Logical Solutions

As a woman, I find that it is much easier for me to find solutions that are emotionally rather than logically based. I talk a lot about what I am feeling. I base many of my decisions on what "feels" right.

This week my daughter started preschool. She is a bit young to start but her school has a class for younger children and her older brother is already enrolled. She had wanted to go for a long time so that she could be just like brother. However, when she finally went to class, the separation anxiety got the better of her.

I have stayed at home with both of my kids since they were born. It was a sacrifice that I chose to make for my benefit and theirs. It has been a wonderful experience. But, now I am working on career in writing and motivational speaking. I need a few hours a week to pursue that dream. In addition, my kids are getting bored with me and with the limited activities and playmates that we have at home. It was a long hard summer and we were all ready for school to be back in session.

When I drop my daughter off at school, she begins to wail. It pulls at my heartstrings and makes it hard for me to leave her there. This is, of course, the response that she hopes to elicit by such a show. When I pick her up, she is always smiling and excited. She can't wait to show me the picture that she made. She spends the whole car ride home telling me all about her day. Even though I know she is OK, her emotional display tugs at me. It beckons me to pick her up and never leave her at school again.

My husband, who has a pretty good head on his shoulders, has told me that she needs to stay in school. She is fine. All logic points to that fact. She needs the stimulation and I need the break. She is in school for less than 8 hours/week, a reasonable amount of time. It is good for both of us to have this break from each other.

I know that his logic is sound, I just have to convince my heart. The logical solution is to keep her in school for the good of us both.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks for the continuing saga.

Make it Happen

It has been a crazy week all around. I have been soooo busy that sleep has been hard to come by. I have hardly had a chance to sit down. I have so much stress that I feel physically ill at times. I work all day, dawn 'til dusk and then some and I still have things left to do at the end of the day. Have you ever felt like this?

I have also made a commitment to myself and to you to write this blog every week. Maybe you too have committed to a goal that you would like to achieve through LifeWalking. Unfortunately, our lives don't quit just because we are working toward life change.

At times like these, I really desire to give up on the things that aren't so pressing. This blog is one of the things that seems like it could go. Sure I didn't get it done on Wednesday, my typical day to blog, but I did it. You too can achieve the things that you desire in your life. It might not always be perfect. Chances are you won't meet all of your deadlines. However, you can still have all the things you want in life. You just have to make it happen.

Let the Adventure Begin

Hopefully, by now, you have found your LifeWalking partner and you have focused on 1-3 things to work on with that partner. Once you have completed these two vital steps, all that is left to do is begin the journey. This is the fun part. Now you can find yourself moving into real life change. You can begin to shed that lack-luster feeling that has been holding you back and you can embrace the bright future that lies ahead.

A journey is a simple thing. It is a commitment to work with another person over the course of ten weeks to move forward your dreams and goals. Therefore, the parameters are simple:

1. Set your start and end date
2. Set your meeting times (Can be in person or over the phone. Can be once a week , twice, even daily)
3. Define your goals
4. Do it!

That really is all it takes to journey. You dictate what works for your schedule and how much support you need. You control meeting time, length, and location to fit your needs. The most important thing is that you make a commitment to move forward in some area of your life and you do it!

Stop talking about changing your life and get out there and DO IT!!!

Move Forward

Last week we explored the first step to eradicating the "blah" feeling in your life. I encouraged you to make a list of all the things that you think you could change in order to get your life moving forward again. Then I encouraged you to sit with that list for awhile and, little by little, narrow it down to a few possibilities. Hopefully you have made the list of things you would like to try and now you have it down to 10 or fewer options. Go over the options now and consider those that you believe would yield the greatest results with the least difficulty. Now, let's explore options for enacting change.

The first thing that I do when I am ready to make a change is consider the person whom I believe will be able to help me accomplish it most effectively. At times I have asked a friend or a mentor to step alongside me to help and encourage me to move forward. Other times people have sought me out, recognizing that I need help and I have chosen to accept the offer rather than allowing my pride to stand in the way of my success. Finally, I have hired help (therapists, coaches, doctors, trainers, etc.) who are experts in the fields that I am addressing. I look for the person that I believe will offer me the greatest support in an effort to maximize my chances for successful life change.

Now that you have narrowed down your list of possible life changes, start a list of possible LifeWalking partners. Think of people that you believe will maximize your chances of success and then don't be too proud to ask them for the help. Not everyone will say yes (even the professionals might be too booked to take you on) but, don't lose heart, just keep searching and eventually the right person will be willing to join your team. Don't worry, I rarely hear a "no." I have been pleasantly surprised on multiple occasions at the willingness of others to step up and assist me in my attempts to move forward.

Today is the day that your life can begin to change. Just find your LifeWalking partner and little by little, you will move forward into the life you always knew was possible.