7 Ways to Sky Rocket Your Energy
June 28, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
1. Understand Your Body’s Natural Energy Flow
Understand your natural ebb and flow of energy throughout the day so that you feel a sense of peace, calm and overall 
‘feel good’. Doing this, and aligning life with your natural energy flow, will increase your energy level on a daily basis.
Perhaps you are full of energy first thing in the morning, or maybe your energy level increases in the evening. Knowing when your energy peaks is helpful when planning to do the things that you normally resist, or put off doing. Scheduling these when your energy is higher is going to make a huge difference in your productivity, happiness, self-confidence, and joy.
Once you understand your natural, daily energy rhythm, you can work on the important tasks during your peak hours, and avoid “trying” to do these tasks when your energy level is too low.
2. Organize Your World
A scattered world leads to a scattered life – which depletes our energy level and only leaves us feeling less than productive. Let’s face it, when our lives our scattered we end up procrastinating and turning our back on the very things that need our attention.
You can organize your world in big and small ways. A small way would be to create an intentional plan for how you will use your time each day. Create this plan first thing in the a.m. A big way to organize your world may be to rid the clutter that drives you nuts! This could be achieved by scheduling time on your calendar to finally organize your home or office.
You deserve to live a non-chaotic life. There is nothing that feels better, or raises your energy level quicker, than the organization of your world. When your world is organized, you don’t have to expend mental energy to keep track of “a million things”.
Make a decision now about what top three things you need to organize in your life, and then complete the process, so you can have more energy each day.
3. Move Gym Time to the Morning
I know, firsthand, the power of exercising first thing in the a.m. And, I have committed to doing this, not only for the amazing energy it gives me, but because I give more to everything I do and to the people in my world, family friends, clients, when I work out early. This one step will transform your entire life, if you do it and do it with consistency.
A lot of people go to the gym after work, and this is often because it is something they dread and end up blowing off. Instead, allow yourself to experience all of the amazing benefits of exercising first thing in the morning. This is YOUR time. A time for you and you ONLY. When you start your day off like this – your energy will soar!
Exercising in the morning gives energy that lasts all day – PLUS it increases your level of self-confidence and overall ‘feel good’ energy.
Sure, you will have to wake up an hour or two earlier, but I guarantee you are so worth it! After you create this new morning ritual, it will simply become something you just do –
like brushing your teeth.
4. Do Away With Low-Value “Things & Tasks”
To live a Bold, Brilliant and Rich Life (and get these kinds of results in your life) you must do away with anything that is low in value. Move your energy, thoughts, and actions toward the things that bring the highest level of value to your life.
This means doing away with participating in, or spending time on, anything of a lower nature. How do you know if it is of lower nature? The answer is, you will feel it in your body. Your energy level will be low. It’s that simple!
Some steps to eliminating low value things in your life can include:
- Stop eating low value foods that you know do not serve your body, but rather deplete your energy
- Refuse to participate in someone else’s drama. Remember, even listening to it can drain your energy.
- Do away with low value tasks. Be fully aware of which activities are bringing you the highest return in your life – and spend more time doing them.
If you have a ridiculously long to-do-list that is simply impossible to get all the way through, and you feel tired just thinking about doing those items, here are some tips that are sure to turn your to-do-list (and energy level) around:(I highly recommend that you look at each item on your to-do-list and ask yourself the following questions):
- 1. Is doing and completing this item going to add to the value of my life?
If you answered YES, go to question number two. If you answered NO, free yourself of the struggle by knocking it off your list right now! Just be done with it.
- 2. If doing this item is going to add value to your life, ask yourself this: Are you the only person that can complete the task, or is there someone you can delegate this task to?
(When we delegate we free our energy both mentally and physically so we can put into more of the things we love.)
Next, add the following to your to-do-list.
5. Schedule a massage & take an Epsom’s Salts bath.
Add this to your to-do-list. A to-do-list should always include personal care items, like a massage and special bath time. Both will help you let go of any stress you are holding in your body that is zapping your energy. It is a wonderful way to nurture your body, mind, and soul and regain an increased sense of well- being and clarity.
Decide to make getting massage a normal part of your life so you do this regularly. It may seem like it’s too much of a luxury at first, and you will probably tell yourself why you “shouldn’t “ do it, but once you allow yourself to experience all of the wonderful benefits a massage offers, such as more energy in your life, you will want to do it regularly.
Adding a weekly Epsom’s salts bath to your routine is an inexpensive luxury! I do this at night – and I can tell you that the nights I do this are the nights I sleep so well, and awake so refreshed the next morning.
This is what happens when we take impeccable care of ourselves! We have more energy, feel more gratitude and abundance, and have so much more to offer the world.
6. Empowerment Dressing is incredibly energizing.
When we put beautiful clothes on our bodies we feel better, and our energy levels go up! You don’t need to spend a fortune on clothes to look and feel like a million, either.
