Latest "A Page of Insight" Posts
May 15, 2009
“Don’t agonize. It slows you down.”
– “Non-perfectionist” Isaac Asimov
In some way or another, we all struggle with currents of negativity that swirl in our minds. But the people who learn to confront it, challenge it and conquer it — those are the people who move ahead more swiftly, easily and joyfully.
This realization really hit home for me when I saw Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis deliver a speech about her quest to earn a spot on the 2000 Olympic archery team. She told us about the day a world-class archery coach joined her on the field to assess her skills. Her nerves ran high as she took her stance, positioned her bow and arrow and released her first shot. It landed far from the center of the target.
The coach asked, “What were you thinking just now, when you missed?”
Geena responded, “I was thinking I’m an idiot — I missed.”
He instructed her to shoot again. She shot, she missed, and again he asked, “What were you thinking?”
“I can’t believe I missed again! What an idiot! Why am I even doing this? I’m over 40… I’m too old for this!”
He turned and looked her in the eye. “Do you hear what you tell yourself all the time? What if, instead of berating yourself, you said, ‘Ok… the next shot will be even better!'”?
In those few moments, Geena Davis learned to conquer the critical voice within. If only we all had such a coach! Because we all have a critical voice within.
“I look pretty good today!” (If only I didn’t have that belly bulge and those wrinkles around my eyes.) “I think I have a chance at this promotion.” (As long as no one finds out about the mistakes I made.) “I think he’s flirting with me!” (Nah, probably not… what would he see in me?)
For many people, that negative inner chatter becomes so incessant, so insistent, that it actually disrupts their sense of what’s true.
In some cases, the critical voice develops into Imposter Syndrome. First mentioned in a 1978 study of high-achieving women, Imposter Syndrome is a vague sense of anxiety and self-doubt that comes from thinking you’ve “fooled” everyone into thinking you’re better than you “know” yourself to be. By this point, the critical voice has become so convincing that you’re buying everything it says! No matter how much proof there is that you’re successful, smart, capable, beautiful and otherwise wonderful, the critical voice within convinces you otherwise. You feel like a fraud and you’re waiting for the day when someone will find out what you really are.
This mindset is much more common than you might think. It strikes people from all walks of life – teachers, policemen, doctors, etc. — but it is generally associated with high achieving, successful people. (This distinguishes it from low self esteem, where people generally underachieve.)
The critical voice within tends to discount achievement and overemphasize failure, leaving us spinning in a whirlpool of unrealistic standards. For those under the spell of the critical voice, success is often dismissed as luck, timing, coincidence, or the idea they deceived someone. Instead of internalizing success, they feel like a fake.
Can you identify with this tendency, even a little bit? It’s not an all-or-nothing situation. You might feel like an imposter in some situations but not others, or in varying degrees.
Here are a few statements that might sound familiar:
- “I can give the impression that I am more competent than I really am.”
- “I am often afraid that others will discover how much I don’t know.”
- “I just got lucky this time. It was a fluke.”
- “It’s no big deal.”
- “I did well because it was easy.”
Those in the grip of the critical voice also tend to:
- Give people the answers that she believes they want
- Work harder in order to prevent people from discovering she’s an “imposter”
- Feel that praise is based on charm, not ability
- Exhibit perfectionist tendencies
- Have a hard time accepting compliments
If these traits feel uncomfortably familiar, take heart: There are a number of very effective steps you can take to reduce the volume and frequency of your critical voice within. If you consistently challenge it, you’ll begin to feel as sharp and accomplished as everyone else seems to think you are.
As a coach, I recommend:
1) Catch your “critical voice” in action, and instead of letting it breeze through the back of your mind, drag it out in the light and challenge it. “You just said what?” Here’s a little piece from the Dove Real Beauty Campaign that illustrates how this process can unlock some powerful personal realizations.
2) Retrain your brain. If you catch yourself thinking something like, “They’re going to figure out I have no idea what I’m doing,” counter that thought with a positive one: “It’s okay to figure it out as I go along. Everyone goes through this.” Or, like Geena’s archery coach taught, tell yourself, “Next time, I’ll be even better.”
3) Tweak the critical voice to make it humorous. You could speed it up, slow it down, exaggerate it, give it a Mickey Mouse™ voice or even give it a nickname. When you can laugh at it, it won’t have as much influence.
