To enrich means to add greater value to. When we think in terms of money or toys, we think more is better. If I want to be richer, I need to have more money.
In the greater scheme of life, however, being rich is a matter of having an abundance of what we value. It isn’t the money itself, but what money can buy that represents what you value. Could it buy you independence from the working world? Could it buy opportunities for your children? Could it buy more time with new gadgets? What really makes your life rich?
Most people would say that it is the relationships, creative pursuits, and compelling causes that bring richness to life. Toys and trips are great, but only when there are people to share them with. Believe it or not, it is easier to build true richness into your life than to build material wealth.
How can you become richer? When an experienced gardener begins to plant new seeds, she doesn’t just stick seeds into the old garden beds. The soil is hard from a long winter, and the nutrients have been all used up. Dead leaves and old grass litter the ground. The soil has to be turned, and have nutrients added, such as fertilizer or compost, to make it useful for growing new things.
Do you feel hard and all used up? Does life feel like an ironic hamster wheel? How can you get some new life growing? Take a tip from the gardener. Is there something dead crowding your life? Are there things you do or commit to that either aren’t your passion or aren’t matched well with your talents? Get rid of them! Clear the way for better things.
Turn the soil. Soften up. Take in the smell of your coffee, the feel of your shirt, the sound of rain on the window. Breathe deep. Opportunities to grow are all around you. Take a moment to listen, to reflect, to consider. What do you feel created to do? How can you incorporate that into your life?
Did you find some seeds? Maybe an idea or a thought came to you as you drifted off to sleep. Plant the seeds. Add some fertilizer. Nurture the sprouts to life. Allow your life the brightness and color that a growing garden represents. You have the capacity to enjoy true riches. Enrich your life today.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, August 20, 2010
Where are you going?
Do you have a clear picture of your life objectives? How do you want to be perceived today and in the future? If your best friend was asked, “what do you really think about [insert name]?” what would you consider to be the ideal response? How many people take the time to ask themselves these questions? I can honestly tell you from my experience – not enough.
Too many people are simply going through the motions and aren’t spending enough time answering important questions like these. Without a clear sense of where you are going, you are not going to get there (at least not very quickly and not without struggle).
Let me tell you about Jim. When Jim first opened his dry cleaning business, he wanted to provide reliable, dependable dry cleaning service and he wanted to make a comfortable living. What Jim realized early on is that he not only wanted to differentiate himself from the competition, but he wanted his business to reflect his passion and values. He had to create a clear vision for what the business stood for.
Jim took the time and clarified his business vision for himself and his customers to include non-tangibles like “treating customers like family and having a personal relationship with as many clients as possible.” He also knew that being successful for him meant his employees had to truly enjoy working there and he wanted them to feel like they were part of something bigger. Jim changed is vision from “dependable, reliable dry cleaning service” to running a family-style business where customers and employees appreciate each other and treat one another like family.
Jim didn't stop there, though. Having defined his vision, he worked to make it a reality. Jim now adds weekly employee meetings to his schedule to get their input, and throws employee BBQ’s at his home whenever he can. He also invites loyal customers to pick up slices of banana bread when they come in. Jim wouldn't have pursued these ideas had he not taken the time to clearly think about his life and business vision.
Your vision should accurately reflect your own passion and values. When was the last time you asked yourself “what’s my life vision?”
Too many people are simply going through the motions and aren’t spending enough time answering important questions like these. Without a clear sense of where you are going, you are not going to get there (at least not very quickly and not without struggle).
Let me tell you about Jim. When Jim first opened his dry cleaning business, he wanted to provide reliable, dependable dry cleaning service and he wanted to make a comfortable living. What Jim realized early on is that he not only wanted to differentiate himself from the competition, but he wanted his business to reflect his passion and values. He had to create a clear vision for what the business stood for.
Jim took the time and clarified his business vision for himself and his customers to include non-tangibles like “treating customers like family and having a personal relationship with as many clients as possible.” He also knew that being successful for him meant his employees had to truly enjoy working there and he wanted them to feel like they were part of something bigger. Jim changed is vision from “dependable, reliable dry cleaning service” to running a family-style business where customers and employees appreciate each other and treat one another like family.
