The Uninspired Mind

You know that feeling when everything in your life is fine, but something still feels off? You know what you should be doing, but you just don’t feel like it. You’re not necessarily unhappy—you’re just not excited about anything.

Maybe you’ve got a craft room that’s packed full of supplies, but the motivation to create something just isn’t there. Maybe you’re in a season of transition, like leaving a job, and you’re unsure what’s next. Or perhaps, like one client I recently spoke with, life is going well, yet you still feel a strange lack of inspiration.

Feeling uninspired is more common than we realize, and it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It simply means your mind, body, and spirit are signaling for something new. The good news? Inspiration isn’t something we have to wait for—it’s something we can cultivate.

In this post, we’ll explore why we feel inspired, why we sometimes don’t, and—most importantly—how to reignite that spark when it feels like it’s gone missing.

What Inspires Us

Inspiration isn’t random—it’s a psychological and neurological process that lights up specific areas of the brain. When we feel inspired, we experience a surge of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, and goal-directed behavior. This is why inspiration often brings a sense of excitement, clarity, and purpose.

The Science of Inspiration

Research in psychology suggests that inspiration has three key components:

1. Evocation – Inspiration is often sparked by something external—a conversation, a story, an experience, or even a simple shift in perspective.
2. Transcendence – We’re lifted beyond our current limitations, allowing us to see new possibilities and dream bigger.
3. Motivation to Act – True inspiration doesn’t just stay in our minds; it propels us forward, making us want to create, grow, or pursue something meaningful.

What Sparks Inspiration?

People often feel inspired when they experience:

• Novelty – New surroundings, ideas, or experiences can refresh our thinking.
• Purpose – Feeling connected to something bigger than ourselves fuels long-term inspiration.
• Creativity – Engaging in creative activities (even if they aren’t related to our goals) can awaken inspiration in other areas of life.
• Resonance – Witnessing someone else’s journey, hearing a powerful message, or reading something that deeply aligns with us can spark inspiration in an instant.

Understanding how inspiration works is key to cultivating it on demand instead of waiting for it to show up. Next, we’ll explore why inspiration sometimes fades—and what to do about it.

Why We Feel Uninspired

We are created in the image of a creative God, designed to dream, build, and bring new ideas to life. So why do we sometimes feel like inspiration is completely out of reach? This lackluster mood can make us question ourselves. Do I have anything meaningful to offer? Is my life really this boring? Why do I feel so stuck? The truth is inspiration isn’t something we either “have” or “don’t have”—it’s something that can be nurtured and reignited. Often, the reason we feel uninspired isn’t random; it’s a sign that something deeper needs our attention.

Common Causes of Feeling Uninspired

🔹 Routine & Predictability – When life becomes repetitive, our brains go on autopilot. Without new stimuli, there’s nothing to spark fresh ideas or excitement.

🔹 Mental Overload & Stress – If your mind is cluttered with to-do lists, responsibilities, or worries, there’s little room for creativity and inspiration to flourish.

🔹 Lack of Rest or Play – Constant productivity without moments of joy, playfulness, or rest can drain us. Inspiration often emerges in moments of stillness or fun, not just in hard work.

🔹 Disconnection from Purpose – When we lose sight of why we’re doing something, motivation dwindles. A sense of purpose fuels long-term inspiration.

🔹 Fear & Self-Doubt – Sometimes, we want to take action, but a deeper fear holds us back—fear of failure, judgment, or not being good enough.

🔹 Comparison & Perfectionism – Scrolling through social media or constantly measuring ourselves against others can leave us feeling unmotivated and discouraged rather than inspired.

How to Recognize When You’re in an ‘Uninspired Rut’

Feeling uninspired isn’t always obvious. Here are a few signs that you might be stuck:

✔️ You feel restless but aren’t sure what you want.
✔️ You procrastinate on things you know you want to do.
✔️ You feel like you’re just “going through the motions.”
✔️ You keep waiting for motivation to strike, but it never comes.

The good news? Inspiration isn’t lost forever—it just needs a reset. Next, we’ll explore how to reignite that spark and get back into a flow of creativity, motivation, and purpose.

How to Reignite Inspiration

Feeling uninspired doesn’t mean you’ve lost your creativity or passion—it just means you need a spark. Inspiration thrives when we intentionally create space for it, and it often expands after just one tiny spark! Here are practical ways to ignite that flame.

1. Change Your Environment

A simple shift in surroundings can work wonders.

🔹 Get outside – Or if you’re in a cold climate like me, LOOK outside or bring the outdoors in. Nature naturally awakens creativity and curiosity. A walk in the fresh air, a sunrise, or even the sound of birds can stir something new within you.
🔹 Switch up your workspace – Rearranging your desk, adding fresh flowers, or even working from a coffee shop can bring a fresh perspective.
🔹 Take a break from screens – Digital overload dulls creativity. Unplug for a bit and allow your mind to breathe.

2. Seek Out New Experiences

Inspiration often comes from the unexpected. If you’re feeling stagnant, introduce something new into your routine.

🔹 Try a new hobby – Painting, cooking a new recipe, or even learning a dance move can spark joy. Even flipping through magazines or books that showcase hobbies can create fresh excitement and ideas.
🔹 Read or listen to something outside your norm – Pick up a book in a different genre, listen to a thought-provoking podcast, or watch a documentary on a topic you know nothing about.
🔹 Take a short trip – Even a weekend getaway or exploring a nearby town can shift your mindset. Applied in the simplest way, I sometimes step away from my work to walk our pups around the block, or to just go watch them romp in the backyard together, before jumping back in.

