing about this book and the strategies he's outlined to grow your money. Get the book and read it so you can grow with me (and get what I'm talking about).

Marianne Williamson. Introduced to me via +marieforleo, I purchased Marianne's book The Law of Divine Compensation. Game Changer. Life Changer. This book has been a loving gift from the Universe that has addressed the most fundamental issues I've experienced in my adult life that led to depression, frustration, bitterness and an overall sense of feeling trapped. Biggest takeaway so far: Faith + Love = Freedom.

I'll write about the other tools that arrive in my life, put there by the Universe who is answering my calls. But if you're feeling ballsy, comment below on some of the tools that are coming to you and how they are answering your #mylifemyway call outs. I'd love to know.

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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Re-Framing Your Reality So It Works For You #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

I want to riff some more about miracles from Friday morning's post.

Several of you have shared with me that you have purchased Marianne Williamson's incredible book, The Law of Divine Compensation. I love it! I love love love it! (Thank you Marie Forleo for introducing me to this book in the first place!).

Well, since you're here, I'll share with you the big huge insight I gained in Chapter 10 on Positivity last night, all snuggled up in bed with a purring cat on my chest (don't worry, I'm not going to blow it. Just going to speak to something that re-framed everything for me).

I've learned so far that miracles are abundant and are a-knock knock knockin' on our doors all the time. Having the ability to recognize those miracles is where most of us fall short. ---->That would be me.<---- Especially the miracles that are waiting to happen in the least likely places!

For me, that least likely place is Corporate America, where I currently spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Yep - the same place that inspired the #MyLifeMyWay Revolution Call To Arms I declared on February 25th (click here to read this passion fueled article). The same place that, for me, feels more like a prison sentence than a way of life. That's a pretty pathetic, sad and unproductive view of the bulk of my time during a given week, ain't it?

So, guess what? I'm totally re-framing how I see where I am now on my journey in life, which means changing my relationship all together with my day job. I'm doing this because I realize that the longer I stay in the 'this sucks. I hate it! I'm wasting my life rotting here!' mind-set, the longer I will remain in the Corporate American Day Job Conventional Life scenario.

Big pill to swallow, especially for my ego.

Here's how I'm going to use the miracles in Chapter 10 on Positivity to aid me in #MyLifeMyWay (and perhaps you yourself can relate to this on some level):

*1* - Instead of seeing the day job as a loveless, uncaring marriage type relationship, I have re-framed it into the kind of loving relationship a mother has for a child. A mom wants the very best for her kid, and supports and loves and encourages the child to leave the nest with the best skills intact for future successes. When I walk through the lobby of the building where I work each morning, I now say, "Thank you loving Mother-ey job for supporting me today. Thank you for your faith in me."

TOTALLY CHANGES EVERYTHING UP! That's positivity for you. And a miracle.

*2* - Accepting where I am right now, and feeling gratitude for it. Years and years I spent feeling angry, bitter, pissed off, used, abused, under appreciated and overworked. Years. This is a very common bridge most Corporate American workers I know sing by heart, every day all day long. But it can all change through acceptance. I have accepted that this is where I am now, because I'm here to learn something.

TOTALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING! Acceptance is a form of positivity that has decreased the negativity, and ramped up the feel good in my daily work life. Another miracle.

*3* - Understanding that I am here now to learn something that I haven't absorbed yet. Years and years I deliberately hid from my job, flying under the radar and playing cards close to the chest. I didn't want to be any more immersed into the day job culture than I had to, which created a lot of resistance in my work and personal life. Guess what? I have finally woken up and realized that I have a real-time MBA program at my finger tips and am surrounded on a daily basis by incredibly smart, business-savvy and caring people. Holy shit! And I can take all that I'm learning here and use it in my own business endeavors? Hell yes!

TOTALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING! Opening myself up to my surroundings, the work place offerings, and my colleagues has given me more satisfaction, appreciation and education than I ever imagined. Another miracle.

Chapter 10 in Marianne's book also talks about your workplace as a place of ministry, where you allow your gifts to shine onto others. One of my gifts is healthy optimism and saying out loud to my tribe of co-workers, "You have permission to follow your passion!" I have spent a lot of time in-between the Corporate-ey type-y type and endless meetings mentoring my creative tribe members who feel trapped inside the four walls of the conventional work place. I ask them a series of questions that takes them on a deep dive expedition into their depths, and we always surface with a re-discovered passion.

And that is another miracle.

