Live Brave: March 2013

Last week I spoke about the new adventure that I am starting soon. And as the days are counting down, my current manager has suggested that I read this little book called "Who moved my cheese". While he was talking, all I could think was what a weird name that is for a book, but after settling in for the evening, I jumped onto Amazon and Ebay and bought myself a copy of this little book.

The book only has 94 pages and took me just a couple of hours to read through. It was an easy read, but it really does leave you with a lot to think about. I don't want to give too much away, but it essentially speaks about ways in which people approach change. Its funny as while I can relate to one character more than the others, there have been times in my life when I have been each one of them.

These are the important points I've picked up from my read:

Change happens | They keep moving the cheese

Anticipate change | Get ready for the cheese to move

Monitor change | Smell the cheese often so you know when it is starting to get old

Adapt to change quickly | The quicker you let go of the old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy the new cheese

Change | Move with the cheese

Enjoy change! | Savior the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese!

Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again | They keep moving the cheese

The thing that I really enjoyed about this book is that the concept is applicable for both your professional and personal life. Some of the points really got me thinking:

When feeling discouraged, its important to remind yourself that while what you are doing may be uncomfortable at the moment, that discomfort is much better than the current reality.
Take control instead of letting things happen.
Change happens to all of us
What would you do if you weren't afraid?
Change is happening everywhere and I would do better to adapt to it quickly
Learn to laugh at yourself!
Along the journey to your new cheese, imagine yourself enjoying it in vivid details so it becomes real to you.
Sometimes we need to get rid of the bad behaviors rather than what we think is the bad cheese.

Have you read the book? What are you thoughts on it?

It was time to move on, to find something new. The situation at work was no longer good for me. I was finding my stress levels the highest they have ever been. I was having episodes where I was battling to breath and my chest felt like it was closing in around me. I did some research and I think I was suffering from panic attacks. I couldn't sleep and felt like I was going through the day in a fog. I found tears streaming down my cheeks at the slightest word while snapping at the smallest of annoyances. I wasn't me, I felt like I was drowning.

By the end of January I couldn't keep going, I was at the very end of my rope. So, I made the only decision that I felt I could - I needed a new job. It didn't matter what, I just needed something new. So I applied for three internal jobs and waited patiently for the closing dates to pass, waiting to hear if I had been successful. The first closing date passed, and I was invited to attend an interview.

This job sounded great but way out of my league. I didn't have all the necessary experience and its essentially a promotion compared to my current role. So when the interview came around, I wasn't nervous and I hadn't spent much time preparing. Being completely honest, I saw it more as an opportunity to practise my interview skills for one of the other jobs I was hoping to get an interview for. I came out of there thinking that it had gone alright, that I wouldn't get this job but the practise was good for me. I didn't feel too disappointed, if it was meant to be it would happen.

Four days later my phone rang. The job was all mine if I wanted it. Apparently my interview had gone exceptionally well and I had outshone eight other candidates. They picked me. I couldn't believe it. Not only was I successful for a new job, but with that new job came promotion, more freedom with my time and a pay rise. This new role opens the doors of opportunity so wide. I couldn't believe it.

So I thanked God. I thanked Him for his faithfulness, for answering my prayers, for directing my path and for giving me this opportunity.............and then I said yes please!

I have eight working days left in my current role followed by ten days of R & R and then my new adventure begins. This new adventure, as exciting as it may be, is also terrifying me.....and right now I am having to remind myself daily that I need to choose faith over fear.

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If you know me in real life or have been following my blog for a few years you will know that I am always trying to lose weight, that I am always on some sort of diet, and yet I just don't seem to be making any real progress in this area. In January I joined Slimming World and have been following the program ever since, having lost eight pounds so far. I wish that I could say that it has all been going smoothly but these past few weeks have not been too great. I find that when life gets stressful around me I turn towards food instead of continuing to focus on what is really important to me. The weight loss slows down and my motivation begins with dwindle.

This past week I have been thinking and spending time researching motivation. I read numerous articles and posts about motivation, about how to keep it and about how easy it is to lose it. The one thing that stood out to me in all the articles though was how this motivation thing seems to be more of a skill than anything else. Like other skills it needs to be practised and focused on. Motivation is your brain’s way of manipulating your body — and you should never lose sight of the fact that YOU hold the marionette strings!

These are the tactics that I found and that I am going to try to use to stay motivated.

1. Have a Vision In Mind

You have to know where you are going so that you will know when you have gotten there. Motivation is an abstract idea, so give yourself something tangible to work towards. What is it that you want to accomplish? What does your ideal look like at this moment? What do you want it to look like a year from now? 5 years from now?

Give yourself a minute to really think about those questions, and when you are done – say it out loud. Say it to the significant people in your life, to anyone who will listen. Make your vision public. My friend always says “If you can see it, you can be it.”

Also: Give yourself permission to change your mind. Your vision doesn’t need to be permanent, and if it is not working for you — MAKE A NEW ONE. I think this is where a lot of people get caught up and therefore de-motivated. If you’re not excited to do what you are doing, maybe you need to be doing something new. Now go figure out what that something is instead of wasting precious time!

