This two word question may not seem like a lot to you but the impact it could have on your life and your business is HUGE!
At the beginning of this year, I identified a one-word theme for the year: Accountable. For some being accountable is easy. For others, it depends on the subject matter whether or not we can be accountable. It is easy to be accountable in my Weight Watchers program but it is WAY more difficult to be accountable in my life – business and personal. 
It may not sound like an exciting word, but I sensed in my spirit it was a word which could transform my life. Talking about stepping out of my comfort zone!!!
It is not necessarily the word “accountable” in itself as it is what each line stands for…
Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is “it is okay to ask for help and not assume others will know you need help”. Miss Independent thought everyone was on my page so they knew what I needed when I needed it. SMACK! So not the truth. Another big AHA was “consistency will lead to success”. As a result, I will be cruising to the Bahamas in September courtesy of Thirty One Gifts.
So where does “what if” come in, right? I know you all think I squirreled. Well maybe but the truth is those two words can help you to dream what the future can hold for you.
I want you to consider a persistent challenge you face – one you’d be willing to make a major life change in order to resolve it once and for all.
Here’s the process proposed by Valerie Burton to help you reach for those dreams:
1. Identify the challenge. What is your challenge? Is your calendar to hectic? Are you miserable in your career or hate your job? Have you stretched yourself too thin financially as a result of too many credit cards?
2. Ask yourself a “What if?” question to force yourself to imagine a solution which will radically change your circumstance and eliminate the problem, not just pacify it? “What if you didn’t schedule anything on your weekends and gave yourself room to relax and be spontaneous?” “What if you phased out your current career and finally pursued the career you really want?” “What if you dramatically cut your expenses so you have the freedom to work less or do something different?” Write down as many “What if?” scenarios as you can. Make them bold. Make them authentic. Write scenarios which excite you.
This may be a little different for you. We usually let fear control our “what ifs” like…”What if I fail?:, “What if I’m not good enough?”. It is those what if questions which leave your paralyzed in fear and keep you from moving forward. If they are that powerful, what if you used those same questions to see radically new positive possibilities.
3. What choices or shifts would move you in the direction of your most compelling “What if?” possibility?
Now you have a list of questions, which one is most compelling? Start there. Then begin to ponder the types of choices and decisions which would move you towards the possibility. When your dreams come from “What if?” scenarios are the real desires of your heart. Maybe they are the possibilities you simply need to give yourself permission to pursue. They may be short or long term goals but chances are they are more long-term goals. Don’t let it discourage you. Brainstorm and get a game plan in place. Talk to others and if it feels like the right goal, set it then make a timeline to start moving towards it.
I challenge you to explore your possibilities by creating and answering at least three “What if?” questions to help you see your possibilities for resolving your most persistent problem. Scary, right? You can do this, I believe in you!
Can’t come up with your own questions? Try one or all of these:
- What if you were entirely debt free – no credit card debt, no loans, no mortgage? What choices could you put in place to lead you to this reality?
- What if you stopped trying to prove a point in your most difficult relationship(s)? How would things shift for you if you simply refused to spend your energy debating?
- What if your schedule was entirely up to you to determine? What would change for you? What opportunity could bring this reality to life? What choices would position you for such an opportunity?
Let us hear from you… what is your “what if” question or questions? Share them with us.
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 