Jim didn't stop there, though. Having defined his vision, he worked to make it a reality. Jim now adds weekly employee meetings to his schedule to get their input, and throws employee BBQ’s at his home whenever he can. He also invites loyal customers to pick up slices of banana bread when they come in. Jim wouldn't have pursued these ideas had he not taken the time to clearly think about his life and business vision.
Your vision should accurately reflect your own passion and values. When was the last time you asked yourself “what’s my life vision?”
Friday, July 30, 2010
Trying to get your life together?
The song “Fine” by Jaymes Reunion gives a new perspective on the struggles we all face in life. It starts with a question about love and life… and the answer seems to be that we don’t truly appreciate anything until we’ve had to live without it.
The chorus goes like this:
You never really loved until you watch it fall apart
And you never really lived until you felt like you can die
And you never really stood until the weight has pushed you over
You’re pickin’ up the pieces just to find
You’re doin’ just fine
What is love if it isn’t tested? How sweet is life when it’s been plucked from the jaws of death? How much stronger are we when we’ve overcome obstacles? Even if it seems like life is falling apart, maybe it’s just coming together.
You may be the person who has always wanted to have it all together: the career, the family, the organized household, the interesting hobbies, the community leadership, and the ability to manage it all with style and grace.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to “have it all” in the eyes of the world. Life is full of hard decisions and sacrifices that have to be made. Life is an imperfect, unpredictable, tangled web of desires, responsibilities, intentions, experiences and hopes. The things that hurt the most may cause the most growth. Everything along the way, for better or for worse, makes you who you are.
Even as you strive to experience love, joy, and life, you may need to take the scenic route to get there.
Original post by Carrie Lee. Used with permission.
The chorus goes like this:
You never really loved until you watch it fall apart
And you never really lived until you felt like you can die
And you never really stood until the weight has pushed you over
You’re pickin’ up the pieces just to find
You’re doin’ just fine
What is love if it isn’t tested? How sweet is life when it’s been plucked from the jaws of death? How much stronger are we when we’ve overcome obstacles? Even if it seems like life is falling apart, maybe it’s just coming together.
You may be the person who has always wanted to have it all together: the career, the family, the organized household, the interesting hobbies, the community leadership, and the ability to manage it all with style and grace.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to “have it all” in the eyes of the world. Life is full of hard decisions and sacrifices that have to be made. Life is an imperfect, unpredictable, tangled web of desires, responsibilities, intentions, experiences and hopes. The things that hurt the most may cause the most growth. Everything along the way, for better or for worse, makes you who you are.
Even as you strive to experience love, joy, and life, you may need to take the scenic route to get there.
Original post by Carrie Lee. Used with permission.
Monday, July 19, 2010
How's Life Treating You?
Have you noticed how crazy life can get sometimes? Between answering the phone, writing emails, running to meetings and returning messages it’s a wonder anything gets done during the day.
As a self-employed professional, I get hundreds of interruptions every day and it leaves me feeling stressed. It’s as though I did not accomplish one important thing that day! Is there anyone who feels the same way?
So what do you do? Some things that really help me through the frustration are:
Make a list. I know a lot of people are not big on “to do” lists but I find them very helpful. After jotting down on paper the important things I want to get done for the day, I feel free. I know I won’t forget what needs to get done and I can choose which items on my list I want to cross off first. Whether it’s writing a proposal for a client, paying invoices, putting an estimate together or teaching a training session, I know that at the end of the day I can look back at my list and know there are a number of things I have accomplished.
Don’t answer every phone call. While I know it’s sometimes easier to pick up the phone and respond to an issue immediately (rather than play phone tag for days to come) often it just doesn’t pay. When I find I’m focused and in the moment, getting interrupted stops my train of thought and throws me off-track. Decide at the time if it makes more sense to entertain the interruption or to continue what you were doing.
Schedule meetings close together. I like to make sure I have certain days where meetings are not scheduled and I have entire days or blocks of time when I can get things done. If I have to run from client to client every day of the week, I’d never accomplish a thing.
Consider your routine. Are there things that you find you are doing that are time-wasters? Or do you do things during the day that inspire and energize you? Pay attention to what you do throughout the day and keep in mind which activities should stay and which could be eliminated. Begin a routine of motivating, energizing activities throughout the day to keep you moving forward.
