If you think that leaping is only for the foolhardy or the long-legged, think again! Price Pritchett lays out enticing and inspiring premise for “Quantum Leaps” in his handbook, you2.  Building on the core elements introduced in last week’s post, he shows how little good trying harder often makes in getting what you want.  Then he provides strategic and tactical steps for you to access an exponentially more effective you.

As a woman over fifty, I am looking for things that work and having fun along the way!  Dr. Pritchett has been in the business of change management for three decades so he has applied these techniques for himself and thousands of clients.  His clear thinking is demonstrated in you2 as well as 29 other books and two hardbacks.

If we want quantum change in our lives, Dr. Pritchett suggests that we will have to give up:
1) Always using a common sense approach
2) Knowing how we are going to get to our goal before hand
3) Doubting we will achieve our desired outcome

Our focus will shift to:
1) Having a clear vision of what we want
2) The search for and employment of new attitudes and behaviors
3) Pursuit…active movement towards what we want – placing our trust in action

As I read this book it becomes clear that I will have to expand my goals!  So, I am!  I can already feel the stretch.  For those of you that want to step into this new zone and new way of being and doing, let’s connect!  This definitely requires that we step beyond our current circumstances, beliefs and behaviors. 

As we know there is a power in being among like minded-people who have similar intentions – including having  FUN.  We can be DIVAs on a mission, committed to flourishing and naturally, positively impacting others in the process. (Check out the column to the right if you want an option for connecting in the near future.)                                                                

Here is the link for getting your copy of you2.  This book is one that provides powerful change stategies for individuals and organizations!

A Nobel Laureate, when asked what was the greatest achievement of the 20th Century, replied, “Greater longevity.” In effect we are experiencing a Longevity Revolution and the result is that we have an extra 29 years and many of us will live to be 78 or older. Lydia Bronte in her book, “The Longevity Factor,” added to the value of those bonus years by pointing out that at least 15 of these are being added at midlife and give us an opportunity for a “second wind!”

How will we use that “Second Wind,” and enrich the Second Half of our lives? Recently Marianne Williamson spoke in Seattle on her new book “The Age of Miracles, Embracing the New Midlife.” She encouraged those in the audience to take time to look at just what we have lost and gained by arriving at midlife. She pulled no punches stating the looking in the mirror we can indeed tell the difference whether we have used super supplements and Botox or not. And she acknowledged that some of the realities of midlife have not been embraced given the youth oriented culture that we live in and the circumstances that we find ourselves in.

Those of us at midlife and a bit beyond were the ones leading peace rallies and protesting the Vietnam War. We have lived long enough to see some of our dreams realized and other dreams like life without war seemingly dashed. (Marianne has not given up on peace and believes we just have not invested enough in learning what peace takes. She has backed a Department of Peace.) The excellent health that we had experienced in youth may no longer be a given. How do we optimize what we have?

Marianne, Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle have given us a clue. All of them are suggesting the power of increasing our consciousness and being co-creators of the lives and world we desire. In the next three blogs I will focus on being conscious co-creators and invite you to share your ideas on what that takes.

In the meantime, take a step in the direction of your desired future by joining me for “Waking Up to the Second Half” workshop on May 17, 2007. You will gain greater clarity and momentum towards the life you desire in the Second Half and some practical tools for getting traction to make it happen.

In closing, I give you a quote from Marianne: “The mind is its own kind of dance floor. If in fact the highest, most creative work is the work of consciousness, then in slowing down we’re not doing less; we’re doing more. Having slowed down physically, we’re in a better space to rev up psychically. We’re becoming contemplative. We are shifting from the outer to the inner not in order to begin our demise, but to reseed and regreen the consciousness of the planet. And that’s what is happening now: We’re going slower in order to go deeper, in order to go faster in the direction of urgently needed change in the world.”