Liberation

What better time than Spring to cultivate new, raw and powerful energy to make positive change in your life? Not feeling it? No problem. We start where you are.  Right now.

Do you know what’s holding you back? Is it you, holding yourself back? Fear of the unknown, or of the floundering economy we face? If you know or if you don’t – you can make change happen – clarity will come. Try this month’s experiment: 

Name your top 3 priorities. Self care? More sales? Plan a fun vacation? Write them down on a large whiteboard in 3 columns, or if you don’t own one, on 3 brown paper grocery bags. Like this:

(I have 2 Jobs under the heading of Work, Coaching and Companion to older adults, + School +  Fun).

Got it? Ok – Set up the bags where you can see them, standing upright.  Next, follow these steps:

1. Plan your week, on Sunday or Monday morning, by blocking off TIME increments of 1, 2 or 3 hours, or more for one week. 
2. NOTE: This is your INTENT to devote TIME to your PRIORITIES.
3. Now, each time you make progress toward one of those priorities, make a mark on the appropriate bag. Reach over with a marker and make a slash mark.
4. Each week, do this for a task that you actually do (phone call, email, have a meeting, or other activity) that moves you forward on your intention.
5. At the end of the month (or before) you will see where your energy is.

I did this exercise when my father had a stroke in 2011. At the time, I’d just decided to apply to graduate school, I needed to study for the GRE, and wanted to build my coaching practice. Oh, and de-stress from the role of caregiver and nervous graduate school applicant. Or so I thought. I was completely unaware that these reasonable goals (?) couldn’t happen during the 4 months I had in front of me. I wanted them badly enough, so that wasn’t the problem. The problem was I didn’t KNOW what I could actually do, and do well. My father was the first priority. Then school – time sensitive, demanding energy and temporary. Soon enough, it became obvious. My creative brain was toast. Growing a business requires creativity. As soon as my brother took over the role of main caregiver for my father (who was recovering well), my creative brain began talking to me. My blog was born. I got into the school I wanted. What happened then? I didn’t beat myself up about “not doing enough’! I was doing plenty.

So are you. Try the bag experiment. It’ll really help you see what you spend your time on. Here is the best part: The things with the most marks ARE what you are SUPPOSED to be spending time on, for now! The other bag or 2, without the slash marks? Not time for that yet. Sorry, it just isn’t. If you’re unhappy about what you find, OK. You now have a solid, concrete place to start. And you no longer have to wonder if… or when, or what….Welcome to Liberation. (Why is another question, best taken up with a Coach).

Let me know how your experiment goes.

All the best,

Carol