If you are in a rut – wearing a lot black – begin to throw some brighter colors into your outfits – this is a natural energy lifter.
Dressing up naturally makes you feel better about yourself. It has a magical way of giving you more energy and connects you to your feminine sensual energy.
When you wear clothes that are so/so, you end up feeling so/ so, and honestly your self-confidence and what you accomplish ends up being so/so, as well. Make a commitment to wear clothes that uplift you and make you feel good.
–Put on some make up. A little lip-gloss can make the difference between feeling like a rock star and feeling like a frump. Putting on body lotion that invigorates your senses and soul will stir your internal energy. Do this and you will be amazed at how empowered you feel.
7. Plan to fuel your body with high quality fuel foods.
I often talk to women who tell me that their energy level is so low. Sure enough, they come to find out that their nutritional intake is way too low and they are not drinking enough water. They just aren’t eating enough to fuel their body!
Consistently eating 5-7 small meals of lean protein, good carbohydrates, vegetables, fruit, and good fats will make a huge impact on your energy level and physique.
Decide today to eliminate all food that is of a lower nature and depletes your energy. Instead, choose foods of a higher quality to fuel your energy. If you do this, you are going to feel so amazing and empowered. There is nothing that tastes better than eating well!
June 21, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen – I often feel like I am standing in my own way. I don’t really state what it is I want for my life and myself. I take a few steps ahead, then seem to stay in the same place for long periods of time. This often leaves me feeling overwhelmed and dealing with huge frustration!
The people in my life think I have it all together, but truthfully – I don’t – and I feel like a fake. I keep thinking that maybe there is something I need to “fix” inside of me? I want to live an authentic life and meet my goals. But I seem to keep waiting for the perfect “moment” before I do anything, which then never seems to happen, so I stay stuck.
Can you please share some tips to help empower me and enable me to live a happier more authentic life while achieving my goals?
Thank you.
Julie - Ohio
Karen’s Answer:
1 – Claim What You LOVE
This is the key to the authenticity so many of us crave.
Learning to claim the things you love and your true preferences is about choosing to NOT dismiss what you love, in fear of someone else’s opinion. Take the time to notice what makes your passion spark and the things that bring enjoyment and happiness to you. If you have thoughts about trying some new activities, or maybe creating some new experiences for yourself – decide today to just do it. Decide to claim what you have been secretly wishing for and wanting to do, and honor yourself enough to make time for it.
We often block the awareness of our own desires and preferences when we dismiss what we love to do. We can get so lost in “busyness” that we don’t bother to mine our own deep delights.
Claiming your own preferences means moving away from the boring and adding excitement and adventure to your life! A new discovery awaits you. By claiming what you love, you step more easily into your authentic essence.
2 – Release Judgment
Your life will instantly change if you make this one commitment to yourself: Leave your inner critic behind!
Suffering and stuck-ness comes from judgment. This includes our own self-judgment –and really – all judgment.
Truthfully, judgment of others and ourselves is just a distraction that keeps us from living empowered. Judgment, in any form, keeps us small instead of living in the biggest, boldest version of who we were born to be. It prevents us from taking action and making decisions on the things we know will improve our life, well-being, financial situation, and career path.
3 – Self-Love versus Distraction
Many of us lead exciting, challenging, and sometimes stressful lives. We are often serving many people – including children, clients, parents, friends, and co-workers. Our self-care is of great importance if we are to be of true service in the world. The better you offer yourself self-love, the more you will have to share with others.
There’s a huge difference, however, between nurturing ourselves with what we truly want and need – and distracting ourselves in order to stuff the stress, or fill the time. Learning that difference and honoring our true needs (i.e., getting a massage vs. eating a sleeve of Oreos in one sitting) is an awareness that will transform your life!
4 – Letting go of the need to “fix” you.
There is nothing you need to fix – period! You are perfect as you are. Yup, flaws and all.
Letting go of the need to fix ourselves is different from commitment to personal growth. When we try to fix ourselves (or try to fix another person) we disempower ourselves big time! If you spend your energy trying to fix yourself, you are actually making a big statement to yourself that something is seriously wrong with you. And, the bold truth is there is nothing wrong with you no matter what hell you gone through. You are not your circumstances unless you choose to be.
Letting go of the need to fix, and instead, fully stepping into you own self-growth will empower you and bring you so many wonderful opportunities. When you are in a state of growth, rather than the frustration of trying to fix you, there will be a radical shift in your gratitude, and in the abundance in and for your life.
5 – Start Before You’re Ready
Having a purpose, taking action, trying new things – all of these contribute to our deep satisfaction and joy. When we expect ourselves to be perfect before trying new things, we cut off so many avenues to happiness.
