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“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing,
is giving up on being perfect and beginning
the work of becoming yourself.”
~ Anna Quindlen
The quote from Anna Quindlen is one of my favorites because it’s a reminder that, not only am I NOT perfect, I don’t have to be perfect. I just need to continue to focus on becoming my best self and take myself beyond average Often the work is challenging, exciting, fun and once in a while, easy.
It’s an adventure…a journey…an opportunity.
Opportunity is knocking at your door and she has many faces.
NOW is your time! I’m guessing you’ve spent most of your adult life planning and participating in adventures for others – family, friends, work-related activities, and the like. What about you? Isn’t it time for an adventure of your own?
It’s time for your greatest adventure of the Summer!
Maybe you’re having trouble keeping up with ever-changing demands of your job or career…
Contemplating starting your own business…
Perhaps you’re afraid another week or year is going to go by in a blur and you’ll be left in its dust wondering “what happened?”…
Longing for balance in your jam-packed life…
Worried that you’ll lose yourself in all the extra stuff being thrown at you?
Are you looking for real, lasting change in your life?
Whatever your reason…
If you have a burning desire to BE more, to accomplish more, to live life more fully and finally get the guidance and support to create what you want and deserve, this is your opportunity to do exactly that.
“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the
opportunity for development accorded the individual.”
~ Albert Einstein
It is part of my mission to help people, like yourself, BE who they are meant to be, reach new levels and impact their world in a big way, to experience abundance, joy and success.
It’s also part of my mission to offer scholarships for my Route To Success Individual Coaching Program™ to select individuals that have a deep desire and commitment to the work necessary and required to BE who they were meant to be and find themselves financially burdened at the moment. They know and believe that coaching can make all the difference for them.
*TAKE NOTE: This is the LAST time a public offering of this scholarship will be made. After this offer expires, it will no longer be available. Here, at the “Tree” we are transforming some of what we do to expand our reach. We will continue to give back albeit in different ways.
How do you apply for scholarship coaching?
It’s quite simple. There are no strings attached. I’m awarding a limited number of full and partial scholarships. The current fee for the Route to Success Individual Coaching™ is $4,597. Several people will be given a scholarship. Will you be one of them?
Here’s what you need to know to apply for a full or partial scholarship:
- If you are interested in the Route to Success Individual Coaching Program™* please CLICK HERE to compete and submit an application by June 20, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. MDT (7:00 p.m. EDT).
- You will be contacted the week of June 23, 2014 to schedule an interview to complete your scholarship application process.
- A coaching agreement must be on file before you are eligible to participate in this program. An agreement will be provided to you for review if you are accepted into this program as a scholarship recipient.
- The Route to Success Individual Coaching Program™ requires a 3-month minimum commitment. Your program will begin the week of July 7, 2014. (You and I meet over the phone at predetermined recurring times.)
- There is some financial investment for the full and partial scholarship. Why? Accountability. It demonstrates your commitment to showing up, as well as your dedication to your own growth and development. Although you have a choice of applying for full or partial scholarship consideration, you may be offered a partial scholarship even though you applied for a full scholarship.
- What are you going to do with this opportunity? ACT NOW! After June 20th at 5:00 p.m. MDT, the door is closed forever.
Don’t want or need a coaching program? Please give some thought to people you know that may benefit from and want an opportunity for coaching and encourage them to apply. They won’t be able to thank you enough.
If you have questions, comments or concerns, about the scholarship opportunity or the Route To Success Individual Coaching Program™, please contact me at catherine@joshuatreecoaching.com.
Remember, you have until June 20th at 5:00 p.m. MDT to apply for the LAST PUBLIC OFFERING of our Route to Success Individual Coaching Program™ Scholarship. You have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain!
*Current clients and past scholarship recipients are not eligible for this scholarship opportunity. Are you a past client? STAY TUNED…we’ve got something special just for you!
Remember – Act now! YOU can help yourself and others in the process.
Until next time…
Yours in Service, Courage and Positive Action,
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how YOU can use this scholarship opportunity to gain insights, develop your potential or grow into your job or career? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing,
is giving up on being perfect and beginning
the work of becoming yourself.”