I could go on and on. Instead, I'll drive home the point I'm trying to make and that is: We all have the power within us to change our lives right now in a reality we have created for ourselves up to this point in time. Change is good. Always. Especially when you re-frame change within your current reality so that it works FOR you, not against you.

<<Bring it in for another group hug>>
________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

When The Student Is Ready, So Is The Teacher #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Use of photograph by permission from Alisa Steady

Q: If you can Row Row Row A Boat, then why can't you also Shine Shine Shine Your Star?

A. You Can!

I'm telling you we live and breathe magic. Pure, hot, unadulterated *magic*. You breathe it, I breathe it. It's born right into and stays with us throughout our entire lives!

What I'm telling you is that when you open yourself up to being available to answers, magical things happen. And they're not always as obvious as fireworks or mariachi bands when they happen. Miracles, like us, can be big and small and every single size in between. What's so wonderful about miracles is 1) they will aid in changing your life (if you want them to), 2) love always fuels a miracle (they are not born of fear. Think about it.), 3) you absolutely can experience a miracle right here, right now.

What's the catch? There isn't one. All that's required is that you understand who you are, and what you're here for. Sounds simple, but truthfully - feels like most of us spend our entire lives wondering who the hell we are, and what the hell we're here for. It's hard Doing The Work to find answers to these somewhat gentle questions.

But when you arrive at an understanding of who you are (which for some of us is ongoing, and involves a lot of reading and quiet moments, and very loud conversations with the Universe while gesticulating madly), and when you figure out what you're here for (what's your purpose), it cultivates the perfect moment when a miracle happens.

Here are my miracles for the week: I've shared with you that I'm reading Marianne Williamson's book The Law of Divine Compensation which I began on Monday. My goal with this whole #mylifemyway is to transition out of a conventional 9 to 5 Day Job / Life and into a life that is wholly mine and rid of restrictions placed upon me by the conventional mind set.

But the question that has been in my head is: How do I go from here to my desired there?

And I received two miracle-grown answers which I will share with you.

The first answer arrived Tuesday via YouTube video. It's @MarieForleo's vid on How To Transition From Your Day Job to Your Dream Business. Click here to view it. I like Marie - a lot. And I trust her. So when this blipped across my Miracle Radar, I was all over it like pots of gold at a Leprechaun convention.

The second answer arrived last night. I just happened to take a quick peek at Twitter during a commercial, and discovered Kary Oberbrunner. Kary, like me, had a day job and he realized quickly that it was not the best outlet to where his gifts could shine. So, he left the day job to pursue his passion for Igniting Souls - which has become his dream business. Click here to listen to the 30-minute podcast he had with @InspiringAwesome which left butterflies in my stomach.

I asked the Universe not so long ago to send me some mentors that would be excellent examples of what my desires to help Change The World would look like manifested. And wha-lah: Marie and Kary appeared, and both messages resonated deeply with me.

The other miracle I'd like to share with you is that I'm taking action and stepping into not only being a better artist who paints from her heart, but also mentoring others on how to rediscover and re-introduce their passion back into their lives. I had a second meeting this week with a beautiful human about her Passion. Last week we had the breakthrough on what her passion is and how to define it (click here to read about our meeting last week). This week she arrived having done her assignment, and we took the next steps making her passion an important part of her life. The radiant glow on her face as we talked about how her passion can Change The World was also a beautiful miracle.

I'm telling you: It's not all smoke and mirrors. If you truly are seeking answers about who you are and what you're here for, all you need do is: Just Ask. And miracles in the form of answers will show up. Some quietly. Some loudly. And let me tell you - those miracle answers will fuel Shine Shine Shining Your Star.

<<Group Hug>>

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

You Gotta Have Faith #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Use of photograph by permission from Alisa Steady only.

I want to riff on faith for a sec. This is a follow-up to the article I wrote on my blog this past Monday that centered around it.

Seems to me faith comes and goes in cycles. Sometimes you feel really strong in your ultimate goal and nothing can shake it...and other times, you lie awake in the middle of the night wondering if you're going to look back on your life and wish you'd worked harder to get out of the current situation you find yourself in.

After I published my article Monday evening, I went downstairs to make dinner for myself. I was feeling a bit misty in the head about everything that's going on - this whole push to create the life I want, clarity about what I want, wondering if I'll ever get to experience #mylifemyway without being confined to the rigid 'American Dream' model.

