Check out today's blog: 2009 REWIND!
http://ping.fm/oqR1k
Thursday, December 17, 2009
2009 Rewind
As 2009 is coming to an end, I encourage you to give yourself an annual review of the last year. I believe this is an important task as we begin to think about what we want to create in 2010. This annual review should be holistic in nature, encompassing all aspects of your life: abundance, livelihood, leisure, well-being, relationships, personal growth and legacy (the seven areas I address in my book).
If you made a vision board (you can see mine here!) or have a list of your goals, use them to guide you through these questions. If not, spend a few moments in meditation and then answer them. It's a good idea to write down the answers, even if they're just in list form.
1. What were my WINS in 2009?
2. What were some defining moments (positive and not-so-positive!)?
3. What did I do well this year that was a positive change from 2008?
4. Which goals didn't come to fruition? Why?
5. Which 2009 goals do I want to carry over to 2010? What will I do differently, or who will I BE, to allow them to happen this year?
Here are some more questions posed by a friend and colleague Ed Brenegar that you may want to consider when you're doing your annual review.
Look for upcoming tips and tricks for creating your vision for 2010. Keep me posted on your questions and progress!
May all your intentions come true!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Vote for Chris Cates' album "Carolina Songs" for WNCW's regional album of the year at: http://ping.fm/ZoMBY Scroll down to "Other" and type in Chris Cates, Carolina Songs! Thanks!
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Lesson in Julie and Julia
I was inspired to blog today after watching the movie Julie and Julia. Have you seen it? It's a decent movie (though maybe a little too long), but the lesson I got was potentially life-changing (and worth the extra minutes).
It taught me that if I consciously do what makes me feel good (for Julie and Julia it was cooking!) solely for the sake of feeling good, in the process I will open doors for myself and shift my future in unexpected ways. So now my job is to become keenly aware of when I'm feeling good, and to notice also when I'm feeling less than good so I can shift back to feeling good as soon as possible.
In fact, this lesson is not a new one for me. It's one that keeps popping up! I recently read in a self-help book to write down a list of things I enjoy doing and to do at least one of them every day. I wrote the list yesterday, and my commitment now is to incorporate at least one of those joyful activities into my life every day. Let's see where this goes! Make it your commitment too and keep me posted on your progress!
And check out this link to Julie's (from the movie!) blog: http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/.
It taught me that if I consciously do what makes me feel good (for Julie and Julia it was cooking!) solely for the sake of feeling good, in the process I will open doors for myself and shift my future in unexpected ways. So now my job is to become keenly aware of when I'm feeling good, and to notice also when I'm feeling less than good so I can shift back to feeling good as soon as possible.
In fact, this lesson is not a new one for me. It's one that keeps popping up! I recently read in a self-help book to write down a list of things I enjoy doing and to do at least one of them every day. I wrote the list yesterday, and my commitment now is to incorporate at least one of those joyful activities into my life every day. Let's see where this goes! Make it your commitment too and keep me posted on your progress!
And check out this link to Julie's (from the movie!) blog: http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
To Do, Or Not To Do
With school back in full swing and the holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to consider the “how to’s” of an effective “to-do” list. No matter how frequently or infrequently, successfully or unsuccessfully you have written and followed through on your to-do lists in the past, now is the time to make your to-do list a valuable time-management asset by following these five simple guidelines.
1. Make your list S.M.A.R.T.
Just like any good short or long-term goal, your to-do list should contain activities that are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely). Use action verbs as much as possible, and make sure to write only tasks that you can realistically achieve in the amount of time you have. If you see the same activity appearing over and over on your to-do list, ask yourself if it’s something that’s timely and important right now, or something that can wait.
2. Be ready to act.
Many times we put tasks on our to-do list that we are not prepared to follow through on. My husband recently wanted to make cold calls in order to find people who were interested in receiving his promotional package. Call potential clients was not a strong task for his to-do list until he had his packages put together and ready to send. Be prepared to follow through on what you want to achieve, or chunk down your tasks until they are small enough to act on immediately.
3. Start small.
Often our to-do list looks less like a daily task list and more like a short or long-term goal list. Things like Write a book or Lose 15 pounds are awesome goals that belong on a separate list from your daily to-dos. It’s important to have short and long term goals, and your to-do list is a great way to break those goals down into small, manageable steps. When I started writing my book, I was having a difficult time focusing until my coach suggested that I add Write for 45 minutes to my to-do list every day. It was much more attainable to write for 45 minutes per day than it was to approach the task as completing a whole manuscript.
