|
|
 |
Living
Boldly® e-Zine Archives
Creating
Your Most Effective Self™ in 2005
December 27, 2004
This is the time of year
when we are often encouraged to set our Year's Resolutions -- goals that we
want to attain during the course of the year.
Our wanting to set
resolutions comes from our inner need to become our "ideal self" -- that person
we imagine we can be, when we are at our best. The ideal self is the person we
want to become... the person we feel we will be if we do, be or have [fill in
the blank].
If you could become your ideal self in 2005, what would
that mean to you? Take a few minutes and really think about it.
Perhaps your ideal self is someone who:
-- makes a certain amount of
money
-- works out at least 3 times a week consistently
-- weighs a
certain amount
-- donates some amount of time or money to a worthy
cause
-- keeps up with current world events
-- learns a new set of
skills
-- gets a certain grade in school
-- treats other people in a
more loving, compassionate way
-- is less gossipy and judgmental about
others
-- prays more often or continues to focus on spiritual growth
--
spends time with people who energize you rather than tear you down
--
learns to put yourself first more often
-- gets a great new job or a
promotion at work
-- travels to somewhere exciting
-- achieves a
life-long dream
Do we
really need to achieve "ideal"? Or will "more effective" suffice?
The reality is, we will probably never quite achieve 100% of our "ideal"
self, because that's like saying we would be "perfect" -- and we all know that
perfection does not exist in human beings. In fact, it's our imperfections that
help to make us unique, that make life interesting, and that give us incentive
to keep working towards something better for ourselves. After all, if we were
perfect already, would there be any point in getting up in the morning?
Nonetheless, although we will never be perfect, it's still important for
us to decide what matters most to each of us, and then to take steps toward
creating it. That's why we often talk about setting resolutions each New Year
-- it gives us something to shoot for, and we usually have the best of
intentions to follow through. But resolutions without a serious commitment and
some effective action gets us nowhere -- that's why most of our resolutions fly
right out the window within weeks, or even days, of January 1st!
I'd
like to propose a new approach this year. What if, instead of focusing solely
on the GOALS (or resolutions or results) we want to achieve this year, we focus
instead on simply becoming a more EFFECTIVE person in everything we do? What
kind of a difference might that make in your life, if you were doing everything
more effectively?
-- Would you enjoy life more?
-- Would things
run more smoothly, feel more in balance?
-- Would relationships with others
be more pleasant?
-- Would you feel more confident in yourself?
Success happens when we set a specific target or goal we want to achieve, but
where we are then able to focus on the PROCESS rather than just the end result.
The process we follow has a direct impact on the result: if the process is well
planned, well thought-out, and well executed, you stand a much better chance of
succeeding than if your process is ineffectively designed and poorly done.
Create YOUR most effective
self this year!
I want to help each of you to create your most
effective self in 2005. Not your perfect self; not your ideal self; but your
most EFFECTIVE. This will be the running theme of the Living Boldly e-zine for
the coming year -- to help each of us move toward a higher degree of
effectiveness in how we are living our lives. By focusing on increasing our
effectiveness, we'll also be able to achieve some of those "ideal goals" and
resolutions we are setting for the year ahead.
To that end, I'll be
sharing tips, resources and strategies for becoming more effective, one step at
a time. YOU will get to determine what "more effective" is for you,
specifically -- I will be your partner in helping you create that for
yourself.
I encourage you to take this process seriously -- you will
get out of it exactly what you are willing to put into it. READ the e-zine each
month; TAKE the suggested action steps and follow through with them. SHARE the
e-zine with someone you care about, to help them become more effective, too --
and then you can support one another in your effectiveness process in 2005.
And, if you want to get some more personalized, weekly coaching and
support, watch for my weekly e-mail coaching program,
"Creating Your Most Effective
Self™", coming out in January 2005 (a special announcement will be
sent to you when the program is ready for enrollment). You'll get weekly
step-by-step coaching and additional tools and support, delivered to you each
week by email.
Are you ready to become your most EFFECTIVE self in
2005? Great -- let's begin together! Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous and
effective year for all of us!
Effectiveness Quote
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it."
-- Goethe
Get Started: Assess Your
Effectivess
To find out how effective you are currently in some
area of your life, take this brief
5-Point Effectiveness
Assessment -- or go even deeper and take the full
100 Points to Effective
Living™ self-assessment!
Use your findings to
determine your immediate next steps. What do you need to do first? Do you need
to spend some time creating a plan? Do you need to line up support from a
trusted friend, colleague, or coach? Don't worry about the long term result and
everything you have to do in order to get there -- it might be overwhelming.
For now, just focus on taking ONE step that will get you started on your way.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "Take the first step in faith.
You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."
For permission to reprint this article, please contact me.
|
Why struggle with your writing, and why wait?
Contact me today to discuss your project!
|
The Writing Coach's
Guide