As I was reheating some delectables, I reached for the book that just came in the mail a couple days before - Marianne Williamson's book The Law of Divine Compensation. This was a book that Marie Forleo recommended after interviewing Marianne on MarieTV.

It blew my heart wide open.

Guess what Chapter 2 in the book is about? Faith. I don't know about you, but I don't believe in coincidences anymore. Not since 1998, actually. Things happen for a reason. And when I flipped the page to see Chapter Two on Faith, I laughed out loud. And I thanked the Universe for the nudge in the right direction.

The point to all this is that it doesn't take much to regain your faith if you've found yourself lacking in it (like me). Faith and Love. Those are the key elements to creating the life you desire.

Faith. And Love.

This is the big huge thing I just learned in the past 48 hours. Combined together, Faith and Love can pave ways to endless avenues that will take you to your ultimate destination.

What's the catch?

Well, it's hard to come from Love all the time. It's hard to maintain Faith when you're sitting in your small office cubicle ready to slit your wrists because it's all so dull and pointless and a big fucking ruse.

But it can be done. It can happen. And I'm going to exercise this muscle practicing Faith and Love daily.

Because I'm determined. I am. Creating the life I've always wanted is the biggest project that has ever landed on my desk. I can do this. I will do this.

So, if you're not feelin' the faith my friend, I ask that you check out Marianne's book. Take a look at it online. See if it's one of the magical talismans that shows up in your life right at that perfect intersection - when your heart is ready for more power, and your butt is longing for a good swift kick.

Faith + Love = YES YOU CAN.

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

No One Told Me Being An Artist Was Easy Street #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 23:33:00 +0000

Alisa Steady - Artist

In my quest to live #mylifemyway, hot breathy feelings have begun to bubble to the surface of my psyche (Warning: deep diving into your Why / Your Soul will do this). You know - the feelings that sort of just sit below the mist and hang out, but as soon as you turn your attention toward them, suddenly those feelings are overstaying their hot breathy welcome? Yep, those.

Here's the thing. I have never ever thought that being an artist was going to be easy. In fact, no one told me being an artist was Easy Street. In fact, just the opposite. Most of my life it's been hinted to me by teachers and conventional humans that being an artist is really just a cute hobby and that I'd have more luck stumbling accidentally upon Atlantis than making a living as a working artist.

First of all, I call bullshit on that whole Atlantis reference. We know Atlantis is a myth. And even if it weren't, I hardly think finding it under all those waves would be easier than finding a constructive way to build a thriving art business. But yeah, as I examine myself and my desires, and figure out the Truth of Me, I'm finding it to be difficult travels.

Honestly, getting to the Truth of You - to the bottom of where it all starts takes a lot of bravery. And brutal honesty. I realize over the past twenty-ish years I've been a schmuck with my money and finances, and have allowed not so good relationships to interfere with the really great ones, and that I've misused my sensitive powers against myself instead of for the Greater Good.

And I've felt icky the past few days with all this brutal realization. But here's the thing: I know what I want. And I have an idea of how to get it. But like everything else, it's going to require commitment, self-education, and faith. A big huge heaping spoonful of Faith. Which, on this deep diving expedition, I realize I have lacked in spades. Faith in myself. Faith in the Universe. Faith in my talents. Faith that what my heart desires the most will actually come to fruition. Maybe all those teachers and conventional humans that hinted about artists being fables just lacked a whole lotta Faith...

Not that Faith by itself will make an artist successful. Takes a whole lot more than Faith, but - I'm realizing that Faith is the glue that brings it and holds it all together. Faith is the spackel, the cauk, the water in the cement. It's the element that makes everything come together, and stick.

I'll be honest right now: Writing this post has not been easy. I really am not entirely sure what it is that I'm saying, and I'm not sure I'm making much sense. But showing up here, right now, to write this discombobulated article on my #mylifemyway blog is a sign that I do have faith in whatever is going to happen next. And that I am committed to finding my Truth and I have Faith that when I do, I'll be right where I am aiming to be.

Yeah. So, Faith.

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

My Bumpersticker Reads 'Passion Coach In Training' #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:56:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Today I made a real difference in someone's life.

Aside from the whole artist thing, I am also in the beginning stages of building a new practice - based on knowing what I'm good at doing and having a real - well, passion! for.

Yep. I'm turning myself into a Passion Coach (I guess that's what you call it), but I will be going by another name (to be revealed at a later date and time).

So, what did I do today that made a real difference in someone's life? I helped them narrow down into words what their passion is. We nailed it!

