Bring your best self to light
Step into your greatness today..while stuck in traffic.
A common theme that seems to flow across many self-help books is the idea of greatness, the idea of not being ordinary, humdrum, commonplace. Greatness is defined as "The quality or state of being large in amount, extent, or importance" or "Something meriting the highest praise or regard." Of course this begs the question...in whose eyes do we deserve the highest regard? Does that mean we don't have greatness if our family and friends don't tell us so? To me, greatness is something rather subtler than that...it's when we are "in the zone", operating freely without fear, speaking and acting spontaneously from our best self. Our words and actions seem to be seamless and powerful beyond what we think or believe.Many of us have the idea that somehow we were born for something greater. Ironically though if we were asked what would have the greatest impact on our day to day lives, it would often be small stuff. If you think back over your life, sure big things were important but often it's the small things that can both sting and comfort. Think of the teacher who gave your confidence such a boost when they praised your essay. Think of how it hurt when your mother made you wear clothes you hated. The chances are at this stage that neither your teacher nor your mother remember the incidents...but you do. It was the day to day interactions that truly transform our lives. This is where we have the power for greatness I believe. Imagine how much joyful and full of ease our lives would be if we worked on being our greatest, best self in all the day to day apparently trivial interactions we engage in.
So how would greatness show up for us? I believe it could show up in some of the following ways:
 | Telling someone at work we admire what they have done to inspire us...without expecting a reward. |
| Paying the toll for someone behind us...it'll really make their day! |
| Noticing getting irritated and exasperated by one of the many annoyances of modern life and CHOOSING NOT TO ACT ON IT! |
| Praising our children for what they do well...no matter how small. You could be creating a memory that will sustain them for the rest of their lives. |
| Telling a well-dressed stranger on the street how snazzy they look and then walking on! |
| Taking the time to ask someone who looks unhappy how they really are and offer an encouraging word. |
| Take the time to make eye contact with one of the people who serve us in shops and retail outlets and smile at them. |
| Send a "thank you" letter to someone who has helped you...out of the blue. |
| Letting others out in traffic and not getting annoyed when they ignore it! |
Take Action!
| Watch out for opportunities to be kinder to others than you usually would be... |
| Take a chance of speaking truly and spontaneously from your heart. |
| Be kind and compassionate to yourself...you are probably doing better than you think. |
| Next time you are stuck doing something that irritates or bores you...remind yourself that you can relax into the moment or drive yourself nuts... |
| Begin practising radical self-honesty (Michael Neill's concept). Try being totally honest with yourself...you don't have to say it, but know what your truest thoughts are. Truth is a key ingredient of greatness. |
Have not given any workshops over the last month or so but will give you a few tips here on getting more out of your money...
| Every time you make a purchase...ask yourself if you really need it...and if you are not sure...leave it for a few days. |
| Begin a savings plan and transfer the money into a separate account (make it difficult to get to!) |
| Make a note in your diary as to what days payments are coming out of your account. (Got that tip from a client...<g>) |
My focus is not to take it personally and to keep my thoughts from straying towards the gloom and doom of self-pity..doesn't always happen!
Other big project I want to set up with this is to devise a system that hopefully I can eventually delegate to someone else...am keeping Michael Gerber's E-myth thinking (www.e-myth.com)to the forefront of my mind here so that I systemise my business from the word go.
Articles Make 2006 the best year of your career published in RecruitIrelandBits & Pieces - Almost No TV
Have decided to cut down dramatically on TV for Lent. So we only have it on at the weekends. Has been surprisingly easy. To be honest I can't imagine myself never having TV again but thinking of a 6 week almost No TV regime is very doable...will keep you posted. Recommended - what I'm reading Henning Mankell: I've just discovered a new brilliant detective writer...he's Swedish and has a cranky, over-worked, badly fed, divorced policeman as his hero...Kurt Wallander...if you like your detective stories to have a gritty, novellish feel...I think you will enjoy this..Debbie Ford: The best year of your life: Dream it, plan it, live it. A great book if you are interested in making 2006 a great year. Found her books better than her radio shows though...