3. Connect with Others

Sometimes, we need people to reignite our fire.

🔹 Have a deep conversation – Talking with someone who inspires you can bring fresh insight.
🔹 Join a group or community – Surrounding yourself with creative, motivated people naturally pulls you out of a rut.
🔹 Serve others – Volunteering or simply helping a friend can shift your focus and bring renewed energy. A balanced life includes pouring out as well as being poured into. That flow of energy and focus can refill and inspire us when we need it most.

4. Revisit Your “Why”

Lack of inspiration often comes from losing sight of what drives us. There’s neuroscience behind taking intentional time to think about what you want and why you want it. Unlike the popular secular “law of attraction” which implies a magically-woo formula for getting what you want, science shows that focusing our brain on what we want and why, as well as visualizing that process is like mentally rehearsing the outcome. When we set our intentions, the brain more easily recalls our goals and driving motivators when we’re faced with related options throughout the day.

🔹 Ask yourself: Why did I start this? What impact do I want to make? Why is this something I’m (still) choosing to pursue?
🔹 Look back at past successes – Remind yourself of times you did feel inspired and what fueled that passion.
🔹 Pray and reflect – Spending time in prayer, journaling, or meditating on scripture can help realign your heart with God’s purpose for you.

5. Take Small, Imperfect Action

Inspiration doesn’t always come before action—often, it follows it.

🔹 Start small – If you’re waiting to feel motivated before taking action, flip the script. Do something tiny to build momentum.
🔹 Don’t wait for perfection – The first step doesn’t need to be flawless; it just needs to happen. I once heard that famous author Stephen King attributes his success and number of best-sellers to his self-enforced rule that he must write 1000 words per day. That’s any thousand words; not the “best” or the “right” ones. King knows that often just that first action is all it takes to breathe life into the inspiration needed to continue.  
🔹 Celebrate progress – Acknowledge even the smallest wins to keep motivation going.

There’s a caveat to this step! Focusing only on actions will only lead to short-term success. Why? Because actions don’t cause feelings; our thoughts about our actions do! So, take the small steps, but then reflect on that action in a way that inspires you forward. (If I did that, what else is possible?!”)

6. Prioritize Rest & Play

Inspiration flourishes when we’re refreshed.

🔹 Give yourself permission to rest – Burnout kills creativity. Take time to recharge without guilt. If you’re resting while thinking you should be doing something else, you steal from yourself and the process.
🔹 Do something fun—just for the sake of it – Play a game, laugh with a friend, or dance in your kitchen. Doodle while watching a favorite show. Joy fuels inspiration.
🔹 Practice gratitude – Noticing the good in your life shifts your mindset and makes space for new ideas.

7. Ask God for Fresh Vision

As the ultimate Creator, God is the source of all inspiration.

🔹 Ask for guidance – Pray for fresh vision and trust that inspiration will come in the right time.
🔹 Read scripture for encouragement – Verses like Isaiah 43:19 (“See, I am doing a new thing!”) remind us that God is always at work, even when we feel stuck. Here again, simply reading or saying something to yourself (both actions) will only produce short term benefits unless you believe them. (Ultimately, our thoughts are what create our emotions.)
🔹 Surrender the pressure – You don’t have to force inspiration. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let go and trust the process.

Creating an Inspiration Vault

When inspiration feels distant, it can help to have a system in place to rekindle it. Your Inspiration Vault acts as a safety net, ensuring you always have a well of motivation to draw from when you need it most.

• A “Wins” Journal – Keep a notebook or digital document with small and big accomplishments, breakthroughs, and moments of joy. This might include emails/notes from others who have been inspired by your work, words, or example.
• A Playlist of Motivational Songs, quotes, etc. – Music and powerful messages can instantly shift your mindset.
• A “Lightbulb” List or “Swipe File”– A running list of ideas, even half-formed ones, to revisit when you need a spark. Collect examples, clippings, etc. of work, art, or ideas that excite you—whether it’s design, writing, or business ideas.
• Vision Board – Whether in a Pinterest board, scrapbook, or a poster board on your wall, make a visual collection of words, phrases, and pictures of meaningful experiences, achievements, or places that make you feel alive.
• An “Energy List” – A list of activities, places, or people that energize and inspire you. When feeling stuck, choose something from the list.

Reigniting inspiration isn’t about waiting for a magical burst of energy—it’s about creating space for it to grow. The more we intentionally invite inspiration into our lives, the more naturally it flows.

Bringing Inspiration Back: Key Takeaways & Next Steps

Inspiration isn’t something we either have or don’t have—it’s something we cultivate. Feeling uninspired doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever or that you lack purpose. It simply signals that something needs attention, whether it’s your mindset, your environment, or your connection to what truly fuels you.

Key Takeaways to Reignite Inspiration:

✅ Recognize that inspiration isn’t lost—it just needs nurturing. You were designed to create, dream, and build. Feeling uninspired is temporary.
✅ Change your environment and seek new experiences. A fresh perspective often comes from stepping outside of routine.
✅ Surround yourself with inspiring people. Conversations, community, and service can spark new motivation.
✅ Revisit your “why.” Reflect on what excites you, what God has placed in your heart, and the impact you want to make.
✅ Take small, imperfect action. You don’t need to wait for inspiration—sometimes, doing is what brings it back.
✅ Prioritize rest, play, and gratitude. A well-rested mind and a joyful spirit naturally open the door to creativity.
✅ Ask God for fresh vision. He is the ultimate source of inspiration, always leading us toward new growth.

