The Creative Edge

Clearing the Cobwebs Away

Clearing the Cobwebs is not only a functional activity to do physically, but it is also advantageous psychologically.  Moving and actively doing physical actions helps us to think more clearly.  We manifest and find clarity.   We understand ourselves better.  Things are more apparent.   Feelings, ideas, and impulses are sorted out.

So what triggered this blog?   Well I came into the office with my list of things to accomplish.  Many items needed my attention. In addition to seeing clients on a regular basis, I try to offer concrete ideas and help to those who read my blogs and work with me as a coach online.  I noticed a cobweb in the corner of a window and set out to remove it.

It is always good to work with a friend!

Within a few minutes I had linked up with Mr. Clean, a bucket, mop, and an hour of my time to tackle Spring Cleaning! I washed the tops of all the doors and frames, the floorboards, floors, and window frames.   Soon the floors were washed and vacuumed.   I even removed the books from the bookcase and cleaned underneath and around it.   It felt good to discover after an hour of intense work, that the whole office was shining and smelled so clean.

When I had finished, I went to the computer to work on Quickbooks, return E-Mails, and make a few contacts.   I felt as refreshed and ready as the office was now even more ready to be receive guests here.   I was able to assist others with their issues.   Clarity and a clean perspective helps everyone.  Clearing out space for new thoughts begins with a clean space, an empty drawer, or a blank wall.   It gives one space to create something new.

With the recent snowstorms and cloudy weather, I was feeling unproductive and focusing on one thing at a time was difficult.  Now I displaced the weather, with being in control and moving ahead with the importance of serving other people and preparing things around me.   You can too.   It doesn’t mean you have to do “Spring Cleaning”, to find vision,  but it means that there are many different ways for you to advance.

Maybe it is physically getting up from your desk and taking a walk to the mailbox.   Or perhaps it is setting up an impromptu meeting with a person you need to connect with today.   Moving and conquering tasks can take on many forms; be creative and you’ll find what works best for you.    Often the office is cleaned by a service, but today was different.  I felt compelled to do it myself and to do it well.  I was clearing the way to achieve more.

A long handled mop became my friend for this task!

Take that one step forward, it can put you on the escalator of success.   Maybe it is literally a stair master machine to give you vision upward.  Or pulling out that mop and pail that does the trick to a cleaner mind. Find what works for you and be creative in what you chose to do.   Not everyone fits into a simple formula.  You are unique and special.   Let your light shine.   I know now that the prism in the front window can shine as well.

 

 

Linda is has a background in Education, Psychotherapy and is a Organizational Coach that helps Business Owners, Community Leaders, and everyone excel and move ahead.   Don’t stay depressed, anxious, or alone.  Contact her now, you’ll  be glad you did!

Bring Color to Your Life

Bring color to your life.  It can be a fun adventure and very intentional.   Our thoughts dictate our behaviors and actions.    Do you know a successful person who seems to deal well with  their commitments?  Do they have a balanced lifestyle and enjoy everything they do?  Characteristically, it is a person with a healthy frame of mind, time for family, business, and community.

Do you want to be that person, who is always happy and smiling?  They wear color to everything they do. If you are not this person, let’s start today by bringing your attention to it.

Quite often we see people who appear so well and later learn that they are not free of pain or sorrow. In fact, they seem to turn every crisis or adverse moment into a big win. These outstanding individuals are usually empathetic and willing to be the first to help others. They are insightful and juggle commitments well.  They also have learned to throw away self-limiting beliefs.   They stay connected with others who are positive and clear thinking.

Juliet Linley, a Vatican correspondent in Rome, balances responsibilities in the newsroom with her family life.   She shared in a recent EWTN news interview that she rides her bike to and from work.  It  is the quickest way for her to get around and gives her time outdoors, as well as, exercise.   As a working mother, this Journalist has found a way to incorporate self-care with a busy lifestyle.  Like so many people, Juliet has a sparkling attitude and personality.   Her confidence comes through her voice.

It doesn’t matter who we are or where we live, we all try to balance our businesses, exercise, family needs, and health.  It is nice when we can get in our exercise in a natural way like Juliet does.   Can you walk to your destination?   How can you incorporate fun and healthy things into your life?   Can you eat with friends more often to build relationships in a comfortable and meaningful manner?

Today I had an appointment for an Condo Association Meeting.   The location is about 3 blocks away.   The day is bright, not windy, and yet pleasantly cool.   I decided I needed to walk the few blocks, so with my gym shoes on and a medium weight coat I headed outside.   Not even a block away, I thought about how out of shape I was from not walking on a regular basis.   On the way back an hour or so later, I was jubilant feeling.   The walk was just what I needed.   I will be engaging once again in using my feet instead of my car to navigate around. The weather is changing in my favor and today was a good reminder.

