Imagineering Your Life: 7 Principles for Designing and Building an Extraordinary Life
160
Imagineering Your Life: 7 Principles for Designing and Building an Extraordinary Life
160Paperback
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Overview
We all have the need to finely tune and optimize our ability to set attainable goals and reach them. So many people let life pass them by and slip through their hands, mostly because they do not have the know-how to go further, reach higher, and build bigger. Combine the principles presented in this book with a little determination and dedication, and the result will be exquisite. We all have the opportunity to imagineer a perfect life, one that we can only dream of. And with the systematic approach "Imagineering Your Life" will offer, you are just a quick read away from architecting a life which you once could only dream of having.
"Imagineering Your Life" presents you with the seven principles for building a complete and wonderful life, including:
1st Principle: The Inspiration: What Makes Your Heart Soar?
2nd Principle: The Vision: Imagineering Your Own Life
3rd Principle: The Blueprint: Laying the Foundation
4th Principle: The Architect: You Are the Master Builder
5th Principle: The Site: Eye on Paradise
6th Principle: The Timeline: Just Now
7th Principle: The Action: Now, Go Build It
These seven principles are compelling and significant. They will give you all that you need to assess and reshape the most valuable possession you have—your life.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781614481331 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Morgan James Publishing |
| Publication date: | 04/01/2012 |
| Pages: | 160 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.37(d) |
About the Author
Siobhan has had a fascination with people who have been incredibly happy and ultimately live a wonderful and fulfilled life. This book is an accumulation of the wisdom and experience she has to share with you.
Author, speaker, coach and engineer, Siobhan started her education in Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern Universityin Boston, Massachusetts. She continued her education by earning her Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University's Architecture School located in Tempe, Arizona. Siobhan also earned a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Coleman Universityin San Diego, California.
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
The Inspiration WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART SOAR?
"The truth of knowing which risks to take is after taking them; does your heart dance and your spirit soar? If not, let them go and find ones that do."
— David D. Davidson (MY DAD)
Inspiration
What truly inspires people? What is it that makes one person rise to the heights of success while another is fulfilled and happy making a smaller life for oneself? It all comes down to that one question - what makes your heart soar? What is the one thing you absolutely love to do? What is that thing, that activity, that when you are doing it you are so incredibly in the moment, right in the here and now? In life, there are things that resonate, that reverberate in each of us. It could be your family, your friends, your job, your charity, and anything and everything in between.
These are the things that clutch onto our heart and inspire us to move, to wake up, to put one foot in front of the other, and to live a meaningful and successful life. We all have these stimulating and motivating pieces to our life. And before you can even start to imagineer your ideal life, you have to have a basic understanding of what moves you to go farther, work harder, and never give up until you reach your goals.
Look deep inside yourself and begin to think about exactly what inspires you. When you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to each and every day? Ever have one of those times in your life? Think back to a time when you were the happiest. What were you doing? Where were you? Who were you with? Imagine if you could do what you love every day of your life. Think about how happy you would be if you woke up each morning and did not have to snooze, or delay, or take your time to start your day. You rushed, even ran, to get your day moving. And the reason why? The answer is because you were inspired and motivated in your life.
I once saw an older man delivering flowers in my neighborhood; I said to him, "You must love your job. Everybody loves to get flowers and they are so happy to see you at their door." He said, "I was an engineer for thirty-three years. I retired and this is the happiest I have ever been in my life. I work two to three days a week, and people always smile and are so happy to see me. It is a wonderful life."
Wow, I thought to myself. "How cool that must be." This man lives a life that inspires him. To some, delivering flowers may not be as fulfilling and challenging as being an engineer, but to this one man, it was one job that truly mattered. The same can be true in your life. Your inspiration does not have to resonate with every individual in this world, only you. If an activity makes you happy, and keeps you warm inside, that is what you should be doing. Begin asking yourself how you can live an inspired life and begin taking the steps to making that dream become a reality.
Here are a few examples of well-known people doing what they love to do and are making a wonderful living at it.
> Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres - Talking
> Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep - Acting
> Lance Armstrong - Biking
> Faith Hill, Celine Dion - Singing
> Barbara DeAngelis, Jack Canfield - Speaking/Writing
These are some famous examples, but there are thousands upon thousands of ordinary people out there doing extraordinary things; those things that they absolutely love to do. And that is part of the reason why they are so good at it. When you do something that you love, you will always give 100% of your effort and heart into it. And it will show. It is crystal clear the Oprah's of the world absolutely adore waking up and going to work. It shows in their attitude, their ability, and ultimately, their success.
Every Day Counts
Every day presents an opportunity to be inspired. Many times, you may wake up in the morning and simply want to lie in bed. That is all fine and dandy every now and again, but inspiration comes in strange packaging, and only when you dive headfirst into all that the world has to offer will you have inspiring experiences. Each and every day on this earth is an occasion to find the fire that drives your soul and fuels your journey. And every day that you choose not open your mind and your eyes to the potential for inspiration is, in my view, an unfulfilled day.
