Olecia Christie - Launching You: A self-help guide to making lasting change in your life

2020 Olecia Christie

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN: 978-1-0-9830164-4

Why is change hard for us?

Behavioral change moves us away from potentially harmful patterns and habits, offering us more wholesome ones. This kind of meaningful change does not happen in a single event. Many of us desire change but get discouraged when we just cant seem to kick the bad habit or get ahead with our business plans. What we dont know is that change happens when we are intentional. It requires a commitment to the idea that we can be better. We all want change in our lives. In fact, most of us are constantly thinking about what life would be like on the other side of our dreams. The downside to wishful thinking is that inertia kicks in. We become obsessed with our desired future state without ever really going for it. So, we make statements like, Well, one day, I am finally going to

Lose the weight

Launch the business

Write the book

Follow my dream.

This is the intersection of desire and inaction, and it can be a dangerous place. Of course, we want to change. But lets be honest. Change takes work, and getting started is the hardest part. This is why merely wishing to change is not enough. We must be willing to take actionable steps towards change. Dont be discouraged if this does not sound like something you can do on your own. Only a few of us are self-motivated about change. For most of us, this is tough stuff. Thankfully, a desire to be better than the present is the only requirement for succeeding at change.

Sustainable change requires self-exploration and intentionality. We do ourselves a disservice when we dont explore our gifts and abilities. Imagine all the possibilities we miss when we are not operating at our best. Launching You is a self-help guide that explores who we are as individuals and how we can get on a path of meaningful change. It uncovers the idea of unlearning harmful patterns and habits and replacing them with new powerful ones to get us to a place where we are ready to launch.

Through a set of guided exercises and simple summaries, you will take a critical step towards change in your life. The author shares her personal encounters with the topic and offers a wide collection of ideas on how to commit to the path of sustainable change. With an open mind and a desire for change, Christie offers an easy and engaging crash course on launching you.

Things you will need for this exercise:

Blank paper, markers or Sharpies, and ruled sheets or a notebook.

Have you ever been asked this question? What kinds of feelings did it evoke? Having someone ask "who are you?" forces you to come up with a statement of purpose as if to justify your existence and can put you on the defensive, especially if you are uncomfortable talking about yourself.

But what does it mean to have a statement of purpose? For me, identifying purpose is easy since I feel and experience emotions intensely. However, I am aware that this is not the case for everyone. Some people distance themselves from having a purpose as society often limits it to lofty, Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr.-type goals. The reality is that your purpose is uniquely yours, which means that more than having worldly significance, it needs to be about you. Purpose guides us beyond merely existing to living with intention and meaning and can be as effortless as being a great parent.

People who identify parenting as their purpose see it as part of their lifes mission and reason for being. Its what comes naturally to them. This does not mean that they never have a bad moment as a parent. It simply means that they enjoy parenting in spite of the low moments and can identify meaning in every aspect of their relationship with their children. No matter how we arrive at our purpose, we must be willing to engage in some form of self-exploration to get there.

So, who are you? What happens when we ask ourselves this question? Go ahead try it. Personalize it and say, Who am I? Now, sit in that moment. Allow yourself to be present with every emotion, every thought, every feeling. Record your thoughts as they appear to you. Do they appear as words, images, or ideas? Write a list of ten words or phrases that answer the question, Who am I? Review the list in detail and select the top five things that define you, or most importantly, who you want to be. Its okay if this prompts you to rework the list altogether. Take the time you need to come up with five solid descriptors or defining statements that describe you and your aspirations. Dont lose hope if this exercise feels difficult. In a way, its supposed to be.

We engage in a deliberate act of mindfulness when we ask ourselves challenging and sometimes uncomfortable questions. Being mindful means we pay close attention to the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that make up who we are. Its an important action step in establishing identity. Self-knowledge the way we verify identity is essential for self-actualization and growth. Youll need to understand your passions, beliefs, and what makes you tick before you can truly determine who you are.

Once you are done with this exercise, hold on to your list of descriptors; we will revisit them later. But, lets talk about where you are going.

Things you will need for this exercise:

Blank paper, markers or sharpies, and ruled sheets or a notebook.

Where are you going? We often think of this question in the sense of destination, and rightly so. However, in this case, its a deeper reflection of what it means to be our best. In essence, whats the destination of your self-actualization? Exploring this question uncovers the intricate components of who we are as individuals.

Lets take a look at the top five defining statements we settled on at the end of the previous exercise. Think about each statement and how it contributes to the person you want to be. Jot down one to three action steps for each of those defining statements. Once you have laid out the corresponding action steps for your top five defining statements, anchor them to a purpose statement that summarizes your unique position in life. Consider this your personal elevator pitch. Get familiar with this statement. Take some time to practice saying it out loud. A strong belief in your purpose statement is a great way of demonstrating self-confidence and value.

To provide examples, Ive included three of my descriptors with action steps anchored to a purpose statement:

Defining statement 1: I am a supportive mother of two incredible boys.

• Raise my sons to make a difference in the world through their actions, beliefs, and intentions