Bring color to your life.

Color your options!

Showing up to commitments, staying well and running businesses call us to find balance with our family too. There are times to pray, attend sporting events, and kids recitals. Walking, cycling, boating and reading together allow us to learn about one another.  It calls us to staying well and keeping color (JOY) into life.

So let’s look at how we might become people marked by colorful moments! Here are a tips that can help you be happier and more fulfilled.

  • Staying prioritized means planning well and following through with the plans you’ve made.  Weigh you priorities.
  • Focusing on one thing at a time helps us to do them well. Being mindful of our relationships call us to be connected to one person at a time and allowing for eye-to-eye contact.
  • Make time for recreation and playing with friends is not only fun, but necessary for us to physically stay well.
  • Completing the projects make us feel confident and satisfied. Closure helps propel us forward.
  • Create systems to stay on task, organized, and efficient. Systems can also help others substitute for us when we are unable to perform tasks.
  • Habits set into place are easy to perform. Create menus and grocery shopping on the same day and time.  Rituals give us form and are functional.
  • Learning to delegate to others what we aren’t good at doing helps us, as well as, providing business for our community. It allows us time to do what we’re good at doing.
  • Write things down. Particularly your short and long terms goals.  Be as specific as possible.
  • Become accountable to someone who will guide and hold you to your intentions or the standards you want.

 

 

 

 

How Do You Spell Contentment?

So with vacation time coming around for school children and adults as well, people are thinking of going to Disney, driving to see family across country, or planning a summer of local activities.  Where are you going?  What do you plan on doing?  Are you going to see your parents?  Will you fly or drive?   What are your plans?   Will you have kids along?  Well I have a few thoughts for you to make this summer the best yet!

Maybe you’ll be going to an annual event in your neighborhood or doing local events.   Taking a one day trip rather impulsively to Wisconsin, down to Chicago, or to meet a friend for a play may be your mode of enjoying the nice weather.   Perhaps entertaining more or with people you haven’t seen in years?  All of these ideas are wonderful.   Usually they can be economical and scheduled according to the “FREE” days at the local zoo or museum.  Take advantage of them and enjoy the sites!

Why do we vacation?  Are we trying to get away from the day-to-day pressures that take the toil on our health and thinking? And if this is the case, why is that necessary?   I think of past generations who found the weekend picnic or time with family on a Sunday afternoon.   That was their pleasure.  Simple and easy, not so expensive that they would set back the budget.  So let’s take their example and expound on it.   Pick a site and go with a bunch of people for safety and a fun time to a picnic site or a big backyard.   It is fun.  Each person can bring a dish to pass or a fruit to share.   It takes down the stress that so many of us suffer from experiencing daily.

Stay connected with friends is so neat.   Well staying connected with those we value is neat.   We give away what it is we want from others.   It may be time, money, energy, wisdom or ?    We also seek out the wisdom we need to stay efficient.  Find friends and brainstorm.  Making time for others is the best gift we can get.   Blessings and “Delight in Living” today and everyday.

 

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Do You Ignore Signs?

A red light turned on in the vaporizer last week.   It is usually green and stays light.  It began to flicker and then stay on red, not green.   So did we just ignore it?

Often one can find themselves in trouble if they don’t respect signs.   Signs may be an indication of danger or warning of some sort.   Although they can be visual and read, they may also appear in other ways.  An example would be:  Watch for standing water and don’t drive into it.   It may have a sink hole, open sewer, or deeper than it looks.  There is no written sign to tell you that, but rather common sense and perhaps knowing that from seeing something on TV!   I know that because as a child, our area used to flood easily.  I became aware of the danger that flooding can create.

Signs are placed around us for a purpose.   When I am Podcasting, the door is closed with a sign that says THIS DOOR IS LOCKED, PLEASE RETURN LATER.  People are usually respectful and don’t start pulling or knocking.  A DO NOT SMOKE sign could be keeping a smoker safe from a flammable area.  Or someone inside could be on OXYGEN and it would create danger for all.

Not all places are Open to Everyone.

Not everything a person does is for the world to see.   We have PRIVATE as a word in our English vocabulary, because it is an important one meant to set boundaries.   Can you recall the first time, you saw a sign like this?  We have all seen PRIVATE signs  on a television mystery shows or at a business or doctors office when I was a child.   Private tells us not to enter, or to knock, or maybe even avoid.

