Do you struggle with expressing your inner desires—being your authentic self?

Most people do. For way too long I spent most of my time being concerned with what I thought people wanted me to do and say.

I was prioritizing everyone else at the expense of myself.

It was exhausting.

Sound familiar?

I prefer living in my authenticity—giving myself permission to think and feel the way I do regardless if others like it or agree with my point of view.

Accepting the truth—I cannot please all people all the time, has freed me to be myself.

It is much easier to be me, while at the same time, allowing you to be who you were created to be. My life is much fuller now in so many ways.

The fast track to a life of limitations is to ignore or hide your true self (identity, thoughts, feelings, and actions) by attempting to be someone you are not.

You are unique. Everything that makes you who you are is there by divine design. 

The world needs you to be YOU!

Through my work, I have found, for many people, this can be a tall mountain to climb.  But it is not an impossible feat.

Here are Five strategies to living a life of authenticity:

1. Be honest —always be true to yourself
2. Be clear—say what you mean and mean what you say
3. Be strong—avoid qualifying your thoughts/ideas
4. Be brave—don’t compromise 
5. Be empowering—allow others to hold a different thought or idea

Let’s break these down a bit further.

Be honest—with yourself and with others. In doing so, you learn to take responsibility for the results you get in your life. Own your decisions. Make course adjustments when needed. Be willing to make amends if/when it’s necessary.  Honesty leads to self growth.

Be clear-this is where it gets difficult. Make it a priority to always say what you mean rather than what you think someone wants to hear. 

Be clear and concise. Set boundaries. No need to over explain.

Be strong—the language you choose when expressing yourself is important. Stay away from using qualifying words that weaken your thoughts and ideas. 

-I think

-if you don’t mind

-maybe

-just

Using these words projects a lack of confidence or assurance in what you are stating. Take notice when you find yourself qualifying rather than simply stating.  Once you state your intentions—hold true to them. 

Be brave–compromise will frustrate you and break down trust with others. When you set a boundary, you are the one who needs to ensure that others do not cross it. Do not accept unacceptable behavior. It’s better to stand alone than to join the crowd just for the sake of being with others, or to avoid confrontation. Stay true to your own standards. Respect your own standards, ideas and decisions. 

Be empowering—When you show up authentically in life, you empower others to do the same. When you allow yourself to own your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and actions, you model for others what it means to live beyond limitations, which demonstrates a clear  path for others to follow. 

You will be tested in these areas—nothing has gone wrong. It’s part of the process of living a life of authenticity.

You were created for greatness…no need to hide or shrink for anything or anyone.  You need no one’s permission to be your amazing self.

You are Irreplaceable!

-Lucy Ann

Once you decide to take charge of your life and begin to make the necessary shifts to live in your created greatness expect resistance from others.

Not everyone is going to be in agreement with the decisions you make.

• Are you sure you want to do that?

• This has never been done before.

• Remember the last time you tried this?

• I think you are making a mistake.

• I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

• I liked you better before.

• Why rock the boat?

Any of these statements sound familiar? Perhaps you have heard one or all of the above from well meaning friends and family members. 

The truth is…they are not you.

You alone know what ‘s best for you. 

Power lies in the ability to make decisions. Good or bad, they belong to you. 

Ownership is a great thing, especially when it comes to your own thoughts and decisions for your life.

Consider this…

Can you remember a time when you asked someone for advice and you then allowed what they had to say influence your thoughts and decisions? In the end, yielding results you were not happy with?

OUCH!

Now the blame game sets it.

Would it have been better to trust yourself and be willing to take full responsibility for the outcome?

No one to blame.

When you are in charge of your own life. There is no room for blame—only growth. 

Failure is merely a thought. One that doesn’t serve you well.

Learning and growing from things that didn’t go as planned is part of figuring out what does work.

It may feel uncomfortable when you think about taking sole responsibility for your decisions—that’s okay. It’s part of the process.

You have heard me say many times…you can do hard things.

Can you choose to believe that it is empowering, and not intimidating, to trust your own decisions?

