Enjoying the Win

Last week, I was at a client’s offices and in the meeting room they had a picture titled “Face each problem with a will to win” with a picture of athletes in agony (marathon runners by the look of them). I admire the sentiment. Determination, tenacity and will gets you far.

BUT.

It’s the agony bit that bothers me! Yes, ok, winning is all good, getting to your goal is a magnificent thing…but in business and in life these days it is all too often at the expense of your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health…and I can’t see that as good no matter which way up I look at it! I mean, what’s the point of getting to your goal if at the end of it you are mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually depleted? It’s different if the thing you want to do pushes you to your limits (marathons, mountain climbs etc), but in your normal life? In your business day? I don’t think so.

This poster seemed to be from the ‘nose to the grindstone’ school of workplace motivation. And having been self-employed for the last 7 years, I can tell you what a crock of sh** that particular ‘motivation’ is! It is ineffective, demotivating and ultimately, pointless. So I had a think to come up with something that I think is a bit more inspiring. How about “Face each problem with curiosity, a sense of humour, a joyful smile and a determination to have a laugh while finding a solution”? With a picture of smiling, happy people?

Obviously this will never catch on in the workplace while we insist on being sober, serious, sensible and having our noses to the grindstone for 40 hours a week…but I live in hope that one by one we will wake up and realise life is for enjoying (even when at ‘work’!) What would the inspirational poster on your wall say?

Love

Donna.x

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Who Owns the Room?

How are you on this fine November day? I am sitting in front of my new super light – it’s an early birthday present to help me to stop getting the hump just because it’s winter, it’s dark, it’s cold…ugh, roll on spring! Anyway, I decided we needed an article to remind us all of our utter magnificence, so I dug this article out of the archives – enjoy!

- Who Owns the Room? -

A few years ago, I did a belly dancing workshop and I learnt that a vital aspect of belly dancing is attitude – the dancer must believe that she is the most beautiful, sensual, magnificent creature her audience has ever seen. Our wonderful workshop leader, Claire, demonstrates this attitude perfectly, and the exercises in the workshop convince even the shyest of dancers that they are, indeed, the most fantastic woman on earth. Now, I am not suggesting that you don the jangly belt and start dancing round the office (unless you really want to…and if you do, please send me a photo!).

It’s the attitude that’s important. That attitude of celebrating your own magnificence. Of being the absolute centre of power and influence. Of having poise, grace, charm, presence, confidence. As you start to cultivate this attitude, your head comes up, your chest comes out, your stomach comes in, you are captivating. Your light shines brightly in a room. You are dazzling, charming, mesmerizing.

It is a very special feeling. And it isn’t one we walk round with often, is it? When was the last time you walked into a room as if you owned it and everyone in it? I’m not talking about arrogance, about some two-bit starlet announcing their presence (and no one caring). I’m talking about real power, true brilliance, which doesn’t care who notices, because it is certain of its own allure. Pure self-confidence that is not a performance put on for others, but only for ourselves.

When you get a chance this week, look up magnificence in your thesaurus, then look up all the associated words that appeal to you. How often do you use these words in relation to yourself? If it’s less that every minute, you need to reclaim these words for YOU. Because you are magnificent, brilliant, gorgeous, powerful, majestic and superb.

Say the words aloud – don’t they just fill your mouth? Just the sound of these words brings you up…and up…and up. By thinking about yourself in this language, even walking into the bathroom becomes an exercise in realising just how amazing you are (it’d be even better with a coin belt though – hint, hint!). So, who owns the room? You do, of course. Silly question.

- Something to Play With -

Everytime you walk into a room this week, walk in like you OWN it, like you are the person they have all been waiting for – all their lives. As if you are the best thing that ever happened to that room. Notice what happens to your body, your mind and your heart. (even just walking into an empty room with this attitude works…) Want to share your thoughts on this article? Leave a comment below.

Love

Donna.x

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Dare to Risk Greatness

Today I read this e-mail from Neale Donald Walsch, and I just had to share it with you:

On this day of your life, Donna, I believe God wants you to know…

…that perfection is not required of you
– only perfect_effort.

Not to even try because you don’t think you can would be terribly sad. You’ll be amazed at what you can do if you simply step into it.

Life awaits you on the other side of Risk. What can you lose? Face? Dignity? Who cares about those when greatness is possible? Who cares about those when fairy tales are at hand?

What risks are you going to take today? What might you try? Your fairy tales are at hand! And if you need someone to walk the path with you for a little while, there are just 2 coaching spots left on my end of year special (£150 for 3 sessions before the end of the year, saving £30) – contact me now to reserve a space.

Love

Donna.x

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Finish the Year with a HOORAH!

