End-Of-The-Month Reflection Questions

Christi Hegstad April 30th, 2020

Did anyone else’s month turn out a bit different than expected?

At the end of each month (aka today, believe it or not!) I ask myself a few questions which I thought you might find helpful to reflect on, too:

– What went well? What am I celebrating?

– What didn’t go well? How can I improve, change, or let go for next month?

– What did I learn? How did I grow?

– How have I contributed? How did I lead?

– For what am I thankful?

My responses may look a little different than expected this month but are still enlightening! I am still committed to my goals, still learning every day, still appreciating things like family time, fresh air, and the sight (and scent!) of blossoms like the one pictured here.

Feel free to adopt these questions as an end-of-month journaling exercise. What’s a reflective question you would add to this list?

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for Difference-Making Achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Achieve Success By Helping Others Achieve Success

Christi Hegstad April 27th, 2020

When we work to help others achieve success, we not only raise the performance of the group, we exponentially increase our own potential.

Shawn Achor

Is there anything more beautiful than a team of capable, supportive, high-intentioned people working together to achieve a purposeful result?

Individual success, such as setting and achieving a formidable goal, feels incredible and contributes significantly to our growth.

And that feeling increases tremendously when we are able to share the experience with, and for the benefit of, others.

This week, help someone achieve success.

Reach out to a team member who is struggling and offer to brainstorm solutions with them.

Ask your child about a project they’ve been working on and what they have learned so far.

Share your top takeaway from an enlightening book or TED Talk on your Facebook page.

Although ‘working together’ may look a bit different in this time of physical distancing, it’s very doable – and perhaps more important than ever. Consider whom you can help build up this week, and watch your own potential rise in the process!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for Difference-Making Achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Flourishing Through The Murky, Messy Middle

Christi Hegstad April 24th, 2020

Pop Quiz: What do the following have in common?

– A 26.2-mile marathon

– A high-visibility project

– A significant goal

– An unexpected challenge

– A recovery (ie, from surgery or injury)

I have experienced all of these and, combined with years of coaching others, have noticed a common pattern:

As we start what will likely become a transformative experience, we tend to feel a blend of excitement and fear, exhilaration and exhaustion, “I can do this!” and “What was I thinking?”

As we near the end – the achievement of the goal, the finish line of the race – we often feel relief in seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, which may prompt a surge in energy (ever see a distance runner really kick it in at the end?) or a sense of let’s-just-finish-already.

And in between? At times, it can feel how a few clients once described it:

The murky, messy middle.

When I ran – er, shall we say ‘completed’ 🙂 – my first marathon, miles 14-19 felt like a slog. The starting line adrenaline had worn off, and the finish line was still too far to see.

When I underwent a major surgery, my recovery seemed to vacillate continually between “Hey, this isn’t so bad!” to “OH MY GOSH WILL I EVER FEEL BETTER?!”

But I did eventually cross that finish line. I did eventually heal.

And as much as I don’t like to admit it, it’s often in that messy middle – the slog, the plateau, the doubt, the two steps forward / one-to-twelve steps back – that the most growth occurs.

Our resolve strengthens.

Our grit grows.

Our values shine.

Now that I know this, I can redirect my mindset by asking different questions – some of which you may find helpful when you feel you’re plodding through a not-so-clear middle, too:

> What are you learning? Whether your experience was planned or unexpected, welcomed or unwanted – find meaning in it. Take this a step further and actually record the lessons you uncover so you can refer back to them.

> How can you flourish right now? Could you practice a different technique? Experiment with a new habit? Add a spot of joy? Clear away some of the excess or unnecessary? Change up your playlist – either the one on your headphones or the one in your mind?

> What would make this light, peaceful, or even fun? Remember how enjoyable jumping in mud puddles was as a kid – before we were the ones doing the laundry and mopping the floors? 😉 How could you bring a sense of that enjoyment, messy though it may be, into your current situation?

Don’t wait until you reach the finish line to ask yourself these questions. Get curious. Experiment. Set a healthy and sustainable pace.

Because as the saying goes, we don’t need to simply go through challenges – we can grow through them.

Here’s to your flourishing – at the start, at the end, and at all beautiful and murky, messy points in between!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Is This The Best Way To Solve A Problem?

