Potential Highlights Your Possibilities
How well can you paint a picture of your potential? Remember, Potential doesn’t include what you haven’t done, or what you have done poorly. Potential offers the possibilities of what you can do and who you can be. It is something you were born with and you either hone or lose sight of.
Adults with ADHD, can easily recite their lists of flubs, disappointments, unfulfilling efforts, embarrassing experiences and apprehensions. It’s easy to disregard achievements and potential when you’re hyperalert to the next disappointment or regret.
ADHD represents a part rather than the whole. A significant part at times, but still only a piece of the human puzzle. We are all a blend of many parts. Some serve us well and others must be managed to assure they do not subvert our efforts and our potential.
Claim the parts that serve you well!
Identify, explore, and utilize your distinctive strengths, gifts and potential to their fullest advantage with acceptance and appreciation rather than judgment.
No Limits Thought for the Week
It is so easy to get derailed on any given day. This whirling planet will present so many glitches, uncertainties, and human dilemmas that can challenge your determination and fortitude. It’s easy to imagine wanting to give up or in at times, to doubt your ability, effort or opportunity for success. It is imperative you never lose sight of your achievements and significant efforts. Your ability to be mindful of what you have accomplished is a valuable cue to what you are truly capable of and will provide the impetus for continued effort and your ultimate success.
ADHD is Only a Part Not the Whole
Does a lack of focus, poor follow through or procrastination hold you back from “being all you can be”? Commit to developing an authentic action plan that utilizes your unique gifts and strengths and help you fuel greater success.
Adult professionals who are challenged with ADHD are often, bright, gifted and creative. They may also have difficulty staying focused on critical tasks, struggle with organizational skills, are easily distracted and may find themselves bogged down by procrastination. Many rely on their intellect, charm and ability to bob and weave when cornered. It’s possible, they will make an effort to convince themselves that things are better than reality demonstrates. They may have great disdain for tedious activities and look for opportunities to avoid burdensome tasks. All too often they underperform and their lofty goals go unmet. An undercurrent of anxiety and self-doubt could get stoked each time a goal or opportunity is missed. This pattern may be repeated many times over. Years of underachievement can lead to self-doubt and negative self-judgment. Many have learned to say all of the right things to keep people off balance, but struggle mightily when facing their soft shoe act with eyes wide open. The ability to improve performance and achieve better outcomes is likely present. The primary ingredients necessary to achieve and sustain confidence, performance and self-esteem are frequently available; just add a goal, an individualized action plan, a strong commitment to the plan, a new skill or two thrown into the mix, a realistic timeframe and possibly supportive resources for extra flavor.
Create the Plan, Commit to the Plan, Work the Plan and Viola Success!
Sometimes
Sometimes we just need to know we are on the right track; heading in the right direction. Sometimes we need someone to point the way when we struggle to find it on our own.
Sometimes we just want to feel heard and seen. Most of us need to know we have value and are important, to our friends, our partner, our family, to ourselves and to the world! Some of us may feel alone and crave a moment of consideration.
Not everyone has a someone to hear them, see them, support them, guide them. Nor can everyone afford to pay a professional counselor whose services may be more intensive than what is actually required.
Today’s hectic and disordered world does not offer the ideal environment for meaningful human connection. We are constantly flitting from task to task, drama to drama, ordeal to ordeal, priority to priority. I listen to members at my local gym chatting with their personal trainers. I seldom hear them talking about nutrition, strength or exercise routines. They are much more likely to talk about their challenges, experiences and worries about their children, grandchildren, job, school, home and health. These folks pay for physical training, but benefit most from focusing on their personal stories and the human connection.
There have been many articles written about the long term physical and psychological benefits of meaningful human connection. I fear engaging in the moment and with those who benefit from our attention are traits quickly evaporating into the noise. Too often we are at the ready to tell our story and move on, overlooking stories to be heard and appreciated.
You may never know the true value of the time you take, to listen to a friend, an acquaintance, a loved one or a stranger, but they will know.
