Last week I posted about the 40 percent who don’t employ strategies to manage the complexities of life and work. If we equip ourselves with a few strategies then possibly we can gain some breathing space and focus. I don’t underestimate external factors and systems such as, corporate practices, labour supply, and policies that influence our ability to manage our lives and work demands, but unless we build some personal and professional strategies we may fail to develop resilience, happiness, and meaning.

So let’s look at the hear and now. What are you doing proactively to meet work-life demands; and furthermore, create a life that has meaning and value? First step: Become consciously aware. This requires some reflection, and tapping into some really beneficial skills: listening, noticing, and challenging (through questions that dispel your beliefs, stories, assumptions, judgements) There’s a lot of noise out there – are you prepared to filter it and discover what’s true for you? Did I mention courage? Take a stand and keep your integrity in tact.

As you awaken (this is on-going) you can employ strategies that can affect immediate concerns and continue to build strategies for long term sustainability. To make this less overwhelming, consider your work-life as a renovation project- what do you want to change? What immediate change will make a positive and direct impact? And, what are you willing to invest?

Strategies are created from your initial inventory of questions and general assessment (similar to renovations, find the source of pain – how bad is the leak in the bathroom!) As promised, here are several strategies to help you on your way:

• Personally and professionally get really clear on your values
• Start to view work-life in phases – noting the rhythm and cycles of activities, projects etc.
• Once you’re clear on the above -anticipate and block out your time accordingly and communicate what is realistic and how you can or cannot be present and available.
• Build in buffer-zones
• Build in leisure-time, something in which you experience flow – 10 minutes of Sudoku?
• Align work so that projects and tasks that are important and meaningful to you make up the bulk of your efforts (this isn’t easy given external factors but if you don’t do it, someone else will do it for you!).
• Play to your strengths and gifts – this is the happiness factor.
• Pay attention to how you conduct yourself and communicate with others – interpersonal effectiveness is key to managing your work and life.

The aim is to create a sense of harmony among all the moving parts in your life. There will be unanticipated events, distractions, conflicts, and much more, but when you have strategies in place and access them consistently, you’ll have the resilience and ability to stay on track, live well, and be fulfilled.

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New for 2012, Wright Momentum is offering a seminar  Too Many Moving Parts?Bringing life and business into synergistic action. Ideal for professionals, work teams, and the people you care about. For more information contact susan@wrightmomentum.com

Too many people are finding life complicated, overwhelming, and less than satisfactory. As the article suggests, people “stick their heads in the sand” rather than facing the on going challenges and demands. I noticed this in my personal life last year when I missed a few payments, as demands and life challenges spiraled out of control. That was my first cue and a wake up call to the overwhelm hidden in my apparently “I’m okay, I can get through this” attitude. If you’re not sticking your head in the sand, we might find yourself wanting to run! Yes, the flight -flight response is still very real, just that we store it up, don’t take appropriate measures to relieve it, and eventually burnout.

The overwhelm to burnout shows up in subtle and not so subtle ways. The thing we need to be aware of is, being in this state of high demand and complication is not sustainable, highly counter-productive, and impacts quality of life and business. So what can you do? My initial response – build some personal and professional strategies to become proactive and consciously aware. Too often we run on behaviours and habits that no longer serve us; and yet, find it too draining to consider other options. You don’t always know just how creative and resourceful you are – you’re too tired!

In comes, the “coach” – yes that’s moi! I don’t profess to know every strategy to help you better manage, but I do help you get crystal clear on what’s getting in the way and where you are far too comfortable to change! Understanding the complexity of our lives also implies there are no quick fixes, but rather, challenging one to truly consider what’s valuable, important, and meaningful.

It’s helpful to have some strategies and I might suggest that one begins by aligning their priorities with their values, or aligning projects with meaningful work, but ultimately, you need to be in the driver seat, taking control of the changing landscape and being for a few sharp curves and twisty turns. This starts with awareness and your readiness to look at yourself and how you want to live. The same holds true for business – whether you’re managing your own business or leading an organization, it’s valuable to be aware and strategic about how you conduct yourself and your business. The impact on your relationships is significant and really isn’t that a major part of living – having quality relationships and engaging our greatest strengths and capacities?

So for now, I’m not going to suggest a list of strategies (next post); rather, I invite you to reflect on these three questions:

What has meaning?

Who are you being?

How do you want to live?

