Sassi Ochoa, a CIJ clarity catalyst and transformational trainer, embraces her purpose of service-driven living. Through various roles as a blogger, coach, runner and wanderlust enthusiast, she embodies diverse forms of leadership, inspiring others to explore their own paths of empowerment.
“Asking for help is one of the most important skills to build trust, cultivate a growth mindset and fulfill your potential” — Ashley Usiskin.
And I ask you, "Do you want to be a successful leader? Are you ready to answer its call?"
I’m going to share with you a compilation of recommendations and wisdom from trainers, coaches, book authors, productivity experts, financial planners, teachers, and of course, myself, about my mindfulness practices to be successful in making your dream come true.
YAK: Discover what you already know
When something is missing in your life, somewhere deep inside you know it, even if you don't know that you know, identifying what is missing is crucial to taking that leap.
Intuition speaks to us in different and varied ways. It is also important to recognize how we resist trusting it.
If your dream remains to be clarified, time on the yoga mat is a powerful tool to discover what you want. By spending time alone with yourself regularly, tuning into your sensations and emotions, and pushing your physical limits, you develop your ability to notice your patterns.
"Sometimes the answer lies in the simple things: getting the right amount of sleep, resting, going into nature, connecting with loved ones, taking a vacation, or simply taking time to be grateful." Self-discovery can be easier than you expect.
Set your intention and trust others
When you have identified your dream, even if it still feels like nothing more than a fantasy, to move forward, set an intention. Intention gives energy and direction to action. Wayne W. Dyer dedicated an entire book to this topic: The Power of Intention, in which he masterfully connects the distinctions of intention, success, abundance, relationships, and living a purposeful life.
“Intention is a force in the universe, and everything and everyone is connected to this invisible force” — Wayne W. Dyer
In my particular case, once I've set my intention, I can eliminate distractions to fully focus on pursuing this clear goal. Furthermore, establishing this intention requires trusting others for it to manifest into reality. And this is where you need to find a mechanism that supports you in executing your idea and being accountable for each step/action you will take. And if you don't know how to do it, find someone who does. Be amazed at your ability to inspire others with your idea and, on top of that, have them want to help you make it a reality.
How much and by when? These two questions will support you and your team in committing daily to that big goal, which is built up of small steps.
Don’t just set goals, plan them
When you are developing a long-term action plan, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Establishing a regular system for how you will earn your goals will be useful in this case.
J.D. Meier, an expert in the AGILE project management technique, a popular productivity system among entrepreneurs and author of “Getting Results the Agile Way”, suggests these steps: Every Monday, identify 3 significant achievements you want to complete this week. Then, each day, identify 3 small achievements for that day that are related to the ones you identified on Monday. If you complete these 3 achievements, then go for more. Observe yourself during the week and become aware of the day times when you are most productive; these are your "energy hours," and use them to work on important goals. Every Friday, evaluate what you learned during the week and ask yourself:
What are the 3 things that went well?
What are the 3 things that could have gone better?
What are the 3 things that, although I did them, I procrastinated until the end?
What are the 3 things I didn't do and why?
You will start to notice patterns about yourself and can use this new awareness to keep improving.
I, in particular, practice the "weekly promise" technique by writing down the daily steps and executing them to fulfill what I am committed to. In turn, this weekly promise is linked to a "major" promise I made to myself, which should be achievable, measurable, and meaningful, it forces me to step out of my comfort zone and expand.
Another tool that might be useful for you to delve into the importance of small steps and implement them is the globally known Kaizen Method.
Work on your abundant mindset
To alleviate your fears about money (financing your big dream), think about finances topic as an opportunity, not an obstacle or a routine. Like yoga, which at the beginning seems complicated and confusing, it becomes natural and habitual step by step. An opportunity to observe without judgment, breathe through the discomfort, and commit.
The yoga mat is a perfect place to cultivate your relationship with money. And why? You might wonder why money is often considered a substitute for what we truly value. The better we take care of ourselves, the more we demonstrate our self-worth. So practicing yoga or any sport can deeply connect you with your sufficiency and abundance.
Money is more spiritual than you think, it represents your life force. One of the ways I connect with my spirituality is that every time I receive money, I give thanks, thanks, thanks, and every time I give money, I give thanks, thanks, thanks...
Ask for support
Why is it that when you most need the support of your family, colleagues, or community, you suddenly hesitate to ask for it? Are you afraid of appearing useless or inadequate? Are you concerned about seeming selfish for pursuing your dream instead of conforming to a traditional office job as society dictates? Indeed, only you can answer those questions and even pose others that might reveal your underlying conversation (belief) about asking for support.
Just remember, when you're paralyzed by fear and shame, living your purpose is the most powerful gift of service you can give to the world. Whether your dream is to help orphans, serve the best pizza, or discover a cure for cancer, remember that you're doing it to improve someone's life, even your own, in some way.
When you have your purpose, asking for support becomes a no-brainer. Seriously, you don't realize how much people love to help. We feel useful when we do, and the practice of giving and receiving becomes a gift for both parties.
As a leader, just do it
Your "yes" has magic, but also uncertainty, right? But you'll never know the outcome if you don't take the risk, so eventually, you have to do it.
At this stage, you need to connect with your center and turn to any practice that supports you in taming your self-sabotaging thoughts. Stay inspired with your idea, meditate, breathe, talk to your team, talk to your coach, be vulnerable about your fears, and all the while, focus on the purpose you identified at the beginning of your journey and take action.
Repeat after me, "I can do this" (100 times or as many times as you need until it's done). Once the initial euphoria of your leap of faith toward your dream fades away, don't be surprised if events, circumstances, or even people start to emerge that could hinder its fulfillment. It's just the universe testing you.
Or it could happen that everything is going well and the only one creating doomsday scenarios in your head is yourself, wishing to return to the state you were in before saying YES to your big idea. "This phenomenon is known as hedonic adaptation. People tend to recover from both the positive and negative aspects of their choices and return to the same mental state they were in before," explains Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, professor at the University of California.
It doesn't mean you made a wrong choice, or perhaps it does; it simply reinforces the reality that your brain is designed for survival and tends to revert to old and familiar habits. This is where, more than ever, you need new practices, discipline, consistency, and inspiration to reach your goals.
And last but not least, an important recommendation, enjoy the journey as much as your awareness allows you. After all, you're doing this connected to your true purpose and contributing your tiny grain of sand so that others dare to pursue their dreams too.
Read more from Sassi Ochoa
Sassi Ochoa, Mindfulness & Transformational Coach
Sassi Ochoa combines 15 years of successful experience in the insurance sales industry with 5 years of holistic leadership experience, spanning both professional and personal domains.
Committed to providing Latin people with the same transformative educational opportunities she has experienced translated Stanford University's prestigious CIJ Clarity Catalyst program into Spanish during the 2020 pandemic, facilitating it in her community's mother language since then. Additionally, she created the virtual workshop "Leadership is written with H", designed to connect managers and collaborators with their commitment, emotional competences, and the significance of teamwork.