Take a moment right now to reflect—what’s one small thing you can do today to invite inspiration back into your life? Maybe it’s stepping outside, reconnecting with a friend, or journaling about your dreams. Whatever it is, take that step. Inspiration follows action.

Ready to Bring Inspiration Back Into Your Life?

You don’t have to stay stuck in a season of feeling uninspired. With small, intentional shifts, you can reignite your creativity, motivation, and sense of purpose. If you’re ready to take the next step, here’s how I can help:

🔹 Get my free guide: The Intentional Mind Daily Planner – A powerful tool to help you anchor your thoughts, cultivate inspiration, and move forward with clarity. Download it here!

🔹 Work with me one-on-one – If you’re looking for deeper guidance in this season, I offer coaching to help you gain clarity, manage your emotions, and create an intentional, joy-filled life. Let’s connect!

No matter where you are right now, remember this: you were created to live with purpose. Inspiration isn’t something you have to chase—it’s something you can create. Take the first step today. ❤️🙏🏼🧠

The post Feeling Uninspired? Here’s Why It Happens and How to Get Your Spark Back appeared first on Rise Coaching.

The average person has 12,000-60,000 thoughts each day.

When we compare life now to a decade ago, we have immeasurably more information and data invading our thoughts and attention. The average person receives 120 emails and 72 texts per day. And with 93% of those texts being read within three minutes, we’re constantly fighting off distractions and mental clutter. Is it any wonder that over the course of our lives, we spend, on average, a total of 153 days searching for things we own and can’t find!?

This month in Rising Soul, we’re getting organized and decluttering. And while this may bring up images of sorting, donating and cleaning, we’re doing all that and then some… with more than just our things.

Cognitive Load: The brain’s memory capacity that’s being used.

“Cognitive load” is a term that neuroscientists use to describe the amount of bandwidth the brain has for its working memory.  When the brain becomes taxed (by remembering what we own, where it all is, what we’re supposed to be doing with it, and keeping track of the constant influx of communication we get through technology) we experience “cognitive overload.” It’s kind of like when your computer gets all jammed up and you realize you have fifteen tabs open and running! (I kid you not…I just counted mine and closed out fourteen!)

Think of this as the amount of hard drive space your computer is using.

We now know that living in cluttered and unorganized spaces is not only the result of our cluttered internal states, but also the cause of it! (My computer is running much more efficiently now, thank you very much.) There are few things we can do to help lighten the mental load we carry.

How to lighten the (cognitive) load

1. Reduce external clutter

By simplifying and organizing our environment, the brain is better able to block out and omit the things it doesn’t need to keep track of. The brain does this naturally when we’re at our best. (After all, it’s probably not important that the car that passed you on the way to work this morning was a red Honda.) But when we’re constantly surrounded by chaos, the brain has to work harder to weed through what to send to long term memory and what can be scrapped right away.

“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.” ~Barbara Hemphill

2. Reduce internal clutter

That study I referred to earlier found that 95% of the thoughts we have are repetitive.  This is more than just déjà vu. This is ruminating on our thinking…likely because we’re constantly interrupted and rarely get to finish a thought! Other reasons for repetitive thinking is that we’re consciously trying to remember everything that we have to keep track of in a day. (Ever read a text invite with the intention of checking your calendar…only to completely forget to respond once you got home?!)

There are two ways of doing this that I’d recommend starting with.

First, pre-plan as much as possible!

Picking out what to wear might not sound like a daunting task at all, but the more decisions and actions you can batch together, the more you free up your mind to focus on the things that matter. I’ve noticed that I can stand in my closet and take 5 minutes picking out what to wear that day, or I can get into a groove and pick out my outfits for all 5 days in the same amount of time.  Once that’s done, I don’t have to think about it again

Consider what other activities you can batch together to eliminate the need for your brain to start and stop repeatedly. Pre-planning your day by listing what you need to get done and then scheduling those tasks is another way to chisel away at the mental chatter. Plan it once and then whenever you finish your task or appointment, look at your schedule and jump into the next thing. No more scrolling through your mental list of tasks all day.

Second, post-process at the end of each day

Just as most of us have some clutter that builds up in our purse on an average day, we also have some emotional clutter that needs to be emptied out daily. Emotions are created by our thoughts, and with up to 60,000 thoughts a day, our emotions can build up considerably as well!

We spend a fair amount of our day pushing our emotions aside so we can parent, work and function in the world. We do the same with many of those thoughts. A friend or coworker says something in a snappy tone and we catch our breath in surprise. We try to put it out of mind so we can focus on the presentation we need to give, but as soon as we climb into bed, turn off the lights (and all those intrusive electronics!) our mind finally has the microphone and a stage. This is why over fifty million Americans suffer from sleep disorders! Taking fifteen minutes before bed to dump all your thoughts out of your head and onto paper can allow your brain to get the peace and quiet you need.

A 15-minute download in exchange for an 8-hour night rest?
That’s called a wise investment.

Not into journaling? No worries.  Even making a list of bullet points, words, or phrases regarding all that’s on your mind can help.  So, a day where you landed a new account, your boss was rude in a meeting and you forgot to get your oil changed again, would result in a list that includes “rude boss, oil change, landed account” etc.  Fill a sheet with as many things that you can think of that are on your mind.  When you run out of things, try to come up with 3-5 more.

If you are a journaler, take it a step further.  Do that prep work on a piece of scrap paper, and then journal on each item, crossing them out as you go until you’ve vented and vetted out all your worries. Another great version of this is writing them out in the form of a prayer. Pour your heart out and tell Him everything. Then rest easy, knowing He’s working on it!

Have a bad case of deja vu?

Every good brain needs a regular reboot!

