How to Make Real Changes in Your Life By Cassandra Washington

The most repeated word during the 2009 U.S. presidential campaign was “change.” Hillary had “The Strength and Experience to Bring Real Change.” McCain vowed “The Change You Deserve Is Coming.” And Obama offered “Change We Can Believe In.”

But here’s a slogan you may not have heard much during the election cycle: “Change Begins With You.” You will not see real change because you hope for it or vote for it. Change only happens when you change.

Here are five key points to remember that will help you make successful changes in your career and life.

You can’t expect overnight success.
We are constantly presented with a barrage of get-rich-quick schemes. However, change happens in small steps. So, if you feel you are not making changes as quickly as you should–go easy on yourself. Change takes place slowly.
You must do something different.
Ninety percent of what we do everyday is habit. To change, we must resist the pull to act in the same old way and discover new ways of doing things. Nothing happens until you do something different.
It is important to let go of excuses.
You will never succeed in life making excuses. Instead, take personal responsibility, plan your way, and start taking action toward where you really want to be. People who insist on using excuses seldom make the type of changes necessary for a rewarding life.
Decision is a moment in time; change is a process of time.
Change has four phases: deny, resist, explore, and commit. Moving through the phases can take weeks or months. Where are you in the change process? If you refuse to recognize the need for change, you may be in denial. Blaming others or complaining about a situation could mean you are resisting. Although resistance is normal, you overcome it by acknowledging and talking about it. You shift to exploration when you begin to see possibilities and look for alternatives. Finally, the commitment phase begins when you focus on new ways of doing things or adapt to new situations.
Change is easier when you have support and encouragement.
Some change is difficult to accomplish on your own. Surrounding yourself with supportive people makes change easier. Many successful people enlist the services of a coach. A coach will help you discover what you want, set realistic goals, overcome the things that get in your way, stay on track and stay motivated every step of the way. Everyone needs help; admitting it does not make you less successful.
Change is constant; you can’t escape it. Feeling overwhelmed and getting sidetracked is normal, but you can develop the skills to manage change successfully.

Cassandra Washington is a career coach who inspires clients to take action toward their goals. She is a veteran trainer, “how-to” author, and successful entrepreneur. Does your career need a coach? Visit http://www.expandmysuccess.blogspot.com for motivation and guidance for making the changes you want to make. You can also sign up for her FREE Career Success eNewsletter. For information about her company, Exceed Resources, visit http://www.exceedlearning.com

(c) Copyright 2008 Cassandra Washington. All rights reserved.

Sponsored by: http://www.Indiainfotech.co.in

Book Mar This

Reflection - One of Four Powerful Ingredients in the Recipe For Personal Growth By Clive A Wilson

The cycle of human consciousness I promote as a simple formulae for a fulfilling life is as follows:

Connection: taking time out to be alone at one with ourselves and the universe allows us to connect and live our life with presence.

Presence: being fully conscious and grounded in all we do, being there in the moment for everyone we meet.
Right action: resulting from being fully present, at other times we react in reflex and unconscious manner.
Reflection: allowing us to learn from what worked and what didn’t. Looking back we can see very clearly when we acted with presence and whether our time in connection helped.

In this article, I’d like to spend some time considering the last step of the cycle, reflection.

cycles of reflection

Let’s take stock of the times when we have reflected. Our reflection often goes in cycles. It is often unnoticed. The more we are aware of our reflection, the more powerful it becomes.

daily cycles

We naturally reflect on a daily basis, sometimes at the end of the day, maybe sitting by the fire, perhaps as we lie in bed before we drift off to sleep. Sometimes it even happens first thing in the morning, especially if the night before was hectic or even wild. If we are wise, perhaps we take time out at lunchtime to be alone or to share thoughts of the morning with our colleagues and friends.

weekly cycles

Then, there are the weekly cycles. In most faiths there is a weekly opportunity to give thanks and also to confess wrongdoings. But even if we do not belong to a particular denomination, we might still have a special day of the week for reflection and appreciation. Perhaps we simply sit down with our family and friends for a special weekly meal. In my home, Sunday lunch is very special and there is both reflection on the week gone by as well as sharing plans for the one to come.

monthly cycles

Monthly reflection happens too. Perhaps we give ourselves structure by formally making a monthly report or even something as mundane as an expenses return. Maybe as we’re claiming expenses for a journey, we will pause to reflect whether it was indeed a good journey. Or perhaps we plan our diaries on a monthly basis, taking tasks from our list and putting them into real time slots.

annual or seasonal cycles

Then of course there are the annual or seasonal cycles. I find that during summer holidays I often find a quiet spot in an inspiring place and just reflect on my life in general. What’s working and what isn’t? Similarly in the winter at the end of one year and in anticipation of the one to come. Was that a good year? What will I build on? What will I do more of? What must I stop doing?

