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Egypt and the Flu

Egypt and the Flu

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Should I or Shouldn't I

(A note before we start.  I am very happy for the people of Egypt and their new found freedom.  Today, I am using their revolution as a metaphor for an unhappy or unfulfilled personal life.  I am in no way minimizing the importance of the revolution and comparing my plight to an entire country.)

The people of Egypt have been under the control of a dictator for decades.  During that time their lives have been controlled, their freedom denied, their daily options restricted and their hearts became heavy.

Much like the people of Egypt those of us who work in a corporate cubical, we too can feel controlled, living by the leaders rules, with no regard for our own personal needs and wants.  Under these circumstances our hearts become heavy and we become frustrated with pent up emotions and soon, our bodies start to show signs of stress and sickness.  In Egypt, a revolution released their frustration.  In our lives in a cubicle this frustration leads to sickness such as the flu.

During these times we can review our situation, decide what isn’t working for us, and plan a big, sometimes major, adjustment to our lives.   This is the time for inner reflection, then develop a long range life plan, gather our strength and take action.  Eventually, something “breaks”, in Egypt a revolution occurs, in our lives we get sick.

The flu hit me hard.  The cubicle stress finally became more than my body could fight off.  While throwing up and nursing my physical pains I used the time to evaluate my diet, my exercise  program (or lack of one) and my mental state of mind and compared my current life to the one I’d dreamed of.  Was I doing what I’d planned, what I love and was I doing what I needed to in order to have the life and retirement a want and deserve?  Apparently, I wasn’t because I was very sick.  Something had to change and quickly.

I spent the week taking care of my basic needs with rest, lots of hot tea and soaking in a hot tub with lavender salts.  It took a long time but it helped.  As I got stronger I began simple yoga moves and poses and meditation. During meditation I relaxed, healed my body and worked on my mind.

Through meditation I evaluated my current work situation and lifestyle.  I learned that I was allowing circumstances at work to make me overly stressed.  In turn, the stress caused me to come home at night and neglect my exercise and doing things, like photography and writing, that I’m passionate about.  In short, I was neglecting my inner spirit. I wondered if I should take the leap, like the duck in the photo and move on to better things and places.

In order to get better and be happier I used meditation and self affirmations to put my job into perspective.  I learned there are parts of my job that I like and I’m really good at my job overall.  I would no longer let this job define me.  I wrote affirmations focusing on the good things in my work and life and read them many times a day.  Soon  I was able to go to work, feeling good, and knowing this job is a necessary stepping stone to my long term life goals.  From that point on, work was a lot easier and I felt better. Then I was able to look deep inside and find the things I’m passionate about.  I found that I am most happy when helping others get the lives they want by writing articles like this and talking to people one on one or in small groups.  Also, I enjoy worldwide adventure and luxury travel and photography and being creative.

Knowing what motivates me and what I’m passionate about is a great relief, a great breakthrough for me and meant I now have something to build on and work for.  While recovering I set up and exercise plan, wrote a flight plan of how I’m going to get to a nice, comfortable retirement, in a great place where I can feed my creative spirit daily and be true to yourself.  From now on I’m living my plan daily and know that I will have the live I want.

The Revolution in Egypt and down time due to sickness such as the flu serve similar purposes, they are a chance to make major changes in our lives that puts us in the driver’s seat of our future.  In my situation, the flu started my own revolution and freed me from past constraints.  I hope you listen to your body because it’s talking to you everyday.  Find out what makes you feel good and passionate. Take care of your Mind, Body and Spirit.  Make a flight plan for your future and monitor your progress. Be happy and love your life.  Be a positive example for others.  Live long and love others.

5 Secrets To A Great Life

5 Secrets To A Great Life

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Sonoma Vineyard

A new vineyard doesn’t produce enough quality grapes to harvest for several years.  Like the vineyard, we start young and grow into healthy and productive people.  Along the way, we learn habits and develop thinking patterns that hold us back from becoming truly, healthy, happy people with great lives.

Fortunately, the vineyard grower has learned secrets to growing healthy grapes.  The same is true for us.  There are secrets to getting what we want and using our God given talents and living a Great Life.

1) Forgive yourself.  We’ve all done things in the past that weren’t right and are holding us back from being happy.  Those things are in the past, now it’s time to leave them behind and be your own best friend.  Be nice yourself.

2)  Talk nicely to yourself.  We all talk to ourselves constantly without even thinking about what we’re saying.  Now is the time to monitor your thoughts and self talk and make sure we’re saying things that help and support ourselves instead of being mean to ourselves.

3)  Be Healthy.  The vineyard grower nurtures his vines making sure they get all the water, nutrients and care they need to become healthy.  We have to do the same thing with our mind, body and spirit.  When we eat well, exercise, read good books, study and take care of ourselves we are happier and healthier.

4)  Love.  If we want others to love us, we must first love ourselves, then love those around us, and mankind.  We all have conflicts and don’t feel loved.  Today’s society is filled with angry people.  It helps when we send “good vibes” and love out to everyone around us, those in our family, those we work with, and even the clerk in the store and the stranger walking down the street.  A example of how to do this is called Ho-opono-pono.  Here’s a link to an overview http://www.hooponoponohelp.com/.

5)  Focus.  Focus you mind on what you want, not on what you don’t want.  When we have a problem we tend to focus on it and that only creates more of it.  Our thoughts create our reality.  Meaning, if we focus on how mad our spouse or boss is, you will get more of that. If we focus on not having enough money, that’s what we’ll get.  Turn your thoughts around.  Focus your thoughts on and visualize and feel, what it would be like for your boss to be nice or to have plenty of money to pay all your expenses and see what happens.  Your mind is more powerful than any computer in the world and it controls our lives.  Put it to good use and think about having what you want rather than what you don’t have.  It works, whether on relationships, opportunities or anything else.