The key is to start before you are ready, even when you feel you are not ready – or you need one more thing to be ready. You don’t. Let’s face it, waiting for things to be perfect (or especially until we feel like it) is not going to bring us the results we truly desire.
6 – Getting Out of the Comfort Zone.
As you have heard me say a million times, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Growth does not happen in our comfort zone, this I assure you.
Our growth and success are often proportional to how many risks we’re willing to take and how often we’re willing to let ourselves be uncomfortable. We kid ourselves when we convince ourselves to play it safe. Playing it safe is an excuse – that’s all.
Getting out of the comfort zone doesn’t always mean extreme sports, or stepping onto a stage. Sometimes it can be as seemingly small as saying “No”, trying a new food, reading a book you never thought you would, or even trying a yoga class.
7 – Saying No Means Saying YES
When we say “No”, we are actually saying “YES” to ourselves. As women, it is so important to our well being to say no with clarity and without explanation.
When we say no to something we don’t want to do, or be, or have – we are actually saying YES to our deeper desires. Many women don’t believe they can have what they truly want, so they learn to settle, and their lives become filled with secret desires, or the “what- ifs”. (What if my life wasn’t this way…then I could go do that…)
Saying no – without explaining – is really about honoring yourself, as well as other people. When we say no without explanation, we not only free ourselves but others as well.
To Your Bold, Brilliant & Rich Success!
Creating a succulent life!
June 14, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
Where in your life can you connect more with your passion, creativity, soul, greater purpose, and live a most 
succulent life? Scroll down for 30 delicious ways for Creating a Life, More Succulent!
Creating a succulent life is about fully accepting and expressing yourself without apology. It’s about connecting to your creative being. By experiencing every dimension of your brilliant and powerful self to the fullest, biggest, and deepest level, you will gain the confidence and knowledge that you deserve. As a result, you’ll begin to better understand that you are more than capable of achieving everything you dream of!
- Living a succulent life means being connected to your heart, standing strong in the woman you were born to be, and experiencing yourself and your life as the rare and divine treasures they are.
- Approve of yourself now and always. No matter what!
- Passionately love yourself; create radical self-love and your entire life will reflect
your positive change. - Own and claim your inner greatness; anything less won’t work for living the life you
truly want. - Stop tolerating and settling for less. It is your divine birthright to full-fill your true
desires. - Set your juicy intentions daily. Focus on what you desire.
- Share your brilliance with the world in a much bigger way.
- Do away with dismissing, hiding, and disregarding yourself and your needs. Speak up
And be heard. - Add color to your life where it has been dark.
- Speak your truth and set yourself free.
- Completely and deeply acknowledge your greatness daily.
- Commit to your excellence and ending self-sabotage. Take action to empower
yourself. - Get comfortable in your own skin. Eat watermelon naked.
- Dress yourself in a way that feels really, really good to you.
- Do more of what you want to do and leave the rest behind.
- Develop an attitude of gratitude.
- Break free from captivity, outdated self-images, and limiting beliefs.
- Love your body, your curves and even your stretch marks; see your body as divine.
- Create your own rules.
- Always say “Yes” to your wonderful self; be delicious!
- Exercise daily – both mind & body – and move beyond your own self-imposed
limitations. - Connect to sources that inspire you.
- Lighten up and have more fun.
- Do what scares your panties off. You will expand and grow for sure!
- Nourish and honor your body’s needs and desires.
- Find your true tribe.
- Do the exact thing you think you cannot do.
- Stop obsessing – great well being and wealth is about making your life bigger, not smaller.
- Surprise yourself and PUSH past your physical limits.
- Take charge of your own reflection. STOP letting the mirror win!
You are so worthy of re-creating your life to be the way you desire. It’s time to experience true succulence in your life. You must invest in yourself and your growth and have supportive people in your life, to reach the level of success that you crave.
Give yourself the permission to embrace all of you; there is no better time than now. Then – get ready for all the wonderful people, opportunities, and surprises that are sure to come into your life as a result.
June 7, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen,
I really love your energy and reading your face book and Twitter posts. Just reading them motivates me. Can you please share some tips on how you have this energy so I can get some of it in my life. I think it would help me make some changes in my life.
Thank you.
Jennifer, LA
Karen’s Answer:
1. Wake up early – I know most people want more sleep, but if you read and practice my other tips below, you will have more energy to wake up earlier. When you wake up earlier, create a morning ritual for yourself and only do things for YOU during this time.
2. Create a Ritual & Go to Local Farmers – Obtain a list of local farmers and local Farmer’s Markets in your area – preferably the organic farms. Plan a day to visit and do your shopping for greens, vegetables, fresh herbs, and meats. Make it an adventure and try a different fruit, vegetable, or other product. I have created a Saturday morning ritual and part of it includes visiting my Local Farmer’s market after an amazing workout. It truly is a satisfying and fulfilling experience to nurture my body, mind, and spirit – but it is also great to celebrate the local farmers and all their dedication and hard work (they are the best entrepreneurs!)
