No New Year's Resolutions!!

"You've got to get the mind cleared out before you put the truth in it."- Minister Lous Farrakhan

I stopped making New Year's Resolutions a long time ago. Mostly because about 2 or 3 months into the new year, I couldn't remember what I had resolved to change. Instead, I set goals every 3 months. It's like doing spring cleaning every few months. It's great because it makes me reassess where I am in life. It also forces me to see where I'm falling short.

Most of the time, I have a bunch of ideas swimming in my head. When I'm goal setting it forces me to decide whether the idea is one that I can live without trying. I'm the type of person that could never live with regret. I'd wake up and kick myself everyday if I let an opportunity pass me by. I can deal with failure- it's a part of trying, but could never live with the "what if".

After 3 months, I go back to my goal sheet and check off the things that I've accomplished. It usually makes me feel pretty good to know that I've completed something. The things that are not completed are usually those ideas I had swimming in my head that I really didn't need to focus on anyway. I've come to understand that some of the ideas I have are not for me. Sometimes they come to me to share with someone else for them to complete. And I'm okay with that.

So, I didn't eat the collard greens and black eyed peas. Truth is, it has never really worked anyway. What does work is determination, discipline, and focus. I consistently have one of those three, the other two, I have to work on. And no, I haven't promised myself anything crazy by making resolutions. I set goals so that I change my lifestyle overall.

Here are some keys to goal setting:

1. Be realistic. No you will not become an astronaut next year when you haven't even finished undergraduate school. But there is potential for you to enroll in business classes since you want to become an entrepreneur.

2. Don't listen to what other people say. Some people may not understand your goals when you think outside of the box.

3. Your goals should reflect who you are and those things that you are most passionate about.

4. Now is the time. If you went to school to become a teacher, but you always wanted to be an interior decorator, set some goals to move yourself in that direction today!

Here's wishing you and yours a beautiful and prosperous 2012!!!

Do you have these books on your shelf? Available on Kindle and Nook.

"The only way to have peace in a relationship is to know how to butter your own bread."- Ra-Ha

Usually at the beginning of the year, we make resolutions and think about how we want our lives to look in the upcoming year. Around Lent, we have another opportunity to make a list of things that are not good for us that we need to let go of. But then what happens at the rest of the year? Do we not continue to reassess those things in our lives that we are allowing to prohibit growth?

Realistically, we should make sure that we are always conscious of cleaning the closet. A good rule of thumb is to do assess your goals and your relationships at the start of every season. Decide what is working for you and what's not working for you. Decide what you are willing to put up with and what needs to go. It's amazing how many of us will clean our closets of clothing or uneccessary items that have been stockpiled by the end of the season, but we don't make the same dedication to setting personal development and career goals or assessing relationships.

Here's how to get started:

Relationships:
Are there people in your life that don't give but are always ready to receive?
Are there people in your life that bring uneccessary drama and negative or draining energy?
Are there people in your life that are not supportive or are a friend only when it is convenient for them?

Personal Development:
On a scale of 1-5 (5 is highest, 1 lowest) how satisfied are you with your job/ career?
How often do you set and reassess your goals?
Where do you envision yourself in the next 5 years? What steps do you have to take to get there?

Today's challenge: Answer the above questions and start to recognize those things/ people that are positive in your life and those things that need to be removed.

Peace and Blessings,

Want to read more on how to Live Your Best Life?
Click here http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448

Haters Everywhere We Go

Have you ever met someone who never really has anything positive to say? The type of person who always shoots down an idea or can't quite understand why you think so far outside of the box.

You probably are at the point where you don't even share anything with them. You may avoid spending time around them. Don't be too hard on them. They are allowing the spirit of jealousy and envy to take over.

If you recognize that, its easier to choose to not deal with the person at all, or just keep them at a comfortable arm's length distance. Don't let their spirit have power over you as it has power over them.

Today's challenge: When you recognize negative spirits in others, give them only positive vibes, no matter what. You can't fight hate with more hate.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Finding The Peace Within

 

"If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else."- Marvin Gaye

Many people look for others to make them happy. The truth of the matter is that other human beings will disappoint you, hurt you physically or emotionally, or they won't quite measure up to your standards. If this is the truth about people, how can someone else make you happy?

You will never be happy with someone else if you are not happy with yourself. It's an old adage, but take some time to think about it. You should still be able to be happy or content when another person lets you down. You're emotional well being should never be tied up into the well being of another. What happens when that person leaves you, because they ultimately will. You will need to keep living past their absence.

So if you are able to be happy with who you are and where you are in your life, you are on your way to finding out the true meaning of peace. Otherwise, you will spend time looking from person to person trying to discover what you should already posses within yourself.

Want to read more on how to Live Your Best Life?
Click here http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448

Peace and Blessings

Live Your Best Life for only $2.99!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50448

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Sitting alone with your Self

"No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in the still water we can see." - The Wisdom of the Taoists

The other day, I rode in the car on my way to see clients with no radio- just my thoughts. I've been doing it a lot more lately and I'm finding a sense of clarity. I used to hate to hear silence. It always made me think that something was about to happen because I was used to hearing a lot of noise. Silence made me uncomfortable. As I get older, I understand that there is something valuable about sitting alone with your Self. All of the noise and clutter around me was like going on a first date to the movies- you never get to concentrate on getting to know one another because you are focused on the distraction purposely set there between the two of you.

How often do you set aside time to sit alone and get to know yourself. It's a scary thought, but if more of us did so, we would have to be honest about who we really are. The internet is full of personality tests, career tests, tests that tell you who the perfect mate would be for you. The reality of taking those tests are that we sometimes fudge on how we would really answer those questions. We answer those questions based on how we would like to see ourselves, not always based on who we truly are. Then we continue to walk around in this fog of who we would like to be and risk hurt, rejection, and unnecessary disappointments that we inflict on ourselves. Why? Because we don't spend time alone with our Self to understand who we truly are.

Today's challenge:

Take time out to get to know your Self. Go to the movies alone. Go to dinner alone. Understand that you may experience discomfort you may feel being alone with your Self. Find peace with being alone to think clearly and become honest with yourself about who you truly are.

Peace and Blessings

Achieving My Dream As An Author

About 4 years ago, my husband convinced me I should publish the kind of books I like to read. I thought he was crazy at first, but he was on to something.

I've published 3 paperbacks and 3 ebook short stories. I've endured a publisher that didn't keep good records and give me monthly statements without me asking, and an ebook publisher that vanished like Houdini. I also found a great publisher who provides a wonderful home for my books.

I've had the chance to edit for new authors as well as do publicist duties for authors. I realized I prefer the creative space of writing and using the talent God gave me.

Writing has given me a chance to let my readers enjoy literature as much as I do. I've learned so much about business and how to manage the creative side as well.

The literary world is not for the timid, the weak, or those with thin skin. But then and again, going after your dreams involves risk, determination, and ability to endure rejection.

Today's challenge: Go for your dreams as if rejection could not be a factor.

Follow me on Twitter @tgrantlifecoach

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4