It’s that Wow time of year when nature turns dramatic, golden and glowing. It’s also the time when we can harness the energy of change and celebrate.
This month as we head up towards Christmas I want to shine a warm glow on the power of planning. Oh no the P word and the C word in the same sentence! Stick with me and hold onto the warm glow picture.

In this issue:

The Power of the Three P's
Motivation Magic
Good Books & Stuff

Inspirational Quotes

The Power of the Three P's

Is it really possible to continue building your business or career and get ready for Christmas? Can you really keep everything going all at once?

You can if you plan! read more I used to be such a procrastinator and the longer I put things off the harder it was to get started. Have you noticed how heavy you start to feel when you procrastinate and how lack lustre life becomes? A tip I learned was do the hardest thing first. It really works.

So if the hardest thing for you is planning (too busy, no time, won’t work for me) remember the saying, ‘if you do what you always do, you’ll get what you’ve got.’ If you want to create the life/career/business/Christmas you want, put the power of the 3 P’s to the test .

What are they? Planning, Preparation and Process. This formula works for all aspects of life. So whether you go away to get away from Christmas, or you love all the build up, mistletoe and mince pies you can use the 3 P formula.

Planning

Make a date with yourself. Book time out and write it in your diary (an hour is a good start). If there’s no time, get up an hour earlier or leave the TV off button switched off! In effect what I’m saying here is make yourself important.

Use your planning time to take a step back, to look at the bigger picture of you and what you’re wanting to focus on: it could be to really enjoy Christmas this year and not feel it’s a chore to be got through. Is your business calling you to play a bigger game? Is it time to at least think about moving your career forward? Do you want to spend more time at home with the family.

This is your thinking time. Use it the way that works best for you, doodle, draw, mind map, make a list, you choose.

Here are some prompt questions:

• What do I want?
• Who is this for?
• What will it achieve?
• How will I do it?
• Who with?
• When?

The answers to these questions will form the basis for the next stage, creating an action plan.

Preparation

This is the fun part. Now you’re clear about what you want, why you want it, what the benefits will be and you’ve listed the steps you’ll take, you’re ready to put dates and time lines in place. Again blocking out time will bring your feet back to earth. More questions may get raised, such as-is this practical? When can I fit this in? Do I need to get help?

Process

Once the action plan is in place and you take the first step you have begun the journey, that’s the start of the process. This is you creating your action plan in and amongst the rest of your life.

A tip here is be realistic, allow yourself time. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. There may be highs and lows as you implement your action plan. This cycle will need to be repeated on a regular basis. You’ll need to review your action plan regularly, it may need revising and modifying as it evolves.

Planning, preparing and process are the keys to creating space in your head, calm, inner peace, a life you love. Why not make the 3 P’s your gift to yourself?

Look out for the January issue of Stepping Into the Magic of You when I’ll be showing you how to achieve magical meaningful goals.

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Motivation Magic

Do you tell yourself you’re too busy to plan? Do you think planning stifles spontaneity and creativity, yet you feel overwhelmed or exhausted a lot of the time? Planning can ease you back to feeling calm and centred Here’s a cunning plan to quieten those inner critic voices of doubt, resistance and cynicism often called the gremlins in coaching circles.

Everything starts with a thought. Your home, the business you’re involved in both originated from an idea. How about creating your own positive thoughts about how you want to be and the kind of life you want to have?

Here’s a quick and simple way to tap into your intuitive knowing and start, or maybe reinforce your dreams, ambitions or goals. Relax, drop those shoulders, remembering your plan go back to it and imagine the finished project. Just imagine you did it! You made it happen!

In your imagination answer these questions:

• Where are you?
• What’s going on?
• Are others with you?
• How are you feeling?
• What’s important to you in this success?
• What will it give you?
• Who did you have to be to achieve your vision?

By creating a strong picture and identifying the benefits you’ll gain you’re creating leverage, power and the fuel to create motivation magic!

Good Books & Stuff

'First Things First' by Stephen Covey
He gets to the heart of what matters.

'Taming Your Gremlins' by Richard Carson 
This is a brilliant book in helping to identify your inner critics and strategies to dissipate their power over you.

'Shift Happens!' By Robert Holden

See more details on these and other books on my books page

For more inspiration on personal transformation have a look at Robert Holden’s website, it’s crammed full of wonderful stuff.  www.happiness.co.uk

Inspirational Quotes

Plans are nothing; planning is everything.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Meticulous planning will enable everything a man does to appear spontaneous.

Mark Cain

I’d love to hear what gifts you’ll be giving yourself this Christmas.  If you would like to use this newsletter to give fellow readers a Christmas gift or some motivation magic of your own, please hit the reply button and share them in the Christmas edition. Please email me by 1st December.

Be magical and shine!