3. Power Up with a Green Smoothie: Green smoothies are my FAVORITE! Explore the power of greens! Making green smoothies is fun and will add a glow to your skin and vibrancy to your step…not to mention the improved mental clarity and focus! I can tell you from my own personal experience that there is so much power in drinking Green Smoothies – it’s a sure way to get your juju back – and instantly!
4. Drink lots of clean, purified water. You will be amazed at the difference in the way you feel when you are well hydrated. I replenish my body with a gallon of clean water a day and will never go back to less than this, because of the huge difference in how I feel – and I am all about feeling good! I know a gallon may seem like a lot, so start off with a ½ gallon of clean water and work your way up. Allow yourself the experience of feeling true hydration. The benefits are so wonderful – glowing skin, no more sugar or salt cravings, detoxification, and much more energy.
5. Good Fats: Good fats keep your metabolism on fire…burning – and this is good for your brain! It helps you feel satisfied. Be sure to include good fats each day. To do this, try Udo’s oil, avocado, or raw cod liver oil. Nuts are also a great source of good fat, however trade in the processed nuts and eat raw only – you will notice you will not overeat them, your digestive system will digest them with ease, and the flavor of raw nuts is very robust.
6. Refined sugars and processed starches are the devil – dump them like a bad freaking habit. Give yourself five days to eliminate them completely and you are going to feel a huge difference in your body and a zest for life – guaranteed! When you do this, you will wake up ready for the day instead of hitting the snooze button. You’ll feel calm, and even begin to have more passion! Learn about the impact of refined sugar and processed foods on your health, acid/alkaline balance, and intestinal health. Add raw organic veggies, sprouts, green drinks, green smoothies, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals to your diet.
7. Move Your Gorgeous Body! Work up a sweat! You will release feel good endorphins and get your lymph system moving, which carries away the waste and toxins! Walk, Jump Rope, Yoga, Run, Trampoline, Bike Ride, take a dance class, or swim. Try something new – or reconnect to a form of exercise you once loved. Just do it!
8. Turn up the “Feel Good”! Find, and regularly commit to activities that help you feel good and renewed. Some ideas: meditation, gratitude journaling, guided relaxation or visualization CD’s, nature, bubble baths followed by lathering your skin in your favorite body lotion. The point is to renew, add more you time, and just de-stress. Often we hold more stress in our bodies than we realize.
May 31, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen -
I am an entrepreneur and professional photographer, and I am so glad I took the leap to start my own business! I love it! However, over the last 16 months of being in business my income has been all over the place. I wonder if it’s possible to have consistent income as an entrepreneur? I will have a flood of income come in, and then go through a dry spell financially. I really hate being in the “dry spell” and experiencing all the high and lows. My energy drops, I feel stressed, anxious about when more money will start to come in, and worst of all I begin second-guessing myself.
Will you provide some insight on the highs and lows so I can avoid them and reach my six-figure financial goals?
Julie,
Santa Monica, CA
Karen’s Answer:
Hi Julie -This is a great question! I often see a lot entrepreneurs go through this. They realize they need more clients, so they get to work creating marketing, they launch their program, fill it – and celebrate! Now that they’ve brought all the new clients onboard, they are super busy with all the new clients’ needs – and the focus shifts. But here’s the zinger – the cycle of the financial highs and lows is about to start all over again.
Why? Because, while they were super busy working with their clients they stopped marketing.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Well here is the good news – consistency. To avoid this money and energy draining cycle – consistency is key. You need to create ongoing marketing that runs whether you are busy or whether you’re at the beach! Here is a simple step-by-step system to cure your ailment:
Step 1: Create a Plan
Preparing a marketing plan is your first step. You’ll need to conduct some market research to determine who your ideal client is, what their needs are, how you can meet those needs, where to find the solutions you need to help your client, and the daily activities you need to do to keep your pipeline full. Some of these activities may include networking, speaking, teleclasses, and social media marketing. All of these are active forms of marketing that take time, unless you can delegate some of the activities or automate them.
Step 2: Implement the Plan CONSISTENTLY
Consistency is key in marketing. It does no good to have a plan that sits on your desk, cluttering it up. Consistent promotion keeps your service or product in the minds of your prospects and customers, and helps stimulate demand. Never let a day pass without engaging in at least one marketing activity. No piece of information (invoices, thank you cards, emails, mail, etc) should ever go out without your company contact information on it. Every communication outside your company is an opportunity for you to promote yourself!
Step 3: Measure Your Results and Make Adjustments
Without measurement, you cannot effectively manage. It is the difference between operating strategically and just doing “stuff”. Which one do you think yields better results? Set specific marketing goals every year and then review and adjust the goals on a quarterly basis. Each month, review your plan against the results you are getting. It does take time to see consistent results when you start a new marketing program, but if you have been going to the same networking meeting for 2 years with no leads…then stop!
