That morning as I woke up the tension headache was still there. I was confused, over-worked, ambitious and chasing success. I was obsessed with the concepts of financial freedom and anything on motivation and self-improvement. I attended numerous seminars, read countless books, started businesses, and loss a lot of time and money.

Over time I had become so frustrated trying to launch ventures that were not closely related to my goals and purpose. I was feeling as if I’d actually stepped into just another dead-end job. I wanted the exhilaration of waking up each day recognizing my life was driven by purpose. I knew I was multi-faceted, but I still felt like a fish out of the water. I was stuck in a cycle of unfulfillment and unhappiness.

I want to spare you the life cycle I was in. Every activity in your life should flow out of your purpose. I believe God can use all of your gifts, talents and emotions for the purpose he has for you. But I also believe many are going about it the wrong way as I did. I was looking on the outside hoping to find my purpose when in fact it was within me waiting to be discovered.

If you are dissatisfied and unfulfilled with what you are doing, it may be that you are not doing what you have been destined to do. You may not see how your prolonged dissatisfaction, God-given gifts, talents, emotions and unfruitful results are pointing you towards your purpose. It is your responsibility to discover your place of satisfaction and here are some ways that you can.

• Pay attention to your dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction may be a signal that you are out of place. God will not make you do something you absolutely detest, and that makes you completely miserable. It may challenge you, but you’ll enjoy the challenge. What I’m saying is, God leads you by your desires. Your desires that are aligned with his word are indicators of God directing your steps. He guides you by his peace (Phil.4:7). So if you’ve prayed, sought godly counsel, followed God’s blueprint in scripture and you’re still dissatisfied in your current place, then God may be gently nudging you into another place.

• Pay attention to what naturally flows from you. Science and math are not something I wake up each day excited to delve into. But I am excited about writing, speaking, teaching, motivating, creating and designing. These probably are guideposts to where God is leading me. So tell me, what are your gifts and talents? Which gift do you perform best? Which gift are you passionate about? I’ve learned that God-given gifts are like muscles. The more they are used, the stronger they become. If you can’t recognize the gifts and talents God has given you, I am sure you have abilities that feel right and natural when you perform them. These are abilities that may be complex for someone else but are simple for you. Through these abilities God will reveal more to you about who you are and will set the course for them to make room for you.

• Pay attention to the fruits you bear. The Word says that a tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 12:33). I believe results speak. If you aren’t being at all fruitful at what you are doing, it may be an indication that you are moving in the wrong direction. Good results aren’t necessarily immediate results; full manifestation doesn’t happen overnight. It took me about three years to consistently begin bearing good fruit. But I discovered that everything I needed was wrapped around my purpose and you too will realize the same.

• Pay attention to what excites you. Helping people feel rich from within is exciting to me. Planning and creating spaces to design inspires me, and speaking to audiences fascinates me. They move me into action when the opportunity arises to bask in the glow of the creative flow. They ignite within me a passion and zeal to take action–the same zeal that moved Jesus into action in John 2:15. If your gifting, talent and/or emotions move you into an action to change a thing that matters to you or to help someone, pay close attention to it. It could be what God has purposed you to do.

• Pay attention to the areas where you get the most support. I believe this is a true indicator of purpose because when you are doing what you are called to do, people can sense this. I truly believe that God moves on their hearts so compassion and favor will make the way for you to fulfill what he has called you to do.

The world makes room for people living in line with their purpose (Prov. 18:16). You were created to multiply and subdue, maximize your potential, make a difference, and move into your purpose—the building blocks to designing your best life.

Let 2011 be your year to start paying attention to yourself. Express the creativity within you to live every single day fulfilled and free to work on ventures you can’t wait to get your hands on, and to contribute a significant amount of value to the world.

Thank you for reading my post. I hope in some way I have spoken to your heart.

Sharing my passion,

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“Lord, what do you want me to do?” “Why am I here Lord?” “I know you have a purpose for my life, so what is it?”  “Do you hear me?”

I was trapped in a maze of ambiguity, disappointment, and loneliness. You see, during this time my friend was sharing with me her life’s direction and seemingly a new insight or opportunity everyday! It sounded so wonderful. I would think, humm, I can do that too! Whatever the “buzz” or trend for that season, I wanted my stake. Needing so much to fit in, I was trying to force it.

