15. How to Get Unstuck From an Ordinary Life: Be Wise Not Safe

How many times have you had perfect plans crumble before your eyes because some unforeseen circumstance ruined everything! I know!

Hi, I'm Lisa Barry, a radio DJ who's been in pursuit of a fabulous life for 20 years and I'm here to help you get unstuck from an average life and give you the tools and secrets to create a fabulous one.

Obstacles are the worst! They get in your way and mess everything up. It's true! And if you're going to make progress in your Fabulous life, you'll need to identify some of the obstacles that are keeping you unable to move forward. We've already made solid progress by identifying what we want, what we don't want and what we bring to the table (If you haven't done that yet, click here). Without phase one, phase two isn't possible.

Even if you have phase one perfectly crafted, you might still be stuck because you're too safe. Now I'm not suggesting you be reckless by any means, but sometimes our fear of the future, making wrong decisions and second-guessing ourselves is paralyzing. THAT is a very defeating way to live.

Instead of being "safe" be "wise". Safe says, I'm not going to attempt anything that has risk associated with it. Safe says I won't do anything that isn't 100% guaranteed not to fail. That is safe but it's not prudent. Not to mention the fact that there is no 100% safe step. Everything has risk but remember, that risk can go in both directions. If you make your goal to be "wise" then you'll step beyond "safe" and ask yourself how to creatively mitigate any of the obstacles that come up. Our goal here is to move forward carefully, wisely and mindfully, but still moving forward..

Here's the biggest reason most people never realize their Fabulous Life: They never go beyond the dream stage. It's as though they're standing on the edge of a dried up, weed-infested island, looking across the water at another island that's lush and thriving and fascinating. They insist one day they're going to live there but all they do is lament their current circumstances and their inability to change them.

What they need to do is to make a plan, build a boat, build a bridge, charter a plane, learn to swim, anything that's going to move the needle. If you're going to create the life you want, you'll need a plan. You might be thinking, "well, that's the whole problem! I don't know what to do or how to get there?" That's fine. Start somewhere.

.For example, if you want to be your own boss someday, you're going to have to take small steps toward that. Take some classes, get a degree, watch a series of YouTube videos, get a mentor, work extra hours, and eventually leave the security of a job where you are on someone else's payroll. Being "safe" will keep putting those things off. Being "wise" will have you putting together a roadmap where you go from one stepping stone to the next, within the security of the job you have now and you'll make progress toward your vision. That's the goal.

Let's talk about some of those obstacles. What if you don't have a cent to your name. Then what? You can learn just about anything on YouTube if you search long enough. Don't have a computer? Use your smart phone. Don't have a smart phone? Use a computer at the library. The internet has opened opportunities to people around the world with very few resources. You might as well capitalize on it tool!

What if you don't know what you want to do in life, but you know it's not what you're currently doing? I would recommend two things to start scratching that itch. The first I mentioned before in an earlier lesson. Strengthsfinder 2.0. I would also encourage you to take the Enneagram. Both of those websites ask you a bunch of questions, not right or wrong questions, but in an effort to discover how you tick, how you respond and your tendencies. Then, when you're done with the test, they tell you things about your personality that are uncannily spot on. THEN, they tell you what people who have your same giftings and personality are doing. I've found both of these very helpful in the pursuit of a Fabulous life.

So as you encounter obstacles, reframe them as speed-bumps and tell ask yourself how you might navigate over the speed bump. Brainstorm creative ideas, ask other people, do an internet search. Don't be safe. Safe is stuck. Be wise.