Motivation and Celebration

Another thing I learned from my almost-five-year-old son, well, actually from Raffi*… “All I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, and love in my family!” (All I Really Need – Baby Beluga)

Celebrating the “simple stuff” instead of sweating the small stuff! What a Monumental Mind Shift!! A relatively easy modification, and yet so powerful and empowering!

Today, I celebrate the things that *really* matter in my life! What will you celebrate today?

*http://www.raffinews.com/raffi/works

Goals: A Path to Fulfillment

“The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.” ~~Earl Nightingale~~

I just completed the first module of a telecoaching / training program called “Aligned Thinking” given by Dr. Jim Steffen.* It’s a multi-session, weekly call that is said to help participants align EVERY action to the things they really want from life and from work. The first module is about setting a personal mission statement, and as I’ve started my work on the module, I’ve come to realize that while I have great goals, personally and professionally, I’ve never really thought about how they complement one another. I’m interested in seeing how this all plays out and am curious about whether or not I will change my work habits as a result of my personal goals. I think I’ve done a great job of creating a work/life balance, and the exercise of writing down my personal goals, just like I have with my professional goals, should prove to be very empowering. It’s an interesting process, and as I go through it, I’m likely to share more…

Have you spent time thinking about how your personal goals affect your professional goals or your work habits? Have you taken the time to write down your personal goals, as well as your professional ones? Are all (and yes, I mean ALL) of your actions aligned with those goals? This is somewhat new for me… and I am excited about the possibilities.

*For information on Aligned Thinking or Steffen, Steffen & Associates, please visit: http://www.ssainternational.com/

Attitude and a Smile

"Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." ~~William James~~

Enough said. I’m continuing my quest for the world’s attitude adjustment… just a little one in most cases, but who couldn’t use a good smile, even if (or especially if) you’re the one usually smiling?

My mission today: to smile and say hello to everyone I see.

Focus: A Productivity Experiment

“When walking, walk. When eating, eat.” ~~Zen Proverb~~

Have you ever read “The Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield? There is one part that still stands out in my mind, and I haven’t actually read the book in years! Several of the characters are having a conversation, and each turns and completely focuses all of his or her attention and energy on the person speaking. The person speaking, therefore, feels empowered and engaged, and beyond that, experiences clarity of thought and his or her own sense of enchantment. I know people who do this regularly; people who listen to you so intently and seem so truly interested that you feel like the only person in the room.

Have you ever noticed how good you feel when you’re speaking with someone face-to-face and they are focusing all of their attention on you? Have you ever felt the surge of energy when they are not only looking at you while you’re speaking, but they’re intently listening and actively participating (non-verbally) in all you have to say? It’s an incredible feeling, isn’t it? Have you done the same for them in return; basically giving over your energy for the moment?

What if you can turn that focused energy and empowerment into action? What if you *truly* focused on what you were doing at this moment? What if you poured your energy over the tasks at hand? How much more could you get done? How much more fulfilling could it be? The importance of being “present” is something many discuss when it comes to conversation… I’m wondering how much it can impact my productivity. Here’s my experiment: Today I will focus on one thing at a time. Today I will pour all the energy I would direct to a live person standing in front of me to every task I start. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow…

Preparation: Doing Nothing

“We are always getting ready to live but never living.” ~~Ralph Waldo Emerson~~

Sometimes the best preparation is to do nothing. Well, maybe “doing nothing” isn’t exactly what I mean. Taking a break; resting, relaxing, recharging, taking care of yourself. Not worrying about when or how things are going to get done, but trusting that they will when you’re in a better place to take care of them…

I took a semi-long weekend. I recharged. I started to think about the workload in front of me, and then I reminded myself that in order to be at my best, I needed to feel my best, and what I needed was a break in order to have that happen. And, here’s the thing… I gave myself permission to take a break and not feel guilty about it! Well, ok, I’m still working on the not feeling guilty part a little, but I am ready to face the week ahead with renewed energy, renewed vigor, and a renewed sense of empowerment. Taking my cues from the buds popping up on every tree, from the dandelions poking through the bright green grass, from the birds and even the bumblebee I saw yesterday, all who “took the winter off”, I am revitalized and ready to go! And, all it took to prepare for that was “nothing”.

Are you prepared for the wondrous week ahead?