Ten Considerations for Improving Focus
You know a commonly held belief is, folks with ADD or ADHD can’t focus, but that is clearly inaccurate. Children and adults with ADD/ADHD are able to focus, and in fact, can focus intensely at times. This is most likely to occur when the task or subject matter is interesting and compelling. It is more accurate to say individuals with ADD may have difficulty focusing on what they need to when they need to, especially if the task is boring, tedious, complicated or time sensitive. Fortunately, there are some strategies that may increase the potential for focusing efficiently and thus reducing last minute scrambling.
For instance:
1. Define your optimum focus/work limit.
Each of us has a varied and limited time for effective focus. For some it may be as long as an hour or more, for others it may only be five or ten minutes. It is important to know what your critical stretch is and to plan your work accordingly. Whatever your maximum focus time, it is important to maximize your effort during that time. It’s not how long you work hard; it is how hard you work in your prime time.
2. Minimize the noise and distraction if you are prone to falling under the spell of sounds and activity around you. That will require turning off your computer (if the task does not require a computer), cell phone, television while you are working. Close your office door during peak focus time. Block out focus time on your schedule. Don’t answer phone calls or meet with co-workers during this time (true emergencies are the exception). If you don’t have an office find a quiet, comfortable room, or perhaps the library to work in.
3. Take short breaks (10-15 min) from your focused work time with something fun, relaxing or interesting. Take a short walk outside, get a snack, meditate, read an interesting article, exercise, etc.
Some people suggest playing a short game or talking with a friend/co-worker. This can help as long as you have the ability to stop and resume your attention to your endeavor when your break is over. If you get engrossed in the game or discussion and you have a difficult time returning to the task at hand, this will only add to your angst and frustration.
4. Maintain accountability. Set a completion time or date and share this information with someone you trust to remember and remind you. Check in with them to let them know how you are doing.
5. If your focused task is tedious, boring or complicated, break your effort into smaller parts, especially if it is something you don’t enjoy doing. Some people like to attend to the least interesting parts first to get over the hump, while others prefer to leave that for last. I suggest going with the one that is most likely to get you to the finish line. If what you are doing isn’t working try the reverse.
6. Get clarity! Remember, it isn’t that you can’t or don’t focus. It’s more probable that you will focus on what is most interesting and stimulating to you, until the fire alarm goes off and you have to jump into action. Ask for help when you have multiple tasks coming your way. Ask a colleague or someone in charge what your critical task is and when it’s due.
7. Try using background music or nature sounds when you are working on a task or project. Many people find this helpful for centering thoughts and focus. If you are someone that is distracted by any noise at all this would be a very bad plan and you are likely to send me an unfriendly note.
8. Break up the monotony by alternating difficult tasks with more enjoyable or interesting ones to work on.
9. Reward yourself at the end of a successful project. Folks with ADD/ADHD often have a need for immediate gratification. Plan out a way you can get rewarded for a period of productive focus and effort. If you must delay the reward, make it something really worth waiting for, like a pony or chocolate coated in gold.
10. It’s possible your efforts to enhance your focus and outcomes will offer inconsistent or limited success. You may be someone who could benefit from a medication that targets ADHD. There are many adults who have struggled to enhance their focus strictly through behavioral strategies. Many often report an increased ability to focus better for longer periods of time with the addition of a medication regimen that fits their system. Medications do not work exactly the same for each of us and can require periods of adjustment until the best regimen is identified. I would encourage a discussion with your primary doctor or a psychiatrist to discuss the potential benefit of medications if your strategies and efforts continue to fall short of your desired goals.
Acceptance is Worth the Effort
Life is so easy when every step we take reaps benefits and rewards. However, life can also be oh so stressful, when the wheels come off our wagon and the wagon is careening down the hill. There certainly will be moments when life happens without our approval or appreciation and then we are destined to feel distressed, stuck, frustrated, worried or angry and when we do, accepting the reality of the moment is essential.