Schedule a free consultation with me to reset your hardware. I’ll give you a taste of coaching and give you options.

Schedule Now

The post Mental Clutter & Overload appeared first on Rise Coaching.

I’ll take great theatrical liberty here, but he basically asks Moses, “What are you thinking? You can’t do this all on your own. You’re going to burn yourself out. Train a few people how to do the things that you’re juggling (and to do them well) and then step back and let them do the job! They can come to you if they have questions or need help with the tasks.”

No intelligent man goes against the advice of his father-in-law, so he put these things all into action and reaped the benefits! Jethro teaches us three lessons in this story. Three things all leaders need to learn how to do are:

1. Be able to recognize, listen to and act on wise counsel.
2. Delegate work and decisions to others.
3. Mentor others to grow as well

Wise Counsel

The first on this list comes easily for me. I actively seek out counsel when I need it and am happy to apply what they teach.  I’m a words girl, and numbers give me migraines.  So, when our financial advisor shoots us an email suggesting some changes, I’m happy to hear her advice. Of course, part of this process is vetting the people you let into that you give your ear to. While it’s not necessary that every person you hire be Christian, it is important that you trust their values and know that they’ll support you in living according to yours.

Delegate Tasks

Step two is where my greatest growth opportunity resides! I admit that when it comes to my professional life, I’m a bit of a perfectionist at heart. (And a work still in progress, thankfully.) This need to please almost always also means being a bit of a control freak.  I admittedly have a hard time letting go of my tasks and entrusting them to someone else. But just as Moses learned, doing it “all” can wear a person out quick! And worn-down, burnt-out humans certainly do not perform at their peak for long.

“We accomplish all that we do through delegation
–either to time or to other people.”
~Stephen R. Covey

I recently spent six months working with two business coaches, evaluating my business model, and making adjustments so that the systems and offerings I have are sustainable and scalable. It didn’t take these two wise women long to point out that I was doing too much. They gave me the assignment of making a list of all the tasks I was doing on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, and then addressed each of my well-thought-out rationales (AKA excuses and lies I was believing) as to why I was the only person who could do those tasks, and how I could not afford to hire them out.

I’ve since studied the topic while asking myself, “What if delegating tasks was not only possible but was the key to being able to help more women live the lives they were created for?”  I’ve since learned two connected lessons:

Delegating doesn’t always have to cost money. What do you have to offer, and who do you know who offers what you need? How could you barter with someone so you both get something you value? (Since I’d rather be coaching than cleaning, I’d love to find someone to exchange services with!) In addition, it doesn’t have to cost a lot. Hiring a teen to the things that must be done, but aren’t the best use of your time, is a great solution. They make some extra cash, and so do you—because you’re diverting that time to your business or areas that will get you “more bang for your buck” (as grandma used to say!).

Time is money…or money can buy time. Think of this through the lens of seeking out a high ROI (return on investment). If you can make $50/hour doing a “side job” that you enjoy, would you pay someone $20/hr to grocery shop for you while you’re doing what you love?

Mentor Others

Thankfully, the challenge of delegation comes with a gift: the opportunity to mentor others. “Paying it forward” is one of the most enjoyable part of being a leader. (And let’s face it, we’re all leaders in some way!) Whether you’re paying someone to do the work, or training someone through an internship, sharing the lessons you’ve learned and encouraging others to learn & grow is a win-win solution. They gain from your knowledge, you gain from their fresh perspective, but also because the process of delegating and mentoring bring new lessons with them.

Seeking wise counsel, delegating to others and mentoring them along the way becomes an elevating paradigm where we rise up with generations on both sides of us. I’m intrigued by cultures that honor their elders and cultivate cultures of community. By incorporating these three habits into our lives, we experience gains that go beyond the financial.

Application

Here are some things you can consider to 3X your contribution:

What tasks do you do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?

Who do you know who does these things well?

How can you learn from that person?

What do you know and have to offer?

Who would benefit from learning those things?

How can you trade services or who could you pay to complete those tasks?

How can you “pay it forward,” to multiply your knowledge and double the work of your hands?

Want help to take a look at the bottle-necks in your systems?

It’s available in many forms! Click below to schedule a free forty-five minute consultation where we’ll take a snapshot of how you’re doing and what support you’d benefit most from. We’ll get you living the life you were created for.

Schedule Now

The post 3 Habits to 3X Your Contribution appeared first on Rise Coaching.

Somewhere along the years, the word “discipline” has joined ranks of these words. If you look up the definition online, it’s now associated with punishment, controlling others, and even abuse. But discipline has been around since the beginning of time and is listed throughout the Bible as something that benefits us and helps us to grow.

It’s no coincidence that the word sounds a lot like “disciple.” Both words come from the Latin root discere, which means “to learn”.  While the latin word for discipline (“disciplina”) means instruction and training, the word disciple (“discipulus”) means student.

Jesus called many to follow Him and learn from Him. Not everyone did. John 6 tells the story of how He preached to thousands, telling them all that it would mean to follow Him and what this growth would produce in them (including power, love and self-discipline). He offered this to all, but many thought it was too much, (too disciplined, one might say) so they walked away. We were created with the free-will to decide for ourselves whether we want to learn and grow.

Discipline = instruction and training
Disciple = student

The majority of the people I work with and hang out with would say they love learning. Who doesn’t? And yet, society today shies away from the concept, and shames parents for “disciplining” their children…not realizing that teaching our children how to learn and be responsible for their thoughts, feelings and actions is a life necessity that helps us succeed.

