| |
| |
|
Motivation Information |
|
|
|
Selective Perspective
Picture this: A mother and daughter are looking at the snowfall from the front widow of their home. The daughter thinks: "Great, No school tomorrow." While Mom is thinking, "Great, how will I get to work tomorrow?" "Lights, Camera... Action!" By Elizabeth Tull Andrea Shea Hudson, www.andreasheahudson.com , a coaching friend of mine said to me recently: "If you're going to write the script for your life, why not write a great one?" The Blizzard of 2005 currently going on in New York was my thought with coffee this warm and sunny January morning here in Atlanta. After a quick prayer that no one was seriously harmed, a wave of homesickness swept through me. How beautiful Boston and New York City are during a snowfall. People outdoors and on-foot, the storm leaving traffic stilled and quieted which opens up the sound of those inhabiting the city without car horns blaring, mass transit buses, and the sea of yellow taxis. Many neighborhoods feeling like neighborhoods due to increased social activity available when the city is closing down. The various architectures covered in a blanket of undisturbed whiteness, allowing the environment to appear Norman Rockwell-ish, artistic and magical. An abundance of colored hats, gloves and scarves along with some very creative winter clothing for my neighbors and their pets. Children busy with snowball fights, people playing with their dogs, sledding in Central Park or The Boston Commons, snowmen and ice sculptures reflecting the voice of artists' talents and, of course, the smell of brownstone apartment fireplaces reminding me that there is a warm place awaiting - with a mug of hot chocolate or bowl of tomato soup. Sleep comes easily that night after a day of outdoor adventure, bonding, and rediscovery. Meanwhile back in Atlanta, the "adult" I was taught to be took over with my second cup of coffee: Puddles of slush, snow turning gray,brown and yellow; folks cranky due to mass transit systems and airports running off-schedule; salt and plow trucks blocking in vehicles and dirtying windshields. City sanitation workers unable to pick-up and discard piles of garbage; snow days from school with no childcare; frozen wiper blades; and having to walk to the store for provisions in the wind and cold. I smiled. How drastically my perceptions had altered and shifted. "The scripts I write are based on my perspectives, aren't they?" I commented to Andrea in my head. The two visions I had just created are two very different scripts based on two very different perspectives. I stood at a crossroad in my mind. Which perspective of the above two best reflect me today? I thought. I chose to open my recovery and coach training toolbox for the right questions to ask myself: Which perspective holds more value of the two visions I created? How do I look at the world and its going's on? Are there adventures and challenges or problems and defeats? Am I feeling scarcity or abundance? Is my glass half empty or over flowing? Do I see possibilities or stops and drama? Did I create the time to check in on these perceptions, or was I being reasonable: I am too busy, tired, over-committed and inundated with more important things. Then I thought: What could possibly be more important than checking in with or discovering my perspective, since that is the foundation that creates the way my life feels and how I feel about the life I create? My answer: The perspective I choose to live from today is a far cry from the perspective I was taught to have through my family experiences, the media, organizations from the past, grade school and my previous choices. I welcome crossroads today because thru them I have the power of choosing the direction I travel. Today I am free, willing and unafraid to recall experiences that may create homesickness, pain or longing in me. I can go home again without living in the past. There are memories there that leave me warm inside and not depressed while I am conscious to the gifts of my life here in Atlanta. It felt good this morning revisiting and picturing the possibilities of adventure, rediscovery and bonding during a snowstorm up north. I also believe anything I mourn over was worth having in the first place. So that I do not end up back in my story or in the past negatively, I use an allotted time frame while I revisit if I feel sadness, loss or pain. This is another new perspective for me. I was taught that you can't go home again and that the past should stay in the past. The empowerment I feel from choosing my perspective comes from my commitments and risk taking as well as long-term involvement in the recovery world, professional coaching, quality friends, mentors, and consistently making the time to discover and utilize the tools for living and not just existing. For me, living is always having a choice. Everyone has choices in everything though only a few of us learn how powerful that is when creating the present and future. Today I choose to not only discover and pick up the tools but to apply my energies for living into an extraordinary life. This I do by action around my commitments and that I do for my legacy, my children and my children's children. That's my script, and I'm sticking to it. "If you're going to write the script for your life, why not write a good one?" How important is it to understand your perspective? You decide. Extraordinary living is a birthright. Stake your claim. Live Gloriously, Do you know someone who needs a perceptional awakening? Are you living the rewards of Personal Excellence thru Legacy Design or Enhanced Recovery Living? Stop by and sign up for "The Coaching Catalyst" newsletter and make yourself at home: www.agapelegacycoach.com Elizabeth Tull is a Legacy Strategist who partners with others to design legacies of personal excellence. Her focus is assisting others in creating extraordinary experiences, relationships and fulfilling careers. Please visit or send any thoughts or feedback to: Elizabeth@agapelegacycoach.com" or just stop by and say "HI!" http://www.agapelegacycoach.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Motivation - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
