Tag Archives: Growth

Are you Manufacturing Relevance?

By Amira Alvarez Playing at the same level…We all know when we’re there. We can feel it.Blah. Bland. Listless. A life dialed in.The things that used to challenge us to grow we’ve done enough times that even those “uncomfortable risks” are now squarely in our comfort zone.And yet we often stay there… comfortable. Now…
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Coaching, Inspiration, Mindset, Unstoppable, , , , ,

Playing at the same level…

We all know when we’re there. We can feel it.

Blah. Bland. Listless. A life dialed in.

The things that used to challenge us to grow we’ve done enough times that even those “uncomfortable risks” are now squarely in our comfort zone.

And yet we often stay there… comfortable. 

Now there’s nothing wrong with a life of ease and grace but not if it’s at the expense of growth.

Growth is a calling. 

We crave it. 

And the ambitious are especially good at actualizing it–undeterred, driven, focused. 

We know that “if you’re not growing you’re dying.”

And this often leads, sadly, to a manufacturing of activity and stress.

Stuff to do, projects to pursue, businesses to create… to fill a void when we don’t know where we want to grow next or how to do it differently.

We even (on more than one occasion if you’re honest) fool ourselves into “brilliant ideas” to stay busy… occupied… relevant.

Why?

Because true growth requires breaking free of how we’ve always done things and owning your deepest wants and desires…

Is not expedient. It takes time.

Is not obvious. It’s nuanced.

Is not what you’ve been habituated to. It’s the unknown.

It will call into question your relationship with yourself and others. 

It will force a radical shift in approach. 

It will challenge you– heart, mind, and soul. 

And yet… 

After success the way we’ve always created it, through the power of our will and the focus of our intellect, it is what we are craving.

So I ask you…

What if relevance, to yourself and others, didn’t come with manufactured occupation? 
What if your projects met your heart’s desires?
What if your activity included the breadth and depth of who you are?
What if living into your growth could come with spaciousness?

What if you could create an exquisite life?

———

Want to experience more as an Unstoppable Woman?

Be sure to check out the Unstoppable Woman podcast. If you’re ready to step into an exquisite life, schedule a call to discuss how we can help.

The Choice of Satisfaction

By Amira Alvarez What drives you?For me it’s many things…Growth, freedom, money, and impact among other both mundane and lofty desires.But sometimes I’m driven by frustration. Let me give you an example…My assistant gave me 2 days' notice on Friday. She has been an amazing part of my team so this was a bit…
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Coaching, Inspiration, Mindset, Unstoppable, , , , ,

What drives you?

For me it’s many things…

Growth, freedom, money, and impact among other both mundane and lofty desires.

But sometimes I’m driven by frustration. 

Let me give you an example…

My assistant gave me 2 days’ notice on Friday. She has been an amazing part of my team so this was a bit out of character for her. (I still love her but c’mon!)

Needless to say, this initially caused a lot of WTF mental activity…

I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t a bit frustrated.

(Thank gawd for SOPs and my amazing Team, as the handoff all happened seamlessly. Totally grateful.) 

I got on my Peloton rower to let off some steam and you know what? I had the best 20 minute row EVER. Yep. Faster and harder than ever before.

That frustration channeled into the row turned into something incredibly satisfying. 

Hmmm… I transmuted that energy.  

And it made me realize we do that all the time. 

We take something negative and turn it into something positive.

We turn our frustration about being ignored into fame.
We turn our frustration about being poor into prosperity.
We turn our frustration about our weight into athleticism. 

But not everyone does this, of course.

But more importantly, not everyone who has transmuted a frustrated energy into a satisfying success does it with ALL things.

There are aspects of one’s life where we don’t make that shift.

Hmmm… where do you successfully turn your frustrations into satisfactions? And where do you not?

I know that when I was making in the low 6-figures ($138k to be exact), I was really frustrated by working really hard and not making as much money as I wanted.

That frustration and that desire were both strong enough that I transmuted that into business success. 

