What Is Your 2019 Theme?

Christi Hegstad December 18th, 2018

What is your theme for 2019? What word or phrase do you want to guide your actions, calibrate your goals, and support your best self?

As I’ve shared throughout the year, my 2018 theme has been LIGHT. Whenever things felt heavy, dark, or otherwise un-delightful, I’d ask myself, “What would make this LIGHT?”

Sometimes the answer meant to change it, or change my mindset toward it.

Sometimes it involved decluttering or simplifying.

Sometimes it meant removing it from my work or life altogether.

This has not always been easy; in fact, in many ways, this has been an incredibly challenging year. But I can honestly report that I am wrapping up the year with a lightness I didn’t previously know, and I feel like I am heading into 2019 more clear, focused, and purposeful than I have felt in a long time.

Inspired Action:

This week, create a theme for 2019.

Check out one of my most popular articles for further ideas.

Feel free to share your theme with me!

How (+ Why) To Give Yourself An ‘A’

Christi Hegstad December 12th, 2018

As I write this, my daughter is studying for final exams at college and my sons are starting to prepare for theirs in high school. I remember vividly the weight those exams can carry, especially if they make up 50% of your semester grade or if you teeter on the border between two grades. It can make my Type A+ recovery slip back a few notches just thinking about it!

So my heart skipped a beat back in the early 2000s when I first read The Art of Possibility, a transformational book by therapist and coach Rosamund Stone Zander and Boston Philharmonic conductor Ben Zander. I re-read it a few years ago when we selected it as an ASPIRE Success Club pick, and something that stood out both times involves the idea of an automatic ‘A’.

The Automatic ‘A’

At the start of the semester, Ben announced to his Conservatory students that everyone would get an A in the course – with one important requirement:

“Sometime during the next two weeks, you must write me a letter dated next May, which begins with the words, ‘Dear Mr. Zander, I got my A because…,’ and in this letter you are to tell, in as much detail as you can, the story of what will have happened to you by next May that is in line with this extraordinary grade.” (The Art of Possibility, p. 27)

Students are encouraged to place themselves firmly in the future, looking back, as they write their letters.

I have our ASPIRE members do something similar each year and the feedback is so moving. Many completely forget about their letters; upon receiving them in the mail 11 months later, they are astounded at their own foresight and the power of an intentional mindset.

Give It A Try!

As you prepare for a new year, close your eyes and imagine that it is December 31, 2019. You are looking back over a successful and purposeful year where things worked out smoothly and beautifully for you. What are you celebrating? How do you feel? What contributed to your outstanding 2019 experience?

Capture it all on paper. Then use that as visionary support as you create your goals and action plans for 2019.

No Pressure – Only Possibility

One of the lines I have dog-eared, highlighted, starred, tabbed, and underlined in the book is this: “This A is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into.”

Breathe that in, my friends. No expectation, no judgment, no pressure. Just expansive possibility.

Let’s make 2019 the most positive and purposeful year yet! Who’s with me?

The ‘Punch List’ of Personal + Professional Growth

Christi Hegstad December 10th, 2018

“More is lost by indecision than by wrong decisions.” – Gino Wickman

Do you agree?

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Shortly before this line appears in his excellent business book, Traction, Wickman writes, “What drains your energy is not having a lot of work to do; rather, it’s having unresolved issues.”

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Perhaps you feel energized by the promise of a new year around the corner. If so, carry on!

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On the other hand, if you feel drained, depleted, or worn out to some extent, many possible reasons exist, of course – but perhaps indecision and incomplete projects play a role. I know they tend to contribute to my own mental clutter as much as anything.

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Inspired Action:

This week, tie up as many loose ends as possible.

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As I described it to ASPIRE Success Club members, think of it like a contractor’s ‘punch list’ upon completion of building a new home.

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Make a big list of unfinished projects, unresolved issues, unmade decisions, and so on.

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Then, begin completing them. Start with the quick and easy items to get some early wins and build momentum. Check as many as possible off your list between now and the end of the year.

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Pay attention to your energy level while you’re at it. I bet it rises along with your hopes of a more clear and purposeful new year!

