Extracts and exercise from C Richardson’s 7 step programme for creating the life you want 

For decades books have been written about the power of thought to create physical reality.  Thought becomes intention, this intention has power, and when you put this intention out into the world.  Your life starts to change.  This is the basic metaphysical law. 

Buy a journal and make notes for the following exercises. 

Start by putting yourself at the top of the list - 

Think about a time when you felt peaceful, relaxed and happy, what were you doing?  Now think about some of the things that you’d most like to do to take good care of yourself.  List the first three that come to mind. 

Write down the significant events of your life, beginning by separating each decade.  When you complete you life stories, ask yourself or review the following with your life coach

• what did you learn about yourself from this exercise?
• what patterns or themes have you identified?
• are you afraid to make changes?
• do you settle for less?
• do certain kinds of people keep appearing in your life?
• are you a risk taker?
• did your interest in certain areas start early?
• who has supported, influenced or hinder you most and why?
• if you could change a part of your past which part would it be and why?
• do you notice anything from your past that may stop you from making changes in the present or future?
• what are you most proud of? 

Stop – breath – feel and take action! 

When making a decision, check in with how you feel and mull it over.  Take a deep breath and notice how you feel.  Are there any signs of tension?  Where do you feel it?  Is it something you really want to do?  Breathing will move you into your body and help you connect your head to your heart.  The body never lies and can become a powerful guide in helping you make decisions when you let it. 

Where does all the time go? 

Time is finite.  You only get a certain amount – 168 hours a week, fifty two weeks a year and that’s it if you’re lucky.  Time is a gift that most of us take for granted.  It is a myth that we can somehow manage ‘time’.  The truth is, we can only manage ourselves. 

One of the best ways to see whether your schedule reflects your priorities is to lay out on paper the details of a typical week’s schedule.  Using the total hours from your time chart, list your current priorities beginning with the item that gets the most time and ending with the item that gets the least time. 

What’s missing?  If this were my last week on earth, what changes would I make? Are my priorities what I thought they would be? What needs more / less attention? 

Now decide your new priorities and create your new list.  Your new list should excite and inspire you, copy it and post the list in lots of visual places to motivate and focus you.    Make sure your new priorities reflect your daily life.  When your list is filled with important things, it’s easier to say ‘no’ to things you don’t want to.  This in turn will reduce the stress, worry and frustration you feel when you are over committed or pressured into doing something you don’t want to for fear of disappointing or hurting others.  Learn to say ‘no’. 

What’s draining you? 

Every action you take uses energy.  What you may not know is that actions you don’t take also use energy as well – mental energy, emotional energy, energy that could be used in a more positive way. 

Stop and think about the amount of energy you have at the moment and how much you need in your life. Think about what’s draining your energy – what are you worried about?  What have you been meaning to do but keep putting off? What needs to be resolved? Do you need to forgive someone?  Is there a relationship that needs ending?  Are emotional and physical needs being met?  Is there too much clutter around you? Are there bills or tax reports outstanding? 

Now make a list of all the things that are draining your energy right now in the different sections of you life and take time to think about why you haven’t completed these things before now. 

Assuming you have 100 points for maximum energy, deduct 2 points per section for each negative draining issue, the remaining points will be the indicator for your current energy level. 

Now choose the top ten things that are draining you that you want to concentrate on first.  Next, assign a time frame for completing these. 

Remember, you can take care of the issue yourself, delegate it to someone else or throw it away. Think about how much more energy you will have and what you can accomplish when you eliminate all the things that distract or drain your energy. 

Invest in your financial health

• A lack of financial reserves is often the biggest obstacle to living the life wanted. 
• Basic money management skills are important to create a healthy prosperous life.
• Once you take full responsibility for your financial health, money stops being a source of frustration and starts to flow into your life naturally. 
• Start by giving yourself a financial ‘check up’. 

Think about what your attitude towards managing money is like?  Do you avoid it, obsess about it or worry about it?  What have you discovered about yourself?  If you held negative beliefs about money, start replacing them with positive enhancing ones. 

Restoring financial health begins with a shift in attitude from ‘dealing with money is too stressful’ to ‘I’ll do what ever is required to get back on track’ i.e. changing beliefs about money, asking for help, knowing where the money goes or investing in the future.  

Write your new beliefs about money management on cards and use these affirmations together with actions to create the future you want.

 Because you are going to get your finances in order, you need to get comfortable with having more money.  So, consider both the benefits and drawback of having more money and write down anything that comes to mind to check your attitude. 

Then balance you’re accounts – it’s an important step in reclaiming your financial power.  Depending on your situation, you may not need to document every penny.  Start by creating a simple map of your financial picture.  Make a list of your income and expenses for one month.  

Remember, the figures don’t lie, knowing where your money goes is important in changing your attitude and spending habits.  If you are in debt, make a debt repayment plan using the following guidelines.   Going through the process of restoring your financial health and learning new skills is a long term commitment. 

Fuel your mind and think high quality thoughts 

Choose inspirational reading i.e. daily affirmation books and use positive words in your everyday life.  Turn off the junk.  Make a conscious choice about what newspapers, magazines you read and what radio / TV you watch.  Remember music and laughter can be an instant state changer too.  Also look for relationships that support, excite and inspire you and challenge you to do and be your best. 

Relationships that fuel you are proactive, appreciative, communicative, attentive, honest and responsible.  ‘Like attracts like’ and too often we look for relationships to provide the qualities that are lacking in ourselves. 

Honour your spiritual well being 

Start by making the distinction between spiritual and religious and ask what does spiritual well being mean to you?  Now think about how you keep this connection alive in your everyday life? 

Create a sacred place to honour your spiritual well being, for some it’s in church, others a certain place at home or in a park, somewhere to feel peaceful and quiet.  Notice how the place and this time feed your soul.   Make the care of your spiritual well being a priority. 

A useful exercise is to annually review the events of the prior year and write about how you’ve grown from these experiences.  Then plan the next year by writing ten things you’d most like to see happen including the qualities you’d like to develop in yourself. 

Quality of life check list

• am I taking extremely good care of myself?
• do I take time out of my schedule every week just for me?
• does my schedule reflect my priorities?
• am I tolerating any person, place or thing that is draining my energy?
• am I living within my means, saving and investing consistently?
• am I fuelling my body, mind and spirit with premium sources of fuel?
• am I strengthening my soulful connections with important relationships?
• am I consistent with my spiritual practice? 

Dawn