Once the business started making 7-figures year over year, my frustration became one of time and focus and I transmuted that into a more spacious life, working on the purposeful and key things that I love.

My frustration in the realm of relationships I transmuted into an exquisite relationship. 

And so on…

But here’s the rub…

In each case, in order to transmute my frustration into a satisfying success, I needed to shift my focus/energy and pour it into something satisfying. 

I needed to focus and put my energy on FINDING SATISFACTION, someplace, anyplace, rather than on the frustration.

Because satisfaction breeds success.

And it just doesn’t work any other way.

For instance, I noticed I was carrying some extra pounds. Call it menopause. Call it new relationship love weight. It doesn’t really matter. 

I was frustrated. But you know what?

When I stayed focused on how frustrating this was, all that happened was an increase in weight. Frustration breeds frustration.

When I focused on how satisfying my new rower was, with all the short 10-minute strength classes that I can fit in whenever I want, I started to get success. 

And it’s in that choice, when you choose to go find satisfaction, where the transmutation starts.

———

Want to experience more as an Unstoppable Woman?

Be sure to check out the Unstoppable Woman podcast. If you’re ready to step into an exquisite life, schedule a call to discuss how we can help you step into your next level of growth.  

Embracing Growth: 2024’s Habits of Presence, Gratitude, and Connection

By Amira Alvarez Last year I really worked on creating some beautiful manifestations. This required building new habits.Dare I say that one of them was meditating every day? I know, I know. If you’re not in the meditation habit, it feels impossible.But the effort is so worthwhile and unleashes whole worlds of possibility.This year…
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Coaching, Goals, Mindset, Unstoppable, , , , ,

Last year I really worked on creating some beautiful manifestations. This required building new habits.

Dare I say that one of them was meditating every day? 

I know, I know. If you’re not in the meditation habit, it feels impossible.

But the effort is so worthwhile and unleashes whole worlds of possibility.

This year the habits I’m creating are a jumping off point from this practice.

They are habits of presence and connection.

Some are simple and just require a bit of discipline, while others are going to require a bigger investment in myself of time and attention.

Here’s my list…

  1. Eating lunch without working.

    This is a simple one but my desire to maximize my time always seems to hook me back to the phone or the iPad while I’m eating lunch. What I truly desire is a full and complete break that allows my eyes to relax and my nervous system to reset. When I do this, my energy for everything soars. 

  2. Releasing the mental noise around food.

    I don’t know about you but I’ve been having a somewhat unhealthy conversation in my head about food since I was probably 7 years old. What gives on that? I’m so done with it. I’m ready to fully release this and stop letting it take up space in my head. This is one of those habits that is going to take some serious discipline.

  3. Transitioning out of the work day with a walk.

    I do this many days but not all days. It’s such a great transition for me. Although I love  a glass of wine, I realized years ago that it was so easy to use it as a daily de-stressor. Getting outside with the pup (and sometimes the man) is so refreshing and is one of those “ticks multiple boxes” habits: transition from work to evening, fresh air and sunlight, connection with nature, exercise, and connection.

  4. No rushing, scramble, or waiting until the last moment.

    I’ve made GREAT progress on this but still find myself on occasion waiting to make that cup of tea until the last minute and then being late to a team meeting. Or trying to get one last thing done and then needing to rush to the appointment. So. Done. With. This. Which leads to…

  5. Ease and grace in day to day living.

    This too I do mostly well and then I find myself reverting back to trying to fit too much into my day. The habit here is consciously paring back and setting fewer appointments or expectations for the day. And as you’d imagine, I actually get more quality work done, with more spaciousness. 

  6. Giving more. Loving more.

    How can I give today? How can I love today? These are two simple questions I plan to ask myself every day. This is giving and loving unconditionally, without any expectation of reciprocation. This is giving and loving even if no one knows or notices. This is giving and loving in small and large ways. Just writing this feels amazing.