If you are traveling, signs of warning or advice are displayed differently. It might be an icon instead of a word.   Often one sees this at the intersections of streets in Chicago or other large cities.  People do not always observe these and cause accidents.   Prudence dictates we pay attention before learning the hard way!  

What other kinds of signs must we recognize?   Are the signs of illness?   Signs that our car is ready to overheat or be out of gas?  Signs that we need more training or understanding before we tackle a piece of dangerous equipment in the garage?   Signs that our business is about to fail or the company we work with is beginning to lay people off of work? Signs from God that we have prayed for?

Knowing how to see signs and then read them correctly can save us time and trouble.  It is good to teach your children to recognize the power they hold. Expand your influence by becoming a good example.  In that way, you will help yourself and others to  “Delight in Living!”

 

 

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Sacks, Bags, & Luggage?

Where are you going?   I see a closet filled with sacks, bags, and luggage.  Where did they come from?  Let’s see?  Some were given to me.  There are a few new ones I received as gifts.   There are some with a history of numerous trips.   I have a bunch in my car that are cloth for groceries. In the pantry are plastic ones from miscellaneous purchases to use for garbage cans. The spare closet has luggage, big purses, and bags for the gym.  I keep giving them away and they multiply.  

Here’s a disclaimer:   I do love purses and containers of all sizes for they do help us carry the important things with us.

We all have containers.   Right?  Where have yours come from?  What do you intend to go?  Have you recently bought anything? How many have come to you during this Christmas season?

Well, let me switch to emotional baggage now.   Where has yours come from?   Broken marriages,  illnesses,  joyful times, memories of a great childhood?  I think baggage is useful!   It all serves to teach us and to help us see who we are becoming.   I like the prettier bags with times of happiness and good news, but I am not naive to think they are all so pretty.

Like baggage that has taken you on trips, it is scraped up and dirty.  It serves one well and gets us to and from our destinations.  It can even make us thankful.   Some of it breaks apart and the contents spills.  I recall a trip on a cruise many years ago.  Our luggage was new and broke between the ship and flight to California.  We had it temporarily repaired, but it had to be discarded.   In the process, we tried to desperately save the contents.  We also bought straps that helped keep it together.  Then and ever since I recognize that security straps are essential.

Ever been there?   Saving the contents, that is?   Trying to claim the best of the best and hang on to the rest somehow?   Now is the time to discard the old negative feelings, heal, forgive, and pack in new hope and joy for the next year.  Pray, focus, work on relationships.   Scrap  the old and bind up what you have that can be enhanced.

Look for the Mini Miracles and smile.   Travel well, pack carefully, and plan ahead.

Exploded Expectations?

We all have “bad hair days” or bad days!  It may be a day when the littlest things seem to blow up in our faces.   A time when we have a full agenda or when we have been on a high!  I recall one New Year’s Eve where the kids decided to come out and spend an evening of playing games.   Just as they were about to leave, my son-in-law went out to warm the car, and there was a flat tire on their car. Thank goodness he was easy going and just changed it without much ado.   It could have wrecked an otherwise great night.file-dec-09-8-28-26-am

Life happens and it isn’t always according to our expectations.   Expectations are dangerous, because when things don’t play out as we want them too, we are disappointed.  Perhaps our disappointments make us act inappropriately.   We lash out at others, slam doors, drive foolishly, or just lose it.   Some people pout and become terrible to be around.

It takes a decision on our part to change our behaviors.   Not always easy as we are all creatures of habit and just react.  Do you know what habits you’d like to break?  Working on one at a time is the way to go.

That is particularly true with business and when we want to keep on schedule, but something steps in our way.  The telephone calls start taking priority.  Today I have a combination of business and play that I plan to do, but who knows as I begin seeing white flakes come down.   Learning to be adaptive and working through obstacles is what it is all about.

Today’s the big news story is on John Glenn who died at 95.   The news tells us he was a calm and relaxed man.  He orbited the planet in 1962 and I remember the thrill of it all.   Our eyes were focused on the skies and our prayers were with him.   So many things we now take for granted; the Space Programs for #1.  So many advances have been made that we are able to fly, take trains, buses and cars everywhere!   What joy there is in traveling.

It was my thought that we should all strive to be less anxious; to be more relaxed.   We all need to focus on the here and now and now worry about what will happen next week.  Personal experience tells me that when you get to next week, you’ll have what you need available to deal with the problem. 

So enjoy your day and “delight in living” everyday of the year.  Peace be with you.   And watch for the Mini Miracles from Minor Moments unfolding around you.

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