ACTION

I don't know about you, but I struggle to take the ideas in my head and have them become items that I act upon. It is challenging to understand how to break those dreams down into doable pieces. It takes time for me to figure out where to start.

I always try to keep the end in mind. Heck, with the end in mind, I can't figure out where to begin. Starting is such a challenge. How to start, where to start, do I want to start, what happens after I have started. All of these questions hover in my mind so guess what.. I don't take action.

Fear overwhelms me because of these questions. What are these questions any way. What are they saying to me. Am I scared? I don't know if this is really what I want. What happens if I get to the end and it isn't what I want? I have learned that for me to take action, I need to let go of all of these questions and just "DO" something no matter what my mind is saying.

If my thoughts keep chatting away, I will just ignore them. I don't try to do anything but support myself with statements such as.. "I will never know if I don't do something." "It will always remain an unanswered question." So, these are the internals statements I say to myself and then I schedule something anything. Scheduling an action, no matter how small, begins the project. It is so important for me to schedule something. It gives me the beginning of the string of activity now that can lead me to where I want to be.

I know that if I never put an activity next to what it is I want, I will never move my life in the direction I desire. Keeping things in my head or mulling around and talking about what I would like to have happen will never ever get me where I want to be. I know it takes clear and concise action to make things happen. Wishes and desires must have action attached to them or they stay just that a wish or a desire.

So, what wishes and desires do you want to see become something more than just that a wish or desire. How can you attach an action to you wish or desire for your life? Remember to start small. Think of the smallest thing that could be done to begin your wish or life's desire. Is it a phone call, or making a list? Could it be carving out time in your schedule to make it happen? Or giving up another activity to make time for the new direction you desire in your life?

Whatever it is DO IT!! Don't wait. Do it now, pick up the phone, write it down, place the activity on the calendar and then SEEK accountability and support. This is a guaranteed formula for action to happen. Now, it isn't a guarantee that you will reach your wish or desire, but there are never guarantees in that department. What you will have done by taking action is to move in the direction you want to have in your life. Movement and action is rewarded. You will definitely see progress and feel the feelings of challenge. This is a good thing. We all want our deepest wishes and dreams to have life and grow to make us happy.

So, please share your process of how you take action in your life!!

Until Tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Accountability

Finding a way to be accountable to myself is a challenge. I have found that with the support of my woman's group, we meet two times each month, moving forward on some issues works. Other issues, well, it doesn't work as easily. Accountability is a concept, I believe, ultimately gets to the root of what we want to accomplish with the time we have on this earth.

I know that if I don't put time frames around issues, or some accountability on some projects that I won't move forward. Change is a difficult process. I need all the help and accountability I can get when it comes to change in my personal life. I need support, focus and someone, other than myself, to hold me accountable to accomplish what I say I want to accomplish.

I value the woman's group so much because it is a gentle reminder that I am accountable to take action on the things I say I want in my life. If I never take action, I am just flapping my gums together and wasting my time and others. Action, movement, picking up the phone, filling out the form, what ever that first step is in my process to take charge and work towards what I want in my life is never easy. That's right it isn't easy, taking the first step. We all feel uncertain about taking that first step, but WOW when things start to happen all because we took that first step it doesn't seem as difficult as we thought. That is why accountability is a marvelous process. It can be that little supportive nudge we need in the moment to pick up the phone or fill out that form.

Plus, it feels wonderful to share with others the success or challenge of taking that first step. Accountability is really a process of support and guidance. Sometimes, when I am working with a client, it is such a reward to hear how things are moving forward all because they had the courage and support to take that first step. Also, reflecting back to my client the reminder of the courage and care they needed to take their first step towards a goal.

Working effectively with ourselves takes accountability. Whether it is working with a coach, a supportive group, or your own self defined process, targeting a deadline to accomplish a task is not always as straightforward as we think. Discovering what holds us back or challenges us to take those first steps can be so helpful. If we never look at what the barriers are in our life we can never truly fill our life with what we want.

Time is not standing still for any of us. I know this only too well. I work in the medical field and it is a constant reminder that time is limited. If we don't account for our time in some way, we can never truly know how to use our time working towards the goals of what we want in our life.

How do you use your time and hold yourself accountable? Can you remember what you did last week, last month, or last year? How do you move your life in the direction of your dreams if you cannot say what you are doing with your time. Come join me in exploring this process.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Pay Off

So, I have been working on a project and finally have found completion. What is the pay off? Yes, I would love it if money would float down from the sky to equal the amount of work that I have involved in the project. Recognition, yes that would be another reward for my efforts, or offer for more work.

I know I have no control over how any reacts to a project that I have done. I can only find a sense of reward of a job well done. It is hard for me to not secretly to want money, acknowledgement, and rewards. All of those things and more, if it could be had. My ego is alive and well. It is so hard to send my work out into the world with the knowledge that I may receive nothing in return.

Ultimately, I know, the only pleasure to have is the pleasure of doing the work. Yes, that can be the only outcome that I have any control over. How much pleasure and excitement I get doing the work. I have a project right now that I am slowly seeing some results. Of course, I had a small return and now I am working on a similar project to see if I can get a larger return for my efforts. It is very challenging to remember that the work is the pleasure.

I look around and see other artists, writers, producers who have received acclaim or have money and I just can't imagine what their daily schedules contain. Are they like mine? Are they just finishing a project, just to start another. Never really seeing the outcome? or that the rewards from a project are so far in the future that I would be waiting forever to receive acknowledgement. Might as well get another project started. Yes, this is the reality, I believe, for everyone.

Waiting around to get acknowledgement or financial returns on my work might take forever. It might never happen. Yes, I do want to receive rewards for my work. Don't we all?? The reality is we can never know if we will. It is not in my control not yours. All I can control is the work I do. My passion for what I love to do, and the care I take when I engage in any project or work with my clients. Staying connected to the passion I have for my work keeps my focus not on the return but in the present and bonded to what I love doing.

Yes, in those moments that I have to reflect or puzzle how was a project received or was working with the client helpful, I can find myself wondering what the reward was. Clients are easy, I am always so excited coaching clients because I get to see how excited they are as they grow and become clear about their life goals. My own personal projects, well the clarity about how well they turned out or were received, sometimes is a bit hazy, but I think back about my process and connect to joy of doing the work.

I pray that we all have rewards from the work we do. It is important getting rewarded, but it must be about balance between what rewards you receive and the joy of doing the work that is your life's passion.

So, how do you deal with wanting to be rewarded for the work you do? Do you get discouraged if you don't see immediate results? How to move forward with new projects when you don't see results from your current work? Yes, dealing with the outcomes of our work is just as important as doing the work. If your work doesn't ever provide a pay off, well, you should give some consideration about getting some coaching. Outside perspectives can be very informative about direction. Otherwise, have patience and eventually you will have a pay off for all your hard work.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Need a Clone?

This week was lost to me and the flu. Monday it started with a slow overall bad feeling which progressed to fever, chills and coughing.

At times like these, I wish I could create a clone. A second me to keep all the things that I am doing moving forward. Getting sick just makes everything come to a screeching halt. No blog, no rehearsing, no follow up on current projects, just a complete stop because I am not well.