~ Anna Quindlen
Knock! Knock!
Someone’s at your door.
Curious who it is? The only way to find out is to open the door.
Will you open the door?
Who’s there?
Opportunity is knocking at your door and she has many faces.
NOW is your time! The kiddos are back in school embarking on their new adventures. What about you? Isn’t it time for an adventure of your own?
Maybe you’re having trouble keeping up with the new schedule…
Perhaps you’re afraid the entire school year is going to go by in a blur and you’ll be left in it’s dust wondering “what happened?”…
Worried that you’ll lose yourself in all the extra stuff being thrown at you?
Are you looking for real, lasting change in your life?
Whatever your reason…
If you have a burning desire to BE more, to accomplish more, to live life more fully and finally get the guidance and support to create what you want and deserve, this is your opportunity to do exactly that.
“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the
opportunity for development accorded the individual.”
~ Albert Einstein
It is part of my mission to help people, like yourself, BE who they are meant to be, reach new levels and impact their world in a big way, to experience abundance, joy and success.
It’s also part of my mission to offer scholarships annually for my Route To Success Individual Coaching Program™ to select individuals that have a deep desire and commitment to the work necessary and required to BE who they were meant to be and find themselves financially burdened at the moment. They know and believe that coaching can make all the difference for them.
It’s quite simple. There are no strings attached. I’m awarding a limited number of full and partial scholarships. The current fee for the Route to Success Individual Coaching™ is $4,597. Several people will be given a scholarship – will you be one of them?
Here’s what you need to know to apply for a full or partial scholarship application process:
- If you are interested in the Route to Success Individual Coaching Program™* please click here to compete and submit an application by September 9, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. MDT.
- You will be contacted the week of September 9, 2013 to schedule an interview to complete your scholarship application process.
- A coaching agreement must be on file before you are eligible to participate in this program. An agreement will be provided to you for review if you are accepted into this program as a scholarship recipient.
- The Route to Success Individual Coaching Program™ requires a 6-month commitment. Your program will begin the week of September 30, 2013 finishing the week of March 24, 2014. (You and I meet over the phone at predetermined recurring times.)
- There is some financial investment for the full and partial scholarship. Why? It demonstrates your commitment to showing up, as well as your dedication to your growth. Although you have a choice of applying for full or partial scholarship consideration, you may be offered a partial scholarship even though you applied for a full scholarship.
- What are you going to do with this opportunity? Act now! After September 9th at 5:00 p.m. EDT, the door is closed.
Don’t want or need a coaching program? Please give some thought to people you know that may benefit from and want an opportunity for coaching. Forward this to them and encourage them to apply. They won’t be able to thank you enough.
If you have questions, comments or concerns, about the scholarship opportunity or the Route To Success Individual Coaching Program™, please contact me at catherine@joshuatreecoaching.com.
Remember, you have until September 9th at 5:00 p.m. EDT to apply for the Route to Success Individual Coaching Program™ Scholarship. You have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain!
*Current clients and past scholarship recipients are not eligible for this scholarship opportunity.
Remember – Act now! YOU can help yourself and others in the process.
Fulfill Your Purpose…Keep your eyes open for opportunities and act when those opportunities appear – they show up in unexpected places.
P.S. – Remember – your application is due by September 9th at 5:00 p.m. EDT. With everything else being equal, priority consideration will be given to those who get their application in first and on time.
Until next time…
Yours in Service and Growth,
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how YOU can use this scholarship opportunity to gain insights, develop your potential or grow into your job or career? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
Things I’m Learning While Cycling
…and how it relates to everything else in life.
