Map Out More FREEDOM Into 2021

Think of the new year and your goals as a big ole map with lots of features and obstacles that need to be taken into account! So, the new year is here and you have a general map of the terrain, the landscape, and an idea of you want to achieve in 2021. You have a general direction of where you want to go, but no clarity. To combat this here is a check-in process that gives you seven ways to get more FREEDOM in 2021 and keep your dreams and goals on track. Let's take the journey together!

Let's get back to mapping it out your new adventure! This process is to make sure you keep on track and don't get led off course is a constant conscious effort. Work from end result to the beginning and looking at the features on the map etc. Look at the landscape, where you Dont get to caught up in the details. But also be strict in getting the end result which means focusing on what you want and make corrections as you go. You may find yourself off track at times but keep in mind why you started. You may even find taking longer than you want to get to your desired destination can occur but giving yourself a timeframe is part of the process just as it is in setting a goal. Be flexible but firm in the time frame space.

Together we can take a journey. On this journey of mapping and you're new direction I will outline seven ways to get more freedom with a FREEDOM Formula designed to keep you checking in monthly on your goals and dreams.

This freedom check-in is a step by step formula which assists you to stay on track with your monthly and quarterly goals and plans.

FREEDOM is a mindset and something that we all value highly. It is a reminder to assist you to keep your dreams and goals on track. But first, while we are on the subject of freedom, I want to ask you a question.

“What does more freedom look like for you in 2021?” and “What does it feel like to have more freedom?”

Your dreams and goals matter because they are like a map that helps you plot your path toward what you want. Without goals and dreams, there is no way forward. And without checking the map on your journey, you could take a while to achieve it.

Are you confused and can not even think about it, or comprehend more Freedom? That’s because you haven’t got goals or a way to get to where you want to go.

What I mean by freedom is much simpler than you think. I have created a formula for you to get some structure around freedom that you can use every month to keep your goals on track.

Freedom might mean travelling, working remotely and exploring the world. It might mean taking the leap of faith to begin that business you always dreamt of or asking the boss to allow you to work remotely or turning that hobby into a business. It may be a passion you want to pursue. It might be as simple as giving your self-time to meditate each day or do yoga, write each day or something you enjoy.

Whatever more freedom means to you, is perfect. 

Freedom is a way of thinking it's a mindset that enables you to have more of what you want, what you enjoy and the ability to explore something new about yourself from the process.

Be Mindful Of Not Feeding The FEAR Beast

Stepping outside of your comfort zone where you are exploring new territories is true freedom until the fear factor puts you back behind bars (generated by you). Once you feed the fear beast it will always come back for more because it was so easy to be fed the first time. So stay focused on what you want and forget about what you don't want.

Remember it's your decision to feed the fear beast or put your energy into backing yourself and believe in yourself. Choose instead to feel the exhilaration of the new experience. When you change your mind and focus on what you want rather than the listen to the naysayers (That voice in your head! as your unconscious mind is just trying to protect you) you can face the beast head-on and just know it's there but be mindful not to put any energy into it. Just like you know there is danger all the things we do and say each day. Just focus on your belief that you can and you will.

So what do you want?

I know it’s one of the hardest questions to answer. Don’t worry. It takes time to decipher what it means to you so that is why I have put the questions in the FREEDOM formula to get you thinking honestly about what you want. It takes courage to stand up for what you want to understand why you do what you do because most of us forget what it is that we want, we are just doing the do; so to speak!

If you are working on goals and feeling a little pressured to perform this year, what I have set out for you here will keep you on track and make sure that you check in on your dreams and desires each month.

What Does Freedom Mean for You Now

The term Freedom conjures up a lot of different emotions for us all and it essentially what we all desire in life. However somewhere along the way we manage to create a world around us that has less and less flexibility and more and more restrictions for ourselves and then all of a sudden we start to feel trapped in our own lives, striving for something that might please others but does it feed your soul. Sometimes what we think will create more freedom makes you work harder than you have in your life and that is the funny thing about being an Entrepreneur.

Have you ever looked at the actual definition of Freedom?

-The power or the right to act upon, speak freely or think for yourself.

-The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

How do you define freedom?

