Finding the lessons from life (and learning from them) is the best way to practice gratitude and the easiest way to find true happiness. Life comes with its ups and downs, it is up to us to find the lesson in both. In my newsletters I usually share the ups, but here are some moments of 2014 where I needed to spend a little extra time finding the lesson to learn:
1) It's OK to turn it down if it doesn't feel like the right fit.
I say this as a business owner but actually this lesson can relate to anything you want to say no to. Being true to you is so important - don't apologise for it!
I was coming to the end of a work peak and was considering where the next payment would come from, when I was offered an unpaid speaking gig, and for a moment I wavered. My thoughts went between 'this could be the place where the next income comes from' to 'it doesn't feel like the right fit.' I decided to trust and I did turn it down; two days later I was offered a speaking event with 'Triumph'. Ironic? No. Perfect! In those two days though I wondered...
Trust yourself and take a leap of faith - when you turn down what you don't want, it leaves room for what you deserve.
2) Don't let one person ruin your whole day.
I often support my clients in reaching the understanding that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent, and although I have been there in the past I live that to the point I usually don't notice. Until recently. I had retweeted something I was excited about and a fellow tweeter responded saying that I was a fake.
Wow, admittedly I was floored for a moment but I'm so grateful to that man, because I became conscious of my usually unconscious habits. Tempted as I was to delete him and the offending tweet, I responded to thank him for his feedback on other coaches in his experience of which I knew nothing since we'd never met. My lovely and supportive friends couldn't believe I wasn't angry, but this feedback was about him, not me - I did not know him.
When someone says or does something hurtful, whether we know them or not, we can always thank them for their feedback, decide if it about them or us, and then delete accordingly. That my lovelies, is our choice.
3) Celebrate your successes
In October this year I achieved every one of my business goals set six months before, and I confess...I didn't notice! Well, I did notice, then I thought 'wow, I achieved that exactly as I said I would' and then I immediately turned my thoughts to 'what next?', and as I picked at that 'what next' question I lost sight of those successes and became concerned that I didn't have my new goals in place, I didn't know what I was doing next, everyone else was busy, they knew what they were doing, look how successful they are... and I started to unravel.
This is the power of negative emotions, they are four times stronger than positive emotions so we have to be really clear, if you choose to listen to the negative make sure you have a contingency plan. I invest in a coach, but for you it could be just writing it out until you empty them out and see them for what they really are...a pile of bullshit! How do you choose to react when you find yourself going down that negative path?
You could be driving in the most beautiful car in the world, but if you are sitting inside thinking about having a car crash you are unlikely to enjoy the ride! So focus on what you want, take positive action and remove any negative thoughts or emotions that come up along the way. Celebrate your successes and enjoy the ride!
I say this as a business owner but actually this lesson can relate to anything you want to say no to. Being true to you is so important - don't apologise for it!
I was coming to the end of a work peak and was considering where the next payment would come from, when I was offered an unpaid speaking gig, and for a moment I wavered. My thoughts went between 'this could be the place where the next income comes from' to 'it doesn't feel like the right fit.' I decided to trust and I did turn it down; two days later I was offered a speaking event with 'Triumph'. Ironic? No. Perfect! In those two days though I wondered...
Trust yourself and take a leap of faith - when you turn down what you don't want, it leaves room for what you deserve.
2) Don't let one person ruin your whole day.
I often support my clients in reaching the understanding that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent, and although I have been there in the past I live that to the point I usually don't notice. Until recently. I had retweeted something I was excited about and a fellow tweeter responded saying that I was a fake.
Wow, admittedly I was floored for a moment but I'm so grateful to that man, because I became conscious of my usually unconscious habits. Tempted as I was to delete him and the offending tweet, I responded to thank him for his feedback on other coaches in his experience of which I knew nothing since we'd never met. My lovely and supportive friends couldn't believe I wasn't angry, but this feedback was about him, not me - I did not know him.
When someone says or does something hurtful, whether we know them or not, we can always thank them for their feedback, decide if it about them or us, and then delete accordingly. That my lovelies, is our choice.
3) Celebrate your successes
In October this year I achieved every one of my business goals set six months before, and I confess...I didn't notice! Well, I did notice, then I thought 'wow, I achieved that exactly as I said I would' and then I immediately turned my thoughts to 'what next?', and as I picked at that 'what next' question I lost sight of those successes and became concerned that I didn't have my new goals in place, I didn't know what I was doing next, everyone else was busy, they knew what they were doing, look how successful they are... and I started to unravel.
This is the power of negative emotions, they are four times stronger than positive emotions so we have to be really clear, if you choose to listen to the negative make sure you have a contingency plan. I invest in a coach, but for you it could be just writing it out until you empty them out and see them for what they really are...a pile of bullshit! How do you choose to react when you find yourself going down that negative path?
You could be driving in the most beautiful car in the world, but if you are sitting inside thinking about having a car crash you are unlikely to enjoy the ride! So focus on what you want, take positive action and remove any negative thoughts or emotions that come up along the way. Celebrate your successes and enjoy the ride!
What are your career lessons of 2014? Do share in the comments below:
Remember now is not just a time to reflect, but a time to consider what you really want for next year. I mean really.
To find out how to do that in an empowering way so that you can make 2015 your best year yet sign up for your newsletters and watch out for the first one of the year.
Remember now is not just a time to reflect, but a time to consider what you really want for next year. I mean really.
To find out how to do that in an empowering way so that you can make 2015 your best year yet sign up for your newsletters and watch out for the first one of the year.
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