Create consistency in your marketing program and not only will you stop the financial and emotional highs and lows, you will be assured a much greater level of success.
May 25, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Karen – help! It’s almost June (½ the year is gone) and I am not making any real progress toward my yearly goals. I don’t want this to be yet another year of not doing what I set out to do!
I am really frustrated and don’t want the year to come to an end and feel like a failure – once again. I want to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when this year comes to end, and truthfully, I am already dreading the disappointment and feeling of failure of another year ending without meeting my goals.
Can you please give me some tips for succeeding and having my vision and goals realized?
Cindy – Denver, Co.
Karen’s Answer:
I applaud you for reflecting and doing a bold assessment of where you are at with achieving your goals. It takes strength to face your weaknesses and reach out for support! It’s so great that you have the awareness about where you are and where you want to be – and are able to determine that there is a huge gap. You can accomplish all that you want before the end of the year – but your belief in yourself is key. Grab your goals and apply the four simple (yet profound) strategies I’ve listed below to get you moving in the direction you really want.
- Meaningful Goals – First things first! Reevaluate and take a look at the goals you wrote out in the beginning of January 2011. Are these goals really meaningful to you? Do they light your fire of passion in you? To be successful in achieving goals, they must be meaningful to YOU. In other words, for us to accomplish goals we need to be inspired by them or have a strong motivation for taking the action to achieve them. Get clear on the meaning of each goal and why it’s important to you. To help you get clarity around your goals: Imagine that it’s the end of December and you have accomplished all your goals – what would that mean to your soul, level of happiness, health, well-being, and bank account if this ? Write this out and be specific, to see it clearly.
- What Is Standing In The Way? Now it’s time to look at what is standing in the way of achieving your goals. Have you created the focus and time you need – each day and week? Are there naysayers in your life? Do you have a high level of stress – like financial, relationship stress – is there any drama or chaos you need to let go of so you have more time to work on fulfilling your goals? I encourage to be bold and eliminate the distractions. Doing this will give you energy and the focus you need to accomplish your goals.
- Each Goal Must Be Specific – but also, you must determine the action that needs to go into each one in order to actualize each goal. Having a goal is one thing - but if you don’t know what action is needed you will stay stuck. Determine the action needed for each goal – break it down and begin to take the necessary action – immediately!
- Support: Build your support team this week. My life has completely gone to another level, because I have amazing support and accountability in my life. But I had to create this kind of support. I have a high-level coach, team, family, and friends that all full-out believe in me and stretch me (at times) way more than I think is possible! I will always have this type of support in my life. I realize that without it feels like ‘death’ to me. Having the right support in your life is key. It’s the difference between achieving your goals – or the disappointment of not accomplishing all that you desire.
If you are telling yourself you can do it on your own and don’t need support, I must be really truthful with you – you can do it on your own – but it is going to take a lot (and I mean a lot) longer. Why not make it easier on yourself to achieve your goals and have the life you desire, by getting the support you need. I guarantee you will LOVE the results!
May 16, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen,
I feel like giving up! I am not making progress like I had hoped in my business and it feels like “making progress” is taking forever. I am starting to question if I made the right decision (or if there is something wrong with me) and maybe that is why I am not as successful as everyone else seems to be. I am working so hard – and the results are nowhere in sight.
Can you please give me some tips so I don’t give up?
Terry NYC
Karen’s Answer:
Now is not the time to give up, Terry! (Take a colored index card, write this down, and tape it onto your computer for a reminder, o.k?)
Often when we are working too hard, and pushing too much not seeing the results we desire – we become exhausted and begin to question ourselves – and we simply feel like giving up.
But now is not the time to give up! You have come way too far and to turn back now! Below are four simple tips that will help you create forward momentum, much better results, increase your level of happiness and put the bounce back into your step!
1. Give Yourself Permission
One reason that we get stuck, overwhelmed, and frustrated is because we suffer burn out and fatigue from trying so hard. I have a private client who has doubled her success by practicing my coaching instruction to simply give herself permission to rest and stop pushing. If you are like me, you want results yesterday! However, I have learned (and coach many women) to slow down when struggle sets in. Don’t push.
When we are pushing and tired our reality gets distorted. Instead of pushing and beating yourself up for what you have not yet accomplished, give yourself permission to take a break when you’re tired and everything feels like you’re going against the current. Fatigue is one of the number one causes for burnout. It causes second-guessing of oneself — one of the biggest reasons people quit! When you feel like you are spinning your wheels – allow yourself to step away – regain clarity – and get your prospective back. By allowing yourself to rest and connect with joy, you’ll be happier and more successful. Creativity flows and you will be more productive. Commit today to giving yourself permission to rest.
