I ran away to Tuscany....

Jack Cantfield’s email arrived on a Tuesday. Just in case you don't know Jack Canfield is an American author, and motivational speaker. He is the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, which has more than 250 titles and 500 million copies in print in over 40 languages. In 2005 Canfield co-authored The Success Principles.

It offered a change to attend a retreat with him in a Villa in Tuscany. A private retreat with no more than 30 people. I had already made my decision about attending as I scrolled down the page to see what the cost of the retreat was. When I saw the cost I almost fell over. It was very expensive for me. My inner monolog was somewhere along the lines of “who do you think you are to spend that much on you !” 

Keep in mind that at this point (2014) I was stuck in uncertainty. I sat in a bucket of tar along side my career and future financial security. 

It was interesting that I spend more than the cost of the workshop on educating my two boys at private school on a yearly basis, yet I felt I did not deserve it. The thought of attending this workshop sat in my mind for days. I would toss it around like a ball that was simply too hot to handle. Finally the following week when shopping with my husband I mentioned the workshop. I could not look him in the eye when I told him the cost and he casually agreed it was expensive. 

My husband knew I had always held Jack Canfield in high regard using his work on my own platform when training staff. He knew that this would be a turning point for me. He knew that I was drowning in the bucket of tar which was my work situation that I was stuck in. We both knew I needed to do something for me and quickly or an already poor situation was going to get worst.

That night my husband approached the subject and I can tell you I could hardly look him in the eye. To ask for something for me felt like asking for the world to stop turning. No one expected me to feel like this, let alone me. It was not what my family was saying or what they wanted. It was for so long I had put everyone and everything above me that it felt impossible to ask for anything for me. (Not that I need permission either)

My husband started to ask what was the workshop about and then corrected himself and stated very clearly that the subject matter of the workshop was unimportant. What was important was that I wanted to go and therefore I needed to go for me. The wheel began to turn and everything I wanted with my three weeks overseas started to come together.

I could feel my mood lift and I could feel my confidence start to reappear. I felt purpose even if I was terrified. Things started to shift and every idea I had about the trip magically worked without any effort. Again I looked within and my strength became to re appear from trusting myself again. 

I asked myself how had I been treating me over the last 10 years. The answer was I was certainly kinder than I had been in the past. If I was to be honest I did not always treating myself well. I had been constantly “on call” for work without one day off over 11 years, I often had speaking engagements at night and my work days could often be drawn out with any real down time. I realised that even though I was great at managing my time I was not giving me time out. 

In fact when I did my Master NLP training a few years back I asked myself what did I like ? This was such a foreign question that for over a week I did not have an answer. I had always loved work but that is not an interest, it is work. I had always loved my family but that was family not an interest. What did I like ? The answer hit me one morning tomatoes !

Ah my friend said to me when I told her my revelation about the going to Italy fabulous you will love it there as it is the home of the tomato ! Another good reason to go.

The day I paid for my workshop was the day that my true learning came about. I must back me to be the best version of me. And for me ….”It has to hurt for it to work !” I knew I would get what I needed from this workshop because I had skin in the game. 

I was fascinated by my week with Jack and there were many learnings and amazing realisations. The retreat was far more spiritual than I had anticipated as I had known Jack best for his book “Success Principals” rather than his work in the many “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. 

One of the activities we participate in which I thought was a fabulous idea was a future cocktail party (5 years from now) We all gathered and we were to discuss our successes over the past 5 years like it was the year 2019 rather than the year it was 2014. The first person I spoke with was Jack Canfield. Jack asked “So Sandy what have you been doing since we last meet in Tuscany in 2014? “ I looked him straight in the eye and said “ah Jack like you don't know, as I have knocked you off the bestsellers list again !” 

No matter what you’re afraid of, the thing that keeps you from living up to your potential is fear. Fear will always be there. The key is how to manage it, or how to “fall down seven times and stand up eight” as the old Zen saying goes. 

How to successfully manage "fear" daily....

1. Manage your fear by being in the present moment (because fear is always based on what ‘might’ happen in the future).
2. Manage fear by taking action.
3. Manage fear by choosing to turn it into excitement.
4. Choose to see failures and setbacks as ‘scenic detours’ full of adventure and hidden gems, and do not be afraid of them.
5. Always "back" yourself - what would your best friend say?
6. Daily Meditation (let's go of the fear bubbling over)
7. Affirmations: keeps your mind positive

What appears to be the end of the road may simply be a bend in the road.

~ Robert Schuller

And on a personal note I am speaking at the below event in Melbourne so come and say 'Hi" as I would love to meet you.....

Come and explore Project 101 on 29 November to gain some amazing takeaways from 8 professionals that will help you to continue to easily Build Smart Business. No one knows what they don't know YET!

Tickets available on Sticky Tickets at $147 each : https://www.stickytickets.com.au/59773/project_101_building_smart_business.aspx

Use the code: SandyVIP01 to receive $50 off your ticket, and bring another business owner for only $20 additional. #Buildsmartbusiness #Project101