Then one day I awaken with the compulsion to discover myself. This was the Lord’s way of answering my prayers. My desire to know Deana and her place became unbearably intense. Settling for status-quo wasn’t an option. The emotional roller-coaster was wearing on me. Determined to defy even a wisp of depression, I surrendered every square-foot of my heart to acknowledge God’s design course for me. Growing jaded by hearing of other’s victories, I declared, “What’s for me is for me and I’m going to find it!” I began with a conscious assessment of my inner landscape. Within me was a special drawing pulling me onward. My discovery didn’t happen overnight, of course.

Just like designing a space, it was a process.

Are you seeking to know the real you? Do you sometimes question where your place is? I can help you. Here’s a blueprint to self-discovery I use in my “life design” journey. To make it fun and real, I’ll apply comparable interior design jargon I use with my students:

Purpose to know your space: Knowing your space identifies how to use it. Know that you must use God’s word to identify his exceeding great and precious promises. Purpose to trust him. His Spirit occupies the space of your heart; therefore, believe that he directs your steps as he promised in Psalm 37:23. During this process, he may impress upon your spirit to initiate a specific action. Partake of his divine nature as you take what you hear from him and act in faith until fresh clarity comes.

Assess your style and taste: What appeals to you generally identifies your taste and style. We can relate this to the cliché, “Follow your passion.” My passion assessment didn’t lead me to self-discovery. My gifting did. There’s a gift in you. Your responsibility is to stir it up. (1 Timothy 1:6). He will give you ideas that correspond with your gift. God promises that your gift makes room for you, not your passion. (Proverbs 18:16)

Create a furniture plan: A furniture plan helps the performance of functionality. To function within the scope of your gift, write a plan or a vision for your life. A room design calls for several furniture pieces not necessarily placed all at once. And sometimes it is necessary to make adjustments to the room’s layout for improving its appearance. Your life design comes with many gifts not revealed all at once. The vision outlines the performance of functionality of your gifts. Make room in your vision for adjustments and for God’s intervention. Situations and interruptions may well arise. Nevertheless, the vision is yet for an appointed time. God promises if you clearly write the vision and wait, though it tarries it will surely come. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

Build your room, layer your décor: There is an orderly progression to achieving a distinctive, pleasing and satisfactory room décor. In developing your best life design, embrace the process of building a relationship with you. Get to know and understand you. Like yourself. Accept yourself. Love you. Your distinctive qualities represent your value. And the values within you indicate a specific inner décor for crafting your vision. So what do you do? Layer your inner décor with a mind renewal (Romans 12:2); creative self-talk (I am, I can, I will—Mark 11:23); forgiveness—the crucial one (Matthew 18:21); and love—the required one (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Combining color and light levels: Color and light distribution adds personality to a space. I like to call it the power network. Hence, opt to incorporate a network of personas then distribute them by coloring and brightening the lives of others. Encouraging, serving, praying for, submitting to, fellowshipping with, ministering to and sharing your grace and wisdom with others, illuminates their mind, impacts their spirit, brings you joy and refines your character. (Colossians 3:16)

Avoiding chaos and eliminating clutter: This helps you to resist the urge to clutter surfaces and indulge in all sorts of inner and visual fuss. Learning to run with the vision involves protection against all disorder together with being physically and mentally fit. Designing your best life sends a resounding message that exercise and good nourishment is necessary for optimum productivity. Keep the mind sharp and healthy. Complement life with cardiovascular exercise, good books, wholesome relationships and hearty dialogue. God wants your inner design strong, healthy and fit because it affects your external state. (Romans 12:1-2)

Know this. You don’t have to emulate anyone else for acceptance. Neither should you seek people’s approval. There’s nothing wrong with not knowing what to do. You need the word and prayer to become part of who you are—part of your spiritual DNA—the real you, so that they can influence and direct all aspects of your life. Make it your blueprint for your self-discovery to designing your best life.

A place of greatness is within you.
Never give up!

Thank you for reading my post today. I appreciate your comments.

Sharing my Passion,

Deana

©2011 All Rights Reserved
Award winning author and transformational speaker Deana Murphy
Deana passionately supports the success of women helping them to
design their best life. Creator and visionary of the LivingDesigns™
brand, Deana is the expert on life design and your Go-to-Resource 
for promoting empowering life makeovers, whether you seek one-on-one
consulting, group trainings, educational workshops or live lifestyle
makeover events. Visit Deana at deanamurphyglobal.com and
designingfortheking.com.

