Archive for Motivation
A Vision Board to Create the Life You Want
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If you’re anything like me, the book, “The Secret” gave me my first glimpse of a vision board. And, like a lot of people, I thought if I cut out some pictures and quotes from magazines, put them up where I could see them everyday then magically I would attract what I wanted.
Wrong!
Your vision board is much more than just a hodge podge collection of images. It’s an easy to use tool that helps you manifest your deepest desires. You simply collect vivid images, inspiring quotes and positive affirmations. You then place them on a poster board where you can see them everyday. But what’s most overlooked and a vital part of creating your vision is the “feelings” you attach to the images.
For example, you may be holding a vision for a new car, house or job but if you don’t experience the feeling of cruising down the interstate in you dream car, or feel what it’s like to walk down the halls in your new house, all the pictures in the world won’t manifest what you want.
To make your vision board even more effective, try adding affirmations. For example, if your dream is to have more family time, you could add an affirmation that says, “I am enjoying spending quality time with my family”. If it were a new car you’re dreaming of, paste a picture of you next to the car and add the affirmation: “I love driving my red sports car.”
Without attaching a feeling to your images, your pictures are just pictures.
Here’s what you need to get started:
- Search through magazines, brochures, circulars, and the Internet for images that create emotion and depict exactly what you want to attract.
- Once you have an assortment of images, cut them out and glue, pin or tape them on a piece of poster board.
- Place your vision board in a prominent place where you can look at it every day and experience the emotion of that image. It’s important to feel the emotions so that you images will become real in your mind.
Supplies
- 8-1/2 x 11 card stock. Some experts say that each area of your life should have its own space. For example, one for family, career, health, prosperity, travel, etc. This may sound a little daunting at first but it can also serve as a means to narrow down your focus.
- 20 x 30 card stock. Instead of the smaller card stock and if you have the wall space for it, you may prefer the 20 x 30 or similar size. The larger size may be a better choice, particularly if you prefer having everything where you can see it in one place. Both the larger and smaller sizes can easily be found at office supply, craft or discount stores.
- A computer generated board works best for some people. There are several good choices on line if this is your preference.
- Artist Tablet – If you want portability, an artist tablet may work better for you.
- Push pins, glue, or tape to secure your images to the poster board
Of course, creating a vision board without experiencing the emotions attached to the images, taking action and believing you can have what you want is like sitting around counting raindrops.
You must first believe you deserve your dream, imagine yourself in it and feel the emotions of having what you desire. It won’t happen if you just park yourself in front of your vision board wishing and hoping.
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Certified Life Coach, Family Therapist and Group Coaching Specialist, Gladys Anderson helps nurses, teachers, social workers, therapists and other care-giving women to reclaim their time, energy, joy, freedom and confidence so they have more space in their busy lives to include self-care.
It’s Time to De-clutter and Spruce Up Your Life
Posted by: | CommentsFinally, I can see the grass peeking out from under the mounds of snow that accumulated this winter. It’s hard to believe but Spring is just around the corner.
You know what that means…
It’s time to de-clutter and spruce up your life.
photo credit: MarkWallaceimage
And, I don’t just mean your physical surroundings. It doesn’t matter what you’re holding onto past its prime (a relationship gone sour, faded out theater tickets, an assortment of playbills or the jeans that are two sizes too small), it’s time to do a major overhaul – starting from the inside out.
I collect shoes like most people collect antiques or model cars. Yes, I can identify with Imelda Marcus, the ultimate shoe collector. Although I don’t have nearly as many pairs of shoes as Ms. Marcus, I do have my fair share and many more that I can ever wear or need. Maybe you don’t aspire to collect shoes but I bet you have something in your life that’s taking up space – crowding out opportunities, comfort, new experiences and abundance.
Things that no longer serve a useful purpose clutter your mind and life. For example, the woman who says she is ready to attract a husband but her closet and personal space is so filled with her “things” that she has no room for anyone else’s. Where would the mate she wants to attract hang his clothes if her closet is already jam packed? Where would he place his personal belongings if every nook and cranny is filled with memorabilia, her books, and her other “stuff”?
