Its Time to Get Out of the Box

"It is never too late to be what you might have been. "(George Eliot)

I have found that truly successful people surround themselves with the support that makes them excel. Over years of working with clients I have found that people struggle when they put their businesses and their lives in a self-imposed limiting box and keep doing the same things over and over again.

So what I do it is help people dismantle that box ? the attitudes, ideas, beliefs, choices and strategies that keep them limited ? and I teach them how to connect to the full range of their talents, abilities and resources so that they can bring that immensity and excitement back into their daily planning and choices.

I define a limiting box as any idea of yourself or the world, any attitude, any language you use, any belief or any experience that diminishes you in anyway or robs you of your personal power and prevents you from moving forward in the world.

Living in these boxes keeps us within what we already know ? we repeat the same habitual actions hoping for a better result and end up disillusioned and feeling stuck. In order to live the best life possible for yourself you have to master the skill of moving into the unknown. The unknown is really anything outside of the box that we have created from past experiences, beliefs and ideas. It is where fresh opportunity, excitement and more satisfaction reside.

Over and over again in working with new clients we uncover the ways in which they are creating difficulty for themselves by not even seeing the opportunities that are right in front of them ? just slightly outside of their box. Often, they feel frustrated in their efforts and even give up on doing what they love most. In doing this they turn away from what could bring their greatest reward.

Here are some symptoms of living "in the box":

• Frustration

• Anger

• Lack of energy or motivation

• Feeling stuck

• Resentment

• Lack of creativity

• Disorganization

• Cynicism

• Not doing what you love

• Boredom

• A sense of failure

• Despair

There are many boxes that people create for themselves. Here are a few of them:

1.The box of language ? the I'm not or you're not good enough box.

Language is a powerful tool. How we use it both describes and begins to structure our experience for us.

Every time you use language that diminishes you or others ? "That was stupid of me",

"I'm never going to make this work", "life it just too hard"?..etc, etc. ? we strengthen the walls of the box we are in.

2. The box of familiar actions ? the I'm safe if I don't try anything-new box.

Our actions can either open new doorways for us or keep us in the same groove we are familiar with. Someone described his experience of this lately. He said that it is like going down a dead-end street and then having to turn around and come back again over and over again? wasting a whole lot of energy and time in the process. After doing this a number of times people often give up. Seeing and acting outside of the box can allow you a different perspective from which to connect the dots.

3. The box of blame ? the I have no power box.

Many people insist on blaming their circumstances, the financial markets, their spouse, dog or anyone else for the situation they are in. Until you can recognize and identify the ways you are perpetuating this box and take responsibility it is very difficult to make real progress. Granted externals have an impact but recognizing how you create a box out of circumstances allows you the power and energy to begin moving out of it.

4. The box of negative expectation ? the I know that the same thing is going to happen box.

When faced with something you don't know notice if you expect either something negative to happen or expect that what you have experienced before will repeat itself. Many people use this as a way to move away from their fear of change and keep the status quo in place. They would rather stay with the known pain than risk something new. The unknown I am talking about has all the possibility in it ? if we project our negative or limiting expectations on it there is no room for anything new. Imagine what would happen if this box didn't hold you!

What are your favorite boxes and what might happen in your personal or professional life if you were guided out of those boxes? Often it is hard for us to do it alone. Sometimes we can't even identify where we are stuck without a fresh set of very interested eyes.

Coaching can offer you that new vantage point, that broader view and the support and tools needed to move outside your BOX.

About The Author

Connie Butler is a personal and professional coach working with individuals and groups to clarify their greatest vision and cultivate its successful realization ? moving them past their growth frontier into new territory. She is available for personal or professional coaching, seminars and can be reached at 305-534-1119 or connie@conniebutler.biz. Ms. Butler appears on Entertainment News and Views On-The-Air on Waxy Radio 790AM between 5-7pm every second Friday.

connie@conniebutler.biz

---

Turning Obstacles Into Blessings

"Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life... Read More

7 Things Sapping Your Creativity Right Now

This was a very easy article to write. I was... Read More

Overcoming Artists Block (part 2)

Once you are ready to start working again you will... Read More

Rejuvenate & Re-Fuel Your Inner Drive

I believe that as solo-entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives we... Read More

In between Luck & Effort

I have one magical thought, lets see it more closely.... Read More

Mindfulness and Music: Things That Go Hmmm

Shhh... can you hear it?One of the most powerful forms... Read More

Top Ten Reasons To Start Creativity Coaching

DEVELOP YOUR ARTISTIC CONFIDENCE I'd really like to write but... Read More

Dancing On Your Brain: The Cha-Cha Effect

My grandmother used to say that the secret to living... Read More

A Question of Time and Memory

I have been struck recently by a number of questions... Read More

True Power Series Part I. Visualization: Image Production and Verbal Thought

(5 minutes a day) There is no limit to what... Read More

Break An Egg For Creativity

In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More

What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life

After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched... Read More

A Quick Course in Creativity

This quick course in creativity is designed to give you... Read More

Creativity Isnt Just About Art It Is About Healing

Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More

Creating Reality ? Discovering the Magician Within

We all create our own reality each and every day,... Read More

Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success

What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the... Read More

Story and Screenplay Structure

Structure is beneficial to creative output in a number of... Read More

Riches Through Creative Thinking!

When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More

Creative Drought

For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's... Read More

Are You Creative?

Have you ever heard the saying, "The harder I work,... Read More

Dare to Dream

Have you ever thought of this? When you were young... Read More

Push The Right Button

You can live a much more successful life than you... Read More

SoulCollage - Combining Collage Fun with Spiritual Practice

SoulCollage? is a unique blend of spiritual practice and the... Read More

Sharing Our Creative Work with Others

In my "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, I ask the question:"What's... Read More

Characteristics: Creative Types VS Clods!

Here are some odds & ends I have observed in... Read More

Courage and Creating

Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage... Read More

Creativity Management ? Don?t Write, Rewrite

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Being Creative is Essential for Online Success

Do you have a strategy that ensures your online business... Read More

Get your Creative Juices Flowing

Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard SolutionsThe creative arts enhance our... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail!

There is no sure fire route to commercial success but... Read More

Self-Care for Creative Artists: 5 Ways to Start Today

Self-care is the path to creative expression. By paying closer... Read More

What is Creativity?

Here in England September represents the end of Summer and... Read More

Creative Memory Tricks

What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use... Read More