Life Work Coaching Blog

“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. Your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last prevail.” James Allen

Life is not intended to be a spectator sport; we are all on the playing field, we are all in the game: like it or not. Life is not a static snapshot but a personal movie, playing for an unknown length of time and with a largely unwritten script. Is your movie an action, comedy, romance, historical drama or a fantasy movie? Is the hero someone you respect, admire, and like? Are you enjoying the story? What do you think will or could happen next? How would you change the setting, the characters and the plot to make it better? Who is writing and directing your movie?

All movies begin with the germ of an idea, the outlines of a story, and probably a vision of the Oscar Ceremony! In the similar fashion most of us want to create a better life for ourselves, for our families and our community, and while not dwelling on the final act, most would like to leave a positive and a meaningful legacy. We are all flowing though time, heading toward an inevitable deadline with the key question unanswered – how are you improving the quality of your life and the lives of your fellow travelers? “We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision.”

What is your dream, your story and your vision? How can you create such a vivid picture of your path, your dreams and your future to ignites your passion, stimulates extraordinary action, and compels you to succeed?

What are the advantages of having a clear and a powerful vision of your future and your goals?

A great vision is an emotional hook, and it makes the impossible possible, the possible tangible, and the tangible achievable. A great vision makes it easier to work intensely, to go the extra distance, and to energize your entire life. A great vision unifies, focuses, and helps you to prioritize and select the most effective daily activity.

A great vision stimulates action to advance your cause, to reach the next milestone, and push through barriers and overcome challenges. A great vision is like a personal beacon, to keep you on course, on the right path, and on the move. A great vision will help you to minimize your fears, increase your self-esteem and self-confidence, and drive personal development. A great vision is a powerful motivational tool, an inspirational asset and an energy source, which will fuel your drive for success.

“Vision looks inward and becomes duty. Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration. Vision looks upward and becomes faith.” Stephen S. Wise

Writing and crafting your personal vision statement is a powerful exercise in developing your self-awareness, as you daydream, brainstorm, reflect, meditate and imagine a different future. Creating your vision also helps you to be realistic in addressing the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual transitions you may have to make. And generating your vision represents fundamental change as it leads you to evaluate your values, your principles and your beliefs.

Creating your personal vision statement is the first step on your path to the life you imagine for yourself. Call Karen or Kevin to set-up an Exploratory Coaching Session where the focus will be your vision statement.

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” Thomas Jefferson

At the beginning of my first day in a manufacturing operation in England, as a 15-year-old apprentice, my Supervisor took me to one side and gave me the speech. “Son I own your ass … etc, etc.,” … you can imagine the rest of the diatribe! It was pure intimidation, and it succeeded, as I bleakly imagined I had been condemned to the worst Victorian workhouse described in any depressing Dickensian novel. Later the same day I was enslaved with a Master Craftsman, who would be my mentor, guide and ‘minder’ through the first years of my ‘sentence.’

Guess what? He had a message to, but his was more down to earth, and it sort of offered choices? “Son, the most important decision you will make in your first week is to Choose Your Attitude. If you choose a bad attitude, youwill make your life hell until you break; if you choose a good attitude, life will be hard, it will be difficult, but it will get better!”

It is a common perception that we are victims and our attitude is externally driven by outside influences, by pleasant or unpleasant circumstances, and by positive or negative people. Choosing the ‘right’ attitude is a choice we can and we do make. If you are attending a funeral your attitude tends to be respectful and reserved, attending a birthday party your attitude tends to be positive and supportive, at an interview your attitude is attentive and responsive, and if you have just been stopped by a cop for speeding, you are polite and subservient?

It is a mistake to think of your attitude choice as endlessly happy and positive. There are obviously occasions when the right attitude is to be angry and forceful, unrelenting and determined, and perhaps stern and unforgiving. The point here is it is your choice, and it is entirely in your control.

So what choices are you making? Are you the first person people turn to in a crisis, are you the first person to be asked to help in solving a problem, are you the first choice in the formation of a team, are you the person people turn to for advice and reassurance, are you the person people think of when someone is describing positive leadership, and are you the person constantly used to illustrate a great attitude? “Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?” Dennis and Wendy Mannering

The message is as simple as it is critical to a happy and a productive life. Take charge of your attitude. Don’t let someone else choose it for you. Life is not endlessly happy, nor is it always positive or even fair, but are you going to let difficult people, challenging circumstances, or inevitable problems degrade the quality of your life? “The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same” – Carlos Castaneda

Attitudes are ways of responding to people and situations that we have learned based upon the beliefs and the values we hold. Fortunately we can change our beliefs, upgrade our values, and choose a different path for our ongoing journey. This is when coaching can really make a huge difference. Call to experience a powerful, life altering, no obligation Exploratory Coaching Session.

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” M. Scott Peck

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

A basic reality of being human is the relationships we develop, nurture, and value form the core of our happiness and the foundation for our success in our personal lives and in our career/work activity. Unless you are a hermit or marooned on a desert island, everything we do revolves around interactions with other people. Our ability to relate to them, communicate with them, to be heard and understood, requires a connection – a relationship. This can be as short as a passing, one-time conversation or it can be a lifetime partnership, but the energy you project in these moments, your presence in the exchange, your willingness to focus, your words and your body language, speak volumes.

One of the most productive relationship tools we have at our disposal is our ability to genuinely acknowledge another person.

What is an acknowledgement? Most dictionary definitions are rather dry and dusty. “To acknowledge is to admit, affirm, declare, testify, avow, confess, or own as genuine… an admission or affirmation of obligation or responsibility, etc.” I prefer to define acknowledgement as an expression of gratitude, appreciation, or recognition of the value the other person’s action, presence or influence is having in your life or in your work. Why is this so powerful?

- Acknowledgment encourages people to feel happy about themselves, stimulates intimacy and strengthens any relationship

- Acknowledgment lifts individual/team spirits, energizes their work, inspires them to higher performance and to produce superior results

- Acknowledgment positively impacts well being, raises self esteem, and increases self confidence

- Acknowledgment creates a more open dialogue, lowers resistance and drives opportunity and possibility

- Acknowledgment builds more meaningful connection, stimulates conversation, and energizes reflective listening

- Acknowledgment inspires people to greater effort, to innovate and to overcome obstacles and barriers.

- Acknowledgment opens pathways to better teamwork, more effective team building and greater alignment.

- Acknowledgment helps others understand what is important to you and what you respond to most powerfully

In addition …

- Acknowledgement helps you to talk about your mistakes, what you struggle with and how the other person can help you to do better.

“Acknowledge that you learn just as much, if not more, from your failures as you do from your successes.” Jeffrey Benjamin

And realistically, your life is full of people who deserved to be acknowledged … so what are you waiting for? And, when you acknowledge… be prepared for miracles.

Recently I read an article about film actress Ashley Judd and her husband racecar driver Dario Franchitti. Ashley attributed their ability to sustain a vibrant relationship and a great marriage, in spite of complex and competing schedules, by committing to a daily connection and an acknowledgement of each other.

Just imagine the impact on your special relationship? So stop for a moment, remind yourself of how your partner positively impacts your life, think about what you are most grateful for, and take the time … daily … to let them know.