Many experts encourage us to practice acceptance (“it happened”, “I can’t change or control it”, “it’s over”) as a means of managing those wheels coming off the wagon kind of days. Some folks perceive this concept as giving up or giving in, when actually it provides the momentum towards moving on. Acceptance doesn’t assure we will enjoy, benefit or approve of a particular event or experience in our life. It reduces the possibility of staying stuck in blame, anger, resistance or guilt.
It gives us grace for decisions and choices that have gone awry, freeing up emotional energy to influence consequential areas of our life.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when that ol wagon starts coming apart.
Acknowledge: Objectively name the thought, emotion, you are experiencing.
Accept: The experience without judging or trying to block it or push it away.
Appreciate: The value and lesson in the experience, even the uncomfortable or unpleasant ones.
Action Step: Objectively name the stressor without judging it negatively.
Remember, acceptance doesn’t compel you to like or approve of a life event; it acknowledges reality so you can move forward effectively.
Beat The Clock
Managing time effectively can be a confounding and taxing endeavor. But time is only a unit of measurement. The key to managing our time successfully rests on how we manage ourselves.
There are tons of useful time management strategies and most will offer a measure of value. The problem is that many of us will succumb to distractions, boredom, frustration, anxiety or indifference. Any one of these can quickly sabotage our focus, performance, efficiency, productivity and time management efforts.
Each one of us is unique in the way we think, behave and perform, thus no one strategy will benefit all of us in the exact same way. Achievement levels are enhanced when we develop and use a working system that factors in our individual uniqueness.
Create and refer to a personal inventory of skills, resources, behaviors and routines that boost your efficiency and productivity as well as those that might impede your performance. Identify behavior patterns that alert you to potential performance disruptors.
Design a daily action plan that identifies one or two priorities for each day and pinpoint which strategy, thought, behavior or activity you will initiate when one of your disruptors threatens your effort. Step away from your activity and take a short break when you notice a loss of energy or attention.
There is research that encourages taking a few minutes each hour to allow the brain to rest from its work mode. This might be something as simple as closing your eyes and just going blank or meditating, walking to the water cooler, doodling on paper, playing the kazoo (as long as no one is within shouting or throwing distance) telling or listening to a joke, listening to relaxing or energizing music for a few minutes, reading the back of a Captain Crunch cereal box. Know what works best for you when it’s time to reload. Remember you are only looking for 5-10 minutes each hour whenever necessary.
Manage yourself intentionally and reap your rewards as “time goes by”
Happiness? Yes Please
Happiness isn’t a momentary elated experience such as winning the local church bingo game or receiving the all-time best birthday present. Rather, it’s a personalized state of contentment that weaves in and out of our lives emanating from the experiences we create and the actions we take. Sustained happiness is an essential ingredient for a life worth living.
Happiness studies have determined that roughly 50% of our happiness is determined by our genetics/biology, 10% by life circumstances and 40% by our intentional actions. That certainly allows for a significant amount of control we can wield to determine our level of happiness. If you have ever read any of my musings my strong belief in intentional behavior is clear.
The Harvard Study on Adult Development has identified, “strong social relationships as the single most important factor for happiness and health.”
Happiness is less about the big bang of the shiny new car or home, the big promotion, the 200,00 followers on YouTube or being chosen Prom Queen or King, even though any of those may make many of us happy in the moment. Happiness will more likely emanate from the small daily intentional extensions of thoughtful caring extended to a family member, a neighbor or stranger.
The hug we give is the hug we receive.
Some ideas for fostering and enhancing happiness are:
· Nurturing Relationships: Cultivating deep, meaningful connections with family and friends.
· Practicing Gratitude: Recognizing and valuing the things in life that increase your satisfaction.
· Living with Purpose: Engaging in the organizations, principles, activities and causes that matter most to you.
· Mindfulness and Contentment: Be present in the moment and recognize joyful opportunities, rather than constantly striving toward future milestones.
