Time is free...yet priceless!!

I have just got home from a three week trip in Europe {and yes it was amazing thank you}!! One of these weeks was spent following the Tour de France in a camper van {motorhome} with 6 of my family members. 

Did I fear whether we’d all still speak to each other after this rather cozy adventure? Well of course I did. But that was when I thought we were in for 7 days in the sun. Which was not the case. No instead we had rain. A lot of it. Everyday. But thank God {quite literally  that I have the family that I do – with minds set on adventure, we took the rain in our stride, bought raincoats, umbrellas and poncho’s and waddled our way through an epic week.

Now bare with me, as while this isn’t the focus on my Blog post, it is the source from where’s I gained my inspiration for this post. You see, life is fairly simple when it’s just YOU, doing what YOU love doing, spinning on your little hamster wheel. When life gets interesting is when you put a number of hamster wheels into a confined space {did I hear you say hello family} – you got it!!

This was our first family holiday in a few of years…and definitely our first long family holiday as grown adults.

Now as kids, you pretty much do what your parenst tell you to do. But as adult children, we tend to have developed our own ways of doing things – basically, our ‘go to’s’.

One of the beautiful things I learnt on this trip – was the gift of time. And how perfectly ok it is, that each of us see time so differently. Personally, I tend to wake with the birds – to embrace the day and to never let a minute pass by without having done something constructive with it. Now while this has served me in many ways, it is also quite exhausting. I always blamed my “I can’t sit still lifestyle” on my upbringing, but then there I found myself this past week, sitting working on my mac or reading my kindle that was glued to the table under my throbbing thumbs {a camper is quite a vehicle to maneuver and lets just say things didn’t stay where you put them}, while the remainder of my family did things that they considered ‘maximizing their time”.  

There is little that’s more exhausting, than trying to live your life pleasing others. And let’s face it – they’re not usually pleased anyway.

Knowing how best to structure your day {your time} is awfully freeing – as it not only gives you permission to be YOU…but it always gives me {or others} permission to be me {them}!!! Win win!!!

Time is indeed free, but priceless too and that means it deserves your best!!!

If this all sounds great but unfortunately you’re in a rut right now that screams anything but “I’m making the most of my day”, then let’s connect & see what we can do to shift things up a bit. 

THIS IS YOUR LIFE. ONE LIFE TO LIVE. MAKE IT COUNT!

Tips for starting your own creative business!!

Ever dreamed of starting your own creative business but had no idea where to begin…

In the Nov 2013 I launched a hugely exciting blog collaboration series (Now E-book) where we looked at 9 of the top tips I believed you need in starting your own creative business.

I have met a number of creative’s through my Life Coaching, many of whom have BIG dreams of starting amazing companies ranging from photography, to image consulting to fashion, but have no idea where to begin.

In an attempt to spark that dream in your heart again, and to help bring it to life, I put together a 9-day blog series & now E-BOOK called “Tips for starting your own creative business” where 9 amazing, creative woman, all of whom have started their own creative businesses in the past few years, shared on topics I feel they have earned a right to be considered‘experts’ in. 

Sign up for my Newsletters (on the right of the screen) to 

receive your FREE copy of this AMAZING resource!!

I get to do what I love...everyday!!

Today, I get to share on another blog tour run by Halley from Evolve and succeed. By 'another', I mean that I got share on a past blog tour she ran too...You can read my post HERE.

The hot topic today is 'What has been the hardest and the best part of owning your own business??

So firstly I thought I’d give you a quick run-down on what exactly, I do…and then I’ll answer the 2 BIG questions.

So, what is a Life Coach anyway?? Life Coaching is an incredible methodology that can take you from where you are at today to where you want to be!!

We have all seen and tried the 5-ways-to-a-better-life/weight-loss type programs, and somehow even after months of maintaining, we all ultimately seem to fail miserably at following someone’s else’s plan for our lives. I, as a Life Coach believe this to be due to the fact that you will only ever achieve a goal that is defined by YOU, on your own terms – a goal that you have fully thought through, a goal that you have bought into. Now this sounds a little soft and cushion-ey, but in reality, it is so far from that.

Each of us is the only ‘master’ of our own lives. No one else truly knows what you need and who you want to become. Sometimes these desires are so deeply hidden within us though, that we fail to ever recognize them or if we do recognize them, to achieve them. That’s where I come in!!! My skills, as a life coach, are about knowing which questions to ask you and having the right tools and techniques to challenge and nudge you towards finding these answers within yourselves. Whether it is looking at your life, your career or your dreams, I can help you discover what your ‘BEST’ looks like…and then together we brainstorm, strategize and set goals towards achieving the life you always dreamed of living!

OK, so what's the hardest part of owning my own business?

This may sound silly but I know that all business owners will get me when I say that the hardest part about owning my own business, is that it’s mine. This simply means that nothing happens unless I make it happen, and that can be tiring. But insanely exciting too!! Finding a balance between work and play is tough too when you create a career centred around your passions, as so often the two collide, get mingled together, and you forget that play outside of work, is important too.

