Do you have a space - a room, a closet, a corner, a stack or something bigger that needs to be cleaned out? A place that for some reason just accumulates things or has just been neglected for a while. A place that tugs at you because you know you need to do something about it? Sometimes even a small space like a basket with old magazines or newspapers in it or a stack of papers in your office brings up a feeling of dread. Maybe you have boxes with clothes under the bed that you’ve been meaning to go through because you know you haven’t worn those sweaters in years and can take them to Goodwill. So why have you put it off?

Does it feel overwhelming? WHY? Does it feel like it's going to take too much time? Are there things there that have emotional attachments that you aren’t ready to deal with? Are you just lazy?

I have a home office that I have been wanting to reorganize for my new life coaching practice. I used the room years ago when I had a work at home job and prior to that the space was reserved for my husband’s music room. In the years since, it has become somewhat of a catchall, a place where things with no home somehow ended up. We are definitely not pack rats, we don't like clutter. I like clean organized spaces, but this room in particular was far from it. As I spent time in there learning my new craft, I would look around and think "I really need to clean that closet out" and "this room really needs to be painted". I am usually not a procrastinator but I just kept putting off getting this done. There had to more to it...what did it mean if I got the room set up as my new office? So I started to investigate my thoughts and ask myself questions around it. Did it mean that I officially needed to launch my business, what if I failed? Wasn't it safer to keep putting it off? The more obstacles I kept unconsciously in my way, the more excuses I had to not do the work I needed to do.

Over the holiday break I decided to tackle this seemingly insurmountable task…organizing my office. I geared myself up with cleaning supplies and trash bags and headed in. It took (drum roll, please), less than an hour. Seriously! Why, why, why did I put this off for so long? Now my office is my oasis, it is clean, organized and a place I WANT to be in when I am coaching clients. With less than an hour’s worth of effort I freed space in my mind and opened space to begin moving forward creatively. Sometimes we set up roadblocks for ourselves and we need to recognize them for what they are.

I urge you to tackle your space and start 2015 feeling de-cluttered and free. You will likely be surprised at how little time it takes compared to the amount of time you’ve spent thinking about it.

Now I just need to paint!

We have all seen inspirational Facebook posts, the streaming newsfeed with pictures behind feel good quotes intermingled between puppies and kittens. If you are like me, you read them and think “yes, that’s good” or “perfect timing, I needed that today”. You may even go as far as to “like” it or even “share” it. But how often do your really, really think about the message? How often do they move you to take action?

Recently I launched my new business, Valerie Dubuc, Life Coach. For me it is something I have been dreaming about for many years, it was always something “out there” that I thought I would do someday. Dreaming and scheming is great, it’s what gets us through the day sometimes. But taking action is a whole different story. It can be both exciting and terrifying. If you want someday to come you must hold yourself accountable to make it happen.

When something is close to your heart, it can take a great deal of courage to expose yourself and announce to the word “this is who I am”. What will people think? Will they embrace and support me or will they reject me? What if I fail? Perhaps there will be no reaction at all, the proverbial sound of crickets chirping. Worse though is not ever knowing because you didn’t try.

What I have found to be true for myself and my clients is living your truth is rarely as scary as you think it will be and is much more powerful and meaningful than hiding behind what if’s. So here I am, taking a leap of faith and following what I know is my calling. I trust it will lead me down the right path. I don’t know what lies ahead, I just have faith that when I take a step the path will unfold before me.

So next time you are scrolling through your news feed and see an inspirational quote that moves you, take a minute to think about why and what it really means to you. Dig deep. You just might find it will inspire you to take the first step toward following your dream too.