A recent decision to take up cycling at the tender age of fifty-something has been quite inspiring and motivating and crazy! At this point you may be asking yourself, “Why would any sane person do THAT?” It started with wanting to ride in a three-day charity run. So here I am with a determination and conviction to reach my goal – of a 3-day ride without waiting for the sag wagon to take me to the next point. As I ride, I see some cycling / life parallels emerging. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Patience – sometimes the lungs work really well and help the body to keep going with minimal discomfort. Other times, every muscle, every joint, every bone and even the hairs on my head scream for mercy. With so much fluctuation in performance, it can be so exasperating especially not knowing what day will be “good” days and what days will be “bad” day. Accepting myself for where I am at the moment, being kind and gentle with myself in thought is teaching me that delayed gratification is so much better than instant gratification
- Let Go of Expectations – OK, this one smacked me right upside my head! It was all planned out (in the secret recesses of my mind that were into chicanery) – I was going to hop on my brand new Cannondale and ride like the wind into the sunset for an entire day. After all, when I was younger (MUCH younger) riding 25 miles in an afternoon was child’s play. Yeah, right! Somebody forgot to tell my body that this was the plan. Expecting to ride 10 miles on the first outing was ridiculous, at best. What I learned is that it’s OK to lower expectations a little (sometimes a lot) when those “voices” try to tell me otherwise. My expectations now are realistic and in alignment with where I am and my current skill level. As such, I knew that a 2-month quasi-training period was not enough to get me there. My new goal is to get in shape to ride in next year’s charity event. I readjusted.
- Rest – I don’t need, nor do I want, to push myself beyond what I’m capable of doing (see Keeping Up with the Jones’). Stopping every now and again to hydrate is a GOOD THING! Or even using the excuse to stop for water is a GOOD THING. Rest after a ride also allows your body’s muscle memory to kick in and it’s in those quiet times that I can really soak in all that I’ve accomplished on the ride. Plus, who doesn’t like a nap every now and again? Hmmm?
- Keeping Up with the Jones’ (NOT!) – In a group ride, I seldom take the lead. Oh, it’s not because I don’t like setting the pace or being in front (I have this control thing going on). What I found is that I enjoy being at the rear and setting my own pace. I’ve knighted myself “TP”. LOL. I used to be all about competing and I’ve been known to do some pretty stupid things back in the day. These days I’m more into competing with myself. And all those cyclists that pass me by going 100 miles an hour? They can just keep on going – just don’t let your wind knock me over, because then I’m pretty sure I’ll catch you.
- It’s Hard Work – Let me say it again, “Damn, it’s hard work!!” How could such a small incline when you’re walking seem like Mt. Everest-size protrusions when you’re on a bicycle? This simply baffles and fascinates me at the same time! Like anything worthwhile and worth doing, there are going to be some tears involved once in a while, especially when you’re at the cusp of “blowing up”[1]. What I learned a long time ago on a motorcycle ride (yes, I was driving) from VA to FL in some of the most torrential downpours known to man is this, when asked the question what are we going to do (because it’s raining), I answered, “What am I going to do? Cry?” So, I put on the big girl panties, suck it up and get on with it. Why? Because no one is forcing this on me – I’m choosing it.
- Rewards are Great – Those great feelings of reward come from many different things. It can be a small accomplishment like s-l-o-w-l-y riding under the bridge up the curved hill or pushing yourself just a little further, reaching down just a bit deeper to tap those oft unused reserves or staying on the bike and pushing, grunting, groaning your way up the hill. It can be a great sense accomplishment just going for a ride regardless of the number of miles…or feet. And, there are many things in between – great scenery, getting yourself out of bed earlier, giving up television for a night, realizing you have more energy (energy begets more energy) to just really feeling good about yourself. I’m all for that!
- You CAN Conquer the Mountain (Fear Has No Place Here) – Seeing that mountain in front of you (OK, it’s really a hill – still feels like a mountain) and purposefully engaging in self-motivating talk – yes, talking out loud is acceptable and encouraged – gets you up that mountain.and the next…and the next! It’s one full stroke of the pedal after another. If you do one, you can do another. Rinse and repeat until you’ve reached the top. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I walk the bike and myself up the hill.
- FUN – Call me crazy – I promise I won’t hold it against you – this cycling thing is fun. I get to feel like a kid again! I get to ride around with some great people where we ride a trail, stop for lunch, and ride back. I’m having some great conversations and meeting new people – even making a new friend or two along the way. Learning about all the different things involved in cycling, the different styles of cycling and trying out new things are all part of the fun. The one thing that would make the experience more enjoyable is a clothespin and a playing card. Alert the neighbors – there will be more noise on the block!
