I see you picking up what I’m putting down!

• By Johanna Nuding+
• Posted in Change, Life, Uncategorized, Unsolicited Advice
• On August 22, 2012
• 3 Comments.

First, I have to say, “grazie mille” to all of you who have sent me encouraging emails, shared my blog with your friends and posted comments on my entries.  I’m beaming with gratitude.

Through all of my life changes and transitions, the thing I’ve discovered I’m most passionate about is writing and giving advice (mostly of the unsolicited variety).  And I want to compile it all in a book.  I want to globe trot and meet new people and gain new perspective and share it with others seeking a fresh approach to the issues they deal with in their daily lives.  Sounds like a self-help book, right?  Uhhhh, no!  I don’t want to pick up a boring ass self-help book and I’m pretty sure you don’t either.  I promise it will be a much more colorful, jo-ified collection of life lessons.

That is where I’m focusing all of my intention right now.  Your emails and notes make me think I’m on the right path and for that I sincerely thank you.  It’s like I’ve received a “tip of the hat” from the Universe that I should carry on.

And so, I will…

Although my delivery might be a little harsh at times, I never say things to you that aren’t completely wrapped in love.  Making this lifestyle transition for me was definitely a leap of faith.  “Jump and the net will appear.”  I put my entire life in the hands of that statement.  Yes, change is scary, but damn if it isn’t the most thrilling, life-giving thing you can ever do!

Everyone’s scared of change.  I AM SCARED OF CHANGE, but I’m more scared thinking that my life will be the same forever. Thinking that I’ll never have a lasting life partner and that I’ll always be a slave to a few rich men that take advantage of my talent and work me to the bone paying me well-enough, but not what I’m worth (and definitely not for the hours I put in)…knowing that and still continuing on that same path for the next 30 years…No fucking way!

That ended up being a way scarier thought to me than letting it all go and seeing what happened next.  I think that’s the tipping point – Being so in control of your life and knowing what comes next and not being excited about it.

When you find yourself in that moment…the mundane, humdrum existence where you dread getting out of bed in the morning…you might feel your subconscious tap you on the shoulder and whisper, “Is this really it?”  You can ignore the voice in your head, but I guarantee it will return.  After all, the little whispers are coming from you…they are your larger self.  (Thank you sister for teaching me that.)  And one day your eyes will bug out of your head and you’ll become really aware of what’s NOT happening in your life…that’s when it’s time to do something new.

The key to getting to that “Oprah aha!” moment is self-awareness.

Our lives are too short to not wake up every day excited about something.  I’m sure someone will say, “Well, I’m excited to wear this new skirt I bought on sale at Nordstrom.”  And to that person, I’ll just smile and nod…because they have no idea what I’m talking about.  But, you?  You get it.  If you aren’t excited about a career, a spouse, friend, lover, your family, a hobby, philanthropic work…something meaningful…then you aren’t LIVING*.  (*This is my humble opinion.)

I’ve started visualizing for a few minutes in the morning while I’m lying in bed, or at night before I fall asleep.  I take just a couple of minutes, close my eyes and create a scenario in my head of something I really want.  It’s just a fancy, controlled form of daydreaming.  To give you an example, today I’ve got a second meeting with the CEO of an advertising agency here in Italy that I want to work with.  So, my visualization to prepare for this meeting would look something like this:

I sit down to the meeting…I’m wearing a white top, jeans and my signature cowboy boots since it’s a casual meeting away from the office.  I am confident and prepared.  I order a beer and am relaxed.  The bar is air-conditioned…thank goodness!  I make him laugh.  He is relaxed and comfortable around me.  He finds me intelligent and charming.  He thinks his clients will love me.  He describes the position he wants to create for me at his company.  He agrees to let me spend time working in both the US and Italy.  We discuss work visas and compensation and he assures me it will be no problem.  He asks me to assist on an upcoming project while I’m still in Bologna so we can test out my work compatibility with his team.  We come to a mutually beneficial agreement by the end of the meeting.  I have a new project.  I leave the meeting and go find my friends for a drink to celebrate.

Just play out the scenario as far as you’d like.  And, the more details the better (what the room looks like, who is there, how you feel, the energy in the room…as detailed as you can get to make it feel REAL).  Just daydream and paint the most brilliant picture you can think of in your head.

Does it work?  I can’t give you a 100% “yes”, but it’s fun and it feels good, so who cares?  It’s better than lying in bed at night listening to noises, being frightened and thinking someone might be breaking into your apartment.

I’m now visualizing you visualizing your best life.