Strategy

Vacation Discombobulation

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This week I was really not myself. A bit cranky, disorganized, and downright lazy. What happened? I had a blast on vacation (see photos). Wasn’t it supposed to energize me?

But it took me four days to get back into the swing of things. I’m convinced that in entrepreneur years those four days are actually a full month.

I’m on track now, and feeling so much more focused and clear about my priorities. Want to know what I did?

1. I judged myself. That’s right – beat myself up good.

2. I stopped judging myself. I remembered that I am a smart, hardworking person (and gosh darnit, people like me), and that I was allowed to have a few off days.

3. I identified the basics in my business, and took care of them. No need to pile on more guilt!

4. I picked up some positive reading materials. Even though I didn’t want to.

5. I recognized the opportunity. Before my vacation, I was getting bogged down in details and busy-ness of my business. Feeling unhappy after vacation made me realize I needed to refocus, review my priorities and goals, and recreate my plan for the rest of the year.

So today I am grateful for the discombobulation. I was so uncomfortable that I was forced to upgrade my plans, and recommit to my goals. As entrepreneurs, one of the best habits we can create is to look on our problems as opportunities.

If you’re having a hard time pulling your attitude out of your problems, please consider checking in with me to see how I can help.

Acts of Boldness

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“The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.” – Rollo May

I would say the majority of the people I know would consider themselves non-conformists. Of course they do – they’re entrepreneurs for goodness sake!

But conformity isn’t limited to all dressing the same, or agreeing about politics, or working at a 9 to 5 job. Conformity can be a very sneaky thing, and it can slowly eat away at what makes you brilliant and beautiful.

So how does this subtle conformity show up? It’s often in action when you –

  • Don’t clearly ask for what you really want
  • Say yes to things that are unhealthy, stressful, or out of alignment with your vision
  • Soften a position you believe in
  • Lower your standards

This kind of conformity is all about trying to control other peoples’ reactions. And the bad news is that it not only keeps others from really knowing you, it also distances you from your true, authentic self.

I absolutely believe in diplomacy, don’t get me wrong. I’m not a fan of upsetting people for the sake of drama. That’s definitely not what I’m talking about here.

I’m talking about boldness in the face of possible controversy or disagreement. The willingness to take a stand for what you feel in your heart is right – everything from simple things like getting your order right at a restaurant to deeper issues like politics and human rights.

This can be a scary proposition, I know. But it’s also very freeing. I challenge you to pay attention to how conformity shows up in your life, and commit acts of boldness every day!

Where oh where has my energy gone?

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Article contributed by Laura Prevost, Certified Holistic Health and Life Coach.

Oh where oh where can it be? (*sung to the tune of where has my little dog gone*)

So you may be wondering, where is all of my energy? Where can it be? And, gosh darn it, how do I get it back?

Did you know that unhealthy stress & energy co-exist? Without one, you have the other. Yowzas! Which would you rather have? Unhealthy Stress? Or glorious, fabulous, mood boosting ENERGY? It’s YOUR choice!

You want ideas? Keep reading for ways you can leave your unhealthy stress behind & energize yourSELF. Yup, you’ve probably heard them before. Maybe there are some new ones but what it comes down to is this: you need to actually implement the different techniques in order to FEEL gloriously & fabulously ENERGIZED. So, after you’re done reading this I want you to pick TWO (yes TWO) that you’re going to implement immediately. TODAY. Change happens when YOU CHOOSE to make it happen.

Okay, enough of that. Here we go!

Let go of anything & EVERYTHING that no longer serves YOU.

Let go of physical stuff that no longer serves you. Let go of people (aka “FuN suckers”) who no longer serve you. Let go of guilt, shame, anger, bitterness….let go of anything & EVERYTHING. When you let go you’ll notice how FREE you feel. You’ll feel lighter. You’ll feel open to receiving ENERGY & FABULOSITY.

Do something that MOVES you.

Go for a walk. Shake your booty. Take a workout class. Go for a bike ride. It needs to be at least 10 minutes long. This movement helps your body re-energize. Feel like you don’t have enough energy for movement? Go for a walk. ANYONE can walk for 10 minutes no matter what the energy level.

