As I write this, I’m sitting outside in our screen house saying a fond farewell to another summer.
Where
I live, summer’s end is marked by a large 4-H Fair every Labor Day
weekend. DH (Darling Hubby) and I went this past weekend and got there
just in time for the annual auction — where else can you get a
pristine baby grand piano for $70, 5 oak dining room chairs in perfect
condition for $5 and $25 worth of Dairy Queen gift certificates for
$100?
The star attraction this year was an older gentleman who
would outbid someone just for the joy of the battle and then pay for
the item and give it to the original bidder. He would bid outrageous
amounts — such as $100 for a pair of ping pong paddles — so he could
donate more to the 4-H (all proceeds went to the Club).
I loved
seeing someone who donated do it in such a way that there were 3
winners: the Club who got the money, the original bidder who received
what he wanted (and got it for nothing) and the gleefully-bidding
gentleman (who would even don a disguise at times to fool the
auctioneer) who took such pleasure in giving. 🙂
In addition
to taking some time for the Fair, I’ve been preparing to pick and up go
to New Hampshire next week. DH and I have rented a house in the woods
to serve as a basecamp for our fall foliage tour. I can’t wait!
Article: How to Instantly boost your creativity…and happiness!
"Whatever brings you down, get rid of it.
Because you’ll find that when you’re free,
your true creativity, your true self comes out."
— Tina Turner
I first heard this quote years ago and when I saw it again recently while reading a friend’s blog (check out today’s Recommended Resource), I knew it was time to write this article.
It wasn’t long ago when a friend asked me what I was tolerating in my life.
Tolerating?
Me? I have a husband I adore and who adores me, 6 fabulous pets, a
house we’re comfortable in, supportive friends and family and a
business which fulfills me while allowing me to help others. What could
I possibly be tolerating?
You see, I was working on a
project that I just couldn’t get my hands around and I couldn’t figure
out why. I was enthused about the project, just blocked somehow.
So
I sat down with pen and paper to make a list of everything I was
tolerating (although that seemed like a strong word to me). In 15
minutes, I had over 100 items.
I was shocked. Even more
shocking, once I made a list (I hadn’t even done anything with it yet),
my creative juices started flowing again. It was as if a dam was
somehow let loose inside and I could tackle anything. 🙂
To show you that my list was not earth shattering by any means, here are a few of the items that I wrote:
=> curtain rods needed fixing in master bedroom
=> deck needed repainting
=> administrative desk in office was unorganized
=> pictures still to be hung in laundry room
=> pantry had outgrown itself
=> catch up with friends who I had lost touch with
=> light bulb in office task light was wrong brightness
=> 401k plan not yet transferred to new financial planner
=> spend less time with someone who was "glass half empty"
=> car CD player needed fixing
=> when was last time I painted (something I love to do)
My list was made up of over 90 more items like this.
Individually,
the items were simple, easy-to-do and, quite honestly, I didn’t even
realize that some of them were bothering me. All together, however,
they representated a vat of unconscious negativity that assaulted me
everywhere I turned.
I had no idea what the sum total of all
these little nagging things meant to my subsconscious. But now, well
now they were on *THE LIST*. And being on *THE LIST* meant they could
be dealt with.
And so I dealt with them: some were done by me,
some were on my "honey do" list and others were delegated or hired out.
And as each thing was crossed off the list, my creativity and happiness
increased exponentially.
I thought I had loved my home and my
business BEFORE, but now, well now I was on a whole different playing
field. And, because nature abhors a vacuum, I began attracting all types of positive things: my coaching practice filled up, my products were selling better than ever and I was invited to co-author a book.
So as my creativity and happiness soared, so did my bank account!
Your Coaching Challenge
I challenge you to take 15 minutes and make a list of everything YOU’RE tolerating.
Not
sure or don’t think you have anything, take a walk around your home and
jot things down as you see them. Next time the phone rings, do you
joyfully pick it up or do you cringe when you see who it is?
Everything,
and I mean *everything* that does not bring you joy needs to go on your
list! It doesn’t mean you have to tackle it all at once, but at least
you’ll have a list to start from when you’re ready. And I’m willing to
bet that some of the
items on your list will take less than 10 minutes and cost you nothing!
Go forth and claim the life you dream of and deserve!
Sandra P. Martini, the Automatic Business Coach –, is creator of the "9 Simple Steps to Creating an Automatic Business" system. To
learn more about this step-by-step program for small business success,
and to receive her FREE "5 Simple Steps to Putting Your Marketing on
Autopilot" e-course/audio mini-series and how-to articles and
teleseminars, please visit www.SandraMartini.com.