A Different Sort of Blog Thought for Today

I love Fall.  It's my favorite season.  The air is crisper, the leaves are gorgeous, drinking hot chocolate is acceptable to my coffee drinking friends and there are some fantastic holidays to celebrate.  I love watching the kids trick or treat, and getting the family all together for Thanksgiving and handing out the traditional year-at-a-glance ornament  for the Christmas tree.

When I blog, I like to impart some sort of wisdom or a favorite quote.  Today as we enter into that Fall season I think I wanted to Blog as a reminder to myself that it's ok to enjoy the season.  It's ok to take a break from the grind and to enjoy not just what I do but who I am.  I am someone who works hard.  I go the extra mile.  I make mistakes.  I learn things the hard way.  I sometimes choose to plow ahead, when instead a reflection break would be the best course of action.  I am someone who values family.  I am not a failure.  I enjoy who I am and who I'm going to become.

As we enter into October...2012 I would like to invite each of you to simply choose to enjoy who you are this fall season.  Make the time to do some things you enjoy, spend time with the family, roast a smore, go on a fall hayride, enjoy the leaves with your kids.  Take the time to see the big picture and recognize that the choices you make today will decide who you are in the future.

Quote for the Day: 
"If you always do what you've always done...then you will always get what you've always gotten."

What is the Definition of 'Me' ?

How do we define ourselves?  Is it internal or external?  Is it in what we do?  Is it in our marriages, our jobs, our hobbies, our friends or are we even self-aware enough to know what it is exactly that pin points how we each see ourselves?

I wish I had the answers; It would certainly make for a longer blog. 

As someone who has been in the Administration field it helps that I lean toward finding my identity in what I do.  It's in my performance.  It's in how well I 'do the job'.  The problem with that is when something goes wrong, or mistakes happen it becomes about me and not about the situation.  Translation:  Not Healthy.

As an Individual I am constantly striving to put away the accomplishments & the 'doing' and focus more on the 'being'.  It's a battle.  It's a promise to myself to find the inner me that IS me.  I can still DO awesome (and as a most excellent administrator I will) but no matter the accomplishments the definition of 'ME' is still whatever I choose it to be...simply by BEING.....

Set Your Mind to SUCCESS!!

5 Powerful Mind Success Strategies 

Building a business is a fantastic and challenging experience.  You can wake up exhilarated to begin your day and go to bed feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.  The key to success is to maintain a positive, yes you can do it, mindset.
Easier said than done, right? 

Here are 5 keys to help you create and sustain a positive mindset so you attain the success you desire.

1. Surround yourself with successful and positive people.  The influence people have over our own personal energy is amazing.  Moods and attitudes are so easily spread – think about how much of a difference a simple smile from a stranger can make for your day and then magnify it 1000 times to demonstrate the power of positive and successful friends, family and associates.  When you have people around you who inspire you, believe in you and want you to succeed, there’s no room for doubts and even when they creep up, they’re quickly swept away. 

2. Create a mantra or an affirmation.  Repeating positive affirmations has been shown to get people through tough times and to actually help them truly believe what they’re saying.
For example, “I am building a powerful and profitable business.”  Many of the most esteemed business professionals have used the same affirmation strategy to attain their success.  To find the right affirmations for you, consider writing a quick list of your doubts, insecurities and complaints.  These can then be quickly turned into affirmations.
For instance, if you write that you’re always feeling disorganized then your affirmation would be, “I am organized and in control.”  Repeat your affirmations several times a day and feel the power of positive thinking.

3. Capture negative thoughts.  We all have negative thoughts from time to time, however, negative thoughts and emotions can derail us and prevent us from achieving all we desire.  Of course catching those negative thoughts takes practice and persistence.  When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or having negative emotions, find a trigger to turn them around.  The affirmations mentioned above are a great way to turn the negative into the positive.  You can also find quick pick me ups like a favorite song, a walk outside in the fresh air, or some exercise to help improve your mood.

4. Set goals/intentions and then be willing to let it go.  The law of attraction says that we attract what we focus on the most.  However, desperation, needing your business to be a success, sends mixed messages and a lot of negativity into the universe.  Set your goals and intentions and then let them go.  A certain amount of faith in yourself and in the power of attraction is necessary.  Give it a try.