After a week back at work, I am still not really back into the swing of things! I’m still a bit slow, laid-back and relaxed about ‘getting stuff done’! It’ll still be there tomorrow. To be honest, the changing weather patterns and daylight also encourage me to chill out a bit too – I’m convinced I was a bear in a previous life and would just sleep the winter away quite happily.

Despite this, I do have some goals I want to achieve by the end of the year…which is rushing up to us with alarming speed! And to help you, if you also want to finish the year with a flourish, I have a special offer for you – 3xcoaching sessions before the end of the year for £150 (saving £30). I only have room in my diary for 4 people to do this, and one of those spaces has already gone (before I even announced it to ‘the public’, which was fun!). So, if you want some coaching to help you make the most of the rest of the year, get in touch with what you really want from life ready for next year, learn how to dance with the energy of life and where your energy is pointing you, or just get some support to finish 2010 with a HOORAH! Get in touch – simply contact me to find out more and snap up one of those spaces!

- Finish the Year with a Hoorah! -

Can you feel the year winding down already? The nights are getting darker, the weather’s getting worse and the inevitable Christmas frenzy is taking over everyone’s lives. Although I’m a big advocate of following the energy, and at the end of a year, the energy is saying to me ‘hibernation’, I also believe very strongly that this time of year is a great time to begin to reflect and to make decisions and changes which make your life better ready for 2011. It makes me laugh that at this time of year, people start talking about next year’s new year’s resolutions! There’s 6 weeks left til the end of the year – why not start making some of those changes now?

Ok, the last thing you want to do in the party season is give up alcohol and cake, but there are other changes that can be made to achieve the same ends. Let’s say your goal is to feel fabulous about your body – why not take the next 6 weeks to put in place the habit of looking in the mirror and saying to yourself “You look gorgeous!” No giving up of anything, it’s really easy, and you will sparkle at all those parties! Or, you could start doing star jumps, sit ups and push ups in the ad breaks of your favourite tv shows. I know someone who started doing this, and she really noticed the difference in the first week (she watches quite a bit of tv!)

6 weeks is a good amount of time to make some changes in your life. It’s a good amount of time to make a start, make a plan, start digging into the energy of your life and finding out what’s here for you. And if you are feeling a bit down about the fact that yet another year has passed without achieving the things you want, why not figure out what you could do easily in 6 weeks and do that? Rather than allow the year to peter out, shake it up and make it dance!

Now, as I’ve said, I am pretty much in hibernation mode so that does need to be taken into account when I’m considering how I will end the year with a flourish. Pretty much anything that cannot be done indoors and wrapped in several duvets is out. So I won’t be taking up mountain climbing, running or cycling before the end of the year. There are a few business things I’ve got up my sleeve – new websites, website updates, a new product for the new year that I’ll be telling you more about in a couple of weeks. I also have a few personal intentions – make meditating a daily habit (in winter, this is EASY, sitting still wrapped in a blanket – gorgeous!), going swimming 3 times a week, a bit of clutter clearing, laughing even more (which is always an intention at every time of year) and more.

Will I accomplish everything I want to this year? Probably not – I have a strange notion about how much one can fit into a day – I’m always astonished to find it’s 5 in the afternoon. But that doesn’t matter. There’s a cliche in sport that it’s the taking part that counts. That saying works for life too. Take part in your life – even though it’s the end of the year, even though it’s dark and cold and SAD, even though it’s easier to say ‘I’ll do it next year’. What would you like to change? And what could you do in 6 weeks to start bringing about that change? Let me qualify this a little more: what would bring more joy into your life? And what could you do in the next 6 weeks to make your life more enjoyable? Go, do it and finish 2010 with a HOORAH!

- Something to Play With -

What are you going to do in the final 6 weeks of 2010 to finish the year with a Hoorah? What can bring more fun, more joy, more love, more laughter into your life in the next 6 weeks? And of course, if I can help you finish the year with a flourish, snap up one of those 3 coaching spots before they’re gone! Want to share your thoughts on this article? Leave me a comment below.

Love

Donna.x

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Back from my Jollies

Hi all! How’s it going? I am slowly getting back into the swing of things following my holidays. I find it very difficult to dive straight back into work following a holiday as my energy has slowed down to a snail’s pace. Nowadays I don’t really try, I just ease back in as slowly as I need to. Today I cleared my desk and started to get a bit more work based forward momentum so I’ll be back blogging this week…hopefully!

My least favourite thing coming back from holiday is the change in temperature – I very quickly got used to 32 degrees, but I’ve found it more challenging to get used to 8 degrees and under. Brrrrrrr. And my most favourite thing is how relaxed and laid-back I am! Our chilled out qualities sometimes get lost in a world of work, rush, busyness and stress so it’s good to wind down and remind ourselves that easy-going is the way forward!

Would love to hear your favourite things about coming back from holidays. Leave me a comment.

Love

Donna.x

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