Generally, Freedom is having the ability to act or change without constraint, move freely like a bird. When something is free it can change easily and is not restricted or constrained in its present state, is how Wikipedia has described freedom

But Freedom has a lot of different meanings for every one of us.

For me, freedom is to travel and work from anywhere in the world and continue to explore.

For Businesswoman and French Champagne Innovator and entrepreneur Madam Barbe Nicole Parsadin Clicquot, the madam of champagne what we know today as Veuve Clicquot. A brave and smart woman who was widowed at a young age with a daughter.

Madam Barbe Nicole Parsidin Cliques version of freedom was to have full control of her businesses and to do that she had to stay a widow. This enabled her to have full control of her Champagne business.

Back in the 18/1900 if Madam B.N Clicquot Ponsardin married again the business would go to the male and for a businesswoman like her she was protecting the family's name meaning freedom for her was to have a voice for yourself. To have the opportunity to innovate and have to power grow her business. And she did it with gusto and took the name we know today as a champagne house to the world. On that, she was also the inventor of 'Riddling' a process used in Champagne.

 “Save water drink Champagne" - The Champagne Region

And for Albert Camus a famous French author, journalist and philosopher he explains that

“freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.”

What is it for you?

Whatever it is it is perfect for you. Just to make sure that it gives you more freedom.

Let me explain how to use this freedom Formula to enhance your goals set.

The best way to use this FREEDOM Formula is to use it as a check-in process monthly or quarterly.

FREEDOM

1.   Focus.

Focus on what you want. Forget about what you don’t want but also learn, from your mistakes and focus on the outcome of what you truly desire. Put your focus toward your quarterly execution plan is helpful. (link BIBF) to help you create clarity and focus.

Q: “What is your focus?” decide on a focus. “What are the steps that you need to take to get your goal?”

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” Bruce Lee

2.   Reassess and redirect.

Q: “What working and what is not working?” then redirect your energy towards what works, in respect to your goals.

 If you had goals last year that didn’t pan out, then reassess where you are putting your energy and redirect your effort in the direction of the desired results.

Use the power of your senses. What is it that you want to See, Hear, Feel when you get what you want? And notice if there are any Tastes and Smells that are associated with the outcome. If you think about a time in the past when you were successful, you will find that all these senses evoke the memory. My point is to focus on what is working and redirect your energy towards the desired outcome. 

When friction becomes a reality, then it’s time to reassess your reasoning, actions and redirect your focus toward what you want to experience, with whom you want to experience it. Reassess what you are focused on, you might find you are focused on the wrong part of the goal or outcome.

Just like riding a bike, if you are looking down, that is where you will end up. If you redirect your focus on the road ahead, then that is where you will go.

“If it’s not working then reassess your action and redirect your energy toward where you want to go” Linda McCall

3.   Energy.

Q: “What is your energy like, is it high or low? What do I need to enhance my energy?”

Be mindful of your energy. Are you taking care of your health in a way that you are caring for yourself first and then others. Sometimes we can get so focused on doing that we forget to be a human being and we become the human-doing until we stop and notice what we need is just the basics. We are human beings, not human doings!

Take some time out to care for your body, with four basic survival skills that are the things we can not live without and in this order. Without being strong energy you

Here is how you can take care of your energy, just thinking about it is very simple terms:

First is Breath. Take time to breathe take in deep breaths and feel all the cells in your body. Water good quality water is filled with oxygen too and helps revitalise us. As humans, we are 70+ per cent water so, if we don’t feed our bodies with good quality water, often our brains and bodies cannot function properly. Water is our number two basic survival skill. Rest is number three basic survival skill because without rest our we cannot survive, studies have shown that the body cannot survive without quality rest, we can only survive up to 5-6 days without rest.

The last one of our basic survival is FOOD. Contrary to what we often think our last survival skill is Food, we can survive over seven days without food. So, it is last on the list. All these aspects are our basic needs for our energy, and we must give them priority in that order.

It just takes the basics to get it right.

“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.” Aristotle

4.   Exploration.

Q: “Are you exploring all the options, have you looked at every angle?”.

