Celebrate life's little accomplishments, too

By Sarah "Alys" Lindholm, My Life List Member

Wow.

As I was writing my 750 words today, I randomly started thinking, "What new things have I done for the first time this year?" So I tried making a list. I'm sure it's incomplete, but it was pretty interesting.

-first ever professional foot massage (that I can really remember; first Chinese one anyway)
-first time ordering my own professionally printed business cards
-first time playing a video game that has tag mode
-first translation of a death certificate
-first whatever the hell that Paradise Lost thing is
-first automatic monthly charitable donations
-first donation to the Sea Turtle Conservancy
-first physical therapy for TMJ (the jury's still out)
-first contract with [name of client redacted]
-first paid yoga classes, which is also my first hot yoga experience
-first fitness membership with Persephone
-first time playing laser tag
-first disc QC @ FUNimation (partial)
-first director's invitation to the booth to listen to a dub of my show just for fun
-first time seeing my name in print as the translator of a novel
-first Groupon purchase
-first Barnes & Noble membership card
-first coconut steamer at Starbucks
-first time seeing any Glee
-first visit to Texas by my sister
-first time playing games at Lumosity
-first experimentation with self-acupressure
-first time eating at Rafain
-first time eating at Mooyah

I'm sure we all do new things all the time (or at least, I hope we do), but I often don't sit back and think "Hey, I am doing a new thing now!" I did with the foot massage, because that was a deliberate "reward myself with a new experience" type of thing. But a lot of these, like the business cards--I've tried making them myself before and it's a waste of time and money--and the new drink I tried at Starbucks? Totally not things I thought about. It's actually pretty cool to look at this and think in a deliberate way about how I really am a person who experiments and grows, even in little ways, and how most of us are growing all the time in little ways, and how we make our lives richer and more interesting.

Here are some more firsts I hope to have under my belt before the end of 2011:

-first stay in a bed & breakfast as an adult paying my own way
-first time attending a wedding in a state park
-first time memorizing the names of all the relatives at a family reunion before I go
-first facial
-first time riding Star Tours
-first pedicure
-first time eating the omakase meal at Ino's (a Japanese restaurant in Richardson, TX)
-first time staying at my brother and sister-in-law's house

I'll have to try noticing more of these more frequently. It's fun! And maybe recording new things will spur me to try even more new things!

Sarah is a Japanese-English translator, musician, compulsive reader and an active member of the My Life List community of achievers. Check out her public profile here to see if you share any major life experiences!

This list reveals a life well lived



Alice and her Lab, Mabel

 By Shelagh Braley, COO  

I don't know if you've heard about her yet, but 15-year-old Alice Pyne, who is dying of cancer, made a bucket list that's been read around the world. We hardly ever refer to bucket lists, much preferring to encourage people to make their LIFE lists and start earlier, before they're dying. But in this case, sadly, I think Alice knows what she's talking about. Bucket list it is.

The good news is that she understands how important it is to act now, to capture those dreams we have and focus on making them happen no matter what, because that's what makes life rich and wonderful at its end. "You only have one life," Alice writes. "Live it!

I heard about this British teen as her list went viral late last week, and it hit me so hard: This little girl has been fighting cancer since she was 11 and yet, she doesn't seem to feel bitter or cheated. She's trying to use her list to empower her family, helping her sister raise money for cancer research. She's designing a mug to sell for charity. She is encouraging everyone who can to become a bone marrow donor.

Beyond wanting to leave a legacy of stewardship and activism, Alice's biggest goals put in perspective something we all know but lose sight of when life gets complicated ... our relationships should be constantly cherished and nurtured. She's planning a photo shoot with her sister and other dear friends. She wants to throw them a movie party. The simple things that make memories. 

The most poignant goals are the ones she indicates just can't be done. She can't travel. She won't have a career she loves. If this doesn't help us realize how important NOW is, I don't know what will.

Here's a link to Alice's bucket list. http://www.alicepyne.blogspot.com/  Follow her journey, support her if you can. She is a special person with an important message, and I feel blessed to have heard about her.