7 Key Steps to Unshakable Confidence Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first job interview. Perhaps you were speaking to a group for the first time. Letting Events Control Your Life ... Dropping The Negatives And Moving On! It's interesting to note how we sometimes become so inundated with events in our lives that we allow them to become our lives. Instead of enjoying and nurturing the life we have, we fall prey to the fears and stresses that occur as a result of negative experiences. Forward Motion The natural cycle of life is to grow and move forward but moving forward brings with it an element of the unknown. It is human nature to fear the unknown. Vanity Killed My Car When I was a freshman in college, my first car was a 1973 Dodge Swinger. Stop laughing! When I first bought the car it was quite sad looking. Happy New Year H appiness depends upon your outlook on life.A ttitude is just as important as ability. Motivation: 5 Powerful Emotions You Can Use Experiencing strong emotions is not uncommon. What is uncommon is applying these emotions to motivate you to change and grow. How to Talk to Yourself When Nobody is Listening and You Want to Do you ever pay attention to the thoughts inside your mind? And more importantly do you ever notice the way in which you talk to yourself?We all pay a lot of attention to the way we communicate with the outside world but we often neglect to improve the way we communicate with ourselves.When it comes to motivating yourself to be a better person, to do better at work or to create a happier family life you need to understand the importance of taking control of your self talk. 4 Barriers to Overcome For Growth As we begin a new year, it's natural to reflect a bit on what we really want out of the next 12 months. Have you made some resolutions? Have you decided to get in shape? Go for a promotion? Quit smoking? Get your finances in order? Spend more time with your family? All of the above? Whatever your resolutions are, they all boil down to one thing- you want GROWTH! Congratulations! You've taken the first step towards seeing positive results. STOP! Reading the Headlines and Live Your Own Life First Imagine! 40 is old. The California State Supreme Court has said that when are you are 40, employers can discriminate against employees using this age as the excuse. Teaching kids -- UGH!! (...and what I learned from it) I have a confession to make: I don't like working with little kids.Don't get me wrong. What Is The Value In Wanting To Accomplish Something? When I listen to people tell me about some of the things they want to do, I pause for two reasons. One is the fact that I'm listening and watching them to see if they are serious within themselves. Fear Emotions - Positive or Negative? What is fear's purpose? How do you handle it? While I am working in my pest control business, I meet people on an almost daily basis who are influenced by negative fear thoughts regarding pests invading their premises. A good size spider, rat, or unexpected insect can set someone off pretty quickly, and literally immobilize them. Motivation By Facing Facts "Things is either done, or they ain't done." Marlon SandersSome of the greatest truths are the most obvious. That First Step To Massive Success Do you ever procrastinate? So do I!I had some work to do yesterday and I kept putting it off.I thought to my self - I´ll wait until later when I feel more alert and in the right frame of mind to do it just rightDo you ever do this?Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. What If I Fall Flat On My Face? I hope you do. Sounds awful, I know. Are You the Motivator We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how an inspired team, working together toward a clearly defined goal, can accomplish tremendous results. But how do you get all co-workers to pull together and realize they are a vital link in a much bigger picture?Remember that individuals make a team. Are You a Right-Fighter? Are You a "Right-Fighter"?Do you find yourself struggling to "win" arguments? Do people ask you why you always have to be right? Does conflict you engage in typically end with you having the last word, but no one feels good about the argument? Do arguments you engage in usually escalate to shouting and anger? If you have said yes to any of these questions, you are likely a right-fighter!What is a "Right-Fighter"A right-fighter is someone who struggles to win arguments, even if they doubt their own view. A right-fighter is someone who gets overly emotional or angry when people do not agree with them and their opinions or beliefs. Playing With Mindfulness: Sneaking In The Back Door I often meet people who say things like, "I've been working on mindfulness for over twenty years."My response is always this: "Oh, you poor thing! Have you tried *playing* with mindfulness? It's very effective, and much more fun!"They tend to look at me like I'm some kind of kook, and then ask the million-dollar question: "How can you play with mindfulness?" Glad you asked. To Boldly Go For the first time in many years, Star Trek Fans will no longer be able to explore those new frontiers where no man has gone before. Thank heavens for reruns, videos and DVD's! One reason for the success of this TV series is because the storyline appealed to the human desire to explore the unknown. Discover Your Purpose In Life Everyone has a life purpose; a unique and special something each of us is supposed to do in LIFE. A life purpose is not a specific job or career, it is much deeper and much more fulfilling.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
