I am often asked how I work and live in Mexico the majority of the year. I meet tourists on the bus or in town and frequently help them out with some Spanish translation or directions. As I speak with them, they are usually in awe that I get to hang out in the sun while they have just a precious week or two on vacation.  

What I have learned since spending most of the last 13 months in Mexico is that I am not unusual. I have talked to lots of foreigners living here and I assure you they are no different than you. We are not special people living charmed lives. We have created this very deliberately. Even if you don´t want to live in Mexico or outside of your own home town, you can apply what I have learned in many circumstances in your own life. 

Clarity is critical. People who live here are clear that they wanted to live in the sun in Mexico. Many have planned this for decades. Some have dreamed of it since childhood. I know I won´t stay in Mexico forever, but I do know I am clear I want to live in the sun with blue skies greeting me every morning. Are you really clear on what you want? 

Get the facts. I hear people say all the time, “It must be expensive to live here like you do.” Do you really know what it would cost to live the life of your dreams? What you think it may cost is not necessarily the truth. As a matter of fact, you have very possibly over-estimated the cost which has become a great excuse for putting it off. I remember reading about a man who was going to work crazy hours for 10 years to become a millionaire so he could go live in Thailand for a month. That´s insane! You could live very well in Thailand for a year on less than $20,000! To live a fabulous life here, and run my business, costs me about $30,000 a year. That´s far cheaper than living in Vancouver yet I have a higher standard of living, way more fun, less stress a nd …it´s sunny every day! 

So if you want to have something or do something, find out what it really costs to have or do what you want. You may be surprised that the figure you have in your head is not the real price. Get the facts and start operating from reality rather than an erroneous perception, myth, or misconception. 

Stop worrying about all the how-to´s. Just start talking about what you really want to be, do or have and get clear on that…without all the details. Do not start worrying now about how you are going to process a credit card payment in a foreign country at the retreat you want to build! Trust me. It´s amazing what can be done when you want to do it and what miracles manifest when you set your sights on what you want. People can´t believe I have manifested two amazing accommodations in Mexico over the past year but it is because I didn´t worry about HOW everything was going to show up.    

My good friend Brenda that I write about in a couple of chapters in my book, Getting Off the Merry-Go-Round is staying with me for two weeks. The other day as we doing our regular beach walk, Brenda turned to me and said, “Jan, four years ago, I told Adrian that I wanted to stay at this place because it was so beautiful and upscale. I couldn´t imagine at the time ever being able to afford the rent here. Now I am staying here with you as your guest. How cool is that!” Brenda didn´t know the “how” but she has been creating her life of freedom and travel without knowing every little detail. It is remarkable what showed up for her. It will be amazing what shows up for you! Try it! 

Be comfortable with getting what you want. That may sound strange but it is very easy to feel guilty about living in a tropical place, working part-time and earning a full-time income or having a million dollar bank account, a best-selling book or an amazing career when nobody else you know is getting what they want. We are usually more comfortable having the story about why we didn´t get what we wanted than the success story of how we did. I always say that I live my amazing life without apology to others. I will encourage, coach, inspire and motivate others to get what they want in their lives but I don´t apologize for what I have created. So ask yourself if you are comfortable getting what you want as that may be a big clue why you don´t have the life you want. 

Surround yourself with supportive people.  When you are surrounded by friends or family, business associates or fellow employees who think small, are into struggle and victimhood or are jealous of any advancement you make toward your goal, it is a bigger task to create the life you want and to be comfortable doing it. Thankfully I am surrounded by people who support me and encourage me in my life. It is so much easier to do what I do with Greg being fully supportive when we are apart, my friends Brenda and Adrian who diligently ship out my books and CDs for me, Monique, my dear friend who looks after many little things that I can´t do living here and then puts me up when I am back in town and my sister who looks after my mail and allows me to use her home for my Canadian address. I am so apprecia tive of all of their support! They applaud my lifestyle, find it stimulating and aren´t jealous or resentful. Are the people in your life supportive or resentful? The friends you hang out with will make a huge difference in your life in what you are inspired to create. 

Don´t settle for less than what is possible. I´ve talked to enough people who aren´t doing what they really want to know that they have themselves convinced they are doing everything they can. They have their excuses so well rehearsed they actually believe them with all their heart. I´ve listened to them argue with me every time I throw out a suggestion of how it could possibly work differently for them. They are so convinced that it won´t work, they have become blinded as to how it can work. We all do this. Lots of time, it is an outsider who will point out something different that I could do in my business that would improve it and I just haven´t seen it. 

I recently heard about a family that moved to Bucerias several years ago with 3 teenagers! Who does something as crazy as that? This family did. Today, their 3 kids are amazing. They have become entrepreneurial, are involved in the community, are fluent in two languages and the family has thrived. I bet you that most families would give you all the reasons that simply wouldn´t work for them. And maybe it wouldn´t - but have you pushed the limits on what you are even willing to explore or are you stuck in a rut? It´s amazing what happens when you don´t settle for less than what is possible. 

Living the life of your dreams may include totally different things than what I have created. Just know that you can have what you want, do what you want and be what you want. It is a process but it is a fabulous journey. I´m still creating and recreating. This isn´t the end of the road but it is a really fun one! Photos of my life in Bucerias are up at www.janjanzen.com/gallery.htm They´re pretty gorgeous! Check them out for a dose of inspiration. 

Have an amazing month as you move along in the creation of your dream life.  

To Your Outrageous Success!

Jan

Subscribe to the post comments feeds or Leave a trackback