4) Build a “reminder book” of all the compliments that come your way. Build up proof that you are indeed fabulous, so you can remind yourself of that when you feel about as wonderful as old cardboard. Keep it on your desk and paste in e-mails and pictures. Jot down compliments religiously – especially when you don’t feel like it. That’s when they count the most.
5) Escape the trap of perfectionism. While it can indicate a healthy drive to excel, perfectionism usually holds people back. Remember, do a great job when it matters most, and learn to let a few things slide (it’s okay, we all do it).
The most important step is this: Learn to separate feelings from fact. Just because you feel incompetent doesn’t mean you are. Just because you feel unattractive doesn’t mean you are. Remember, thoughts and feelings are temporary!
On that note, I’d like to leave you with some lyrics from one of my favourite songs:
- If I’m afraid it doesn’t mean that I’m not brave
- And if I doubt, it doesn’t mean that I’ve lost faith
- And if I fall, it doesn’t mean I can’t go on
- And if I cry, it doesn’t mean that I’m not strong.
(from “Doesn’t Mean that I’m Not Strong” by Jana Stanfield and Karen Taylor-Good)
Continue Reading »
Print This Post
Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight
March 15, 2009
Our lessons often pop up when we least expect them, and this is exactly what happened to me one August day in 2005.
I had spent the day helping to facilitate a Speaking Circles® workshop in Vancouver with founder Lee Glickstein and psychologist Doreen Hamilton. At the end of the first day, the three of us went out to supper to discuss workshop events and plan for the following day. Naturally the conversation moved to our personal lives. Because I’m single, Doreen asked how I was doing in the relationship department. I revealed that I had recently enlisted the services of a matchmaking company.
“The thing is, I don’t like writing my own profile,” I admitted. “The sample profiles I saw all started with, ‘I am attractive, I am beautiful’ and I was advised to follow this approach because men often use appearance as a key factor in selecting dates. But saying ‘I’m beautiful’ is too in-your-face for me.
“It’s not that I think I am ugly,” I clarified. “I just don’t look at myself as beautiful. I’m really uncomfortable writing, ‘I am a beautiful woman.'”
Doreen looked directly at me, eyes fixed on mine, and declared, “Margaret, you have to claim your beauty!” I began to squirm. And then I did what I generally do when I don’t like where the conversation is going — I changed the subject.
Over the next three days, my mind kept drifting back to Doreen’s assertive statement: “Margaret, you have to claim your beauty.” She was right, of course. Why was I so reluctant to stand up and acknowledge my own beauty? Why did the very idea of it make me uncomfortable?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that most women feel the same way. More often than not, women are far more comfortable acknowledging inner beauty (intelligence, talents, graciousness, generosity, etc.) than their physical appearance. Somewhere along the way, we learned that it’s wrong to judge people by their appearance, and we’ve carried that lesson one step too far – denying our physical beauty. We’re even reluctant to acknowledge another woman’s beauty. Somehow, this seems inherently wrong.
On the last day of the workshop, I was given the task of keeping time and marking points while Doreen and Lee each led a group. I listened and stayed fully present, shifting my attention from one group to the other, and then suddenly I noticed her. There she was – across the room, looking absolutely radiant.
It was several seconds before I realized the woman who looked so gorgeous was me. Yes, me. I had glimpsed myself in the mirrored panel of a piece of furniture halfway between the two groups. And I saw myself as beautiful.
I couldn’t wait to share that discovery with Doreen. When I told her, she was delighted with my news. She hugged me and held me tightly. I said my goodbyes to her and Lee, and I was beaming as I left for my dinner engagement.
I arrived at the restaurant to greet a friend I hadn’t seen in months. Her first comment was, “You look absolutely wonderful!” Twice more through dinner, she said, “I can’t believe how terrific you look.” I beamed.
During my ferry ride home that evening, I sat in silence and marveled at the pleasure running through my veins. That night, I fell into a deep, contented sleep that I hadn’t experienced for years. When I awoke with the sunshine streaming into my room, I knew the world was good. I jumped up, showered, sang and danced while blow-drying my hair.
Later that morning, my real estate agent Patricia showed up for an appointment. She walked in and started talking. Halfway through her first sentence, she stopped, looked closely at me and asked, “Did you get a haircut?” I replied, “No.”
She continued talking as we walked to my kitchen. When we got there, she asked, “Did you lose weight?” I replied, “No.”
