Can you believe it? It is pouring down buckets in Arizona this morning and has been for the past couple of days. It always surprises me, but I know I'd rather live in the sun. Wouldn't you? These days it seems like there are a lot of clouds-economy on a continuous daily roller coaster, people being laid off, holidays are here and we are still in racing mode, end of the year and all the fiscal stuff has to be don. This is even a time when we eat too much and are not focusing on taking care of ourselves. So we are out of control, right? We always think we can control everything, but really we can only control ourselves. I learned that in a twelve step program years ago, but I keep forgetting. So what can we control, here are five things that I'd like to share with you today.
1. You Can Control Your Daily Routine. One of the things I learned when I was laid off (all three times) is that I felt vulnerable, managed by a situation. So the one simple thing I can control is what I do today. Each day I have a survival routine-I get up, have my devotions, go for my two mile walk (or 30 minutes on the eliptical, if it's raining:-), come back and do my core strenthening on the ball, share breakfast time with my husband (my oatmeal does wonders for cholesterol) and read the paper. When you become diligent about your routine, you'll know there's hope and the clouds will go away.
2. Choose to Live Your Passion. What's your passion? What do you truly get lost in? There are ways to figure out what your special passion is so that you can be clearly intentional. What do I mean by that, well, if you look back into your life and ask the question, "when I was little, what did everyone say that I did well?" Did you perform (come on, Johnney, play the piano for Aunt Helen), did you have a lemonade stand (or sell advice for $1), did you create drawings (clearly an artist in the making)? Fast forward a few years, when you were a teenager, what did you absolutely get lost in? Singing, performing, solving problems - our patterns follow us through our lives. You just need to connect the dots and then either get a job with those ingredients or if you are in a job that pays well and you are kindof stuck, how can you live those passions right within your current company. i.e. I've always loved to teach (my story-Laid Off? Don't Stress! How to Get from Mad to Glad), in any job I've ever been in, I've figured out a way to do things like inservices, orientation, etc. Be creative-when you live your passion, you'll know their's hope for the sunshine.
3. Find Something Daily to be Thankful for. Think of where we live. America. Yes, things are in a bit of an upheaval right now, but it has been before and it will be again. Before you get out of bed in the morning (your nice warm bed), think of three things you are thankful for. Dana Reynolds (http://www.sacredimagination.com) call it "Cultivating Gratitude." Isn't that the truth? Plant your own seed and in 21 days it has sprouted (takes that long to create a habit) The rain and sun will help it grow strong.
4. Believe in Yourself and Maintain a Bright Attitude. You were born with special gifts and talents. What differentiates you from everyone else? If you can't come up with anything, ask your friends & family. One of my friends sent out forty e-mails and asked what they thought made her different. She had a great time seeing and believing in herself through their eyes. Another way of seeing and believing in yourself is to write down your accomplishments - big and little. When you can actually see it on paper, it's a real morale booster AND you'll be able to talk about it better when you have to sell yourself in the next interview.
5. Believe in Your Purpose. If you can't see the end of the rainbow - believe that it's there, the rain will stop, the clouds will go away and the sun and the rainbow will be there.When you were young, you had a purpose. Have you gotten distracted from that purpose? Patricia Drain in her book, "What Should I Be When I Grow Up, Now that I'm 40, 50, & 60," describes this as the stone theory. When you throw a rock into the water - the middle is your core purpose and the ripples going out are the distractions that get in your way. Believe in and take that next step and before you know it, you will be back on track. Start today. Really, start today. Do something for just 10 minutes that will help you get back on track.
Are you willing to control your routine, choose your passion, be grateful, get the right attitude and stay on purpose? It's your choice. There is a better day out there at the end of your rainbow. Blessings and Happy New Year.
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