The same holds true for mental clutter. Mental clutter is when you are consumed with negative limiting thoughts about what you can do or become, focused on what others think rather than what you desire, stuck on “what if” scenarios instead of purposely moving forward. The result is you crowd out the space for new ideas, creativity and success.
It’s time to de-clutter and spruce up your life.
Imagine holding on to every negative thought, every dormant idea, or every toxic relationship that’s taking up your precious psychic space. For example, every time you visit a website on your computer, you store something called cookies on your hard drive and eventually if you don’t get rid of them, your computer slows down to a crawl. In the same way that the cookies on your computer clog productivity, your mental capacity is diminished and ineffective if you don’t de-clutter and purge. Replace the drama queens, the relentless pessimist and the attention-seeking addict with positive, encouraging and supportive friends or just as cookies slow down your computer, you’ll bring your own progress to a screeching halt.
So, clear out that shoe closet, purge the mounds of other “stuff” and mental clutter that’s taking up your spaces leaving little or no room for you to attract the important things you say you really want.
Take a look around at your surroundings. Where can you start to de-clutter and spruce up your life so you’ll be ready for Spring?
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Certified life coach, family therapist and group coaching specialist, Gladys M. Anderson helps nurses, teachers, social workers, therapists and other care-giving women to set limits so they have more time, more joy and more energy for self-care. To get self-care tips and more, start by getting your FREE copy of Building Strong Boundaries to Create Breathing Space in Your Hectic Life
What You’re Looking For is Right There in Front of You
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Have you ever misplaced something in your house and found it was right there in front of you all the time?
How annoying is that?
This morning I opened the door to get the morning paper and immediately realized I didn't have on my glasses. While I won't look across the room and mistake you for a creature from outer space, I do need glasses to read. But, I'm constantly misplacing them. This morning was one of those times.
If you've ever played the game hide and seek, you can identify with my frustration when I can't locate my glasses. Hide and seek is a fun game children play. In the game, one person is designated as it; and is charged with finding the hiders. First, someone is picked to be it, then he/she turns around and counts to 20-30 with their eyes closed while everyone else hides. When it says ready or not, here I come - the hunt for the hiders begins.
So I start my familiar hide and seek game with me being the it looking for the hiders (my glasses).
Are they hiding in the bedroom?
Maybe they are under a blanket? Are they hiding in the corner of my desk?
Where could they be?
I go from room to room until I return to my original spot downstairs, thinking I may have overlooked the obvious hiding place. Still no luck. Finally, when I'm about ready to give up, I spot my glasses right there on the kitchen counter next to where I made coffee. This scenario happens often. And today, it reminds me of how often we're looking for things that are right in front of us - things like our success, motivation, time and energy.
Take a moment now to see if any of these things are right there in front of you:
- The awesomeness of a magnificent sunset
- The beauty in a picturesque sunrise
- A favorite painting that invigorates you
- Fond memories that revive feelings of joy
- An overwhelming feeling of gratitude for abundance
- The soothing aroma of fresh perked coffee
- The smell of freshly cut grass
So when you're frustrated searching for something you've misplaced, remember what you're looking for may already be right there in front of you!
Until next time...
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Certified Life Coach, Family Therapist and Group Coaching Specialist, Gladys M. Anderson helps nurses, teachers, social workers, therapists and other care-giving women to set limits so they have more time, more joy and more energy for self-care.
Self-Care Can Sneak Its Way Into Your Daily Routine
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Self-care can sneak its way into your daily routine even when you’re so exhausted you hardly have enough energy to crawl out of bed.
But, if you don’t make space daily for self-care you end up often feeling irritable, anxious, depressed or bored. And all of that negative energy further depletes you and pushes self-care even farther into the background.
According to Dr. Christiane Northrup, a women’s health expert, the key to self-care is knowing in your heart that the best way you can care for others is by caring for yourself. It’s not selfish or to take care of yourself first. By doing so, you are assured that you have enough energy to take care of the other people in your life.