2. Stay Focused on You

I think the first thing to recognise is that you can’t do everything.I want you to REALLY think about that. Everyone says they recognise this, yet they continue to try to do it all. You will never get anywhere (nor will you feel motivated to get anywhere) if you are constantly comparing you at your worst to to others at their best. Are you guilty of this? I know that I am. The thing is, if you have a vision but allow yourself to be distracted by what everyone else is doing, you are giving away your energy and your focus.

3. Cultivate Seeds of Inspiration

Read books related to your vision
Seek out a mentor
Watch an movie where triumph is a theme
Make a new Pinterest Board
Listen to good music
Call your mom (or someone else who sees you through rose coloured glasses!)
Talk to new people
Take a chance

Whatever it takes — but you must, YOU MUST, get in touch with that feeling inside of you. We all have it, but it takes work to allow yourself to be a conduit for inspiration. Do the work. And if you are not feeling inspired, seek out a different route.

4. Recognise When It’s Time for steaming ahead or taking time out

Motivation is just as much about being as it is about doing, but I think sometimes we forget that. Sure everything looks glossy when you are in the midst of kicking ass and checking things off lists but if you don’t shut down and recharge the batteries every once in a while your inspiration will leave. Nobody feels motivated when they are exhausted. In one of the books that I have been reading, the author stated that people give up on their goals for one of three reasons; exhaustion, disappointment or feeling overwhelmed. Allowing yourself to get to that point is setting yourself up for failure. This is the piece of motivation that I struggle with the most, but it is definitely worth keeping in the back of your mind. It’s easy to forget that giving yourself downtime ensures that when you give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.

5. Make A List

To-do lists are the best. Keep LOTS of lists. Lists for everything from tasks to ideas to quotes to random thoughts. I have a list for everything. Lists help my mind from being overwhelmed. But here’s the thing: They aren’t always organised, they aren’t alphabetical or filed by order of importance. But they are written down on paper. Most importantly they are expelled from my brain, freeing up valuable space in my mind. I can feel comforted by the fact that if I flip to a piece of paper my ideas will be there. It’s like a running tally of motivational fuel just waiting to be used.

6. Set Deadlines and Provide Rewards

Generally if something sits on a To-Do list I’ve made and I don’t get around to it, I use that as an indicator that it’s time to re-think my vision. But ultimately there are those times when we need to get motivated to things to that CAN’T be excised from the list. What motivates me on that stuff?

If something sits on my to do list and I don't get around to it, it's a good idea to use it as an indicator that it's time to re-think my vision. The thing is though, sometimes those things that haven't been done, still need doing. Those are the items that need motivation in order to be done. What have a learnt about motivation and tasks that you don't feel like doing? To get those things done, its best to face them with a deadline and a reward!

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Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.

(Unknown)

Hello Spring, even though it doesn't feel like it at all, I am so very happy to know that you are on your way. Before I have a look back at my February intentions and then set March ones, I wanted to take a moment to quickly recap my overall 2013 priorities and goals.

These are the five priorities I set for this year:

Take care of myself emotionally & physically - including focusing on living my personal boundaries
Focus my energy on doing well at Uni and at work
Nourish and grow my relationships with friends & family
Be open to opportunity and possibility
Have more fun, try new things and be happy in who I am

REVIEW : : February intentions.

Spend time with friends - Completed. I went for a lovely walk Saturday afternoon with Julie and then we had a girls night out with a few ladies.

Write a letter to Granny - I finally got around to writing and sending granny a letter. I love how we both take the time to write lovely letters to each other. She is such a big part of my life and definitely someone who inspires me.

Submit TMA01 and continue to stick to my weekly planned study sessions - I am so pleased to say that I have stuck to my study sessions so far this year. I am up to date with all my work and making good progress on my assignment.

Maintain focus on my health journey - I am pleased to say that despite a wobbly two weeks, I have indeed attended all the weekly classes and have now lost a total of 8 pounds.

Find a new job - Yahoo!! I don't yet have a new job but I have applied for three and have heard back from one of which I had an interview yesterday for.

SET : : March intentions.

See a movie - I think that a mother and daughter day is needed of which we may go watch Safe Haven at the cinema.

Create a love list - I have seen so many great Love Lists around on the Internet these past few weeks that I want to create one of my own.

Maintain focus on my health journey - I plan to ensure that no matter what happens this month that I will be going to each and every weigh in. I also want to remember the importance of celebrating success along the way. I hope to have lost 1 stone by the end of this month.

Find a new job - I am praying that this month I will be offered a new job.

CELEBRATE : : I'm looking forward to.....

Spend time with mom - Spending time with mom is one of the ways in which I am hoping to help reduce my current stress levels and continue to work on our relationship.

Taking more photos - I haven't taken photos using my camera in a really long time so I am hoping to take my camera with me on my daily walks.

What are your intentions for March?

Pages

1. Have a Vision In Mind

2. Stay Focused on You

3. Cultivate Seeds of Inspiration

4. Recognise When It’s Time for steaming ahead or taking time out

5. Make A List

6. Set Deadlines and Provide Rewards

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