“Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just…start.“
Ijeoma Umebinyuo
TLDR; Good morning and welcome to your 2-minute dose of happiness. Today we speak to the value of consistently working on your own awareness and the commitments necessary to succeed.
Change: Be aware of the change, learn to go with it. Present: Stop worrying about tomorrow, step into the time that matters most, the present. Self-Awareness: When’s the last time you did something for the first time?
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“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere we don’t belong.” – Mandy Hale
The only constant is change and yet so many of us are fearful of it. Change can be uncomfortable, it can test our will, it can also be something we choose to ignore. If you’re fearful of change because you fear losing control, you’re not alone.
Just as when thinking too far into the future may cause me anxiety, the more I’ve ignored the fear of change, the more it overcomes my mind.
Spending too much time thinking about the future can cause anxious thoughts, that if let run wild can become overwhelming.
A few weeks back we spoke of Mind Full vs. Mindful. It depicted a human with so many thoughts in his thought bubble that there was no room for anything else. His dog on the other hand, his thought bubble was uncluttered, focused only on the present.
As the saying goes, thinking about the past can cause depression while thinking of the future can cause anxiety. Choose to live in the present. Afterall it’s called the present because it is just that, a present. Embrace and enjoy it.
Nick Wignall gives 5 Mantras for calming your anxious mind.
1. “I am not my thoughts”
2. “Just because it feels bad doesn’t mean it is bad”
3. “Less but better”
4. “In gentleness, strength”
5. “Focus on the person, not the problem”
Realizing I’m not my thoughts has been the most powerful tool for me in dealing with my anxious mind. What’s yours?
As I’ve written in recent articles, I’ve been seeking out a new experience each week and I’ve been using a guided journal. These new experiences help get me outside of my comfort zone and help make me aware of I think, act, and feel in new situations.
Six easy ways to become more self-aware.
1. Seek out new experiences.
2. Ask people for feedback about yourself.
3. Identify what triggers your negative emotions.
4. Question your opinions and beliefs.
5. Get clear on your core values
6. Write in a journal.
“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, is not only life-changing but life-expanding.” – Jen Williamson
I’m still keeping up with journaling in The Untethered Soul daily journal and I can tell you I agree with Jen. Setting aside 5-10 minutes each morning, I can say the prompts from the journal are enlightening.
However, you can journal anyway you see fit. Practice with different methods, see what’s most beneficial for you.
How many of these have you practice, or are you practicing?
FIERCE CONVERSATIONS: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time
Fully revised and updated–the national bestselling communication skills guide that will help you achieve personal and professional success one conversation at a time.
The master teacher of positive change through powerful communication, Susan Scott wants you to succeed. To do that, she explains, you must transform everyday conversations at work and at home with effective ways to get your message across–and get what you want. In this guide, which includes a workbook and The Seven Principles of Fierce Conversations, Scott teaches you how to:
– Overcome barriers to meaningful communication
– Expand and enrich relationships with colleagues, friends, and family
– Increase clarity and improve understanding
– Handle strong emotions–on both sides of the table
– Connect with colleagues, customers and family at a deep level
Includes a Foreword by Ken Blanchard, the bestselling co-author of The One Minute Manager
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