4. Make your “why” bigger than your “what.”
I recently needed to take some documentation to my cell phone provider so I could receive an employer discount. After a few days of not following through on the task, I asked myself, “Why is this important to me?” I immediately thought “If I can save that money, we’ll have more money to put into our vacation savings.” Task completed! Checking an item off our list may be one reason why we want to do it, but thinking of the deeper purpose behind each task, helps us follow through more efficiently. Purpose drives productivity. Make the reason why you’re doing something more important than the act itself.
5. Be clear and easy on yourself.
When and how you write your to-do list (or any list!) is very important. I find that the best time to write my to-do list is after my morning meditation and journaling time. Definitely do not write your list when you feel scattered or over-caffeinated, and don’t write a list because you feel like you have to. The best to-do lists are written when we feel clear. If you write your list when you’re on-edge, it’s likely that you will feel on-edge while completing your list. Also, be easy on yourself! Include some fun activities and treat yourself to a day without a list every once in awhile.
When you’re writing your next to-do list, remember to make your list S.M.A.R.T., to be ready to act, to start small, to infuse each task with purpose and to be clear and easy on yourself through the process. By putting these practical guidelines to use, you will turn your to-do list into ta-da list!
1. Make your list S.M.A.R.T.
Just like any good short or long-term goal, your to-do list should contain activities that are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely). Use action verbs as much as possible, and make sure to write only tasks that you can realistically achieve in the amount of time you have. If you see the same activity appearing over and over on your to-do list, ask yourself if it’s something that’s timely and important right now, or something that can wait.
2. Be ready to act.
Many times we put tasks on our to-do list that we are not prepared to follow through on. My husband recently wanted to make cold calls in order to find people who were interested in receiving his promotional package. Call potential clients was not a strong task for his to-do list until he had his packages put together and ready to send. Be prepared to follow through on what you want to achieve, or chunk down your tasks until they are small enough to act on immediately.
3. Start small.
Often our to-do list looks less like a daily task list and more like a short or long-term goal list. Things like Write a book or Lose 15 pounds are awesome goals that belong on a separate list from your daily to-dos. It’s important to have short and long term goals, and your to-do list is a great way to break those goals down into small, manageable steps. When I started writing my book, I was having a difficult time focusing until my coach suggested that I add Write for 45 minutes to my to-do list every day. It was much more attainable to write for 45 minutes per day than it was to approach the task as completing a whole manuscript.
4. Make your “why” bigger than your “what.”
I recently needed to take some documentation to my cell phone provider so I could receive an employer discount. After a few days of not following through on the task, I asked myself, “Why is this important to me?” I immediately thought “If I can save that money, we’ll have more money to put into our vacation savings.” Task completed! Checking an item off our list may be one reason why we want to do it, but thinking of the deeper purpose behind each task, helps us follow through more efficiently. Purpose drives productivity. Make the reason why you’re doing something more important than the act itself.
5. Be clear and easy on yourself.
When and how you write your to-do list (or any list!) is very important. I find that the best time to write my to-do list is after my morning meditation and journaling time. Definitely do not write your list when you feel scattered or over-caffeinated, and don’t write a list because you feel like you have to. The best to-do lists are written when we feel clear. If you write your list when you’re on-edge, it’s likely that you will feel on-edge while completing your list. Also, be easy on yourself! Include some fun activities and treat yourself to a day without a list every once in awhile.
When you’re writing your next to-do list, remember to make your list S.M.A.R.T., to be ready to act, to start small, to infuse each task with purpose and to be clear and easy on yourself through the process. By putting these practical guidelines to use, you will turn your to-do list into ta-da list!
Friday, September 18, 2009
How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything!
I first heard "How you do anything is how you do everything" (the title of Cheri Huber's book) at a transformational seminar I attended about a two years ago. When the trainer spoke those words, I shivered in my seat. WOW! What did that mean for me? I left the seminar reflecting on "how" I was showing up in the world. I realized that for most of my life I had been focusing on the "what." I was an action-oriented person with my hands in many different pots, but was I giving everything my very best? Or was I just doing activities to check them off my list?
I had the opportunity to re-visit the meaning of the quote recently with my coach and through another self-development class that I'm taking. "It's not what you do, but how you do it." Ever since then I have focused on the "how" of each activity that I involve myself in. From ironing the clothes to having date night with my husband to talking to potential clients on the phone, "how" am I showing up? Am I fully present? Am I really listening? Am I engaged and alive in each activity? Do I follow through and finish each activity before starting something else?