opportunistic times

And then there are other more ad-hoc or fluid times such as on journeys. Over the years, I have probably reflected more on trains and in airport lounges than anywhere else.

big reflections

Finally there are what I call the “big reflections”. Just before passing my job as MD at Primeast to my friend and colleague, Russell, I spent a few days in the mountains at Chiang Mai in Thailand. I meditated, which of course is more about connection than reflection. But I also reflected on a phase of my life that was ending. What had worked that I could celebrate? What could I have done differently? Was I even doing the right thing by moving on?

helping each other to reflect

We can help each other reflect by sincerely asking things like, “How’s your day been?” Or, if we haven’t seen someone for a while, perhaps we ask about their year or their summer and so on. Sometimes our questions are more context based, asking about the person’s job or family.
When we engage with people in this way, the manner of our engagement is really important. Usually when we ask how someone’s day has been, we do so simply as a matter of courtesy. Are we aware that the same question asked in sincerity and with a follow-up question or comment can really help them to take stock and perhaps celebrate something they’ve achieved? Try it. Just on your own, rehearse a simple question like, “How’s the job going?” Feel the difference between the throw-away comment and the sincere expression if interest.

providing structure

If we’re in a position to do so, we can provide structure for ourselves and for those around us for more reflection time. I’ve done a bit of this, such as encouraging shared meals at work and at home. I’m even a fan of monthly reporting at work because it keeps us focussed and doing the right things. For me, I consciously make the most of journeys as described above.

doing more

But even writing this article has grown my awareness. I hope it’s done the same for you. What more can we do to consciously create opportunities for ourselves and others?

Here are the thoughts that are emerging for me:

I will enjoy even more the opportunities I can provide for family, friends and colleagues to eat and share reflective time together
I will encourage reflection through my work on the Sacred Space project (see below)
I will take time to be alone in the countryside and in meditation
When I reflect I will capture the ideas that emerge and act on them
I will recognise reflective time for what it is and appreciate it a whole lot more

keep in touch

Book Mar This

Overcome Your Blocks to More Success By Judith K Sherven

When you think of people who are living a fabulous life who comes to mind? Bill Gates? Meryl Streep? Some prince, princess, or high dignitary? Bill Gates is the richest man in the world and he is deeply involved in helping people around the world. That’s not only fabulous, that’s almost fabled.

But if you knew someone who was going about their life without fame, wealth, and public adulation, would you say that that person is living a fabulous life? For most people the answer would be “No.”

And that makes the lives of 99%-plus of the people alive at any time unfabulous. Are fame, wealth, and public adulation the only criteria for a fabulous life?

We think not.

What about:

** Being true to your deepest desire.
** Standing apart from the crowd. .
** Putting yourself on the line, which means you take big risks.
** Speaking your truth.

Anyone who can live according to those standards is truly living a fabulous life.

But we all know that, no matter our intentions, most people (including those who are successful) are confronted, almost daily, with obstacles to their own fulfillment.

Yes, there are external obstacles. But the obstacles that really matter, that are actually far more powerful, are the unconscious blocks and resistances that dictate what you can and cannot do and who you can be - no matter what you tell yourself consciously.

Those unconscious limits take many forms and dictate what you have internal permission to pursue and what is forbidden to you.

But there is one limit-maker that applies to everyone, no matter their status in the world, which can seriously prevent you from living your fabulous life. And that is your willingness and capacity, or not, to advance beyond your station..

By “station” we mean the extent to which you can envision yourself out in the world. Because when that vision is limited, then to that extent you impose your own restrictions on how far you can go toward self-discovery, self-acknowledgment, self-expression, and self-satisfaction.
You are not divine but human. You are not infinite nor eternal. So there will always be some measure of limitation to which you can envision yourself out in the world.

And, right now, what’s the extent to which your vision propels you forward toward a larger life? And, how is your vision currently limiting the way you are presently living?

To live a fabulous life is to step out beyond the extent to which you can envision yourself at any moment. Because when you do, you are in a moment of discovery, of daring, of hearty imagination as you realize and bring to life the rich gifts that exist within you.

No, you don’t have to be fabled to be fabulous. But you do have to be willing to step out. And step out again, and again. When you do, a truly fabulous life awaits you.

To help you overcome the unconscious blocks that have been holding you back, take advantage of these 7 tipshttp://www.fearofbeingfabulous.com

Judith Sherven (along with her husband) is a best-selling author of 5 book, clinical psychologist, and the creator of “Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous” and related programs.

Sponsored by: http://www.Indiainfotech.co.in

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