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Ideas, insights and inspiration for people on the go December 31, 2004 |
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Editor’s Scribbles
Wow, some of you are sooo lucky - a white Christmas !! I’m so envious (LOL). I’ve experienced freezing cold Christmases but never a white one. Those were wonderful, I loved them, but this must be sooo magically pretty!
Those of you who’ve been reading my ezines know my pet peeve is the hot weather in this part of Asia. It’s never ever cold here. To get a good night’s sleep, you need both the air-conditioning and two fans on, and still won’t need a blanket! I’m not kidding (LOL).
Christmas was quiet here. How was yours? Did you have loads of fun? These days, Christmas has become so commercialized that most people prefer to spend it in the shopping mall! The only reason I can think of for doing that is that it’s considerably cooler IN the mall than outside (LOL).
To those who wrote in, I’m really excited to receive your emails, thank you so much. Look for your responses in this issue. Well, looks like we’re starting to have some fun here at Minute Chaser!
I hope you enjoy this issue. Let me know what you’d like to see here; in fact, any feedback will be appreciated.
Happy New Year, Happy Holidays! This new year’s, count your blessings, spare a thought for those less fortunate, and take a moment to pray for world peace. Wishing you good health and success. See you in 2005!
Kit Editor/Publisher Website: http://MinuteChaser.Go-GetGlobal.com Email: chaser@go-getglobal.com
Brainwave Anti-Resolutions: What Not to Do to Help Make 2005 Your Best Yet by Kathy Gates, Professional Life Coach Can you believe a New Year is here already? I believe wholeheartedly in setting goals, setting intentions, deciding what you will do over the next year. However, I also think it's equally important to know what not to do. Try these Anti-Resolutions to add some Don'ts to your day, and see how it helps with all those Do's. "I will not over-schedule my day." It seems like scheduling every minute would be the logical way to get everything done, but it actually tends to work against you. Some things will take longer than you expected, some things will interfere that you can't predict. If you're scheduled to the max, you'll have no room to absorb them, things will overrun, and frustration will set in. Instead, aim for about 75% scheduled, 25% free. "I will not say Yes to everything." Saying Yes to everything is like cholesterol - it clogs your day with stuff you don't want there. Doing other people's work, answering annoying phone calls, deleting junk emails rob you of valuable time and energy. Realize that for every Yes Activity, you have also created a No Activity. Make sure you are saying Yes to what you intend to. "I will no longer put what I want at the moment over what I want in the long run." That extra 20 minutes of sleep in the morning might seem like the best thing since sliced peanut butter, but you know it will only make you late, and then playing catch up the rest of the day. That new pair of shoes may seem like the last pair you'll ever need, but if it makes the rent money tight, it's not worth it. Think about the long term effects of your actions today. "I will no longer get duped into the "I can have it all" idea." Having it all is certainly possible, either by having it at different times in your life, or by having a whole lot of help (think Kelly Ripa or Katie Couric). Their few spare minutes are certainly not spent grocery shopping or cleaning bathrooms. So please, lose the Super-Woman idea attached to it. "I will no longer get trapped in media microwave mentality." Things take time. Life is not a sit-com, and few things are resolved in 30 minutes or less. Appreciate the various stages of projects and goals as well as the outcome. Goals, home projects, or getting a degree, or even getting your schedule organized are all a process. Determine to make each day as special as the end result. "I won't give up." Never give up. When you mess up, or when the wind of life comes barreling in unannounced - and it will - being prepared as best you can will give you the strength to be able to move on. When it seems like there's no answer, push on. The answer may be just around the next corner. Don't let fear, or anger, or frustration, or your money, or your in-laws, stop you from living your life. Keep going. This is your year! ----- About the author: Professional Life Coach Kathy Gates helps people who are burned out, stressed out, and fed up deal with every day living in a more organized and efficient manner. Start your New Year off right with a Trial Coaching Special at www.reallifecoach.com. Visit today!
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Modern Living Focus on the Joy
by Kathy Gates, Professional Life Coach
It’s the Holiday Season --A new year is just around the corner! I’ll bet you’re already thinking about how you’d like next year to be a little different than the last, right?
But instead of thinking of performance, and efficiency, and control, I’d like you to take this opportunity to think about how many things in your daily life that you do “just for the joy of it”?
What I’m talking about here is value-based happiness (as opposed to temporary happiness).
Value-based happiness refers to the general feeling of well being that you experience when you are doing what you perceive to be meaningful --when it’s something that’s important to you.
When you love what you do, you naturally become more efficient. When you do things for the Joy of It, you’ll rise above problems, and move easier through life.
Value Based happiness is a by product from living a life Focused on the Joy. It is the by product of doing things not for what you get in return, not because you “should” or “have-to”, but because you want to, because they are a part of your highest goals, and what you value.
