We are all too quick to recall the negative times and negative things in our lives. Ask me what went wrong this past week and I could easily produce a list for you. That is because we tend to repeat in our minds the things that ticked us off or the things that we did wrong. For some people, I think it is a way for them to analyze the situations and try to make sense of them. For others, I think it is a subconscious way of self-sabotaging themselves by focusing consistently on their faults.
Either way, all of us tend to put too much energy into the negative side of life. If we could just turn our energy towards recalling all the positive things that happened last week, then we might just feel more satisfied and fulfilled.
Research shows that consistently writing in a gratitude journal reduces stress and sad feelings. People who focus on what they are thankful for tend to be happier than those that don't. When we make the time to recall these positive events, we are training our brains to focus on the good things around us, giving us the opportunity to appreciate the people in our lives.
For the coming week, try to remember the things you do right. Relish in your achievements, even if they are a small step towards a major goal. Find what you like in others, versus finding fault in what you don't like. Be grateful for at least 3 things each day and see if you feel differently at the end of the week.
Happy thoughts!
-Renee
Business & Personal Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Realistic Expectations
They say "Happiness is a state of mind" and that it's all in how you perceive life and your situation. I also think that happiness is connected to having realistic expectations. If you expect perfection, you will be frequently disappointed because pure perfection is impossible. Don't get me wrong. I firmly believe in aiming high and doing your best but not to the point of feeling consistent disappointment.
We must look at ourselves and our situation as a constant "work in progress". We are continuously growing and learning - at least we should be. Try to create realistic goals for yourself so that you can achieve them and feel good about them.
Realize you will have disappointments and setbacks. I think this is key in feeling happy. Life is full of challenges and we must be willing to accept them, take them on, and deal with them. Expecting life to be free of negativity, sadness and disappointment is setting yourself up for frustration and failure.
Yesterday, I spent an hour reviewing what to write in my blog and writing it all down through the internet. After feeling content with what I'd written, focusing on the blog's subject of happiness and the acceptance of life's disappointments, I went to save my work and publish it on the site. Can you believe all my work went out the window because the internet connection froze as I was saving it? I was shocked. All the work I had put into it was gone. I frantically hit the "back" button, thinking it had to be in there somewhere. It wasn't. I was ticked. I couldn't even look at my computer to rewrite it. After an hour, once I cooled off, I realized how fitting this was. It was a test. I had a setback and became disgusted and frustrated. Even knowing what I should do, I did the opposite automatically.
I think we are conditioned to react this way out of habit. It takes effort to focus on reacting to situations differently. By realizing bad things happen, we are better able to respond when things go wrong.
Are you living your life realistically?
-Renee
Business & Personal Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
We must look at ourselves and our situation as a constant "work in progress". We are continuously growing and learning - at least we should be. Try to create realistic goals for yourself so that you can achieve them and feel good about them.
Realize you will have disappointments and setbacks. I think this is key in feeling happy. Life is full of challenges and we must be willing to accept them, take them on, and deal with them. Expecting life to be free of negativity, sadness and disappointment is setting yourself up for frustration and failure.
Yesterday, I spent an hour reviewing what to write in my blog and writing it all down through the internet. After feeling content with what I'd written, focusing on the blog's subject of happiness and the acceptance of life's disappointments, I went to save my work and publish it on the site. Can you believe all my work went out the window because the internet connection froze as I was saving it? I was shocked. All the work I had put into it was gone. I frantically hit the "back" button, thinking it had to be in there somewhere. It wasn't. I was ticked. I couldn't even look at my computer to rewrite it. After an hour, once I cooled off, I realized how fitting this was. It was a test. I had a setback and became disgusted and frustrated. Even knowing what I should do, I did the opposite automatically.
I think we are conditioned to react this way out of habit. It takes effort to focus on reacting to situations differently. By realizing bad things happen, we are better able to respond when things go wrong.
Are you living your life realistically?
-Renee
Business & Personal Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
Monday, February 4, 2008
Do you have time for Success?
"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." --Arnold H. Glasow
Arnold's definition of success is simplistic but difficult to achieve when you really think about the variables involved. We may know what's right, we may even know the right way to do it, but how can we be assured it's at the right time?
The general idea here is that it's our behavior that determines our success. If we do the right thing (exercise 4-5 times per week), the right way (a minimum of 30 minutes with the right plan), the right time is NOW.
I think many of us get hung up on the "right" time to start our goals. How many of you have heard or said something like, "When the kids are grown up, we will travel as a couple" or "When our son is in school full-time, I'll get serious about exercise" or "When the business is running smoothly, I'll join that golf league"? The problem with this kind of thinking is that it holds us back from improving the present time.
If you wait until the kids grow up to vacation as a couple, you may not still be married. Making the time to enjoy one another as a couple NOW will strenghthen your current relationship and assist it in growing stronger so that you will still be together when the kids are grown. The same holds true for business owners who are waiting for their business to run better before they allow themselves some time off for fun. In my opinion, there is no right time like the present to begin incorporating our goals into action. It may not make sense to be away from the business 2 days a week to play golf, maybe it's 2 days a month that works best to start. The point is to start it now and not wait.
Think about it, when we make the time to take care of ourselves by having some fun, taking time to exercise, having social time with friends, we are less stressed and we are more productive.
What goals are you putting on hold in order to accomplish them at the "right" time? Are you able to start them now, even if you are only able to take baby steps to get there?
NOW is the time to change your behavior for more successful results!
Continued Success,
Renee
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
Arnold's definition of success is simplistic but difficult to achieve when you really think about the variables involved. We may know what's right, we may even know the right way to do it, but how can we be assured it's at the right time?
The general idea here is that it's our behavior that determines our success. If we do the right thing (exercise 4-5 times per week), the right way (a minimum of 30 minutes with the right plan), the right time is NOW.
I think many of us get hung up on the "right" time to start our goals. How many of you have heard or said something like, "When the kids are grown up, we will travel as a couple" or "When our son is in school full-time, I'll get serious about exercise" or "When the business is running smoothly, I'll join that golf league"? The problem with this kind of thinking is that it holds us back from improving the present time.
If you wait until the kids grow up to vacation as a couple, you may not still be married. Making the time to enjoy one another as a couple NOW will strenghthen your current relationship and assist it in growing stronger so that you will still be together when the kids are grown. The same holds true for business owners who are waiting for their business to run better before they allow themselves some time off for fun. In my opinion, there is no right time like the present to begin incorporating our goals into action. It may not make sense to be away from the business 2 days a week to play golf, maybe it's 2 days a month that works best to start. The point is to start it now and not wait.
Think about it, when we make the time to take care of ourselves by having some fun, taking time to exercise, having social time with friends, we are less stressed and we are more productive.
What goals are you putting on hold in order to accomplish them at the "right" time? Are you able to start them now, even if you are only able to take baby steps to get there?
NOW is the time to change your behavior for more successful results!
Continued Success,
Renee
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
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