Take your head out of the sand, you can live life in a more direct, engaging, and simple way. It just requires a little willingness to look within, notice what’s not true for you, and how you want to be. It’s easy be overwhelmed, we’ve been programmed to produce, compete, and keep up. Surely we all strive for a good return on our investment – so why not invest in you and your life first? The rest, will follow.

Today, is not that different from four years ago, although, it’s easy to forget all the incremental changes and learning discoveries along the way. I believe on some level I’ve grown as an individual and embodied a new wisdom that shows up in the choices I make now and the relationships I have today.  How often do you reflect on changes and growth in your own life? Do you make choices today that you wouldn’t have four years ago or even three weeks back (just prior to making those new year resolutions)? Can you hear yourself singing a new tune?

Often these incremental changes aren’t apparent until we’re put to the test. It’s just about this time in January, that our resolve can be tested as well. For example, over the past three weeks, you may have decided to improve your health, by eating well, getting adequate sleep, and exercising more often. Then the ultimate test comes, you have major work demands & deadlines (as new projects come in), your team requires you, someone or something in your family or relationships needs your help, you get a cold….you hear that voice saying I don’t have time to do anything that is required to stay healthy!! YES your resolve will be tested until you are firm and committed to doing and being your best self!

It’s vital to see the small, incremental changes you have made and not to sabotage your intentions and plans for a better life.  In every step and positive change, you will have embodied (whether you realize it or not) something new, entering your consciousness, informing your choice and actions. It may show up as resistance or tension, the whole time feeling a little out of sorts.  It’s time to acknowledge what you are coming up against and move on despite it and possibly tweak your plan, keeping the big vision or goal, in mind.

Experiencing life with a new-born and generally having children teaches us one thing for sure, change is constant, life is somewhat unpredictable, and just when you have a plan, they will make you adjust, tweak, and find a better way to manage, cope and learn! Children are like mini bosses!

So for all of you who have decided to make a change this new year, new life awaits. New challenges will emerge, opportunities will show up, and “teachers” will enter your life in various ways.  Give permission to make a few mistakes and possibly fail on first attempts. If you truly are meant to learn something, and if your change is intentional, then be prepared to dust off from the temporary set-back and get moving again. Learning anything new and worthwhile takes time, repetition, and some risk. Kids are a great example to us, they take risks everyday and thank goodness they do – as every new step brings new learning and life.

Monday morning, Jan 23rd, I’ll be speaking live with Glenn Dixon & Val Cole on Rogers TV Toronto, about Canada’s top New Year’s resolutions. Many of my tips come from coaching hundreds of people like you – willing to commit to a positive change and developing yourself as a person, professional, and leader.

I’m grateful that my son decided to be born on January 20th, 2008. He arrived peacefully (hence his name, Noah) but don’t be fooled, he’s also arrived to teach me a few more things about life!

Many of the clients and people I meet have a litany of excuses for not making the change they want to see in their lives. The problem is, these excuses tend to have more power and influence than necessary. If you say, “I don’t have time” then you live as if you don’t; constantly getting caught up with what’s urgent and not necessarily important. We tend to want instant gratification; although, it’s more rewarding and real to focus on what’s important and bring continuous improvement and meaning to our lives.

I’m not saying that excuses aren’t somewhat legit, but when excuses start running your life, you’re likely to receive more of what you don’t want! Why? You have lost courage and stopped focusing on what you want;  taking a back seat, rather than the driver’s seat. Take charge, respect yourself, and receive the gifts waiting for you to accept!

To help you move forward into 2012 and achieve your resolutions, I have 10 easy steps.  Wake up early tomorrow morning to hear me on Canada Am as I share these steps and what tweens to 55+ have to say about New Year’s resolutions.

How to Achieve Your Resolution in 10 Easy Steps According to Kellogg’s Special K If Scales Could Talk Survey, It’s all about ongoing self-improvement.

1. Get Clear – what is it I want? And why do I want that? Why is it important to me? Why important now? Is it adding value to my life today? Get to the heart of the matter.

2. Focus – aim at one positive change that will positively affect other areas of your life – create a ripple effect!

3. Commit To One Decision – decide on what that is. Something that can change your life or move it forward. If there are multiple things – pick just one.

4. Write it down – Journal the experience and reflect on it every day, every week, every month – this has a positive, affirming quality, and keeps you on track.

5. Speak it – add voice to your resolve, talk about it.

6. Be it – be it as though you already are, test out new actions.

7. Engage others – buddy up, make your change / resolution with others; people succeed when working together towards a shared goal

8. Say no to excuses and distractions – see them for what they are – take responsibility for your life and choice – recognize what’s stopping you.

