Touchpoints to Wholeness » Purposeful action

Simple Living: Chapter 7 Summary

Louise — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:30:46 +0000

From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Simple Living by Georgene Lockwood, 2000.

Chapter 7: Earning a Life, Not Just a Living

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” George Bernard Shaw

The Least You Need to Know

Old definitions of work re fragmenting and limiting.
We can reinvent the way we spend our life energy in any number of ways, keyed to our purpose, our calling, and our financial independence.
Working for yourself means more than having your own business. We can be working for ourselves in whatever we do.
If we choose to remain in a conventional full-time job for the time being, we can improve our situation and prepare for a better, more simple living-compatible job in the future.

New Work Choices

Downsizing your job and working less.
Asking about job sharing.
Working in cycles or with the seasons.
Combining jobs.
Sprinting to the finish line. (Work for a set period of time at something lucrative to be able to stop working sooner.)
Temporary solutions.
Those who can, teach.
Volunteering your way into a new career.
Take a sabbatical

Creativity is Alive & Well & Being Supported by AT&T

Louise — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:29:48 +0000

I don’t know if you’ve seen these AT&T ads before, but they’re worth a revisit if you haven’t! Apparently they came out in the fall of 2009, although I only saw them recently when my friend Cathy Cohen sent them to me.

They all contain 2 things: 1 telephone and hands (maybe 1, maybe multiple, maybe tons) and each one represents a country AT&T does business in.

Take your time. They’re all worth an ‘enlarge this picture’ look. Enjoy!

AT&T Ads on Flickr

Friday Morning Laugh

Louise — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:30:28 +0000

Watch the The Jim Beam Tree video.

You’ll only be able to understand what the guy is saying if you understand French. But this video will make you laugh in any language!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. What a great way to start the weekend.

—————————
The info I received from my friend Cathy Cohen:

This is a real video from a French documentary about Africa . You probably won’t understand a word, but the video is a Hoot.

There are trees that grow in Africa which, once a year, produce very juicy fruit that contains a large percentage of alcohol. Because there is a shortage of water, as soon as the fruits are ripe, Animals come there to help protect themselves from the Heat.

What happens next, you can watch for yourselves.

This is called the Marula Tree, also known as the elephant tree and is indigenous to the southern latitudes of subequatorial Africa . The wild tree, never cultivated by man, bears small yellow fruit in great profusion – a wild fruit from nature that mixes harmoniously with fresh cream and those who know, drink the wonderful creamy liquor called Amarula!!

Make up Your Mind

Louise — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:30:41 +0000

Make Up Your Mind
An expert helps choosy choosers choose more easily

The choices we make define us. But these days, even picking, say, a breakfast cereal can be overwhelming. Whole grain or multi-grain? Oat bran? Nut flakes? Fibre?

In her new book, The Art of Choosing, Sheena Iyengar, a Columbia University, New York, business professor who was born blind, contemplates the ways choices can motivate, frustrate, paralyze, and ultimately transform us. Her ideas for choosing more easily, quickly, and smartly:

Choose not to choose
“When my husband and I go out to eat, I let him pick the restaurant and even delegate him to decide what I should order. So much time is wasted in our culture on choices that don’t matter. Letting someone make small decisions for you can be extremely liberating—and it gives my husband and me more time to focus on each other.”

Ask for help
“We can’t be experts in everything, so do what you do best and call in the professionals for other things. I will devote myself completely to a new research study, for example.
But when it comes to choosing investments, let’s say, or making important medical decisions, I’m much better off listening to Warren Buffett or my doctor than speculating on my own.”

Use others as a mirror
“It’s important to know how our family, friends, colleagues, and strangers see us. These opinions can serve as a reality check. By paying close attention to how people react to our actions, we can decide if our behaviour—our choices—needs to change to better align with how we’d like to be perceived. The best way to start that process is to ask. As a blind person, I will ask friends, Do I look better in this colour dress or that colour? And the reactions help me shape my choices.”

Set the clock“Often, the best way to make a decision when faced with a bewildering array of options is to impose a time limit. If you’re buying a new digital camera, you could spend all day poring over websites and talking to friends about which one to buy. Or you could stop agonizing and say, I’m giving myself exactly 30 minutes to research this. That way, you won’t deplete your energies.”

Go with ‘good enough’
“Let’s say you’re buying toothpaste. There are always dozens of options, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Here’s a trick: Just pick one. It doesn’t have to be the best or have the most dazzling features. It just needs to be good enough. We call that satisficing—being satisfied with what’s sufficient.
It takes the pressure off.”

Interviewed by David Hochman for the April 2010 issue of Reader’s Digest:

Class Act: Delivery

Louise — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:32:28 +0000

One of the highest compliments an individual can receive is to be called a person of character — a class act! Thomas Leonard’s Class Act 100 assessment is designed to help you understand where you are along this path and to give you ideas for areas worth developing. While there are 100 points in total, I will post one section of the assessment: 10 statements under a specific category.

Hot to use this assessment. As you read each statement, circle 1, 2 or 3. A “1″ means the statement is SOMETIMES true. A “2″ means the statement is OFTEN true. A “3″ means the statement is ALWAYS true.