I’m very interested in hearing how life is treating you. And, I’d love to learn more interesting ways of how to get through a difficult day. Thanks for sharing!
As a self-employed professional, I get hundreds of interruptions every day and it leaves me feeling stressed. It’s as though I did not accomplish one important thing that day! Is there anyone who feels the same way?
So what do you do? Some things that really help me through the frustration are:
Make a list. I know a lot of people are not big on “to do” lists but I find them very helpful. After jotting down on paper the important things I want to get done for the day, I feel free. I know I won’t forget what needs to get done and I can choose which items on my list I want to cross off first. Whether it’s writing a proposal for a client, paying invoices, putting an estimate together or teaching a training session, I know that at the end of the day I can look back at my list and know there are a number of things I have accomplished.
Don’t answer every phone call. While I know it’s sometimes easier to pick up the phone and respond to an issue immediately (rather than play phone tag for days to come) often it just doesn’t pay. When I find I’m focused and in the moment, getting interrupted stops my train of thought and throws me off-track. Decide at the time if it makes more sense to entertain the interruption or to continue what you were doing.
Schedule meetings close together. I like to make sure I have certain days where meetings are not scheduled and I have entire days or blocks of time when I can get things done. If I have to run from client to client every day of the week, I’d never accomplish a thing.
Consider your routine. Are there things that you find you are doing that are time-wasters? Or do you do things during the day that inspire and energize you? Pay attention to what you do throughout the day and keep in mind which activities should stay and which could be eliminated. Begin a routine of motivating, energizing activities throughout the day to keep you moving forward.
I’m very interested in hearing how life is treating you. And, I’d love to learn more interesting ways of how to get through a difficult day. Thanks for sharing!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Free stress solutions II
6. Journal. Why not spend five minutes writing freely about your life and about the things you love? Write down everything you appreciate in your life or write about plans you’d like to make for yourself in the future. Give yourself time to explore different ideas and see what comes to mind.
7. Spend time with an animal. Even if you work in the city, there’s always wildlife to be found. Listen to the birds chirping, walk over to a nearby dog park or visit a local restaurant with a fish tank. Animals have such a calming influence over us. It’s a great way to learn how to take life one moment at a time.
8. Reflect on pleasant memories. If you’re working in an office you’ll have a photo or a memento of family or friends. Take a moment to think back about that day and reminisce about the “good times.”
9. Call a friend or make a date for yourself to do something fun. If you know there’s something wonderful to look forward to at the end of the day or week, it will make getting through the daily grind much easier.
10. Enjoy a small bite of dark chocolate. I didn’t say go out and grab a huge candy bar and eat the whole thing, but a small amount of organic dark chocolate will do wonders for your mood. Not only is it filled with wonderful antioxidants that are great for your health, but its sweet, luxurious taste will put a smile on your face!
7. Spend time with an animal. Even if you work in the city, there’s always wildlife to be found. Listen to the birds chirping, walk over to a nearby dog park or visit a local restaurant with a fish tank. Animals have such a calming influence over us. It’s a great way to learn how to take life one moment at a time.
8. Reflect on pleasant memories. If you’re working in an office you’ll have a photo or a memento of family or friends. Take a moment to think back about that day and reminisce about the “good times.”
9. Call a friend or make a date for yourself to do something fun. If you know there’s something wonderful to look forward to at the end of the day or week, it will make getting through the daily grind much easier.
10. Enjoy a small bite of dark chocolate. I didn’t say go out and grab a huge candy bar and eat the whole thing, but a small amount of organic dark chocolate will do wonders for your mood. Not only is it filled with wonderful antioxidants that are great for your health, but its sweet, luxurious taste will put a smile on your face!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Why Do I Need a Coach?
Life coaching can help you in many ways:
Let a life coach help you take that first step today. (Hint: Ask me!)
- Do you know what's important to you?
- Do you know what's really important to you?
- Do you have trouble staying focused?
- Do you want help attracting more of what you want?
- Are you interested in discovering what holds you back?
- Do you need help clarifying your values and vision?
- Do you need help creating goals and action plans?
- Are you the type of person who likes to be held accountable?
Let a life coach help you take that first step today. (Hint: Ask me!)
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