Imagine jumping out of bed every day in complete anticipation of the day ahead, a life where you are completely in the moment filled with happiness and peace. What is that place for you? What inspires you? What makes your heart and spirit soar? Make each day extraordinary. This simple statement is completely profound. When we look at life, all we truly have is each day. Today is that day. Each moment is precious. Each moment is new. Embrace the chance to drink life in.
I can remember one day when I had the choice to either stay at home or to venture out to see Lance Armstrong compete in a bike race a mile away. I look back at these words and wonder why there was ever a question. I did go see him race and am so happy I made that choice. I was truly inspired watching this amazing athlete. He won that day and I was there, front and center, to watch this inspirational man who survived cancer perform at an unbelievable level. It was so clear that he was in a league of his own. To think that I almost did not go watch the world's number one cyclist race by in my own town.
If I did not go, I would have heard about the amazing experience from my friends for weeks to come, and carried around regret for missing this opportunity. But instead, I can look back and be the one telling the inspirational story. The same should be true in your life. Do not miss out on great experiences because you are too tired, or ambivalent, or just not in the mood, because life will offer these inspirational moments to someone, so why not make sure it is you?
Clapping Among Strangers
Inspiration can come in all shapes and sizes. Often times, the purest type of inspiration comes in the form of something that we see with our own two eyes. These beautiful visions can move you to emotion and rouse up some of the most wholesome and warm feelings. For example, I frequently look to mother nature for some of the most surreal and magnificent examples of how truly amazing life can be. These inspirational moments are not only free, but also powerful and overwhelming.
I remember the first time I watched a sunset at the beach in San Diego. People huddled together on blankets, others on the sea wall, and some enjoyed glasses of champagne in their hands. It was almost as if a big event was about to happen. People on their bicycles stopped riding for a moment and leaned up against the wall. Rollerbladers were also taking a break.
I remember looking around in awe, at all the smiling faces with an inner knowing that an extraordinary event was about to happen -- like a crack in the air. All heads suddenly turned towards the sun as it began to sink into the beautiful blue ocean. A silence fell among the gathered anticipating crowd when just then the incredible colors emanating from this big ball of fire streaked across the sky.
I have experienced many sunsets, but this one seemed almost magical. To my amazement and delight, when the sun had completely fallen away, everyone started to clap. It was an absolutely wonderful feeling of pure joy. All of us who shared in this experience were inspired and motivated. We all felt profound and unfathomable warmth in our hearts.
When I feel uninspired, I can reminisce about that moment in time and it stirs up a little fire in my belly. Sharing the experience with these complete strangers was incredible. I joined in with a big smile on my face, and my heart filled with the celebration of yet another beautiful day here on this magnificent planet Earth.
But it does not stop with nature. Inspiration is everywhere. The Taj Mahal for instance, is a beautiful architectural wonder. Built by the Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It stands as a symbol of eternal love. How much love and emotion the emperor must have felt for his wife; I find that kind of devotion awe-inspiring. Some other inspiring architectural phenomena are things like the Egyptian pyramids, built for the pharaohs, because they believed when they died, they became immortal. They are simply breathtaking for so many reasons.
Have you ever seen the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.? It is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church and the also the sixth-largest cathedral in the entire world. It is an absolute work of art. Hundreds of people worked on the cathedral over an eighty-three-year period of time begun in 1907. Work continued through two world wars, the Great Depression and a shortage of funds. Yet despite these setbacks and delays, the dreamers and believers progressed forward and trusted that their dream would come true.
"I love this work. I can't envision getting up in the morning and not going to build a cathedral."
— A CATHEDRAL WORKER
These amazing architectural feats are everywhere. From the Golden Gate Bridge, to the Great Wall of China, to the Vatican, or Michelangelo's David, in this life, inspiration lies in every corner of the world.
Magnificence is all around us in complete silence. Take a moment each day to appreciate and be grateful for these natural amazements and these architectural triumphs, because they will push you, motivate you, and inspire you to do great things in your own life.
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
— WALT DISNEY
Dream Big Dreams
We have spent a great deal of time speaking about the importance of finding inspiration. Weather it be from Mother Nature, an amazing piece of architecture, or one of the great wonders of the world, a life without inspiration is a life without color. But once you find your inspiration, what do you do with it? Well to begin with, inspiration is a catalyst for your dreams. When you are inspired, your mind is set free and you can dream for the future, and begin to imagineer your ideal life.
Not so long ago, I remember asking a fellow engineer who had worked in the aerospace industry for over forty years the following question, "What are your dreams?"
He replied, "What do you mean?"
I repeated the question, "What do you dream about?"
After a minute's thought, he declared, "I don't understand what you mean."
I was absolutely floored. I responded, "Wow, I thought everyone dreamed big dreams."
I believe that it is important to have dreams no matter what your age is because you can obtain whatever you want, but first you have to dream it. Dreams are the mechanism that allows us to visualize our future. More than anything, they are the destination for our journey. And it is only natural to dream big. And why not? It does not take more time or cost more money to dream big. There is no downside to big, beautiful, aspirations. Setting considerable goals and extensive dreams is what will keep you moving through life. And even if you do not reach your dreams, if you come close, it will have been a worthwhile journey.
