Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Don't Set Your Resolutions Until You Read THIS!

Have you created your New Year’s Resolutions yes? Don’t do it!

Aren’t you sick of setting resolutions each year that by the
end of January are a distant memory?

Rather than put yourself through that again this year, make 2012 great
by focusing on each individual day. I came across this quote and I decided it’s going to be my theme for 2012. I’m going to post it next to my bed, above my desk, in my wallet and in my car (just for starters).

“This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you
will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone
forever; in its place is something that you have left behind…let it be something good.”

If you start each day with this intention you’ll achieve all your goals for 2012 AND enjoy the journey.

Happy New Year!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Stress Free Holidays..It's IS possible!

I've written before about the importance of having a Big 3 & Top 10 for every day living to keep your life balanced and make guilt-free choices. The same is true for the holidays!

To refresh your memory, The Big 3 are your top 3 priorities. In this case it means the top 3 elements crucial to creating a joyous, meaningful holiday season. Your Top 10 are the 10 people in your life whose opinions and well being matter to you most. These are the people you want to make sure to acknowledge as special in your life this holiday season.
The holiday season is ripe with opportunity to stress, run yourself ragged or feel you're not keeping up with what the inner critic in your head tells you "should" make a perfect holiday.

Often when you run yourself (and your wallet) thin scrambling to give gifts to every co-worker, neighbor and acquaintance, you're driven by other people's rules and expectations rather than the pure spirit of giving. Simplify your shopping list by focusing on your Top 10. It may actually be a relief to other to not feel obligated to exchange gifts. Instead, acknowledge those special people who don't quite make your Top 10 with a card, something homemade or a hug.

Do you pressure yourself to host a big holiday party? Do you eel bad if you don't make homemade goodies for everyone on the block? Do you judge yourself if your tree isn't Martha Stewart worthy? Stop being so hard on yourself! What's the true meaning of this season? How can you bring more of whatever that means to you to your traditions and festivities this year?

Instead of stressing out, spending too much money and taking all the joy out of this beautiful season, crate your holiday edition of the Big 3 & Top 10. Once you're crafted them, look them over. What do you feel? If you feel peace and excitement, you've hit the mark. If you feel anxiety or pressure, you've listed what you're come to believe "should" make a great holiday. Whose rule is that?

Rather than create a holiday that doesn't resonate with your heart, rewrite a Big 3 & Top 10 that make you feel at ease. When you feel stressed out over the next month or so, reflect back and honor your authentic holiday Big 3 & Top 10. You'll focus on what TRULY matters to you most and reflects the spirit of the season.

Happy Holiday!



The

Monday, November 21, 2011

What Will Your Eulogy Say?

This past week we attended my husband’s grandmother’s funeral. She lived to be nearly 91 years old. As we listened to people recount the impact she had on their lives, I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew all the good she’d done with her time on the Earth. I wondered if she’d be surprised by the seemingly minor exchanges she shared with people, that over the years made a difference in shaping the trajectory of their journey.

The day was bittersweet, yet served as a great reminder of some important lessons. 1. Live without regret. 2. You never know the impact you’re having on someone’s day, week or lifetime, so when in doubt choose to be kind rather than right. 3. Shower the people you love with love so in the end nothing is left unsaid or undone.

Stephen Covey advises: Begin with the end in mind. There’s no greater end that death itself, so begin now to craft a life of actions and experiences that will illicit the eulogy you’d be proud of.

To begin, answer these questions:
· How do you want to be remembered?
· What’s on your bucket list?
· What will people say at your funeral?
· What traits and funny quirks will people recall with a smile?
· What’s your eulogy going to sound like?

It’s time to find out! Take your answers to these questions and write your eulogy. Make it reflect the best of you and all your potential. (If you care to share, I’d love to read it! Just email it to me at Stephanie@pleaseaholics.com) Once you have it, use your eulogy as a guide to make decisions as you go, so deliberately determine the direction and altitude of your life so at the end of your days, you’ll have produced a body of work you’re proud of. Live well!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Change How You Think About Change!

Change how you Think about Change

We’ve been conditioned to think that change is painful, difficult or takes a long time. On the contrary - it’s just matter of changing how you think and the changes will fall right into place quickly, smoothly and peacefully. I see this all the time with my clients. They're convinced it's going to be painful or difficult to create change. Once they see the small, simple yet powerful steps that free them of their old ways of being stuck, they see results VERY quickly! Knowing the specific ways to change your actions empowers you because you now have options. Rather than being a victim to way the wind blows, you can take charge of your life without working so hard. Imagine how you'd feel to be free of the guilt and pressure you're under now!
When you change your actions, feelings will follow. Little step by little step you’ll be able to let go of the disease to please, stop being so hard on yourself and find better relationships, more joy and greater abundance.

