Kate James - Believe in Yourself and Do What You Love

Praise for Kate James and Total Balance

I absolutely adore Kate. She is a highly skilled, generous, and enormously gifted business coach, especially for those who dont traditionally consider themselves business people.
Clare Bowditch, Big Hearted Business

Kate really walks the talk and is clearly someone who has a great deal of expertise to share. Thank you, Kate!
Robert Gerrish, Flying Solo

Kate James is a generous, creative coach who is passionate about helping others fulfill their dreams and brilliant at helping people move through both inner and outer obstacles.
Elise Bialylew, Founder of Mindful in May

I would not hesitate to recommend Kate James of Total Balance to anyone who has goals and dreams, be it for life or business, that they want to achieve and dont know where to begin, or how to get there.
Jodie Holmes, Director of Seaside Creative

Put simply, working with Kate helped me to get clearwhich has been nothing short of life changing.
Leanne Clancey, Food & Travel Writer

Contents

Introduction

When I was twenty, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

I was still confused at thirty. Mostly, I made choices that were about pleasing other people and looking good to the outside world. It wasnt until my passionate and independent grandmother died in my mid-thirties that it suddenly dawned on me: life is short and I should do what matters to me most. I threw in my marketing degree and started my own business.

I wanted to spend my days helping people, but I didnt know if I could build a business from the ground upbelieving in myself came later.

Within this book, youll find a collection of the things that helped me most. There are tips and exercises to develop your self-belief, and ideas about how to connect with the creative, inspired version of yourself so that you feel ready to start doing the things you love.

Read the book from cover to cover or flick through it at random. You might find just what you need. Carry it around with you for a month and dip in and out of it when you need a reminder that its really not that hard to do things differently.

You just need to make a startlike I did. It was the best decision I ever made.

.How happy are you?

Are you happy with your life?

Answer yes or no to the following questions, then add up how many statements apply to you to see how satisfied you are with the life you are currently living.

I know my strengths and natural talents and how I can use them.

I have a bigger picture purpose in life and know how I will achieve this.

I value creativity and make time to pursue creative interests (even though I may not be a musician or an artist).

I have a clear picture of three important things I would like to achieve in the next twelve months, and I know how I will reach these goals.

I have defined my own version of success.

I know how to keep myself motivated with regard to achieving my goals.

I feel a sense of control over my finances and financial plans.

I love my work and feel that what I do is aligned with my values.

I feel free to communicate in an open and honest way in all of my important relationships.

Others find me inspiring and positive because of the way I live my life.

I know how to say no when I need to.

I make time on a regular basis for my personal development.

I have a supportive network of friends who encourage me to live in accordance with my values.

I feel confident to be myself.

I know how I self-sabotage and I make a conscious effort to overcome those habits.

I have at least one interest or hobby of my own.

I eat a healthy diet, manage alcohol and coffee intake, and exercise at least three times per week.

I make time to do something indulgent or relaxing for myself every week.

I take annual vacations and really unwind.

I feel calm and in control most of the time.

/20

If your score is 15 or over, youre happier than most people! Give this book to someone who needs it more.

Anywhere between 10 and 15, youre doing okay, but you could do with some positive change. Flick through the book for ideas.

The most important thing is getting started, so make sure you complete one action step this week.

If its 10 or below, you might benefit from some support as well as trying the tips included here.

2.Be mindful

Before you can truly start believing in yourself and doing what you love, you need to become aware of how youre not believing in yourself and doing what you love right now. You can do that simply by becoming more mindful.

Being mindful means paying attention to what youre thinking, saying, and doing. It sounds easy, doesnt it? But youd be amazed at how absentminded we become in modern life. We tend to think of the next thing, the last thing, the worst thing, anything but the thing were actually supposed to be engaged with at that very moment.

When you create the headspace to step back and look at your life in a mindful way, youll often discover a different perspective and become better able to identify the things that matter.

Mindful people have the capacity to look at their lives objectively.

They know how to keep their emotions in check, they dont judge themselves too harshly, and they can make wise, practical choices about how to move forwardparticularly when life doesnt go to plan.

Learning to be mindful begins with slowing down to pay attention to whats happening in the given moment. Start here.

Drink a glass of water and think to yourself, I am drinking a glass of water. Now youre being mindful.

Just be aware of what youre doing at any given moment. Ask yourself what youre doing throughout the day if that helps. I am writing an email/I am waiting for a friend/I am at the bar/I am walking in nature/I am eating a sandwich/I am putting my childs seatbelt on.

You might set yourself little reminders like these to slow down and be in the moment. And when you are in the moment, ask yourself:

What matters most to me at this point in my life?

. Everyone is creative

Give a four-year-old a box of crayons and a sheet of paper and hell happily draw his family, house, garden (and a dog or cat, even if he doesnt have one).

Without a well-developed inner critic, he has a fundamental capacity for imagination and creativity.

Ask the same of a twelve-year-old and if he feels he has innate talent, hell complete the task with confidence, but if not hell most likely resist the offer.

Unless youve participated in creative activity in your adult life, you probably shy away from it too. Maybe you tell yourself youre not naturally creative.