Archive for April, 2010

If you would like a lesson in following your passion and living authentically, then you have to watch this video with violinest, Nigel Kennedy, playing Purple Haze.  About 6 1/2 mintutes it goes a bit crazy.  Watch how he engages the audience and the orchestra. 

My husband, Mark, is in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, so I have had the pleasure of watching/hearing Nigel Kennedy perform live here in Detroit and he alway surprises us with something totally unexpected.

How can you express yourself more authentically in your work and in your personal life, so you are fully engaged and expressing yourself fully?  When was the last time you were feeling really powerful, joyful and authentically you?  What were you doing and what was that experience like?  Share you comments here.

How many of us go through life on what I call, “on robot”, or like the commercials use to say, “gotta make the donuts”.  I remember actually saying this myself before I found my Purpose and Passion in life.

There was a point in my life around 45 years old, when I realized that there was something missing in my life.  It was almost like an itch…something I could not put my finger on…yet I knew it was there.  There was this nagging feeling or calling that was inviting me to do or be something different and it scared the hell out of me.

I actually kept shoving it down because my life was actually on auto pilot and it was easy.  I was at the top of my game — in the top 1% of money managers in my company — attending fabulous conferences and making lots of money.

Then one day, things began to happen to me physically.  My knees gave out, and ultimately, I ended up taking one full year off work to think things through…I know this is something that most folks could never do…I am so grateful for that opportunity because it gave me the time to figure out what I really wanted to be doing with my life.  What that is, is helping others experience their own Awakening so they too can live with more purpose, passion and prosperity.

Here is a simple exercise that you can do yourself.   Imagine that you just won the lottery and money was no longer an issue in your life. 

• What would you be doing with your time? 
• What would change in your life? 
• Would you still be doing the work you are doing? 
• Would you still be living where you are living today?
• Would you still be in the relationship you are today?

Now look at your answers and ask yourself why or why not to each of these questions.  If your Perfect Life is totally different than how you are living today, what is one thing you can do today to bring more purpose, passion and prosperity into your life today:

• Take up an old hobby like oil painting
• Join a health club or yoga class and schedule time to show up
• Call or visit an old friend you almost forgot about
• Start a blog to get your story and ideas out to the world
• Volunteer or start your own foundation (I did this…it’s not that hard…just ask me)
• Hire a coach, find a mentor, take a class
• Just take that first step

Yes, taking that first step can be so powerful.  Take some time to journal about this or leave a comment on this blog telling us what is the one thing that you could do today that would have the biggest positive effect in your life immediately.  Thank you!

Visit www.midlifemillionaires.com for your free audio on Creating Your Midlife Millionaire Lifestyle and article on Creating Your Perfect Life.  You will also become part of our free community!  You can email me at katana@katanaabbott.com   Live with Purpose, Passion and Prosperity!

Morning View from My Home

Life can be very complicated with lots of unexpected twists and turns that can upturn even the best laid plans. I have found a wonderful solution to help create balance in my life and it only takes a few minutes a day. I call this process the Perfect Life Pause. Any time during the day that I feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired or angry, I follow this process to refocus my energy and intention.

Many of us are actually on an adrenaline rush much of the time during the day. I’ve found if we don’t slow down and allow things to flow, the Universe finds a way to do it for us…often to get our attention.

I suggest doing your first Perfect Life Pause when you first wake up.

Step 1:  Start with your eyes closed. Listen to the sounds in the room, your breathing…notice your body and relax. Then focus on a place, time or experience when you were really relaxed and in a state of pure joy.

• My place is lying in my hammock next to the river with my daughter, Kirsten lying next to me when she was just a little girl. The hammock is swaying in the breeze and we can hear the water from the lake beating gently against the shore.

Step 2:  Now spend the next several minutes in this wonderful state of mind.

Step 3:  Be sure to express gratitude for this moment of joy. Trust that everything is perfect and the the right people and opportunities will flow into your life effortlessly.

All you have is the present moment and by doing this exercise three times a day, you will actually be meditating and focusing your intentions on your perfect life almost 10 minutes daily.  The Law of Attraction states that our outer world is a reflection of our inner world, so this simple exercise may have very profound affects. Try it for a week, and let me know what happens!

Katana is a Certified Financial Planner® and Midlife Millionaire Coach™ who teaches entrepreneurs to Leverage Their Expertise and Create a Midlife Millionaire Lifestyle.   You can contact Katana personally at katana@katanaabbott.com