· Altruism: Express compassion and strive to do things for others, which builds and strengthens community and provides personal fulfillment.
Stress and worry are too often present in our daily lives nowadays. More focused effort on happiness may be just what the doctor ordered.
Acceptance Eases Life’s Challenges
Letting go of unsettling life events can be a tough cookie to swallow. Acceptance is earnestly acquiescing to what is happening or has happened without judging, negotiating, bargaining or blaming.
We may not always welcome or appreciate our experiences. We can obsess over them, click our red ruby slippers and wish for a different outcome, live in regret, or accept that an unpleasant event has occurred. An event that does not define who we are or mandate how we shall live. Life will spin us in many alternating, difficult and exhilarating directions. We can’t always predict when or what welcomed or unwelcomed event will transpire, but we can choose the words we use to define the experience and the behaviors we put into play to manage through it.
Accepting the moment rather than fighting against it or shutting down, allows us to refocus on what is within our grasp, what makes life truly meaningful, what can be achieved rather than what is lost.
Our emotions are impacted by our life events and subsequently by our mindset, the words we use, the actions we take and the attitudes we carry forward.
If acceptance is truly the key to happiness, as some experts suggest, we should grab an umbrella and keep an eye out for rainbows when life is pouring rain down upon us.
Let Success Guide Your Way
Do you have more energy, confidence and incentive when you focus on your successes or your failures? The answer is obvious to most if not all of us. Focusing on past and present triumphant efforts and outcomes will often lead us to feeling more energized, confident and motivated. This task is not always easy when life starts throwing roadblocks our way. Setbacks can feel overwhelming, tougher to face and to punch through, self-doubt may creep in and take hold, missed priorities raise anxiety, falling behind might create an emotional mountain to traverse, self-doubt and avoidance begins to creep in and any thoughts of prior or future success is unimaginable, and now you are stuck in the mud with no traction.
A good way to short-circuit this unpleasant route is to direct your attention to previous efforts and outcomes that have hit the proverbial bullseye. Take a few minutes to recall and write out (I believe pen or pencil to paper is more impactful with this exercise than typing or talking into a recording device) the steps you took, the strategies you utilized, the resources you relied on, the roadblocks you navigated through, the positive feedback you garnered, the emotions you felt and the lessons you learned the last time you burst through your roadblock and sustained a rewarding and fulfilling effort.
Make sure to read what you have written, silently and then out loud; record it and listen to it and finally post what you have written somewhere you will be sure to see when your momentum is stymied and you need a reminder of what your successes have taught you. Memories of successful endeavors can lead us out of the fog with great illumination.
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The Ying and Yang of ADHD
If you navigate through the world carrying the ADHD moniker, the road leading to a flourishing life will likely require more creativity, persistence and effort than someone who is not neurodivergent. Motivation, self-confidence and effort can fade quickly; a distraction, a minor mistake or anticipated failure might be all it takes to shut down any worthwhile effort. Self-doubt, anxiety, procrastination, the painful and impractical comparisons to anyone who is different or perceived as more capable or worthy, and the ever-lurking shiny marble can delay initiating a significant project or activity or may even shut it down completely. The necessary strengths and capacity for a prosperous effort and outcome are likely present, but they can get lost in the chaos and may require time and effort to identify what they are and how to realign with them.
A few valued traits commonly associated with ADHD, which may get lost in the shuffle (but need to be remembered and embraced) are;
Originality- The ability to generate creative and unique ideas.
Infectious Enthusiasm- An abundance of physical and mental energy that can motivate the efforts of others through mundane as well as difficult tasks.
Divergent Thinking- The ability to consider many possible solutions to a single problem.
Creativity- Thinking and working outside the box.
Innovation- A constant desire to see what can be rather than what is.
Resilience, Adaptability, Persistence- The ability to adjust, to change on the fly and alter an approach when necessary.
Spontaneity- High energy and enthusiasm when facing new challenges.
Empathy- Heightened awareness and sensitivity to the emotions and needs of others.
