The other day I walked by one of our neighbors who was out working his garden. Bill is a wonderful gardener and on this particular day he was tilling the soil and getting ready to plant a variety of different kinds of flowers and shrubs. It was fun to watch because he really knew what he was doing, and it was obvious that he loved the work. His garden is a source of great joy to him, and he gets a real kick out of all the fertilizing, weeding, and tilling that goes into producing such a beautiful yard.
As I watched him work, I couldn’t help but think of the similarities between taking care of a garden and taking care of ourselves. Each aspect of a garden needs something a little different to flourish. Some plants may need sunlight, some may need shade. If you have moss in your lawn you use a certain kind of fertilizer and if you want to get rid of weeds you use another. Some plants grow better with lots of water and some don’t need so much.
Most of us are pretty good at figuring out what our garden needs; and if we don’t know we can always ask the person at the nursery. Unfortunately, unlike plants, we don’t come with a tag around our neck describing our unique growing requirements. We are left to figure that out for ourselves.
Do you know what nourishes you? Do you know what is it that recharges you and reconnects you to the world? If you are not sure, take some time and think about what kinds of things feed you on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. The answer may take some digging because we live in a society that does not reinforce self-care.
Focusing on ourselves often translates into being selfish and self-absorbed. However, I am inviting you to challenge that belief. Think about the apple tree that produces such a wonderful fruit. Unless the tree is fertilized, pruned, and watered, it will wither and die and no longer be able to provide us with the fruit we need.
We are like the apple tree. If we want to be able to continue producing fully in all aspects of our lives, we have to take the time to care for and nurture ourselves. We need to discover what our individual “Miracle Grow” is, and then we need to make sure that we use it often to keep our lives as vibrant, productive, and fulfilling as possible.
Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The 10/10 List
A couple of weeks ago I was having one of those days where everything seemed really hard and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. I couldn’t find energy to work on my writing and I was feeling a little depressed as my coaching business was taking a real hit because of the recession. It was one of those “poor me” days which I really hate but I couldn’t seem to get myself out of that space.
Fortunately, my weekly call with my incredible coach was scheduled for that day. We discussed my less than optimistic mood and she asked me if I knew about something called the 10/10 List. She thought it might be a good exercise for me to try for awhile and see if could my shift my focus from "something’s wrong" to the more centered place of "nothing’s wrong". I agreed to give the exercise a try. I have been doing it for a week and it’s incredible! Here’s how it works.
Every morning I start the day of my creating my 10/10 List. First, I write down 10 things for which I am grateful. Then I write down 10 things that I would like to invite into my life. These can material things such new clients or exciting projects or less tangible things such as patience or laughter. I create my list, sit with it for a few minutes and then put it away and begin my day.
Acknowledging the things I am grateful for is a very uplifting way to start the day; and by creating a list of the things I want to invite into my life, I am opening up the channels through which I may actually attract those things.
I don’t know how it works, but I can tell you that doing this list every morning has resulted in concrete outcomes, (new projects, new clients, etc), as well as a greatly increased feeling of excitement and enthusiasm for my work.
I recommend the 10/10 list exercise for everyone, but esepcially those people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed or a little down in the dumps. Try it and see what happens!
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
Anonymous
Fortunately, my weekly call with my incredible coach was scheduled for that day. We discussed my less than optimistic mood and she asked me if I knew about something called the 10/10 List. She thought it might be a good exercise for me to try for awhile and see if could my shift my focus from "something’s wrong" to the more centered place of "nothing’s wrong". I agreed to give the exercise a try. I have been doing it for a week and it’s incredible! Here’s how it works.
Every morning I start the day of my creating my 10/10 List. First, I write down 10 things for which I am grateful. Then I write down 10 things that I would like to invite into my life. These can material things such new clients or exciting projects or less tangible things such as patience or laughter. I create my list, sit with it for a few minutes and then put it away and begin my day.
Acknowledging the things I am grateful for is a very uplifting way to start the day; and by creating a list of the things I want to invite into my life, I am opening up the channels through which I may actually attract those things.
I don’t know how it works, but I can tell you that doing this list every morning has resulted in concrete outcomes, (new projects, new clients, etc), as well as a greatly increased feeling of excitement and enthusiasm for my work.
I recommend the 10/10 list exercise for everyone, but esepcially those people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed or a little down in the dumps. Try it and see what happens!
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
Anonymous
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Procrastination and the Frog
Procrastination is a big problem for many of us. We make a to-do list and we manage to complete a few tasks on the list; but more often than not, the difficult and unpleasant tasks never quite get done. We just keep moving them from list to list until we get bored with looking at them and drop them off the list altogether.
Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, then it’s safe to bet that nothing worse can happen to you for the rest of the day. What does this have to do with procrastination? Well, if we think of the hardest item on our to-do list as the frog and we tackle it first, then the rest of our to-do’s should be a breeze. Right?
I actually tested this theory out yesterday. I had a very unpleasant task to do which I had been putting off for a week. So, yesterday morning instead of seeing the words of the task, I envisioned a big, ugly frog staring back at me which did two things. First and most importantly, it made me laugh; and secondly it lifted the sense of dread of doing this task. I picked up the phone, made the call and with a great feeling of accomplishment and great flourish I “x’ed” the item off my list. .
Being able to cross off that difficult task was very energizing. I felt very empowerd and was motivated to keep moving forward through my to-do list. I no longer had to end my work day with that one item still niggling at my mind, distracting me and making me feel less than successful.
I encourage you to try the frog trick and see if it works for you.
Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible.
George Claude Lorimer
Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, then it’s safe to bet that nothing worse can happen to you for the rest of the day. What does this have to do with procrastination? Well, if we think of the hardest item on our to-do list as the frog and we tackle it first, then the rest of our to-do’s should be a breeze. Right?
I actually tested this theory out yesterday. I had a very unpleasant task to do which I had been putting off for a week. So, yesterday morning instead of seeing the words of the task, I envisioned a big, ugly frog staring back at me which did two things. First and most importantly, it made me laugh; and secondly it lifted the sense of dread of doing this task. I picked up the phone, made the call and with a great feeling of accomplishment and great flourish I “x’ed” the item off my list. .
Being able to cross off that difficult task was very energizing. I felt very empowerd and was motivated to keep moving forward through my to-do list. I no longer had to end my work day with that one item still niggling at my mind, distracting me and making me feel less than successful.
I encourage you to try the frog trick and see if it works for you.
Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible.
George Claude Lorimer
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Blog Survey Winners
I want to thank all of you who responded to my survey as to what kinds of topics, resources and information you would like to see on this blog. Congratulations to Sharon and Linda, whose names were drawn for a month of free coaching!
I still want to hear from you. As I said before, I want this blog to be interactive and useful for the readers. So, please send me your comments whenever you have an idea. Just click on the “Comment” button and send me your thoughts.
Thanks!
If you are given the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
Lee Ann Womack
I still want to hear from you. As I said before, I want this blog to be interactive and useful for the readers. So, please send me your comments whenever you have an idea. Just click on the “Comment” button and send me your thoughts.
Thanks!
If you are given the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
Lee Ann Womack
Monday, April 13, 2009
Two Lenses of Life
Today is my birthday. It’s not a notable birthday in the sense of starting a new decade; but it is notable in the fact that it is ending a decade and that in itself is very powerful. Instead of looking forward toward my goals for the next 10 years, I find myself looking backward to see what I actually have done with the last 10 years.
There are 2 ways of looking at one’s life. One is through the lens of “doing” and the other is through the lens of “being”. Many of us automatically look through the "doing lens". What have I accomplished? What amazing things have I achieved? How many to-do’s have I left undone?
When I asses my last decade in through the lens of doing I come out with an okay grade. I transitioned careers, started my own coaching and writing businesses, wrote three books and learned how to blog!
But it’s when I look at this past decade through the lens of "being" that I feel really good. These last ten years have been one of amazing personal and spiritual growth for me. Through a series of synchronistic events I came upon Zen teacher, Cheri Huber, and the monks at the Zen Monastery Peace Center. I have become part of that sangha and the connection I have with the monastery, the monks and their practice has definitely been the highlight of this decade.
We never know where life is going to lead us. Ten years ago I would have laughed if someone had told me that I would be a regular retreatant at a Zen Monastery in California. That is certainly not how I saw myself.
But life holds all sorts of wonderful surprises for us if we are open to them. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without this Zen practice. And I am sure there are many other wonderful things out there just waiting for me to see them. The trick is to look at life through both our lenses – and not get too focused on the one that directs our attention only to the doing.
The reason for the journey is this: in a journey, discoveries are made.
Kobi Yamada
There are 2 ways of looking at one’s life. One is through the lens of “doing” and the other is through the lens of “being”. Many of us automatically look through the "doing lens". What have I accomplished? What amazing things have I achieved? How many to-do’s have I left undone?
When I asses my last decade in through the lens of doing I come out with an okay grade. I transitioned careers, started my own coaching and writing businesses, wrote three books and learned how to blog!
But it’s when I look at this past decade through the lens of "being" that I feel really good. These last ten years have been one of amazing personal and spiritual growth for me. Through a series of synchronistic events I came upon Zen teacher, Cheri Huber, and the monks at the Zen Monastery Peace Center. I have become part of that sangha and the connection I have with the monastery, the monks and their practice has definitely been the highlight of this decade.
We never know where life is going to lead us. Ten years ago I would have laughed if someone had told me that I would be a regular retreatant at a Zen Monastery in California. That is certainly not how I saw myself.
But life holds all sorts of wonderful surprises for us if we are open to them. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without this Zen practice. And I am sure there are many other wonderful things out there just waiting for me to see them. The trick is to look at life through both our lenses – and not get too focused on the one that directs our attention only to the doing.
The reason for the journey is this: in a journey, discoveries are made.
Kobi Yamada
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Spring - A Time For Renewal
It has been a long, cold and dreary winter here in the great Pacific Northwest, but signs of spring are finally beginning to pop up everywhere. The cherry blossoms are out, the daffodils are in full bloom and the birds are chirping their little hearts out. It’s a great time of the year – a time of new beginnings and new hope. It’s a great time to reflect on your personal dreams and goals. Are you moving closer to your dreams? If not, what is getting in your way?
I came across the following video the other day and I offer it as an inspiration to you to keep moving forward toward your dreams. The Dreams Movie (http://www.thedreamsmovie.com).
Whatever you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe
I came across the following video the other day and I offer it as an inspiration to you to keep moving forward toward your dreams. The Dreams Movie (http://www.thedreamsmovie.com).
Whatever you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
The Voices Are Not On Our Side
Today has been an emotional day and it has been interesting to watch how the voices in my head have been trying to control the flow of my emotions. I took one of our dogs in this morning for ACL surgery on his knee. It’s a fairly routine surgery and there wasn’t a whole lot to be concerned about. Yet, as I watched Slate disappear behind the doors of the surgery area, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I felt bad that I couldn’t explain what was going to happen to him and why we were putting him through this painful procedure. I felt sad that he went so trustingly with the surgical assistant thinking that he was just going to have a simple exam and then maybe get some treats.
I was embarrassed that I was crying, yet had I seen someone else in the same position crying I would have been touched by their emotion. All I could hear were the voices in my head telling me to buck up. Slate is just a dog and he isn’t worrying about all this so why am I?
The voices that try to control our lives are very cunning. They seem to know which buttons to push to make us feel as powerless and inept as possible. My button is around having to be strong, so the voices berate me for showing emotion. Another person’s button may be about not showing enough emotion, so when they aren't emotional the voices tell them they are being too stoic.
If we buy into what the voices are telling us, it’s a no-win situation. Whatever we do, it will not be the right thing. Our job is to learn how to down the volume on the voices and follow our heart which is what I finally did. I got in to the car and cried all the way home and felt much better. And Slate? He’s doing fine. He has been up for a short walk, has eaten dinner and will be ready to come home tomorrow!
At every moment of our lives, we are choosing between safety and growth. Cheri Huber
I was embarrassed that I was crying, yet had I seen someone else in the same position crying I would have been touched by their emotion. All I could hear were the voices in my head telling me to buck up. Slate is just a dog and he isn’t worrying about all this so why am I?
The voices that try to control our lives are very cunning. They seem to know which buttons to push to make us feel as powerless and inept as possible. My button is around having to be strong, so the voices berate me for showing emotion. Another person’s button may be about not showing enough emotion, so when they aren't emotional the voices tell them they are being too stoic.
If we buy into what the voices are telling us, it’s a no-win situation. Whatever we do, it will not be the right thing. Our job is to learn how to down the volume on the voices and follow our heart which is what I finally did. I got in to the car and cried all the way home and felt much better. And Slate? He’s doing fine. He has been up for a short walk, has eaten dinner and will be ready to come home tomorrow!