Exploring new ways to do things, live life and travelling to new places and meeting new people, exploring is growing. Leonardo De Vinci once said that Exploration and Experience is the greatest mistress of all. Getting another perspective can be fresh eyes and ideas toward your challenges. Sometimes you can be too much in the problem and not able to see

“ We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S. Eliot

5.   Discovery.

Q: “ What did you discover about yourself. What did you learn?”

Discovery comes hand in hand with exploration but if you don’t learn from your exploration, you will not discover something new about yourself and others so make sure that you take the positive learnings and take them into the future to help you grow and prosper.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

6.   Observation.

Q: What did you observe about yourself first and then others?”

Observation is a big one; sometimes, we need to stop and observe. Stop talking and observe. The great philosophers of the world stopped to notice the correlation between man and nature, and they observed and the human body to the earth. Stop and observe your self first and then others. Be mindful not to judge. Simply observe. When we judge others, we are only judging ourselves. Great philosophers figured that one out thousands of years ago.

“I think that my job is to observe people and the world, and not to judge them. I always hope to position myself away from so0called conclusions. I want to leave everything wide open to all the possibilities in the world.” – Haruki Murakami

If we see something of ourselves in others, we recognise it, good and bad, that is why we only see what we know, what we relate to. The boundaries that we give ourselves, we will accept or reject. If you have a strong reaction to something outside of yourself, then you know that is something that you value, a belief strongly. Take notice of these things; it will give you a good indication of what is important to you now.

So be kind to yourself and others and observe, observe with compassion. If you only observe the negative, then notice what you fear. Just observe. It can be harder than you think. 

Practice observation of your thoughts, of your words, your actions, your reactions and emotions. Notice it is self-generated and you have complete control. Notice your breath and allow your self to be in the moment. Give yourself permission to be without judgment.

To help you practice observation, and notice what you value in life. Practice observing what you value in life and business, because often what you value crosses over in both areas. It helps to understand what you value highly in your personal life and your business life. Often when you have a strong reaction to something positively or negatively, it is a very good clue that you value or your strongly against it. So here is how to take notice of these values:

Here’s how to observe what you value so that you can stay focused on what's important :

1.      Write down ten things that are important to you now in life. Make sure to make a separate list for each area of your life. E.g. Heath, hobbies, family, relationships, business.

2.      Then reduce it to five, then reduce it again if you can. This exercise will give you a clearer indication of what is important to you now and to live with more freedom.

3.      Be aware that being honest with yourself about what is important to you, can cause you to lose friends and sometimes even family. Living honestly is not always easy. Not everyone will agree with how you live, but that is ok.

In my experience as Mentor and Coach for over a decade close observation, sticking with what is important to you, your values and not wavering from your basic principles can save you a lot of heartaches and even save your business if you stand by what is important you and stay focused on them as a guideline. Values can help you make hard decisions in life and in business.

7.   Momentum.

Q: “What are the things that stop you from moving forward to get closer to your dreams and goals? How can I remove the blocks and keep moving forward?”

Keep moving! you're almost there. Notice what works and notice what is not working and focus on getting momentum in the area that is most important now — one step at a time.

“Commitment is the ignitor of momentum.” Peg Wood

 Put it all together

All of these questions are just suggestions to help move you toward your goals. If you are honest and answer these question truthfully and dare to be honest with yourself, dig deep understand how you are operating then you will find yourself moving freely and easily toward your dream goals that create more freedom. 

Be mindful with respect to creating what you want, that it benifit you and the people around you, be mindful who is affected by your change the planet to stick close to your values and you will stay on track.

Keep focused on why you do what you do, and if you are unhappy, it is a clue you could be going against what you value in life.

So, reassess and redirect your energy towards what you want and what is important to you, keep exploring different ways to enhance it, and you will begin to discover more about yourself. It is then that you will observe momentum comes easily and effortlessly.

Courage and commitment is at the core of more freedom

To know what freedom means to you is just the beginning, to act upon it takes courage and commitment to move fearlessly toward what you want. To live with more freedom is to remind yourself constantly why you are doing what you do. Focus on what you want, continually check-in and redirect your focus if you get off track. What you believe to be right for you and how you want to be in this world. If you take these seven steps, be honest with yourself and you will create more freedom in 2020.

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Adventure On!