(surprise — it’s NOT about willpower or hard work!)

We grow up hearing words of wisdom like:

“Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration“ – Thomas Edison
“Willpower is the key to success“– Dan Millman

Well, they’re WRONG.

It’s a good thing, too, because you’ve probably noticed you can’t always count on your “willpower,” and frankly, you just don’t like “hard work” — even if you’re a hard worker.

Indeed you may have had the unpleasant experience of working really hard on something you want — like weight loss, a business, or a dream — and being really determined, yet failing all the same…

Does this mean you must be an idiot, or a lazy, bad person?  No, of course not!
It just means you missed one, or more, of the 6 Secrets that Supercharge Success.

People who are highly successful intuitively apply these 6 Secrets, without being aware of the process they’ve used to succeed. I only discovered the 6 Secrets myself when I interviewed some of my clients a year or two after they’d done vision board workshops with me.

Talking to them, I noticed something interesting: those who fulfilled their dreams and manifested everything on their vision boards, had applied the same 6 Secrets.  And of those who didn’t succeed, or only partially succeeded, all missed 1 or more of the Secrets.   Apparently all 6 Secrets are needed to make the difference between flourishing success, beyond your imagining… and failure.

Which of these 6 Secrets That Supercharge Success have you been leaving out?

(We’ll be delving into the 6 Secrets, and applying them, in my 6 month “Grow Your Dreams Intensive” starting in June.)

Secret #1  Plant the SEED.

Get clarity about what you truly want and who you authentically are — your big vision — with visioning tools.

Stay focused and inspired by creating a visual reminder (vision board, “Possibility Portrait”).   Then create intentions & creative projects aligned with your vision.

This clarity, focus & inspiration is the seed for everything.

Secret #2  Build the SOIL.

Create conditions that nurture the changes you desire — with practices, social support, rituals, and structural  changes that make these changes easy. No more frustration, or beating yourself up!

• Practices: supportive activities you do daily or weekly, like meditation, exercise, journaling, eating healthily, scheduling time to pay bills or be out in nature;
• Social support could be a Mastermind group, a virtual assistant, coach or mentor, exercise buddy, joint venture partner, trusted confidants, a loving partner ;
• Rituals: symbolic actions or ceremonies that mark (or create) a shift from one stage or state to another. Rituals can be as simple as your morning coffee that tells you “time to get to work”, or as elaborate and meaningful as a milestone birthday party or graduation ceremony;
• Structural changes in your environment, such as a better filing system, clearing out junk, setting up an altar or meditation area, reorganizing your office, creating a studio space in your home.

Secret #3 WATER.

Take action aligned with your big vision — persistently, purposefully, patiently, playfully! –  to bring it to life.  (Without purposeful action regularly “watering” your vision, your vision is just a fantasy and will never become real.)

There are many ways to take action. What’s key is to break bigger actions down into bite-sized, manageable chunks, and keep taking actions in your stretch zone, where you’re a bit uncomfortable or even slightly scared. (Stay in your comfort zone = no progress; stretch too far = panic zone and overwhelm!)

Secret #4  WEED.

Uproot the limiting beliefs and situations that hold you back. The first step is to notice that you have beliefs, and perhaps situations, that are stopping you on multiple levels from fulfilling your dreams.

To uproot them, address the 4 levels on which they effect you:

• mentally.  “Reframe” limiting beliefs and positions, with tools like Byron Katie’s “The Work,” Landmark Education exercises, or affirmations used with a vision board.
• emotionally. Working with images can be very effective here. Some tools: dream work; “Re-seeing” vision boards;  using archetypes, symbols, or animal totems in creative expression — art work, dance, mask-making, acting exercises;
• physically. Take action in the face of fear; use massage or other bodywork to move through emotional blocks; take challenges such as a high ropes course or walking on hot coals;
• energetically. Tools: Reiki, Kundalini yoga, Shamballa, healing energy work, shamanic journeys…

Secret #5. FEED.

Use feedback to focus and deepen your growth and your vision. Seek 3 types of feedback: from Source or your inner wisdom; from people who support your growth & vision; and visual feedback.

• Feedback from Source: Tools: “Tracking” to confirm that you’re on track with your big vision; prayer; “Active Imagination” journaling; meditation.
• Feedback from trusted people such as a coach, mentor, Mastermind group, advisors, or sacred circle. Brainstorm solutions together; seek suggestions; make yourself accountable to take uncomfortable — but liberating — actions;
• Visual feedback is any way to see progress toward goals. Examples: keep chart of “how did I do today?” for goal, practice, or intention; write action steps on Post-It notes and move them to “Accomplished!” poster as you complete them.

Secret #6. HARVEST.

Truly receive all the goodness in your life!  Give thanks for results received, celebrate accomplishments big and small, practice gratitude and acknowledgement daily.

The more you do this, the more there is to receive…

Want to see what’s the most strategic thing you can do to grow your dreams?

Apply for a *FREE* “Grow Your Dreams” Strategy Session: Click here to fill out the form!

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 5:53 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.