9. Steps – create a step, take a step. Change happens in small increments.

10. Envision – dream-up, vision and manifest the best possible outcome – where you want to be!

Every day, every moment you have an opportunity to reinvent or recreate your life. I made a positive move this morning and encourage you to do the same. This is your year to shine and change the status quo! Be amazing!

Susan

There’s a quality of generosity and spirit that is felt and this brings hope and meaning to our lives that can sometimes feel anything but. Discovering purpose and meaning is part of our own personal journey and it can show up at any point if we’re open to it. I find this time of year magnifies our humanity – both our challenges and opportunities. We all have potential to live better lives; and it’s through our exchange that we can lift up, learn, and develop.

We have great distances between continents and countries, we have various values and perspectives, but we do have a common connection – our human capacity to be awakened, conscious, and evolve. My wish for you this holiday season is to find those moments of exchange that awaken your spirit and magnify your light in this world.

Many blessing to you and your loved ones during the holiday season.

Susan

Feeling inspired and being effective in your personal and professional life often boils down to one essential key: good health. Gosh, I just spent half an hour posting a comment to the CBC about the current housing crisis in an aboriginal community – Why? Because, I’m passionate about health and conscious leadership . Without either, we are doomed! (okay that’s a bit dramatic), but I want to highlight something important – with good health, an effective voice, and purposeful action; individuals, organizations, and communities thrive.

Today I’m grateful for the roof over my head, the furnace generating warmth in my home, and clean water (to wash my hands, soothe my throat, and hydrate me back to health). Too often basic needs are not met and when they’re ignored, a crisis looms. This pertains to all of us – if we don’t have our health, how effective can we be in managing our lives, work, and relationships? How effective can people be in their lives and communities if basic needs are not met and the means to achieve optimal health are not accessible or addressed?

Not having a strong voice today has literally inhibited my ability to have effective conversations and limited my work capacity. I will take this one step further and suggest, metaphorically speaking – without a strong voice and sound health – it’s very challenging to create positive change. It’s essential that our leaders, communities, and you and I are healthy in order to thrive and consciously go about our business and lives. Okay so there’s a larger message in all this but essentially I’m stressing the importance of taking care of ourselves and one another; especially as the holiday season ramps up and the demands of life don’t stop!

When I consider the crisis as mentioned above, and parallel that with the fact we’re all human with essential needs, the one common denominator is: health, plus: responsibility and action. As an individual, what are you willing to take responsibility for?  Hint: your health to start. When you and I are well, we can then start to take care of others and be conscious about the actions we take and the response we can create in the wake of a crisis.

What are you doing today to take responsibility for your health? What action can you take to improve your circumstances to maintain good health and well-being? If you are in a position of leadership – what are you doing to give voice to issues that prevent a healthy organization and community? Consider what about your own life and circumstances that require your attention.  Take care – vitality is ours to have and share with others.

Today, I’m expressing my voice in written word, between soothing sips of tea.  I’m doing my little bit to raise consciousness about something that I feel is important: health: responsibility and action. Often it starts with you – one person, who has the choice and capacity to change!

It doesn’t matter where you come from, who you are, what you have and what you don’t have – life will bring you some powerful lessons that are designed for you. At times, you (and I) might feel like we’re caught up in some type of storm, being tossed around and looking for shelter.  I might find myself meeting the resistance over and over and retreating in doubt, confusion, and fatigue. In these moments, the resistance has not won (although there is a temptation to believe this), it has only requested more from me – more than I knew I had.

If you and I can only remember this, we will move forward with the determination, stamina, and grace that it has taught us. Today as I ran against this strong headwind I felt its’ firmness as if it was allowing me to experience my own capacity for strength and resilience. It was an embodied experience, one that taught me about recognition, being receptive, and noticing my movement in its’ power.

Far too often, I’m not receptive, I resist the resistance. I’m not suggesting to give in; rather, to recognize the value of what is and to experience the strength of that experience. It’s a building of our own inner will, freedom, and capacity.  Going forward into the headwinds today, I did slow down; and yet, I still felt strong and steady. As we transition to the last month of our calendar year and look forward to 2012, I wonder how you experienced resistance and what strength and steady pace you will bring to your life in the new year?

Susan

As adults, we still design or build models to describe or better understand our experience; often in the form of mental models. Quite honestly we can get stuck in these, our ego says, “it took years to create this, how dare you come along and dismantle everything I know!” The great undoing may be treacherous; and yet, powerful and freeing; not unlike building blocks tumbling and crashing to the floor.