2. Let Go
When we are pushing rather than in an effortless flow – we just need to let go. When you become blocked and stuck, it’s time to check in with how attached you are to the outcome. You will know when you are really attached to the outcome because you will feel exhausted and ready to give up.
I have seen private clients attract more clients, land speaking gigs, land a great job, and find the perfect match – just by releasing their attachment to the outcome. Once you let go, you will find yourself being more resourceful, thinking out of the box, and seeing new opportunities. Your happiness level will sky rocket and you will achieve the exact results you desire – if not better.
3. Push Through the Dip
You may feel like you have hit a low, but really it’s the transformational point leading you to success. You may feel like giving up even though you’re doing all the right things. You are doing all the right things – just not seeing the results. Seth Godin wrote an amazing book called “The Dip” — the plateau that separates the average from the best in the world. Knowing what to do when you hit the dip is so important. If you have hit the dip and you can honestly say that going forward is the best decision, then you continue to move boldly ahead until you reach the other side. It might feel like the hardest you have ever worked, but once you make it, the results will be tremendous.
4. Give Yourself the Gift of Support
Support and (accountability) is everything! Sometimes, we can’t see our own blind spots and this often slows us way down, frustrates us, and we end up working even harder. When you are doing things in your life and business that you have never done before, having support makes all the difference in the world!
Working with a coach will not only support you and give you accountability, it will push you out of your comfort zone. All my private clients are so amazed that prior to investing in coaching with me, they thought they either didn’t really need a coach – or felt guilty about choosing to invest in coaching. Now, after being coached they are committed to always having this type of support in their life. Why? Because, left to our own devices we don’t do what we should or could. When we work with a coach, we make more progress and do it more rapidly. I personally know this – not just from coaching hundreds of women – but from investing in myself and having MY OWN private coach.
May 10, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Hi Karen,
I constantly worry about money. Even though I make decent money in my business and my husband owns a fairly busy construction company – I feel like we live on a shoestring just to make ends meet. I feel so consumed by trying to manage our money that I break out in a cold sweat whenever I sit down to pay the bills at the end of each month.
I feel like we are never getting ahead, just barely scraping by – even though we constantly deny ourselves any “fun” for fear of not being able to meet our responsibilities.
I don’t want to live like this for the rest of our lives. Lately, I’ve considered seeking out someone who might be able to help me because I desperately need a plan!
Nancy – Cleveland, TN
Karen’s Answer:
Hi Nancy,
You certainly are not alone when it comes to feelings of financial desperation. And yes, you do need a plan – we all do. But more importantly, when it comes to finances it helps to develop a NEW mindset. Let me explain.
Most people say “they can’t afford something” but the truth is they do not fully believe that they deserve to invest in that which they desire. You see, there is more than enough money for all us. What I know for sure is you don’t have to feel stuck because of money and you are not defined by your circumstances.
If you feel broke, and you want to invest in yourself to transform your life or business, you simply have to choose your greatest vision of yourself and fully feel it. Let me ask you: What do you often say about money and how do you feel about the idea of investing in your best life?
Wealth is first a state of mind. Once our mindset is right – then we begin to see the evidence in our lives. BUT FIRST – it starts in our minds. See yourself as wealthy, working with a coach or mentor who is showing you the way to your ultimate life. And fully connect to the feeling of seeing yourself in your greatest wealthy vision – make choices from here in your life now and take action from this place.
- Look at your money NOW. Money does not like to be ignored. Ignoring your money situation is only going to leave you feeling depleted, broke, frustrated, and continuing to believe you don’t have enough of it. When you ignore money you give it your power – But money does not have power over you. You have power over it.When you decide to look at your money now, you empower yourself and create an opportunity to have more of it in your life. You are demonstrating to the universe that you are full ready and committed to changing your relationship with money – in order to receive more of it.Here’s the deal: Money wants your attention and respect. If you are not willing to look at it and manage it with confidence – you are demonstrating that you believe in lack. How can you expect more money to flow into your life? It won’t – until you fully decided to move out of the lack and into the abundance. Looking at your money is about stepping up in your life and affirming what it is that you really want –the financial freedom to be – do – or have anything you desire.Looking at your money now means opening any un-opened bills. Make a list of money coming in and money going out. It means looking at your bank statement and seeing exactly where the majority of your money was spent last month. Setting up automatic payments – even if you can’t pay the entire bill in full is always helpful. Pay a little towards the balance and call to set up payment plans to make you feel good and in a place of having more control over the money in your life. Do it today and you will see what I am talking about!Get out of the energy of money worry.
