What Do You Really Want?

How often do you ask yourself this question? What do you really want?

It’s important to think about it and get clarity. If you don’t think about your purpose, someone else will decide for you. If you don’t remember it, life has a way of drifting off the path you intended to travel. If you don’t know what you really want, you’re likely to end up with a bunch of stuff and experiences that don’t feed or excite your true self.

So what do you really want?

I’m not asking what should you want. This isn’t about what you have been told everyone wants. This is not about what they wanted to sell you. What you want may have absolutely nothing to do with what they want for themselves or for you. This is not about what they asked for or told you that you deserve. Step away from the external influences and messages about what “they” said and focus on what you want.

What do you really want?

Just a Little Self-Promotion...

Self-promotion is not a 4-letter word. In fact, a little self-promotion is often necessary to be seen by upper management, to gain influence, and to build our reputations as results-oriented people.
Help raise your profile and consider the following tactful ways to show others what you have accomplished:

•In the appropriate meetings, mention the positive results f...rom something you or your team accomplished.
•Make sure to send your boss a regular written update on goals completed and the status of current projects.
•Take on a challenging project and share your enthusiasm with others - especially your boss.

In our fast-paced world, people don't tend to know what we have done for them lately unless we tell them. Take a few key opportunities each month to mention what you have accomplished.

After all, hard work and good results deserve to be recognized.

Confidence

A true sense of confidence not only helps us forward our careers, but it also has a positive effect on others.  But confidence doesn't come by chance, it comes by being aware of who we are and what we do best. Consider the following to strengthen your self-perception and the impact you have on the co-workers around you:

•At the end of each day, review what you have accomplished.  Write down at least 3 things to help you recognize your efforts.
•Keep a journal of all the things you do that help others.  You will be amazed how much this little tip can build your sense of self-worth.
•Align your actions to your values.  One of the biggest confidence-stealers is when we do things that go against our truths.

The most confident people are those who look inward for recognition, not outward.  So do a little self-reflecting this week and enjoy the boost it will bring to your energy.

Challenging Our Core Beliefs

1. Remember that our beliefs are not the same as reality, yet most people act as if they were. We see our beliefs as the way things are rather than as our perceptions or judgments about the way they are.
2. Our beliefs are powerful and often unconscious drivers of our behavior. There is a good body of research that indicates the power of our beliefs. What matters most is not what is happening, but what the person believes is happening.
3. The mind is "right" about whatever it happens to believe. We perceive selectively what confirms our point of view, and we even go so far as to set up situations to prove our point of view. If we believe we are deserving of success, we find evidence to prove it. If we believe that most people care only about themselves, we will prove that too. If we believe that life is beautiful, then that is what will come back in the form of our experience.

Active Listening...

Did you know that an average person only listens at an effective rate of less than 25%. Yet listening is rated as the most important factor in work, family, and social success. This week make a commitment to stay in the present and actively listen to the person speaking. Here are a few helpful hints to further develop this vital skill.

• Maintain good body posture and eye contact. Don't try to mutli-task while listening

• Focus on the speaker's feelings, needs, and perceptions.

• Silence your inner dialogue and stay open to receive what is being said.

Keep in mind that what you are hearing is not always exactly what the speaker is trying to say. Stay engaged, ask questions, and actively listen until the speaker confirms that you have indeed understood their message.

Ask Yourself....is it Something You Really Need To Finish?

So you stopped midway into that task. So what! Does it even matter? Was it a purposeful and meaningful use of your time and energy? What impact does it have on you and the world around you if you never finish it?

Sometimes we can get caught up doing things that don’t really matter and bring no added joy or value to our lives. If it matters, decide right now to finish it. If it doesn’t, skip it. Yes, walk away and find something else to do with your energy. Your time is too precious to spend doing things that are not adding value and joy to you and others.

Legacy...

You have the power to create your legacy. What shall you choose it to be? While we all may not be able to leave a million-dollar legacy, you can, right now, start building yours by:

• Making eye contact during conversation
• Listening without rushing in to state your point
• Asking permission
• Providing a genuine smile
• Giving a heartfelt embrace
• Practicing the alternate merge concept in traffic
• Challen...ging your mind to come up with a better way
• Respecting your colleagues
• Mentoring your employees
• Raising your children to be responsible
• Paying your bills
• Allowing joy in your life
• Bringing joy and laughter to those around you
• When tempted to point a finger, point at yourself first
• Help those less fortunate to become self sufficient
• Be open to new ideas from those who are different from you
• Lead by example

This idea of legacy is not just what is left when we are gone-it is also what IS, while we are here right now. Every day we add a brick to our own legacy wall-by our actions, thoughts and deeds we add new building bricks. Choose yours consciously and wisely.

 

God gave us the ability to experience profound joy and yes, heartbreaking sorrow as well. The joy you create for yourself and others today will give you the strength to get through the sorrow. Here's hoping for a good day for us all, one that adds to our combined legacy of which we can all be proud.

 

Here's to your success!