At your best
I am at my best when the sun is shining, when I don’t have to work late, and when my husband and I are connecting. I am at my best when my child eats her dinner without a fit, when I have time to pick up the clutter around the house, and when I have a chance to connect with good friends. Being at my best is really about how I perceive my day, my week, my life. Do I feel like my job is worthwhile? Do I feel like I am doing okay as a parent? Do I feel like those that matter to me are pleased with me? Everyday won’t be my best, I know that. There are nights when my child wakes up three times and I can’t get any sleep, days at work that everything seems to explode and turn into chaos, evenings at home where my husband and I just can’t seem to get on the same page about anything. Then the challenge becomes how to move past it, get over it, leave it behind and quit worrying about it. Do I let a bad day at work affect my evening at home? Do I let the tantrums of a three-year old cause me to be short-tempered with everyone else? That is when the essence of who I am striving to be shines through. Do you find yourself at less than your best more days than you would like to admit? Are you ready to find your best self again? Are you ready to let go of some of the junk and gain a new perspective on your situation? Contact me and let’s explore this idea together. Sometimes it just takes another person, a fresh viewpoint to help you get back to where you want to be going.
“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.”
--- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A life worth living
As a teenager/college student I knew I wanted to save the world – that was about as concise of a career plan as I had. It’s a pretty lofty goal to be sure- but one to be proud of nonetheless. As I moved beyond college and found that no job description included “saving the world,” I realized I would need to narrow my focus somewhat. While my goal of saving the world was a little too abstract for the job market – I discovered there were lots of directions I could go that still allowed me to feel I was contributing in a positive way to bettering the world. Robert Emmons terms this big idea a personal striving. Identifying the motivating idea behind our actions helps us verbalize the life statement we live by. For some people their personal striving might be to become rich, for others it might be for everyone to like them. Whatever it is, this belief directs us in the daily choices we make in life. If you are striving to be accepted by others, you may find yourself always busy in activities other people want you to be a part of, rather than activities that have true meaning to you. If you are striving to be rich, you may find yourself working long hours, multiple jobs, or routinely starting new business ventures. Our actions are directed by our life statements. Our lives feel congruent when our goals match our life statements. What is your personal striving? If you had to sum up the motivation behind your goals and actions, what would it be? Is it a life statement that you are proud to live by? If you find yourself in conflict between what you want your life purpose to be and what your actions say it is, maybe it is time to reflect and talk with someone about this.
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Challenge of the week: Remember your mentors. Who are the people that have influenced you and have had the greatest impact on your life? Think about what they have given you and how their example has molded you today. Tell them if you can. ***********************************************************************
Emily Frazier is a life coach who specializes in working with people who are feeling overwhelmed, out of balance, or at a crossroads in life. She believes that we all have a God-given purpose, and loves helping others discover what their life’s purpose is. If you would like to talk with Emily about how she can help you in these areas, contact her today for a free consultation: emily@fraziercoaching.com
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