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Due to substantial growth experienced during our 2019 ASPIRE Success Club enrollment period in November, we are adding more sessions to accommodate – which means we have a few new open spots available as well! Click here to make one yours. Next year at this time you will be SO glad you did!

Create A Little Magic At Work

Christi Hegstad December 3rd, 2018

Coaching Tip:

“Because that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

Do those words make anyone else groan?

Yet how willing are you to invite change into your ways of doing and being?

As I mentioned in last week’s Clarity Kickstart, the same old thinking leads to the same old results. If we want to experience new, better, more magical results, we need to do things differently.

And maybe even do the unexpected.

I am all for creating a little magic these days. How about you?

Inspired Action:

This week, do something unexpected. Some simple ideas:

Instead of starting your staff meeting with the typical agenda review, ask each person to share one thing they’re looking forward to between now and the end of the year.

Change the layout of your conference room and encourage people to sit somewhere they never have before. (We’re such creatures of habit, aren’t we?!)

Rather than a standard strategic planning meeting for the new year, bring in a knowledgeable coach to conduct an appreciative inquiry session.

Give the gift of wonder: Invite an actual magician to your organization’s holiday party.

Write an unsolicited testimonial for a small business, or share one of their posts on social media along with your positive commentary. You might be surprised how incredibly meaningful this act can be!

Do the unexpected. Create a little magic this holiday season – at work, as well as in your own life!

Sign up here to receive a positivity + purpose boost right in your in-box every Monday morning!

Letting Go Of Perfection, Reaching Out For Support

Christi Hegstad November 30th, 2018

For most of my life, for reasons unknown (though I often see perfectionism raising her hand for attention ??‍♀️), I have struggled with asking for help. Whether it’s stubbornness or pride or wild independence or wanting to prove to myself that I can figure out / solve / do everything on my own, reaching out for help has not come easily for me.

But when I look at the last decade or so, as I’ve become more comfortable – well, at least less UNcomfortable – with admitting that I don’t have to figure everything out on my own, I marvel at what that has brought me. Not only the achievements but the sense of permission, boldness, and grace I can now afford myself. The joy I have found in partnering with my coaches, learning from my mentors, and growing alongside my peers.

It’s been so much more flowing – and a heck of a lot more fun – than when I was in constant head-down-and-figure-it-out mode!

One of best decisions I made was joining a group of inspiring people who were open to (gasp!) asking for help *and* to receiving it. Those early mastermind partners and coaches taught me that I could seek their help and they were happy to offer it.

They didn’t see my ask as weakness.

They didn’t view my lack of knowledge as inability.

They accepted my discomfort with my own vulnerability without assumption or judgment.

I can never repay enough those who have lifted me up and allowed me to do the same for them. But one of the ways I attempt to is through leading groups designed for this same purpose: to create a safe space for openness, to support one another in meaningful achievement, to discuss important – at times even controversial, difficult, or sensitive – topics with respect and honesty and curiosity. Even though I facilitate the group, it is the women of the ASPIRE Success Club that make it the haven and joyful growth experience that it is.

If you’d like to be a part of this, or want an important woman in your life to experience it, act now – TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO JOIN. The details are on the website, and the spirit is in the heart of hundreds of ASPIRE women around the country and beyond!

Meditation For The Reluctant Meditator

Christi Hegstad November 27th, 2018

Today, according to the Insight Timer app, I am celebrating 46 consecutive days of meditation.

To most of the world, this may not seem particularly blog-worthy, but for someone who resisted meditation for a long time, then attempted – for the last decade or so – to establish some sort of meditative practice but never lasting more than a handful of days, this feels pretty substantial!

This in no way makes me qualified to speak on meditation other than sharing my own practice, so that’s what I’d like to do here in case you, too, have been attempting to weave meditation into your life and can find something here that resonates with you. My experience has been influenced by a few key components:

A Knowledgeable Teacher

This fall, I invited Allison Peet of From Within Wellness to lead some members of the ASPIRE Success Club in a meditation mini-workshop. Allison is a qualified MBSR™ (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Instructor trained at UMass Medical Center for Mindfulness founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. The peacefulness I felt after our time with Allison was the kickstart I needed to invite meditation a bit more regularly into my life.

