“If you focus simply on what is in front of you to do, everything else will take care of itself.”
— Sarah Susanka, The Not So Big Life, Making Room for What Matters
It’s January 1, 2015. I love the sound of it.
I am almost over a wretched upper respiratory infection and nasty cough (a plea for unnecessary but desired sympathy), and as I clear a path to this new year, I know one thing. I want to live and breathe a meaningful 2015. Are you ready to do the same?
What’s going to make 2015 a good year for you? Pretend it’s December 31, 2015. What will it take for you to look back and say, yep, it’s been a good year, a successful year. And how will you know? How do you define success?
In “20 Things Successful People Refuse To Do,” a blog recently published in the Huffington Post, young author Mo Seetubtim says successful people don’t define success in monetary terms. “Most successful people define success as happiness, having a peace of mind, or helping others. They see money as something that brings them comfort and opens doors of opportunities. They realize that money can’t buy them happiness.”
Mo also says in her list of 20, successful people start their day with a plan, remain flexible, and end each day with gratitude. I agree. You can set all the intentions you want but prioritizing and following through are crucial factors in moving from dreaming to creating. Yeah, there’s the rub. You actually have to DO something with your intentions. Rats.
So, to help myself be more intentional, I’ve made a commitment to join a women’s book group convened by Allison Allen (founder of WomenBloom) to study Sarah Susanka’s epiphany book, The Not So Big Life, Making Room for What Really Matters, beginning this very month (picture me patting myself on the back).
Author and architect Sarah Susanka’s advice from her book rings true for me. “If you focus simply on what is in front of you to do, everything else will take care of itself.” Sarah offers a blueprint for a new way of living, sort of a remodeling of our lives that “…allows us to experience what’s already here but to experience it differently, so that it delights us rather than drives us crazy.”
In my world, it’s called “re-storying.” Making room for what really matters through life-remodeling or re-storying is something I sure would like to focus on this year.
Here’s my wish for you. I hope you get to experience a not-so-big life this year. Let this be the year you find meaning and purpose by making room for what really matters.
Happy New Year, dear friends and family. Thanks for being in my life. It really matters.
I love the idea of re-storying my life. As with any professional salesman, we begin to believe our own stories even when they may not be true. My New Year’s resolution will be to take a hard look at the stories I tell about myself and determine whether they are the story I want to tell, the story that is true, and the story that I want to determine my outcome. Happy New Year Jeanne!
Keep up the great work Jeanne. One of the days I want to attend one of your retreats.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Cheryl. What a great way to start 2015 – by looking at the stories we tell ourselves and determining their validity. Here’s to your re-story in the coming year.
How wonderful this information is – I think my life just changed for the better. It does that in the blink of an eye, or the snap of a finger. Thank you for bringing this book and this way of thinking to my attention. My best to you to feeling on top of your game very soon and not letting those germs back into your body. I believe that if we keep telling our story, re-telling and re-making it – the words and sadness won’t get stuck in our lungs/chest and we just may be healthier. Thank you again for this valuable information. Peace and light, Carol
Wow, Carol. What a great observation about how to have a healthier 2015. Thank YOU for your valuable comment.
I stole this from Carla Cheathum because I really liked it!
WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN YOUR LIFE JUST YELL “PLOT TWIST” AND MOVE ON.
Babs
Let’s hear it for Babs and Carla! If we enter 2015 knowing there will be a few (okay, a lot of) plot twists, we’ll be ready to yell those magic words and keep moving on. Thanks!
Somehow, this blog spoke louder to me than the most recent subjects; because I need to actively listen to all of the things you said. And quite magically I needed to read these things today, right now.
How I love, respect, admire, cherish and adore the work you do for us all including yourself.
May we all get to experience a ‘not-so-big’ life ~ by moving from ‘dreaming to creating’.
You’re already an example of a person who knows how to move from dreaming to creating. Happy 2015 Barbi!
Love this concept and would love to know how the book group goes, and I set intention for this shift in my own coming year. Love to you and the incredible work you do in Austin.
Dearest mentor o’ mine, something tells me 2015 is to be a special year, an intentional year. You’ve helped me learn and practice and have laid the groundwork for my life and my life’s work. It is because of you that I am who I am today. We all owe you and your work a debt of gratitude. Are ya feelin’ the love?!
Absolutely about staying present and doing the next right thing. To my bedtime routine I add reviewing my day to see if I harmed anyone in my wake and make a plan to do better tomorrow. Yep.
Dear Sparkle Plenty – here’s to you continuing being exactly who you are. Yep.
A wonderful post, Jeanne. Please tell your book club that if they would like some resources to help with the engagement of the book and its exercises, there’s a page on the Not So Big Life website specifically for book clubs, that you’ll find here: http://www.notsobiglife.com/community/reading_groups.html
All the best to you, and I hope you’ll share some of your insights on the Not So Big Life forums. Here’s a link with instructions for joining etc.: http://www.notsobiglife.com/community/overview.html
Although there hasn’t been a lot of activity in recent months, if you want input, I’m available.
A happy, prosperous, and Not So Big year to you and all involved in your book club!
Sarah
Sarah? THE Sarah? Have you any idea what it was like for me to check my website today and see comments from you? 🙂
I’ll be sharing the resources you referenced with the book group and we will undoubtedly share our insights on your forums. I can feel the energy surrounding this work that we’re called to do in 2015, due to your carving a path for us through your work. Thanks and blessings. (My architect husband is also moving in the same direction – another thank you for that!)
P.S. I also posted your post to my Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/sarahsusanka
A big thank you. Not sure though, how it picked up my brother’s photo rather than the graphics assigned to it. My brother will think it’s wonderful!
Wonderful! Here’s to the 2015 you desire!
Love, Ka
And with your skillful life coaching, it will happen!!! More kudos for karenrosscoaching.com!