Prioritize.

Stress is oftentimes existent because a person is feeling overwhelmed with a to-do list that never seems to end. It’s SO imperative that you prioritize. Look at your list & see what NEEDS to get done versus what you WANT to get done. AND – this is significant so listen up – ONLY put 10 things on your to-do list daily (this includes picking the kids up at school, vacuuming, taping your marketing video, etc.). You’ll be surprised at how quickly you learn to prioritize.

Take a break.

This doesn’t have to be incredibly long but it’s important to give yourself a break every single hour. It can be a minute where you get up and shake your booty. Jump around. Do a couple of sprints. Do a fast walk around your house or office building. Here’s the rule for this one: you must leave your computer & phone behind for your break.

Freak out.

Are you ready for some Freak out FuN? With this one you get to let it ALL out. Yup, I’m talkin’ ‘bout a Five Minute Freak Out. Oh yeah. You get to embrace ALL of your emotions – scream, shout, run around like a crazy person. I’d recommend doing this one with no one in the vicinity so that you can feel FREE to let it all out.

Eat energizing FOOD.

Sounds simple right? Try a green smoothie. This not only helps you up your leafy green intake BUT it also zests you up with yummilicious fruits. AND, you can add in some “extras” that will rock your world, like chia seeds & maca. Listen to your body – it KNOWS what it needs & wants to feel energized.

Get enough zzzzzzz.

Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard this one a million times…maybe even a gazillion times. BUT, have you ever noticed that when you’re overtired, everything seems, well, like overwhelming to the nth degree? Yup, that’s what I thought. When you get enough sleep you can DO & BE everything you need to DO & BE. Not only that – your mind is clear & focused to you can be efficient & effective with your 10 item to-do list.

Drink water.

It’s simple. It’s free. It’s yummy. Many times energy levels drop because of dehydration. There are many levels of dehydration & if you’re not aware you may not even know you’re lacking in the water department. Again, LISTEN to your body. Drink water – it’s a quick solution to ENERGIZE yourSELF.

Go play. Outside.

Get outside. Reconnect with nature. Realize that nature still trumps anything that is stressing you out. Playing can count as anything. Play in your garden. Skip. Play hopscotch. Hike. Walk. Just make sure you go OUTSIDE without your phone or computer or any other electronic gadget.

Be YOU.

It can be exhausting trying to be anyone other than your own self. Why would you want to anyways? Did you know that you’re the ONLY one who can be your BEST you? When you’re true to you & you embrace yourSELF you will feel ENERGIZED! A little aside on this one – when you’re trying to be someone you’re not – it can also be SUPER stressful because you’re always on “guard” to make sure you present the “correct” persona. Let go & BE yourSELF!

Which TWO have you picked for your first steps to lessen your unhealthy stress & up your ENERGY? Once those two are implemented as habit (this can take from 21 to over 200 days so only YOU know when this happens) add two more. You CAN be your BEST energized self!

Laura Prevost is a Certified Holistic Health & Life Coach with a BA in Human Behavior. Laura combines her past with her present to live a life of fabulosity & passion.
Laura works with women who are READY to discover their glorious happiness & health. She has the tools, desire & compassion to bring to light a life of fabulosity for anyone brave enough to embrace her best self. Laura is the owner of Head Over Heels In Health in Flagstaff, AZ where her zest for life bubbles over into her joy of the outdoors, family, friends & play.
You can begin your life of fabulosity TODAY by going to www.HeadOverHeelsInHealth.com & signing up to receive your FREE 7 Day Life In Balance Boot Camp.

3 Steps Beyond “Shop Local”

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Shop local. Shop local. Shop local.

It’s like a mantra, right? And a good one on many levels. Supporting the people you know, saving the gas it takes to drive across town, etc. But guess what? If you go a few steps beyond simply shopping, your impact on your local economy can be even greater.

And the really good news? They won’t cost you another dime!