The Gift of Humor- can stimulate enjoyable activity and alleviate stressful moments.
I believe the key to a gratifying and thriving life rests in our resolve to recognize, appreciate and utilize our unique strengths/gifts to their fullest advantage, and to accept, learn and grow through our mistakes and disappointments with acceptance rather than judgment. We seldom plan to fail! But we must plan to succeed. It’s easier to do when we rely on the strengths we possess, rather than the ones we wish we had.
The Best Of You
Your sweet spot, the exact moment when skill and effort meet objective with rousing delight. We all have those moments linking, talent, confidence and drive to achieve our best outcome. Those moments can evaporate quickly when we fall prey to our external and internal distractions and lose the connection to our best self.
I find a brief meditation (15-20min) or a walk in nature quiets the noise that distracts me from my mission and centers my intention and plan. Perhaps you have discovered a strategy or two to quiet your noise (life’s distractions, self-doubt) allowing you to excel in the moment. If you have not, take a few minutes to recall the last time you had a sweet spot moment and log what you accomplished, how you achieved it, what you were feeling and the value that was harvested as a reminder of what you can do and who you can be.
Thriving Through the Noise
There are so many impediments to our performance and success nowadays. Starting, persisting or completing a task may offer a variety of challenges which can lead us to the pursuit of welcomed distractions.
We live in a world whirling faster and faster and one filled with persistent distractions. There are instant diversions all around. All you have to do is wake up, open your eyes and pick one. There are two thousand of your closest friends just waiting to connect with you on social media, social media influencers ready to inform you on how to look, act and live, the myriad of bright lights, fun games and catchy tunes to keep you tuned in and locked on; and don’t forget the strain of the daily news reports that highlight all that is wrong with our world. Grab the next shining object whirring past you and hang on!
No time to observe organize, plan and persist. React now pay later!
Thriving through each challenge requires a goal, planful preparation, resolve (this must be finished), persistent focus and effort and an understanding of the reward at the end of the journey. It is ultra-important to know why your chosen project is important to you, what is the value for you? When you decide something is worth doing or is mandated to be done, be sure to write it down and share the value and your commitment to it with someone you trust. Equally important is knowing when you will focus on the project. What time of the day are you likely to put forth your best effort? How long can you usually sustain focus and your best effort? What distractions do you need to be on the lookout for? There are likely a number of them (tired of sitting, focusing, thinking, problem solving, hungry, feeling antsy, craving a look at your cell phone, wondering how Aunt Lucy is doing etc.). It’s important to be aware of your distractions and to have short breaks (10-15min) built into your schedule when they occur. Work in blocks of times that fit your style and focus. You must have a plan for hitting the wall or risk of abandoning your effort. What and who will hold you accountable when you struggle to move forward or stop? What support (something that can be said or done) will help you to get back into the fray. We tend to have more enthusiasm and energy when we realize the value of our persistence. Be sure to identify the reward earned from your effort. It may be something tangible like a promotion, or a rewarding smile from your partner, or a boost to your self-esteem after conquering that mountain you’ve just climbed.
Remember, each of us is unique. We work, think and feel in a way that is distinct to us.
It’s essential to operate from an awareness of what you need and how you work to be your best.
Why A Coach
What’s the big deal about working with a coach? What’s in it for me? I’m a successful professional and I manage my life pretty well. What’s the value in taking time out of my busy schedule to talk with someone about the quality of my life, my career performance, goals, and ambitions and have to pay them to listen? I have done pretty well on my own so far. Great questions!
This is an incredibly fast paced society we inhabit. How often does anyone take the time to pay attention to your thoughts and feelings while you try to navigate through this hectic world? How much do you miss simply because you don’t have time to pay attention? How often do your habits rule your behavior? How often do you wish you could be more efficient, more effective, and more successful in your life? How much more could you accomplish and experience if you stopped getting in your own way?