Great people are single-minded and focused. They concentrate on their priorities and don’t deviate from them. Why? Because they have a systematic plan to extract chaos from their daily routine in general and from their lives as a whole.

Charles Dickens said this, “I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time…” Most people try to put their hands in too many baskets for the sake of multi-tasking. But I’ve learned that great people concentrate on one task and do it well. They recognize chaos as the enemy.

Why do so many people even those with a clear sense of purpose oftentimes lose their focus and their capacity to concentrate on one subject at a time? During my research for my book, Designing for the King, I discovered that people have too much inner chaos. I’ve found also that the ole cliché, “Jack of all trades and master of none” proved to be correct.

I’ve identified six forms of chaos that I am diligently working towards removing from my life. The goal is to be “Jack or Jill of just one trade.” The benefit is being focused, and concentrating on mastering it well.

Emotional Chaos

This type of chaos is typical when unforgiveness is clouding your focus. Holding grudges or carrying a chip on your shoulder is toxic. Forgive and move on.

Organizational Chaos

As important as organizing is to progression, it amazes me how so many people overlook this. You can accomplish so much more when you are organized.  Figure out a system that works for you and stick with it.

Timeline Chaos

When you begin to master your time well, timelines or lifelines (I don’t like the word deadlines) won’t seem like a nightmare in the making. Prioritize your day and use your time and energy on what will yield the most return.

Information Chaos

This happens as your attention is divided among so much to do. Every social media expert has a mailing. Where’s the value in allowing insignificant things to detract you from your focus?

Unhealthful Chaos

Many years ago I heard the Lord say, “My people wait until they are sick before they change their diet instead of changing their diets before they get sick.” You cannot concentrate well if your body is chaotic and dysfunctional.

Visual Chaos

Sustainable success is founded on being focused. I find it totally impossible to concentrate in the midst of visual chaos. You will find it easier to make the right decisions when your eyes have places to rest.

Because you are reachable 24/7 with your smart phones and lap tops, you tend to fall into chaos over-load and oftentimes cannot differentiate the significant from the immediate. Adapt to a chaos-free lifestyle and you will find your focus clear and sharp. Concentrating on the life design of your dreams won’t be far-reaching.

I enjoy sharing my passion with you.  If you know someone who would like to read this, share it with them. And always I welcome your comments and will personally respond to them.

Sharing my passion,

Deana

© 2010 All Rights Reserved

There is GREATNESS in you. Greatness is not only for Guinness Book of Record holders. You were born with it. Inside of you is the innate ability to surge higher and far beyond your wildest dreams! Your potential is off the scales. Churning within you is the ultimate mechanism for attaining anything you want in life. Within you is a huge bundle of excellence and greatness streaming at the top of its lungs, “Let me out, we have so much to do. We only get one lifetime at this.” Can’t you hear it!!! Read this post to the very end and discover the five no brainer ways to unleash your greatness.

1. BELIEVE!
Know your passion, embrace its power. It’s what helps
you to achieve your cause.

2. DON’T QUIT BELIEVING
The only approval you need is the one that speaks within you!

3. BELIEVE REGARDLESS
Hang with those who have your answer and
remove those who have your problem.
To go up you’ve got to sow up!

4. BELIEVE ANYWAY
Listen to your inner GPS. If it is saying, stay in your lane,
then stay there!

5. ONLY BELIEVE
To accomplish great things, you must not only act,
but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

As always I so much appreciate you reading my posts and I enjoy reading your comments. Go ahead and share with me today. Oh one more thing, share this with three people you know. Send them this link.

Sharing my Passion,

________________________________________________

Photobucket

Deana Murphy is The Expert on Lifestyle Design, media personality,
a dynamic speaker, an award winning best selling author who has been helping
people for years design a home they love, transform their lifestyle,
and showing them how to feel good from the inside out and unleash their
greatness. She has been interviewed for O at Home Magazine, Empowering Everyday Women,
Spectacular Homes, SORMAG, and Meredith publications to name a few.

Do you wake up some days and feel that you just can’t seem to get your mojo going? You know what I mean, you’d rather pull the covers over your head and pretend life is going to automatically fall into places as you’d like it to. Hey, we all get off track sometimes. It generally shows up dressed as  distractions, procrastination, disgust, bewilderment, indecisiveness or just plain ole fatigue. It happens.