Sometimes feeling passion can be different to knowing what your passion is. Feeling a passion can be ambiguous, undefined, confusing, discombobulating, too much, too little...but all it takes is someone, like me, to listen to you, pick up on key words and phrases, and ask the right questions. This is how we define your passion - and it's all you. I'm just the person that helps you get Back On Track.

Here's what drives me: I truly believe with all of my heart that we are all here (all of us!) with a gift to Help Change The World. Some of us know what that gift is or are, and are actively living in that gift / passion and making a living doing it.

Others of us get segued off our Passion Tracks and onto a whole different set of tracks that takes us waaaay way way off course from our original destination. This can happen over a course of several years. How do I know this? Because it happened to me. I'm one of those people that got off my Passion Track and ended up in No Shit? Land. And frankly, it sucks.

So I'm doing something about it. Now.

Part of #mylifemyway is allowing myself to say, "Hey, you know what? I'm really really good at pulling out and defining someone's passion. I'm also really really good at supporting and being a cheerleader for that person and help them take the steps needed to make a passion into a more fulfilling life, or maybe even a full-time gig!"

I rock this. I really do. I LOVE talking to people. Warning: I will dig into you without you even knowing it. I like to get a reading on people based on answers to questions I ask. It's second nature to me, and I love to do it. Especially when I help someone who feels 'stuck in life' figure out what they really want to be doing.

I'm realizing (Thank God!) with each passing day and with more and more clarity what it is I'm trying to achieve for myself. And writing about it all - maybe you'll see yourself in all this, too?

I'm a World Changer. I know this. I know this so deeply that it keeps me up at night.

So, keep up with me as I figure out, brick by brick, how to get from where I am right now to where I see myself in the future. The very near future...cause I'm done playing. I got passions to rekindle!

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Is Everyone Afraid to Work Hard For a Life of Hardly Working? #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:53:00 +0000

Photo Courtesy morguefile.com

Is everyone afraid to work hard for a life of hardly working?

Think about that for a sec.

Being frank, when I think of 'hard work' I instantly think about sweating. I hate to sweat. But isn't also what we're taught along the lines of nothing is worth having without blood sweat and tears?

As I embark on the #mylifemyway revolution, it's forcing me to pull out my roots and take a look at them - all exposed and raw in the daylight. That's never fun (much prefer to stuff my face with lemon cake watching a Mike & Molly marathon, but alas, that won't get me to where I ultimately want to be).

I've heard / read that wealth skips a generation. That children of wealthy self-made individuals become lazy and aren't taught the value of what it means to work your ass off, and ultimately grow complacent (and bored and destructive) in their gilded dull lives. Yeah, okay. I can see that. Fortunately, I am not a child of the very wealthy and thankfully I did have parents who showed me and my two sisters what a good work ethic looks like.

But I gotta tell ya, I think somewhere in my life the whole concept of working hard over a long period of time got lost on us (us being Gen X'ers and maybe Millennials). I mean, we live in a fast food society, right? And everyone has road rage because the 55 mph person in the fast lane isn't going fast enough. And the infomercials for losing weight in record speed, and building abs overnight (anyone else tried the 'shock your abs' approach?), and investing in real estate (flip it anyone?), and on and on and on and on.

It's the underlying 'right now!' that is fucking everyone up, including me! And here's the thing: you know, and I know, that 'right now' really doesn't exist. Those people in the infomercials touting their Overnight Get Rich And Look Great Doing It pitches probably worked ten years building this very pitch from inception to filming of the infomercial.

There's no such thing as overnight success, people!!! Overnight success looks like years of hard work, missing dinners, pulling all nighters, losing money and reinvesting, not seeing your friends, missing out on all the pop t.v. shows, losing sleep and stressing out. That is what overnight success looks like.

And it scares the shit out of me.

Why? Well, I guess because I've never had to work my ass off before. Sure, I did in art school, and in undergrad, and I've worked hard on my paintings. But I haven't lost sleep building my business yet. I haven't lost friends, missed out on t.v. shows, eaten stress, or blown of my friends for it.

So, does that make me really not interested in #mylifemyway? Building my empire to the ultimate goal of Financial Freedom?

I dunno. I want it. But question is - do I want it bad enough. Do you want it bad enough? What does wanting something bad enough even look like? Me? You?

See? All this root pulling sucks. Now I gut a heavy gut and a spiking temperature because what if I don't have what it takes?