I would like to offer this to you—consider redefining failure for yourself.

I am not implying that people intentionally want to hold you back from living in your created greatness, however, they are not you. Could you hold room for the thought that it may, at times, be wise to seek counsel, while simultaneously acknowledging that the final decision is yours alone to make?

There’s no better time than now, to inform your brain that forever more—you are the CEO of your life. Yes, the buck stops with you.

It’s decision time.

Make it a great day!

Lucy Ann

PS. Make the decision now to invest in your future. Reach out for a coaching consultation. Let me show you how I can help you take full responsibility for your decisions and learn how to live beyond limitations.

Consultations are free—my gift to you. Simply click the link below. https://www.lucyanncq.com/coaching/

A Plan Is the Answer to Your Struggles.

For surfers, every trip to the beach presents a challenge and a struggle. Imagine yourself at the shoreline, surfboard in hand, eyes on each wave as it breaks, getting  a sense of the rhythm of the sea. Taking note of the size and power of each wave rolling in. 

After careful analysis it’s time to make the decision—jump in and seize the moment, or wait yet another day on the shore. This is when the mental battle strikes. Uncertainty rises to the top. Doubt and fear try to be the determining factors in the go or no go decision.

Every surfer faces this struggle.

Likewise, you and I face our own struggles as the waves of life come crashing in. Circumstances change in a moment’s notice, unexpected opportunities surface, and trying to decide what is the best decision to make often leaves us gasping for air. Much like a surfer who has just been knocked off the board into the swirling water. 

No one can escape the changing tides everyday life brings our way. 

Like the surfer standing on the shoreline, it’s decision time.

The tides of the sea are constantly changing, likewise, time doesn’t stand still. Life is constantly in motion. If you don’t learn how to co-exist with the changes that come your way, you will stay stuck watching time pass you by.

How exactly do you decide to jump in and seize every day?

Much life the surfer…you make a plan:

• Show up with the right equipment—attitude
• Be prepare—do your due diligence to analyze the situation
• Make a decision—trust yourself
• Commit—control your thoughts 
• Focus—stay the course 
• Know when to bail—be willing to re-evaluate when necessary

The mind will always take the path of safety. You are the only one who gets to decide what voices you listen to. Are you going to succumb to fear, doubt, and uncertainty? Or are you going to commit to living in your created greatness?

The struggle in your mind is a limitation. 

I am forever grateful for the many times I showed up at the beach, faced my fears and uncertainties and decided to paddle out to ride the waves. Sometimes I won, other times the wave took me out. Each time my confidence was growing.

There were things I figured out in the middle of the wipe-out that I could never have learned sitting on the shore. 

Did it hurt sometimes…sure. Nonetheless, I knew I could not get good at what I wasn’t willing to fail at.

Life is that way too.

What challenges are you struggling to overcome? You can do hard things. 

Make a plan.

Evaluate.

Make a decision.

Be willing to re-evaluate.

Don’t fear the deep waters life offers to you. 

With a plan, you have a strategy for forward momentum. The more powerful the wave, the faster the ride. The more challenging your struggle, the greater the breakthrough.

It’s time to stop the struggle.

Make a plan. Trust yourself. Trust God.

Your Are Irreplaceable,

Lucy Ann

P.S. Want to learn how to shift from struggle to strength and uncertainty to trust?  Join my one-one-one coaching program and see for yourself the benefits of having a life coach in your corner. Consultations are risk free—my gift to you!
https://www.lucyanncq.com/coaching/

Stop Trying to Manage Time and Begin to Manage Your Schedule 

Is it really possible to manage time?

Every day consist of 24 hours. It’s designed that way by a power greater than ourselves. People have been wrapped up in time management for centuries.

It’s not going to happen.

If you want to relieve stress in your life stop attempting to manage something that is out of your control. Instead, learn to manage your schedule.

This concept will be life-changing if you will surrender to its value.

Time is not your problem. Managing your schedule is the real issue.