Let's take a minute now and focus on your dreams. Name and identify something that you enjoy doing so much that you find it all encompassing and the world just seems to fall away when you are doing it. That is what we call your passion. Take your passion and your inspiration and let those drive that big diesel engine powering your dreams. Once you do that, you will be well positioned to create great expectations for you and your future life.
Searching for Golf Balls
When it comes to dreaming big, it is vital to dream like a child. Remember when you were a child and always dreamed of being a professional athlete, singer, or entertainer? As difficult as it is to break into these industries, when you are a child, you do not think of these formalities. You just dream and do it on a big level. Today, as adults, we often forget how to dream big and be inspired at an amazingly high level.
I once played a game with my ten-year-old nephew Dylan one night when he was over at my home. I asked him, "Dylan, what do you dream of being?"
He answered, "I'm going to be an NFL kicker."
I said, "That's wonderful, you'll make the best kicker ever since you are great at kicking. I am very happy to hear that!"
Later on that day, while we were hunting for golf balls at my home on the golf course, I told Dylan, "When you are a famous NFL kicker, you can come hide out at Auntie's and we can search for golf balls so you can get away from all the paparazzi and take a break from the fame of it all." I then told him that it's important to dream and never let anyone tell you that you are crazy for thinking you can become anything you want to be.
Have you ever thought in that way? Life can catch us by surprise and before we know it, we are all grown-up adults. Sometimes it can be nice to reflect back to that pure childhood time of dreaming that anything is possible. I welcome you to take a few moments and reflect back on some of your happiest childhood memories. How carefree life was at times. Maybe in the tree house, after school where you shared all your twelve-year-old secrets with your very best friends, or sleepovers that you actually never went to sleep at-- Laughing so hard that the night went by in what felt like minutes.
Sometimes we just need to let go and be that kid again. Searching for golf balls doesn't need to end when we're all grown up. Think for a moment you are that kid. You can incorporate that soul back into your life, which by the way has never left. Which one characteristic from when you were a kid would you start to embrace if you had the choice once again?
Ponder for a Moment
Your Dreams. Inspiration and passion fuel your big dreams. They provide you the welcomed chance to really go for it with your future aspirations. If you pursue what your heart tells you, I know that your dreams will come true. You will be able to realize that dream of traveling to all of the Architectural wonders of the world, or getting a promotion, or building a family, or whatever you want to accomplish. You have the ability to do it!
So to help you begin your dreaming, consider answering the questions provided below. They will help you brainstorm and give you direction through your journey to big dreams and fulfilling those big dreams.
Answer the following questions for your extraordinary life. I have provided my personal responses to demonstrate how to approach these questions:
> The Why? Why do I dream big?
I am at peace, happy, and love my beautiful, peaceful life. By helping and making other people happy, I know I am fulfilling that goal.
> The What? What do I dream about?
I have fun, love, and happy relationships. Most of all I want to help others.
> The Who? Who am I in my dreams?
I am smart, successful, fun loving, and healthy. By making affirmations, I will be confident and comfortable in my own skin interacting with other like-minded people.
> The How? How will I begin to reach my dreams?
I am grateful every day, learn each day, read and set goals. Having mentors who have already done what I ultimately want to do in life to help me get to where I want to be much faster.
> The Where? Where will I find inspiration for my dreams?
I spend my time amongst beauty and nature. This gives me peace of mind and provides me a quiet place to share my knowledge and wisdom in the written word.
> The When? When will I begin to implement my dreams?
I move toward this ideal life each and every day. How? By setting goals and specific time lines for the things I want to do. Then, when I look back at my life, I want to be able to see what I've accomplished and the lives I have touched.
> The Action? What will I do to become inspired to dream?
What can I do to make this extraordinary life happen? I will write down my goals, and then take the necessary action steps. Identifying and taking each step, gets me closer to them.
Now write down your answers to the questions for envisioning your extraordinary life:
> The Why?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
> The What?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
> The How?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
> The Who?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
> The Site?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
> The When?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
> The Action?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Once you finish this exercise, take these answers and put them in a safe place. This is the first of many exercises we will go through toward the end of each chapter. The purpose of this activity is to help you find your inspiration and then figure out how to turn your inspiration into a real life dream. As we progress through the upcoming chapters, we will work together to take these big aspirations and dreams and make them a reality.
Snippets
Following each chapter I have included a section titled "snippets." Snippets are examples of actual feats of engineering and architecture. Making room to enlighten, entertain, and embrace the light you bring to your own life and others into the world of human potential.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Imagineering Your Life"
by .
Copyright © 2012 Siobhan McKenna.
Excerpted by permission of Morgan James Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
FOREWORD,
INTRODUCTION,
CHAPTER 1: The Inspiration What Makes Your Heart Soar,
CHAPTER 2: The Vision Imagineering Your Own Life,
CHAPTER 3: The Blueprint Laying the Foundation,
CHAPTER 4: The Architect You Are the Master Builder,
CHAPTER 5: The Site Eye on Paradise,
CHAPTER 6: The Timeline Just Now,
CHAPTER 7: The Action Now, Go Build It,
CONCLUSION,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS,
ABOUT THE AUTHOR,