Today's pick me up:

I plan to continue reading my Tony Robbin's Book (if you want to know what that is, click here)

And I plan to map out my ultimate life. What does it look like? And then reverse engineer that.

I think if you put everything into perspective knowing hard work is inevitable, it's a relief. And how many times have you heard the phrase "enjoy the process"? Kinda a brings a whole new meaning to - well, everything!

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Could It Just Be The Weather? #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 20:45:00 +0000

"Lion and tigers and bears, oh deer!" 36 x 36 acrylic on canvas
by Alisa Steady. Available. Copyright 2014-2015 Alisa Steady Art
Cannot not use image without permission from Alisa Steady

In the spirit of transparency (since I want to be 100% honest about my quest for #mylifemyway), I can honestly tell you that today -- I feel like ass.

I don't know if it's the weather. Long winters in the Midwest suck. Cold. Grey. Adds to the overall *feeling* I guess.

Or, perhaps it's the whole self exploration thing - digging deep to find out 1) do I have what it takes to live my life my way?, 2) if I do have what it takes, why did it take me 44 years to just NOW get started on it?, 3) what if I don't have what it takes? and I'm destined for a life lived as a corporate cog in cubicle hell?

So, here's what I did today to help boost my spirits:

Took my assigned lunch break at Starbucks.
Brought my book Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins.
Ordered a bagel and a grande cinnamon dulce.
Cozied up in a vacant corner, and read while I'll licked cream cheese off a knife (post smear).

Here's what I learned (that I didn't know before) from today's reading:

1). Mutual Funds are bad. Avoid at all costs (check and noted). I am paraphrasing, but that's my uneducated takeaway.

2) Index funds are good. S&P (Standard & Poors), Dow 500, and Vanguard - basically, when you invest here, you're owning a slice of American Capitalism - an index of all the top tier performing companies. Takes the 'guessing' aspect out of the equation for those of us that are not so risky. Oooo...that sounds so suit and tie, don't it??

I "could" regurgitate what I read today during my short lunch break, but I really don't want to come off as a know-it-all, cause, I'm so not. And honestly I'm just getting my hands dirrrty in all this investment stuff. But, here's what I did do: I went into my retirement account when I got back to work and jazzed up my portfolio. I did some redistributing in my 401(k) baby. Disclaimer: I really have no fucking idea how it all works. All I'm doing is doing something about it. #mylifemyway, bitches.

Great. That's the investing side. What about everything else I want to do?

Confession: I haven't painted in four days. And yesterday - Sunday - know what I did all fucking day? I laid on the couch like Jabba the Hut and didn't. do. shit. Except eat bad stuff. Bad bad bad stuff. And watch stupid Hollywood blockbuster movies that kept getting interrupted by obnoxious "commercials" for the new show DIG that they are promoting the hell out of. So, there was some yelling at the t.v. as I wiped carbohydrate-tastic crumbs off my face. But you know what? Sometimes lying around like Jabba is exactly what the soul needs. Right? Which I did alll day yesterday.

But I did do some reading in my The Fire Starter Sessions book. Which rocks. I love @Danielle LaPorte. She asks the hardest questions in the most loving tone of voice imaginable. And yes I'm # tagging and @'ing whenever I can because I want the world to see me as a seedling and wonder, "Is she going to grow into the Oak Tree she thinks she has inside?"

Cause I think there is an Oak Tree in there. I really do!

I'm going to leave off this post with something I read this morning that arrived in my email box (from Danielle LaPorte. I'm a love-bomb letter 'ho). She wrote this:

Shatter the Legacy That's Holding You Back.

What’s keeping you stuck at square one?
What’s blockading your greatness?
What’s turning you in circles?

Note: It’s never a person. It’s your decision to be defined and limited by that person’s story, beliefs or actions.

Unshackle yourself. Choose liberation over fear. Shatter the legacy that is holding you back.

So, what is the legacy that's holding me back? Holding you back?

That's what part of #mylifemyway is all about. I'm going on a DIG, you in?

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

RIP Leonard Nimoy

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 18:23:00 +0000

'Spock' 20 x 16 Wood Panel Canvas. Copyright 2014-2015 by Alisa Steady Art
Original available UGallery

Hash Tag My Life My Way - The DLBP (What's That?) #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:55:00 +0000

Yep. This feels like a Revolution to me. The epic kind that'll change my life. I get excited. I get stoked. I talk out loud in the car and make promises to myself and The Universe that 'Change Is Imminent!" fueled by my passion to be a full-time artist which is fed by my mentors' books and Ted Talks, and everything I can get my hands / eyeballs on, even at my day job (I work with some really smart business savvy people who are truly fascinating. I will say that!).