I have tried in the past to somehow limp through, but it really doesn't help me. In fact, forcing myself to be active when I am sick is a lost cause. I don't think clearly, I am not representing myself well and just overall nothing is done well. I just am home sick with my mind puzzling over all the things that are NOT getting addressed because I am just not physically capable of doing the tasks.

I try to give myself a break, but it isn't easy. Yes, no one plans to get sick nor do I plan to be as sick as I am. It is an unavoidable part of life that I just must embrace. What makes it more difficult is I know people who never seem to get sick. Or if they do, somehow they muddle through. For example, my boss. He just doesn't get sick. In fact, he prides himself on the ability to keep pushing through despite how sick he might be. He pushes through colds and laryngitis or whatever sickness he has he doesn't keep it from coming to work. You might know I hate him. Well, no, I don't hate him but it does make it impossible to be sick.

I am very compassionate when others are sick or when those who work for me are sick or my friends. I am totally understanding. I am just very impatient when it comes to my own circumstances of falling sick.

What to do? Take care of myself, rest, give myself a break. Nothing will be accomplished by me bemoaning my fate of suddenly become ill. I sometimes give myself the creative license to believe that perhaps there is some greater reason for be suddenly catching a cold. Who knows, but I must give myself a big hug and recognize that the time spent over the past week has been in getting well and staying just barely afloat at work and in other parts of my life.

So, please share how you feel when it comes to getting sick. How do you cope? We all struggle with the hardship of balance when it a flu or stomach virus suddenly takes hold. Can you imagine have a chronic illness? Not easy to imagine.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Knowing what you want

Knowing what I want is half the battle in almost all things that I do. I guess that is why I find that I struggle during some of this discovery period. I need to hold my feet to the fire and make a hard decision. Time is not an infinite thing. At some point, we run out of time. Whether we are too young or too old is probably not relative in somethings but it is relative in quite a few things that we choose to do in our life.

I guess that is why this scripture is important and so relative. To know what our purpose is... I believe that once we know our purpose the time to pursue it appears. It is in the knowing that I am challenged. In my life, I am a talented singer. Not just my words but others. I perform some but with a group not solo. I am a researcher. Talented in knowing design and how to run clinical studies. Very interested in human behavior and science. I find it fascinating. Also, I love to work with people. I am amazed at what providing support and focus to someone can do. I celebrate that I can coach individuals to look for positive actions and seek their desires.

Dare I stop all the things that I am doing and give time to one crucial activity that will be everything to me? One part of me celebrates in the risk and freedom that would come by making that choice. Another part of me is afraid of the financial issues and of my fear of being bored by pursuing a single passion. Or discovering some other reality about myself. So, what to do??

If I was able to do only one thing and knew that it could financially maintain my costs of living, I know for certain that I would be singing my heart out. I love to sing. It is what makes up my very being. Yes, I am discouraged by the rejection and lack of opportunities, but I know there is a place for me to sing. I just need to find it. Meanwhile, I cannot put all my hopes into one basket. I have high risk, medium risk and low risk activities. All that I am interested in and find fulfilling. I guess the singing is high risk. The coaching and consulting medium risk and the research work, a low risk. So, that is the process of how I determine what is my risk comfort zone.

To pursue my high risk singing passion, I am working with someone who may have some contacts. My medium risk is that I am looking for an opportunity to return to school to get my PhD and my low risk is that I am writing grants in my current position and helping structure the program so that it is more productive.

Yes, this sounds like a great deal to do, but I only accept slow small steps. I have learned that making leaps are out of the question. Slow and steady are my two words that I have painted boldly above my desk. I know without a doubt that my moving forward on all fronts slow and steady, I will get to where I am supposed to be and there will be time for me to be who I am..

Please share how you work on prioritizing your life goals and passion. It is always so wonderful to hear how others pursue their talents and interests.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Committment

My parents are celebrating their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary. The big 50. That is so hard for me to believe. Fifty years of being together sharing the trials and troubles over the years. Seven children and twelve grandchildren.

Amazing! The are still committed to each other. Despite all of the issues they have figured out what works or doesn't work for them. I am not sure for my generation we shall see many couples who can make it for fifty years together. First we are not marrying so young. Also, we find it hard to commit to ourselves or to our jobs or careers much less put in place the necessary actions to be committed to another person.

It is difficult to discipline myself to commit to myself. The thought of committing to another person - Impossible! Willing to put my needs and desires aside for another person. I find this difficult. I know there are so many rewards to devoting yourself to another person, but I am not sure I could do it. I don't know if I truly want to. I do like being alone. Although, I am in a relationship that is challenging me to consider these issues. SO, Very challenging!!

I want to know where does their needs stop and mine taken into consideration? Or how do we figure out compromise? So, I am going to start with committing to myself. I am committing going back to school. Something I didn't really want to do, but I think it would give me an ability to focus on myself and find some commitment to what I want and desire. That has been challenging me throughout my life. How to commit to what I desire and wish. I always give in. I never stand up for what I desire. I always feel that others needs are more important. That is changing. Something in me is screaming to be acknowledged and I need to do that. Now, or it will be too late.

So, commitment to myself first. Then, I will figure out how to be committed to someone else. Start small and go slow. Those are two ways of figuring out how to embrace new habits and ideas.

Please share your ways of experiencing commitment in your life.. ? That would be great.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Focus

Keeping our thoughts, projects and energy focused is a talent. It is so easy to get side tracked by family, friends and beautiful weather. Knowing what we want in a certain area or goal is very helpful and keeping the end in sight can be extremely useful when planning your daily tasks.

This week, I have been totally unavailable to the things I love. One, blogging here became a task that literally I couldn't get to. I had two grants due this week and literally it was impossible to take the 30 minutes to and hour that I take each day to blog. I just embraced this issue and continued to get what needed my immediate attention done. Secondly, my goals of increasing coaching clients and other projects that are important to me in my life.. NO TIME... The work that I do and my relationships took all my time this week.

I had no personal time to focus on me. I really do not like it when several days go without me having some downtime that is all mine. Yes, I did what was essential, but those activities that feed my spirit were totally put to the side. Having that happen for several days just makes me crazy and reminds me that it is up to me to have that sacred time that is mine. No matter what!

I didn't honor that commitment to myself and see what happened. The focus on those activities that are important to me became distorted. The only things that I could see were the goals that other people were clamoring for me to address. Sigh! I cannot let this become routine. So, I am here today - Saturday - despite my boyfriends wishes, focusing on me. Writing the blog and contemplating the activities that are of importance to me.

IT FEELS GOOD!! Yes, there are somethings that are screaming for my attention but they will have to wait. I come first and what I need to focus on is the most important thing that needs attention right now.

So, what happens when you get pulled in directions that are not your primary goals. Do you allow yourself to get off track or do you take some time and center yourself to focus back on what is important?

Please share with how you deal with the interruptions of schedules, relationship and right now the beautiful weather that is teasing me at the window..

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Disappointment

I don't know how we learn to deal with being disappointed. It is very discouraging to work hard on something and then have everything either fall apart, not turn out as we expected or just be not what we expected.

