Are you feeling burnt out, run down, defeated all the time? Or worse, are you bored, not fulfilled and feeling inadequate as if life is somehow passing you by? Why is it so difficult to keep balance in all areas of our lives, physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, financially, professionally, etc and keep everyone happy and get everything done that needs to get done and spend time with our children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. Phew! I'm out of breath just typing that run on sentence!
First of all, you will never keep everyone happy. I know you know that, but it's another thing to actually live like you've accepted it and walk accordingly. You will never keep your spouses, bosses, friends, family etc happy all the time. You will let people down.
What/who are your priorities in life? That should be a natural extension of your faith. If you are a Christian, it should be God first, your spouse next, your children/family 3rd, your employer/business 4th, friends, etc. and so on. Not to say I have all the answers, but based on experience, if those are out of order, it's easy for the rest of your life to become so. I'm also not here to preach at you, just to help you focus to get some of the basics down. If you do agree with me, why? If you don't, why not? It's important you understand why you make the decisions you do and not just because someone told you that's the way it should or shouldn't be.
I'm not sure how priorities would work in other religions, but I would say, if oxygen masks drop in the airplane, you need to put them on yourself first before you can help anyone else, right? Same in life. You need to make sure that what gives you oxygen for your life, likely your faith, your creator, is given the rightful priority. If I know I'm being true to what I have been called, chosen to do in this life, then I trust the "pieces" will fall in pleasant places. Or let the "chips fall where they may".
If, once I've determined an order for my life and I am doing my best to meet commitments that fall in that order, while still getting adequate food, water and rest, then I am doing the best I can and I can't be overly concerned about what is being left undone.
If you are spending 90 hours a week working, your family is severely suffering as a result. You probably have no friends to speak of, so undue pressure may be put on your coworkers to meet that need, your spouse and children are feeling very distant and as a result, you're feeling guilty. Or the reverse may be true. There may not be sufficient work at your job to keep you busy 30 or 40 hours per week, but as jobs are scarce to come by as of late - you're trying to appear busy to the average onlooker, or worse, your boss. In many cases, your boss knows however and doesn't want to lose you in case things pick up.
Finding a balance is key. Sometimes you need to walk away from jobs for those reasons, and trust that the right one will fall in your lap at the right time. Choose your priorities well! Ah, but I have bills to pay, I may lose my house. So, downsize! Now, while you can call the shots. What are your priorities? Do you know?
I've given you suggestions of what they could be above. What do yours look like? How do they line up with who you are and the goals you've hopefully determined for yourself on my last post? Try to bring some of these things together. What does it look like?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
So, who ARE you, really?
Have you had a chance to think about the questions I asked you yesterday? Really think? I mean, quiet, no distractions, time to sit down and think with hopefully a pen and pad in hand writing down your thoughts? If not, take some time and do that right now before you read on. Go ahead! If you haven't read the post from yesterday, do that first, take some time and come up with answers, then come back.
So, do you have your list in hand? Who are you? What can you tell me about yourself in a minute or two. Are you someone's son or daughter, wife or mother, grandchild to so and so? Are you a mechanic, an engineer, a sales rep, an attorney? Those are not the kind of answers I'm looking for here. Your identity is not wrapped up in what you do or who you belong to or who belongs to you. Your identity is the real you. Flaws and all! :)
We all have strengths and weaknesses and it's important to know what they are and that we best work our life to enhance our strengths and help others, and to admit our weaknesses and team up with someone else who is strong it those areas. Be wise, use less resources and TIME is one of the biggest resources you have - don't blow it! LIFE IS TOO SHORT!!!
Are you a fixer, an analyzer, a cook, a sewer, a farmer? What are the things you just LOVE to do in your free time and you are kinda good at if you do say so yourself? You have probably heard this before, but you could be making money at those things. Start to invest your time to help others in your areas of strength and ask them if they can help you with the things their good at or an overflow of goods, or an unused item they may have to offer you at no cost but great value.
Yep, the good old fashioned barter system. Start small, when you have time. Oh, by the way, in the US, today is the Friday before Memorial Day and it's 3pm. Are you still working? When do you get off? It's a holiday weekend you know. Is your response, great, I'm outta here! Or is it, good, everyone will be gone for the weekend from the office or shop so I can get some work done.
No right or wrong answers here, but if you choose to work all the time, why? Is it because you absolutely LOVE what your doing? Or "I got bills to pay you know. Can't sit and blog all day on the internet like some people!" :) Turn the computer off, flip the "closed" sign over, and go home. If you possibly can at all.
I know some of you always work nights and or weekends. Just try to stick close to 40 hours a week somehow and really purpose to get 2 days off in a row on a consistent basis and HAVE FUN! And, take some time out to think about what it is you really want in life. If there were no limitations, finances, health, time, etc. What would you do if you were given 3 wishes by a genie?
