The Integrated Life: Finding the Time to Live Your Dream Life

The biggest thing I do is help people get time back.  HOW I do that will differ, depending on their specific situation, but it all comes down to time. 

I am a huge proponent of living an integrated life, where your work works with your life and vice versa, and I truly believe there is a way to make that happen for everyone.  Finding that path isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

“There’s nothing worse than living a life where you are constantly burned out, wishing you were doing something somewhere else, or looking up when you’re 80 and having regrets or “I wish I would haves”, or finally having time to spend with your kids and grandkids, but not having them come around because you were “too busy” for them when they were growing up, and now they’re “too busy” for you.” 

– Deb Mitzel

This post is a peek into my philosophy and approach to what I call an integrated life. It’s the foundation for the way I approach the work I do with my clients. I hope it motivates you and inspires some ideas to consider in your own life, and gives you a little insight into what you can expect if you choose to work with me.

A full, rich life should be able to be lived at ALL stages, no matter where you are on the timeline.  So that means doing the work to find the way to do it that works for YOU.  It will not and should not be the same for everyone.  We are all designed differently, and we are all in different seasons of life. It’s also important to note that what works for you in this season of life may not work for you in the next.  Being self-aware enough to realize the differences and knowing when you need make changes is huge. 

The work I do can be applied to anyone, but I have a heart for small business, and the promise of the American Dream. I truly believe that you can have the life you want if you are willing to do the work to get it.  And by doing the work, I don’t mean working yourself to the bone. I mean doing the work to design your life and business to work together in a way that serves you best.  That may not always mean getting to “the top” the quickest, but it does mean enjoying all the moments while you’re getting there. 

So often people miss all the important things on the way to their success because they’re so busy with their head down that they miss what’s right in front of them. I don’t want that for you.  I want you to build a strong and steady business that is a blessing to your life, and allows you to prosper and grow as much personally as you do professionally. I want your children to see you building a business that serves your life, and be inspired by that, and also know that they come first in your life.  I want you to feel that you ARE doing your best, not just TRYING to do your best. 

So what does that look like in reality?  It looks like getting clear with what you want from life. I don’t just want you to go through the motions each day, then go to bed unfulfilled.

• I want you to know what’s important to you, and then spend your days taking the action that will make those things happen. 
• I want you to set boundaries with your time – you only get 24 hours in a day, and if you waste them or let other people hijack them, you can’t get them back. There aren’t any “do overs” or negotiation techniques available to buy back your time, so you need to protect and cherish the time you have. 
• I want you to dream with your spouse, your family, the most important people in your life, and put together a plan that will help you achieve your dream.  Working together and being on the same page will got a long ways toward making your dream life a reality. 

If you and your spouse have a shared vision, and your are on the same page about what it will take to get there, when you need to work late to get a client project done, and he or she needs to step up for the kids in a way they hadn’t planned, they are more inclined to do it without a fight than if they don’t understand the shared dream.  Similarly, if your dream involves something that requires more money in the bank account, being on the same page about it will stop you from getting that $5 a day coffee you don’t really need because you have a plan for how that money will be used if you don’t blow it on that coffee.  Does this make sense?

Having your dreams clearly identified will give you the strength and motivation to do the work necessary to achieve it. If having dinner with your kids every night is a part of your dream, then stopping work in time to make that happen will be much easier to do.  You need to be clear about what you want, and then it will be so much easier to make the decisions to make it happen.  Without a plan, we tend to float through life and get what we get, often frustrated because we feel unfulfilled, but aren’t sure why.  When you get clear on what you want, and start doing the work to spend your time in the right places, you will experience a shift in your life that is indescribable. 

The life you desire is not out of reach – you just have to get clear and commit to doing the things that will help you get there.  You must remain strong and steadfast in your mission, and know that you do NOT have to do things the way others do..  Don’t let them get in your head or make you think you’re crazy.  You are the only one who can decide what you want YOUR life to look like!

If you’re ready to shake off all the “shoulds” from other people’s opinions and start living the life YOU want, I’m here and ready to help!

I help my clients move closer to their dreams through my six-week coaching program. We’ll walk through where you are, where you want to go, and then we’ll put together a plan to help you get there. The premise is simple, but the work is not.

You need to be ready to change in order to find success. If you’re not ready to do the work, it’s not the right time, and it would be a waste of time for both of us. But if you’re ready and really want to choose a different path and live the life you dream of, there’s no better time than right now to get started. Let’s hop on a discovery call to see if we’re the right fit.

Here’s the link to schedule your free call: http://debmitzelcreative.com/discovery-call-schedule