Jodi Michele Cooley, Motivational/Inspirational Speaker, Trainer, Coach and Author  

If not now, when?

Are you one of these people who are waiting for the righttime to take action in your life? Did you ever think you might be getting inthe way of “you”? If you really dig deep the reason why you probably aren’ttaking action is because of the dreaded “f” word…..FEAR. It’s perfectly fine tohave feelings of fear. Change and stepping out into the unknown can be scary.Our internal alarm system will go off and all our past issues and voices in ourhead will start to resurrect themselves. Like “what are you thinking”, “it’snot the right time”, “where are you going to get the money”, “you can’t dothat”, or “where are you going to get the money”. This is our internal survivalmechanism it’s there to protect us. One of our biggest jobs is to make surethis “survival system” does not control our lives completely. It’s there for areason.  It’s our internal checksand balances.

The problem is, f we don’t take control of this it canresult in anger, frustration and resentment in your life. Life will feel like achore. You have to remember that although we might be adults we must be awarethere still lies a child underneath our adult skin. It’s perfectly human towant to look forward to something. It’s not a selfish thing; it’s a self-carething. We need a challenge, a reward, it makes life worth living.  When we don’t get in agreement with our“inner-child”, it will start to leak into our every area of our livesespecially our health.

Suggestion:

1.  Write down what is that “thing” you’ve been wanting to do (Itcould be a vacation, a training, remodeling, etc).

2.  Now write what’s standing in your way.

3.  Now write down a baby step strategy to make this come to intoyour reality.

4.  Now share it with a “healing witness” this person is someonewho you trust and is on your team.

Keep moving forward!!!!!! You have more power than you know.

Remember “It’s Never Too Late to Reclaim Your Life”,

Jodi Michele Cooley

What’s important toyou?

What’s important foryou to have in your life?

My father-in-law it’simportant for him to read historical information. My father it’s important tohave a sweet potato at every dinner. My sister it’s important that she wears perfume everyday. Mymother-in-law it’s important for her to have her nails done twice a month. Mysister-in-law needs to ride her horse 3-4 times a week. My daughter it’simportant for her to go to the park 4 times a week. My brother-in-law must playtennis 3 times a week.

Why is it important toknow these things about yourself? These are valuable keys to your  “f” word, feelings. Remember ourfeelings are our inner navigational tools to help us in our outer world.

If we depriveourselves of these things that are important to us we will become irritable andcranky without knowing it. We will become human doings and as a result we couldbecome bitter, angry, frustrated and resentful. It’s not bad to have thesefeelings, but they are our inner alarm system and if we choose to put on the“snooze” button  and we areneglecting and abandoning something in our lives.

We were put on thisplanet to produce, reproduce and be responsible. But we take these terms tooliterally. I’m asking you to take a step further and use those termsinternally, to apply to the authentic and unique being that you are, thatyou’ve been sent to this planet in human form to express. Are you honoring thatvoice inside you that’s dying to be heard?  Or are you caught up in the critical, judgmental, practicalmind? The mind that wants to keep you safe and take no risks.  It can be easily confused especiallyfrom the messages we got growing up from our family, teachers or coaches. Iremember my mother would be unbelievably harsh on my father any time he woulddo something for himself like going to see “Jai Lai”.  Something that was escape and gave him pleasure.  He would be accused of being selfish,self-centered and evil, because “Jai Lai” involved gambling. So I got the messagethat anytime you did something that you got pleasure out of and wasn’t
“productive” was selfish and evil. Did stop my father from going? No. But her disdain and resentment left alasting impact on me.

I hard wired myself tonot doing anything for fun without a productive outcome. As a result “fun” forme was never “fun” for fun sake. Because if I did then I would feel immenseshame or guilt.

I loved dancing as achild, but in order to justify my love I also said I was going to be aprofessional dancer.

I am reminded toremind myself as well as anyone who comes in my path to do things because theyare important to me/you.  They makeus feel whole and complete. And it’s “ok” to get joy out of them, there is nothingwrong or evil about that.  WhatI’ve learned is NO ONE can make you feel guilty or ashamed. Those areself-inflicted feelings We have to re-train ourselves, re-write our internaldoctrine and live life anew with a refreshed sense of self and that in and of  itself is bulletproof.  Because at the end of the day the onlyperson we truly have to be accountable is to ourselves. As William Shakespeareso brilliantly put it “To thine own self be true”.  If you are not being true to yourself, giving yourselfPERMISSION to do things that are burning inside you  or are you being a robot?

I have a few things Iam calling you to action….

This is not to wrongyou or shame you, but to bring you into awareness or awakening and get you outof living on autopilot.

1. Make a list ofthings that bring you joy/that are important are they are to you.

    2. Write down how much timeduring the week you spend doing this

     3.. Now write downhow can you find the time to make them a priority in your life

Now go embrace lifeand get your monies worth.

Love,

Jodi