And here's to a life well lived, no matter how short. Great work, Alice. We at Mylifelist.org are praying for a miracle for you. Thanks for the inspiration.

Don’t discount power of travel goals

By Shelagh Braley, COO

Are you an urban explorer or a country connoisseur?

I think I’m a little of both, based on my own life list dream trips: I want to immerse myself in the Italian countryside, speaking the language, riding a bicycle to the farmer’s market and cooking to my heart and stomach’s content. I want to enjoy sangria and a restful siesta in Spain, and linger under Tahiti’s Fautaua Waterfall. But I also want to feel the hustle and pulse of the discoteques of Rio and jazz cafes of Costa Rica.

Have you considered your travel goals lately? We all have them. True stat: 100 percent of mylifelist.org members have set at least one travel goal. Most of us have many more.

In order to make them a reality—to experience other cultures and find the place in the world you feel the most renewed—you have to PLAN, not just the details, the flights and accommodations, but the time, too. If you don’t get out of your groove and make time to explore other places a priority, you’ll miss the opportunity for new experiences, to find balance, family time, real joy. There is so much pressure around us, it’s easy to just absorb it and make that our way of life, without releasing the valve and seeking new stimuli, and the restorative peace and fun we need to truly be happy.

If you have a travel goal, do you have a time frame in mind for when you will achieve it? Think about setting a date and working toward it as you would any other measurable goal on your life list. The fun goals are no less crucial to your success than any others.

Don’t let your travel goals languish for “someday.” Or if you have traveled somewhere amazing, share your story on www.mylifelist.org!  You could inspire someone to explore an unrealized travel goal of their own. 

Shelagh Braley, COO of MyLifeList.org, is an experienced entrepreneur and former journalist. She lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts.

How can we achieve SMARTER goals?

By Shelagh Braley, COO

Conventional wisdom says in order to reach your goals, they must be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely. This process has been proven successful time and again in business. But when you want to rev up your life across the board—not just at work—creating SMART goals can get a little boring, just like work.

So how can you infuse the SMART goal method with more motivation, to put to good use in all areas of your life?

Try adding these two tips to generate SMARTER goal power.

1. Explore areas beyond your knowledge.

Are there places you don’t know about? Experiences you’ve never heard of? If you stretch your imagination, your information-gathering skills and your concept of what is possible, you might find the world is even bigger and more exciting than you thought.

This was one discovery I made on the site, quite by mistake, and it’s always been my favorite. I instantly added it to my life list. The brilliantly colored, mystical photos alone are reason enough to go. http://www.mylifelist.org/experiences/experience.aspx?ID=2616

2. Reconnect with your past successes.

Are there moments you look back on that make you feel amazing and accomplished? What did you do to make them happen? It’s likely you had a point of inspiration, support and a solid plan. But did you take enough time to share your new-found knowledge to solidify your expertise or to help someone else achieve a similar goal?

According to positive psychology studies from Harvard Medical School, happiness generates far-reaching results (even for people we do not know, through social network effects) and this becomes a major influence on our emotional stability, achievement motivation and collective knowledge.

Here’s a link to my personal profile: http://www.mylifelist.org/members/PublicProfile.aspx?PID=1320

Maybe there’s something on My Life List that will inspire you today. If you find it, be sure to celebrate that inspiration, get yourself in action and pass it on. These two little extra steps will ensure that your goals match your dreams—and help you actually achieve them.

Skydiving Courage Vs. Long-term Confidence

By Austin “The Freedom Skater” Szelkowski

Jump and Kiss!
I give a speech that I call “Is That Fear or Excitement?” The speech is short and explains that, in humans, the physical and chemical events associated with fear are almost precisely the same as those associated with excitement. I use the examples of skydiving and stealing a first kiss with a new flame to show how it is easy to feel both fear and excitement simultaneously. (Try this game – it works!) The whole point is to compel people to take the necessary risks to reach goals and live full and interesting lives.