- Get out of the energy of money worry: Constantly worrying, obsessing and in being in a state of worry, is not going to do anything positive about changing your money situation. It may feel like your “trying” to do something to change your money situation, but truthfully, you are not! You’re just worrying.Instead, move into calm and confident energy. Take a deep breath and make a list of 100 ways you can earn money – believe that it is possible and then challenge yourself to take action by writing out 100 possible ways you can bring money in. You will surprise yourself!Did you know that there is an unlimited supply in the Universe and that it is available to all of us? Not just some of us – but all of us!
- Believe you are fully capable and deserve to have money abundance: To have more money you must fully believe with 100% certainty that you can earn more money in your life. If you really desire financial freedom then you must begin to believe and change your thoughts about money. You are not your thoughts or circumstance – rather your life is a reflection of your choices – what you choose to think, believe, and the action you take.It is your birth to earn the money you desire, rather than struggle with money. You deserve to have all that which you desire including money.You must believe with 100% certainty that you are fully capable of living a life debt free, earning the money you desire and living with boldness.
- Start a Gratitude Journal. If you find that you are too focused on the “not enough,” write down 10 things for which you are grateful each day. Remember this: whatever you focus on – the good or the not so good – you get more of it. Put your attention on you, your life, happiness, abundance and all that you have to celebrate – doing this will make a huge impact in creating a positive money shift.
- Empowering Your Money Language: Please do yourself a big favor and stop staying: “I am broke and I can’t afford that.” It’s such a dream killa!Using this language is just confirming the fact that you are broke and chances are – you will continue to be. Instead, empower yourself and say “I am choosing to show up in my life and take new action to bring more in” or “I am choosing to not spend my money on this right now.”
End the Struggle for Good: If you have been struggling with money for more than 3 months – it’s time to get help! You need a coach or mentor who can help you transform your money story, so you can start living your dreams full out and enjoying a bold, brilliant and RICH life!
May 6, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Karen I have decisions to make and I am just sitting on them. I am afraid I will make the wrong decisions and therefore end up making no decision – at all. My life isn’t moving forward. I want to make better decisions for my life, career, bank account, and happiness – but I struggle. I think I am just afraid or maybe just unclear of what to do.
What can I do to get out of my ‘comfort zone’ and back into living life – the way I dream of doing? I’m afraid to move forward, but I don’t want to stay where I am now because I feel so unfulfilled.
Kathy, South Carolina
Karen’s Answer:
Kathy, I want you to fully see that you have the power within in you to transform your life, to know who you are and what you desire, and to know how to get it – NOW – through the incredible power of decision.
The only reason people do not make decisions is because of fear. Let’s get you connected to your heart so you can start to make quick decisions that will help you achieve what you truly desire. It’s time for you to get out of your comfort zone and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
I know what it feels like to be in a constant place of indecision – it is exhausting at every level! We don’t make decisions when we spend all of our time and energy merely contemplating the thing – never making the decision, never facing the choices and finally choosing one. Not only that, but most of us often turn around and doubt our choice – causing even more indecision!
I know that you have a desire for more. I want you to believe that you can experience a greater level of happiness, success, and freedom in your life and business. I see that at some level, you are frustrated because you are feeling you are much more capable than what you are currently demonstrating to the world.
I get this! I have experienced – overcome this – and helped hundreds of women to do the same!
Today, I want to help you strengthen your ‘decision-making muscles’. The only way to created different results in your life and business is to make decisions in spite of fear. To make better decisions you must begin to make more of them, and make them with speed. The truth is you already know what decision is best for you, it’s just a matter of owning it and moving out of your comfort zone.
Fear is the only thing that stops us from making decisions. Rosa Parks is a great example of a woman who transformed and accessed her own power within. She created a huge movement in the world by making one powerful decision – to not give up her bus seat. She would not be denied! She did not let fear stop her. Instead, she decided to no longer tolerate the way she allowed others to define her or the position in life that she had accepted. As a result, her life and the lives of millions of others were changed forever!
A truly committed decision is a force that will change your life, as well as the lives of those around you. What are you denying yourself (and those you care about most) by not making a decision?
Making a powerful and real decision means cutting off any other possibility. It means you have decided that you will be denied no less than that which you desire.
It’s about Conscious Decision Making: This is where you decide what is best to focus on now – ensuring that you control and shape the outcome you desire. It’s not our circumstances that predicate our future – it’s our decisions. To create magnificent results in your life you must be consciously aware of how making decisions – or not making decisions will impact your future.
This is key: Don’t focus on the pain of possibly making a less than perfect decision. Your focus should never be on what could go wrong. Once you have made a certain decision, challenges or obstacles may arise. That’s a fact! You may even have to make another decision. But, instead of focusing on the potential problems (otherwise known as the fear of the “what ifs”) focus on your goal. Spend your time and energy focusing on what it is you want. Begin to connect pleasure with the making of a real decision toward a real goal – and not the mere possibility of pain that does not exist and, in fact, may never actually come to be.