  7. Daily gratitude and appreciation.

    I’m regularly reminded of how powerful gratitude and appreciation are. Whenever I go on a rampage of appreciation, whether it’s first thing in the morning, before I go to bed at night, or when driving in the car… my vibration rises. It connects me with how awe-inspiring life is.

  8. Aligning with my soul.

    This one ought to be simple but all the conditioning of life sure does get in the way. What I know is that when I tune in, listen, and follow my soul’s guidance, I am so much happier. Raising my ability to translate its message and calibrate my thoughts and actions with its direction is where the big payoff is going to come from.

  9. Stacking days of high vibration.

    Not letting anything take me off my game to lower my vibration. That’s a high bar, but the desire I have. This is going to require an even higher level of presence and attention to my thinking and my feelings than I already have and an unrelenting insistence that I feel good no matter what.

  10. More sexy fun and flirtation.

    ‘Cause I love feeling this connection with my man. ‘Cause life’s too short not to feel lit up. ‘Cause sexual energy is creative life force energy and staying tapped in is plain and simple a conduit for more positive flow in your life.

Those are my top 10 habits that I’m building stronger in 2024. I’m so excited about these. I can feel them coming into being with so much ease and grace and it feels exquisite. 

What about you? What habits are you building? 

———

Want to experience more as an Unstoppable Woman?

Be sure to check out the Unstoppable Woman podcast. If you’re ready to step into an exquisite life, schedule a call to discuss how we can help you step into your next level of growth.  

37 Questions Worth Asking

By Amira Alvarez It’s nearing the end of the year.In the quiet time between Christmas and New Year’s, I like to assess what’s transpired over the last year and set myself up for an amazing coming year.Do you have a similar end of the year practice?If not, or even if you do, here…
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Coaching, Mindset, Unstoppable, , , ,

It’s nearing the end of the year.

In the quiet time between Christmas and New Year’s, I like to assess what’s transpired over the last year and set myself up for an amazing coming year.

Do you have a similar end of the year practice?

If not, or even if you do, here are some questions I ask myself. Feel free to use them and let them inspire your own end of year assessment.

  1. What went well? What were my big wins and successes?
  2. What felt divine and exquisite?
  3. What did I love the most about this past year?
  4. What am I most proud of?
  5. What is the lesson in that?
  6. What am I the least proud of?
  7. What was the lesson learned in that?
  8. Did this past year live up to my expectations? Why and why not?
  9. What led to my biggest successes?
  10. Will I do those same things again? If so, how and towards what end?
  11. What led to my biggest (if any) disappointments?
  12. How would I change my approach given another opportunity?
  13. Who in my life did I love spending time with?
  14. Have I expressed that to them?
  15. How can I create more opportunities to be with them?
  16. Who in my life did I like spending time with the least?
  17. How can I eliminate or improve these interactions?
  18. What was missing in my life?
  19. What do I want more of?
  20. Where am I limiting myself?
  21. Where am I setting myself up for failure?
  22. What patterns of behavior are no longer sustainable and I want to let go of?
  23. What new habits do I want to create or build upon? (Next week I’ll share 10 habits I’m working on creating.)
  24. How do I want to invest in myself?
  25. How do I want to invest in others?
  26. How do I want to spend my time?
  27. What projects are the most important to me?
  28. What am I most grateful for from last year?
  29. What am I most grateful for for next year? (Yes, you can be grateful in advance.)
  30. What elements of creation do I need to bring into my life more?
  31. What is the feeling I’m searching for in my life?
  32. If there was one thing that would make next year a success, what would it be? (Truth: I can never pick just one but trying to is a really interesting exercise.)
  33. What is my word of the year?
  34. Am I excited about next year? Why? What am I looking forward to?
  35. My highest and best life looks like this…
  36. Am I committed to living my highest and best life?
  37. Who do I need to be in this coming year to create all that I want in my life?

This last question is the most important. If you can dial this in, and then hold yourself to that level of beingness, everything else unfolds beautifully.

Now, living this new level of beingness? Well, that takes attention and a deep commitment to your next level life.