It can be devastating to embrace the emotion of disappointment, but we all have to at some time. Not everything we want works out in our favor. It can be frustrating, depressing and can definitely take the energy away from future projects.

How I react to disappointment is really what is critical. I have a tendency to hold on to disappointment. It lingers in the back of my mind. Especially, if I am working on a similar project that did not work out. I am haunted by thoughts of failure or feelings of impending doom. Now, this is not exactly a good thing. It takes away energy and the positive vision for the outcome of new projects.

So, I have learned to have my moment with my disappointment. Feel it fully. Cry, write about it and really go all out. I want this feeling be expressed fully. It can be hard to shake and sometimes I feel the disappointment linger for a couple of days before I can move forward. I have even visualized place my disappointment in a coffin and giving it a funeral service.

Once, a few days pass, I can slowly emerge from this place in my spirit and take on the other projects that inspire my life. I can even look at the project that was disappointing and objectively figure out what changes could be made to move to a different outcome.

It is important to understand how we deal with disappointment. Allowing it to linger or influence future projects is not helpful. I know that by validating my feeling of disappointment and giving it room to breath, I can get past this feeling and move forward in a positive light.

Please share your ideas about coping with disappointment. When was the last time you were disappointed? What did you do, how did you feel? It can be so helpful to understand how we manage this emotion so that it doesn't over power and influence the future.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Seeing behind the Door

Vision. How so we create a vision for our life? Sometimes I feel like I am standing at a beautiful door waiting for it to open and show me what direction to aim towards. I cannot see behind it and I am certain I will be surprised by what is there.

Now, I know this is not a vision for my life. Perhaps, it is mystery but clearly I am not conjuring up a visualization that feels tangible. How can I expect that I am going to know what direction I need to head if I have no idea which road to take.

There are quite a number of supportive articles, documents and movies ("The Secret") that all support creating a vision. Seeing where you would like to go. This is not easy. I know that John Assaraf one of authors of The Secret developed this vision board. Making what we want from our life a tangible vision is extremely helpful.

I am longing to embrace this concrete action of creating a vision board. Filling it will something that is physically in my field of vision for most of the day. The theory is that by consistently seeing this vision is will move me at a molecular level physically and mentally to attract those actions or things that I have within my vision. I am curious about this and truly want to experiment. So this week, I will embark on creating a vision board or section of my wall that is easily seen for almost all of my day. I am excited about doing this and certainly helps me with my comfort zone. I am never really comfortable acknowledging what I want from life. Perhaps this activity will bridge that gap.

So, join me in this activity if you like. I will check in on Friday to share how things are going. Please do share how you contemplate the vision for your life and keep it present and active.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Motivation Part 2

I have come to the end of my day and I just had to sign on to share additional feelings and thoughts about being motivated. I began this weekend entirely discouraged and just down about everything I am doing.

I learned that I can do two things. I can get up and just start something and somehow that changes my thinking or I can choose to think differently. Guess what? The second choice is much more difficult. Changing my thinking once I have allowed that negative energy to invade my mind is very hard to do.

If I can prevent my thoughts from getting started in the negative then I can turn them around and frame the work or my ideas in a positive light. Again, my choice. It is a struggle to frame things positively. For some reason it is much easier to complain or look on the dark side of things. It takes effort to think positive and habit to have my thoughts pointed towards how issues or work can be positive despite how they feel. Looking on the bright side of life takes effort, but great benefit can be had with this effort.

So, just a final thought for the day, if you are feeling a lack of motivation to get started, know that just be taking any action whatsoever the momentum can kick start your motivation. Also, catching those negative thoughts before they have taken root in your brain can definitely lead to finding motivation to get in gear.

We all need help with things become challenging. So, share how you find motivation when you are struggling to work on your project.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Relationships

Relationships challenge our lives. They are both rewarding and frustrating. I never understood what it meant when I would hear couples or friends say that relationships take a lot of work. It never really was clear what this meant. Work at what?

Well, I am now understanding more and more what this work is all about. Working in a relationship means communicating. Openly and honestly what it is you want and expect from the other person. Communication at this level almost never happens. There is a reason, perhaps discomfort or that this person you love has a major character flaw and then what?

Many relationships rock along because we don't want to communicate at this level. We want to be halfway. We feel that our life partner will judge us or believe that our needs or requests are invalid. Yes, these things maybe true, but then what? Do we seek to have this person we love understand our requests and needs? Or do we just stay silent hoping the whole issue will just blow over. I have never done things halfway. I tolerated a situation for a long time because of my understanding where my partner was coming from, but when I asked for the same understanding for my needs the requests fell on deaf ears.

Give and take. Sharing and understanding. None of us are perfect and what we need and want out of a relationship needs to be validated by our partner as well as I need to validate what my partner needs. Then somehow in the midst of this, I need to maintain my own separate identity. Phew!! Boy - I totally know now why relationships are work. Being emotionally available to myself and to my partner takes a great deal of energy and sacrifice. Plus, where is that the line that says okay, this is for us and now this is for me?

Working these details out early in a relationship can establish a mode of communication that can serve you throughout your lives together. If communication, open and honest sharing isn't established early, then it will be almost certain death for the relationship.

Please share how you and your partner communicate and work out the details of your relationship. We all can benefit from the different ways that relationships work.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Motivation

How do we stay motivated. I must admit, I woke up today just feeling that somehow all this work that I am doing is getting me nowhere. I realize that it does have something to do with getting older.



Yes, I celebrated another birthday last month. It was okay at the time, but now as I reflect and think of where I am in my life, well I feel a big sense of disappointment. Now, rationally, I know that isn't true, but the feeling is still very strong.



Actually, perhaps sadness is more like it. Funny how our life doesn't go in the direction that we thought we were heading. Finding a feeling of motivation just doesn't seem easy today. Motivation to sing, write, clean, run errands or just do the things that are necessary. I really had this feeling of just wanting to mope around and just watch TV. Nothing that I had as a task was motivating me to get started.

So, I made a deal with myself to just start cleaning during commercials. Once, I started then things just began to snowball. I cleaned, began organizing and then it felt good to get things done. Instead of being in touch with my overall sad feeling, I was beginning to be in touch with the good feeling of getting things done.

Funny how that is. When you don't feel motivated that just by starting something the energy of getting things done sudden takes over. I will definitely have to remember this. Just to start. Even when I don't feel like doing anything. Starting is half the battle to getting closer to the things we desire. If we never start then whatever we want stays a dream somewhere in our head.

Just starting can jump start that energy to fuel motivation. Once engaged in the activity then I feel motivated and encouraged again. If I stay connected to that sad feeling that wants to focus on negativity, I will get nowhere fast. Getting started and just take a move in any direction at least can get the fires going to go forward.

So, the next time you are feeling that you have lost that connection to your motivation. Just start something, any activity. Once started, you can at least shake off that negative feeling. Who wants to sit around feeling down anyway. Please share what you do to get motivated.

Until tomorrow,

Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Business

Growing a business means making hard decisions. It takes a great deal of thought and consideration to balance life, family and income growth when you are a business owner. Even if you don't own a business, your performance at work determines bonuses, salary increases and job satisfaction.