- Falling Down is Part of the Ride (sometimes) – You know you’re going over the handlebars if you suddenly apply the front brake without assistance from the rear brake. If you try to get “fancy” with a move here or there, you’re going down. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re going a bit too fast for conditions and you suddenly have a case of the doubts, guaranteed road rash is in your future. So, what do you do? Cry? No! (All right, sometimes you might if it really hurts.) You get up, assess the damage, repair it / bandage it / stop the bleeding / put the chain back on the derailer, put yourself back on the bike and keep going. What if the bike is demolished? You call someone to help. You take a risk – sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Thing is, you’ll never know what works and what doesn’t unless you DO it.
- Slow is Good – I’m not out to break any speed barriers or do I want to intentionally hurt myself. I learned that in cycling, like most all things, whether it’s the first time I’m doing something new or rediscovering something I’ve done a long time ago it’s good to take my time until I get my “balance.” Once I’ve got that going pretty well, then I can pick up the pace a bit. Slowing things down, taking my time, savoring the moment is an awesome experience.
- Going Fast Can Be Scary-Good – What goes up must come down. 🙂 This is what gets me up all the mountains and hills – knowing that the ride down is going to be a blast! There’s nothing more exhilarating than being at the crest of the climb (it definitely helps with those last few pushes of the pedals) knowing that the best part is about to happen. [Insert music here… Carly Simon’s song, “Anticipation”] For me, the feeling of flying down that hill is like nothing else in the world – scary sometimes – yet definitely good…very, very good!
- Breathe – On occasion, I find myself holding my breath. That usually happens when I’m feeling a bit stressed. That stress can be something work related, in my personal life or struggling for breathe on those long climbs. On the long climbs it’s a bit more evident – gasping for breath and feeling like there’s not enough oxygen getting in my lungs to help my muscles perform. This is where I consciously remind myself to breathe. If I’m fortunate enough to have a yogi with me on the ride, she’ll remind me to practice my Ujiayi breath – a controlled manner of breathing where you actively use your mind to override the feeling that you’re running out of breath. The feeling of losing your breath can create a state of panic, which becomes cyclical. I may not use the Ujiayi breath every time I’m stressed, yet focusing on my breath for 15-30 seconds when I’m in situations where I’m feeling a bit stressed goes a long way in reducing the stress, fear or panic I may be experiencing.
I’m sure there are many more things I’ll learn on this cycling adventure I’ve undertaken. I can hardly wait.
Bring it on!
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about YOU can adopt and apply these lessons in your life, business or career? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
Wellness – It’s not just hitting the gym and eating salads!
I have 2 upcoming challenges for you to discover what wellness is really all about!
Both come with some major rewards.
Sure, there are prizes for one of them~but ultimately what you gain is so much more than that. You’ll have the time and energy to be present for those that matter in your life because you’ll be taking care of YOU first. Yes. YOU.
Strange concept, I know.
I know what you’re thinking and no. Its NOT selfish. Actually the opposite.
It truly is the most important thing. If you aren’t well, how can you help others be well? Are you giving your all or are you texting/emailing/stressing away while at your child’s soccer/basketball/gymnastics meets and practices (makes my head spin just THINKING about it)? Take a look at what I have coming up and lets get Healthy. Vibrant. Happy. together, shall we?
My first challenge, the Facebook UnStuck Challenge is all about you creating time and space to take care of YOU. To do something just for you for 20 minutes a day for the month of May. I know what you’re thinking… 20 minutes-every day?! I barely have time to brush my teeth every day!
Me, too.
Which is precisely why I am doing this. I said there was no catch, but maybe I fibbed-just a little.
You see, I am a recovering “yes” chick. I continually find myself taking on more and more. And more. I can find less and less time to do things that I love to do and when I do, I’m usually stressed about how much time I’m taking to do it.
Or stressing about what I should be doing. You know… not being present. (Don’t give me that look.. you know exactly what I’m talking about.)
That’s where you come in.
We’ll keep each other accountable. Yep! You get to holler at me if I slack. (It works both ways though!)
And you can win prizes.
My colleague, Kristen, and I will cheer you on and inspire you to keep going. And Ill only slap your fingers if I catch you reaching for your phone during your 20 minutes. I promise.
