Loving the Chaos

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

What are you going to write on your blank page?

I vow to offer joy to one person in the morning and to help relieve the grief of one person in the afternoon.

Thich Nhat Hanh

What vows do you make?

There’s something curious about our desire to have science validate things that we know in our hearts. It’s happening a lot lately on the topic of happiness – research on what “really” makes someone happy or how happiness works.  Even Buddhists monks are participating in experiements to figure out the connection between meditation and happiness.

Dan Pink shares the latest list of things that make you happy according to scientific research.

So let’s conduct a little research of our own:

What makes you happy?

Post a comment and share your happiness secrets.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

I love my clients – for a whole bunch of reasons but one of the most delightful is that they say such insightful things. Yesterday I was coaching with a client who was looking at ways to let go of some holiday obligations. You know how it is – the usual running around like crazy, caught up in old habits and feeling overwhelmed.

Then she said:

The holidays are just a microcosm of life.

Insightful! During the holidays…

• Do you find yourself doing things out of habit, guilt or obligation?
• Do you spend time on less significant things at the expense of more important ones?
• Does how you spend your time reflect your priorities?
• Does gift giving become a substitute for something else?
• Are acts of charity just items on your to-do list?

My client’s little insight reminded me of the Zen saying:

How you do one thing is how you do everything.

Chances are if things are a little out of whack during the holidays – overwhelmed, overindulged, over spent, over committed – then likely in some form they are that way during the rest of the year as well.

Give yourself a little gift.

Stop and consider how the holidays are a microcosm for your life. Think about the activities that are a good reflection of you and your values. Think about the activities that don’t align so well with what’s really important.  Now’s a great time to begin planning what simple changes you’d like to make in the new year.

Post a comment and share your holiday insights.

My life is my message.

Gandhi

What message does your life send?

What message do you want it to send?

Ask Laurel…Every January I make a New Year’s resolution and by February it’s fallen by the wayside. How do I stay on track with my goal?

It’s inevitable at this time of year for people to start talking about New Year’s resolutions. Some people make the same one year after year. Some people staunchly delcare, “I don’t do resolutions.” And some people think about it and then never take any action.

New Year’s resolutions have gotten a bad reputation.

That’s because when you  say you’re going to do something and then you don’t, you start to feel really bad. You begin to doubt your own credibility. And if you’re someone who makes a public statement and then doesn’t follow through, everyone thinks “Yeah yeah, heard that one before.”

There’s nothing wrong with making a New Year’s resolution. 

Here are 2 things to keep in mind when you do. First, the start of a new year gives the sense of a clean slate so it’s natural to think about change at that time. However, there’s nothing magical about January 1^st that automatically will lead to your success. Setting a new goal requires thought and commitment. Making a declaration at a party on New Year’s Eve or at the urging of someone else is not a great jumping off point for change.

Plan more 

Secondly, many New Year’s resolutions are made without sufficient planning. Even with a mindset of determination, being successful with a goal takes planning: both what you will do and how you will manage the inevitable obstacles that pop up along the way. Consider what’s reasonable to accomplish given your starting point. As you experience success you can always set the bar higher or take the next step.

Successful people also excel at Plan B. Think ahead about the kinds of set backs you might encounter and consider how you will tackle them. Then when they show up, you’re better prepared to manage them.

Kick Start the year 

If you’re looking for a way to get the New Year off to a great start, join me for the Kick Start 2009 teleclass on January 8th. Read more here.

You can also check out the 30 Day Challenge on the right side of the page under Categories. It’s a great way to begin creating a habit that sticks. Start at Day One and then come back each day for the next tip.

What is your resolution for 2009?

In spite of your best efforts, do you find yourself sometimes getting stuck in the gloom & doom?

Having a little cranky spell?

Indulging in a pity party with too much whine?

That’s natural.

All you need is a little shift in perspective.

Watch this little video and you are guaranteed to smile…or giggle..or outright laugh.

Bookmark this and use it when it’s time for a shift.