She kept talking but suddenly stopped and looked at me more intently. Then she said, “Well, whatever you’re doing, don’t stop. You look absolutely terrific.” Patricia’s comments decorated my life like cherries on top of a sundae. A smile crossed my face – you know, one of those smiles that go from ear to ear and almost hurt, the kind of smile you give when you’re in love.
I’d like to say that euphoric feeling has lasted even to this day, but I have to acknowledge that it has faded, just like being in love can fade. Why? Maybe it’s because each time we look in the mirror, we check for flaws. We ask: Is there anything caught between my teeth? Is my hair in place? Is there any lipstick left on my lips? Are my teeth white enough? Are there stray hairs above my lip? The human mission, it would seem, is to seek flaws and flush out imperfections. Of course, if that’s what we’re looking for, that’s what we see. That’s why we have to keep our attention on our beauty, the magic that naturally radiates from each and every one of us.
From that day forward, I vowed to see much more than my imperfections. Now when I look in the mirror, I wink at myself and say, “Margaret, you are beautiful.”
Not only does this help me appreciate my own radiance, but it also helps me appreciate the beauty of other women as well. Five years ago I would have felt uncomfortable telling a woman, “You’re beautiful!” But now it just flows out of me, a genuine and heartfelt expression of appreciation. Isn’t that beautiful?
As a coach, I recommend:
1. When you receive a compliment, graciously accept it and “take it in.”
Don’t resist it, don’t argue with it, don’t deflect it or bounce it back to the person who gave it. Take a deep breath and savour it. Smile and say thank you!
Loretta LaRoche, a humorist and stress management expert, points out that many of our conversations are based on negative talk. For example, each person tries to “out-do” the other in expressing how overwhelmed they are. “I am so busy,” one might say. The other replies, “You think that was bad. Well, I had to….” Resist this temptation. Instead, celebrate each other with compliments. It feels so much better.
2. Create a brag book, an archive of compliments.
In her book Make a Name for Yourself, brand strategist Robin Fisher Roffer recommends creating a brag book. This binder or notebook contains a collection of the wonderful compliments people give you. Rereading these acknowledgments can give you a boost of confidence when you’re faced with a difficult task.
One way to start this process is to contact 20 people and ask them to share three things they see in you. This takes courage, but I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what comes back.
I’ve been collecting and compiling compliments for months, and it really does make a difference. Instead of sweeping compliments under the rug in my rush through life, it forces me to honour what people see in me. My inner critic no longer rules the day. This book also encourages me to give compliments more often.
3. When you look in the mirror, break the habit of checking for flaws. Instead, wink! Say something complimentary. Then blow yourself a kiss and say, “I am beautiful!”
While this may seem silly or self indulgent at first, it will lighten your spirits and remind you to focus on your beauty. Try it — it works!
4. Let the mirror tell you to just “be” beautiful.
Our lives are so filled with “doing” that we rarely take time to enjoy “being” by acknowledging our own beauty. So the next time you get ready for the day, tape a note or write directly on your mirror: “I am beautiful.” Because you are.
If this is difficult for you, I encourage you to spend 20-30 minutes with the mirror, looking for only your positive attributes. It might be as simple as recognizing the graceful curve of your neck, the shape of your eyes, or the way you tilt your head when you’re interested in something. This exercise is a quick way to create a huge change in the way you see yourself.
5. Be bold enough to acknowledge another woman’s beauty.
We see ourselves so often that we tend to lose perspective. Go ahead, empower another woman by telling her how attractive she looks. It will give you both a lift.
Continue Reading »
Print This Post
Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight
December 10, 2008
Like so many people, I have tried to lose weight many times in the past. There were times I was successful, but the weight slowly crept back on. Other times I was not successful. I just couldn’t stay committed to a thinner way of life.
In the spring of last year, I decided it was time to conquer this pattern once and for all. I brought this to the attention of my coach and she encouraged me to explore the root cause of this pattern: My beliefs about eating.
I realized there was a gap between what I understood about food and eating and taking care of myself, and my beliefs about these things. The evidence was in my behavior. So I decided to explore both sides.
I devoted an entire weekend to this process. On Saturday, I wrote out everything I knew about eating and diets: Eating too much isn’t good for me; too much sugar is not healthy; I don’t feel good when I eat too much; when I don’t eat enough I get hunger pangs; it feels good to have Coke floats and Black Forest cake and all the yummy treats I love. And the list went on. This part of the process was easy and really didn’t take very long.