My second event – Elizabeth Rider’s Clean Up Your Diet event will have you so in love with food and eating healthily that you won’t know what to do with yourself!
I am coming on board as a selected Affiliate Coach and offering some pretty rad bonuses if you join my mini group! Elizabeth is the founder of Enlightened Living International, an amazing group of wellness entrepreneurs that I have the pleasure of working with. I am so over the moon excited to have this chance to bring you this program with Elizabeth and to be working with her. She is absolutely wonderful and I KNOW you will learn so much.
Don’t hesitate! I don’t know when this opportunity will present itself again – Elizabeth doesn’t have another live event planned anytime soon.
Join us for one or both programs and change your life. Yes. Both. You can do this. You can do this. You can do this.
See details below.
Clean Up Your Diet!
Ready to go? Register here!
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how to become unstuck and have more YOU time? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
Falling off track completely sucks—especially when you’ve tried so many times to commit yourself to your health.
Falling off track and not having it together can make you feel like something’s way wrong with you. (Why did I have to have two pieces of cake?!)
Like you’re not disciplined enough. (More cake!)
Or strong enough. (Forget it, give me cake.)
Or good enough. (Why. Can’t. I. Stop. Eating. Cake.)
Health isn’t just eating right and exercising though.
It’s the little things.
Those things that slip between the cracks. Sometimes we notice them and snatch them as we see them slip sliding away. Sometimes we don’t even notice until its too late.
We are caretakers, nurturers, the go out and do it yourself-ers.
But what about YOU?
Yes, you.
We get so wrapped up in everyday life. Kids to soccer practice. Dinner on the table. Laundry clean, folded and put away. Scraped knees. Broken hearts. Work deadlines. You name it.
We’re so programmed to go-go-go, that those little in between moments just get filled with useless time wasters. You know exactly what I’m talking about-social media, gossip magazines, useless TV. Yes, they may be your “escapes”-but what are they really giving you? Are you still kicking yourself because you so wanted to finish that book you’ve been nursing for 6 months? Are you trying to get a business off the ground? Do you keep missing that yoga class you’ve been trying to get to?
Yeah, I know. How?
Because sometimes coaches get stuck, too. We forget to follow our own teachings from time to time. Life happens.
Now is the time to get back on track. Why now?
Why NOT now?
We’ll help each other. How?
Contest time! There will be prizes, oh yes! And its totally FREE.
Why? Because that’s how Kristen and I roll. Simple as that. We want you to be your best, so you can help someone else be their best.
Here’s how it works.
Head over to Kristen Zang Wellness for all the delicious details of how you can get started and the contest prizes! Hurry,,,YOU owe it to yourself – you are deserving!
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how to become unstuck and have more YOU time? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
“Don’t cry because it’s over,
smile because it happened.”
~ Dr. Seuss
One of the first questions a new client is often asked is, “What are you looking for in your life? What’s missing in your life?” The answers, of course, are as varied as the client is unique. Yet, there are three answers that rise to the surface: success, happiness and balance. The belief is when success is achieved, balance and happiness will be a natural outcome of that success. While there is some truth in that belief, it’s not quite accurate. Here’s why.
Each and every one of us has the ability to be happy at any given moment of any given day. You can choose happiness whenever you want it, wherever you are. Happiness isn’t about buying that great pair of shoes, the newest luxury vehicle, new furniture, a fat bank account…in other words the material things that are available to us at any time. True, having those things can leave you feeling happy, yet it’s temporary. After a few days or weeks, they just become another thing in your life, unless you make a daily conscious effort to look at them differently – to remember the happiness associated when you purchased that thing.
Happiness and gratitude are interconnected. When you express gratitude, you can feel happy. Anytime you want a little boost in you attitude and altitude (it’s about lifting yourself up) practice finding happiness in the every day events that are often taken for granted. Here’s a few to get you started.
Happiness is…
…feeling the warmth of the sun on my face.
…burying my nose in freshly laundered blankets.
…big, white, puffy clouds floating in an azure sky.
…making time to read a great book.
…a promise of 15 more years.
Are you smiling yet?
