I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problem is that I can’t find anybody who can tell me what they want.
Mark Twain

No one seems to have time to think anymore. Bombarded with information from the Internet, newspapers, radio and TV news, we process more information in a day than most people used to hear in a lifetime.

Walking a tight rope, you balance efforts to shuttle children, volunteer for community service, and attend networking events. You nurture everyone else as your inner resources are drained trying to build a career or start a new business. You are frazzled, forgetful, and stressed. And then suddenly, an abrupt standstill. Life changed and you are forced to re-evaluate your life. Now what?

Slow down, you move too fast. You’ve got to make the morning last. Just kickin’ down the cobble stones. Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy!
Simon & Garfunkel

Allow yourself the luxury of slowing down, taking time to think, and look for fun! Knowing what you truly want out of life builds your foundation for making wise choices. Once you know what you want, decide on the price you are willing to pay for your priorities.

Nothing is free. Every choice comes with a price. Each day you exchange your life energy and time for money.

Are you getting a good return for your investment?

Do you have a lifestyle that keeps you stressed and under financial pressure? Do you have investments that provide you with peace of mind? Do you have a financial safety net should life unexpectedly change?

Take time to understand what makes you tick. Become:

• Aware of what you want and how to get it,
• Accept where you are and that it takes work to change,
• Become accountable for your choices,
• Create action steps of conscious choice,
• Achieve small successes each day, and
• Assess and adjust your action plan to meet your goals.

We can help. The Swan Network was created as a life planning resource center for women to create a life by design. Visit us at The Swan Network to learn more.

If you have not consciously made the decision to be rich, excellent, and healthy, then you have unconsciously made the decision to be poor, mediocre, and unhealthy.” Wallace D. Wattles

Each and every day you make unconscious choices that mold your future.

It’s Not Your Fault

Time challenged and overwhelmed with information, you make daily choices based on habit rather than by choice. You just don’t have time to think.That is why changing habits changes lives.

The less you have to think about something, the more likely it will get done.

Action Step

Trust the truth.  Numbers don’t lie.  Need a quick reality check?  Look at your:

• Bank records,
• Credit card statements,
• Calendar, and
• Scale.

These will immediately reveal unconscious choices that are impacting your life.

Ready to Improve Your Health?

Plan ahead. Keep cut up vegetables in the refrigerator for quick snacks.  You know the saying “Out of sight, out of mind?” If you can’t get rid of all the unhealthy snacks like chips, at least put them someplace where they don’t stare you in the face when you open the pantry. Make snacking difficult. If you’re determined to eat, the snacks are still available. But you are then making a conscious choice.

When you are tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, drive thrus or take out looks very appealing. Curb those thoughts by planning ahead with great crockpot meals, precut vegies ready to cook, or frozen meals you can place in the microwave. I have a great number of fish and chicken recipes that can be ready in less than 30 minutes.

Want to Become Financially Secure?

Keep track of where your money goes. And no, I don’t mean by putting everything on the credit card.

Just for 7 seven days, keep track of all your receipts. Vending machines, Starbucks coffee, cell phones, movies, clothing, books, gas, money you hand over to the kids or grandkids … keep track of it all. Still think you don’t have money to fund a retirement account?

Wake up call:  Pull out a recent Social Security statement, open it, and look at the page on the right side.  Add up all the money that has flowed through your hands over the last 20 years. Where did it go?

Pollyanna Thinking? Let’s Get Real

Obviously there are some things that are not within your control.

I am not saying you attracted bad health into your life if you are living with a chronic illness, cancer, or other disease. I know the personal frustration of doing everything “right” and still facing the daily fight to maintain good health. Health issues are often genetic or come from out of the blue even if you exercise and eat right. That’s reality.

I am not saying you brought financial ruin into your life if you lost a job because of a layoff, accident, or health issue. I have had clients who were very responsible but still faced financial insecurity from no fault of their own.

So, what am I saying? Take control of what you can. No excuses.