Attitude: Life is Abundant

“All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.” ~~Leonardo da Vinci~~

I’ve been working a lot lately on changing my perception. Using tools being taught to me by so many people now that I am open to learning them, I am changing how I look at the world. (E.F.T., short meditations I can do anywhere, pressing “pause”, breathing exercises, and so much more!) I recently wrote about how I was changing my perception on the work load I have. I simply decided that it was time to shift the way I viewed my calendar. I have moved from saying that I’m overcommitted and that I have too much to do, to saying that “life is abundant”. (Full credit on that statement is given to a colleague of mine with whom I was having this conversation!) I have just stopped focusing on the negative stress and focusing on how lucky I am that I have so much influence. It’s all in our attitude. It’s possible to change how we feel about anything just by making our minds up to do so. It’s all about altering our perception about our reality and our circumstances. It’s all in our own control if we would only learn how to shift our mind set. I know most will say that it’s not that easy. I get it. I used to be one of those people. It does sound crazy. If it was so easy to change how you felt about something then everyone would do it. The world would be a happier place. Hmmmm… We may be on to something here…

Preparation: Contemplating Brussels Sprouts

“April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks ‘Go!’” ~~Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe~~

As I prepped Brussels Sprouts, and peeled off the wilted outer leaves revealing the tender, fresh leaves underneath, I was somehow moved. I thought about two sets of friends who were off this past weekend “Spring Cleaning”, preparing for the seasons ahead. I thought about our lawn, just a few days ago brown and sort of sad looking, all of a sudden green and even lush in places. I looked around at the daffodils, magnolia trees, and buds, and noticed all the birds back around the yard. It’s an amazing time of year, and I am inspired to prepare for my own “spring awakening”; my own growth that lay ahead of me. I am excited to peel off the things that hide the true magnificence that I know in is there. Look out Spring; here I come!

Motivation: Synchronicity

“Life just seems so full of connections. Most of the time we don't even pay attention to the depth of life; we only see flat surfaces.” ~~Author Unknown~~

Coincidence -

NOUN

1. chance happening: something that happens by chance in a surprising or remarkable way
2. happening without planning: the fact of happening by chance
3. having identical features: the fact or condition of happening at the same time or place or being identical

Or, as someone pointed out to me recently, co - prefix.

1. Together; joint; jointly; mutually

AND, Incident

NOUN

1. event: something that happens, especially a single event
2. violent occurrence: a public occurrence, especially a violent one
2. "an incident outside a nightclub"
3. event with potentially serious consequences:

ADJECTIVE

1. related to something: accompanying something or occurring as a consequence of it ( formal )
2. touching or striking: coming into contact with a surface

In other words – coincidence – an event with consequences that happens together with another event with consequences…

Synchronicity

NOUN

1. coincidence of events that seem related: the coincidence of events that seem related, but are not obviously caused one by the other.

OK. I may be over-thinking this, but since I’m committed to being over-committed, why not over-think?

There have so many incidents of coincidence, so many oddly related, yet totally unrelated events showing up for me over the last two weeks or so… I’m really beginning to pay attention to them more closely. It started with something coming up in various completely separate conversations with people who didn’t even know one another. I’ve even written about a few of them here. It’s grown to things that have been so bizarre that they’re intriguing… And, oddly motivating…

I am fascinated by the lessons I don’t even yet know I need to learn… I am driven to find out what’s out there for me. And, I’m committed to paying more attention.


Content above provided by
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Goals: On Being Overcommitted

“If you’re going to overcommit, you best at least be committed to it.” ~~Jennifer Scott~~

If you know me well, you, I’m sure, will agree that I have a tendency to take on a lot all at once. I believe that I can do anything, and was recently reminded that while that’s very true, I can’t do *everything*. Yet, in the honor of Stress Awareness Month, I am committing to being overcommitted.

I am committed to taking on however much I take on and just getting it done.
I am committed to not being “stressed out” about the amount I take on.
I am committed to doing as much as I can, in the best way I can, and knowing that it is exactly as it’s supposed to be.
I am committed to achieving my goals, accomplishing my to-do’s, and being the greatest “me” I can be, in all my overcommitted glory.

I hope that I can inspire you to be as much as you can and want to be for yourself and everyone around you. And, just remember to breathe!

Motivation: The Power of Frustration

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” ~~ Pope John XXIII~~


Negative motivation… I’m wondering if there’s a better word for that. Typically when I talk about motivation, I talk about inspirational, positive things. I write words that make us feel good, things that make us smile. I communicate excitement, share passion… It’s certainly how I prefer to be motivated. But I’m beginning to recognize a flip side to motivation. It’s frustration, feeling “fed up”, feeling overwhelmed (before or after the point of paralysis), and while not nearly as much fun, it might be just as effective for getting things done.

Then I remember that life’s far too important to take seriously, as my Dad would say.

Personally, as mentioned, I much prefer positive motivation, so here’s to the “new me”… again. And, I wish you all the joy in rediscovering the “new you” whenever you need to!

“I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.” ~~Frances Willard~~

Happy Friday Everyone!