Go home and enjoy LIFE for the weekend. :)
So, do you have your list in hand? Who are you? What can you tell me about yourself in a minute or two. Are you someone's son or daughter, wife or mother, grandchild to so and so? Are you a mechanic, an engineer, a sales rep, an attorney? Those are not the kind of answers I'm looking for here. Your identity is not wrapped up in what you do or who you belong to or who belongs to you. Your identity is the real you. Flaws and all! :)
We all have strengths and weaknesses and it's important to know what they are and that we best work our life to enhance our strengths and help others, and to admit our weaknesses and team up with someone else who is strong it those areas. Be wise, use less resources and TIME is one of the biggest resources you have - don't blow it! LIFE IS TOO SHORT!!!
Are you a fixer, an analyzer, a cook, a sewer, a farmer? What are the things you just LOVE to do in your free time and you are kinda good at if you do say so yourself? You have probably heard this before, but you could be making money at those things. Start to invest your time to help others in your areas of strength and ask them if they can help you with the things their good at or an overflow of goods, or an unused item they may have to offer you at no cost but great value.
Yep, the good old fashioned barter system. Start small, when you have time. Oh, by the way, in the US, today is the Friday before Memorial Day and it's 3pm. Are you still working? When do you get off? It's a holiday weekend you know. Is your response, great, I'm outta here! Or is it, good, everyone will be gone for the weekend from the office or shop so I can get some work done.
No right or wrong answers here, but if you choose to work all the time, why? Is it because you absolutely LOVE what your doing? Or "I got bills to pay you know. Can't sit and blog all day on the internet like some people!" :) Turn the computer off, flip the "closed" sign over, and go home. If you possibly can at all.
I know some of you always work nights and or weekends. Just try to stick close to 40 hours a week somehow and really purpose to get 2 days off in a row on a consistent basis and HAVE FUN! And, take some time out to think about what it is you really want in life. If there were no limitations, finances, health, time, etc. What would you do if you were given 3 wishes by a genie?
Go home and enjoy LIFE for the weekend. :)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Purpose(FULL) Life
What is your purpose in life? What are you meant to do while you're here? Life is so short, it can be over in the blink of an eye. What do you contribute to the world around you? Who are you? Do you know? Who do others perceive you to be? What is driving you, day by day? Is it hum-drum, gotta get up, go to work, eat and sleep and do it all over again because you have bills to pay?
Is there purpose in what you do? Did you choose this life and what you do? Was there a conscious decision some time in your life, when you were a kid perhaps, where you said I want to be a .... fill in the blank. Are you doing that now? Are you fulfilling your lifelong dream of being or doing whatever you thought you were going to be when you were a kid?
Have your dreams changed? Or have you settled because you think you will never attain what lofty ideas you had as a kid? Are you okay with the changes in mindset and deed? Or do you secretly long to be what you've always wanted to be and keep stuffing that dream down because it's not realistic, you'll never achieve it.
What are you doing right now, from day to day? Are you enjoying it? Are you doing things that you like to do, or have to do, or both? What goes on your daily task list, and why? Did you put those lists there, or where they dictated to you by someone else?
What are the things that you're good at? What are you not so good at? Do you even really know? Do you have the chance each day to do things that you enjoy and are good at? Why or Why not?
There are no right or wrong answers here. Just looking for honest answers from you. You may not have the answers now. I urge you to consider these questions though and come up with some answers. They may change a day or two, month or two, year or two or more down the road. That's okay. Right now, lets focus on finding out where you're at today and where you want to go.
I will endeavour to help you along the way come up with answers to these questions and others, usually by asking you more questions. Please feel free to comment and ask questions and if this post is causing you to think, go ahead and click to subscribe to these posts via email.
CHOOSE each day to BE Clinquant!
Success to you!!
Katie Gonzalez
Is there purpose in what you do? Did you choose this life and what you do? Was there a conscious decision some time in your life, when you were a kid perhaps, where you said I want to be a .... fill in the blank. Are you doing that now? Are you fulfilling your lifelong dream of being or doing whatever you thought you were going to be when you were a kid?
Have your dreams changed? Or have you settled because you think you will never attain what lofty ideas you had as a kid? Are you okay with the changes in mindset and deed? Or do you secretly long to be what you've always wanted to be and keep stuffing that dream down because it's not realistic, you'll never achieve it.
What are you doing right now, from day to day? Are you enjoying it? Are you doing things that you like to do, or have to do, or both? What goes on your daily task list, and why? Did you put those lists there, or where they dictated to you by someone else?
What are the things that you're good at? What are you not so good at? Do you even really know? Do you have the chance each day to do things that you enjoy and are good at? Why or Why not?
There are no right or wrong answers here. Just looking for honest answers from you. You may not have the answers now. I urge you to consider these questions though and come up with some answers. They may change a day or two, month or two, year or two or more down the road. That's okay. Right now, lets focus on finding out where you're at today and where you want to go.
I will endeavour to help you along the way come up with answers to these questions and others, usually by asking you more questions. Please feel free to comment and ask questions and if this post is causing you to think, go ahead and click to subscribe to these posts via email.
CHOOSE each day to BE Clinquant!
Success to you!!
Katie Gonzalez
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