Change isn’t always comfortable. Often to experience change you have to push through the discomfort that’s kept you stuck up to this point. I know the good stuff that’s waiting for you on the other side of that resistance, so I’m excited to see you break through!

Results can come from very small changes. The first steps of change come with small steps so it’s not too much too soon. Do you push yourself to be perfect? Do you expect yourself to have life all figured out? Are so hard on yourself when things don't go just right? Do you fall into the trap that if you're not perfect, you're all wrong? Take a new approach to change. Look for successes, not failures. Focus on what went right, not wrong. Talk to yourself with kindness, patience and humor. Let change come in small steps that will ripple into the big remodel you have in mind for your life. We want real results that last, not sudden leaps that are merely a flash in the pan.

You may find, however, it’s not as difficult as you think. I learned many things from my experiences as a therapist with at risk youth and struggling families. The biggest lesson I walked away with is this: There is virtually no limit to the boundless strength and resilience of the human spirit. You’ve already survived pain and struggle to get to today. If you can handle that, there’s nothing you can't handle. Results are not only possible, but likely. (And until you believe it, I’ve got your back.)

I can show you the way out because I've been there myself. Many times it literally felt life threatening to do something as simple as set a boundary, deal with conflict, say no or put less emphasis on making other people happy. I learned the connection between my fear of rejection, fear of failure and success, fear of disapproval, fear of conflict, fear of not being liked and so many others to the fact that I'd held on to old ideas and rules that no longer fit. Confronting these fears often made my heart pound, blood pressure soar, knees shaky and hands ice cold. But each time I summoned the courage to take on what felt like King Kong, it got easier.

Here’s the first secret…

Fears look like a brick wall. As you charge (or tip toe) up to it, you brace for the impact of the worst case scenario. However, if you have the courage to break through it, you’ll find the brick wall was an illusion of your own making. It’s actually tissue paper thin. The anticipation of change is much worse than actually doing it. Plus, the freedom and peace you’ll find on the other side of that wall of fear is SO sweet.

Recall the wise words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "Take the first step in faith...you don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

Action Step: Decide today one small thing you can change to point your life in the direction of your dreams. If you need some help or inspiration, all the tools you need can be found at www.learnhowtosayno.com.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

What Would You Do?

Since hearing of my dear friend’s sudden passing a couple weeks ago, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what he might have done differently in the last weeks, months and years if he knew how little time he had left. It’s such a reminder to live each moment to its fullest, choose to let go of regret and with and shower the people you love with love while you still have the time.

If you knew you only had 1 year to live what would you be doing differently?

Are there changes you want to make but keep putting off? You’re not alone! Most people flirt with the idea of doing things differently but fears and doubts hold them back. Are you ever plagued with thoughts about “what people would think” or “it probably won’t work out” or “it’ll cause too much drama.”

Life may have given you plenty of good reasons for holding these beliefs and fears. Yet, if you don’t do anything differently, you’ll be in the same place tomorrow, next week and next year.

Often if people wait for a frightening accident or life-threatening diagnosis to give themselves permission to live more boldly and honor their true voice. Why wait?

If you knew your days were numbered would you to-do list suddenly look much different? Would your actions better reflect your true priorities? Would you spend time with the same people? Would you be more daring? Would you take a leap of faith?

Maybe hug a little more. Nap a little more. Stress a little less.

What things would you not want to leave unsaid or undone? Would you plan an amazing vacation? Would you slow down and notice the natural beauty of nature and good people? Would you care a little less about what people think? What talents or creative interests have you let fall by the way side would you rekindle? Would you let the little things and small minded people matter a little less? Would you say I love you more? Who would you forgive? Who would you stand up to? Be a little more outspoken? Adventuresome? Kind? Fearless? What’s your secret burning desire? Go for it!

If you’d feel justified to make changes if you knew your days were numbered, you already have what it takes to start heading in that direction now. Don’t wait for the Universe to hit you with a 2 x 4. Start today to live each moment to the fullest so no matter how many more days you have left you’ll have no regrets and true bliss along the journey. Begin to live true to yourself rather than other people’s ideas of who and what you should be.

No matter what all our days are numbered, so make the most of each and every one.




To keep fear from stalling you, start small. This weekend, make a point to tell the people you love not only that you love them but why. Then make a list of the top 5 things you’d do in the next year if you knew it was your last. Email me your list! I’d love to see what’s on it! Then take another small step in the direction of living your best life.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Are You A Scab Picker?