How we choose to engage in our work is critical to how we live our life. Jobs and businesses can take over every waking moment. Yes, our jobs and business are important, but losing the connection to family, friends and people can be detrimental.

Deciding when your business or job needs your undivided attention can sometimes mean the difference between advancement or increased business and failure. Getting those who support you to understand and provide you the space to accomplish the necessary tasks required is critical. Unfortunately, our jobs or business ventures don't always announce the need for our undivided attention. I wish we could plan that project or that sudden business networking that has paid off in increased sales. We can't. They arrive suddenly sometimes with no warning. It is apparent that if action isn't taken the opportunity will not exist.

What to do?? The best thing to do is communicate. Tell your partner, loved ones, and family that for the next X amount of weeks or days, your attention needs to be focused on the project at work or tending to your business. Couple this communication with a projected time frame where you can devote your full attention to your family, friends and loved ones will help maintain perspective. Keeping the line of communication open will serve you. Preserving your social and family life during these times of career building is necessary if you want to be more than your job or your business.

I know it is difficult sometimes to see our selves as more than our jobs, but we are. Placing the focus fully on spending time with family and friends will pay off more than you can ever measure. So, the next time you have a much needed business opportunity or a project at your job that will increase your bonus or salary, couple this with negotiating time in the future with family and friends. You will be glad you did. Balance is a wonderful thing and we all need to be reminded not to lose ourselves in what we do to earn money.

So, please share you ways of staying connected to your family and friends despite your busy work schedule or branching out to cultivate your own business.

Until tomorrow,

Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Imagination

I am a singer by training. Music is my first love, but it was through improvisation that I truly learned how to activate my imagination. It is a funny thing that as we grow older we just don't allow our self to engage our imagination.

As a child, we imagine everything spontaneously. We create cities, towns, friends, creatures and sounds that just exist inside our imagination. It is real and immediate. It is a huge part of what young children do when they are playing.

As adults, we hardly ever just play. Okay, the momentary horsing around with our kids or being silly with our partners, yes that is a type of adult play. We just never really create a spontaneous something that is totally created from the depths of our highly active minds. Well, maybe sexual fantasies, but that is engaging our imagination for other purposes.. (smile)

I can remember very well the first times that I engaged in the games that involved improvisation. I was afraid that I would do something wrong. What a silly concept. One can never be wrong in improvisation. That is the beauty of playing. Nothing is ever wrong. Can you imagine that you are at work and that nothing you did or say could be wrong? This is an amazing feeling. This is why I am addicted to improvisation.

When I began improvising on a regular basis, my imagination began flooding me with all kinds of ideas, melodies, poems and stories. It was like something was unleashed. The weekly playing around with others from all walks of life gave me a different perspective about how I engage with others in my life. It empowered my ability to be stronger at work by seeking to listen and be present in the moment.

Being present is a powerful sensation. You are not thinking about the past or contemplating the future you are just there doing what needs to be done or what doesn't need to be done. It is a feeling for me of both emptiness but incredibly full at the same time.

If you feel that you are not connected to your imagination look around and see if there is a local improv class for beginners or better yet you can play games alone as well. Send me an e-mail and I will share with you some improv games you can play alone.

Okay, do something - anything that will engage your imagination. It provides a rich arena for playfulness and creativity that we all lose sight of in our hectic lives. If you do something now, please feel free to share. We all could benefit from hearing how others engage the imagination.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Rejuvinate

There is nothing better than taking a holiday from everything. Today is a holiday for our nation. Celebrating the US becoming a country is wonderful. Except, this holiday very rarely falls near a weekend. Today is Wednesday. Middle of the week. So, my choice was to just rest, relax and do nothing.

Wow, it feels amazing. My mind feels clear and my body feels really fresh. I am now going out for a walk and off to a movie.

What a nice change from doing the expected. So, next time you have a middle of the week break. Choose to do the opposite of what you normally would do or do like I have done. Do nothing. Enjoy nature, take a nap, read, visit a friend.. something you normally would not do in the middle of the week..

Share your ways of doing nothing or refreshing your mind.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Going Around in Circles

Do you feel like you just keep repeating the same behavior time and time again? Nothing you do keeps you from doing again and again things that just don't serve you?

Boy! do I understand this issue. I am not sure why I find that there are some characteristics that I have that just keep repeating themselves. Despite my efforts, I fall into the routine of doing the same thing.

Like my schedule. I will put important things into my schedule that I want to honor. These activities are important to me and in the grand scheme of things are aligned with the direction I want my life headed. Somehow, I am side-tracked or interrupted and what I wanted to accomplish doesn't happen. It is subtle, these interruptions, by those who I believe are important.

YIKES!! Something that earns me more money or is important to a friend or just whatever will appear and I am suddenly off taking care of something unplanned. I do not want this. I want change. Of course, on occasion these types of interruptions are allowed but on a daily basis - forget it.

So today, I am engaging in new behavior that I will stick with NO MATTER WHAT! I will not answer e-mail all daily, I will look at it twice daily, morning and late afternoon. I will not answer my phone just because it rings. I will return messages twice daily as well. If I do not do this, I will never have even an solid hour that is uninterrupted.

Taking charge of my schedule is MY responsibility. No one else's. If things are hectic and unscheduled that is because I AM causing this. Only I can fix this. I am fearful that I cannot achieve this, but with diligence and looking for ways to delegate and train those that I oversee, it could be possible,

The one person that needs the most training though is ME!! I am awful when it comes to just doing one thing. I feel such an urgent need to multi-task it is crazy. I know that this constant interruption to my train of thought isn't useful but somehow I cannot stay focused. Now is this a habit or is this my personality.

Over the next two weeks, I am going to maintain a schedule and see what happens each week. Is it possible for me to be consistent or am I just telling myself I want to be this way and I don't truly have the ability or desire? I am anxious about observing this issue within myself, but I know that if I don't change cannot truly happen.

So, join me in this journey. How do you accomplish activities you desire to get done? How do you work with your scheduling and interruptions? Please share. We can all learn from those who do a lot and understand their scheduling needs. I know I don't want to continue going in circles and doing the same thing over and over.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach.

Hard Decisions

How to make hard decisions. Do I go right where there is potential money and job satisfaction, do I go left where there is tremendous job potential, the money is unknown or do I go straight ahead where I know that I will have money, security but the job is not quite what is desired.

How do we deal with this puzzle? Many of us are pouring energy into many directions, but a time comes when we when we must make a decision to focus our energy so that we can push through and achieve a semblance of what we desire for our life.

I recently celebrated a birthday. It isn't easy getting older, but the one thing I have become painfully aware of how critical the issue of time becomes. Time is limited. There is only so much time available to each of us. Time during the day that is already dedicated to just the necessary routines of taking care of myself, earning a living and having social life. At some point as you pursue your passion.. the decision has to be made. What direction must I go towards?

I am considering going to school in the fall. This immediately brings up these issues. How do I now adjust my schedule to allow me to pursue this goal. I will need to change something or I will not achieve what I want during this educational program. What to do? Take time away from my job where I earn a decent income, decrease my clients in coaching - Never, I love working with people and their goals. So, what needs to give?