If you don’t learn to manage your schedule, you are giving permission for others to do so at your expense.

So where do you begin?

Like most things, it starts with a decision. You are the one who must decide to take control of your life by cotrolling your schedule.

Once the decision is made, begin to track everything you do in a day. Track this for at least a week. Everything from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. Yes—everything. Even the time you spend on the phone and in front of the TV. (Ouch!)

Then consider your priorities—write those things down. Don’t forget time for self care, this too, needs to be scheduled.

Next, compare what you are doing with what you say your priorities are. Is there a gap between what you want to spend your time doing and what you actually spend your time doing? Make note of this.

Now the hard work of elimination begins. Eliminate anything on your list, that is within your control, that does not align with your priorities. 

You should be left with a list of high priority items. These items are the things you now create your daily routine around. 

Make a schedule, with time blocks, so you can see at a glance how you are positioning your day to unfold. In doing this, it will become easy to recognize how and where you are over committing yourself. This is important to become aware of.

Being over committed is a recipe for burn-out.

Honesty is the best policy. It’s time to be honest with yourself—admit where you’ve been allowing others to steal your valuable time. Who or what has been controlling your day? If it isn’t you…it’s time to take back control. 

Make the hard decisions. If you want to be in charge of your schedule you will have to become disciplined.

Learning to create boundaries around your schedule is the only way to protect how your time is invested each day. 

Time isn’t the problem…

Being disciplined to set up a routine and stick to it is how the overcommittment and overwhelm is defeated. This takes practice and intentionality.


In order to live beyond limitations you must get a handle on your schedule. Time is valuable—don’t waste it doing things that are not contributing to your created greatness.


If you need help getting control of this aspect of your life—I can help. Join my one-on-one coaching program. https://www.lucyanncq.com/coaching Consultations are risk free-my gift to you.

You Are Irreplaceable!
Lucy Ann

Progress is measured by the focus of your thoughts 

As you are learning to live in your created greatness it is necessary to focus on progress not perfection.

Each day when you wake up with the intention to live in your created greatness you are making progress.

Often it’s easy to discount the forward momentum that you are creating in your life when you perceive change as happening too slowly. This thought process will be a stumbling block to your progress and doesn’t serve you.

If you are doing this—STOP!

It will take as long as necessary for you to grasp and understand the new things you are learning. Give yourself a great big high five for being willing to learn new things and do the hard things.

Nothing changes until we decide to change.

There is no room for stinking thinking on your road of progress.

Every time you intentionally question your old thought and behavior patterns you are taking steps forward.

Some days are tougher than others and it may seem like you are taking a step backward—in these moments remind yourself it’s all part of the process.

Everytime you shift your thoughts from negative to positive—that’s progress.

When you shift your behavior towards reaching your goals—that’s progress.

When you push past your comfort zone into new territory—that’s progress.

Change takes time and learning how to give yourself a pat on the back for all the effort you put in to live beyond those things that have been holding you back—is a win!

Extending grace to yourself is an essential part of making progress.

Progress is defined by Webster’s dictionary as: 

• Growth or development; continual improvement

Your future self will thank you for the work you are doing now. Living beyond limitations is possible. Becoming the greatest version of yourself isn’t easy, but I know from experience it is possible.

You are irreplaceable,

Lucy Ann

P.S If your thoughts and behavior patterns are still holding you back, I invite you to join my coaching program. Click the link below to inquire. One-on-one coaching transforms lives. 

My gift to you: free consultation. No excuses—the consultation is risk free: https://www.lucyanncq.com/coaching/

Be encouraged…

The work you do behind the scenes to strengthen your character is never wasted. Weak character cannot sustain you when the storms of life knock you down.

Building strong character takes courage and discilpline especially in a society that values talent over character.

The world may say strong character doesn’t matter…don’t believe that lie.

Character will sustain you in places that talent cannot,  and it will elevate you to places talent alone never could.

God honors character. Creating a strong foundation of character builds confidence. Confidence is powerful. 