Daily Action: Grab your journal (a piece of paper will do) and write a list of 10 activities that make you happy. Follow the example above and begin by writing “Happiness is…” and then fill in the rest.
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to explore how you can uncover and rediscover happiness? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
Guest post by Kristen Zang, owner of Kristen Zang Wellness
“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”
~ Sir Edmund Hillary*
Whether you climb or not, this is one very powerful statement.
The first time I heard this quote, I had just come home from a grueling (albeit exhilarating) hike in which I summited 3 peaks measuring over 14,000 ft in elevation each.
When you start out on the trail looking up at what waits for you, you are taken over by looming doubt. “It’s so far away”, “I’ll never be able to do this whole thing!”, “The altitude alone is going to crush me” and many more of these thoughts bounce around in your head. So you take a deep breath and start up. Your hiking partners are so excited that you push those thoughts far back into your head. One step after another, breath after breath, just taking it all in. Soon you reach a point where you turn and look back over the ground you have just covered, and amazingly, you have traveled quite far. Your feet still work. Your lungs are noticing the altitude, but they still work. Snap a few photos and go on. You pass many like minded people on your way and each one is marveling at the scenery just as you are. You wonder if they are having the same looming thoughts.
Getting to the top of the first peak is mind blowing. You are on top of the world. You look down at the trail you just took…There it is, 14,000 feet below you. Miles upon miles of trail winding down below your feet. You’ve done this much and your body is still in one piece. Your feet (although a bit more sore than when you started) are still carrying you. Grab a quick bite to eat and some water and off you go to the next peak.
By the time you reach your car at the end of the day you are exhausted, exhilarated and in complete awe of what you have just done. Not to mention how unbelievably small you feel in comparison to those mountains. But you have done it. You have conquered your own doubts and fears, and pushed yourself way beyond your comfort level.
Whatever your mountain is, just remember… “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”.
I think Sir Hillary may be onto something.
* May 29, 1953, Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, (a native Nepalese climber) became the first to ever summit Mt. Everest. They were the only members of their party able to make the final assault onto the summit.Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how to “Conquer Your Mountains”? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
“For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.”
~ Jim Rohn
How often do you have “one of those days”? You know…the days where you have difficulty concentrating, distractions are the priority of the day, your focus is a very faint, distant memory and your “to do” list is longer and more complicated than an 8th grade science project.
It’s at just these times you’ll want to engage the 3D Approach. Simply, Diligence, Determination and Discipline. These characteristics may not be “simple” to develop and maintain, for most of us. Yet, when you have just a little bit of diligence and discipline driven by determination, your day will progress that much better. And the more you practice the 3D’s, the more you get accomplished and the better your day will go.
When you approach your life (business, job, career, relationships, recruiting, planning, etc.) with the 3D attitude, there will be few goals that lie beyond your reach. Distractions constantly threaten to derail progress; however, discipline enables you to focus amid disruptions and distractions. You get to choose where to place your focus, the important job at hand or the distraction (aka BSO’s – Bright Shiny Objects). The determination you get from discipline also gives you the courage and unshakable enthusiasm that allows you to perceive BSO’s (roadblocks, detours, distractions, whatever you want to call it) as a challenge to attack with enthusiasm.
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how to engage the 3D Approach? Tired of being at the mercy of your BSO’s? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effective ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
~ Alexander Graham Bell
Expectations that you place on yourself or others can leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed…at times leaving you feeling disappointed, exasperated or irritated. You easily lose sight of the things that are important and when you leave what’s important for those Bright Shiny Objects (BSO’s), a.k.a. distractions of thought, emotions, interruptions or other “important” things, you can experience unnecessary worry, anxiousness, helplessness and fear.
Whether it’s shopping for last minute vacation items, getting your budget in place, deciding what event and activities to attend, financial concerns, working feverishly to meet your business quarter-end deadlines, or wanting to spend more time with loved ones, family and friends during this time of the year, all of these activities require grounded focus.
