how "to be" present during the Holiday Season……

Last week, as you may have seen, I was asked to do a presentation at JP Morgan Chase in NYC. I spoke to a live audience and was broadcasted globally to over 1,700 employees at their desks! JP Morgan has offices all over the world -- I received numerous emails with wonderful feedback from those as far as Bermuda and London!

Sounds awesome, right? Exciting? Invigorating? Purposeful? Top-of-the-world?

YES to all, and more.

Scared? Doubtful? Anxious? Worried?

YES to all of that, too, and more!

Public Speaking is something that lights my fire, fills my cup and truly invigorates me! For years I have been manifesting the opportunity to speak to large groups of people; sharing my knowledge and expertise on Health and Wellness.

The title of my presentation was: 3 Simple Life Changing Ways to Shift your Mindset. I know this topic inside and out, and of course am very passionate about sharing that knowledge. So why was I nervous, doubting my ability, and anxious that I may fall during my presentation? I kept thinking...

What if I fainted? What if I blanked on the material? What if my information did not resonate with the audience? What if the audience was bored or did not believe in what I was offering? Holy Shit!!!! (Pardon my French!)

And, by the way, I had five months to prepare for this. Writing, re-writing, editing, re-editing, adding, subtracting, index cards, more index cards, less index cards… you name it -- I was in the throes of preparation.

I even spent the plane ride from LA to NYC re-reading and continuing to memorize my index cards… no sleep, no personal reading, no watching Netflix… it was ALL about my presentation. Until I had to let it go...

Let go of my TO DO list and move deeper into my TO BE list!

TO Do vs. to be

What does that mean? Most days (or every day & waking moment if we’re not careful!), we are moving through life as DOERS. Going from one activity to the next… checking off the boxes, which is a feel-good activity -- so accomplished and complete! Then, the next day we get right to that TO DO list again… and maybe it’s even longer than the day before.

Then what???? It keeps repeating with no end in sight.

All the doing takes us away from the present moment; from being conscious of what life really has to offer.

TO DO is all about getting a task done and receiving instant gratification.

TO BE offers long term fulfillment.

Let’s explore this. Could you imagine if you listed your TO DO’s and then next to them listed HOW YOU WANT TO BE?

I find that -- especially around the holidays -- we lose sight of how we want to be (jolly, present, grateful) because what we want to DO becomes so BIG and takes over.

So, here is a great exercise that I personally practice as well as have my private clients practice:

Click here to Download my To Do Vs. To Be Worksheet!

Now, back to my presentation. How did I shift my mindset of the FEAR + DOUBT into feeling prepared, confident, and capable?

I put aside all of my index cards filled with presentation notes and decided to only bring my TO BE list to the stage.

Here it is:

This card not only graced my podium during the presentation... but, yes, was the ONLY card I brought up there.

As I said earlier, once we have prepared and know that we have given it our all, it is time to focus on how we want TO BE!

I reminded myself only of how TO BE… grounded, impeccable with my word, standing tall, brilliant, breathing and clear… so those became the foundation to my confidence, self-esteem, and belief in myself for the success of the presentation.

Using a TO BE list as a powerful tool will begin to shift your mindset into your vision of how you REALLY want to show up in this world. Start with this mindful practice…...

Once you take the time to show up for yourself, you have the opportunity to show up for others!

With a full heart, Happy Holidays!! XO,