Here are some easy ways you can let self care sneak its way into your daily routine:
- Avoid unnecessary distractions – “fillers” – i.e., TV, Internet, texts and the constant demand to be in touch with everything and everyone, consume our time. All of this connection takes precious time away from the most important connection of all – the connection with self. Reduce the amount of negative energy coming at you from the media, and social connections.
- Start a Morning Ritual – Wake up earlier than usual and squeeze in an extra half- hour to pray, meditate, read motivational quotes or sit quietly breathing deeply. This is your time to focus on yourself before starting your day.
- Protect Your Boundaries – Boundaries are the invisible lines you place around you to protect your time, energy and resources. Your boundaries establish how you expect to be treated and what’s acceptable and what’s not. Guard your boundaries with care because strong boundaries make it easier to say “no” to requests and demands that eat away at your time, energy, confidence and self-worth.
- Treat yourself kindly – Taking time to wind down, reflect and feel in control of your life is likely to create better feelings about yourself. And the benefits extend to your family, friends, and co-workers. Treating yourself well is a powerful way to feel calmer, loving, generous, patient and relaxed.
- Fine-tune your schedule so that you leave space for some “me time”. When you are planning your daily activities, put YOU as a priority so that you have a visual reminder to take some time for yourself, even if it’s only 15 minutes to sit with your eyes closed.
Adding self-care to your daily routine shows that you place value on yourself and love yourself enough to take the very best care of yourself.
What’s your self-care routine?
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Gladys Anderson, founder of Coach for YOUR Dreams, is a certified life coach, licensed marriage and family therapist, writer and speaker. Gladys combines years of experience, training and a genuine commitment to helping nurses, teachers, therapists and other care giving women to set limits so they have more time, and energy to devote to self-care.
Your life is a Sum Total of Your Responses to the Choices You Have Made
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Years ago, when I first heard the quote “our lives are the sum total of the choices we have made”, by Dr. Wayne Dyer, I quickly discounted it just as a lot of people do. Because I was so wrapped up in my “stories” about what should have happened that I didn’t see how I could possibly have been remotely responsible for how the choices I made were reflected in my life.
As I gave the quote more thought, I came to realize it had more meaning for me when I interpreted it this way – Your life is a sum total of your responses to the choices you have made. Maybe I’m taking too much liberty with Dr. Dyer’s quote but that’s a choice I get to make.
If you look at the quote as how the choices you made are connected to distressing thoughts, you take responsibility for your choices and are empowered to release the burden of unrealistic expectations you’ve placed on yourself and others.
We make choices every day, every minute and sometimes our choices don’t bring the desired results. It’s not the results that cause angst, it’s your response to it that causes stress. I made a choice to purchase one car over another and realized later that I hadn’t made the best choice for myself. Did I ruminate over it, stress over or spend time trying to figure out how I could reverse my choice. You bet I did! But, only for a short time. It was around the time I made my choice that I come across Dr. Dyer’s quote again. After that I put on my “other” thinking cap and decided I wouldn’t stress over it or question the reality of the choice I made.
Who knows, just maybe the universe designed that I would have this car and not another.
In Byron Katie’s book, Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life
Had I attached to the thought that I made a bad decision, I would still be stressed, unable to appreciate the fact that I do have a reliable, safe car to drive and could have easily become attached to a stressful thought about a choice I made.
What about you? If you believe your life is a sum total of your responses to the choices you have made, how do you avoid attaching to stressful thoughts about the choices you’ve made? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Until next time…
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Certified Life Coach, Family therapist and Group Coaching Specialist, Gladys M. Anderson, helps nurses, teachers, social workers, therapists and other care-giving women to set limits so they have more time, more joy and more energy for self-care.
Take a Power Hour to Stop Overwhelm
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According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, 60% of Americans feel they do not have enough time to get everything done.
This past week I certainly was part of that 60%! As I unsuccessfully attempted to check off everything I had on my to-do list, I felt like I was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole!
Maybe you’re also overwhelmed with the sheer volume of items on your to-do list! Or, perhaps, you underestimated the time needed, or fell prey to interruptions because you didn’t set strong time boundaries.