Unexpected change happens to us all. Seeing beyond today and planning for the future will prepare you for the inevitable change you are bound to face.

Live Life By Choice, Not Chance

• If you have a chronic illness, do what you can every day to improve or maintain health.
• Plan for the future by creating a financial cushion.
• Most importantly, control your attitude. How you think can reshape your life.

Join other savvy women at The Swan Network and learn about our WOW life planning workshops for women. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to keep informed.

To be always intending to make a new and better life but never to find time to set about it is as to put off eating and drinking and sleeping from one day to the next until you’re dead. Og Mandino

Blunt more than inspirational. But a wake up call sometimes has to be delivered abruptly. A fresh start doesn’t have to wait for new year resolutions. Begin now, before you create regrets. Think about this.

Too much food, too much spending, stressed to the max. The bills will arrive in January and the pounds will collect around the waistline even sooner.

Time out! Stop and think about the life you are creating. You make daily choices that create your future.

What big BUT is standing in your way?

• But… I don’t have time.
• But… I don’t have money.
• But… my family expects it of me.
• But… it wouldn’t be Christmas if__________.
• But… I HAVE to__________.

Crunched for money?

Put away the credit cards and only spend what you can pay cash for. Use PayPal for online shopping and it will come out of your bank account.

If money is a concern (Psychology Today cites money as the number 1 concern for Americans in both 2005 and 2006), have a heart-to-heart talk with loved ones and friends about cutting back this upcoming gift giving season. They will most likely be relieved you brought it up!

Pare back on gifts that require spending money and instead find ways to give gifts of time. Creating shared memories is so much more important than a gift that gets put on a shelf or even worse, re-gifted next year.

Get creative. Exchange the time normally spent on shopping and fighting traffic to find fun ways to create memories. Shop online for games and create a coupon book for times when you will actually PLAY! Movie tickets and a time set aside to enjoy. A trip to the Zoo, a museum or art gallery. A winter walk or a snowball fight coupon! This isn’t just for children, but for friends and life partners as well.

Give your spouse free time on a Saturday morning. Guilt free. No kids, no chores, no shopping, no expectations. And have your spouse/child/parent give the same to you.

Tired?

Rest. Not feeling good? Drink lots of water and cut way back on your carbs. You’ll be amazed at the energy spurt you’ll get in just a few short weeks. Promise!

Stressed?  Are you your own worst enemy?

Do you promise too much, never say no, and become overextended and exhausted. Join the crowd. Self-inflicted stress is common among women.

The holidays are meant to be fun, not an exercise in seeing how much you can cram into the next 3 weeks.

Create a list of how you’d like to experience Christmas this year. Then prioritize and delete all but your top 3 items. Decide what you can’t live without, get rid of the rest, and delegate. Ask for help.

No more big buts. You can do this! You have the power of choice.

• Cynthia Capers, Interim Dean, College of Education, University of Akron
• Laura Culp, CPA, MT, Director of Tax, Brockman, Coats, Gedelian & Co.
• Pat McKay, Owner, McKay Insurance Agency, Inc.
• Regina Shaw, John Dellagnese & Associates

These leaders openly shared with us the beliefs and path that molded their lives. As diverse as their backgrounds are, it is not surprising that they share a common outlook for achieving success. Each woman has chosen to:

• See life’s opportunities, not obstacles.
• Live a life of conscious choice, taking responsibility for their decisions.
• Live without regrets.
• Honor their mentors.
• Mentor others.

Masks, a life planning article I wrote some time back, captures the essence of the self-imposed silent pain and frustration we often carry within. Masks of perfection and professionalism not only keep others at arms length, those same masks often keep you from experiencing the life you want to live.

I hope the life lessons these women leaders chose to share will empower you to also see a life of opportunity, not obstacles.

Leading by example, Laura, Regina, Pat, and Cynthia have removed the masks of perfection and professionalism and allowed you to see the woman behind the mask.

Won’t you do the same?