5. Be grateful.  Gratitude is perhaps the single most powerful and positive tool for success.  When you’re grateful for all of the wonderful things and people in your life the challenges you face seem significantly less important and are more easily dealt with.
Consider keeping a gratitude journal and make a practice of entering into it daily.  That way, when you’re facing challenges a quick peek at all the amazing things in your life will make you feel as if you can tackle anything.   Additionally, an attitude of gratitude helps you maintain a positive perspective and to face challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.

Success is within your reach and with the right attitude you can accomplish anything you set your sights on.  Embrace these five powerful mind success strategies and you’ll build a better business and live a happier, more satisfying life.


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The Power of Procrastination

I think we all have some areas where we procrastinate and I'm sure all of our reasons are different.  The habit of putting things off to the last possible minute can overwhelm and stress us, cause resentment and guilt and even cause missed opportunities...which of course causes the overwhelming, stress, resentment and guilt cycle to start all over again.

The behavior pattern of procrastination can be triggered in many different ways, so you won't always procrastinate for the same reason. Sometimes you'll procrastinate because you're overwhelmed with too much on your plate, and procrastination gives you an escape. Other times you'll feel tired and lazy, and you just can't get going.

I personally procrastinate when it comes to end of the month invoicing.  Crazy Right?  I mean it's not hard, it doesn't take a lot of time, but for whatever reason it overwhelms me and causes me some minor insecurities. 

I read a small little book recently titled, "Eat That Frog".  It's a short and sweet look at how to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time.  It gives 21 great tips on how to STOP PROCRASTINATING!!

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.  Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it. 

There are 2 rules to frog eating: 
1.  If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.
2.  If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn't pay to sit and look at it for very long.

Basically GET 'ER DONE people.  The key to reaching high levels of perfomance and productivity is to develop the lifelong habit of tackling your major task first thing each morning. 

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right".  Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools willbe found as you go along."  Napoleon Hill

Biggest Loser

It's Tuesday evening...well Wednesday morning really and I'm working on my newsletter, updating contacts, placing the final touches on a couple of  Thanksgiving cards and catching up on tonights episode of The Biggest Loser.    What a far cry from this time last year where I was popping pepto tablets and worried about my job, finances, the future and I really did feel like a total loser.

It's one year later and I have my family traveling in from Virginia, my sister, 2 nephews and my precious little niece.  We're preparing the turkey and planning on hitting the Festival of Lights at our local zoo.  I have a fabulous small business that allows me to meet so many interesting and passionate people and enough money to pay the bills and enjoy my home.

When I think of giving thanks this Holiday season it is with deepest pleasure that I can say I truly am The Biggest Loser.  I've lost the stress, the worry, the aches and pains associated with drama and most of all I've lost the fear that paralyzes most people into inaction. 

Thanks so much to each of you who have helped me on my journey to becoming The Biggest Loser.  I would love to hear about your journey's as well.  Please feel free to let me know the things you have 'lost' this past year on your journey to becoming a better you.

Much love this Holiday Season,

Sarah

So Goals...What are my goals...Big goals, little goals, life changing goals...all of the above. Someone once drew me a picture of some stairs; They said put what you most want at the top of the stairs and then label all the steps that you will need to complete in order to make it to your final objective. (The top of the stairs).
Of course my first response was...I'll just be happy if I'm still breathing at the top of the stairs but ok....

Now that I'm older and wiser (by 1 week and 1 day) I can see the truth of the statement. Put my objective at the top of the stairs and then create small manageable goals to complete so that I can slowly make my way up the staircase.

So...What is my objective?  What am I going to put at the top of my staircase?  Do I center it around my own business?  My clients?  My personal goals?  It's the end of 2011 and I'm heading into 2012 do I focus on the New Year and what it's going to bring?

So many choices but at the end of the day I just need to put one thing at the top of the staircase.  So that's what I'm going to do.  I've put my goal at the top of the staircase and now I'm setting goals so I can make it up to the top.  What are you doing?   

Take a moment for yourself, set your objective, decide your goals and happy climbing!

What's Holding you Back...and How you Can Change!

Everyone’s got bad habits such as lateness or procrastination. But if you consistently act in ways that cause you to lose face, lose friends, or fail when a goal is within reach, your harmless personality quirks may have morphed into serious self-sabotage. “A bad habit becomes destructive when your behavior causes more than momentary regret and leaves you feeling disappointed in yourself,” says Pauline Wallin, PhD, author of Taming Your Inner Brat.

