July 7, 2009 Announcements from Barbara Sher
I am a Sher Success Team Leader and a fan of Barbara Sher’s. If you don’t know Barbara, she is the NY Times Best Selling Author of Wishcraft which is now in its 30th year in print. Here’s Barbara Sher’s latest set of announcements. I hope you find something helpful or inspiring from Barbara.
- Barbara Demarest
Coaching people to market themselves, their products and their organizations.
Barbara Sher’s Newsletter
Hi Good People:
Did you ever wonder why you don’t go after your dreams?
It’s always an interesting question: why do so many of us back away from whole-heartedly following our dreams? I’ve been given lots of answers to that question over the years, but some show up more than others. Here are a few. See if your reasons are among them.
1. You did what you were ‘supposed’ to do, and not what you really wanted to do. Now you can’t remember, or you think it’s too late.
By now it would be amazing if you still remembered what you once wanted. Still, one thought keeps nagging you: Is this all there is?
The answer is simple and clear: No, it isn’t. You have to go exploring to see what makes your heart beat faster, catches your interest, makes you want to start learning again. Limit your inner grownup to keeping a firm hand on the checkbook, and set your inner kid free. Only he or she can rediscover those forgotten dreams.
2. You think that following a dream means you have to walk out on your life.
All or Nothing thinking doesn’t actually make sense, and somewhere down deep, you know it. Don’t use money as your excuse and don’t assume you have to sign up for more schooling. If you start out small, exploring, sampling, hanging out with others who love what you love, you’ll see that it takes little or no money to bring your dreams into your life. Framing your choices as ‘Misery in my present life vs. Starvation in a new life’ is nothing but a cover-up, a way to avoid the emotional risk of going after what you really love.
3. You think it’s self-indulgent to go after what you love, especially in tough economic times.
Think again. There’s no virtue in unnecessary suffering. Hang on to your day job but get off the couch and go searching to find what you love. Nothing could be more important:
First, what you love is what you are gifted at. Enjoyment is a telegram straight from your DNA; it’s nature’s way of getting you to do what you were designed to do. Ignoring nature is bad for your health.
Second, doing what you love will lead to skill; you’ll stick to it because you really want to. When you add experience to innate talent, no one can pass you up. Of course, you won’t be trying to rack up points; When you’re doing what you love, you’re totally absorbed in the delicious challenge of expressing what’s inside you.
Third, when you do what you love, you never stop learning. Clicking into your gifts is like a great adventure. You never get bored because it’s always new.
Finally, avoiding doing what you love makes you a deadbeat. You weren’t put on this planet to use up natural resources. You owe your gifts to the rest of us for the gift of life itself.
4. You want many things and refuse to choose only one. Who said you have to choose?
If you don’t demand that everything that interests you has to be a career, and if you only do the part you love the best, you’ll find your life as rich and varied as you could wish. You fear being stuck in a rut because you’re a Scanner, and boredom is like Kryptonite to you. You need to find people who are like you — your own lost tribe of Scanners — people whose brains are wired to be fascinated by many things.
5. You’re waiting for something to happen.
You’re waiting to retire or for your ship to come in or for things to change, or you don’t even remember what you’re waiting for. But waiting is never a good idea. Time is your most precious, most unrenewable resource. Start small, start today. Don’t say ‘Some day I’m going to learn Italian,’ say ‘Buon giorno!’
If you have other reasons for not going after your dreams, let me know. I’d like to hear them and answer them — and perhaps put them in the next newsletter.
Resistance isn’t something that can be banished by will or with simple positive thinking. You need to know what you’re doing. And then you need to swing into action. I’d be delighted to help you with both. Resistance is my favorite subject. (I am pleased to say that I have been called ‘The Resistance Whisperer.’)
Patiently, intelligently, and with lots of support and information, we get rid of every obstacle that stops beautiful dreamers like you from going after your dreams. Deal?
Okay, here’s your audio tip.
We’ve also put up some more video clips I think you’ll enjoy — from the last Scanner retreat (and elsewhere):
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
July 15, 9:00 -10:10pm EST
Free Teleseminar
I’ll be talking about how to plan a life when you can’t decide on only one path. Go to GreatParentingPractices.com/askbarbara to get free access to the call, and to ask me your most burning questions about how to do everything you love. I’ll get to every one I can on the teleseminar, so be sure to watch!
September 22-27, 2009
5-Day Scanner Retreat in Corfu, Greece
We have 4 spaces left, so if you think this might be for you, click here to find out more.
If you’re not sure whether or not you (or someone you love) is a Scanner, listen to the podcast at GeniusPress.com.
Best wishes to all of you,
Barbara Sher
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