I’m a serious fan of bold action. As a matter of fact, I think it might be the very difference between a mediocre life and a great life. Well, to be truthful, it’s part of it, but I suppose it’s not the whole difference. Recently, I rediscovered something a little more substantial ... more about that in a moment, but first, let’s talk about big journeys.

Embark to Grow
Anyone who knows me to any level knows that my life is currently consumed by a ludicrously large adventure: a 3,000-mile in-line skate across America. That skate is meant to inspire youth across the nation by serving up a larger-than-life example of the courage and commitment it takes to be a pioneer. I’m out to inspire the bold entrepreneurs and leaders of the next generation. Interestingly, the tour has already taught me as much as it has taught the people I speak to along the way. At the time of this writing, I’m just more than 1,300 miles in.

Leaping vs. Committing
Being bold is not enough. This 3,000-mile adventure is teaching me about something else: long-term confidence and commitment. If you want to build something of lasting value and purpose, you have to seek more than a temporary “high.” For me, the tour isn’t always an endorphin-rush. Often, it’s more painful than fun.

The Dilemma
So how do you remain excited and committed when progress feels more like hard work than an exciting exploit? Two points on that:

1. Your long-term goals must align with who you are as a person. They have to strike a deep chord that is not easily drowned out by the ups and downs of emotions. It’s gotta be you, because in the long run, anything less won’t keep you going. I like the simple advice offered by famous author and businessman Gary Vaynerchuk: “Be true to your DNA.” Obvious? Yes. Commonly adhered to? No. If it’s not you, then do you have the guts to quit it? Is that fear or excitement? Get it?

2. You’ve got to stay in your groove. Working toward a goal that deeply resonates with you is great, but you can easily do this the wrong way and burn out. Remember that old “Fear or Excitement” game I play? I like it because it gets me in my flow. It reminds of the daring, open, and energetic person I like to be. When I’m there, I’m unstoppable. And the same goes for you: You have to know how to get back in to your own personal flow.

That two-point combo seems simple, but don’t be fooled: Simple doesn’t always mean easy. Fight to keep those two points at the forefront of your mind, and you’ll be on your way, not only to achieving an incredible thing, but also to loving it every step of the way. That’s long-term confidence and excitement you can count on.

Austin “The Freedom Skater” Szelkowski is co-founder and president of Motor City Challenge, Inc. He gets involved with interesting projects. When he’s done skating, he’ll live in Detroit.

How good a friend are you?

By Bill Starr, CEO
I spend a great deal of time reviewing articles and qualifying the value of a friend or follower on Facebook and Twitter. And it seems to me the definition of friendship has taken on new meaning in this digitally connected age.

In my experience, I can identify three distinct groups of friends based on the type of activities we do and the depth of engagement we create together. All of this is supported by the way we communicate with each other.

Acquaintance or Colleague (200 to 500 people)
At one point, we may have shared a common activity, occupation or interest. We went to the same school, we worked at the same place, we took a course together. These friends form part of our wider network and typically we communicate via social media. For a business acquaintance, we will engage on Linked In and for a personal acquaintance, we may engage on Facebook. The depth of engagement is minimal and these are easy friendships to maintain. In our experience, 1 in 10 people will support you if you ask a direct favor and only if they are not busy and believe in your cause. Their participation is 100 percent optional.

Good Mate (25 to 50 people)
At one point, you may have lived in the same city or neighborhood, perhaps you were best friends, but due to distance may have grown apart. While initially you met as an acquaintance, with time you developed a deeper friendship by sharing more experiences or time together. These are the people we fondly think of when we recall our past. We invite them to our weddings and we try to connect when we can. When we meet, it is as if no time has passed at all. We typically communicate via email but in some cases may share a note on social media. The depth of engagement is based on circumstance, and although they’re not present all the time, these friends rally when asked. They can champion you when need be and can be very helpful in sharing information and advice. In our experience, 1 in 2 will support you if you ask a direct favor. Not considered optional to support but sometimes due to time and other commitments may not be able to participate.