Why do we derail our own happiness? Experts attribute it to a variety of unconscious beliefs: nagging doubt about whether we really deserve what we’re striving for; apprehension that we won’t be able to handle increased expectations and responsibilities; even fear that our achievement may isolate us from our peers or family members.

 To overcome self-sabotage, you must first identify its origin and then take steps to interrupt the cycle. Here are five ways you might be tripping yourself up, and suggestions for how to (finally) get out of your own way.

Fatal Flaw #1: You procrastinate.    Tomorrow is soon enough. Besides, you excel under pressure.

The ugly truth: You’re secretly afraid your work won’t be perfect and you’ll be outed as a fraud. “Procrastinators tend to be very concerned about what other people think of them,” says Joseph Ferrari, PhD, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago. “If you worry that you will never perform as well as you have in the past, fear of failure may be halting your progress.” Putting off work provides a ready-made excuse: Instead of admitting failure, you can always blame your busy schedule and overbooked calendar. “That way, you can tell yourself the project would have been successful if only you’d had more time,” Ferrari explains.

The fix: Play the worst-case-scenario game. The next time your grasp on deadlines starts to slip — something even the worst procrastinator can recognize — take a moment to look inward for the source of your foot dragging. Ask yourself what’s the absolute worst that could happen. Then spin the consequences out to their most ludicrous degree: Would your family and friends disown you? Would you end up starving and homeless? Would the cat die? Once you’ve realized things aren’t so awful, you can get past the anxiety and focus on the work, says Ferrari.

Fatal Flaw #2: You binge when your goal weight is within sight.
You’ve earned some quality just-us girls time with your old pals Little Debbie, Mrs. Fields, and Sara Lee.

The ugly truth: You may not have been prepared for the male attention your new body brings, which can make you feel vulnerable. Or maybe your friends seem jealous of your success, and you’re uncomfortable with their scrutiny. Getting down to a healthy weight also means maintaining it, which is a tough task unto itself. Plus, when things don’t go your way– you get dumped or you don’t get the job you went after — you can’t use your “It’s because I’m fat” excuse. “Life often feels simpler without these issues, and it’s easier to eat a whole bag of potato chips and retreat to your fatter, safer world,” explains Connie Tyne, executive director of the Cooper Wellness Program in Dallas.
The fix: See yourself the way others do. It’s hard to stop thinking of yourself as overweight even after the pounds are gone. But improving your self-image can help ease the emotional transition into smaller sizes, says Linda Spangle, RN, author of 100 Days of Weight Loss. “Enroll in a public-speaking class to build self-esteem and increase your comfort level around people.” You can also get a boost by making a list of your greatest attributes, which is what most people notice anyway. “Describe what you’re like at your best,” Spangle suggests. “Maybe you’re energetic or you smile a lot or regale your friends with funny stories. Thinking in terms of confidence and strength makes you act in terms of confidence and strength.”

 

Fatal Flaw #4: You’re habitually late.
 It’s never your fault — your mom called, the dog got sick, traffic was brutal…
The ugly truth: Being late could be your passive-aggressive way of getting back at those who force you to adhere to their timetable. “Blaming your tardiness on a hectic schedule is easier than admitting you’re resentful about constraints being placed on your time,” says Spangle. Your chronic lateness may also be a sign that you’re subconsciously trying to undermine the situation, lash out at a friend or, in the case of work, get fired. If you’re late for something that is a big taboo, like a job interview, it may show your ambivalence about whether you really want the gig. “Rather than risk a poor showing in the new position, you ensure that the opportunity never arises,” says Rebecca Curtis, PhD, professor of psychology at Adelphi University.
The fix: Make up your mind. Be clear about what you want. “If it’s a career issue, ask yourself if your interest in your job is waning,” says Kathryn Cramer, PhD, author of Change the Way You See Everything Through Asset-Based Thinking. “Being late is a way of disconnecting. This can be a warning that it’s time to take stock and either recommit yourself or make a change.” Bonus hint: Be proactive and adjust your actions or attitude rather than wait to get canned. You’re always better off controlling events instead of waiting for them to control you.

TO SEE THIS FULL ARTICLE:  Please click on this LINK:  http://shine.yahoo.com/event/poweryourfuture/5-habits-holding-you-back-and-how-to-change-them-2515577/