But let’s leave the bad bits and focus on the positive side of owning your own business.

So, what’s the best part of owning my own business?

I could answer with an “expected”...my time is my own. But that would be a big mistake, as as much as having your own time is wonderful, it can also be disastrous if you end up sleeping in every day, running a business that isn’t making any money, or moving forward. So for me, I’d say that the best part of owning my own business is a simple, I get to do what I love, everyday!! When it comes to one's career, I’m ALL about “Love what you do, do what you love”. I get why people avoid it, I get that it can be hard to match your passion with a career and that we all need to make a living; but for me the sacrifice has been more than just worth it, it has changed my life.

As a life coach, I get to seek out your potential, hear the insights of your dreams and help to put the stepping stones in place between where you are at today and where you would like to be; and that is why I love what I do!!!

And finally, a motto I live by…

“I can’t promise that you will always be comfortable... but I can promise that it will be worth it!"

{Click on the bird to tweet}

Laser Launch blog party (part deux) is a collection of behind the scenes stories of other online business owners. Check out the other links here.

Defining your dreams

On a few occasions now, when mentioning to people that H and I are off on a nearly-2 month-adventure through South East Asia this week, they reply with a “Wow, you really are living the dream.” To which I smile, nod, and then frown?!

So firstly, am I really about head off on a 2 month adventure? Why yes I am. But following this dream meant rethinking other dreams…and that's what I want to share with you today.

Dreams are very real, deep longings that live in the well-hidden spaces within us, only showing face when it’s safe to come out. Dreams are beautiful things, that need to be protected, pursued {actively}, and also re-thought-through once in a while.

You see with dreams comes sacrifice. No dream that really holds value to you, will ever require you to stay within your comfort zone. No; dreams mean risk, adventure, joy. They mean action and sometimes they mean giving up lesser dreams, in order to pursue what really makes your heart sing.

It’s easy to throw out a “Wow, you’re really living the dream” {I have many a time}, but is that really your dream? 

My year in Korea, away from my comfort zone, gave me space to get real with ME!! And one truth I found {that I feel may apply to many people out there too} is that my dreams were as undefined as you get.

It's been easy, for years, to throw out the words, "My dream is..." but truth be told, this was just the easy way out. The vaguer my dreams were, the less pressure there was to pursue them and with that, less chance of failure. Vagueness allowed me to be safe, but it also meant years of working towards an undefined dream, basically a blurred vision.

Let me give you a peak into my world…

My life-long dream (one of the many) was to be a missionary in Mozambique, the country north-east of South Africa. I dreamt of living in the dirt, loving the poor, loving God, feeling fulfilled and alive and at peace. Well...this was my dream until I actively started pursuing it, and by pursuing I mean going out there, in the dirt, loving the poor and learning. It was easy to throw around the ‘dream’ word when I had no idea what I was talking about, but once out there, alone in a world I knew so little about, it took some deep soul-searching {and prayer} to get real with myself and others. Yes, I love working with the poor, yes my heart sings in the presence of black kids and yes yes yes I love the people of Mozambique, but never did I realize the sacrifice that would come with pursuing such a dream. I admittedly ate my fair share of humble pie as I reassessed my dream, all with ‘sacrifice’ {what pursuing this dream would take}, in mind. I’m not saying I gave up on this dream, I will always have a heart for and work with the poor, but by realistically reassessing this dream, I was able to free myself up by not setting myself up for failure of not achieving a dream. I was able to create a more realistic {still pretty far-fetched} but more thought-through life vision, dream J

It's OK to have 20 dreams, and for them to involve everything from family, to career, to the randomness of what makes your heart sing; but my challenge is for you to find a quiet space and to write them down. In writing them down, they suddenly become real...and yes, sometimes tears spring up as we realize how unrealistic some of these are {some in a good and some not so good way}. We get real with ourselves.

It's easy to head in a general direction of your dreams...but being 'general' and not 'specific' will mean that one day, down the line, we will never really get that, 'Oh my gracious, I am living MY dream" feeling. The feeling and definition of where you're at, or what you've achieved will instead be vague. Vague is OK, but it's not your best!!! 

You were created for more than just vague!!! 

{Click to tweet}

Join me in a month today {19th March} for a follow up post {and FREE printable} geared at helping you start your journey in making these dreams a reality!!

Every journey begins where you stand...

Personally, I love writing titles like this one as it does one of two things to all of us. It either comes as a huge encouragement, a nudge in the direction you are already leaning towards, or it comes as a massive wake up call. One you want to avoid, run miles from and if all fails, just dig hole and hide from it all.

Whatever your situation is, I’m here to encourage you that today is a BIG day for you, whether you know it or not. Today, there is only a future and a present. Today, you get to remember the past, but not travel there. Today, you get to start a new journey, one that leads you forward.