I know that one of the best ways to look at ourselves and make positive changes in our lives it to observe ourselves in action. Look at how you are showing up in your life. Notice what you notice with no judgement and if you see something you don't like, consider doing it differently next time. I find that when I am fully present and dedicated to the task at hand I make less mistakes and create more compelling outcomes than when I do something haphazardly.
I had the opportunity to re-visit the meaning of the quote recently with my coach and through another self-development class that I'm taking. "It's not what you do, but how you do it." Ever since then I have focused on the "how" of each activity that I involve myself in. From ironing the clothes to having date night with my husband to talking to potential clients on the phone, "how" am I showing up? Am I fully present? Am I really listening? Am I engaged and alive in each activity? Do I follow through and finish each activity before starting something else?
I know that one of the best ways to look at ourselves and make positive changes in our lives it to observe ourselves in action. Look at how you are showing up in your life. Notice what you notice with no judgement and if you see something you don't like, consider doing it differently next time. I find that when I am fully present and dedicated to the task at hand I make less mistakes and create more compelling outcomes than when I do something haphazardly.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Clarity = Power
Though math is not my forté, this simple equation has become the foundation of my personal truth ever since I heard it two years ago at an empowerment training. Perhaps it’s my “who, what when, where” journalistic background, or my slightly type-A personality that demands clarity, but whatever it is, I accept it as my personal truth and one of my highest values because clarity has equated to more power in my life experience.
Whether it’s one of my biggest life goals or my most menial daily tasks, I stop to ask myself, “What do I want?” as often as I remember. When I align my intention with the action I choose, I move forward with a better grip on what to expect, and often get exactly what I intend.
Our personal power is our ability to create our lives for the highest benefit of ourselves and all involved. If we are unclear about what we want, we give our power away to the circumstances, people and events that surround us. Let’s stand in our power by being cjavascript:void(0)lear in our communication, clear in our direction, clear in our purpose, clear in our intent.
I’m clear that I’m not a mathematician, but I do know something about proportions: our level of clarity is directly related to our level of personal power. More clarity = More power.
Be clear. Be powerful.
Whether it’s one of my biggest life goals or my most menial daily tasks, I stop to ask myself, “What do I want?” as often as I remember. When I align my intention with the action I choose, I move forward with a better grip on what to expect, and often get exactly what I intend.
Our personal power is our ability to create our lives for the highest benefit of ourselves and all involved. If we are unclear about what we want, we give our power away to the circumstances, people and events that surround us. Let’s stand in our power by being cjavascript:void(0)lear in our communication, clear in our direction, clear in our purpose, clear in our intent.
I’m clear that I’m not a mathematician, but I do know something about proportions: our level of clarity is directly related to our level of personal power. More clarity = More power.
Be clear. Be powerful.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Fill in the blanks...
Fill in the blanks with the same word: The more ________ you notice in your life, the more ________ you get. Fill in the blank however you choose, and feel the truth and power in that statement.
Recently I have chosen to fill in the blank with the word "abundance" just to see what happens. I am consciously noticing abundance and how it shows up in my life every day. I started this practice last week while running through the woods (I wasn't being chased, I was just training!) and have been amazed ever since.
Now I am committed to keeping track of my "evidence of abundance" and sharing it with other people. I will do this now through my tweets (so follow along on Twitter: http://twitter.com/adaircates). I will share my longer, more detailed experiences right here.
Recently I have chosen to fill in the blank with the word "abundance" just to see what happens. I am consciously noticing abundance and how it shows up in my life every day. I started this practice last week while running through the woods (I wasn't being chased, I was just training!) and have been amazed ever since.
Now I am committed to keeping track of my "evidence of abundance" and sharing it with other people. I will do this now through my tweets (so follow along on Twitter: http://twitter.com/adaircates). I will share my longer, more detailed experiences right here.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Look for Positive Aspects
Yesterday I had lunch in the teacher workroom at school and witnessed another horribly negative conversation...pay cuts, unemployment, unruly kids. Many days I choose not to eat with my colleagues because of this. I felt like I did a pretty good job of not fueling the fire and after eating, went on with my day not brought down like I am on some days after experiencing such negativity.
Today while driving to work I listened to one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Abraham, talk about the Law of Attraction and careers. This was the perfect CD for me to listen to as I wind down this school year and ponder my next career steps.
Once again Abraham talked about the importance of looking for positive aspects: the best way to allow in a new and fulfilling job is to find what feels good in the job that you're in now. This attitude will shift your perspective of the negative people and events of your current job and keep you in a vibration of appreciation. In that vibration, you will not only attract a better position, you will also experience your current job and the people in it as more positive.
