Unhook From The Perpetual Progress Grid
I have been a member of a group called the Women in Business
Connection (WIBC for short) in Cambridge, MA for about four
years. We get together for lunch meetings once a month. Last
week at our December event several of the women commented to me
how much they liked my newsletter. It is always nice to hear
complimentary feedback but one woman went even farther - she
said it was like getting a "Zen moment" in her email. (Thanks
Cibeline!) Her comment got me thinking. That is exactly what I want to
provide - Zen moments for my readers. I am in no way a Zen
expert but I do hope that reading my monthly messages might
offer you a moment to temporarily unhook from what I call the
Perpetual Progress Grid of life. My wish is to share with you a
moment of reflection, appreciation and calm. So today, I will describe for you how I "unhook from the grid"
for brief moments of time and at random intervals. I believe it
is this short but consistent "unhooking" that keeps me
refreshed, creative and ultimately at peace. By sharing my
techniques with you, I invite you to borrow, create or identify
your own. I "unhook" from the pressures, desires, thrills, and obligations
of the Perpetual Progress Grid when: -- I hear my dog pitter-patter up the stairs to join me in my
office and I stop what I am doing for a few minutes, pat her
belly and thank her for coming to visit me. --I take a work break, drive into town and get coffee at my
favorite independent coffee shop with my husband. --I turn off my phone, ignore email and descend into creative
bliss when writing. -- I take a moment to stare out a window and notice the way the
rain, snow or sunshine is reflecting off the glass at just that
moment. --I attend a yoga class and gratefully stretch both my mind and
limbs to their full expression. --I take a deep breath and feel it extend my abdomen. --I drive slowly and in silence. --I rhythmically clean my house, cook a meal, wrap a gift or wash
dishes (yes, I sometimes like the feel soapy hot water on my
hands). --I sit anywhere and watch the world for a moment - the people,
the trees and the clouds...whatever is happening in front of me
from my vantage point. --I sing (badly too, trust me). When I do these things I am temporarily "free floating" and my
mind is at some level disengaged from the need to achieve. It is
a place where small moments of joy live. Deirdre Maigread McEachern is a personal coach who helps her
clients experience more joy in their lives. You can contact
Deirdre for a complimentary consultation at 207-439-4280 or
join her free monthly newsletter at http://www.vip-coaching.com.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Just Listen, Please!
When did you last do that? When did you last listen to yourself? Is there a small voice inside you calling out "Just listen to me" Just listen. Please". "All I want is for you to listen to me". " I am tired and fed up of continuing doing. Just stop for a moment and just listen. Please".
Profitable Idea Generation in 4 Steps Using Improv
A large percentage of business are stuck, tied to narrow ways of thinking about themselves and their products. In the business environment you can't be stuck and survive.
Business Career Executive Coaching Article -Motivator, Discipline and Desire
"There is a certain combination of desire and discipline in the way I work. Discipline by itself simply is not enough in the creative process."
- Robert De Niro
Good, Good, Good, Good Intentions
I always do a lot of thinking about good intentions in December.
Coaches, Do You Make These 7 Deadly Cash Flow Mistakes in Your Practice?
Managing cash flow is every small business owner's most important function. Avoid these seven deadly mistakes to make sure you aren't creating cash flow problems in your coaching practice.
The Harvest: Shared Power
The fall harvest comes upon us once a year. The farmers collect the sometimes-scant rewards of their heroic efforts begun months before. For those of us who are hobby or family gardeners, fall is the time for us to pluck the firm orange pumpkins, the deep green flowers of broccoli, and the plump red tomatoes from their vines. As we reap our rewards of months of work and waiting from the backdrop of the black, black earth, we realize our personal power. If not for our labors, if not for our devoted attention and timely reaction to environmental hazards, these fruits would not be borne. The seeds we sowed in the early spring have given us sustenance and security for the coming frigidness.
Belief Management - The Missing Ingredient?
