Are you a Perfectionist

photo credit: az1172
I've been thinking more about this subject recently. A few years ago I described myself as a perfectionist (or at least an aspiring perfectionist) and I thought it somewhat noble. I discovered that there are great dangers in this attitude to life. The whole concept is..... click here to read the rest

Anticrastination - Using words in a positive sense

This is another reaction blog to Steven Aitchisons Mind Alchemy course http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/2011/02/03/mind-alchemy-day-3-your-life-values/

As usual, I'm pretty much free writing this blog entry as I go relying upon my mind being creative for content. 

First of all, following the module on direction, I found myself analysing how some of my thoughts are "away from". The work carried out became a bit of an inspiration and I considered the created word "Anticrastination". I'm thinking that it is a kind of antidote to procrastination. Once I considered this, I resolved to go for my first run this year. In fact its more like my first run for about 6 months, having got out of the habit during last year. The weather outside wasn't too cold yesterday so I resolved to get on with it instead of just thinking about it. I thoroughly enjoy that feeling of endorphins kicking in and the high I get after the run. See the video below. 

I found the exercise on evaluating life values quite hard today, however I sincerely believe that it's a very important subject to look at. Referring to an earlier blog I wrote on goal setting, discovering life values forms the foundations for effective goal setting. Our goals then become authentic. 

I also believe, as Steve has suggested in his blog on life values that our values will change over time. To explain this with an analogy, our values are like a lump of plasticine. Plasticine needs to be kept warm and malleable. It needs constant work, otherwise it becomes hard and brittle, crumbling to dust like clay. The same can be said about goal setting. It takes attention and constant remoulding. Using positive words keep our intentions somewhat sticky like the warm plasticine. Try attaching 2 pieces of cold and hard plasticine together and you'll find they do not have very good adhesion. 

That's about all I have to say on the subject today.
Good luck folks....

How to Identify your Direction

Today's blog is inspired by the free training set up by Steven Aitchison's "Mind Alchemy". It will be pretty likely most of my blogs over the coming month will have that very same motivation. 

Completing the day 2 exercise gave me real food for thought. 

Identifying key elements of what we want to achieve and how we word that in our mind really does display the elements that can hold us back. The instructions provided on Mind Alchemy, if followed authentically really do bring some clarity. By allowing too much focus on what we want to move away from, we do not allow the creative part of our mind to search for solutions. The training I received at the weekend in coaching people very much focuses on, 


"What can you do?"
"What else can you do?"

Asking these questions in more and more creative ways allow the mind to use the creative area of the brain. We can ask these questions of ourselves. 

When running groups at work, I often find that I have creative ideas during the group that are not pre-planned. It is a skill that I realise I have been gifted with and have finally accepted. I firmly believe that everyone has this ability if they choose to tap into it. I've said this before and highly recommend it. Try doing the Honey Mumford Learning Styles questionnaire.  Doing this, I found it helped me to discover more clearly, my identity and to value that. It will give you a great insight to your learning style and will identify that you do have a creative element.

Honey Mumford. Here's a quick and easy link to one. Click here


Facing a problem....
Here is a way of approaching it.

1. Ask yourself "What can I do?" Don't worry at this stage if nothing comes to mind.
2. Take some time out for relaxation and meditation. Follow a guided meditation resource such as the following. Click here
3. Now that you be a little calmer, ask yourself again "What can I do? What else can I do?"
4. Write down your answers.
5. Do a brain training exercise such as a word puzzle, crossword, Sudoku. You might like to listen to some suitable music when doing this. I highly recommend listening to Bach if you are doing a numbers puzzle.
6. Finally, again ask yourself "What else can I do?"

When returning to ask the questions in each case, try not to focus too much on the problem. Do focus on searching for solutions. 


An example for me today is having one or two issues around finances. Some creative ideas I've had around this are to link up with a friend and go busking for a day. That is just one idea that may be possible. There are plenty of others. 


On the subject of money. I think the reason I get frustrated about it is because I've always focused on not having enough instead of being grateful for what I do have. Once accepting that, I can free up energy to move forward to greater comfort.
  
Finally, in case you haven't already seen it, here is Steve Aitchison's interview recorded yesterday talking about Mind Alchemy.

Following An Alchemist

I'm off away to some training this weekend in London.

I'm really looking forward to it, feeling ready to lap up as much learning as possible and to gain some more knowledge to help me to grow and share more.

I've realised that the more reading I do, the more creative I become.

Following the weekend training I am going to engage in some different material that Steven Aitchison is sharing online throughout February.

It's worth some investigation.

» Following An Alchemist: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"