Most of the things in this life that grow us take discipline. Learning a new instrument, habit, losing weight, gaining strength, writing a novel, running a marathon…. You name it, you need discipline to get it! Psalm 12:1 says whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge. It also says something a bit harsh…whoever hates discipline is “brutish.” (That means unintelligent-like an animal.) We were made for so much more.

So, what does it take to have discipline?

Four steps:

Consistency & Repetition

Commitment

Removed Temptation

Expect & Plan for Resistance

Consistency & Repetition

When we learn something new, the brain fights against it.  This is because the brain is focused on doing things with as little effort as possible. Once we’ve done something repeatedly and consistently for some time, the brain delegates the activity to the subconscious, and we begin to do it on “autopilot.”

If we’re learning an instrument, we first have to focus on the placement of each finger and think through idioms to help us remember the notes. (“Every Good Boy Does Fine!”) With time, those aspects are done without our focus, so we can concentrate elsewhere (like singing along as we play!).

Commitment

We have the ability to choose every day what we will do. As silly as it may sound, reminding your brain of your decision and dedication to follow through will strengthen your will to do so. When your actions don’t align with your values (what you think is important), you’ll feel internal friction and will be faced with a decision…change your behavior or change your mind! So re-mind yourself of why you’re committed to following through.

Instead of thinking about the discipline of doing devotions in the morning, remind yourself that you’re doing this to improve your relationship with God, to improve your ability to recognize His voice, and to feel His presence in your life, so you can show His love to others as well.

Remove Temptation

Not only does our brain want to stay on “autopilot,” it also naturally seeks pleasure/comfort and avoids pain/discomfort. So, if it takes more energy to focus your mind and stay on task, it will offer you all sorts of “alternatives” and distractions.  But here’s the good news. God promises that He’ll always offer a choice and the ability to control our thoughts and behavior.

If you’ve set out to write one chapter of a book each week, silence your phone and put it in another room! Turn off your notifications on your computer and clear your desk of any distractions. If you’re trying to get healthy, stock the kitchen with healthy food rather than your favorite snacks.

Expect & Plan for Resistance

Creating a new habit isn’t easy work. If it were, you’d already be doing it!  But just because it’s not “easy” doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You absolutely can teach an old dog new tricks. Be “onto” your brain.  Expect it to offer you all sorts of silly thoughts about what you deserve, how deprived you are in the moment, and all the reasons why you can do this tomorrow (or why it was a dumb idea in the first place!).  I like to think of this part of my brain as a toddler version of myself whining in order to get what she wants. I lovingly think to myself, “Yep. I hear you. But I’ve already made my decision.”

When my daughter was little, I realized quickly that there were times that I needed her to do what I asked of her without questioning me. Not because her questions were valid.  Not because I didn’t want to answer them, but because of two things:

1-My thought process when making decisions ahead of time was more rational than her thought process during an impulse or urge.

2-I knew there’d be a time when her obedience (another “dirty” word in today’s society) was imperative for what was best for her for the long-term.

Imagine you saw someone dangerous approaching your child and you say, “I need you to come here, please.”  You don’t want her to provide excuses or resist you. Rather, you’d want her to do what you ask now, knowing you’d be open to discussion about her thoughts & feelings later.

This, to me, is the heart of discipline. It was never intended to be abusive or manipulative. It was created for love. For growth and learning. And the biggest bonus of discipline? It’s almost impossible to be disciplined in only one aspect of your life.  When we learn how to regulate our thoughts, feelings and behavior, we’re better able to apply it throughout our life, affecting our body, soul and mind.

Need some help going after it?

It’s available in many forms! Click below to schedule a free forty-five minute consultation where we’ll take a snapshot of how you’re doing and what support you’d benefit most from. We’ll get you living the life you were created for.

Schedule Now

The post Discipline (It’s not a bad word) appeared first on Rise Coaching.

And as Miss Stacey from Anne of Green Gables said, “Tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes.”

But apparently, not everyone is quite ready to jump on board and set New Year Resolutions for the year ahead. 2020 asked an unexpected question: “Why bother setting goals at all?”

Common resolutions prior to last year:

Us: “Be more social.”  (2020: “Nope.”)

Us: “Spend more time with my parents.” (2020: “Too dangerous”)

Us: “Travel more” (2020: “LOL”)

I can understand the reluctancy to plan for the year ahead!  But those who have scrapped the process of making resolutions and goals for 2021 because of this past year, are forgetting something important:

There’s a difference between
making New Year’s resolutions and setting goals.

This week we explore the difference and look at what makes for successful goal setting. Because the setting is the starting point, but getting to the finish-line takes commitment and a plan!

Here’s the bottom line: goals that you set once a year DON’T HAPPEN. Simply listing a bunch of vague wishes for the future without a plan to get there is a surefire way to fail at reaching them.

A story conducted by the American Society of Training and Development showed that people were only 25% likely to reach their goal if they “consciously decided to do so”. (This implies that they did a little more thinking/planning than simply listing or wishing as we do at the start of a new year.) That percentage doubled when those in the study created a plan, increased to 65% when they committed to OTHERS to follow that plan…and 85% of those studied achieved their goal when they met with a coach weekly to work toward their goal!

“Setting” yourself up for success involves three steps:

Vetting

Setting

Getting

Goal vetting

If we want to seriously consider how to set ourselves up for success, we need to start with a step that many miss.  I don’t know about you, but when I decide to put my “all” into achieving a goal, I want to start off by making sure it’s the right one! You’ve likely heard the old adage about the man who spent his whole life climbing the ladder, only to reach the top and learn it was leaning against the wrong wall. This step also includes getting clear on why I want to pursue this goal…so I can make sure it aligns with my values and what I want most out of this life (and the next).