It’s easy to get stuck in the past, I know I did this for years. On numerous occasions, I would find myself introducing myself to people by referring to my past…be it failures, life lessons, achievements, where I went to school…you get the gist. I’ve always been a future oriented person, but still I found that I was leaning a bit too much on my past, and not so much on what I had right now, today, in this moment.

And then one day, I hit a serious low, and landed up having to deal with all my baggage, successes {and the in-betweens of my past}, and during those few weeks I realized that as much as my past would always be a part of me, I refused to let it determine my future any longer. I’d like to say that from that moment, I chose happiness. I chose a future that would start today…but it wasn’t that simple. As with most mind-shifts, it’s taken a good couple years for me to really start living this notion out. And the closer I move to letting go of what is behind {what hand life dealt me}, the closer I get to the life I always longed for, a life with no excuses, no regrets, no what-ifs…a life where I choose to step into all that is and will be.

I’m not anti focusing on the past; memories are a gift that I deeply treasure, life-experience is the foundation of who I am, and psychology had its part to play in helping me let the past rest where it was made. But who I will be tomorrow, will not be determined by what ifs, if only’s, woe-is-me’s or worries. No…who I will be tomorrow is dependent on who I am today, what I choose to acknowledge, let go of, embrace and for me {a real biggey} allow my thoughts to ponder on.

Here is a link to a free coaching printable I created, to help you acknowledge where you are at today, and to deal with niggling thoughts that won’t seem to go away…

The best people to be around are those who embrace today, who give no excuses for who they are, what they stand for, or look like or feel. It is my hope that I will one day be one of those people…

     

  Click to tweet

Adventure begins at "I do"!!!

As I begin to process the reality that I only have three weeks in Korea, the nostalgia kicks in and naturally I reflect on this crazy adventure that I call life..so here goes. If I could sum up the past year in a few words they would be, “It’s always better when we’re together…”

Wait; let’s back track a little...

It all began when I got married the week before my 23rd Birthday. Yes, at the ripe age of 22. Now my guess is that you will fall into one of two categories: either your thoughts just lingered on “Good for you” or “OMG, you poor thing settling down so young”. I can’t fault either of these opinions, I mean I had “If that’s what you feel is right for you then go for it” to “But Caity, you’re so young. You still need to travel and meet people”, and that was just within my immediate family.

I felt in so many ways as if the world portrayed marriage as a simple “settling down” and that meant one thing and one thing only, BOREDOM!! And so, apparently, in an attempt to escape fate and avoid boredom, you need to {no rather YOU MUST} travel, get all the adventure out of your system before you say your “I do’s”.

If, however, you’re going to get married young then the least you can do is to act mature, and buy a home, have kids and agree to utter “Oh, If only I was your age…”, whenever something exciting presents itself. When I walked down the aisle two years ago, tears streaming down my cheeks as I stared into the eyes of the man I would spend the rest of my life with, the last thing I imagined was boredom. No, instead I imagined adventuring together, laughing, having kids and buying home and embracing every dream we ever dreamt, together! Yes, we’d settle down, but settling down would never mean “settling”, instead it would mean adventure!!

If there’s one thing that calls for every man and his dog’s opinion, greater than marriage at 22, it’s announcing that you’re going to leave your stable jobs, Hendrik (aged 30) and me (24), and move abroad to travel, and grow and adventure together.

I completely get why parents advise their kids to travel while they’re young. I understand that once you’re married, bought a home, had kids and formed community that it’s hard to just up and leave, and yes yes yes, it makes all the sense in the world to travel and embrace your more wild/adventurous self before you reach that season of life. But in saying that, it’s also 100% possible to break the mould, and to go with what feels right for you. I’m not saying get married at 22, nor am I saying that you have to wait until you’re 41 – this is your journey and no one has a right to dictate what season you need to be in and when.

There is a freedom that comes when you choose to take life by the horns and say “This is my life, I will live it to the full”. It’s more than just liberating; it gives you wings to fly. There is so much to say for travelling the world alone, and I’m all for it, but looking back over our journey now, I genuinely could not have dreamed of a better adventure, together. Seeing the world, meeting amazing people from different lands, races and cultural groups, experiencing all the emotions that come with being away from home and going through the motions of experiences that challenge your world-view, are all things that I got to experience this past year; but greater than all that is knowing that the man I will wake up next to for the next 60 years was there walking this journey alongside me. For me, memories shared are memories treasured.

We are all on our own journey and whatever that looks like for you; it is beautiful to the one who created you, who birthed those dreams in your heart and who finds such joy in watching them come to being. Follow your heart. And choose wisely those who will have a say in your future; if I had listened to the many voices along this journey, I would never have found myself here, in Korea, about to adventure off on 2 month trip around South East Asia, a month before my 25th birthday, married and more at peace than ever before.

For me, “It’s always better when we’re together”. For you, it may look different….but whatever it does look like, always {always} be true to you!