Meditation basics with some ASPIRE Success Club members. — Some ASPIRE Success Club members learning meditation basics.

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Oddly Enough, An App

I say “oddly enough” because I am not an app person at all – I have less than a dozen installed on my phone and rarely use any of them other than Instagram. But Insight Timer has come up in ASPIRE Success Club discussions many times over the years, so I downloaded it a few years back and experimented now and then. For the past couple of months, however, I have become more focused with it – using search terms like “future self” or “confidence” or “relaxation,” depending on what I’m seeking – and playing with the guided meditations that appear. I am loving it!

Insight Timer 46 Days — Thanks for keeping track, Insight Timer!

New + Different Approaches

Sitting vs. lying down. Group vs. solo. Guided vs. independent. Focus on a mantra or visual vs. focus on the breath. I have done a great deal of experimenting! One of my favorite approaches to incorporate periodically is a gong bath meditation, which Deb Jennings of Sounds for the Soul leads with her colleagues. I’m not sure I could accurately describe the experience, but I leave it feeling refreshed and soothed, and I always sleep extremely well that night! Deb has also led ASPIRE members in unique sound healing activities – they are always beautiful and deep experiences.

A scene from the most recent gong meditation I attended. — Gongs and more from a recent group meditation experience.

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Thought-Provoking Books

I’ve read several on the topics of meditation and mindfulness, but two in particular really made an impact – both of which I’ve written about previously: Mindfulness by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, and 10% Happier by Dan Harris.

I will write another post about the benefits I have experienced from my practice, but suffice it to say they have truly surprised me. As someone with daily journal and prayer practices, frequent nature walks, and other regular contemplative acts, I wasn’t expecting much to change from incorporating meditation. The results have been profound and noticeable – enough to keep me returning every day.

Do you have a meditation practice? What has helped you keep it going? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

We learn so much in the ASPIRE Success Club! Come join us – but hurry: Enrollment closes on Friday, November 30!

Tired Of Not Achieving Your Goals? Try This.

Christi Hegstad November 26th, 2018

If you want different results, you must do things differently.

Coaching Tip:

I have learned this truth the hard way. Multiple times over, in fact!

If you have too, it’s time to ask yourself an important question: How can I do things differently?

Think of it this way:

Every day, when your kiddo comes home from school, you might ask, “How was your day?”

And every day, you might hear, “Fine.”

And every day, you might wonder, why doesn’t he open up more? Why doesn’t she give me some detail?

Then one day, you ask a different question.

“What’s one thing you learned today?”

“Who did you speak with today that you usually don’t?”

“What made you laugh today?”

Boom. Take a different action, get a different result.

Inspired Action:

This week, consider where you most want to grow, and do something new.

Maybe that means:

Sharing your message via video instead of a blog post.

Starting your day with journaling instead of social media.

Hiring a professional to accelerate your results instead of trying to figure it out on your own.

Joining the 2019 ASPIRE Success Club before enrollment closes on Friday.

If you are frustrated or discouraged by your results (or lack thereof), don’t lose heart. Just take a different action.

Find out firsthand why so many members describe their involvement in the ASPIRE Success Club as their best investment of the year – and in some cases, of their lives! ENROLLMENT ENDS THIS FRIDAY! Join the 2019 Club today!

Confidence, Comparison, and the ASPIRE Success Club

Christi Hegstad November 25th, 2018

One of the things I love most about the women of the ASPIRE Success Club:

They each aspire to live their absolute best lives *and* they want the same for their fellow members.

There is no comparison or envy or feeling ‘less than’ – only encouragement and support and a continuous ‘how can I help?’ As member Amy said, “Even with many members, there is so much trust in ASPIRE. I can share my truest self, always knowing I will never be judged – only supported and encouraged.”

ENROLLMENT CLOSES THIS FRIDAY – come join us for a year of unprecedented growth, inspiration, and confidence! Click here for details and feel free to contact me with any questions. I would love to support you throughout 2019!

Content With The Present, Or Striving For Growth?

Christi Hegstad November 19th, 2018

Kaizen = continuous improvement.

How are you growing and improving each day?

That question is sometimes met with resistance: “Shouldn’t I be content with who and where I am?”