Value based happiness comes from looking at things with your heart, not just your eyes.
You create value based happiness by Focusing on the Joy of life, instead of constantly looking for the next new thing that might make you feel better about yourself, about your life.
So how do you Focus on the Joy?
Throw out your ideas about control, effectiveness, and goals. (Yes, they are important, but let’s just try something different, ok?)
Instead ---
Focus On Learning: Instead of making a goal to achieve more in your job, decide instead to read and learn how to do one new thing each week.
Focus on Time: Schedule your time to include what’s important to you, like reading time, or exercise time, or family time, or learning time.
Focus on the Why: Instead of just forcing yourself to mop the kitchen floor, tap into the higher goal that mopping the kitchen floor supports (having a clean and healthy home).
How does that feel? Not bad, huh! If you focus on the pleasure that a desire gives you, you’ll find it easier to put in the work that it takes. (One author gives the example of giving blood – while the experience itself may be less than pleasant, the joy comes in knowing *why* you’re doing it).
And I absolutely guarantee that you will achieve more, maintain your efforts, and have a much better journey along the way.
Over the next 12 months, instead of focusing on the effort, FOCUS ON THE JOY. Focus on the people and things that are most important to you. Focus on the pleasure you get out of moving towards your goals. Focus on the process of creating something, not what results you expect.
Invest in yourself more than you ever thought was allowed. Not only will you reap rewards, but those around you will benefit more than you ever believed.
----- About the author: Kathy Gates is a Professional Life Coach in Scottsdale AZ. I help people deal with the stress of every day living in a more organized and efficient manner. Get more information at my website Real Life Coach, http://www.reallifecoach.com and sign up for the newsletter.
Offpeak Hours Vegetarian Does Not Have to be All or Nothing By Melanie Mendelson Many people contemplate becoming a vegetarian at one point or another. Some consider a meatless diet because they feel sorry for the animals. Others think a vegetarian way of eating will improve their health. However, out of those well-intentioned people very few actually follow through and change their way of eating. The idea of completely giving up meat forms a big stumbling block for most. For some reason, when it comes to vegetarian cooking, most people only see the extremist approach: either give up meat completely or you might as well include the meat in every meal. This all or nothing thinking becomes a mental barrier that keeps a lot of people from eating more vegetarian meals. How about finding a happy medium? Drastic changes to one's diet never last. Do not beat yourself up for eating meat. There is no need to give it up completely. Just try eating a little less of it, that's all. Start right now by making one meatless dinner every week. Keep everything else the same. Eating just one vegetarian dinner every week is definitely doable and easy. It will be just a nice change instead of deprivation! If you think going meatless one day a week would not make a big difference, consider these simple numbers: if everyone ate vegetarian meals just one day a week, it would save one out of seven animals. Out of 92 million animals that are consumed in the United States alone every year, over 13 million animals would be spared. This is a huge impact! In addition to doing good for our planet, you'll enjoy great health benefits by including more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, nutrients, anti-oxidants and fiber - all the things that are good for us. They can help with weight loss and prevent diseases. Numerous studies show that diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce the risks of deadly diseases such as cancer, heart attack and stroke. Also, by trying out new dishes, you will break your food routine and discover new tasty recipes and food combinations. It's really nice to eat something different once in a while instead of being stuck in a food rut. This simple shift of mindset from all or nothing to a happy middle ground will do wonders. Vegetarian eating does not need to be a full-time commitment, sacrifice and strive for unattainable perfection. Just do what you can to eat a little less meat, have fun trying new vegetarian meals and enjoy the benefits. About the author: Melanie Mendelson is the author of Vegetarian Main Dishes -
Over Coffee
Here’s our question this week. There are no right or wrong answers, these are just for fun. Send in your response to get a free classified.
This week’s question is:
How are you spending your holidays this year?
Thanks for writing, Kathryn T. This is what she says: Since my job keeps me away from the rest of my family--I have to work Christmas Eve evening and they live 500 miles away--I'm having Christmas dinner with some good friends here in town. My fur babies and I will have a good Christmas breakfast as well!
Submit your response (it doesn’t have to be an essay, just a few lines will do :o), and your 3-line by 60-character classified here. I’ll be posting your responses here next week. |
IN THIS ISSUE Editor’s Scribbles Brainwave Anti-Resolutions: What Not to Do to Help Make 2005 Your Best Yet Featured Sponsors Find stuff you need Modern Living Focus on the Joy Offpeak Hours Vegetarian Does Not Have to be All or Nothing Co-op Ads Over Coffee Send in your response and your free classified ad
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Issue 0412-17. Copyright 2004-2005 Minute Chaser Ezine. All rights reserved in all countries. |
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