Autobiography in 5 short chapters

An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
-Anonymous
I.
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost……I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
II.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
III.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in…it’s a habit……but
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is MY fault.
I get out immediately.
IV.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
V.
I walk down another street.

Is It Really You? Being Authentic-A Form of Self-Care

"Let the world know you as you are,not as you think you should be." -- Fanny Brice

Do you spend a lot of energy being what you think others want you to be? Are you a people-pleaser?

As Dr. Phil might ask, "How's that workin' for ya?" Not so good?

What would happen if you always presented yourself as your authentic self? What if, no matter what, you felt like you could just be yourself?

I know I spent much of my younger years doing what I thought others' expected of me. I would be different depending on the group of people I was with. Over time, I lost myself. I spent a lot of energy figuring out what was expected of me and trying to deliver whatever the other person wanted. I was constantly reevaluating my words and behavior and it was exhausting!

It was in graduate school when I hit a wall and learned how detrimental operating under the shadows of others’ expectations was to myself and to others.

I remember how freeing it was to simply be myself. I needed to trust that it was really okay to be my authentic self! The challenge was learning to love and trust enough to risk putting myself out into the world. The greatest surprise was learning that being myself was much more gratifying than I could have imagined! I learned that I could trust my relationships more because those who I attracted wanted to be with the real me, not the person I thought they wanted me to be.

What if you didn't have to please anyone but yourself? How different would you be? What if you didn't feel controlled by that need to meet the perceived expectations of those around you?

My challenge for you is to practice being more authentic and true to yourself. Begin by thinking about "you" first rather than others' first. Focusing on your needs first may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but shifting your perspective a little is not going to send you in the opposite direction. You'll probably always incorporate others' needs into your life, you just won't be ruled by them!

The risk, of course, is that it will not please everyone. The good news is that the people and the relationships that you do have will be genuine and more meaningful.

And all that energy you spent trying to please others can be directed toward more fulfilling endeavors!

Fanny Brice had it right...let the world know who you are. You are a uniquely talented and gifted person. Let others appreciate all you have to offer. You deserve it!

This Is Your Life.....Make It What You Want!

De-clutter and Take Charge of Your Life

Are you in charge of your life?

Are there people or situations that can easily distract you or bring you down? Do they feel like they are running your life? Some are easy to recognize, others not. If you want to be living a more productive, healthy or purposeful life, perhaps a little "de-cluttering" can help.

• What things in your life drain you of energy and prevents you from doing your best?
• What are some things you simply put up with because it seems easier at the time?
• Are there people or situations in your life that do not serve you well?
  

Here's a really simple exercise that will help you begin the de-cluttering process.

1. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper.
2. On the top of one column put "Energy Drainers At Work."
3. On top of the other column put "Energy Drainers At Home."
4. List the situations, people, things that are energy drainers in your life.
   

Hang on to the list, you can add more as they come up. You may or may not choose to do anything about the items on your lists right now, but just becoming aware of the energy drainers will bring them to the forefront where you'll naturally start eliminating, fixing or resolving them.

You don't realize how much power you have until you take a look at the power you're giving away. Now is an excellent time to clear out the clutter and take charge of your life.

Happy Cleaning!

This Is Your Life....Make It What You Want!

Busy Person's Meditation

We all know that meditation is good for the soul...wouldn't it be great to have even 30 minutes a day to relax and meditate? 30 minutes? Sure, in all your free time.

There is, however, a way to get some meditative time in when your day is too full (like always) and you don't have the time to take a real break for yourself. I know some days it's hard to find time to go to the bathroom!!

So this is what I call the busy person's meditation. Give it a try.

• Choose one task that you do on a regular basis…..fold clothes, sweep floors, wash dishes, dust, cook-whatever you can think of.
• Do it as mindfully as you can.
  

Years ago, my personal coach suggested this to me and the task I chose was sweeping the floors. I have all hardwood or tile floors, 1 spouse, 2 kids, 2 cats and a dog in my house. I’m sweeping at least once a day. And like you, while it’s a goal of mine, I don’t have time to sit down for 15 minutes each day to meditate or relax.

So here’s how it works for me: As I’m sweeping, I really pay attention to my body. I consciously breathe more deeply and slow down; I listen to the sounds of the bristles against the floor; I notice the way the broom handle rests in the palms of my hands; I feel the subtle change in the muscles in my back and arms; I notice and appreciate the results of my efforts. I look around and notice things I love all around me-I really make an effort to be mindful of the moment. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy sweeping my floors! And for those who know my feelings about housework, that’s HUGE!

The other part of this exercise that’s so great is that it’s possible to have mindful and relaxed periods of time in the midst of all the normal craziness in my house. The kids might be watching TV, playing music or even arguing about something, but I’m not all bent out of shape. I’m more patient and I’m not worrying about the next thing on my “to do” list. (Now if I could just stop sweeping!)

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!