Absolutely!

And know that you can simultaneously be happy, content, and grateful and want to continue growing.

Inspired Action:

This week, revel in where you are and how far you’ve come.

And commit to continuing on your path of growth.

Honor the fact that you can do both at the same time.

Rest if you need to, take a break if you need to. But lay a foundation for the future – such as enrolling in the ASPIRE Success Club or securing a coach for 2019 – to ensure you keep moving in your most purposeful, growth-oriented direction.

“Life took on a more positive outlook after investing in myself through ASPIRE!” wrote an ASPIRE member recently. ENROLLMENT CLOSES NEXT WEEK! Set yourself up for the entire year – join us in the ASPIRE Success Club!

38 Simple Actions For World Kindness Day – and Every Day

Christi Hegstad November 13th, 2018

Hop on Facebook for any length of time and you’ll quickly realize that every day is a holiday of some sort. Today we celebrate one of my favorites: World Kindness Day!

I spent part of the day feeling like a literary Santa Claus as I restocked some Little Free Libraries around town. How will you celebrate today? And how about tomorrow, and the day after that?

Below you’ll find a few dozen ideas to get you started. Please add your ideas here or on Instagram – the more ideas we have to choose from, the better!

1. Drop off canned goods to your local food pantry.

2. Thank, specifically and sincerely, your cashier, barista, or service provider.

3. Send a pre-paid grocery card to someone who lost his job.

4. Hold the door open for the people behind you. Stand there an extra five minutes if needed.

5. Leave an appreciative comment on someone’s uplifting social media post.

6. Return your grocery cart to the rack.

7. Leave May-Day-like baskets on your neighbors’ front porches.

8. Bring an article of clothing to your closest Dress For Success (click here for our Des Moines affiliate). Tuck an extra $10 in the pocket if you can.

9. Send a ‘thinking of you’ text to a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

10. Learn your family members’ love languages and make an effort to practice them.

11. Leave a higher tip than usual.

12. Send an email to the boss of someone who gave you exemplary service.

13. Go above and beyond for someone. Underpromise, overdeliver.

14. Handwrite a thank you card to someone not expecting it.

15. Compliment someone standing next to you in line.

16. Share books via Little Free Library or your regular library.

17. Donate personal items to a shelter for people recreating their lives after trauma. Consider bringing your donations in a beautiful gift bag.

18. Clip an article highlighting a local businessperson from your newspaper and send it to her with a ‘great job’ note.

19. Ask someone his best tip for something he does really well (cutting hair, leading others, parenting, looking on the bright side, photographing pets, choosing the perfect gift…).

20. Bring coffee, bagels, or an unexpected treat to your coworkers.

21. Make eye contact with, smile at, or send silent blessings to everyone you encounter today.

22. Leave change in a vending machine.

23. Choose a nonprofit and donate a bit of time, talent, or treasure.

24. Share someone’s inspiring social media post, giving them credit and kudos.

25. Make someone feel like the most important person in the room.

26. Thank someone in uniform (military, firefighter, nurse, first responder, police officer, pilot…).

27. Avoid gossip and negative chatter the entire day. Change the subject if it arises.

28. Pet some fluffy friends at your local animal shelter or pet store.

29. Add to an expired parking meter.

30. Write a letter to the editor / guest opinion to your local paper or business journal complimenting someone or shining a light on something positive.

31. Send an email to a teacher thanking them for pouring so much of themselves into our future: our youth.

32. Thank a child for her kindness, effort, or care.

33. Look online at current needs for a nearby shelter (often warm socks, winter gear, underclothes) and drop some off.

34. Tell someone you love him.

35. Forgive someone.

36. Forgive yourself.

37. Remind yourself how amazing, worthwhile, and valuable you are. You deserve kindness, too.

38. Make a list of kind ideas and share it.

Add your thoughts! Share this list! Do whatever you can to make today – and every day – overflowing with kindness.

Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Automatic ‘A’

Give It A Try!

No Pressure – Only Possibility

A Knowledgeable Teacher

Oddly Enough, An App

New + Different Approaches

Thought-Provoking Books

Coaching Tip:

Inspired Action:

Inspired Action: