How was 2010 for you?

Did you achieve all the things that you wanted to? Did you loose that bit of extra weight, take that holiday you’ve been dreaming of, enroll into a coarse that has been on your mind for ages, find better paid employment that you’ve been discussing with others, take up that gym membership or golf lessons, cut back on spending, read the books that have been recommended to you, taken more time to be with friends and family? The list can go on and on!

Is this what you want to be asked again at the end of 2011? Did you achieve all the things that you wanted to? You have the opportunity to change the answers to the questions. What do you want those answers to be?

As a coach I can confirm that there is no better time to get your intentions into action than today. Get a vision of what you want. Make is clear, but not too safe. It is important to stretch yourself. Many things worth achieving are sometimes just outside your comfort zone. When your vision is clear, set your goals. Make yourself accountable by sharing your goals with a friend or colleague or coach. Put processes into place to make your goal achievable, be sure to be realistic on time frames and reward yourself with the progress you make along the way.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do”. Mark Twain

Just For Today

This is too good not to share, so please enjoy the following article by Bonnie Ross-Parke The Connection Diva www.bonnierossparker.com


"Remember the expression, “What a difference a day makes”?
Well, I decided to focus on the possibilities of one day to see
what might happen with the right attitude.

Just for Today I will not tackle all of my “to do list”, but rather,
do what I can and be ok with what I accomplish. Just for Today
I will take the time to read, to expand my awareness on an issue,
or engage in an activity that is enlightening and stretches my
thinking.

Just for Today I will accept whatever comes my way. I know the
universe doesn't always provide what I want, but rather, produces
what ends up serving my best interest. I will accept the actions,
ideas, and behaviors of others by giving them permission to be
who they are.

Just for Today I will implement a plan of action and not fall into the
trap of meeting someone else's expectations or demands on my time.
The operative word today is FOCUS. It is my intention to stay
focused and accomplish the main goal of the day.

Just for Today I will engage in generosity by doing a good deed for
the joy it will bring me without needing or expecting something in
return. I will express gratitude to people regardless of how small their
influence is in the bigger picture of life.

Just for Today I will do things I really don't enjoy doing to strengthen
my character. I will exercise and not complain. I will eat in
moderation knowing that there are people everywhere who are underfed.
I will overlook the inconveniences of life because often life gives us the test
first and the lesson comes later.

Just for Today I will remain untroubled. I will be steadfast in my
commitments, give myself permission to be imperfect, and offer
the world my best self. And when the day is over I will look back
and be grateful that I did what I set out to do, even if it was
Just for Today!"

Inspirational Parable ~ The Cracked Pot

A person carrying water had two large pots each hung on each end
of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had
a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk
from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived
only half full. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
perfect accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.
This went on daily for two full years. And finally the imperfect
pot spoke to the water carrier one day by the stream. "I am
ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked
the carrier. "For two years, I have been able to deliver only
half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak
out all the way back to your house," the pot said. The water
carrier replied, "As we return to the house, I want you to notice
the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up
the hill, the cracked pot noticed there were beautiful wild
flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had
leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized for its
failure. The carrier said to the pot, "Did you notice that there
were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other
pot's side? Every day while we walk back from the stream, you've
watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate my table. Without you being just
the way you are, I would not have this beauty to grace my house."

Know that in our weakness we find our strength

Nelson Mandela

"If you are humble, you are no threat to anybody. Some behave in a way that dominates others. That's a mistake. If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important—and you do that by being genuine and humble. You know that other people have qualities that may be better than your own. Let them express them."

Why Wait?

I have noticed a common theme with my clients and people I have spoken to. When asked if they are glad that they have made changes, they tell me “yes” but their only regret is that they did not make the changes sooner.

With waiting being such a common regret, why do we so often resist making a change? My best guess is fear! Even when we are unhappy where we are fear keeps us from doing what we will later regret not doing sooner. We have a fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of achieving. Fear of change can be very confronting.

Good news is, is that if we make a change that we are unhappy with, we can change it again, and allow each experience to teach us something. Change is constant and all change is a process, so any movement is better than staying stagnant. Instead of waiting for a change to come to you, go ahead and make a change, even the smallest of changes is better than doing nothing.

I find that people regret more what they don’t do than what they do. Lose the wait and begin making the change you want now happen. Life is about experimenting and discovering, not playing it safe and staying stuck.

Ask yourself “What is one thing in my life I will regret not doing this year?” Promise yourself to live without regret and figure out a way to start making it happen. You don’t have to do it all at once, change takes time. Take small steps and commit to doing at least one thing a day that will move you closer to the change you want.

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life and in change there is power." Alan Cohen