Remember the first time you rode a roller coaster?
You probably got in line a couple of times before actually making it to the gate. Even then, it was with Mom, Dad, or a big brother close at hand. Think of how many people let fear rob them of the pure exhilaration of cresting that first big hill, the thrill of barreling down the other side.
And when it was over, you scrambled back in line to do it again—and again and again and again!
The Oolalife is a lot like that—a thrilling ride toward la balanced, beautiful life. (As a refresher, Oola is derived from the expression "Ooh-la-la," and it is that state of awesomeness when your life is balanced and growing in the key areas of health, finances, career, relationships, and well-being.) But fear is one of seven Oola blockers we’ve seen derail dreamers. These things keep them from fully realizing what they’re capable of and destined to enjoy.
Maybe you’re deep in credit card debt and driving it higher every month to make ends meet. If you’re struggling to make the minimum payment [insert long sigh here], what’s the use of even trying?
It isn’t like you haven’t done it all before! The extra 10 pounds turned into 20, your significant other is still mad at you for forgetting Mother’s Day or your anniversary. And, well, it’s crazy to think you could really make anything change.
If you’re like thousands of others we’ve met at our events, there are a hundred things are running through your head reminding you why it will never work for you.
We know what you’re going through. It’s nothing we haven’t experienced ourselves—the self-doubt, the attitude, and the old habits that can shut us down. They undermine our efforts, seeming determined to convince us that we’re not worthy of finding true joy.
It isn’t so! The past is behind you and the rest is waiting to be written. By recognizing these Oola blockers for what they are and consciously kicking them out of the picture, you will find the inner awesomeness it takes to claim, with a sense of gratitude, hope, and faith, the life well-lived.
So, let's dig a little deeper. What are Oola blockers?
Maybe you think it’s easy for us to say, "Don’t just dream, dream bigger." We’re not dealing with a cranky boss, a kid with an attitude problem that's spiraling out of control, and a schedule so tight, the only room for escape comes when you fall into bed exhausted every night.
We see a bigger picture—a life riddled, maybe even subconsciously, with the seven Oola blockers. They are fear, guilt, anger, self-sabotage, laziness, envy, and a lack of focus. They’re playing this negative head game, planting the toxic seeds that keep your dreams on hold.
Why seven?
We like that number. We have the seven key areas of life—fitness, finance, family, field, faith, friends, and fun, and we found seven blockers that seemed just as relevant.
We need to make room for the positive thoughts that allow us to realize the life we’re destined to lead. How many times has fear paralyzed you from doing what you knew was right? As President Franklin D. Roosevelt so eloquently put it, we have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Guilt (carrying regrets for things we can’t change) and the anger that triggers physical changes in us as it infects those around us are the Oola blockers that persistently chip away at our well-being. Envy is another thing that robs us of ever feeling fully satisfied.
Self-sabotage is the self-talk that masquerades as a protector. It’s the small voice that says, "Remember what happened last time you joined the gym…and never went? Are you going to throw all that money away again?"
Proving it wrong is going to take some effort—there’s no room for laziness or a lack of focus—but you can do it.
Here's how:
1. Acknowledge what's standing in your way.
Are you afraid of going back to your place of worship because you haven’t been there for so long? Are you sabotaging your daily run by capping it with a stop at the ice cream parlor? Name it and bring it out of the shadows. Own it and take back the power it holds over you.
2. Put it in its place.
How will your life change if you finally let go of the anger you still have about being downsized out of a job? What opportunities have you lost by harboring that crippling hatred? Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself; use it to open your mind to what life could be without all that negativity. Refreshing, isn’t it? Now, you’re ready for the fun part!
3. For 20 seconds, steel yourself and take action!
That simple burst of courage, throwing laziness aside as you sharpen your focus on the bigger goal, does more than shut down the Oola blockers. When you put the piano you never use on eBay and use the proceeds to start building your emergency fund, the resulting sense of accomplishment will provide powerful motivation to do it again.
That credit card debt doesn't seem quite as daunting anymore, does it? In three simple steps, you’ve proven that you can, in fact, grow, change, and live the life you've always wanted. Now it’s time to take your dreams a step further by finding your Oola goal—the one thing that will bring the most positive change into your life. Summon up that courage again, confidently stepping down the path to a balanced life.
And as you grow in Oola, be grateful, have faith, and go get the life of your dreams.
Want more on living your best life? Check out your weekly horoscope, then try these four practices for instant happiness.
This post was co-written by Troy Amdahl and Dave Braun, Oola guru and Oola seeker. Troy Amdahl and Dave Braun, aka the OolaGuys, are co-authors of the new self-help sensation, Oola for Women: How to Balance the 7 Key Areas of Life to Have Less Stress, More Purpose, and Reveal the Greatness Within You, which is part of the best-selling Oola book series. Dave and Troy are renowned experts in goal-setting and creating a proper work-life balance. They are currently crisscrossing the country in a 1970 VW Surf Bus, speaking to people, collecting their dreams on stickers that cover the bus, and helping them find balance and growth in the seven key areas of life—the seven F’s of Oola.
By revealing how to remove the stress related to a life out of balance, they unlock the greatness that is inside all of us. A better “you” makes a better family, a better community, and ultimately a better world. The OolaGuys are committed to changing the world with this word and with their simple yet life-changing message. Learn more about Oola at www.oolalife.com.