With a mountain of paperwork facing you, phone calls to make, tasks/chores to be done and all the other things you want to check off your to-do-list, you’re more than likely to procrastinate and shuffle mindlessly from one thing to another. And, at the end of the day, feel you have wasted time and accomplished little, if anything.
Well, I recommend you take a power hour to stop overwhelm so that you can take a step back, re-energize and reassess what’s really important now.
Here’s how you can quickly get from overwhelmed, foggy, and frustrated to seeing some astonishing results while renewing your energy source, gaining clarity and a sense of achievement.
- Set a timer for an hour to work on just one task. Setting a time to complete just one thing helps to manage your time and quickly gives you a sense of accomplishment. When the hour is up, take a 10-minute break – get something to drink or go for a short walk. When you return, you will feel mentally and physically alert and ready to take on the next power hour.
- Use part of your 10-minute break to take several some deep breaths. Breathing deeply gives you clarity, focus and renewed energy.
- If it fits into your day, take a power nap. A power nap is good way to refresh quickly. Researchers at NASA showed that a 30-minute power nap increased alertness by approximately 40 percent! I find taking just a 10-15 minute nap refreshing.
- Realign your expectations with the reality of what is possible to accomplish within a given time frame. Rome wasn’t built in a day and you won’t accomplish everything on your schedule today. Prioritize your to-do-list based on what’s most important.
- If your workspace is cluttered, spend the first power hour clearing away all unnecessary papers, pens, etc. before you begin working on your first task. Note: This is not the time to rearrange files, clean out a drawer, sort books, etc. Instead, your main goal is to clear a space where your energy and creativity can flow freely.
- Turn off the ringer on your phone and let any phone calls you receive to go to voice mail so that your “power hour” is not interrupted. You can always check for messages when you take your next break.
Use the tips above to easily use your power hour to stop overwhelm, procrastination, mental drain, and frustration.
If this article resonates with you, please post your thoughts, insights and suggestions in the comment section.
And, to get more tips, start living out loud with more joy, more energy and more time for self-care, get your FREE copy of Building Strong Boundaries to Give You More Breathing Space in Your Hectic Life
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Certified Life Coach, Family therapist and Group Coaching Specialist, Gladys M. Anderson, helps nurses, teachers, social workers, therapists and other care-giving women to set limits so they have more time, more joy and more energy for self-care.
The Secrets To Staying Young, Being Happy And Achieving Success
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You don’t have to get struck by a bolt of lightning or have a degree in rocket science to know the secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success as is so eloquently revealed in the story I’m sharing with you today.
I first came across the story of an 87-year old wise, determined woman while I was attending grad school. Her profound wisdom, energy and determination inspired and motivated me to keep going…
The story of this sage octogenarian very clearly illustrates what can happen when you are focused, determined, committed and willing to follow your dream.
I hope these words will also inspire and trigger you to take action NOW to pursue your dreams.
Here’s the story:
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know.
I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a Smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, “Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I’m 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?”
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.
“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.”
“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have
motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop.
I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her 3×5 cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order, so let me just tell you what I know.” As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began:
“We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor everyday. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead, and they don’t even know it!” she said.
“There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability,” she added.
“The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”
She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose”. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the years end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be. ~Author Unknown
Re-reading this story has inspired me to commit to another one of my dreams – writing an outline for my book! What about you? What steps are you committed to taking right now that will get you closer to achieving YOUR dream?
Gladys Anderson, founder of Coach for YOUR Dreams, is a certified life coach, licensed marriage and family therapist, writer and speaker. Gladys combines years of experience, training and a genuine commitment to helping nurses, therapists, teachers and other caregivers balance the many demands on their time and energy, create boundaries that shift balance from overwhelm to energized, and live their lives with courage, confidence and clarity.
Growing Up or Growing Old
Posted by: | CommentsGrowing Up or Growing Old
By: Author Unknown
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know.
I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, “Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I’m 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?”
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.
“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.”
“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have
motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop.
I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her 3×5 cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order, so let me just tell you what I know.” As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began:
“We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old
because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor everyday. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead, and they don’t even know it!” she said.
“There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability,” she added.
“The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”
She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.” She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the years end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.