September 2022
If you are feeling like a hamster trudging ever-faster on the wheel and getting nowhere, you are in a very large club. Every day brings new tasks, new fires to put out, new ideas to begin, and especially, new interruptions. But you keep moving. And you pretend that it’s forward motion, but deep down you know you aren’t getting ahead.
But what is ‘ahead?’ Exactly what are you pursuing? When is the last time you thought about your dreams?
Following are a few short assignments to add valuable items to your Success Toolbox:
Ready, Set, GO!
READY: Be prepared for anything by learning a new skill or fact. Here I offer you items to check into:
- Merriam-Webster defines the verb joy as: ‘to experience great pleasure or delight’ and the noun as: ‘the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires’ How many other definitions can you find? Or do you define it differently?
- Read (or re-read) the classic story, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry to rediscover childlike imagination and keep it fresh in your mind.
SET: Things to DO to help you grow:
- Take yourself out of the office/home/boardroom and get yourself a seat in nature. Sit at the beach or take a walk in the park or a hike in the woods. Now—think about your 12-year-old self. What did you think your career would be? Where did you think you’d live? It probably wasn’t realistic, but think about that, too. When did we become realistic about our future?
- Take a deep breath and think about all the things you do in a day. How many of them are due to others’ needs (not talking about your kids here, but rather, outsiders who place demands on your energy) If you weren’t pulled along by these outside needs, how would you spend your time?
- Try watching 1993’s The Sandlot or the 1996 classic Stand By Me. Or read the book by Stephen King, The Body. Another dreams-inspiring book is also a 2005 film, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Yes, they are all pre-teen groups of kids in the summer, but all have inspiring storylines and several profound comments to get you thinking like a 12-year-old.
GO: Here’s a little something for inspiration to keep you going:
Joy is within reach. Escape the hamster wheel and enter a journey of self-discovery and renewed motivation. Browse these resources and schedule a session to get started.