The world is looking for people who can lead with confidence built on the foundation of strong character. Your family, community, and the world at large, are counting on you living in your created greatness.

Know who you are, know your authority, and live in your purpose.

Work hard at the things that matter.

I lead my clients to develop the areas of their lives they see as weak so they can become strong. Yes, it takes work, but the stress of staying the same and getting the same results is hard too.

You can do hard things. Make sure the hard work is getting you the results you desire.

Living in your created greatness Is attainable. 

You are Irreplaceable,

Lucy Ann

P.S. One on one coaching transforms lives. Reach out for a free coaching consultation and see for yourself the benefits of having a life coach in your corner. https://www.lucyanncq.com/coaching/

Are you your worse critic?

Confidence can only be developed from the inside out. No matter how much you accomplish, how talented you are, how well educated, or how many accolades you have received, if you don’t believe in yourself you are self-sabotaging your greatness.

Don’t count yourself out.

You are capable of amazing things.

It all begins with your thoughts about yourself. 

Don’t be quick to doubt the power of the thoughts you hold tightly about yourself—you know, the ones that no one but you know about. Those thoughts that haunt you every time you want to do something new as they scream—who do you think you are?

To live a life beyond limitations you must believe in your created greatness.

Think about a difficult challenge that you are facing right now. Go ahead, take a moment. What is overwhelming you in this moment?

Got it? Is it screaming loudly in your head?

Good…now I want you to think about your best friend. If she was facing the same situation you are facing, what would your advice to her be? How would you talk to her? 

Would you be sympathetic? Perhaps understanding? Would you encourage her with wisdom and inspiration? I am certain you would be her greatest cheerleader.

Why then…do you not extend the same sincerity to yourself?

The next time you want to count yourself out of the game…whatever that may be for you—become your own cheerleader. Remind yourself you are capable of amazing things!

-Lucy Ann

If you are ready to strengthen your self image: click the link below to inquire about my coaching program. My gift to you: free consultation. No excuses—the consultation is risk free. https://www.lucyanncq.com/coaching/

It’s not an understatement to say—this past year, worldwide, has been a year like no other. The pandemic hit and the world went into shut down.

Navigating a new normal was the task at hand. Needless to say, it has been a year filled with uncertainties. No need to list all the things that have changed—rather, today I am choosing to celebrate. Who’s with me?

Celebrating does not, in any way, discount the great losses we have all suffered, however, it does allow us to shift our focus.

Intentionally and strategically positioning ourselves to look beyond the status quo, where despair, loneliness, heartbreak, disappointment, anger, fear, uncertainty, and entitlement live, to a life beyond limitations.

In the midst of a global pandemic, when it was difficult to cling to anything that wasn’t changing constantly, I found great comfort in the unshakable love of God.

In the midst of a shaken world, God has given us many blessings, some harder to uncover than others—nonetheless, they surround us.

Today. I want to invite you to a birthday celebration—Happy Birthday Strategic Faith.

When I began writing this book I had no idea that God would choose its birthdate to be in the middle of a pandemic. Oh, did I struggle with the thought of postponing the book launch—absolutely. However, I knew that even though my conscious mind was telling me this made no sense—God had already determined its birthday.

Today, as I celebrate the one-year birthday of my book, I can also testify to the many lives it has touched, and transformed, in the midst of a global pandemic—and this is just the beginning. Continue on to hear and see what God has done over this past year—you may even see yourself in a photo!

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I was asked to write an article about community for the online magazine, As For Me And My House … I wanted to share the published issue with all of you.

As a commercial pilot, owning my own business for corporate executives, I was privileged to fly all across America and the Bahamas. My exposure to various cultures and diverse people has given me a unique perspective on life.

It didn’t take long to recognize; no matter where I landed, I found a common denominator—people. People of different ages, nationalities, and backgrounds are everywhere—forming community.

My many years flying, and working with individuals who desire to make their lives impact and influence the world for good, caused me to realize that not all communities are created equal. Some are flourishing while others are not. This fact challenged me to find answers—there had to be an equalizer.

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