#1. Bring cash. Even with the best rates on credit card processing, using a credit card costs a business more money than accepting cash or checks. This puts more money in their pocket, without taking any more out of yours, helps their bottom line!

#2. Talk to them. Talk to the business owner and ask what you can do to support their business. This not only lets them know that you’re a fan, but it also gives you a networking opportunity. You know I love that! Offering to support them establishes you as an engaged, caring fellow business owner. This is a great way to give, and set up new connections at the same time. Warning – do NOT promote yourself, unless the opportunity clearly arises. Doing so will make the whole encounter feel self-serving to the business owner.

#3. Talk ABOUT them. And not just to your friends! Ask if the business has a Facebook page, or are on Yelp, or other social networks where you can rate their shop. Again, this costs you nothing, but positively impacts their business!

I love the shop local movement, and think it’s possible to bring it to a whole new level. What ideas do you have that can further the cause?

The Art of No Assumptions

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Contributed by Dr. Marta Adelsman

In one of my workshops, I lead participants through an exercise in which they talk briefly with a partner about their morning routine. However, both partners speak at the same time. At the end of the exercise, no one can report hearing more than a word or two of what their partner said.

The exercise illustrates how, during most conversations, the assumptions and opinions we hold in our minds prevent us from truly hearing each other. We make stuff up about the meaning and motivations of others, and these act like loud noise in the brain.

Believing that our assumptions are true can set up all kinds of relational drama and confusion. For instance, you might hold the opinion that someone meant to criticize you, so you begin to formulate a defensive response. Maybe you assume that the person in front of you is uninteresting and has nothing important to say, so you begin to plan your weekend activities.

In these instances, your assumptions disrupt true conversation by having you stop listening. They may lead to misunderstandings in which anger, defensiveness, fear and anxiety arise. They provide the ego with opportunities to make judgments or to feel like a victim. Harsh words may fly, which can then lead to more made-up stuff. You can see how making assumptions leads to personal suffering.

The good news is that there’s a way out. It starts with becoming suspicious of all of your assumptions. Next, begin to check out whether or not your assumed opinions are true. “I’m making up that you meant to criticize me when you said that. Is that true? Am I reading it right?” Hearing it from their own lips is the only way you know what others really mean.

If someone accuses you of being negligent, rather than becoming defensive, ask, “What’s your definition of the word ‘negligent?’” Have the courage to ask for clarification. Keep asking questions until you know you have absolute clarity about what the other person meant. Clarify, and then clarify some more.

This practice opens you to true listening. Others will feel grateful, because they will feel heard. You will decrease the drama and upsets in your conversations. Your relationships will become more satisfying.

Isn’t the extra effort required to practice this new skill worth it?

Dr. Marta Adelsman has a doctorate in Psychology and is also a Life Coach. She specializes in the area of listening and communication, as well as spiritual consciousness. She leads workshops and coaching sessions for couples, individuals and groups, supporting them to have relationships that are free from drama and upset. For more information about upcoming workshops, click here to contact Marta.

Do You Know What Time it is?

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About 15 years ago, I got it in my head that I needed a new watch. I knew EXACTLY what I wanted. It needed to be silver and gold, so that it matched everything. It needed to have numbers around the dial, rather than just tic marks. It needed to have the date. So I started shopping.

I window-shopped. I went to malls. I went to jewelry stores. If I’d known how to shop online back then, I would have done that. Every chance I got, I was looking for this perfect watch. I kept looking and looking and looking. I searched for two years.

TWO YEARS?! Ok, just writing about it makes me shudder to think of the time I spent (wasted) on shopping for a watch. Want to know what brought an end to the madness? I’ll tell you.

I was in a department store, in the watch section, of course, and I saw a Mickey Mouse watch. The face was gold and silver, and I laughed. Something clicked in my head, and my inner voice said, “You know what time it is? Maybe it’s time you stopped taking this all so seriously.”

I bought the watch on the spot, and still have it today. It’s the only one I wear.

It reminds me to stop obsessing, to laugh, to look in different direction for solutions, and that time is precious.