Would you be more likely to reach the goals you set, appreciate the way you live and reap the fruits of your labor if you had someone paying attention to you even when you are not? Someone, who is a vigilant attendant to your thoughts and actions. Someone who is aware when your thoughts and actions are in sync with your goals and when they are not.
Accountability to a plan is critical to its success. A coach assures that this accountability is maintained and can trouble shoot when it is not. A coach is the eyes and ears that provide an early warning system, which allows for the detection of misdirecting and self-defeating behaviors.
I have worked with professionals from a diverse range of career sectors. Periodically I am asked “what do you know about the business I work in”? I always respond by saying, my greatest value to you is my ability to understand how you work rather than where you work.
I steadfastly believe intentional behavior is a key to success in most areas of life. I coach with that belief in mind. To be intentional one must be mindful, focused and determined to effect change. Coaching assures a focus on intentional behavior, a challenge when it is not, and support leading to the desired goal.
So why a coach you may ask? The answer lies within the question: Am I as successful as I want to be, as far along as I think I should be, as content as I strive to be, as happy as I can be?
I Can and I Will!
You are convinced you can but does that guarantee you will?
“Can” relates to our ability to do something while “will” defines our determination/intent. I can, has greater power when it is in tandem with I will. I will, offers strength, conviction and commitment.
Surely many of us have thought about setting goals such as; advancing a career, creating a family, going to school, getting better grades, eating less carbs, learning to captain a submarine, finishing that project on time, becoming a private detective or learning how to swim before actually getting into that submarine.
We boldly proclaim; I can do it! And sooner than you can say Bibadi Bop, a few distractions or disappointments later and we’ve convinced ourselves it’s no longer important or necessary.
It is often our “will” that kick starts our initiative and keeps us pushing through and over the bumps and bruises of our efforts; keeping us on track and driving us to acquire the support, resources and skills that deliver us over the finish line.
Once you have decided you can and want to tackle a goal, take some time to locate that resolve/inspiration that compels and sustains your effort forward, the “I will”. Write it down. Talk it through with a trusted friend. Visualize your effort and the rewards garnered. The more senses you utilize the clearer something can become.
Success emanates from ability, determination and planful action. If you are going to set a goal, let it begin with a willful commitment to take responsibility for your actions and for your successes.
Resilience-The Gift That Keeps Giving
What keeps us from giving up when faced with an overwhelming challenge? What keeps us in the game? What gets us over the finish line when emotions, circumstances or self-doubts are screaming Give Up? How surprised are you when you persist, survive and conquer a significant life event?
I would suggest that it is often our resilience that prods us through the battle, muting our self-doubt, steadying our emotions, and pushing us over the finish line.
One of those brilliant AI bots described resilience thusly- “In simple words, resilience is the ability to bounce back from tough times, adapting to stress, challenges, and trauma without breaking, much like a rubber band stretching and returning to its shape. It's about coping with difficult emotions and experiences, finding strength to move forward, and even growing stronger from adversity, rather than giving up.”
We can’t touch or see our resilience, but we can trust in its presence, as we feel the energy kick in when we need the strength and drive to keep “stretching” through and beyond the traumas and dramas life presents to us. For some of us it is evidenced by a never quit-never-give up attitude, for others it’s a quiet persistence or perhaps a start-stop-start again approach. It’s easy to lose sight of what we are capable of until a challenging event expands our perspective of what is possible when we persist.
Never lose sight of your resilience and your capacity for getting through difficult times, no matter how convinced you are that you will not!
Living Mindfully
OOPS! There I go again, tumbling down those basement steps. As I lay at the bottom of the stairs, looking towards the top, I pondered the repetition of my mindless acts which often led to such results. I quickly recognized a mindless act to be the villain and my downfall.
I fell because I wasn't focused on not falling. Neither my thought nor actions were intentional. Rather than being mindful of what I was doing and what my desired outcome was, I let my thoughts race toward, my fear of being late for work and man's best friend who had yet to be fed and walked. I thought about everything except my feet safely touching each step until I arrived at my desired destination. When I walk down a flight of stairs, I should only be thinking about walking down that flight of stairs and nothing more. It is a simple rule with a guaranteed successful outcome that I had failed to adhere to.
