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by Ann Evanston | Sep 6, 2011 | Mental Mind Shifts
Daily ritual. On many levels (I hope) we already have them. The ritual of cleansing, of praying, of cooking, of reading. Most rituals started when we were young. They were rituals our parents taught us and we do them, even now without any thought. They are so engrained that we “just do them”.
My husband was raised Catholic. Altar boy, even slated to become a priest! I remember saying one Christmas, “Honey let’s go to mass”. He picked the local Catholic Church down the street. Watching him, after all these years, fall into the rituals of the church was fascinating! Even more fascinating, watching the entire room do these rituals. Then I realized, most were “just doing them”. Without thought. I don’t think there were many there saying “and peace be with you” that really thought about that statement as they said it.
Ritual. Or is it just routine? I think people enjoy doing things without thought. Routine is just that.
When I started my own personal journey of the 30 day writing challenge I realized that I was creating a ritual. In the beginning it definitely took conscious effort just to write every day. Now, many more than 30 days into it, I am “ritualized” if you will. BUT here is the thing about this challenge. You can’t do it and NOT think. Writing requires that a piece of YOU be actively, consciously involved. (yes, I know, your subconscious, blah, blah, blah)- not the point because even that requires some level of activity. Remember my activity versus movement blog post?
I think the Catholic Church wants its congregation to be actively involved in the ritual. That though requires daily effort, and the willingness to stay in conscious thought. To be actively engaged in ritual, you must participate daily. Hmmmmm…..interesting thought. Some days your praying might not be as powerful as other days, but you actively, and with thought, knelt down to pray. Some days your writing may not be off the chart fabulous but you actively and with thought wrote.
Ritual. Or Routine. Are there places in your life you need to awaken conscious effort?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
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by Ann Evanston | Aug 30, 2011 | Business Strategy, Mental Mind Shifts
Do you really know your voice?
I recently had the honor to meet a woman that took on the 30 day writing challenge in person. We have been “facebook friends”, not super close, but this challenge created a connection. When she signed up for the challenge I went to her profile, realized she was local and said “let’s meet”. I think the universe tells me things, and I always listen. Beautiful, smart and savvy, we shared our businesses with each other. She asked great questions. We talked a TON about the 30 Day Writing Challenge and what it has meant for each of us. As we spoke I realized that the reason I do what I do, the reason for my book, is even more important.
You cannot see your audience, your market, the people you lead differently than you see yourself. It’s your true voice that will attract them to you.
Since I created the Social Networking Coaching Club in 2008 I have told clients that doing that coaching online (versus a conversation on a call, or in person) is important because they have to learn to communicate in writing. Now I realize the depth of this importance. I realize how hard it is for many to shift their voice to the written word even when they feel they know it vocally. I realize that so many lose who they are as they write their blog posts or facebook marketing tips. I realize that knowing who you are isn’t JUST telling your story, or what happened to you today. It’s about energetically connecting.
And if you don’t learn how to write from that space your online marketing falls flat.
The hardest part is that you often don’t see it in you, but others do. Face it, I bet there are things online that you read and you think to yourself: “Interesting. But so dead.” Other things you read and think: “Interesting. And I’m inspired.” The latter is because the person truly knows who they are and writes in that voice.
I was already planning a major strategy upgrade for The Social Networking Coaching Club this fall; now it’s getting a deeper upgrade. See, SNCC isn’t just about “how to tweet”; it’s about finding your unique and compelling voice.
I am honored to have the hour with this amazing woman that joined the 30 day challenge. And for the gift she and the universe provided me. I know I am supposed to teach this to my clients. I always have. It’s just grown in depth over the years and continues to do so.
Will you join me in the next 30 day challenge? It starts Thursday Sept 1st!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
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by Ann Evanston | Aug 24, 2011 | Mental Mind Shifts
I recently started the 30 day writing challenge, and originally just asked people if they wanted to participate with me. I really did not think it would transform into an accountability group and a MONTHLY 30 day writing challenge!
Are you accountable?
Accountability is interesting. Originally I wrote about discipline and the commitment we make to ourselves. So many commented on how important the accountability to others is for them. I personally find accountability to self enough, so the comments were insightful to me. Most people want to feel accountable to something other than themselves, but do not want to be held accountable.
What does being in an accountability group or having an accountability partner mean to you?
For me it means someone who holds me accountable to a commitment I made. Simple enough. If I am asked to hold you accountable, that means that I am not there to rally behind when you fail. To sympathize with you when you did not make your commitment. I’m not there to support the excuse you have or the lie you tell yourself as to why you did not keep your commitment.