At every moment of our lives, we are choosing between safety and growth. Cheri Huber
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Thanks For Your Input!
Thanks to all of you who offered your input as to how I could make this blog more relevant and useful to you. There were some common themes such as decision making, career information, supporting sustainable change and grief and loss. I will do my best to address all these issues, either through my posts or by offering you links to great resources.
One of the suggestions that caught my eye was to offer inspiration quotes. As those of you who read my newsletter “Quiet Courage” know, I love quotes and start each newsletter with a courage quote. So, I decided to continue this tradition with this blog and start each post with quote that will hopefully inspire and motivate you. Feel free to send me any of your favorite quotes.
Today’s Quote:
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go for it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive. Howard Thurmond
One of the suggestions that caught my eye was to offer inspiration quotes. As those of you who read my newsletter “Quiet Courage” know, I love quotes and start each newsletter with a courage quote. So, I decided to continue this tradition with this blog and start each post with quote that will hopefully inspire and motivate you. Feel free to send me any of your favorite quotes.
Today’s Quote:
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go for it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive. Howard Thurmond
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
What's Important to You?
The theme of this blog is how to successfully navigate the ups and downs of life transitions with courage, enthusiasm and intention.
Although it is very fun for me to share my thoughts and ideas through posts, I want the material of this blog to be relevant and useful to you, the reader. So, I would love to hear from you about what you are dealing with and what kinds of information and resources would be helpful for you to keep from getting stuck or sidetracked in your life.
Please take a minute and send me your ideas, thoughts and comments on the following questions. To help motivate you, the first 15 people who answer this questionnaire will be entered into a drawing for one month of free coaching with me. There will be 2 winners and one of them could be you! The winners will be contacted by April 10th.
If you would like to be entered into the drawing for a month of free coaching, please include your e-mail address with your comments. I will respect the privacy of your e-mail address, but if you want to ensure that crawlers don’t get a hold of it you can either leave spaces between the words in the address or use “at” instead of @.
Even if you don’t want coaching, please send me your thoughts. The more we share the more we all benefit.
I look forward to hearing from as many readers as possible and I will definitely share your thoughts in a forthcoming post. Thanks for your help with this.
1. What areas of your life are not working as well as you would like? Where are you feeling stuck? (job, relationships, family, financial, health, spiritual, etc.)
2. What kinds of information and resources would be the most useful to you?
3. What kinds of coaching services would you participate in, assuming the cost was reasonable? (Individual coaching, tele-classes, e-mail classes, monthly coaching calls on different subjects, other?)
4. Are there specific topics or areas of special interest that you would like to see me address in this blog?
5. Any other ideas or feedback?
Thanks again. Your feedback greatly appreciated!
Although it is very fun for me to share my thoughts and ideas through posts, I want the material of this blog to be relevant and useful to you, the reader. So, I would love to hear from you about what you are dealing with and what kinds of information and resources would be helpful for you to keep from getting stuck or sidetracked in your life.
Please take a minute and send me your ideas, thoughts and comments on the following questions. To help motivate you, the first 15 people who answer this questionnaire will be entered into a drawing for one month of free coaching with me. There will be 2 winners and one of them could be you! The winners will be contacted by April 10th.
If you would like to be entered into the drawing for a month of free coaching, please include your e-mail address with your comments. I will respect the privacy of your e-mail address, but if you want to ensure that crawlers don’t get a hold of it you can either leave spaces between the words in the address or use “at” instead of @.
Even if you don’t want coaching, please send me your thoughts. The more we share the more we all benefit.
I look forward to hearing from as many readers as possible and I will definitely share your thoughts in a forthcoming post. Thanks for your help with this.
1. What areas of your life are not working as well as you would like? Where are you feeling stuck? (job, relationships, family, financial, health, spiritual, etc.)
2. What kinds of information and resources would be the most useful to you?
3. What kinds of coaching services would you participate in, assuming the cost was reasonable? (Individual coaching, tele-classes, e-mail classes, monthly coaching calls on different subjects, other?)
4. Are there specific topics or areas of special interest that you would like to see me address in this blog?
5. Any other ideas or feedback?
Thanks again. Your feedback greatly appreciated!
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