It's a big deal. Primarily because I'm at the helm. I'm the one leading me to the end goal - the life I want living by my standards my way. I'm my own CEO - the designer of the Dream Life Business Plan, and the executioner.

Shit. That feels really intimidating. And for someone that has lived the conventional life schlepping to a day job for the past twenty odd years, taking the reigns feels kinda of daring. Frightening. And frankly, I'm worried about whether or not I really have what it takes to fuel the rocket into a successful orbit.

Let's face it - planning a future life on my terms is going to require dedication. Hard work. Tears (probably. I'm a cryer). Challenges. Obstacles. I mean - obstacles are guaranteed to show up, right? Cause they sort of decide whether or not I'm going to persevere and continue executing the Dream Life Business Plan (DLBP - acronym-ese is a language I speak well). True?

Last night I got home late. And frankly I didn't feel like doing anything that promoted the DLBP. But I stepped forward anyway, starting out by pouring a glass of red wine.Then changed out of day job glad rags and into my painting clothes, went into the studio - fixed some bullshit with Facebook, and proceeded to fuck up a finished painting that was perfectly fine finished but that I felt needed 'something more.'

The Paint Fest Fuckery put me over the edge for the day, and I called it a night. I felt crappy, then crawled into bed with Tony Robbins (well, his book), and read a few pages before succumbing to Conan's fire-ey delivery, and eventual sleep.

Gah! YES! This is going to be hard!!!

But each day is a new one, and another opportunity to figure things out.

Today, I'm going to try this technique I read about: Reverse engineering my ideal life, and then building a plan backwards. Sounds like an MBA exercise, but fuck it. I'm going for it. And it make take a few tries. Believe it or not, picturing you ideal life is harder than you think it is. But I know one thing for sure: FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. What that looks like I'm working on.

Oh, and I took the liberty of ordering my husband the Tony Robbins's book on money that I'm reading because he's roped into all of this (whether he likes it or not).

____

Discovered this guy today - Peter Voogd. He's a very successful young entrepreneur. I am impressed with his writing, and his mind-set. Here's an article he wrote that I read this morning that resonated with me. Now, you read it.

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

Want to read the kick-off #mylifemyway article? Click here.

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

A Motto Guaranteed To Fuel Your Wildest Intentions Every Day! #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 18:27:00 +0000

'Tude. Copyright 2014-2015 Alisa Steady Art
Available Fine Art America

My Life My Way.

This is my new life's motto. My Life My Way. Period.

And I think it should be yours, too.

Yes, I'm talking directly to you. Cause you're like me. You're experienced in life, but you've had enough of the conventional crap, and you're ready to change your life up.

You're sick and tired of the daily grind of a 9 to 5'er, and you want MORE OUT OF LIFE. More out of a life YOU CREATE.

We have lived life 'their' way - the paycheck to paycheck, limited vacation time, confined to a cubicle or office. And I gotta tell ya, I'm sick of it. Aren't you?

Ever dream about living a life YOU are in control of? A life YOU are creating based on passion and VERVE? Excitement and unimaginable adventure?

I am!!

Look, I'll break it down for you. I'm forty four years old, and to date, I have lived a life that was preached to me by the Conventional Council - a life that has been rife with fear over not being insured, financial hidden penalty fees, decades old loans being bought out every six months by another loan company (leaving me completely clue fucked on what I owe to who and how can I get out of this 'I OWE YOU' mess), worry over job stability, retirement plans that the government will tax the shit out of, daily dissatisfaction working a corporate job and wondering IS THERE MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS?

I've reached my end point. I'm sick of it. Sick of living a life I've been told is the 'American Dream.' Well, guess what?

It's not my fucking dream.

I don't want to get up every week day and hit the road by 7 a.m. and fight traffic for a shitty parking space in a large corporate parking lot. I don't want to be afraid of lay offs and downsizing, paltry annual increases and toll fees.

DONE. SO FUCKING DONE.

So what am I on about in this post?

Well, it's a Call to Arms. It's a fucking INVITE to a NEW REVOLUTION.

How about you and me - we take BACK our lives and live it our way?

How about you and me - we take the baby steps into living large?