Bury The Hatchet, Not Pick The Scab

I came across this quote from my friend Joyce Singleton this week that really made me think.

"There's no point in burying a hatchet if you're going to put up a marker on the site."
Cartoonist, Sydney Harris

I thought this quote eloquently describes how people habitually continue to dig up and fixate on pain or injuries from the past. Even as time woks to heal our wounds, it's tempting to pick at the scab and prolong the time it takes to be whole again. We can lean on these past insults as reasons or excuses for staying stuck or not being successful. How often to you think or comment about regretable or painful things people have said or done to you? How is this holding you back from living your best life?

I've found the people want credit for their pain. This is understandable because when you've endured and survived something difficult life doesn't seem fair. Don't get me wrong. Your pain is real and valid. The point is that holding on to hurt feelings or bitterness only hurts you, not the person who offended you. Forgivness is they key to burying the hatchet and pulling up the marker so you don't keep going back to that spot to lament and complain.

Forgiveness is a tricky subject. We're trained to believe that forgiving someone is saying what they did is ok. In reality, forgiveness is disconnecting yourself from being tangled with that person and their snippy comments, bad attitude, negative energy and hurtful behavior. It's giving yourself permission to move forward in your own power and strength so you can shine YOUR unique light. What would be truly sad is for that other person to rob the world of all the good stuff you have to offer.

Forgiveness is also tricky when the person you need to forgive most is yourself. I bet you're really good at being hard on yourself. Maybe you blame yourself for something that isn't your fault at all. Perhaps you've made mistakes or regret some choices. Ask for forgiveness from those you've harmed, including yourself. To help shift your perspective remember the wise words of Maya Angelou: "You did what you knew how to do. When you know better, you do better." Because you're reading this, I KNOW you're on your way to knowing better and doing better. This journey of self exploration will be SO much easier and smoother when you forgive yourself and others.

Bury the hatchet once and for all and don't pick the scab. Forgive...Let Go...Move Forward...Shine!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

When a Whisper is Louder than a Shout

This continues our series about how to say no and set better boundaries with kids, without stress and anger. I like to view kids as capable and cooperative. Parenting is the process of solving the puzzle of how to bring out the best in already good little people. I found parenting more fun with this approach (vs. punishment, power and control) and along the way happened upon some tricks that seemed to be easier and more effective. Win-Win!

The first super easy way to keep from yelling at your kids was singing. Here is the second...Whisper!

When you find yourself on the verge of freaking out, you can get your point across just as, if not more, effectively by whispering versus shouting. Whispering has intensity because the listener has to pay close attention in order to hear; however, the low volume masks much of the anger in your voice. If you don’t think you can control your facial expression or other non-verbal language, take a deep breath and let it out. Then approach your child from behind. With your hands on their shoulders or by wrapping them up in a hug, close your eyes, and then whisper your message in their ear. Make sure to close your eyes!!! It’ll help keep you calmer as you speak.

There’s also an intrigue in whispering. If you’re contained enough to keep your frustration out of your voice and gestures, approach them quietly. Beckon them to “come here” with arched eyebrows and wide eyes, like you have an exciting secret. If you have more than one child, have them huddle around like you’re going to share an interesting mystery. The curiosity built by your approach will assure you have their full attention. They’ll be engaged and ready to hear what you have to say. Then whisper your directives to them. (If they’re little make a game out of staying quiet while they complete the task.)

Even if your irritation pushes your voice to a loud, harsh whisper, the intensity will convey your seriousness about your message without going into a rage. It may be even more intense than shouting in some ways. Yet, it’s less traumatic than being shrieked at.

Whispering can be a way to break up old habits. Yelling can become such a staple in many families that kids just learn to tune it out. Whispering demonstrates that you’re in control and deliberately managing your stress and anger, which lends credibility rather than they just growing accustomed to riding out the storms. Shaking up your routine can help get your message across more effectively.

Next time you have an occasion to loose your temper, and yell, choose to SING or WHISPER instead. Note how differently your family reacts. Notice what it was like for you not to yell.

These stressful times will pass. The question is how will you look back on how you handled it? You want to be a source of love and comfort for your children. Be the best parent you can be by getting the support you need so you can be there for your children when they need you the most. Use these tools so you can look back on the way you handled this difficult, demanding chapter of your life without regret.

If you’d like more tools for how to create Better Boundaries and a Better Life, visit my website at www.pleaseaholics.com or contact me at stephanie@pleaseholics.com.