"Joan, I'm working so hard and I'm not getting anything done!" I have heard some version of this cry of frustration by many an entrepreneur. It's a common complaint voiced by those of use who sought the freedom to have complete authority over our schedules, only to find ourselves unwittingly shackled by old ways of operating.
7 Steps to Take Control of Your Life
Taking control of your life is getting in touch with your values, setting meaningful goals and identifying your vision. To be in control of where life is taking you means being more productive, dealing more effectively with stress, having the ability to solve problems, handing change and developing healthy optimism. Start with these 7 steps and you are on your way.
A Quick Checklist for Improving Your Life
1. Learn About You
The Right Coach
Who is the Best Coach For Achieving Your Goals?
The Great Marketing Reframe
From grimaces to stomach knots, talking about marketing seems to take on the sound of Charlie Brown's teacher, with so many syllables of "wah WAaah, wah WAah, wah."
Coaching Book Review: The Coach: Creating Partnerships for a Competitive Edge
Leaders today have many challenges when it comes to guiding and influencing the performance of their team members. In the past, productivity and success depended on sheer muscle and sweat. Competition, technology and the desire of employees to be meaningfully involved in their work are powerful forces shaping the leader's destiny and future role. The need for service, quality, and effectiveness in organizations is stimulating a demand for employees who think, act, and feel like responsible partners in the enterprise. Now and in the future, reinvigorating employees, managers, and peers through coaching will be critical to the success of both leaders and business. More than ever, leaders need to inspire employees with contagious enthusiasm in order to deliver quality services and products. In CMOE's coaching book, "The Coach: Creating Partnerships for a Competitive Edge," it provides refreshing ideas and strategies to help leaders cope with the demands and challenges of their calling.
Masterminding Success - How to Start a Masterminding Meeting?
Masterminding is about a group of like-minded, achievement-oriented individuals who come together to combine the power of several minds to tackle problems, seek advice and perspectives in achieving their goals.
A Christmas Wish
My sister is a woman now beginning her thirties. She has had few friends and her boyfriends have never been good for her. Now she has finally found a man who adores her.
How Does Sports Coaching Differ from Corporate Coaching?
Athletes Versus Employees
Personal Development Profiles
Personal development profiles, also known as personality profiles, are a tool I frequently use before starting a course of coaching with a client. The client answers a series of questions about preferred behaviour styles and their responses generate a report which outlines their strengths, areas for improvement, blind spots, their contribution to the team, ways they could improve their communication and how to deal with challenging people.
Making Changes in Your Personal Life
Making changes in your personal life can be a tough process. Change starts with a thought. It cannot begin without one. However, what we think and dream is not always what those around us choose to envision for us.
Coaching Skills for Peers: Extending Influence
Many people think of coaching solely as a management technique. Although coaching skills provide managers with the means to get business results while creating solid relationships, the value of coaching in other arenas is often overlooked. Utilizing coaching skills is also beneficial when cooperating and collaborating with others, developing influence within the organization, and getting effective business results.
How To Improve Your Selling Skills -- With Coaching Skills
But people love being coached. It's respectful and considerate of their needs. it helps them focus on what is right for them. In fact, it's all about them - the client. It doesn't matter to you if you make a sale or not, and they appreciate that? in fact, they just may buy something from you after all? you're so 'nice' and honest!
Addiction to Blame
Allen consulted with me because his wife of 18 years had threatened to leave him if he didn't stop blaming her all the time. He admitted to frequently blaming her in a variety of situations. He blamed her if he thought she made a mistake, if he thought she was wrong about something, if he was feeling alone, or even if he had a bad day at work. He blamed her for asking him questions when he didn't know the answer. He would sometimes even blame her if his golf game was off. He always blamed her when he felt judged by her, or when he didn't get her approval. While he freely admitted that he blamed her, he couldn't seem to stop, and he had no idea why he blamed her.
|