Here's what I'm doing to get started (and no, this isn't some bullshit commercial about some fucking pyramid scheme. This is the REAL DEAL mo'fo...). I'm determined to live my life my way doing what I am passionate about: Creating art, and firing up people like you to TAKE ACTION and start taking the steps necessary to actually live a completely different life - one that you custom make for yourself. How does that sound? Good? Read on.

I'm spending more time listening to my mentors while I'm doing what I love - painting in my studio, and less time drooling over HGTV and The Big Bang Theory. I'm also reading books by people who know exactly how I feel and where I am in life.

Here is my My Life My Way list of who I'm listening to and reading to get myself in a position to live My fucking Life My fucking way, and I'm just getting started:

That's just the beginning of a list I'm growing. I have like three more books I learned about through MarieTV on their way to my mailbox right now!

So what is this really? This post? It's my new Manifesto. My Declaration to The Universe.

And I'm not fooling around. I'll be posting routinely about what I'm learning, how I'm implementing what I've learned, and where how it's reshaping my life.

Interested?

Good. Check back here regularly to see what's going on and how I'm doing. I'll make it easy to find me by posting links to my blog articles on Twitter and Google plus. Maybe Facebook - not sure, cause I'm fighting with FB.

My Life My Way. Watch me transform, motherfucker. You in, too?

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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

You can also find me on Instagram. I post pictures of painting and other good stuff there. (Disclaimer here: I like to grow my following organically - not through a paid for pipeline of bullshit - so like / follow me if you want to. I'm not going to shove me down your throat).

What I'm Teaching Myself That Everyone Else Should Know #mylifemyway

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:29:00 +0000

Alisa embracing artist Jeanne Bessette

Building a dream is hard

f#$%@ing work.

I don't pretend - at all - that I'm going to wake up one beautiful sunny morning, and leap out of bed into the life I've always wanted. That's stupid. There's no such thing as over night success. I don't care who you are, or how good you are at whatever it is you do - one night's sleep does not make the business mammoth.

Yes I want to build my dream into a living, a lifestyle, an example of what it means to live uninhibited in a new skin as a self-made woman in the art world! But it takes work. Lots and lots and lots of work.

And bad days. Lots and lots and lots of bad days. And I'm here to remind you that bad days are okay. Especially if you are focusing on turning your dream into a full-time way of life.

I had a bad day yesterday. I don't know what happened. I woke up at 4:30 a.m., painted until 6:00, fed the cats, took a shower, got dressed and moved into my day job mindset. By the time I'd made it to the garage and jumped into my car, I was in one hell. of. a. bad. mood.

Honestly, I think it was that irksome emotion - irritation- that nabbed me between the top of the stairs (where I can lovingly glance into my studio that it always calling my name), and the bottom of the stair landing. All I know is that by the time I got to my day job, I felt - well, murderous (it's really the only word I can come up with that has the illustration I'm trying to make).

But bad days and feeling irritable are all a part of what it is I'm trying to do - and that is become a full-time artist. And when I'm having a bad day, I roll with it (but no murdering, please. That's just messy and creates all kinds of fuckery). So, yesterday I embraced my bad foul day. I growled a lot. I threw things a lot. I didn't laugh easily, and forget about the smiles. I gave those frown wrinkles a good ole' work out oh yes indeedy!

But then...I let it go. I got myself back up into my studio and I pressed on. I listened to my YouTube favorites and let their bad day stories and sound advice seep in and repair the bruises on my heart that I'd acquired.

The important thing is to NOT LIVE IN YOUR BAD DAY. PERMANENTLY.

The minute I stepped foot back into my beautiful home, I changed out of my day job rags and into my paint stained art clothes, grabbed a good book on money management, poured a glass of red wine, and relaxed.

I know I can have a bad day here and there because most of my emotional investment is in living my life as I see it full time. That's where the drive lives and where the questions are answered, and where The Universe works its lovely magic.

So, go ahead. Have a bad day. Stomp. Roar. Throw fists at the sky. But then get over it.

Life is Good, and The Universe always has your back.

__________

Interested in keeping a Bad Day Kit? Here's what I always keep stocked in the house for my Bad Days:

Red Wine. (If you don't drink alcohol, make sure you have a favorite beverage handy).
A good book. (I like self-help / feel good YOU GOT THIS! books. But whatever floats your boat is cool)
Favorite crunchy snack. (I like pretzels with Peanut Better! (butter) inside).
Furball(s). (I have two cats and they always know when I'm having a bad day. Lots of purrs and kisses.)
Comfy Blanket.