Best Friend or Life Partner (5 to 10)
When you have amazing news or when things feel a little out of control, these are the friends we call. They comprise our inner circle, the people most present in our lives who provide both practical and emotional support, especially when it comes to our major life goals, challenges and achievements. When you ask a favor, they respond with their tool box and will do whatever they can do to help. These are the friends we ask to stand beside us in our lives. We share our deepest desires, hopes and dreams. We typically communicate via phone but will use whatever medium we can to stay present in each other’s lives. Nothing is optional with these friends and we feel the same way about them as they do about us.

For many of us, it is easy to identify who in your life falls into each category of friendship. The question is: Are the people we communicate with more of an acquaintance or a good mate? Has the form of communication you use impacted the depth of your relationship? How we communicate matters and how we share matters. So take charge of your relationships. Why not send an acquaintance an email and become good mates or even better, pick up the phone and call a good mate and make them a best friend. You will be surprised how the form of communication impacts the depth of your relationship.

Bill Starr is an avid life lister and a founding partner and CEO of My Life List™ (http://www.mylifelist.org/), the premiere social network for goal achievers.

Only real failure is not to try

By Shelagh Braley, COO

You know what irks me?

How willing everyone is to believe the negative hype surrounding New Year’s resolutions, and goals in general. “Nearly 75 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail.”

Almost every reference in the media over the last 30 days has taken a tone of defeat. “The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions have died a sudden and uneventful death …” “Your resolution should be not to change …” “By now, all our New Year’s resolutions have gone down the toilet …”

Boo. Bad attitude.

No wonder we’re so reluctant to engage others in our goals. Every mention becomes a massive risk, as people couch their possibility and speak as though they’re already beaten. Who would attempt to set and share a goal, when it’s common knowledge that three-quarters of them are blown by the end of the month? Don’t we have any choice? Any strength of will? Courage to try, even in the face of obvious obstacles?

The My Life List community does.

Through the 21-Day Challenge, a crowd of nearly 100 MyLifeList.org members committed to a goal, reached out for support and achieved exactly what they set out to do. From paying down debt, to staying in better touch with important people in their lives, to establishing healthy habits, Challenge participants had incredible success! They credit their victories to the support of those who were following their progress throughout the challenge. Accountability, when coupled with unconditional encouragement, has a life-changing effect on our capabilities.

“The accountability factor actually propelled me past the comfort zone to do the simple small things … And what an incredible difference it made. 10.5 lbs in 21 days?!! I'm so amazed at that figure,” said 21-Day Challenge first-place winner Andrea. “It makes me realize that things you think aren't possible really are once you've made a decision and committed to a plan. The choices we make absolutely determine the life we lead.”

So ignore any messages that give a “why bother” impression. Recognize that kind of attitude is only a protection for those who are too afraid to try. Make your list of goals and engage the support you need, whether in your own circle or through the anonymous cheering squad of www.mylifelist.org. There is nothing sweeter than knowing you are in control of your own life, so create some momentum and shout about your success.

If we're doing our job, the 25 percent of goals that DON’T die a silent, end-of-January death will get the respect they deserve. And goal by goal, with focus and a sense of purpose, we'll change our lives.

Shelagh Braley, COO of MyLifeList.org, is an experienced entrepreneur and former journalist. She lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts.

How valuable is your time?

By Shelagh Braley, COO

I’ve been thinking lately about time. How much of it do we spend annoyed with our place in the world, worrying, spinning our wheels? How much of it will we want back when we check the rearview mirror?

It’s all over the news and blogosphere now, that the American Dream has officially stopped delivering. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research’s newest study, America ranks lowest in paid annual leave, averaging 13 days a year to other wealthy nations’ paid time-off average of 20-35 days. And if that isn’t bad enough, Americans don’t even use it all. “Only 57% of American workers take their full vacation time, often fearing losing their jobs or not being able to keep up with their workload,” the study says.

That strong sense of duty and responsibility made America stand out and succeed in the global economy. Previous generations worked hard and kept striving through challenging times with the faith that their admirable work ethic would pay off. And until the most recent generation, it did.