I am sure that you too have had this type of a decision and perhaps you just closed your eyes and picked a choice or you just let time and your environment choose for you. Often that is the case. When we have hard decisions we don't do anything and sudden the decision is made for us. Not a great scenario.

I suggest some proactive visualization. You know they say you are what you believe. So, I am putting it out there. I want to maintain my income level but I want to be involved in the work I enjoy. I am making every effort to look for opportunities now that will be in line with this concept. I am using my creative mind to see myself having a schedule that consists of working with clients, doing some research (perhaps a good deal less than I do now), and having, a three how daily block for school.

Okay, so let's see what happens. I will report back to share if this visualization process worked. Please share how you make those tough decision between money and personal passion? A challenge indeed. I will share the outcome of my visualization probable in about 6 weeks.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Side Tracked by Money

As someone whose goal is to have my own business, it is very challenging not to get side tracked by an offer to make money doing something other than my passion. I know I struggle with this issue. Someone will recommend me for a certain project and feeling poor, I will accept.

This can throw a big interruption into my normal process of moving forward with my primary goals. It is very hard to turn down money for doing work that I am familiar with producing. Work that is not my primary passion has provided me with a roof over my head and food and cloths. Balancing these opportunities is challenging.

I cannot afford sometimes to say no, but I wonder sometimes what opportunity am I closing the door on in the work that I love. Time does not stop nor stay still for anyone. Ultimately, there is limited time. Focusing on what truly would move me forward in my passion would potentially pay off. This is where it takes discretion.

So, before you take the next opportunity that provides cold hard cash, measure the amount of and time and effort this would take you away from your passions primary goal? Is it worth being side tracked momentarily or will you lose momentum on a critical project that will pay off just in the future. If you can afford to say no to an opportunity that side tracks you, it would probably be the best choice. Of course, if the money is needed, well I think the decision is clear. Or, if the issue is you could use the money for your passion to move forward well I think that too provides clarity on what choice to make.

Again, the issue is to take time to acknowledge that all offers to make some money doing something that is not our passion needs consideration. I know that is where I need to focus. I am too quick to say yes sometimes. Please feel free to share what you do when offered money for work that you do not love to do.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Opportunity

If we keep our selves open we have the ability to see the potential for opportunities are all around. I love it when favorable circumstances come together and suddenly I am meeting new people and learning new information. I am amazed at how often this happens. I always see meeting someone new or learning new information as potential.

Potential. There is potential everwhere. It is so important to flexible in the process of accomplishing our goals. Life can be surprising and suddenly you are meeting someone who can offer you help or information you didn't know about just when you least expect it. I love it when I have been working on a project and less motivated than when I began, when suddenly from left field some really useful information or some person who can be instrumental just appears. How does this happen?

Now granted, if I didn't ask questions or happen to be investigating a topic or strike up conversation with strangers, I probably wouldn't discover some of these unexpected people or information. Synchronicity. I forget where I read about this, but these meaningful coincidences that appear when I am feeling down or less inspired. Suddenly, I find myself grinning, because the fresh air that comes flowing through me when this occurs in so inspiring. I feel that everything in the world has just handed me the biggest "YES!" you are on the right track. I feel validates when these unexpected opportunities arrive.

Some people say you can invite opportunity into your life. Which I believe is true. You can think and put it out into the universe what you need or would like, or you can visualize what you need to happen. I encourage some of my clients to keep track of these wonderful coincidences. Especially, when there seems to be quite a number of them happening.

Of course, once an opportunity presents itself, it is important to run with that energy and take action. Don't let fear hold you back. In fact, when opportunities show up it should help shake any fears up that you might have. Don't forget, fear can be a powerful enemy. I felt and seen fear slam the door shut on opportunity. If you have an opportunity show up, don't think! Just start taking action. Write, call, print whatever action needs to be taken to move you or your project forward. DO IT! Do not wait and think it over or contemplate what to do. Trust your inner spontaneous self to know what the best step is and just take it.

So, what do you do when opportunity shows up and knocks on your door? How do you take action? Please share your comments. We all can benefit from the many ways that people work to attain their dreams.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Fighting Frustration

Sometimes situations are just out of my control. I know this but
I find it challenging to embrace it at first. Like today, it is hot and the humidity is getting to me. The projects that I am working on are overwhelming and I just don't feel like I am making any progress.

Then just to add another boulder on to my shoulders, the power goes out. Frozen. Nothing can be done. I am totally powerless to do anything. In the moment it is startling and you feel like - HEY! Why is this happening?

I find myself suddenly laughing and thinking that God must have heard my secret prayer. Because the power has shut down for an unknown reason, everything MUST stop. There is no deadline. No expectation. I am released from my momentary misery. Of course, I will be dealing with deadlines and headaches tomorrow, but for now, it is sweet relief.

I wish I could plan this unexpected interruption automatically when things become piled up. It would be a nice reminder that ultimately, I am not in control. I must surrender and be humbled by powers greater than me. I love being reminded of how truly minor the issues can be. I will not be remembered for how well I did my job or how punctual I was with projects. I will be remembered for how I treated people and how I interacted with my family, friends, colleagues and others. Truly that is what counts in the life.

So, no matter how important a project is or planning or deadlines are, keeping what truly counts in mind is critical. Acknowledging that it is people that matter and how we are in this world. Remembering this will always keep frustration at bay.

Please share with how you cope with frustration and the tools you employ. We all encounter moments of frustration and how we handle them is important. Allowing frustration to turn you into a grump or discourage you from pursuing your dream would be sad indeed.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

TAKING FLIGHT

There are several types of feelings that I experience when I am embarking on working with a new project or a new client. I am often excited and uncertain. Two very conflicting feelings. All because there is no way to determine the outcome. I deeply want every project or coaching client to blossom, but there is no guarantee.

We can never tell how a project will come to life. This is why I love improvisation. As frightening as it can be, it is also exhilarating to see the inspiration and focus that can happen when I just let go and empty my mind. It is startling to see what can be created. Similar to what I experience when I am writing this blog.

Trusting our self to know what is the direction or process that is needed is somehow not something we do instinctively. I am always second guessing. If I just would stay the course or go with my first reaction it would have saved time and money.

Using imagination and creativity to work with my clients and projects allows them to truly take flight. I don't insist on trying to control the outcome but rather await to see what will be revealed. Each endeavor has its own voice and direction. I cannot force it to be something it isn't. This was an amazing realization for me. Integrating this attitude into your work process can help you stay motivated and excited about what will happen next. Now that is what I call surprising.

Creating a vision for our projects or clients is inspiring, but don't get bogged down by feelings of indecisiveness or holding onto some preconceived vision. Allow your work to soar towards where it wants to be. Who knows you might be pleasantly surprised and get a result you wouldn't have expected.

Please post your comments on how you stay open to your imagination and creativity when working on a project.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Multitasking Multiple Projects

I know that many of you are like me. You are managing many projects, plus families and careers. The number of things to address in a day can be over the top. I know, I sometimes feel that I need a Global Positioning System tool just so I know where and what I am doing and what is next. I definitely cannot keep everything in my head.