Kits are guaranteed to turn a bad day into a better one instantaneously.

What's in your Bad Day Kit?

**This is Alisa Approved!**

#mylifemyway

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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

What's Your Gift?

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:03:00 +0000

“Every human has an unfathomable gift that only meeting life head on will reveal.”

~ Mark Nepo

I read these words this morning.

And, they deeply resonated.

I love the word 'unfathomable'.

Like, the potential is so great that it can't be clocked or measured, or even described.

Have you thought about your unfathomable gift? What that means to you?

I'm just learning what mine is.

All these years, and finally I'm getting what unfathomable gift really means.

It smacks of uniqueness, doesn't it?

Like, it is unfathomably yours only, so own it.

Wouldn't the world be a far cooler place if everyone tapped into

their unfathomable unique gift?

Could you just imagine?

So, what's yours?

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Juicy Fruits That'll Make You Never Want To Leave Your Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:08:00 +0000

SOLD 'Orange Is The New Orange' 12 x 12 x 2 acrylic mixed media on wood cradle panel
by Alisa Steady. Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

SOLD 'Luscious Strawberry'' 12 x 12 x 2 acrylic mixed media on wood cradle panel
by Alisa Steady. Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

SOLD 'Very Berry Blue' 12 x 12 x 2 acrylic mixed media on wood cradle panel
by Alisa Steady. Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

I have one more fruit painting - a Pear - but I'm still painting it! All these fruits inspired by color, sweetness, and anticipation for warmer weather...

The blueberry is hanging in my kitchen and it POPs. Makes me want to make a fruit salad and sit out on the deck in the warm sun with lemonade and some cool whip (to jazz up the fruit)...

These are the latest paintings from my studio. All are available.

Contact me alisasteadyart@gmail.com if you can see one of these hanging in your kitchen...beckoning summer along.

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

'Arriving'

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 03:43:00 +0000

'Arriving' 20 x 20 x 1.5 acrylic on canvas by Alisa Steady. Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art
Cannot reprint without permission

I'm doing the work, really digging deep to make new discoveries about who I am, and what I have to say / share / tell the world. I mean, we all have something to say right? Up until a few years ago, I never really believed that what I had to say would make any impact.

Impact happens when the meaning arrives from truth. And we all have our truths.

The message in this painting is arrival. Arrive and show the world your truth.

20 x 20 x 1
'Arriving'
Available from my studio direct. Alisasteadyart@gmail.com

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Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

UnFolding

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:23:00 +0000

'Unfolding' 20 x 20 x 1 acrylic on canvas by Alisa Steady
Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

'Embrace II' 24 x 18 x 1.5 acrylic on canvas by Alisa Steady
Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

'Embrace' 24 x 30 acrylic on canvas by Alisa Steady
Copyright 2015 Alisa Steady Art

This year I am allowing myself to Embrace whole heartedly and without fear. Each morning I wake up at 4:30 a.m and hit the studio totally excited to step into this new found power which is to embrace what is and not let the fear of what might be stand in the way.

It's a daily practice, but I know I'm not alone in doing it.

All of these paintings are available through Alisa Steady Art.

Contact: alisasteadyart@gmail.com

________

Check back on my blog regularly to see what's going on (and how I'm doing with #mylifemyway).

You can find me on Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Alisa Steady) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:36:00 +0000

Ever year, I come up with a 'New Word of The Year,' along with a new tradition of assigning that New Year's 'color.'

2015's word is: Allow
2015's color is: Purple

I do this for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the 'word' for the year is like the guiding light. The 'theme' and carries a lot of weight. 2014's word was 'Open' and let me tell you, I did nuttin' *but* 'open' all through the year. All of it good, some of it painful, and a lot of it really really hard. But I made it!

'Allow' this year will be more about opening arms and embracing the new challenges and opportunities that are queing up already and - I'm going for it. All of it. I refuse to be scared of what lies ahead.
As for the color - it kinda picked me. Funny how that happens . Lots of meaning behind the color, too.

This year for my blog, I've decided to usher in and 'allow' the following topics:

**Change the look. Check!
**Add more painting process posts (with pictures)
**Talk about intention behind a painting
**Review / talk about go-to product(s) and new products
**Announcements - things going on in my creative life

I love to write, and I love to blog. But I myself do not like reading blogs that are endless chat about stuff I'm not really interested in. However, blogs that are short, sweet, and to the point with great pictures - oh yeah, baby! That's how I want my blog to be.

So....

Here we go! Welcome 2015!!