The term “mindfulness” is quite popular in our culture today, the concept has been a mainstay of Buddhist teaching for hundreds of years. It is a simple practice that is often under-appreciated or utilized. How much more effective and efficient would our efforts be if we were attentive to the behaviors, actions and steps that enriched or impeded our journey?
Mindfulness is the act of slowing down and becoming tuned in to the internal and external activity inhabiting our space and mind that impact our behaviors, emotions and thoughts at any given moment. Mindfulness is a process of observation and heightened awareness that increases our opportunity to master our behaviors, environment and daily outcomes. Had the chicken been more mindful, it may never have crossed the road, and if it had, it would surely have crossed at night or early morning when the traffic was low and its chance for success high.
I believe the ever-rapid conveyor belt of life inhibits our mindful focus. Many of us pay too little attention to what we are doing and why we are doing it. Life becomes a habit rather than a choice. The demands upon our time, attention and energy are tremendous and ever growing. The societal norm is based on more and more and faster and faster. This pace does not support an opportunity for calm reflection and attentive action. It supports reacting to the moment instead of being in the moment.
Practice setting aside some time (10-15 min) each day to quiet your mind, sit in a peaceful space and notice the thoughts, distractions and feelings that drift into your awareness. Mindful observations provide clarity and awareness and offers energy for a life that is more in harmony with personal values, interests and beliefs.
Understand where you are going, why and the value of the journey.
Remember! If a chicken talks you into crossing the road, know what prompted you to say ok and always, always make sure the chicken goes first.
Want Something? Do Something!
Is there a goal, a wish, an aspiration that lingers on in your thoughts while you keep hoping and waiting to achieve it someday? Is there a problem you wish would just move on to another city, but it has taken up residence in the living room of you mind? Do you abandon your power and sit and wait for a good Samaritan or the Fates to rescue you? If you have answered yes to my last question there is no need to read any further. You have a plan! Continue waiting for that just right moment.
Chances are many of us are too patient in waiting for life to alter our circumstances, to enrich the quality of our lives or to resolve a problem. Perhaps we are too uncertain of what to do, too afraid of making a mistake or too afraid to fail. There is always a wise partner, family member, friend or professional to offer guidance, suggestions and encouragement when uncertainty/fear holds us back. We abandon our power to influence our outcomes and our life path when we wait too long or do nothing. Mistakes are a normal part of the process, we all make them and they can be corrected as we learn from them.
How much more rewarding will life be when experiences are enhanced, challenges accepted and met, goals reached, problems resolved and rewards garnered? Taking action is empowering, waiting is sitting and hoping. We may not always take the right or best action, but there will always be an opportunity for learning, achieving and change when we do.
It’s a New Year, heck, might as well Do something new.
A Gift to Be Shared
It only takes a compassionate word, a gentle touch, a warm smile to enhance our well-being. Simple behaviors can have a profound effect on our mood and disposition as they also do with those around us. Do you ever notice how you feel or how your mood changes when someone makes you smile, hugs you or offers a sincere thank you or compliment? Behaviors such as these likely initiate a strong chemical reaction that stimulates the warm fuzzy part of our brain. I believe that is the proper technical terminology!
Minimal physical or mental energy is exerted, our path and destination remain unaltered, there are no financial costs, no short or long-term commitments required.
We all possess the power to enhance the mood of family, friends, strangers as well as ourselves. Our lives are often filled with drama, stress, uncertainty and conflict and we may feel overwhelmed and detached from the power of a smile, a gentle touch or a kind word, but offering one is the same as getting one and the reward becomes twofold. It’s a gift worth practicing and repeating. You know that old adage, we get what we give.
I offer one significant caveat to the success of my suggestion and that is to be successful and impactful we will need to look up from our smart phones long enough to recognize a three-dimensional human standing in front of us or walking our way.