The next day, I started exploring my beliefs about-and associations with-eating. This next step took a while, but I stuck with it. In fact, I wrote all morning. I soon realized that I had long associated mealtime with fun and family, thanks to my father who loved to cook and play in the kitchen. Childhood memories kept popping up, taking me back to different ages in my life. I realized that my very first memories were about food and how my mom was constantly trying to get me to eat. At the time, I wasn’t very interested in food, so my mom would put sugar on my oranges and cut the crust off the bread — anything to entice me to eat more. I remembered how my dad would bring home Kentucky Fried Chicken as a treat on Friday nights, and how much fun we had every time he tried to eat the giant burger at his favorite hamburger joint, the Burger Baron.
When the thoughts stopped coming, I would get up from my desk and busy myself with a household chore, then return to my desk when another thought popped up. As the day wore on, my awareness grew.
When my writing was complete, I was able to shift my perspective from the person who experiences these feelings to the person who observes them. I realized that what I knew about eating was in conflict with my emotional relationship to food. Therefore, my knowledge about eating was not translating into my behavior.
By stepping back and assessing my patterns, I also recognized that when I ate too much, I didn’t feel good; I was uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally. When I didn’t eat as much, I felt better. I recognized that being a little hungry felt much better than feeling too full.
Over the next two to three weeks, I worked on becoming more comfortable with hunger. This was an interesting experience because hunger has a way of triggering a sense of urgency in us; it’s tied to our sense of survival. Over time, I learned to keep a protein bar or apple in my purse so I wouldn’t veer off toward the cinnamon bun stand.
It was very helpful to process all these experiences with my coach, exploring my beliefs and talking through the process without fear of judgment. And with each passing week, I lost more weight. In the course of three months, I dropped 32 pounds. My skin started to look better, and I had a bigger bounce in my step and more energy. It was the best I had felt in a very long time, and I was swimming in my old clothes. Buying smaller clothes was a great joy, and I have to admit it was wonderful to have people constantly telling me, “You look great!”
Later in the year, I took a three-week vacation to Europe for a cooking and wine tasting tour of Tuscany, Italy. I thought to myself, “Well, I’ll just let myself enjoy the trip, and when I return I’ll get back to being disciplined.”
In Europe I indulged — tiramisu, artisan breads, pasta covered in wonderfully rich sauces — so I was a bit hesitant to step on the scale when I returned home. To my delight, I saw that I had only gained half a pound! And by the next week, it was gone.
It’s been six months since I reached my target weight and it truly has been effortless to maintain. I feel firmly anchored in new beliefs now: Feeling hungry is better than feeling too full; my long-range goals are more important than short-term pleasure; compliments feel better than instant gratification.
Food is still part of my fun, but I want to be around a long time, enjoying my family and grandkids. I’d rather be disciplined now than feel my legs give out as I chase my grandson, or worse yet, watch him from the bench. Because this is my focus, I don’t feel deprived at all. I feel only gratitude and joy for my body now and that feels fantastic.
As a coach, I recommend:
If losing weight is one of your goals, I strongly suggest a two-pronged approach.
1. Engage a coach to help you explore and clarify your beliefs about food and eating. The insights that result are invaluable. I truly believe this was a critical component of my success, and I know that it is key to maintaining my new physique.
2. Work with a professional weight loss team. I had a great experience with the Bernstein Clinic, but there are so many options to choose from.
I also recommend a book that that was very helpful in exploring the power of personal values: What Matters Most: The Power of Living Your Values by Hyrum W. Smith. It’s a very effective way to reinforce the understanding that values do determine our behavior, and when you get a firm grip on that truth, it’s much easier to shape your own life.
Continue Reading »
Print This Post
Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight
October 15, 2008
A couple of years ago, I was working with an author and motivational speaker who set a goal to earn $200,000 a year. When I asked her what she wanted the money for, she replied that it would be used to fund what she called “interesting experiences.” That got me thinking.
Over the course of my practice, I’ve noticed that people who are skilled at defining their goals often fail to allow space for the unpredicted, which frequently develops into what I refer to as a magical experience.
