Petra’s New Year Good Luck Pigs – delicious!
Recently I was blessed to spend a few days with dear friends of Peter’s in Aachen, Germany. (Aachen has a gorgeous heritage listed old heart, and delicious gingerbread speciality called Printen.) As Petra and I strode back through the frosty evening to the local supermarket to return the (mouldy) raspberries I’d just bought, we chatted about my book, “The Face Within” as I’d just given her a copy.
She asked who I’d written it for so we discussed common issues, like identity loss in relationships and as a parent, the struggle to stay on path with conflicting demands on time, energy and finances, the loss of direction then confidence and self-esteem, and using food and alcohol as a crutch/life line to get through to bedtime. I ended up telling her, “Petra, my intention is that every single person I work with ends up as content as you by the time we finish working together.”
For Petra, being so content with her self, husband, family, home, work, finances, health etc, 2014 only needs minor differences, cosmetic changes if you like, to keep the stimulation and joy flowing. For example, a different holiday destination or a new work project. She’s certainly not in a rut, just enjoying the results of all the choices she’s made, and continues to make, across all areas of her life. She is living in her personal power, so a little reflection and tweaking and she continues happily on path.
So for some, minor adjustments, for others, serious changes are needed – which can be an excuse to bolt back into the burrow and hide your face in your paws. Remember if nothing changes, nothing changes. Just know it doesn’t have to be all done immediately, you just need to start the process, and here are your first 9 steps (you can use these for business issues too):
1. Acknowledge you are aware of your unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or disappointment. Everything is not ‘fine’, it does matter, because YOU matter.
2. Give yourself permission to make changes to yourself, and in your life. “I am allowed.”
3. Allow yourself some quiet time to sit down with pen & paper and explore those unhappy feelings. (Be brave.) What is the emotion? Where does it comes from? e.g. What specific thoughts? How you are speaking and thinking about yourself and or others? What’s under that? Guilt, anger, sadness, hurt, fear? What’s under that? Unworthiness or not deserving better? Not good enough?
4. What would you like instead? OK, forget about all the reasons/excuses why you can’t – ditch the bitch and allow yourself to honestly express what you would really like instead. Write it down.
5. How would it feel having made those changes? Imagine you woke up this morning having made those changes days, weeks, months before – how would you be feeling right now? Was it worth it?
6. Commit to yourself to start walking in that direction.
7. Decide on your first action step, no matter how small.
8. Do it today, preferably now.
9. Repeat steps 7 & 8.
What’s that? The 1 leap?
Here it is: Let go and grow. (You know what to do, so stop BSing yourself and start doing it NOW.)
And yes, if you want assistance clearing head trash so you gain the clarity, confidence and motivation to get there faster and easier, call 07 3103 2679 or email me, Sue Lester. coaching@growingcontent.com.au
(Or buy my head trash clearing book “The Face Within” http://www.growingcontent.com.au/shop)
Your feedback is welcome!
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