Then work became harder, the hours longer, for less pay and less vacation time. American capitalism is no longer sharing the wealth. The International Labor Organization just last week released a study that said America is No.1 in productivity and hours worked, yet dangerously low in compensation and vacation time. As a result, American workers are trying to fend off an endless cycle of overload that has resulted in massive societal malaise: disconnection, consumption, obesity, depression, financial bankruptcy—and total dissatisfaction.

Time to re-imagine the dream.

It starts with rejecting a life on autopilot: working, studying, stressing, going to the mall and pretending it’s a fun day out, retreating to the escapist world of Farmville and the mundane reality of others’ lives to make ourselves feel better.

As you assess your level of personal fulfillment, take a breath. Daydream!

Read through some of the awesome stories of other members’ life experiences on MyLifeList.org, and most importantly, apply some of the ways they have improved their attitudes and their circumstances. Once you start planning, you’re back in the driver’s seat. That’s all it takes.

Focus on the practical steps to reach your major life goals, and you will recapture the control to live the life *you* dream about.

Progress on goals is a balancing act

By Laura Simpson, My Life List member

Balance. Mostly what comes to mind when I hear that word is how to maintain mine when I've had a few too many margaritas. I have come to realize, however, that balance plays a critical role when it comes to achieving my goals.

Take dieting and exercise, for example, the current bane of my existence ... eh hem, I mean goal. I want to get into shape because I want to look good. I want to be in such good shape that I'm mistaken for Angelina Jolie when I hike Machu Picchu with my kids in May. I want to look so fabulous in a single-digit-sized mini-dress that I turn George Clooney's head when I jet-set off to Tuscany with one of my oldest and dearest friends in October. I want to walk on the beach in Bali wearing a cutie-patootie bikini without people wanting to jab a hot poker in their eyes upon seeing me. But there are two things that stand in the way of my accomplishing these: my mouth (or should I say my inability to close it) and my abhorrence of anything that resembles work (think exercise).

Because I'm fond of the adage, “work smart, not hard,” I initially discarded the ideas of diet and exercise, as both fall under the “hard” category. There are two reasons I don't do diets. The first is that I seriously love food. I am not one of those girls who takes two bites of her salad and declares herself full. Instead, I roll up my sleeves and ask for a bib. Eating is truly one of my greatest pleasures. Secondly, diets are just too extreme for me. I lose weight on diets—not because I'm eating healthy food, but because I'm literally starving. And as I shed those unwanted pounds, I also lose some of my sanity in the process. I fear that if I go on another diet, I'll just end up trying to stab someone with a fork over the last bite of a stale bagel because I will have starved myself senseless up until that point. See what the absence of carbs can do to a person? So diets are out.

I ruled out exercising as well. Someone like me does not handle exercise well because exercise involves sweating and I wasn't made to sweat. Also, as most of my friends know, I am coordination-challenged. Combine that my super competitive nature (I have been known to try and trounce my fellow exercisers in a competition they didn't know they entered), humiliation inevitably follows. And I'd rather staple my tongue to a table than suffer the slightest humiliation. So, in my efforts to be creative, I briefly thought of investing in a 1970s vibrating belt massager. That way, my little fat globules can be vibrated away as I simultaneously take another guilt-free bite of my crème brulee. Once I had the unfortunate occasion to see one in action, though, I thought better of it.

So as it stands, I don't want to diet. I don't want to exercise, but I still want to lose weight and look good. What a dilemma. I know from previous experience that problems of this magnitude can only be conquered with the help of girlfriends and copious amounts of alcohol (wine preferred). During one such brainstorming session, one of my friends had an epiphany ... balance. She suggested that instead of subscribing to a costly diet program, which would inevitably end badly for me and those around me, I should modify my intake. Instead of having seven epically evil but decadently delicious mochas per week, I should drop it to three. That way, I could still indulge and get my fix, but not overdo it. She then I could apply the same thinking to exercise. Wow, she's on a roll! So, rather than subjecting myself to the mind-numbing monotony of the gym every day, maybe I could go to the gym three times a week and take a brisk walk in the park with my sugar-love-muffin-of-the-moment the other four days. At this point, my mind is reeling. Brilliant.