And it really works! This morning I took time to write the positive aspects of my current job and what do you know? As soon as I walked in the building today one of the teachers who was so super-negative at lunch yesterday apologized to me for being that way! WOW! I'm going to continue to look for positive aspects in my career and all areas of my life! Are you?
Today while driving to work I listened to one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Abraham, talk about the Law of Attraction and careers. This was the perfect CD for me to listen to as I wind down this school year and ponder my next career steps.
Once again Abraham talked about the importance of looking for positive aspects: the best way to allow in a new and fulfilling job is to find what feels good in the job that you're in now. This attitude will shift your perspective of the negative people and events of your current job and keep you in a vibration of appreciation. In that vibration, you will not only attract a better position, you will also experience your current job and the people in it as more positive.
And it really works! This morning I took time to write the positive aspects of my current job and what do you know? As soon as I walked in the building today one of the teachers who was so super-negative at lunch yesterday apologized to me for being that way! WOW! I'm going to continue to look for positive aspects in my career and all areas of my life! Are you?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Now's the time to clarify
Many of us are in current circumstances that are uncomfortable or just downright aweful. With our country's current economic situation, we are reevaluating not only how we spend our money, but how we spend our time (aka OUR LIVES!). We're also thinking about our values. What's important to us? What have we been taking for granted? What will we do differently this time?
What better time to clarify what we want to be, do and have in life than now! It's time to embrace the present tense and to allow gradual change. If we want true positive change in our lives, we're going to have to ditch the temporary bandaid cover-ups of the past and be OK with where we are right now. Drastic and sudden change is possible, but not probable. It's time to stop the complaining and blaming, to move in the direction of where we want to be and to sow the seeds of our destinies!
It's really quite simple. So simple that it has become part of my daily routine. Each morning before I start my day, I spend an hour consciously journaling and visualzing through the following processes (and the rest of my day aware of their power):
1. Gratitude...Appreciate where you are right now! What's going right in your life? Write down at least 5 things that you're grateful for in a gratitude journal. Start today! Also, as your going through your day, find things to appreciate. Appreciate the color of paint on the wall, the falling rain outside your window, or the food on your plate. The more you notice all the good things around you, the more good things you will see.
2. Forgiveness....Forgive yourself and others for mistakes and shortcomings. This reminds me of a quote by MLK Jr. "Forgiveness isn't a one time thing. It is a permanent attitude." And the #1 person we need to forgive is ourselves! Until you can forgive and love yourself, it is impossible to fully forgive and love others. I choose to write at least one page in my journal forgiving and loving myself and the people I in my life. I write "I love and forgive _________ wholly and completely." Sometimes I will mention certain events or words involving that person too.
3. A New Story...Tell a new and improved story of life. Have you heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? Or perhaps the "law of attraction?" We are nothing more than a product of the story we tell ourselves all day long! We draw to us experiences and people through the stories we tell (to ourselves and others!). If there's something you're not crazy about going on in your life, change your story.
I journal my new and improved story every day, describing in detail the amount of money I want to make and the people and events I want to attract. I am amazed at what I've already created in my life just from telling a new story. Change your story and then take action when you feel inspired. What do you want to create in your life? And don't just tell it, see it. VISUALIZE yourself living the kind of life you want to live.
4. Positives, not negatives...Look for what you like. Find the good in every situation. I got this process from Esther and Jerry Hicks, two of my favorite spiritual teachers. They suggest writing at the top of a journal page or piece of paper "List of positive aspects of_______" and then creating longs lists of good things about whatever person or situation you find yourself unhappy in. They even suggest writing the positive aspects of things in your life that you're happy about. Focusing on the good is only going to bring more good into your life. I don't journal positive aspects every day, but definitely do it when I'm feeling especially disappointed or confused about something. And sometimes I write positive aspects of good things in my life.
Be easy on yourself through these processes. You might find that you have some attitudes and beliefs to let go of that you didn't even know you had. Remember that true, permanent change is gradual. Allow the changes you desire to unfold and remember to feel good through it all. You will have setbacks. You will have days that don't feel as good. Just keep loving yourself through all of it, because in the end you're going to be amazed at how wonderful your life is!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
2009 Manifesto
Well, I'm happy to say that 2009 is off to a great start! Here is a photo of the manifesto I created for 2009. I had so much fun writing out all of my intentions for this year and adding paint and images to create a clear vision of what I want to create. Some of my intentions are starting to come true faster than I ever imagined. Have you written down your intentions for 2009?
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