Christi Hegstad April 19th, 2020

I closed our ASPIRE Success Club meetings last week sharing this line from Marie Forleo’s book, Everything Is Figureoutable. You’ve probably heard something similar before, right? Change your beliefs, change your life?

Could it really be this simple?

Sure, we need to take action and secure support and engage other success principles. But if we don’t first believe something is possible, we are far less likely to take those actions and experience the desired outcomes.

This week, practice a new, growth-oriented belief or question.

For example:

Instead of “I’ll never solve this,” ask yourself, “How might I solve this?”

Instead of “I don’t know what to do,” ask yourself, “If I consulted an expert, what might they advise me to do?”

Instead of “Everything seems so difficult,” ask yourself, “What’s one simple action I could take?” or “What would make this easier?” or “How might I make this feel lighter or more enjoyable?”

If you feel yourself following a closed-off or less-than-helpful belief, try switching it around or asking a question that invites possibility instead. Let me know how it goes!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Questions To Help Uncover Your Purpose

Christi Hegstad April 14th, 2020

This week, I will have the honor of witnessing nearly 50 leaders share their personal Purpose Statements. The pronouncement of their statements is an inspiring highlight of our work together, to be sure!

Having a clear, succinct statement that captures your ‘why,’ as well as who and how you wish to be in the world, can change how you approach challenges, make decisions, treat yourself and others, and so much more.

It is also the greatest motivator I know of.

This week, consider your purpose.

If you have a written Purpose Statement, reflect on ways you are living it out, and consider how you can continue to do so, with intention, in the week ahead.

If you don’t have a written statement yet, you can begin by asking yourself a few meaningful questions, such as:

What do you value most?

When do you feel truly engaged or in flow?

What lights you up?

What cause do you believe in or problem would you love to solve?

When people think of you, what do you most hope comes to mind?

Your purpose permeates all aspects of life: work, family, relationships, actions, all of it. Reflective questions like these can start giving you clues into your purpose and, as a result, help you be fueled by your why-power!

Want to write your own Purpose Statement?

If you’d like to write your own Purpose Statement, stay tuned for a special subscriber-only opportunity later this month! And if you know of others who may enjoy this, encourage them to subscribe ASAP by clicking here and filling out the blue box.

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Does A Positive Life Allow For Not-So-Positive Feelings?

Christi Hegstad April 13th, 2020

“You always seem so positive. Do you ever feel down, worried, overwhelmed?”

Several of you have asked how I am handling this season. Today I want to take a moment to respond.

I am – like you, I suspect – experiencing the range of emotions that accompany change and uncertainty.

I am also reminding myself that, although certainly amplified right now, change and uncertainty are always present in our lives, and we are continually learning to navigate them.

In addition to the strategies I share regularly on social media and my blog, here are a few things I am finding helpful in this season:

Engaging in mindset work. Journaling, self-talk, choosing – and re-choosing – my dominant intention for the day, for example.

Dwelling in gratitude. It’s been scientifically proven, many times over, to be a mood-lifter and a meaning-maker, and if I’m going to dwell on something this seems a helpful choice.

Leaning deeply into my purpose. This is *always* the lighthouse I return to, continually reminding me who and how I wish to be in the world. (If you’d like more on this, join my email community ASAP.)

Walking. A lot. Often with a mantra, focal point (ie, birds singing or buds on trees), prayer, or an inspiring podcast.

Using my strengths to serve. I feel more empowered when I am helping to empower others.

I am also honoring little things that bring a sense of order, like making my bed, tidying my workspace, and engaging in my morning practice.

Positivity isn’t about constant rainbows and unicorns. ? I feel the full range of life’s emotions – acknowledging them, allowing them, and then asking where I want to go from there. I also reach out for help, magnify optimism, and try to shower myself and others with grace.

How about you? What ideas, mindsets, or practices are you finding most helpful these days?

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Tell Yourself A Different Story

Christi Hegstad April 7th, 2020

There’s a funny and oh-so-true meme that has made its way around the internet many times over:

Pretty accurate, wouldn’t you say? 🙂

The fact is, just saying “Change how you feel” typically won’t change how you feel. We need to start with a shift in mindset.

And we need to do it in a way we can actually believe.

How To Tell A Different Story

Our thoughts and beliefs (aka, our mindset) form our feelings. In turn, our feelings fuel our actions and behaviors.