Two of my favorite verses to meditate on when “going after it” are Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and Mark 16:26, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Before I set any goals, I vet them first! This means getting quiet and taking them to my CEO for approval and direction before setting them in ink. I don’t ever want to go after something that’s goes against God’s overall purpose/plan for me, and I want to be sure He’ll be in the center of whatever I pursue.

Goal setting

Setting a goal takes intentionality and commitment if we’re to see it through, but that doesn’t necessarily mean investing a huge amount of time, effort or attention to detail.  After all, when you set the goal of finding a new pair of jeans, you likely have two steps: decide to get them and get it done!  Generally speaking, the larger the goal, the larger the planning investment up front.

I recommend starting with the end in mind. What will it look like when you’ve reached your goal? What “evidence” will you have that it’s complete? Write the answers out clearly. Include the date it will be achieved by and a measurable description of success. Next, I work backwards by listing every single action that I’ll need to take in order to get there.  Here’s something you may not have considered that can make or break the success of a goal: What feelings will you need in order to take those actions, and what thoughts will you need to believe and focus on, to generate those feelings? We often put our full attention to the actions, but this can lead short term success of our goals, or quitting before we see them come to fruition.

Goal getting

As much as I enjoy that process of setting (so much in fact, that I often have to limit myself with a timer to get it done and move on!) the process of getting is also a step that we overlook. You might wonder how it’s possible to “overlook” this part…. Let me explain.

So often, when we set goals, we think that the “finished product” will bring us joy.  We put all our focus there, and imagine that life will be “better” when we’ve hit our goal.  Surely we’ll be “happier” when we get “there.” But this is a lie. The truth is that results (like circumstances) don’t create feelings. It’s our thoughts that create emotions.

Neuroscience now shows that when we accomplish each of the small steps along the path to the end goal, we have thoughts like “It’s working!” and “I can do this!” which give us Dopamine hits (the pleasure/reward neurotransmitter), further motivating us toward the goal. We can tap into this science and use it to further increase the odds of achieving our goals by pausing to appreciate and enjoy the process and every little win along the way.

Contentment is loving what is
equally to what can be.

Miss Stacey’s not wrong…but tomorrow will have new problems to solve and goals to set…because that’s just the kind of universe we live in.  Then again, a large part of what makes life so interesting is that change is constant and there’s always a new day ahead with new possibilities. Which also means new goals to vet, set, and get!

Need some help going after it?

It’s available in many forms! Click below to schedule a free forty-five minute consultation where we’ll take a snapshot of how you’re doing and what support you’d benefit most from. We’ll get you living the life you were created for.

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The post 3 Ways to Improve the Odds of Reaching Your Goals appeared first on Rise Coaching.

I often have clients tell me that they don’t “feel” their feelings.  They prefer it this way, actually.  They’d prefer to eat them…or drink them…or shop them….you get the picture.

If that’s you, you’re in for a treat.

Today, I’m sharing three ways to process your emotion rather than eating all those left-over pieces of candy the Trick-or-Treaters didn’t touch.

Here are three tricks to processing emotion:

1. The trick is to treat your impulse/urge as a healthy adult.

When you catch yourself reaching for snacks/wine/Netflix absent-mindedly, stop and make a deal with yourself. “I can enjoy this treat fully if I choose to, but first  I’m going to process my emotion.”

2. The trick is to treat your emotions with intentional focus. 

Go somewhere without distractions and get in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and scan through your body.  What do you notice? Tightness in your chest? Racing heart? Shallow breath? Pins and needles across your shoulders?

Physiological sensations in the body like these are caused when our thinking releases neurotransmitters into our bloodstream.  As they travel through the body, they cause thousands (or billions in some cases!) of chemical reactions to occur, resulting in sensations that the brain labels as a feeling.

The better and faster you get at identifying them, the higher the odds of being able to address the thoughts causing them.

3. The trick is to treat your thoughts with curiosity.

As you observe your emotion in your body, you’ll likely begin to “hear” your thoughts as well.  Eavesdrop on your brain with a little curiosity, and without judgment.  What do you notice? What’s it offering you?

When we experience urges and impulses, the lower brain is the most active.  This what I call the “child” part of the brain…because in moments like these, it’s irrational and acts a bit like an overtired three year old throwing a tantrum on your front porch!  It will tell you anything to get what it wants.

“But I WANT it.”

“I deserve it.”

“My husband’s eaten three of them already.”

“If I don’t get one now, they’ll all be gone.”

“One won’t matter.”

What it probably won’t  tell you, is any of the logical things that are forward-thinking:
“This won’t help me reach that goal.”

“Laughing & running with my grandkids is more satisfying than 30 seconds of chewing on something.”

“If I eat one, I’ll likely eat five.”

“I can go to the store and buy one any time I want. It’s okay if they all get eaten.”

If eating/drinking/binging your feelings has become the norm for you, you may want to jot down the thoughts your brain offers up during an urge.

This way you can look at it again later when you’re feeling more balanced emotionally and in control of your actions.

(Remember, when emotion is high, logic is low!)

Look at each thought and assess whether they’re true.

Start a list of thoughts that are true, which you already believe (such as the ones above), and read them regularly to remind yourself and strengthen that belief.

If you need some extra help believing new things, check out this blog post to learn more.

Need even more help with that?

If you’re new to “feeling” things or want help gaining control of your emotions and urges, I’d be happy to help. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation call with me and I’ll show you how coaching can help you gain control of your mind and behaviors so you can step into the life you were created for.