The tool I use consists of a notebook that has 2 large grids. These grids list all the projects and items to accomplish. I started doing this because of the research work I do. I work with these grids each day. I focus on 4 projects at a time and only 4 personal life pursuits. I review them each weekend and make changes and updates. I would never be capable of doing what I do without this tracking tool. Each project has its own box with time lines and dates and to do's. In the back of this notebook, I have a section for tracking new ideas. It is there that I keep track of creative ideas and projects that I would like to pursue in the future. I look at these once per month just to reassure myself that I haven't lost them or to see how I can place them into the "now" tool.

The other thing that I do during my weekly review, is journal after each week what were the barriers and successes that happened. This truly is the best part. I can really tell what holds me back and actions help. Highlighting how projects are going and I how I work each week truly is a revelation at times. What can be even more supportive is when I share this with my coaching group.

Painful and powerful are the words that come to mind when I think about reviewing the process of growth in my life. When I see how my actions either move me forward or hold me back, it is very clear about what to do. In the moment it isn't very clear but in retrospect, I can see how different choices were possible and perhaps to consider different actions in the coming week. Especially, if I see repetitive behavior that doesn't serve me.

So, how do you keep track of everything you are doing and evaluating your process and progress? I cannot tell you how important it is to look back and get a big picture view. The information that I get when I do that is telling. It tells me to take a few things off the grid, take a deep breath and it isn't always necessary to get everything "I think" needs to be done or when to reward myself. Getting caught up in the frenzy of the efforts to work on multiple projects can be detrimental, but not if you have a system to help you.

Please share how you track and manage your busy life. It would be great to see how many people do different things. Sharing keeps us learning.

Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Disappointment

It is difficult to embrace disappointment. I know when I have

planned a project and worked very hard to have the desired outcome, which is what we ALL want, it can be crushing to not have our expectation met. When we are passionate about what we do, and the end results don't appear it, can be more than disappointing, it can feel like a crushing blow to the heart.

Every cell of my body screams why? It is troubling to experience a disappointment in the plans that we make. Or to put yourself out there as an artist and you are not understood or appreciated or the other problem "no sales". We all want to earn money at what we love.

When this happens with me, I take a disappointment day. I allow myself to really experience all the miserable feelings of discouragement and rejection. I vent and experience in my mind perhaps, all the reasons why or write a journal page bemoaning my fate of not getting my desired result. Not allowing me to feel these feelings doesn't work for me. I need to acknowledge all the work and struggle that didn't succeed. Sometimes it doesn't take a whole day, but it can take a good half a day.

Once, I can get past my feelings of disappointment, then it is time to step back and embrace a perspective that will allow me to see what different directions or adjustments need to be addressed. Sometimes, if this is the fourth or fifth disappointment for a expected outcome, I need to determine if this is truly the path to keep pursuing with all my energy. I always like the idea of climbing up a ladder to see if I have it placed against the right wall.

When I am in the process of what I am doing it is very difficult to see where things could be fixed, adjusted or moved into a different direction. This is a time when I know I either need to stop working on that project for a bit or to get a trusted someone to give me a reality check. I am not one to keep hitting myself over the head, just to keep doing that over and over and expecting a different outcome.

One thing is clear, if we keep doing the same thing we typically get the same results. Change is required, perhaps even a MUST if we are repeatedly disappointed in the pursuit of our passion. Some measure of moving forward, even a tiny bit, needs to happen. It can be very discouraging to stay the course of your passion, if you continue to get zero results from your efforts. Perhaps you need to ask as many people as you can to get feedback or take a long break so that you can see your project with fresh eyes. What do you do when you have a disappointment occur with your pursuits? Do you throw in the towel or do you find a way to continue? Please feel free to share.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoicescoach

Creativity and Inspiration

I sometimes feel that I am overwhelmed with creative and inspiring ideas. Inside my head, I feel that I need to take action on all of this energy. I have learned that if I lose track of what I am currently working on, I end up with several projects all in the middle or some just with a beginning and NONE of them completed.

It is challenging to postpone taking action on ideas that pop into your mind or that suddenly pull on the heart strings of your inspiration. I know for me I need to do something to acknowledge the wonderful feeling these creative and inspiring ideas give me.

What to do? How do I stay focused on the current project that at one time I felt those first stirrings of creativity and inspiring energy? I have learned that when I find myself in this predicament, I make a decision, but first I ask myself the following questions:

Does one of the new creative ideas wow me so much that I need to take action now?

Can I just place these ideas in my creativity book and come back to them?

Can I channel this inspiring energy to my current project to complete it so I can move on?

It is important to keep a book of your creative or inspiring thoughts. This way you can make decisions of what is most important. You can tell yourself "Hey, I have a special place that I can keep track of those ideas so I don't feel like they will get lost." Also, some of my ideas that I am crazy for in the moment, after some time they don't feel like the right fit.

So, the next time you have ideas filling your head with inspiration and take you off track, take a moment and make a decision on where you want to focus. Is there one idea you just can't take your mind off? Does this idea capture your attention or can you steer that inspiring energy to your current project? Please share with me how you deal with your inspiring moments that fill you with tons of creative ideas.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Always a New Day

Thank goodness there is always a new day. Some days just don't go the way you have planned. The ability to let it go, take a deep breath and accept that tomorrow is around the corner is a wonderful tool.

Today was that kind of day. Everything that I had on the list was interrupted by things that required my attention. Sometimes that just happens. I recognized this early in the day and just allowed myself to agree that I would at least accomplish one thing, inform others that we would have to wait on some additional items, took a deep breath and moved on.

It is in these moments that holding on to the discomfort that is being created is just not worth the effort. I find that these are the times that I just smile and embrace my humanity. I look for every way to smile and reach out to others. Accepting sometimes what a day brings is empowering. It is amazing how once I accept the reality of the day not really going as I planned that I feel great. Relaxed and calm, I just roll with the activities of the day. Today, I even decided to just leave early. Yes, there were so many "shoulds" that I needed to address, but in the long run these are self imposed "shoulds" and nothing will be totally wrecked because I chose to leave early.

It felt great to just chill in the beautiful weather and the wind was amazing. I knew then it was the knowledge that tomorrow is available to address some of the things that I had to leave behind today. Nothing was in crisis. I didn't have to stress because there was just no real reason.

I am not sure why this day was just one where other things took over. I believe there is a greater universe that knows where and what I need to be doing. I want to look for those opportunities of synchronicity. Perhaps, all of the disorganization of today is really an opportunity that is awaiting me. I suddenly felt excited.

Excited about what may happen in the next couple of days. Would there be an unexpected breakthrough or an opportunity that seemed far in the future will show up much sooner that I thought? Turning our thoughts to the positive is a challenge, but WOW do I feel fantastic when I exercise this ability.

Sure, it is helpful to vent. Put your timer on for 1-3 minutes and go for it. Even ask a friend or colleague to give their full attention to your rant. It actually feels great to know you have to go all out in your ranting. You might find filling 3 minutes challenging. Once the rant/vent is over, Turn your thoughts and attitude over to the positive thoughts and feelings of what could be waiting for you around the corner.