If we were to think about this, about the pain of a decision, we would see that it always comes from the inaction. Not making the decision is always more painful – and pleasure always follows once we make a decision.
THIS WEEK: I encourage you to take out pen and paper and write your answers to the following questions:
- How does it strengthen my life to not make decisions and how does it strengthen my life to make decisions?
- What will it cost me if I do not make a decision and change?
- What will I miss out on if I don’t decide and make a shift now?
- What is it costing me mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially not making decisions I know I need to make?
To Your Bold, Brilliant & Rich Success!
April 19, 2011 by Karen Fagen · Leave A Comment
This Week’s Question:
Karen,
I can’t seem to do anything right! I made a New Year’s resolution that this would be the year that I would lose the 30 lbs. I gained during my pregnancy two years ago and do whatever necessary to build my online business to new heights. Here it is, the middle of April, and nothing has changed.
I feel like I will always be the one who just hopes and dreams to no avail. My girlfriends have tried to help, but I don’t think they can understand. They all work for someone else and don’t have all of the pressure and responsibility of owning a business. None of them has the weight problem I do. Whenever I tell them how I’m feeling, they just tell me it will all work out and that I worry too much.
I go to bed every night promising myself that tomorrow will be different – that I’ll quit spinning my wheels and accomplish more. But, for whatever reason, I keep failing to live up to my promises to myself, and I feel like I’m disappointing my husband and possibly even my friends.
What’s wrong with me – and how do I make it right?
Kelly -Frustrated in Florida
Karen’s Answer:
I am so glad you wrote in, Kelly! I reallywant you to hear me say this – “There is nothing wrong with you”!
The real truth is that you can be or do anything you desire. It’s not too late for you to meet your goals; in fact, you can turn things around starting today! So, let’s cut to the chase and ditch that entire BS that there is something wrong with you, and get you in a much better place, instead. Continuing to think you are flawed and unable to move forward is just holding you back and blocking you.
My Five Steps To A Better Place
Here are 5 steps that will shift your energy, motivation, and mindset. Decide to apply them today and watch your life and business begin to transform – instantly!
- Practice Motivation & Clarity. Let’s break this way down. My sense is that the combined thoughts of losing 30 pounds AND moving your online to new heights is depleting you – rather than motivating you. You see, you CAN accomplish it all and have it all – but first – let’s re-focus and break it all down into doable steps.Would you feel better thinking about losing 5 pounds instead of thirty? I bet you said yes! You see, you’re not giving up on losing thirty; you are simply shifting your focus for the next month to that of losing 5 pounds. It is what we do with consistency and momentum that allows us to achieve our goals.Breaking your goals way down into doable steps is key to unlocking your success. Instead of the much broader concept of taking your business to new heights – let’s get clear – what specific area of your business would you like to bring to a new level? Pick just one area of your business, and once you accomplish your goals in that area, then move on to the next area in which you would like to improve. Once you get clear, break it down into do-able steps and your motivation will sky rocket! Without motivation, we fail to take new action – and new action is always needed to create different results in our life.
- Ditch the “I promise and I’m hoping to.” Begin, immediately, to take ACTION. Take action like you mean it! The truth is – promises mean nothing. That is why, as you said, you keep failing to live up to your promises. You need new action! I cannot stress this enough – it’s all in the action.Once you gain more clarity about your goals and break them down into doable steps, then just look at them month-by-month. For example, by the end April define what you want to accomplish and then define the new action you will need to take to achieve this goal. If losing 1 ½ pounds by the end April is the goal – define the action(s) necessary to achieve this goal – such as: “Get rid of all junk food in the house and shop for nutritious foods that will support my goal to lose 1 ½ pounds by April 30th, and set my alarm 30 minutes earlier every morning to ensure enough time for a walk.”
- Stop worrying about what others think. The only person you are disappointing is you. No one else cares more about your life than you do, so take back your power NOW, by focusing on you! When you focus on what others think, you instantly disempower yourself, which is a complete distraction. It keeps you focused on what is not working and no new action will ever transpire in this place. You have no time for that. Your current level of happiness is less than what you deserve right now. You can’t disappoint others – they choose to be disappointed – remember this, o.k?You desire to live fully, intently, and with massive passion.
- Mindset – shift it now. I want your thinking to shift into that of being a winner! From this point forward no more thinking about what you haven’t done – once again, this does nothing but disempower you and keep you in the position of victim. Instead, imagine and fully see yourself as a winner, already in obtainment of your goals. How does this feel? Connect with this daily and often. See yourself in possession of you goals. This will make you feel so good and motivate you to take continued action.
- Find and Utilize Support. It’s important for you to build connections with like-minded people who get where you are in your goal setting, and can offer you helpful direction and guidance. This could mean making new friendships, joining a local group for businesswomen, or even hiring a private coach who can offer you important and effective tools you may be overlooking.