As some of you are aware, I have developed a system to help my coaching clients create powerful and compelling goals. One step instructs the goal-setter to hand-write his/her goals (using the present tense) on cards. To get the ball rolling on the “magical experiences,” I followed the same procedure. On one of my own goal cards I wrote, I am now ready, willing, and able to enjoy the pleasure of having magical adventures.
As is often the case, it didn’t take long for things to start happening.
Two short weeks after writing out the goal, I flew to San Jose, California, to attend the International Coaches Federation conference. I arrived at the Hotel De Anza at 2:45 pm, a full 15 minutes before the posted check-in time.
The handsome young man at the front desk informed me that, due to my early arrival, my reserved room wasn’t yet ready. A room that allowed smoking was offered as an alternative. When I stated that I would prefer to wait until the reserved non-smoking room was available, the desk clerk scanned his computer for other options. Suddenly he asked, “Do you like Paul McCartney?” I replied that I did. He then asked if I would like to go to Sir Paul’s concert that night.
I was confused. Was the desk clerk trying to sell me a ticket to the concert or asking me out on a date? I opted to do the only thing possible at that moment: I stalled. “I didn’t even know that Paul McCartney was in town!” I exclaimed in a desperate attempt to appear witty while trying to determine the reason behind the sudden change of topic.
Sensing my confusion, the desk clerk explained that Paul McCartney was a guest of the hotel and was in need of an additional room that evening. Then the penny dropped, the mental light bulb when on. The reason for the question about my musical taste became clear. If I gave my room to Mr. McCartney, the desk clerk would send me to the Fairmont Hotel for the night. Transportation would be provided via a town car. In the morning, I would return to the Hotel De Anza for the duration of my stay in San Jose. In addition, Mr. McCartney would thank me with a complimentary ticket to his show that evening.
Well, what could a girl say?
I did go to the Fairmont, and at the appropriate time I was taken to the HP Stadium in San Jose for the concert.
The desk clerk had instructed me to give my name at the stadium’s “will call” window and to mention that I was on Paul McCartney’s guest list. I felt a little embarrassed but did as I was told, and almost instantly was handed an envelope. Inside were two tickets to the concert. Bonanza! (Unfortunately I didn’t know anybody in San Jose with whom to share my good fortune.)
Imagine my delight when I discovered my tickets were for seats six and seven in the third row. The third row! I was so close to the former Beatle I could see the two Live Strong bracelets on his arm, and when he turned his back to the audience while reaching for a different guitar at the start of the next song, I could see his hair was starting to thin at the back.
Soon I was groovin’ to “Hey Jude” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
During the performance of a newer tune called “English Tea,” my mind started to drift a little, and I thought about the magical adventure I was having and mused about what other people might do to enjoy similarly special moments.
In a serendipitously synchronistic moment, at the end of “English Tea,” Sir Paul talked about the creative process that resulted in that song. He said that when he was writing the lyrics, the term “para adventure” seemed to fit well into the verse. When the composition was complete, he checked the meaning of the term in the hope that it fit the meaning of the song as well as the rhythm. That’s when he discovered “para” meant a “by-chance adventure.” “Isn’t that magical?” he asked the concert audience.
For me, it was indeed a magical adventure!
As a coach, I recommend:
Open yourself up to unexpected adventures by declaring your intention in writing. Find a quiet moment, get centered within yourself, and write a declaration that you are now willing to experience magical, unanticipated adventures. Use your own words, but keep it simple and positive.
Leave your declaration somewhere that you’ll see it and reread it over the next week or two, and consider sharing it with a close friend or relative. These extra steps reinforce the intention and deepen your willingness.
The only thing left to do is watch for the magic to appear! It may be dramatic or subtle, but when it shows up, remember to acknowledge yourself. it was your willingness that allowed it to show up.
Have fun with this! Life can be far more magical than our logical brains can imagine.
Continue Reading »
Print This Post
Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight
August 15, 2008
Sometimes we find our lessons tucked away in the most interesting places! If you keep your eyes open, you can find profound moments of quiet guidance all around you.
My brother Mike coaches Canada’s highest-earning female athlete, recent Queen’s Plate winning jockey Emma Jayne Wilson. Elite athletes have always fascinated me; they have such an uncommon ability to focus! So when Emma Jayne was in town for a local race, I was excited to spend some time with her.
While we were talking, I asked her about the experience of being in the race – and she said the most interesting thing: When she’s actually racing, she never thinks about the outcome. She stays totally committed to the present moment — so much, in fact, that it feels as if time slows down.
