Leaping is a bold activity. To leap means that you are ready and willing to change and grow. Leaping is proactive – not waiting for life to happen to you, but taking charge. It means that you are ready to take a new step towards creating what you really want in your life. Leaping builds confidence because any time you move towards what you want and away from what you don’t, you show courage and commitment. Every step you take builds more and more confidence.
When Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon back in 1968 he said, “That’s one small step for a man, but a giant leap for mankind.”Every time you move towards your dreams, you are not only taking a leap, but you are also showing others that it is possible to do so. As you develop a habit of taking leaps in your life, you will feel more encouraged and inspired, and others will too.
So what is a leap, and how do you do it?
L – Listen
E – Envision
A -Affirm
P – Proceed
L is for Listen
This is likely the hardest step of all. Listening involves becoming quiet in order to heed our inner voice. Not the voice of fear or worry, but the voice that is beneath that. This voice has been described as the still, small voice within and also as inner wisdom. It is the place where we are simply ourselves, and nothing more. Being able to listen to our true heart’s desire is what listening to this voice is all about.
When we go deep inside and listen, we may find that our desires are really very simple – to love; to be safe; to be part of something bigger than ourselves; to express our talents and gifts; to live peacefully; to be a good parent. Yet we live in a noisy, fast-paced world. How do we become quiet enough to listen?
We have to make the time to listen. It may involve getting up half an hour earlier each day so that we can have some “listening” time. Some people may want to try meditation or journaling. Giving ourselves time and space outside of our daily routines and activities can allow us to listen. Consider starting with 10 minutes at a time and gradually building up from there. The important thing is that we develop a daily practice and new habits. The reward is a clearer mind, a less stressful day, and a wealth of new insights.
Reflect on the question, “What do I need to know right now for my highest good?” Then quietly and patiently listen for the answer.
E is for Envision
What accomplishments or changes live within the future that you want to create? What developments would you like in your life? A new job, a new living situation, a greater sense of being peaceful and at ease? Spend some time writing down the answers to the above questions.
As you write, be descriptive and see how many details you can describe. Where will you be; who is there with you; what are you doing? Imagine experiencing an entire day. What are you feeling? Be as specific as you can be as you create this new picture of your life.
A is for Affirm
What are the inner qualities that you will need in order to reach your new future? Will you need to demonstrate courage, faith, or perhaps boldness? What words of encouragement will help you move towards what you want?
When we set out to make a change, what typically happens is that we are met with resistance. Perhaps it appears as our own inner resistance, which can manifest as fear, worry, and anxiety. Our past immediately comes to mind, we might hear ourselves saying, ‘I tried that before and it didn’t work out.’ We might even feel defeated before we begin. Most of us are afraid of change and afraid of the unknown. We can also be met with resistance from friends and family when we share our new ideas.
This resistance is the reason we need a tool to anchor us and help us feel more courageous and confident. The tool is called an Affirmation. An Affirmation is a statement that declares in the present tense the outcome we want to achieve.
Here are some sample affirmations:
- I am safe.
- Life gives me everything I need.
- I am prosperous.
- I use my talents and gifts to make a good living.
- I am full of courage and confidence.
- My life is a blessing to myself and others.
Use one of these or write one of your own. It’s best to be clear and concise and work with just one over a period of time. Try it for 30 days. The power of affirmations comes from repetition. Use them morning, noon, and night to literally retrain your brain.
Write your affirmation, speak it out loud, or read it to yourself daily. You are developing a new habit to will help you create the future that you want.
P is for Proceed
The last step of the LEAP process is to take the first step! Identify a small action that will point you in the direction that you want to go. The first step is always the hardest to take, because it is a commitment. It is literally walking your talk. It’s a lot easier to talk about things that we want and much harder to actually take the steps and do the work of making them a reality. The world is full of talkers—of people wishing and hoping for their lives to get better. There certainly aren’t as many leapers as talkers! But you are different: you are bold, you are courageous, and you will do what it takes to achieve the things you desire.
After you take the first step it does get easier. Sit down to identify your next steps and pretty soon you’ll be on your way. When you get stuck, ask for help. Find a friend, a coach, or a mentor to help you along your way. You have what it takes – all you have to do is believe, leap, and repeat!
You are on your way to the future that is calling you to leap!