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The post 3 Steps to Process Emotion (Halloween Style) appeared first on Rise Coaching.

They were impressed. They talked among themselves about how it would improve the security of their product and how well they expect it to be received by their end customer and the innovation it would bring. There was just one thing they couldn’t get past. These trays get shipped to their customers in boxes…which they already had a large supply of. Finally, the CEO who had been listening quietly spoke up. “Are we seriously talking about boxes?” “You’re right.” Someone said. “Scrap the boxes. This is going to change everything!”

What my husband shared as just a recap of his day was a little gold nugget that I shared with the members of Rising Soul. We’ve been talking about our identities this month. The story made me think of the boxes we put ourselves in. We look to our past to see what’s possible in our lives. We get hung up on minuscule details and allow them to prevent us from change. We let all the lies we’ve believed and the identity we’ve adopted (from the world–not from our Creator!) box us in and keep us from growing and expanding.

How often do you box yourself in with your own thoughts about yourself and what you’re capable of?

“I am terrible at math”

“I’m not smart enough.”

“I could never do that.”

“I’m not strong enough to handle this.”

“I’m confused.”

“I’m not good with money and budgeting.”

God is bigger than any limitations that we can box ourselves into. This means we’re capable of so much more than we realize…because God can do all things in and through us!

Of course, not all things need to be changeable. But it’s possible they could…whether with practice or a change in thoughts and actions.

The problem is that humans have what’s known by psychologists as a cognitive bias.  It means our brain is always looking for evidence of what it already believes is true. (It’s also the scientific explanation for the self-fulfilling prophecy.) A belief is nothing more than a thought we’ve thought so many times that our brain accepts it as reality and no longer checks for evidence to the contrary.

Another problem with this is that God is bigger than any limitations that we can box ourselves into. This means we’re capable of so much more than we realize…because God can do all things in and through us!

This morning I was reading in Acts where Paul gave an account of his life while standing on trial.  He told the King and the crowd that he was raised Jewish and had been taught by the best teachers all throughout childhood.  He was a member of the strictest sect of the Jewish religion- living as a Pharisee until he was old enough to take the road hunting down Christians.  He admitted that he even held the coats for people as they stoned a man to death!  And then…he went on to share the story of how he met Jesus one day on the road to Damascus, and how Jesus had changed him completely–from murderer to messenger.

Thank God (literally!) that Paul didn’t allow his past to box him in. 

Instead, he found freedom.

A new way of being.

A life that looked nothing like the one he left behind.

Sure, others tried to keep him in the box he’d put himself in.  Some preferred he stay there.  “Wait!” Some said, “Isn’t this the guy who ran around killing people? Do we really trust this guy enough to listen to what’s he’s got to say?”  I may be taking some liberty here with my translation, but the point is that it’s natural to hang onto what we’ve believed of ourselves- and others-in the past, in order to anticipate the future.  By doing so, we run the risk of limiting ourselves or resisting the change that God has in store for us!

The next time you catch yourself identifying your abilities or character by your past, stop and ask yourself:

1. Is this really true?
2. Are there exceptions?
3. What if God could change this about me?
4. what may He be trying to do in or through me?

Then scrap the box, knowing God can change anything!

Need help breaking out of that box?  Join us in the Rising Soul monthly membership where we deep dive into a different topic each month to get intentional about living the abundant life we were created for. 

Click here to learn more and join the waitlist so you don’t miss out when doors reopen next!

The post Breaking Out of Boxes appeared first on Rise Coaching.

To challenge themselves.

To see what’s possible.

To offer something to others

…..the list goes on.

But of all the reasons I hear from clients, there is one that waves a red flag every time it’s spoken: to find happiness or contentment.

You may wonder, “What’s wrong with that? Don’t we all want to be happy?” Of course.  And yet… chasing happiness never works.  Because generally speaking, life is made up of 50/50 positive and negative emotions.  Certainly they’re not equally weighted, but we do experience a fair mixture of both in constant rotation.  “There” will not be better than “here”.   Take, for example, someone who sets out to lose weight, imagining that her life will be insta-amazing when she hits her goal. She pictures walking confidently, feeling proud as friends compliment her.  While these things may happen, what she fails to imagine is the “mean girl glances” and judgement she’ll get from others.  Negative comments from women who choose not to make healthy choices, and who gossip about her, leaving her feeling hurt.  Reaching our goals will bring some happiness, but it will also bring a different set of problems and emotions with it as well. This leaves us constantly setting our sights on the “next” thing that we think will provide all-things-good, so will instead leave us disappointed and unfulfilled.

Please know that I’m not saying pursuing your goals is a bad thing or a waste of time.  I’m always  pursuing several goals simultaneously.  I enjoy it and do feel happiness while pursuing goals, but that’s not the purpose of it.   I’m content now, and know I will be content when I’ve achieved the goal, and all along the journey.  AND I know that the path will also include its fair share of negative emotion too.  There will be times I’ll feel like giving up, and days I’ll feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and confused. But I know that’s just part of the process.

Few things worth accomplishing are easily done without negative emotion.

At a work shop this week, I helped a group of women set goals and then map out their journey from where they are now, to the fulfillment of a dream.  They made a drawing of their “current self” and their “future self” with all the stepping stones (objectives) they’ll need to take to get there.  They laughed and groaned when I labeled the gap in between their current and future reality as “the River of Misery.”  They groaned because it sounds awful, and laughed because they knew it was a good description of what’s ahead!

Last week I shared that I ended my office lease and moved all of my furniture back home to my home office.  I had reached the goal of increasing my number of clients and moving to all on-line coaching and counseling sessions.  It was a goal I had set long ago.  I feel proud of the accomplishment. I feel grateful for the business growth that made it possible.  And I also felt a sense of sadness as I turned off the light and shut the door for the last time.  The road to get here included excitement, disappointment, fear and so much more.  And it was worth every ounce of emotion.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that we were all created with an internal desire for contentment and joy.  These are not wrong, bad, or sinful.  They were created in us by the Creator Himself. But of all the things this world offers and tries to sell us on as ways to fulfill these needs, Jesus is the only thing that offers a permanent joy that’s not contingent on our circumstances, pursuits or accomplishments.  When we put Him at the center of our lives and being, our pursuits and goals naturally align with His heart.

If you’ve got a dream you’ve been focused on, take a minute to pause and consider your purpose for pursuing it.  How do you imagine you’ll feel when accomplish it? What will be different and what will be the same?  What may you feel when you accomplish the goal that you can also choose to feel now-ahead of time?  Once you’re clear on your “why”, and certain that you’re not just chasing happiness, then full steam ahead!  I’m cheering you on.

With Grit & Grace

Want help catching that dream?

If you’ve got a big dream or goal and need some help achieving it, I’d love to help.   Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation call with me and I’ll help you step into the life you were created for.

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The post The Worst Reason to Pursue a Goal appeared first on Rise Coaching.

My favorite baseball cap says “dreamer” on it.

I’ve considered changing my email signature from “life coach” to “dream catcher.”

I LOVE helping people dream big.

Yesterday, I met with a new client.  She practically radiated as she told me about the BIG dreams God has planted in her heart and described all the branches of it that she’s working on.

She told me she was searching for a coach and that the last person she’d met with had listened -wide eyed- while she shared her vision, and then told her she needed to “just pick one” to work on.

She paused for dramatic effect, and raised her eyebrows as if to say, “what’s your take on that?”

I told her since God had clearly given and affirmed all of this dream for her, I recommend she go with that. (I’m not reckless enough to encourage saying no to your CEO!)

The thing about God-given dreams is that they often don’t seem rational. 

In fact, that’s sometimes an indicator that they’re God’s vision and not ours!

So many of the stories in the Bible involve God telling someone with limitations that He was going to do something big through them…if they obeyed and trusted Him.

Recently, a friend told me the story of her daughter’s first riding lesson.  Her little girl looked so small and timid on that big horse, so my friend called out, “Who’s leading? You or the horse?”  and then added “Someone’s going to be in charge, and if it’s not going to be you, you’d better hold on tight because it’s going to be a wild ride!”

Now, I’m not comparing God to a horse.  But the story made me think of how reversed this is when it comes to our dreams and living the life we were created for.

When I try to do big things on my own, I often feel fearful, overwhelmed and indulgent in doubt and confusion.

But when I give God the reins, and go where He leads, it’s an amazing “ride”.

He takes me places I never would have chosen to go on my own.

He develops my character and strengthens me along the way.

And most of all, He shows me that ALL things are possible with Him.

What dream has God given you that you’ve been too timid to live out?

What’s one step you could take today to show Him that you truly trust Him and are willing to go where He leads?

If you need help facing the fear, I’d be honored to help you on the journey. Click below to schedule a free consult.

It’s a ride I guarantee you won’t regret!

Schedule now

The post Dream Police appeared first on Rise Coaching.

If you know me at all, you know that one thing that gets me fired up is people making blanket statements declaring something “evil” that God meant for good.

This week, I saw two different sources proclaim that passion is “rooted in evil”, and “an idol that needs to be torn down”.

Evil?

Passion?

As in, The Passion of the Christ?

Wait a minute….I’m pretty sure Jesus himself was passionate.

He had a passion for His Father, and for His purpose.

To seek, save and love people.

He was so passionate that he died for his purpose.

“Passion” and “Purpose” are often used interchangeably.

And the Bible has plenty to say about our purpose!

All things can be used for good or evil. 

I’ve worked with clients who’ve had the Bible itself used to abuse & manipulate them.

Our passions and purposes only become bad when they contradict God’s, or when we give our whole heart to them –including the parts that belong to Him.  (Like our identity, security, and peace.)

If your purpose is to love littles as a stay at home mom, beautiful! By doing it, you honor God.

But if being Mrs. Brady is all you are, it’s time to step back and remember whose you are!

If your purpose is raising a ton of money to aid missionaries, non-profits, and organizations, you can rest knowing that God is smiling as He watches you work.  But if you feel more or less secure based on your income, you’ve fallen into the trap of trusting in your resource instead of its source!

God creates everything on purpose and for a purpose.

So before we make damning statements that create fear &  division, let’s get specific about what we mean.

“Living on purpose with passion means we’re intentionally living the lives we were created for. ”

Peace comes when what we think, say, and do all align with God’s heart.

When we put God in the center, we can step out in faith, boldly following His lead.

Some of us are blessed with a deep “knowing” of how to use our gifts & passion.

But that assurance isn’t required to impact the world or live out your purpose.

You can smile & make eye contact with people who feel invisible.

Stop what you’re doing to sit with a hurting friend.

Hold the door for a stranger.

Or just hold your tongue.

Don’t be ashamed of your purpose.

It’s not something to fear or hide.

The only approval you need is that of the One who gave them to you in the first place!

Love God.

Live on purpose (with passion)!

Feel a little lost?

Maybe you’re like thousands of women who say they don’t know what their passion or purpose is.  I can help you with that! Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation call with me and I’ll show you how coaching can help you step into the life you were created for.

Schedule Now

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