H. DELIVERY

1 2 3 Win-Win. Everyone I work with wins as much as I do. Win-win is my approach to life.
1 2 3 Results. I produce and deliver results.
1 2 3 Proactive. I anticipate needs and act early.
1 2 3 Adds Value. I seek to willingly share my talents, gifts and resources with everyone.
1 2 3 Under promises. I deliver more tha promised.
1 2 3 Interdevelopmental. I learn as much from others as they learn from me. We both grow.
1 2 3 Adaptive. I quickly adapt to new situations, ideas, technology, thus offering more.
1 2 3 Innovative. I continually experiment and make stuff better.
1 2 3 Direct. I am up front and candid.
1 2 3 Resourceful. I can pull solutions out of a hat.

_____ Score (30 max)

____________________________
From The Class Act 100 Program developed by Thomas J. Leonard and Coach U, Inc. Modified by LMK.

The 4 Essential Steps of Creating Habit

Louise — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:30:57 +0000

1. Demonstrate strong commitment.
Be totally committed to your resolution. Use self-talk that announces your commitment to reach your objectives. Burn the bridges that are attached to doubt and hesitancy. Consider the words of Ella Wilcox: “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.”

2. Act on your goal at the first opportunity.
Do not procrastinate progress. Review your goals and determine what the initial or next step should be—then, take that step the first chance you get.

3. Practice daily.
Reaching high levels of productivity is a skill that requires practice like any other developing skill. Let the realization of your goals be a daily activity. Remember that life happens day-by-day, event-by-event. Plan something today that gets you closer to your ideal. the size of the step is unimportant —the direction is all important.

4. Never let an exception occur.
Exceptions are diversions and roadblocks. Don’t allow them unless and until your new habit is firmly rooted and is in your comfort zone. Diversions should be short and planned for—don’t lose sight of your objective.

William James , from his classic text: The Principles of Psychology

Wayne Dyer’s Powerful Intention #2

Louise — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:25:31 +0000

In his book The Power of Intention, Dr. Wayne Dyer defines intention as a force in the universe that allows the act of creation to take place. The book explores intention, not as something you do, but as an energy you’re a part of. In addition, Dr. Dyer provides an intention guide with specific ways to apply the co-creating principles into your daily life.

Here is Powerful Intention #2:

It is my intention to live my life on purpose.

Some important points about this intention:

You’ll feel most on purpose when you’re giving your life away by serving others. It doesn’t matter how you express it, but serving others (a few or many) is at the core of life purpose.
Your purpose will find YOU.
Somewhere, buried deep within each of us, is a call to purpose. There’s a silent something within that intends you to express yourself. It’s about sharing yourself in a creative, loving way using the skills and interests that are inherently part of you.

A few ways Dr. Dyer suggests to practice nourishing your intention to live your life on purpose.

Affirm that in an intelligent system, no one shows up by accident, including you.
Ignore what anyone else tells you about your purpose. The only thing to listen to is your heart!
Stay in a state of gratitude. Be grateful for the opportunity to live your life purposefully, in tune with the Source of all.

Dan Millman: Gateway to Personal Growth #12

Louise — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:23:34 +0000

In his book, Everyday Enlightenment, Dan Millman outlines his twelve gateways to personal growth. Here is Gateway #12:

Serve Your World

Service is an attitude founded on the recognition that the world has supported you, fed you, taught you, tested you, whether or not you earned it. Understanding this sijmple truth can move you to do what you can to repay a boundless debt of gratitude. Service is both a means and an end, for in giving to others, you open yourself to love, abundance and inner peace. You cannot serve others without uplifting yourself.

Dan Millman: Gateway to Personal Growth #2

Louise — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:15:31 +0000

In his book, Everyday Enlightenment, Dan Millman outlines his twelve gateways to personal growth. Here is Gateway #2:

Reclaim Your Will

Inside you is untapped strength of will, of spirit, of heart. The kind of strength that will not flinch in the face of adversity. You have only to remember your purpose, the vision that brought you to Earth — the vision that will take you to the stars — to the depths of the oceans and up the stairway to the soul. Great strength of will resides within you waitinf for expression.

If You Want to Move Fast, Do What You Fear Most

Louise — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:50:06 +0000

Every time we attend a seminar or workshop, we may spend 2 to 8 hours on a particular topic. Yet, in recalling what we learned after 48 hours, there will only be one or two gems that we’ve stored away for future use. I took this gem away from a 3 hour meeting I attended recently.

I routinely tell my clients (and myself) that the pace we are keeping is perfect for us. We each move as fast as we can to the next level of awareness and to growth and understanding. Usually, we want to go slowly, building up to addressing that big fear. We assume that a series of smaller successes will make it easier to conquer the thing we are so frightened of.

I still stand by that principle. Your pace is perfect for you. However, I can recognize the truth in the gem I learned at that meeting: If you want to move fast, to grow exponentially, identify what you are most afraid of and start there.

In discussing this concept with a client recently, she said it sounded like the ‘Fail Forward Fast’ principle to her. The sooner you try and fail, the sooner you learn from that and move on to the next, potentially right, thing.

So, what are you most afraid of today? Willing to give it a go?