I can recall times when there were so many different projects on my plate and I’d work a bit on one then jump to another. But nothing was coming to completion. It appeared I was just merely going in circles, playing musical projects. There’s no formula for being flawless in this journey called life. But I have some good news for you. There are ways to redesign your life to function as you were originally designed.

Think about this. When you plant a seed in the ground, it always produces that which it was intended. For instance, plant an apple seed and what do you get? Apples! Plant a flower seed and what grows? Flowers? When God created you, He already planted the seeds inside you for a specific purpose and vision He purposed for you to grow into. But distractions, procrastinations, disgusts, bewildering, indecisiveness and fatigue sometimes are inflicted by others. You know, the things people say or do that causes you to become blinded to the vision and purpose seeds originally planted inside of you. Upend this lifestyle today. Become acquainted with you. Redesign your life. Here are the top six ways to do this:

1. Caution yourself
You were placed here for a reason. There is a life’s design seed in you beckoning to blossom into your purpose and destiny.

2. Take back control
Okay, you’ve swerved off the path for a moment. It happened. Don’t dwell on the time lost. Move on and find yourself.

3. Inventory your talent, desire, passion seeds
What are you good at? What do you do just for the fun of it? What would you do if you wouldn’t be paid to do this? Perhaps it’s something you’ve always enjoyed doing as a child. Perhaps it’s something you’ve always wanted to do but was afraid. Don’t be afraid. Remember, God has already planted the seed inside of you. Don’t allow it to rot in the soil of your heart. Give Him a good bang for His investment in you.

4. Revisit your goals
Let’s face it. Goals are the heartbeat to life. Without them you’re walking around with blinders on. Stretch yourself. Jump into the challenges that come your way. Reposition yourself. Push yourself to do the things you desire. Not only for yourself, but to shine in the face of those who told you that you can’t.

5. Stop Stressing
Put things in perspective. Use your mental energy in ways that you enjoy. As important it is to exercise your body, likewise it is with your brain. Crossword puzzles, reading for relaxing, visiting museums, listening to soothing music, and this one I particularly enjoy: thumbing through high-end magazines for selecting the furnishings for my next home. Use your imaginative energy on things you desire that will elevate your thinking. Laugh out loud often, like every half hour. Don’t take things so seriously; just be serious about making things happen.

6. Design your focus
You are drawn to your most dominate thoughts. Everyday I sit alone where it is quiet and focus on the design of my life. This is the most important aspect of redesigning your life. See yourself in, on, or at the desires of your heart. Then say out loud to yourself everyday what you are focusing on. If your focus drifts away, gently pull it back. Utilize the seed of imagination that God placed inside of you. Use it to your advantage and redesign your life.

No matter how old you are, how long you’ve been in a career path that you dislike, or what the naysayers are shouting, redesign your life today into the person of your desire. The seeds are inside of you. Water them and watch them grow.

I’m so glad you stopped by to read my post. Please leave me your comments.

Sharing my passion,

©2010 Deana Murphy. All rights Reserved. You may reprint this article
in its entirety with author's contact and bio information.
Deana Murphy is a dynamic speaker, award winning author and

a conscious home and lifestyle expert who has been helping

people for years design a home they love, transform their lifestyle,

and approach life’s design in view of Spirit and family relations.

She has been interviewed for O at Home Magazine, Empowering Everyday Women,

Spectacular Homes, SORMAG, and Meredith publications to name a few.

She has also appeared on HGTV and Fine Living.

This Saturday my family will be serving at our church’s annual Easter egg hunt. This annual event generally brings children and families peacefully from both the congregation and nearby neighborhoods. Fun and games are on the menu for the children who will be putting their expectations and  appetites on autopilot to feed on these joyous activities. It is a time for them to run and rush to search under every nook and cranny looking for those beautiful designs on those prized eggs.

These kids are fully charged and powered to resurrect every beautifully hidden painted egg, probably not so much to wolf them down but merely to simply have fun during their annual routine of seeking the competitive edge over their peers.

I’m reminded of how our lives sometimes can seem to slip into autopilot mode as the best within us are hidden from view while simply doing the routine things for the sake of just doing life… …competing for attention, recognition or  acceptance.