When she said that, I stopped in my tracks. It was like I could hear it filtering through all the layers of my life — family, relationships, work, friendships, even learning. you can only really “win” when you’re fully present in the moment. When we stay fully committed to the goal, and fully present with the moment, the outcome has a way of taking care of itself.
As our conversation continued, Emma Jane dropped another gem. She told me that when she’s not actually racing, she anchors herself in the vision and the emotion of winning. This makes the race much more compelling for her. When she focuses on what she really wants – and why she wants it so much – the goal pulls her forward on her path.
In my work as a personal coach, I’ve noticed that people often struggle to create a vision for their life or career – until they get clear on how they will feel when they get there. Once that piece is in place, their vision, commitment and energy really start to grow.
Here’s the bottom line: If you want to create lasting results, develop a clear and compelling goal, and then have the courage to pour 100% of yourself into achieving that goal.
You may have heard of Jean Paré, author of the wildly popular Company’s Coming cookbooks, but did you know that the entire series was born from the trunk of her car? Jean knew she wanted to author and sell her own cookbooks, but she had no idea how. She didn’t know about approaching a publisher, or contracting with a printer, or anything else about publishing. No matter. her desire to succeed was bigger than her not knowing. So she printed up the first cook book, packed up a bunch of copies in the trunk of her car and went from store to store, town to town, selling them the way she assumed it should be done. Only later did she learn about the traditional publishing process. She may have done it the “wrong” way, but she took her vision of success on the road, and she tried whatever it took to make it happen. She lived in the moment and did what had to be done.
These women inspire me. They remind me that we all have what it takes inside each of us to do whatever we set our minds to. With a clear vision that is emotionally compelling and focused action, you have the world in your hand.
As a Coach, I Recommend:
Whenever I meet someone extraordinary, I ask myself, What can I learn form this person? How does this person’s success translate in my life? Here’s what I learned from Emma Jayne:
1. Know what outcome you are committed to creating.
What is your goal? Make sure it’s crystal clear, because vague goals lead to murky places. Tweak it over time and keep reminding yourself of why you want it. When you tap into the emotional appeal of your goal, it will truly light you up inside.
2. Hold a strong balance between vision and action.
Where in your life do you get caught up in the vision but fail to take enough action? Where are you too busy with tasks to form a clear vision? The fastest progress comes with a balance of the two.
3. Where do you need to make adjustments?
Like racing a horse, life is a series of subtle course corrections. Be willing to shift in order to win.
Continue Reading »
Print This Post
Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight
November 30, 2007
I’ve always had a bit of a rebellious streak in me, but I rarely showed it. When I was a kid and my mother told me to go clean my room, my first thought was usually, what for? It’s just going to get messy again…. (Of course, I didn’t dare say it.)
I probably congratulated myself on my independent and sassy attitude, but little did I know, what for? is an automatic human response. Our minds are always asking this question. What’s this extra button for? What’s that guy standing there for?
“What for” is how our minds explore, engage, and get excited. Why am I telling you this? Because “what for” is a built-in go-juice button – and when you understand which buttons to push, you can operate yourself a lot better.
You can learn to leverage this instinctual way of thinking to help you reach all your goals. What for takes you directly to your center of motivation, your drive. What for points to your motivating factors; if the motivation isn’t strong enough, you won’t take action. But when you’re in touch with a strong what for, the sky’s the limit.
- So you want to make a million dollars. Great goal. What do you want it for?
- So you want to be lean and strong… what for?
- So you want to live a long life… what for?
People who achieve great things in life hold a detailed vision that’s full of what for.
To provide security for my family; to stay healthy and active; to contribute to the world….
Do you know your what for? As Socrates said, “A life unexplored is not worth living.” So explore your life, with the question “what for?” as your guide. What do I dress this way for? What did I say that for? I get up and go to this job every day… for what? Keep asking, keep looking. You’ll rediscover your own motivations, values, standards, expectations, even fears.
Most of all, you’ll get back in touch with the meaning behind everything in your life. You’ll remember what feels good and right, and moving towards that is the easiest way to move forward.
As a Coach, I Recommend:
Spend some time this week with this question: What for? The reasons behind your actions are important! Without them, you’re just going through motions.
Continue Reading »
Print This Post
Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight