Life Reimagined, defining your goals and fulling your dreams

Sometimes, I am given opportunities to try products and services in exchange for sharing my thoughts and opinions. This post reflects my thoughts, opinions and experiences which I received from this company without cost to me.

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to move through life without fear, doubt or caution? I’m not saying that these people are reckless, but their inhibition allows them to chase dreams and goals without abandon. For others, like myself, change and the unknown brings anxiety. This anxiety can stifle goals, dreams, and desires. But a life without dreams and goals is unfilled. The question becomes how can you accept the anxiety without letting it derail your goals. With Life Reimagined, I’m learning how to fulfill my plan without becoming overwhelmed in the self-doubt. 

Life Reimagined, powered by AARP, is an online life coaching services. The service offers the following:

• Helps you define your personal mission statement
• Gives you the ability to choose your own certified Life Coach from a team of experts
• Lets you video chat with your Life Coach from the comfort of your home
• Prompts you to create personalized action plans and track your programs
• Connects you with resources and events to help you learn new skill.

Going into 2016, I am looking to change what, where and how I write. Over the past year, this particular blog has become less inspiring to me. While I write in other avenues, this space isn’t truly a good expression of topics that bring me joy. Still, leaving behind an area where I have spent much time and effort is sad. The transition has fear, grief, and maybe a little excitement too. Knowing that I cannot stay in the same place, I logically can process that change must occur. The problem becomes actually implementing that change. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the Life Coaches from Life Reimagined. For those unfamiliar, a life coach is a person who can help you talk through your goals, discover your fears about those goals, create a plan to achieve your goals, and hold you accountable to tasks that further your goal. During this sixty minute online video chat, we discussed how items that drive my life’s passion can help me achieve my transition goals.

Before my 1-hour coaching session, Life Reimagined asked me a series of questions. My answers created a canvas. This canvas highlights the things that I deem important, strengths about myself and a goal to achieve. A simple mission statement can help clarify the path that I need to take. 

After some initial conversation, my Life Coach and I discussed my canvas and what I was looking to achieve.  Personally, I really like exploring food, chefs, theater and life experiences. If you look back at the past several years, I don’t want to write about saving money (and I haven’t truly wrote about this topic in a long time). So what’s stopping me from writing about the items that drive my passion? There is no rule, editor or other roadblock that can stop me from writing about what I want. A blog is about self-expression. So, again, what is stopping me?

One item is a name. If I write about travel – how would @more4momsbuck relate to travel? It may or may not. Still, does it matter? Can I change that name? What would it take to change a name? Why is a name keeping me from pursuing my passion?  After talking through some of these concerns during my life coach appointment, I can realize that these questions were more like excuses not to move forward.

Change comes with anxiety – what if I lose readers, what if I change my name and I start from scratch – I can what if the whole scenario till I don’t do anything. But, if I make a plan, the anxiety becomes less. One step at a time can make the change more doable. 

During the Life Coach session, I came to understand that verbalizing the concerns can help lead to finding solutions. For me, giving name to the fear can make that fear less paralyzing. During the past several years, I have accomplished many things. Change shouldn’t negate those accomplishments.

After my 60 minute conversation with the life coach, I feel more affirmed in the changes that I need to make. I can go to my playbook to re-assess my status and evaluate what else needs to be done. In the end, I know that goals can be attained. 

At any time, I can book another session with my life coach. It was very easy to sit on the couch and chat with someone. My life coach was very easy to talk to. She knew how to listen and how to elicit responses. Sometimes a neutral person can cut to the heart of the problem without hurting your feelings. A good kick in the right direction is sometimes what you need. 

Anyone can sign up for Life Reimagined. Some services do not have a cost, but online coaching sessions do require a fee. 

Stop living your life in neutral. Dream big, set goals and live a Life Reimagined. 

Disclosure: I received an opportunity to try this service for the purposes of writing this post. All opinions are my own.