I am there to question why. To push you to get back on track. To challenge the excuses you might be telling yourself. I will be the accountability you will HATE at times.The accountability that calls you on your excuses and lies, and challenges you to get real with yourself. I will be the accountability that pisses you off, makes you mad, maybe even cry at times.
I will be accountability that you deserve. Because you are worth the commitment you made to yourself. To who you are. To the success you want to have. That is why I run the groups and do the work i do: told hold you accountable when you are not ready to hold yourself.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
by Ann Evanston | Aug 11, 2011 | Mental Mind Shifts
Fear or scared?
I was overwhelmed this week by the writing of many of the amazing people that took me up on this 30 day writing challenge. Honestly, that has taken on a “mind” of its own! I guess I thought on some level people would just check in and say they are on it and how it’s going. But many have decided to share what they are writing with the group. Many of them are fun or even special moments. Recently, there have been so many stories of despair, loss, grief, abuse, neglect and fear. I walked away from the group over whelmed with sadness, tears streaming down my face, wanting to heal their hearts and souls, to comfort their minds.
So many times I read: “remember FEAR is just False Evidence Appearing Real.” Well, not so much! If you are living the fear of loss, abuse, neglect, lies, secrets, finances- it is REAL. If you are living it by playing it in your mind, recreating the emotions you felt at the time, your body knows no different, it is REAL. No one could tell me that when we almost lost this house a SECOND time (once to a fire) that the fear I had wasn’t real. When I went through overcoming my abuse, I can remember waking up sweaty with fear. If someone had told me that was false evidence appearing real I would have felt even more confused and lost trying to heal myself and find who I am. That FEAR is REAL.
FEAR is real, but as I have said before, are you scared? That to me is the difference between a person that knows their voice and a person that does not. Being scared is a state of “not doing”. Scared comes from lack of movement. Scared is a place where you are paralyzed to make a change about what is happening.
See ,when working though my abuse, I wasn’t scared because I was healing. I felt fear, though. While busting my ass to save this house from foreclosure while my husband has been out of work, I felt a ton of fear. But never scared. I knew I was doing the things I needed to do. I had a plan, I was in movement.
Many people who feel fear then get scared. Next comes stuck. They are doing the things they have always done, over and over. No, that isn’t movement, that is activity. And when you are stuck you question so many parts of who you are. Somehow you start thinking it’s you that is the problem, and lose site of the core part of YOU that will help you through the situation. Each time you are stuck it happens again, more questioning and self-doubt. More loss of who you are.
I am so excited to write more for my book!
Want to read the 30 day challenge series?
Part one
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
by Ann Evanston | Aug 8, 2011 | Business Strategy, Mental Mind Shifts
What discipline did you make to yourself?
One week ago today I was inspired by Gina Parris (my online friend) to start writing for 30 minutes first thing EVERY morning. Feeding the pets and making a cup of coffee are the only things I do prior to writing. I have stuck to my personal commitment and did just that very morning. Even the morning I had to meet clients at 7:30, would be with them until 5pm and then fly home, I got up at 4:30 to write. After all, I not only made a commitment to myself but I also made a commitment to the 25 people that asked to join in. That accountability I take seriously.
The process has been amazing for me. I am actually in the throws of writing my book! Yesterday I found myself writing a series of questions that will lead to personal self evaluation of knowing who you are and your voice. Some of the questions are around lying and discipline. These traits directly affect knowing your true voice.
I once wrote a post about the power and importance of Discipline. Discipline is the ability to do what you have committed to do, when you agreed to do it, whether you want to do it or not. I think that level of personal commitment is even more important than a commitment to others. Unfortunately, we have become a world of people used to disappointment and let down from others. But when you lie to yourself, and rationalize why you are not doing what you set out to do, you lose a piece of yourself. Every time.
Do you rationalize away why you did not complete something you set out to do? Then you just might be losing the most precious thing you can have – truly knowing who you are.
Want to read the 30 day challenge series?
Part one
Part Two
Part Three
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
by Ann Evanston | Aug 7, 2011 | Mental Mind Shifts
You are not paying attention. I saw this posted on facebook recently and it struck me. See, I used to live “scared” all the time. Scared of abuse, violence, yelling, fighting. Scared of loneliness, homelessness and poverty. I know what it feels like to wake up scared. For me I can pay attention and not be scared. I know what it feels like to be scared to “do” or “say” anything. I need to pay attention and not be scared. Because scared paralyzes me. Because scared stunts my creativity. Becasue scared puts me in scarcity mode over abundance. Because scared makes me reactive versus proactive.
Oh, I’m paying attention alright. And I’m not scared. Because I know how to live with joy, laughter and love. I know who to embrace those that treat me crappy and then let them go. I know how to surround myself with people that see me so much bigger than I see myself.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