That takes not letting yourself off the hook but also having fun with it.

That takes wanting what you want more than the ease of slipping back into your habitual way of being.

That takes understanding the process and falling in love with it.

Totally possible.

You’ve created so much already. Now let’s put that amazing focus onto this.

———

Want to experience more as an Unstoppable Woman?

Be sure to check out the Unstoppable Woman podcast. If you’re ready to step into an exquisite life, schedule a call to discuss how we can help you step into your next level of growth.  

Is your work manipulating you?

By Amira Alvarez “Shouldn’t I be satisfied?”… you tell yourself.  And yet you’re not. There’s something gnawing at you, deep underneath the surface of all the tasks. There’s clearly more that you desire.  You know that what you want is bigger than simply picking your next revenue goal.  Maybe it’s more spaciousness that…
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Business, Coaching, Growth, Inspiration, Unstoppable, , , , , , , ,

“Shouldn’t I be satisfied?”… you tell yourself. 

And yet you’re not.

There’s something gnawing at you, deep underneath the surface of all the tasks.

There’s clearly more that you desire. 

You know that what you want is bigger than simply picking your next revenue goal. 

Maybe it’s more spaciousness that you want…? 

Maybe it’s a deeper love…? 

Maybe it’s a more meaningful life…?

Whatever it is that you truly want, the truth is… you’ll never find it if you keep distracting yourself with work… no matter how important that work is.

Work, for the Achiever, is the master manipulator. 

It seduces you into avoidance by giving you the gifts of success. 

When we accomplish something, we get that “hit” that says “woohoo, success!”

We get the appreciation, accolades, status, and financial remuneration.

All gifts. All great things.

But what if, while in pursuit of your next hit of success, work is keeping you from manifesting your deepest yearnings?

Work is the best form of distraction. The. Very. Best.

It’s required and therefore justifiable.
It proves that you’re needed.
It shows that you excel.
It demonstrates your brilliance.
And you’re really good at it.

Plus you get lots of kudos for it and the success that it often creates. What’s not to love about that status and those accolades?

Those were hard won, so we’re definitely not going to diminish them.

And yet… 

There’s got to be a different way to live life… one that allows you to create an exquisite life of beauty, truth, love, meaning, and success… without having to prove yourself all the time.

It’s time to stop running and start receiving so much more from life. 

Stay tuned for more on The Exquisite Life Plan.

Resentment: Is it you or them?

By Amira Alvarez “Resentment is always a lack of personal responsibility.” This is one of the reminder hacks I created for myself a long, long time ago. And I still use it.  Whenever I feel resentment, I now know it always indicates a lack of personal responsibility. There is something that I did…
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Business, Coaching, Growth, Inspiration, Unstoppable, , , , , ,

“Resentment is always a lack of personal responsibility.”

This is one of the reminder hacks I created for myself a long, long time ago.

And I still use it. 

Whenever I feel resentment, I now know it always indicates a lack of personal responsibility. There is something that I did or didn’t do that I’m blaming someone else for. 

A request I didn’t make.
A desire that I held back.
A communication that wasn’t clear.
A piece of information that I failed to share.
A doubt I had in another person.
A conditioned response I haven’t upleveled.
And the list goes on…

I am 100% ‘at cause’.

I never want it to be me but it is ALWAYS me. Without exception.

Once I get over myself and my need to be right and perfect, I’m so grateful for this recognition because it always leads me to FREEDOM.

When I put this together, it was like the sky opened up to me and one of the keys to the Universe dropped into my life.

I’ve been grateful ever since.

See…

When you are no longer willing to blame anyone else for your mood, your well-being, your experience, or your results…

When you choose to be personally responsible for ALL your outcomes (not just the good ones that you’re proud of, but ALL of them)… 

Then you are back in the driver’s seat as the brilliant creator that you are. 

You take back your creative agency and the control, if you will, over your life.

So if you’re blaming anyone for letting you down, if you’re resenting someone or something, ask yourself a better question…

What do I need to take responsibility for?