So, there it is. So simple. Actually, it’s not simple, but it's not that hard, either. Yes, I had to change some habits. For instance, when I'm having a stressful day, my Pavlovian response is to drive to Starbucks and have them hook me up to a mocha IV. Now, instead of consuming enough calories in one sip to sustain an Ethiopian village, I eat a banana. Admittedly, a banana doesn't evoke warm and fuzzy feelings quite like the nectar of the gods does, but there is some satisfaction in knowing that it is healthier, and that I'm not limited to a diet of ex-lax and water ... I can still indulge a bit. The same is true of exercise. I learned that not all exercise is evil. And believe it or not, I actually enjoy walking (gasp!). I've even gotten to know my neighbors a few doors down. I didn't even realize that I had neighbors that far down the road. For all I knew, they were empty houses with abandoned cars.

Do I have my occasional setbacks? Of course I do, but I also have had a wee bit of success. And that tangible success is enough to keep me motivated to continue to find the balance.

Laura Simpson, a My Life List folk hero in the making, is a simple girl living a complicated life. Born and raised in New Jersey, she now resides in Idaho until she can find a way to become independently wealthy and travel the world.

Goals and the pursuit of happiness

By Sally Barrett-Page, M.A., M.S.W.

“I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain

It is common for achievers to say they want more money, a great job and a perfect partner. Underlying all of these wants is really a desire to be happy. You have to train your brain for happiness. Check out these pointers:

Take responsibility for your happiness. It's a personal journey, and one that you should be driving. Determine what makes you happy, create a plan for your life and start living your dream. Pursue the things you are passionate about. Your past achievements hold the clues to your passions.

Focus on the positive. Happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, it comes from appreciating what we already have. Be grateful.

Accept yourself as you are. You are a special and unique human being with a special place and purpose in the world.

Focus on the present. You have only now to live it and enjoy it. Let go of the past by forgiving yourself and everyone else for mistakes made.

Nurture your relationships and participate in your community. People who take the time to do these things are happier.

Use social networking with purpose. Use the tools and engage the community on http://www.mylifelist.org/ to create a life list, act on your goals and celebrate your accomplishments. It will help you stay focused on your goals and make more progress.

Hire a personal life coach. Many achievers in varied fields credit the influence of a special teacher, mentor or coach for much of their success.

Sally Barrett-Page grew up in Massachusetts and has lived in Boulder, Colo., for 27 years. Her first exciting career was as a filmmaker, her second as a life coach.

Life List trumps Bucket List

By Bill Starr, CEO of mylifelist.org
Since the movie 'The Bucket List' came out in 2007, I've heard a lot of people compare a life list to a bucket list. But they are not exactly the same thing.

I first became aware of the concept of creating a life list after reading the story of the real-life Indiana Jones, John Goddard, in the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book in 1993. I had just graduated from university and was reading everything I could get my hands on to help me in my new career as a financial planner. As the story goes: "One rainy afternoon, an inspired 15-year-old boy named John Goddard sat down at his kitchen table in Los Angeles and wrote three words at the top of a yellow pad, "My Life List." Under that heading, he wrote down 127 goals. These were not simple or easy goals. They included climbing the world's major mountains, exploring from source to mouth the longest rivers of the world, piloting the world's fastest aircraft, running a mile in five minutes and reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. Now, a generation later, he has accomplished 109 of these quests, and has logged an impressive list of records in achieving them."

John Goddard created a road map for his future by writing down his life list. A bucket list, as referred to in the movie, is a list of all the things you want to do before you die. The key difference is outlook.

It’s important to see a life list, not as a static thing but a dynamic list that reflects the ongoing changes in your life. While I was young and single, I had education, sports and career goals at the top of my list. As I got older, I added more travel and adventure activities. Recently, I have been adding more family and lifestyle experiences to my list.