Okay until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Making Mistakes

Making a mistake can be an awful experience. I know that I have suffered when I have made mistakes in the past. Typically, it is because I haven't stopped to really listen or understand what is expected or what is being communicated.

I learned this lesson in a very difficult way. I learned that sometimes when I communicate with others I use language that can be overly optimistic. Others could perceive what was being said as definite. I believed that my statements included language that offered hope, possibilities and validation. Unfortunately, my statements were perceived as offering specific expectations which I don't necessarily have control over. It was only after a friend of mine pointed out this issue when I was discussing my confusion over this miscommunication.

It was during this discussion with my friend that I became aware that my emphatic and positive statements were misconstrued and misinterrpreted to mean that I could provide definite outcomes. I was confused as to why this happened. With my friends assistance, we reviewed the comments and statements I had made. They were heartfelt, they could imply that I did had some perceived power to impact an outcome. That I was so hopeful in my language choices that it gave the impression that the person involved didn't have to do anything and they would be expecting exactly what I was hoping would happen.

WOW!! This was truly an eye opener for me. I had no idea that my offering hope and encouragement would somehow give an impression that the outcome of what I was saying would definitely happen. Now, truly I do believe that all things are possible, but some things do not work out as we would like them. I was blamed for the outcome never happening. The expectations of the other person were crushed.

Clearly NOT something I would intend to happen to anyone. Now, I need to think through statements of encouragement and possibility. I need to temper them with language choices that don't imply that somehow I have anything to do with any specific outcome. This felt horrible to realize about myself. My intentions are good but perhaps how I phrased the support was not the best.

Self evaluation can be difficult. Now that I am aware of this issue and it isn't pleasant to know I have disappointed people, I can seek to change. Awareness is the greatest tool for creating change. No matter how unpleasant, knowing that you have friends and colleagues or a coach who will give you direct information, no matter how hard to hear, about how you are doing is wonderful. It take courage to ask for feedback and to receive it.

When did you become aware of some behavior or attitude that didn't serve you? When was the last time you stepped back and took a self evaluation of where you are and consider what things could be improved? No matter how difficult it is the growth is definitely work all the discomfort.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Dreams!

Sailing into our dreams!! I wish it was a guaranteed smooth ride. I guess that is why I associate sailing with the process of making my dream life a reality.

I had never sailed before until two summers ago. When I think of what it takes to sail it means constantly being engaged in the activity of sailing. I could never stop giving my attention to the position of the sail, the steering and maintaining a position between the buoys. If I became distracted, in no time at all my sail would deflate or I drifted off course or I lost track of where we were. I had never realized what looked so beautiful took so much effort.

The process of sailing and pursuing our dreams takes more effort than we realize. To sail means to constantly have your attention engaged on all the sailing activities required to keep the boat moving. You cannot let up for one moment. I truly loved the experience that I had learning to sail, but I will never think again that it is simple activity. It was much more complex than I had realized.

The same is true for our dreams. Moving our dream forward takes persistent effort. No matter how small the movement. Staying connected at all times to our dreams so that we don't drift in the wrong direction. It is so easy to get side tracked by issues and activities that are not connected to our passion or dream for our life.

Do you actively do a small step each day towards your dream? Have you found yourself side tracked by a project or work that has consumed your attention? I sometimes feel that I can't identify what small step needs to be done. I often make a list and see how many little steps can these list items be broken into. Plus, scheduling "sacred" time each day that is mine and mine alone allows me to give my attention to theses dream tasks. Including these two daily things are challenging. Many times I am tempted to delay my sacred time or overlook the small steps I need to do today. As a reminder, I look at the picture of me sailing and I remember how easy it was to go adrift and to get off course. I want to stay on course for my dreams.

How do you help yourself stay on course? What key things help you move forward in pursuit of your life dream. Please share, I know everyone truly could benefit knowing what others do to support action towards our dream life.


Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Summer Sleepiness

What is it about the summertime that makes me want to just find a hammock somewhere and take a nap? During the summer, I struggle with feeling sleepy. If the room is warm or it is warm outside and I am suddenly cooled off by air conditioning, I am overcome with this sensation of a desperate need to lie down and take a nap.

Believe me this is not a convenient problem during the summer. I struggle to stay awake and concentrate on the issues at hand. It is also extremely embarrassing to find myself overwhelmed with that feeling when I am in a meeting. Rarely do I have that feeling when working with a client, but still, I am afraid that it might show up.

This summer, I have decided to stop fighting the feeling. I am going to shut my office door and close my eyes for a brief moment and just give into the feelings. Perhaps, this will help me. In fact, I find that to continue to fight something that my body is craving is a useless fight. The body at some point will win. Plus, the entire time I am struggling with the sleepiness, I am useless.

So, I will become a mini-napper during the summer and see if this approach somehow helps me, or perhaps I just need to take a very long vacation where I indulge into a lot of daily napping. The Europeans definitely do have a nice idea about the afternoon siesta. Plus, my mother is strong believer in the cat nap. Maybe this is something I inherited.

Meanwhile, is there something that you struggle with physically that just persists no matter what you have tried. Please share some of these issues. We may not find complete solutions but perhaps a few tools that will make them less problematic. So, I am going to close my door now and have a mini-nap. I will report.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Success Follow Up

Just a quick note to follow up this mornings thoughts about success. Here I am at the end of my day, and not much of what I wanted to accomplish is completed. Even though this is the case, I feel good because many of the things that did get done were very important. I guess that is why success can feel like a small plant pushing its way through the cold hard soil - difficult.

Today, while difficult, I feel the sensation of finding success in addressing those items that needed attention. I am glad that I can look at the beauty of what I want to achieve which is ahead of me as an inspiration to continue to forge ahead. I hope you too can look at the things you wish to accomplish in your life with a feeling of inspiration and motivation. If not, perhaps these projects or goals are not your passion. I know for me to continue to work so hard, it is because this is my passion.

Passion to accomplish what I love, to entertain through singing and improv, to motivate others to pursue their dreams and to continue to seek to understand the human condition.

Until to tomorrow my friend,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach -

The Road to Success

It does feel sometimes that we are always just a short distance away from becoming successful. If x were happening or if y would come through we would definitely arrive at the destination of success.

Unfortunately, success is not so simple. Nor is it something that once accomplished we just sit on the couch and enjoy the rewards. Success comes in small handfuls and the more we can rejoice in the smallness of success the more we will find our self feeling satisfied and happy.

Each day we begin with a specific set of items we would like to accomplish by the end of the day. If we set about completing these items and at the end of the day these things are done - HEY - the day was a success! Simple it sounds. Right? I know for me I get it into my head that if I achieve a certain amount of money or recognition then I would know that I was successful. Is this true? NO!

I am successful each day that I arrive at my job, accomplish most of the work for the day, work with clients to increase awareness and promote what I do for a living. On top of this, I am cleaning a home, looking after 4 dachshunds, a boyfriend and a dear friend who has a chronic illness. I often need to remind myself that as far as success goes, things are going well.

I am not sure why the idea of success gets twisted in my mind. Whether it is the expectations of others or of myself that I get down about why I haven't achieved some specific ideal of success. I guess for me I believe I would be allowed to rest, but that is a fiction as well. Resting is not something that is done after completing a project. Maybe momentarily, but I am a true believer in the idea that if you are not pushing to change and grow, you will be decaying and static.