Just think about this for a moment. If we aren’t careful, life can sometimes become so mundane that we forget there is a rhyme and reason for being here. Our lives have purpose. We may not always know what it is but one thing for sure by running and rushing each day in search of the competitive edge will certainly not resurrect the dead areas in our lives. Gifting and talent, innovations and inventions dwell deep within us and today the challenge is RESURRECT THEM!

Take your destiny off autopilot. Write the vision. Read the vision. Speak the vision. Put your destiny in good hands – your own.

1.  Take your destiny off auto-pilot. Purpose today to opp-in and take advantage of opportunities that will better your quality of life. See the assistance of  like-minded people. Some things can’t be accomplished alone. And don’t just have a come-se come-si attitude, or whatever will be, will be outlook. Take control. Navigate by your gut. If you feel passionate about it, then do it.

2.  Write the vision. Make a list of the things that you feel and know needs resurrecting in your life. Perhaps it’s taking care of your body, exercising or clearing your heart and mind of the past so the new you can emerge, better habits, less distractions. Write down those areas that are dead that needs reviving.

3.  Read the vision. Read what you’ve written over and over each day.

4. Speak the vision. Speak what you’ve written over and over each day.         Speak in the first person, “I am,  I will,  I can.”

5. Put your destiny in good hands – your own. Step out, take action,        ignore the nay-sayers, stay focused, just do it!

Easter season brings to remembrance of Someone who was once dead; Who was resurrected by the power of divine purpose and destiny. This same power dwells within you. Give power to that purpose. Resurrect your life today!

I always enjoy sharing my passion with you, and I equally enjoy your comments. Happy Easter!

Sharing my passion,

Deana

©2010 Deana Murphy. All rights Reserved. No parts may be duplicated without
permission.  www.DeanaMurphy.com  http://designingfortheking.com

Perhaps 2009 wasn’t one of your best years. And conceivably the past ten years didn’t manifest your heart’s desire. And then maybe, I’m wrong. Whatever the case may be, let’s reflect and redesign some lifestyle components for leaping off into 2010 with a great start.

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will
just help other people get what they want.” — Zig Ziglar

MY 3 STRATEGIES FOR 2010

#1. Renovate, Revamp, Rediscover

Don’t carry over into next year the same decor elements of procrastination, digression or complacency. Look over the aspects of the areas and associations that molded your 2009 journey and re-examine what worked for you and what didn’t quite hatch it.
How much time did you spend spinning your wheels? What adjustments do you believe are needed to make 2010 better for you, your family, and your relations? If you were engaged in several projects, which ones have your passion? Which do not? Which ones offered the best opportunities to GIVE and help others? Expect to give more.

“Judge each day not by the harvest you reap, by the seeds you plant.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

#2. Create Your Personal Style Portfolio

Empower yourself with what you already have. How many pdf files, books, DVDs and programs are filed on your computer or on sitting on your shelf that have not been utilized? These products carry many techniques, tools, tips and strategies that can give you a colorful personal style portfolio for inspiration and provide dynamic perspectives and fresh ideas. Do all things in excellence and with purpose. And while you’re doing this, cancel email subscriptions that you don’t have the time to read.

“No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” – Harry E. Fosdick

#3. The Design is Within You.

With pad and pen take time away from any distractions and listen to your spirit. Write down everything as your mind begins to move forward. I’ve used this technique one morning even while waiting for an associate to show up for breakfast. The best time though is when you’re alone in your favorite spot at home with peaceful surroundings. Engage a peaceful home environment. You will be surprised what pours from your creative mind when you relax. Be patient until you know for sure what to do. If it’s burning inside you, pull it out, run with it, and begin designing your future.

“Within each of us is a hidden store of energy, courage and determination.” –Roger Dawson

I don’t know who wrote this, but it is certainly profound:

“Small people talk about other people. Average people talk about events. Great people talk about ideas. Carve out some time to contemplate on who you are, what you’ve done, and what you will do.”

With anticipated opportunities that new beginnings bring… a new year; and the prospects of an emerging new decade, be thankful. A good time to renovate and redesign the spaces of your heart, your life, and your home in anticipation of planning your lifestyle design to carry you through 2010 and beyond.

Thank you for reading my blog posts. May your 2010 journey flourish with unspeakable success.

Sharing my passion,