I often watch and listen to my young boys playing with their action figures and cars, creating narratives and imaginary scenarios which ultimately result in a bust, boom, and bang! The entire cycle is played out again and again possibly with new instruments and scripts. In these moments of play they are fully engrossed with deaf ears to Mom! All well and good as they are creating, developing, and appreciating an impermanence with all that is.

As an adult I love building models, those I use to explain my coaching process and my work ( I still love to build towers as well!) There is something so satisfying (for me) by designing and constructing a concrete representation of ideas and processes. They take form and structure yet still malleable to be infused with new insights and variables. While coaching and facilitating teams or groups of people, it’s quite clear to me that although I have a structure or process, the parts within it are moving or adapting to the context in which we are present. I’m also aware and rather intentional about the co-creative and collaborative experience underway.

It’s even more fascinating when I start to notice other models coming into play. Will one supersede and crash the other? Will one aspect of a model; a moving part let’s say, alter and change the flow? Will another model be created? Will it transform and bring about new possibilities?  Whether models are used to describe our process or experience, one must be prepared to let go and allow room for other structures to take it’s place; for when we hold on, we stop co-creating and growing. Sure a little repetition is okay, that’s a big part of learning but when the model or process becomes too fixed or inflexible – then we get caught up in being right! Right?

For today, consider what you are building: a relationship, a project, an appreciation for something or someone, a business plan, a team, a strategic plan…it doesn’t matter so much as to what it is, but rather your approach and attitude. What are you willing to keep, tweak, demolish, or add? What will be transformed? Who might just come along and crash your model and if someone does can you say, “Thank you” and start anew?

In any given moment, I can choose who I am being, what I want, and so forth. It’s a rather conscious act, if you will, but I’m learning by default that it’s essential. I find it uncanny that I for one need to revisit this in my personal life, as the premise of my work with others is based on recognition of personal choice, potentiality, and capacity.  However, every teacher needs to learn his or her own lessons!

Choice is so powerful and stepping into that momentarily can give way to so much more abundance and creativity. It takes the load off, gets us out of our own way, and positions our mindset for the outcomes we really want to see or experience.

How often do  you stop to think, or consider what you are creating? If and when you do, ask yourself this: What is it that I’m creating? Are you creating more of what you don’t want? If that’s the case, than engaging in a moment of choice and creating more possibility of what can be, is a refreshing start.

Often in the void of not having or seeing, we are left feeling fearful or uncertain. This only attracts more of the same. However, by our human capacity for choice we have a unique and beautiful advantage to change our experience. We can attract more of what we want and that my friends, is totally empowering!

Tune into your personal dial of choice today and see what beauty unfolds.

Namaste

I invite you to contact me at www.wrightmomentum.com for a personal consultation to further clarify what you do and don’t want, and how to navigate change to create meaningful results.

My point is fairly clear – neglect and not doing anything will yield the same result; however, planting some seeds will most certainly bring some change – maybe not immediately, but surely in time. I’ve read some interesting blogs and articles on conscious capitalism and human potential today, and certainly if we continue doing, being, and behaving in the same old way, how can we possibly create better lives and systems?

For many of my faithful readers, you might notice how I move between personal (singular) examples to those that are more complex, involving more people and challenges. In my opinion, whatever is happening in a micro way, is often reflected universally, or at a macro level. For example, folks around me keep sensing a “shift” or “change” is happening, they might say, “I’m feeling unsettled,”  and confirmation comes from what they’re seeing “out there” or reading in the news. Another example I noted just the other night, was a series of comments on facebook about the difference in expectations between Gen X’ers, Y’s and baby boomers regarding success. My point is, whatever change, attitude, or behaviour that is occurring at an individual level is often related and connected to bigger challenges we see in our lives, businesses, organizations, and world.

So between now and then, before you or I try to change the world, we might just want to begin within our little microcosm. That just seems a whole lot more manageable! Often when I work with people and organizations I notice that positive change and success come from an individual becoming aware and taking small steps of responsibility and action to create the change they want to see. I suppose it’s like the ripple effect – we don’t know when or how it might impact a larger group or system, but at least one can take heed that something is happening on a level in which they can see or possibly experience the benefits and results.

So while I watch my neighbour’s grass grow, I’m reminded how important and necessary it is to do the work, be in action, and take care of myself in the process.  Success doesn’t happen over night, so between now and then, I might make some mistakes, try a new approach, plant a few seeds, and consciously stay present. Creating the change you want to see, is consciously being in the now while moving forward to “then.”