One of my favorite quotes is from Louisa May Alcott an American Writer, (1832-1888):

"Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead."

I look at my dreams daily and work towards them with each small step I take. How do you look at your success towards your dreams? How do you cope with feelings of success? Please do share it would be great to know how many ways we all handle the challenge of working towards success.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach

Overwhelmed and Suffering

I want to be like this gold fish and jump into another bowl Abandon ship!! Truly, because of my inability to say no or unwillingness to train other people to do some of the jobs that I manage, I find myself overwhelmed.

This has been a chronic problem all my life. Partially, because I love doing a lot of things. I have multiple projects that I love!! Research in chronic pain, coaching, improv, singing and the list goes on and on. I struggle to maintain balance.

I am not sure why sometimes things become a tangle. Is it because I have too many projects that I love that I cannot prioritize or that sometimes I "should" make the hard decision and say NO to a project that I love being involved with. This is a task, I find nearly impossible. Of course, if I could find the ability to say NO, I wouldn't find myself overwhelmed and suffering.

Now to dig myself out. I am giving myself this evening and tomorrow to really look at all that I do and struggle with the issues of what truly are projects I love, cannot live without. I know that by doing this, I will find away to give away some of the duties that are on my plate to others and free up time for me to devote to the projects that I love.

That is the problem, I sometimes believe that if I don't participate now, I never will. This is truly faulty thinking on my part. I know that there will come a time that I can participate in projects that I love but cannot be a priority right now. If not, then the projects that I am doing that I deeply love deserve my undivided time and energy devoted to them.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed and pushing yourself to struggle through? How do you stop and recover from the situation? Please share you ideas on how to keep from being overwhelmed or to take charge.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Balancing Time

Finding a balance in our schedule that includes tasks we enjoy and those that are necessary is a challenge. Scheduling is a tedious and troublesome necessity. Making sure that I have set aside the appropriate amount of time for specific tasks and meetings is not an easy chore for me.

My enthusiasm when I am working with clients and colleagues creates delays. It is very hard for me to work with someone and accomplish it in an hour. I typically have sessions that last 80 or 90 minutes because I just can't seem to accomplish what "in the moment" needs to be addressed. Also, it seems unfortunate to just stop because a clock says so.

Even when I am mindful of that 60 minute boundary approaching, I resent having to stop mid-thought or idea just because of a time boundary. It can be critical to keep the momentum and the flow of energy and ideas going or at least come to a stopping point. Balancing the time, managing the discussion or the flow of work is can be strategic to how the day flows.

This is key connect the task to the amount of time that seems appropriate. Sometimes it is better to design time for activities in large sections and then choose activities or discussions that will accommodate a 60 minute boundary. Becoming sensitive to what amount of time is needed to move a project forward or to discuss issues with a client can make or break how the day progresses.

I know that I am learning that 60 minutes will never be my boundary for working with clients. I enjoy the exchange and readily acknowledge that there is an arrival and warm up time that is present, even if the session is held on the phone. So most of my client sessions last 60 min. and then wrap up for 5-10 min. If necessary we do mutually agree to be aware of the time so that we respect each others need to maintain our schedules.

When I am working on projects, I can easily get lost in the moment of creativity and suddenly lose an hour or two. I have learned I MUST put on a timer so that I don't lose track of time and the other items scheduled.

How do you manage to balance your time and your creative enthusiasm? I would love for you to share your ideas and tools for keeping track of time and time managers that make keeping a schedule easy.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Connections

The Internet is a wonderful thing. It was a lesson to me just how critical it is to what I do in my life. Having access to the Internet is something I need to consider when I travel or I need to make a different choices.

The past several days, I was down South in a small town that doesn't have a cyber-cafe. YIKES!! My mother's dial up connection was definitely not cutting it for me to do what I needed for my work on the Internet. So, I was without connection plain and simple. I couldn't check my e-mail, or write the blog or do my normal research for my various interests or the vast list of tasks that I complete on the computer using the Internet.

This was a humbling experience. I realized I stay connected to numerous projects and people through the Internet. Suddenly faced without this connection - there was a huge empty space in my daily schedule. What to do? Well, I decided it is better to take advantage of this time and make a deeper connection with myself and to re-connect with my family and friends.

Writing and reading more and spending time with myself was truly rewarding. I felt a surge of creativity that was nice. Also, re-connecting with my family gave me a new perspective on my past relationships with them. I was more willing to see how some of my behavior may have kept a distance between us.

Of course, when I could re-connect with the Internet - I did feel an internal sigh of relief. It also made me realize that I do need to walk away from the computer and make phones calls or coffee dates with friends. Somehow the computer is not as satisfying as hearing a friendly voice sigh in relief or laugh in kind over some shared viewpoint or seeing a face smile or nod in a silent moment of human understanding.

So, consider how much time do you spend either at work or doing solitaire activities? Finding time to connect with friends and family is critical to creating a life that is full. Even if I do feel they somehow intrude on the ideas and projects that I have planned. It is a welcomed intrusion and probably one that is much needed.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoicesCoach

My first feelings were a sense of not being responsible.

Getting Started

I always find that getting started on anything is the most challenging. Taking that first step or making the first move, we somehow finds ways to convince our self there is still time in the future.

Unfortunately, we need to overcome whatever it is that we do so that we can make first steps. Recognizing, if it is fear, or a lack of clarity that creates an atmosphere of delay. Sometimes, it is just an issue of organization or not being sure you want to truly commit the time and effort on a project, or it could be the project itself, has emotions for you that create a feeling of hesitancy.

Whatever it is, finding a method, process or a special place that allows you to take first steps is critical. Many a project or concept has languished in the mind to never see the light of day because of never having a first step taken.

It is challenging to recognize this issue because it can be subtle. I know that I can be very clever about delaying a project that needs my attention with very good and real reasons not to start. For me organizing and having a special place are the criteria that have most helped me get started. Also, have an end in sight, or an idea that if something specific happens that, it may be a project that I need to give up.

Above all, recognizing my fear factor around a project or task is critical as well. I always try to determine how afraid I am with the scale of 1-10 with 1 being none and 10 be the most fear I can imagine. If a project or task has a huge fear factor, I know that I need support and a reward lanned when I start. If the fear is small, I schedule time and reward for the project or task. I know that scheduling time and rewarding myself helps me take those first steps.

So the next time you find yourself not taking the first step on a project ask yourself the following questions:

1) Have you organized and determined where to start?

2) Have you set aside time in your schedule that will give the project attention?

3) Do you have some guidelines that will help you determine if the project is still a priority?

4) Do you feel nervous or fearful about taking the first step in a project - rate your fear?

5) Have you planned a reward or support around the task or project that is equal to your efforts?

Respecting the courage it takes to make a first step in a new direction is extremely important. I know that the new ideas and projects I have are like infants. They need support, care and my undivided attention. Share your experiences around taking that first step towards a project or task. Everyone is unique and we could all benefit from sharing.

Thanks,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Photos courtesy of www.snakenationpress.org