At its most basic, the formula might look something like this:

THOUGHTS –> FEELINGS –> ACTIONS and BEHAVIORS

Changing our thoughts in the height of emotion can be challenging – kind of like being told to calm down when you feel anything but calm. However, with practice and a little forethought, it becomes easier.

To start forming a new approach, here’s what I suggest:

Pull out a journal, notebook, or piece of paper, and draw a line down the center forming two columns on your page.

In the left column, jot down some of the thoughts or feelings that tend to resurface for you but do not serve you. Some I’m hearing in my coaching practice these days include:

> “I am overwhelmed.”

> “I am worried about…”

> “I’ve never done this before – I don’t know how.”

Maybe even carry your notebook around with you for a while so you can record thoughts as they come.

Then, at a time when you are feeling strong, easeful, or capable, start ‘writing a new story’ in the right hand column. In other words, write a replacement sentence for each one in the left column – a statement that feels more helpful, purposeful, supportive.

Some examples:

“I am so unorganized.” —> “I am becoming more organized.”

Mindset shift: If a label doesn’t serve you, let it go – or rephrase it in a way that does serve you.

“Why did I waste so much time today?” —> “What will I do differently tomorrow?”

Mindset shift: Instead of letting your past define you, focus on how you are creating a different future.

“I don’t know how.” —> “I will learn as I go.”

Mindset shift: Fact is, there are countless things you haven’t known how to do in your lifetime. Recall some of those and examine how you figured them out.

“I should…” —> “I will.” or “I won’t.”

Mindset shift: ‘Should’ can be such a guilt-inducing word. Replace it with a decision.

“I am overwhelmed.” —> “One thing I can do right now is…”

Mindset shift: Sometimes the next right step can be the best frame of focus.

“I feel so stressed.” —> “I invite calm.”

Mindset shift: Decide what you’d like to feel instead, then focus your attention on inviting it into your life.

“I am worried about…” —> “I am thankful for…”

Mindset shift: In study after study, gratitude is a proven mindset-shifter and meaning-maker. Make a list of things you’re thankful for and review it / add to it daily.

“Everything feels out of control.” —> “What are 3 things in my control right now?”

Mindset shift: You have more within your realm of influence than you may realize. Watch for absolutes like ‘everything,’ ‘nothing,’ or ‘always,’ and learn to start questioning them.

“I wish I could…” —> “I am glad I can…”

Mindset shift: Maybe due to quarantine, injury, or other circumstances, your plans have changed. Remind yourself of all you can do – maybe even things that you wouldn’t have done otherwise.

Keep it simple, and keep it believable. For example, you’ll notice I didn’t reframe “I feel so stressed” to “I never feel stress, ever!” but rather an invitation to a feeling other than stress.

The saying is true: When we change our thoughts, we change our whole experience. What thought isn’t serving you right now – and with what can you replace it? Share below or on Facebook or Instagram – you’ll be helping others, too!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

12 Quotes To Inspire Positive Action

Christi Hegstad April 6th, 2020

I recently shared on social media the last three words of my Purpose Statement:

Inspire Positive Action!

Below are twelve quotes that inspire me into positive action, and I hope they do the same for you!

You have so many strengths, gifts, and talents – please don’t hold them back!

Turn that elusive ‘someday’ into today.

Just start – even if it’s an imperfect start.

Focus your energy and attention on what you’d like to see more of in the world.

Like a lighthouse that stands strong and shines bright regardless of the circumstances around it, so too is our purpose. (P.S. Want to write your own personal Purpose Statement? Make sure you’re on our mailing list to receive word of our next coaching group!)

Make decisions from a place of strength and beauty.

You can be both strong and gentle – and both will serve you well.

View failure as one of many stepping stones of success – one to be embraced rather than feared or avoided.

No need to compare yourself to anyone; just strive to be your best self!

How do YOU define a beautiful day?

Even when much seems out of your control, you always have the power to choose your mindset.

An especially helpful reminder during these current times, am I right?

Wishing you a day – and a life! – filled with meaning, purpose, and positive action!

Let me know on Instagram or Facebook which one speaks to you the most!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

How Will You Earn Your ‘A’?

Christi Hegstad April 5th, 2020

In the book The Art of Possibility, Ben Zander shares how, at the start of the semester, he informed his students they would receive an A.

The requirement: in the first two weeks of class, they must write him a letter – dated the following May – indicating in detail all they did to earn that A.

