A little PR Goes a Long Way

Have you ever examined an area of your life that is causing you pain and said to yourself: Well, it’s not my fault. If the government would shape up... If the price of gas would stop increasing... It’s not my fault it’s his...”

We cannot control what happens around us in the world. The only thing we can control is ourselves – our thoughts, attitudes, feelings and actions. The only way to start focusing internally instead of externally is to make an important shift in our perspective. We need to start taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for our lives.

You might say: But how do I take personal responsibility for my mother-in-law calling me every 2 minutes? I can’t get any work done! I’m self-employed not unemployed!!

Ask yourself: Is your mother-in-law the real problem OR are you choosing not to set healthy boundaries with her? Ah.

What about this one: The kids and work take up so much of my time I don’t have any time for date nights anymore with my husband. 

Ask yourself: Are the kids and your boss the real issue? Who chooses how you spend your time? Who writes your schedule in your agenda? Who decides what priority is and what isn’t?

I think you get the point. Once we start taking personal responsibility for things that happen in our lives, we position ourselves as having the power to do something pro-active about it.

Coaching Questions:

Which area in your life is causing you pain that you are currently not taking personal responsibility for?
What is the core issue?
Are you ready to take Personal Responsibility for this are in your life?

Think of 1-3 ways you can exercise your personal power and make some changes in this area.

Cover-my-butt Disclaimer: The above first example was fictional and in no way describing my own mother-in-law. She’s amazing! J

Perfection Paralysis
 

Are you suffering from Perfection Paralysis? You know, the virus that keeps you from translating your hopes and dreams into action and results due to the constant desire for perfection?

This type of paralysis has affected me in some areas of my life. I had the desire to grow and take action, even set SMART goals, bought the tools I need, get the people in place, but when it came time to take action, I fell short. I was afraid to because I knew I’d stumble along the way as I got my bearings and in doing so, not producing initial results that I considered “good enough”. 

Two weeks ago I made the decision to overcome this awful paralysis. The cure?  Courage, determination and a success partner! I pushed myself to take action, even when I heard my little gremlin say: Are you sure it’s good enough?  Whoa...don’t you need to edit that blog some more before you post it?. I had to consciously push its remarks aside and took MASSIVE ACTION. It was downright uncomfortable. And you know what? It feels great!!!  I’ve never been so productive in my life!

I realized that not acting because I’m a “perfectionist” is not noble, nor is it productive. It doesn’t serve me or anyone else.  Don’t get me wrong, I still put a high emphasis on quality. There just comes a time in a production process where you have to decide that the product is great, wrap it up and SHIP! Then tweak along the way.  

What area in your life have you wanted to create significant positive change but you were suffering from this type of paralysis? 

·         Have you been waiting for your schedule to be just right before you start your exercise routine?
·         Are you waiting until your income is at a certain level before you start saving?
·         Do you put off dressing your current body shape well because you’ve not yet achieved your goal weight?

Whatever it is, I encourage you to TAKE ACTION TODAY. It doesn’t have to be huge like doing a 10 km run. Just do something, even if it means simply dusting off your sneakers and walking for 5 minutes.  Then your momentum will build. It’s not going to be easy. You’re really going to have to take action based on CHOICE and not on how you feel. It helps having a success partner egging you on and shouting on the sidelines: Good job man, go go go!!   I thought I would be super tired being so productive (yet another limiting belief!) but it’s actually the reverse. I’m super ENERGIZED by getting so much done!

Answer these and then GO! GO! GO!

Which area in your life do you desire positive change?

What is one thing you can do TODAY to get the ball rolling?

Who could be your chief encourager during the process?