ACTION

I don't know about you, but I struggle to take the ideas in my head and have them become items that I act upon. It is challenging to understand how to break those dreams down into doable pieces. It takes time for me to figure out where to start.

I always try to keep the end in mind. Heck, with the end in mind, I can't figure out where to begin. Starting is such a challenge. How to start, where to start, do I want to start, what happens after I have started. All of these questions hover in my mind so guess what.. I don't take action.

Fear overwhelms me because of these questions. What are these questions any way. What are they saying to me. Am I scared? I don't know if this is really what I want. What happens if I get to the end and it isn't what I want? I have learned that for me to take action, I need to let go of all of these questions and just "DO" something no matter what my mind is saying.

If my thoughts keep chatting away, I will just ignore them. I don't try to do anything but support myself with statements such as.. "I will never know if I don't do something." "It will always remain an unanswered question." So, these are the internals statements I say to myself and then I schedule something anything. Scheduling an action, no matter how small, begins the project. It is so important for me to schedule something. It gives me the beginning of the string of activity now that can lead me to where I want to be.

I know that if I never put an activity next to what it is I want, I will never move my life in the direction I desire. Keeping things in my head or mulling around and talking about what I would like to have happen will never ever get me where I want to be. I know it takes clear and concise action to make things happen. Wishes and desires must have action attached to them or they stay just that a wish or a desire.

So, what wishes and desires do you want to see become something more than just that a wish or desire. How can you attach an action to you wish or desire for your life? Remember to start small. Think of the smallest thing that could be done to begin your wish or life's desire. Is it a phone call, or making a list? Could it be carving out time in your schedule to make it happen? Or giving up another activity to make time for the new direction you desire in your life?

Whatever it is DO IT!! Don't wait. Do it now, pick up the phone, write it down, place the activity on the calendar and then SEEK accountability and support. This is a guaranteed formula for action to happen. Now, it isn't a guarantee that you will reach your wish or desire, but there are never guarantees in that department. What you will have done by taking action is to move in the direction you want to have in your life. Movement and action is rewarded. You will definitely see progress and feel the feelings of challenge. This is a good thing. We all want our deepest wishes and dreams to have life and grow to make us happy.

So, please share your process of how you take action in your life!!

Until Tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Accountability

Finding a way to be accountable to myself is a challenge. I have found that with the support of my woman's group, we meet two times each month, moving forward on some issues works. Other issues, well, it doesn't work as easily. Accountability is a concept, I believe, ultimately gets to the root of what we want to accomplish with the time we have on this earth.

I know that if I don't put time frames around issues, or some accountability on some projects that I won't move forward. Change is a difficult process. I need all the help and accountability I can get when it comes to change in my personal life. I need support, focus and someone, other than myself, to hold me accountable to accomplish what I say I want to accomplish.

I value the woman's group so much because it is a gentle reminder that I am accountable to take action on the things I say I want in my life. If I never take action, I am just flapping my gums together and wasting my time and others. Action, movement, picking up the phone, filling out the form, what ever that first step is in my process to take charge and work towards what I want in my life is never easy. That's right it isn't easy, taking the first step. We all feel uncertain about taking that first step, but WOW when things start to happen all because we took that first step it doesn't seem as difficult as we thought. That is why accountability is a marvelous process. It can be that little supportive nudge we need in the moment to pick up the phone or fill out that form.

Plus, it feels wonderful to share with others the success or challenge of taking that first step. Accountability is really a process of support and guidance. Sometimes, when I am working with a client, it is such a reward to hear how things are moving forward all because they had the courage and support to take that first step. Also, reflecting back to my client the reminder of the courage and care they needed to take their first step towards a goal.

Working effectively with ourselves takes accountability. Whether it is working with a coach, a supportive group, or your own self defined process, targeting a deadline to accomplish a task is not always as straightforward as we think. Discovering what holds us back or challenges us to take those first steps can be so helpful. If we never look at what the barriers are in our life we can never truly fill our life with what we want.

Time is not standing still for any of us. I know this only too well. I work in the medical field and it is a constant reminder that time is limited. If we don't account for our time in some way, we can never truly know how to use our time working towards the goals of what we want in our life.

How do you use your time and hold yourself accountable? Can you remember what you did last week, last month, or last year? How do you move your life in the direction of your dreams if you cannot say what you are doing with your time. Come join me in exploring this process.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George

LifeChoices Coach

Pay Off

So, I have been working on a project and finally have found completion. What is the pay off? Yes, I would love it if money would float down from the sky to equal the amount of work that I have involved in the project. Recognition, yes that would be another reward for my efforts, or offer for more work.

I know I have no control over how any reacts to a project that I have done. I can only find a sense of reward of a job well done. It is hard for me to not secretly to want money, acknowledgement, and rewards. All of those things and more, if it could be had. My ego is alive and well. It is so hard to send my work out into the world with the knowledge that I may receive nothing in return.

Ultimately, I know, the only pleasure to have is the pleasure of doing the work. Yes, that can be the only outcome that I have any control over. How much pleasure and excitement I get doing the work. I have a project right now that I am slowly seeing some results. Of course, I had a small return and now I am working on a similar project to see if I can get a larger return for my efforts. It is very challenging to remember that the work is the pleasure.

I look around and see other artists, writers, producers who have received acclaim or have money and I just can't imagine what their daily schedules contain. Are they like mine? Are they just finishing a project, just to start another. Never really seeing the outcome? or that the rewards from a project are so far in the future that I would be waiting forever to receive acknowledgement. Might as well get another project started. Yes, this is the reality, I believe, for everyone.

Waiting around to get acknowledgement or financial returns on my work might take forever. It might never happen. Yes, I do want to receive rewards for my work. Don't we all?? The reality is we can never know if we will. It is not in my control not yours. All I can control is the work I do. My passion for what I love to do, and the care I take when I engage in any project or work with my clients. Staying connected to the passion I have for my work keeps my focus not on the return but in the present and bonded to what I love doing.

Yes, in those moments that I have to reflect or puzzle how was a project received or was working with the client helpful, I can find myself wondering what the reward was. Clients are easy, I am always so excited coaching clients because I get to see how excited they are as they grow and become clear about their life goals. My own personal projects, well the clarity about how well they turned out or were received, sometimes is a bit hazy, but I think back about my process and connect to joy of doing the work.

I pray that we all have rewards from the work we do. It is important getting rewarded, but it must be about balance between what rewards you receive and the joy of doing the work that is your life's passion.

So, how do you deal with wanting to be rewarded for the work you do? Do you get discouraged if you don't see immediate results? How to move forward with new projects when you don't see results from your current work? Yes, dealing with the outcomes of our work is just as important as doing the work. If your work doesn't ever provide a pay off, well, you should give some consideration about getting some coaching. Outside perspectives can be very informative about direction. Otherwise, have patience and eventually you will have a pay off for all your hard work.

Until tomorrow,
Mary Catherine George
LifeChoices Coach