Here are 7 positive actions you can take right now to gain or maintain grounded focus:
- Schedule your work (work can be defined in many ways, not simply job related) and honor your schedule;
- Break down the large, complex tasks into “doable chewables”, a series of smaller steps;
- Slow down to accomplish more;
- Say “no” to things of lesser importance;
- Say “yes” to the things you really want to do and enjoy;
- Delegate tasks; and finally,
- Take five minutes once a day and focus on you – take a walk; enjoy that great cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa; step outside and just breathe; turn off all electronics and enjoy the silence…
When you’re consciously focusing on the things that matter to you – one at a time – your stress is reduced and you experience grounded focus.
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about how to find your “Grounded Focus”? Tired of being at the mercy of your BSO’s? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
You’re welcome to share this article. When you do, include this complete blurb with it:
“Would you like to learn more simple, effecetive ways to bring more balance into your professional or personal life and create more money, time, and freedom? Check out my web site, http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com and sign up to receive our regular publications, which include complimentary reports, resources and other helpful tools.”
Joshua Tree Coaching & Consulting, LLC │ ©2012 and Beyond. All rights reserved worldwide │ http://www.JoshuaTreeCoaching.com
“When distant and unfamiliar and complex things are communicated to great masses of people, the truth suffers a considerable and often a radical distortion. The complex is made over into the simple, the hypothetical into the dogmatic, and the relative into an absolute. ”
~ Walter Lippman
At one time or another, you’ve either thought it or said it aloud to someone, “What were you thinking?” Most times the unspoken answer is, “Well, I wasn’t.” Perhaps, more accurately, the answer may be “My self-limiting beliefs got in my way…again!”
This question, “What were you thinking?”, was addressed recently in a 3-part newsletter series.
Are you someone who says to themselves, “I always fail when I try something new; so, I fail at everything I try.”? Perhaps this sounds a bit more familiar; “If only I was younger, I would’ve gotten the job.”
The language you use every day (spoken and unspoken) both represents and impacts how you experience your world. In your attempt to capture thoughts, ideas and describe what you see around you using words, things can get “lost in the translation”.
Information is lost through “deletion” of information, “generalization” and “Cognitive Distortion”. Distortion is where some aspects of ideas and experiences are given more weight and focus than others. Cognitive Distortions are simply ways your mind convinces you of something that isn’t true. These inaccurate thoughts are most often used to reinforce negative thinking or emotion, telling you things that may sound rational and accurate, when in fact, they are not. Everyone does this consciously and unconsciously. How you process information provides pointers to your underlying beliefs about yourself, others and the world.
In Part 1, of our 3-part series, let’s take a look at 5 of 15 Cognitive Distortions. At the end of the series, you’ll have an opportunity to find out more about what you can do about your “stinkin’ thinkin” and improve your rate of success – however YOU define success.
5 Cognitive Distortions (Part 1)
- Filtering – taking the negative details and magnifying them while filtering out any or all positive aspects of a situation. For example: You have a great evening with friends dining at a restaurant, but your steak was overcooked and that ruined the whole evening.
- Polarized Thinking (All or Nothing, Black or White) – seeing things as right or wrong, black or white, all or nothing, this way or that way with nothing in between – no middle ground. If your performance falls short of perfect, then you see yourself as a total failure. For example: “I didn’t finish writing that paper so it was a complete waste of time.”
- Over-generalization – coming to a general conclusion based on a single incident or single piece of evidence. If something bad happens once, you expect it to happen over and over again. For example: She always does that.
- Catastrophizing – expecting disasters to strike, no matter what. This is where you “magnify or minimize” and use what ifs (what if this happens to me?). You see things more dramatically or less important than what they actually are. For example: “I forgot to send that e-mail! Now my boss won’t trust me anymore, and I’ll never get that raise and I’ll probably get fired.”
- Personalization (Blame) – believing that everything others do or say is some sort of direct, personal reaction to the person. You may also compare yourself to others to determine who is smarter, better dressed, etc. For example: “If only my boss hadn’t yelled at me, I wouldn’t have been so angry and would not have had that fender-bender.”
To be continued…
Until next time…
P.S. — Want to learn more about Cognitive Distortions and how they may be impeding your progress and success? Schedule your private, confidential complimentary discovery session or send an e-mail to info@JoshuaTreeCoaching.com to learn how. Invest 30 minutes today to change your life forever.
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