Isn’t it interesting to see what is behind the scenes in the images we see in life?
I work with speakers, authors, and brands who teach, serve, and support individuals to grow themselves, their businesses and their families. Social media so often presents a “perfect image” of what that person, business or brand should look like, but real life is much messier….and is an important part of creating success!
During a recent photo shoot with the ultra talented Sheri Oneal Photography, I was kindly invited into the home of my dear friend Cindy Laverty. Cindy, a life coach for well able women, and the writer behind DiscoveringFranklin.com and co-founder of Franklin Flannels, the hip new brand in Franklin, Tennessee, is simply an amazing person. Sheri Oneal and I have worked together on a few lovely projects over the years, and I admire her takes on corporate photography, her personal writing at Thinking Diva, and in general, am simply smitten with all she does. As a photographer Sheri listens carefully to her client’s needs and then keeps the shoots fun and easy. My goal was to have a new set of headshots so that I looked like “me.” I’ve recently changed realms in my personal and professional life and shed a good bit of “I have to’s” from my life and traded them in for “this is my joy” and I wanted my pictures to reflect that. 
Cindy’s little dog was so sweet as the executive producer of the entire shoot!
Isn’t deciding that we’re enough as we are, empowering? After all if God designed me, why not realize I am a Creator original?
Choosing to be enough has surely has been empowering for me. Too many years I worked daily on why I wasn’t enough instead of supporting where I am strong and where my gifts flow more freely. Can you relate? About December 27th I realized that at 51 years old it was time to live my best life this year. 2015 was an amazing year, partly due to new perspectives learned in Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever program. When we focus daily on tasks before us with a lens of what matters most to go forward miraculous things happen. In my life that meant saying no to more things that were ” guilt driven should’s” in my head instead of “this is taking me where I want to go.” The year was messy, but marvelous as I said “no” to more activities that we not fulfilling my life goals and said “yes” to more activities, thinking and actions that mattered for my family’s and personal success.
Are you staging your daily life for success? Are you trying to work without proper lighting, reflections and an environment for your best result? Like taking a picture with poor lighting, a life without a vision is simply not as in focus. My hope for you this day is you’ll take a moment this week to truly sit down and make three columns.
What is working for me?
What is frustrating me?
What would my ideal day look like?
Those three questions really changed my life last year and are a part of my weekly review each Sunday night as I plan my week. I hope you’ll join me! I’ve got an exciting process that will begin after Valentine’s day where you can join me in in a supportive environment if you, too, would like to be in a community of supportive voices!
Thanks to my friends, and for the skills they bring to the table as professionals in their area, my shoot was fun and painless, it surely helps to hire the professionals you need for the job at hand!