Count Your Blessing,  Here’s a bonus secret.  It’s probably the most important one. Stop and count the blessings you have now and say thank you for them.  All of us, no matter where we are have something to be thankful for.  When you appreciate and honor what you have other great things will come to you.

You’re a powerful person.  Enjoy your Great Life.

You’re Fired!

You’re Fired!

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This is a mouse pad found in a supervisor’s office.  What message is it sending?  In today’s economic conditions smart companies should be praising, motivating and training the employees they haven’t laid off.  Not threatening them and managing by fear.  Fear and threats are counter productive to your success.

Here are a few examples of poor management that damages morale  and productivity and scare away the success you are working for.

Getting the whip out and telling employees if they don’t increase sales, take more calls, produce more product they’ll be punished until they improve.  Once person described the situation as, “the floggings will continue until morale improves.”

Focusing on mistakes and poor customer comments and not praising and thanking employees for positive comments.  An employee I know said that if they receive a complaint or negative customer comment they are immediately punished and threatened to improve or get out.  He explained, in contrast positive customer comments are not acknowleged quickly or even at all some times. He was in a group of peers when another employee told the boss about a good letter he received.  The boss took it lightly and didn’t give him the praise he deserved.  They employee felt bad the rest of the day, didn’t work at his peak level and will remember this incident for the rest of his career.  As the boss was beginning to leave, another employee said that she had received 3 complimentary letters in the passed two weeks.  How did the boss respond?  He said, “that’s great” and turned and walked away!

At another company a memo was sent to employees saying recent results have shown a continuous positive trend in sales and employee performance.  You’d think that would be a good thing, right?  Well, it goes on to say that because employees performance is improving and business is improving, the company is going to raise the goals and targets for satisfactory performance and possible bonuses.  So, in other words, employees, you’re doing good now, so we’ll raise your goals to make it harder to reach them.  Does that make sense?

Are these good ways to praise employees and motivate them to work hard and be loyal to the company.  Will these actions help the company meet their goals and be successful?  Will they encourage employees to stay with the company?  Will employees want to recommend the company to their friends as a good, fun, great place to work?

The www.nielsongroup.com which “coaches organizations for breakthrough performance” explains fear motivation below.  I’ve underlined key words.

“There are three types of motivation. The first is FEAR MOTIVATION, a “do it or else we can replace you” approach. This motivation in negotiating is basically the “take it or leave it” approach. Fear motivation is the easiest form of motivation; however, it is a motivation based on intimidation. The person in power is unable to effectively create a climate for other types of beneficial motivation. The person in power resorts to fear tactics for motivation. “Take it or leave it” often gets results because the person will do what you ask for fear of loss. Fear motivation always results in inner anger and resentment against the person using the fear tactics. Sometimes the threat of loss or punishment for motivation must be used, but should only be used when all other methods have failed. Fear motivation is the lowest form of motivation and usually results in “when the cat is away, the mice will play.”  (taken from http://www.nielsongroup.com/articles/articles_climateformotivation.shtml). The other types of motivation are Incentive Motivation and Casual Motivation which take a much more positive approach and are much more successful.

So, ask yourself, what kind of motivation are you using with your group, family, kids, employees and those who look to you for leadership?  Is your approached working well, giving the results you want?  How do these people look at you, do they want to help you be a success, or is every encounter a struggle.

Are you proud of the type of person you are and the way you treat others?

And most of all, would you want to work for YOU?

 

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

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This quote seems to be appropriate in today’s unsettled climate in America,

“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us
tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second
will not become the legalized version of the first.” – Thomas
Jefferson

Your Powerful Mind

Your Powerful Mind

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I was reading one of my favorite web sites, the Daily Om, and found this article.  It really sums up how powerful our mind and thoughts are and how, whether we are aware of it or not, we are creating our lives with these powerful thoughts.

Hope you enjoy this and that it makes you think about what you are thinking about.

The Creation Ground of Experience
Thoughts

By choosing how to interpret and define each moment with your thoughts, you truly create your reality.

Our thoughts are powerful forces in the creation of our experience of life. You may be able to recall a time when frustration that was based on a misunderstanding completely evaporated when your understanding changed. This is because our interpretation defines our experience, and it can change in an instant. Our only true reality is the present moment, so rather than merely accepting that life is happening to us, we can harness the power of our thoughts to actively create a positive reality. For example, we can choose to appreciate beauty around us rather than focusing on traffic or look for admirable qualities in the people we deal with rather than focusing on the negative. By choosing how to interpret and define each moment with your thoughts, you truly create your reality.

Throughout the day, we can monitor our thoughts to catch ourselves in the middle of investing our energy elsewhere—such as into belief in limitations—and instead pull our focus back to the infinite possibilities of the present. Taking a deep breath will help us center our thoughts on being in our bodies right now. Regular meditation allows us to gain mastery over our minds so that we can still our thoughts to focus on the pureness of being. If we mentally dwell on the past or the future, we may miss the experience of living in the present moment. Setting and visualizing goals is wonderful, but we can bring our thoughts into our current experience by taking steps to create them now.

Our minds are powerful tools that we can harness to create our reality. Through them we move the unformed energy of the universe into form, which gives us direction for our words and actions. Each thought is like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples out into our world to affect all they touch. We can choose our focus and how we invest our energy, which gives us the power to design our lives to be whatever we choose in each and every moment.

www.dailyom.com