I cannot tell you how often, and in how many situations, I have used this powerful visioning strategy since first reading it years ago!

This week, give yourself an A.

Place yourself at the end of this week, looking back. What helped you ‘earn your A’ for the week?

Or place yourself at the end of your current work-from-home experience, looking back. What helped you earn your A during that unique time?

Place yourself at the end of the quarter, the end of today, or even the end of your next meeting. What behaviors, mindset shifts, actions, and attitudes will help you earn an A?

Allow this vision to provide you with a possibility to live into!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Ten Ways To Stay Purposeful At Any Time

Christi Hegstad April 2nd, 2020

In times of massive change, when even our most carefully-laid plans seem to fly out the window, we can easily feel like we’re on shaky ground, about to lose our footing.

Fortunately, even in those times, certain constants remain hearty and true in our lives. One such thing: Your purpose.

If you are feeling a bit wonky these days, perhaps one or a combination of these ideas will help you return to your ‘true north’ whenever you feel the need:

1. Pause before speaking / acting.

One of the greatest life distinctions we can learn is the one between ‘react’ and ‘respond.’ This can be especially helpful in times of tension or high emotion. Practice pausing – even just for a few moments – and choosing, with intention, your response.

2. Plan and prioritize your day.

Changing times can make planning a challenge, but the fact of the matter is, we always were and always will be adapting to changes. Mapping out key components of your day, such as identifying your Daily Top 3, can bring focus and deliberate action into your schedule.

3. Look for meaning.

Whenever we embark on something new, we often experience a burst of growth and energy at the start, followed by a dip, before reaching the goal or moving to the next level. That dip might include uncertainty, feeling stuck, discomfort … I often refer to this as the ‘messy middle’ with coaching clients. Seek meaning in the mess by asking yourself, “What am I learning? What are the lessons here?”

4. Help someone else.

“There are countless people out there who need the gifts that you and you alone are here to give,” writes Marie Forleo in her empowering book, Everything Is Figureoutable, and I wholeheartedly agree. Teach a skill, offer a kind word, donate time or treasure, share a social media post, ask “How can I help you?” You can make a difference in more ways than you know!

5. Review your Purpose Statement.

I do this on a daily basis and it never fails to bring me back to center. You may not always feel like you know what to do, but your Purpose Statement reminds you of who and how you wish to be in the world regardless. Let this serve as your guide when making decisions, choosing actions, or even simply returning to a place of calm knowing. (If you don’t have a written Purpose Statement, join my email community for upcoming opportunities!)

6. Connect with your core values.

One of my core values is growth, so I make sure I am growing and/or helping others grow on a daily basis. This growth could take place in any number of ways: reading, teaching, practicing a skill, trying something new… Define your core values, then look for and design ways to honor them.

7. Continue, or begin, your own morning practice.

How you start the day can set the tone for your day, so choose to start it on purpose! This can be as simple as a 2-minute gratitude practice before emerging from bed to a more detailed mindset/heartset practice. There’s no one right way – the best morning practice is the one you will actually do!

8. Engage in other daily practices, too.

We’ve been discussing this in the ASPIRE Success Club and helpful daily practices might include anything from meditation to going for a run to creating a meal plan to making your bed. Determine which actions help you feel strong and purposeful, then make a point to engage in one or more of them daily.

9. Move your body.

Stretching, lifting weights (or weighted items, like a bag of flour, at home), jumping rope … however feels good to move, move! I have gotten into the practice lately of what I call ‘mantra walks’: I choose a brief phrase and repeat it over and over with each footstep. Your body/mind/spirit connection is an important component of purposefulness.

10. Imagine yourself as ‘advisor’.

When you find yourself in doubt or questioning what to do, ask yourself, “What would I advise my child / partner / best friend to do in this situation?” This brings a level of objectivity while keeping you connected to your own inner wisdom, values, and purpose.

With all of these ideas plus those you generate for yourself, you might weave one word throughout: grace. Do your best. Seek your answers within. And shower yourself and others with extensive amounts of grace.

What helps you feel purposeful? Add your ideas below!

Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC is the Certified Executive + Personal Coach for difference-making achievers! Clarify your vision, free up time, and confidently reach bold goals with meaning and purpose! Contact us today for coaching, speaking, and Mastermind opportunities, or click here and fill in the blue box to join our email community.

Category Archives: Uncategorized

How To Tell A Different Story