Archive for December, 2010
I would love to continue from my last blog on this topic. Are you one who takes their life too seriously? Always trying to do things perfectly? How has that been for you? Have you gotten where you want to be and do what you want to do? Has that made you stressed out and not enjoying your life?
When we are hard on ourselves to the point that we are not enough, that what we are doing is not bring us joy then we need to take a step back and observe. Taking control of our lives is great and reaching for our dreams but it’s in the “How” we get to that point is where the trouble or exhilaration lies.
By moving ahead fearlessly with passion and purpose to achieve our dreams makes the experience more enjoyable and proficient. How do you ask can this be achieved without stress? By simply living in the moment. Sure you will need to think ahead or look at past trends but by not staying there and focusing all your thoughts there you can steadily move forward. When we accept what is and not examine ourselves with a microscope to make sure that everything is exactly perfect, you will never reach your expectations as there is nothing perfect in life. We can be the best that we can be without the negative chatter in our head to help set us back. Choosing positive thoughts to propel you forward and set your goals into motion can happen once we push past the fear that everything needs to be perfect before we move on.
Once you realize this and take active action towards it, you will see that things in life are really not as complicated and stressing as we make them up in our mind to be. When we have a goal of success, we need to clearly define what success means to us and map that out on paper. Having a plan on achieving our goals and pursuing our passion will help you accept that there will be ups and downs and when things down turn out “perfectly” as we plan that we still need to keep moving forward and push past that bump in the road. When we take “perfectionism” to the next level, and when the little hurdles arise (and they will) it can stop you dead set in your tracks, by being aware of your thoughts and actions and documenting a plan will help you overcome these setbacks.
Remember:
* Change your thinking from a place of stress, worry and perfectionism to positive thinking, using daily affirmations and a gratitude journal. Take notice of what the chatter is going on in your head and switching it when you notice the negativity and every evening have a special journal to write in about what was the best part of your day and what you are grateful for. Once you do this for awhile it will become easier and easier to find a the wonderful things in your life.
AND
* Map out a detailed plan on your goals. You can use the SMART method for setting goals, which is to make your goals Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and Time Specific. When you have a plan, the little hurdles will still keep you on track and not stop you from moving forward.
Take the road less travelled and set your sights high. You can achieve what you put your mind to. Get to work and set your plan in motion!
Cheers:)
Tania Boutin
Grief Recovery and Life Transformation Coach
www.taniaboutin.com
P.S. You can sign up for my daily affirmations and monthly newsletter on my website! (and there are 2 bonus ebooks!)
Like most people, you head into each New Year with a list of goals that you’d like to achieve in the upcoming year. Do you ever wonder why many of these goals are not reached? There could be many reasons – but one you may want to consider is that you’re not having FUN in the journey!
Think of one goal you’d like to complete at some point in the New Year. How does it make you feel right now? Does the vision of it make you jump with joy, or does the thought of reaching it stress you out and drain your energy? Either way, if this particular goal is truly important to you, you have to organize it in order to have fun with it!
Some of the ways you can find enjoyment in reaching your goals are:
- Stay motivated by imagining the reward. If you only focus on the bits and pieces of the big picture, your enthusiasm about your goal will quickly diminish. Imagine the overall reward of reaching it – what emotions does it bring out in you? Although it may not be easy to attain, if you continually think about the end result, it will motivate you to move forward with a smile on your face!
- Write down every detail associated with reaching your goal and organize tasks into chunks. If you attempt to achieve a goal by tackling items in a disorganized way, then you’ll become distracted. By coming up with an overall master plan supported by smaller tasks with a realistic timeline for each, then it’ll take away a lot of stress in figuring out how to “get it all done” in a simple, measurable way.
- Commit to working on your goal every day. Set aside 30-60 minutes each day to complete one of the tasks within your master plan. This way, you reach your goal quicker and you have a sense of accomplishment when your day is done.
- Take a break from it. Get outside, breathe in some fresh air, meditate or stretch for 15 minutes. Then come back to working on your goal. Sometimes, walking away from something will give you a new perspective when you return to it.
Start this upcoming year by organizing your tasks with an attitude of enjoyment when working on your goals. If it’s something you truly want, then commit to it by envisioning the big picture, setting realistic timelines, working on it every day and at times, taking a break for fresh viewpoints on reaching your goal!