Although John Goddard started with a list of 127 goals, he added things to his list and has achieved more than 400 over the course of his life. I can assure you, John, now in his 80s, is not writing his bucket list. He has lived a full life and followed through on his life list by setting new goals all along. John is the original inspiration for mylifelist.org and a few years ago, I had the pleasure to meet him at the Adventurers' Club in LA. With a twinkle in his eye and a presence that could make a rushing hippo stop, he greeted me as a kindred spirit.

So here’s my advice: Skip the bucket list and don’t rush to complete a finite number of goals before the end is near. Make your life – and your life list – something to strive for and savor every day.

Don't give in to call of the Comfort Zone

By Carrie Stack, M.Ed.
Congratulations! You've joined My Life List, created your profile, and written down your incredible, inspiring, exciting goals for your life. You've shared them with your network at MyLifeList.org and you’re feeling pretty proud.

Now what?

You have done step one. You just set rock star goals. (What are rock star goals? Concrete goals that specifically identify the "how much, how many, by when" piece that so many others overlook.) For a lot of people, this can be where things go awry. Daily life happens and what they want to "become" slides back into what they have "been." The backward slip is pretty seductive. Our comfort zones call us back – desperately, zealously, relentlessly, promising Chinese takeout, beer, endless chocolate and flannel PJs if we'd only return!

So what do you do? You pull this key strategy out of your back pocket.

Know what motivates you.

Most people don't know what they are motivated by, or what keeps their energy flowing to maintain focus and forward movement. Right now, let’s assess what has helped to propel you in the past.

Think of a goal you successfully reached and answer these questions:

• What helped you maintain momentum, energy and movement?
• Why did you push through any obstacles?
• What kept you going until you reached it? 

Was it people? Was it a reward at the end? Was it because you followed a timeline or a list? Was it recognition? Was it because you were moving toward something, or did you succeed because you were moving AWAY from something?

If you want to keep going, then you need to know what KEEPS you going.

Now build that into your goals.

Look at each of your goals and figure out how you can incorporate your past patterns of success. Bottom line: You want to replicate what has worked for you in the past and use it now.

From my work as a life coach and motivator, I know that a great majority of us respond to accountability, shared connection and recognition/celebration – making MyLifeList.org an incredible source of support and energy around reaching your goals! So make sure you keep us posted on your progress. I speak for the entire My Life List community when I say, we just LOVE this stuff!

Carrie Stack, M.Ed., is a certified life coach, trainer, author and motivational speaker with more than 20 years’ experience providing people with the strategies to make positive changes in their lives. She is also the founder of the Say Yes Institute and co-founder of EO Your Life, a personal development site that helps people to live life fulfilled. 

Become the Person You Want to Be

Please check out (and share) this link to a story on My Life List in Canada's Globe & Mail. Thank you to the members who were quoted!

Become the Person You Want to Be -- Canada's Globe and Mail

My Life List® Best of 2010

The holidays are happily under way, and here at My Life List, we are preparing for our busiest and most important time of year – New Year’s Resolution time. We’ve got more momentum than ever and we think we have a lot worth celebrating.

Which got us thinking: You’ve probably accomplished a lot this year, too, haven’t you? An exotic adventure with your best friend? A hard-earned degree? A job you love? A change in behavior that has made your life easier, healthier or more exciting?

Why don’t you share it on mylifelist.org right now? In the spirit of sharing this season, we’re going to name the best story for each category on the site (Travel & Leisure, Relationships, Personal Development & Community, Career & Finance, Lifestyle & Culture, and Sports & Adventure) as My Life List® Best of 2010. They will be featured as part of some exciting upgrades on the site in January, and the writer will receive one of six $100 American Express gift cards.

The deadline for stories is December 28, with winners announced December 31. So get celebrating! Your accomplishment will inspire many, and acknowledging your progress will push you forward, too.

And don’t forget these exciting upcoming events:

The 21-Day Challenge Win cash and prizes to help you achieve your goals, Jan. 10-31
The Life Listers’ Ball Black-tie party at Seaport Hotel Boston Feb. 5