Think Small, Before You Can Give Big
I don’t have time for exercise; I don’t have time to do things I am passionate about.; I wish I could do what he/she does – they seem happy and have a great life; My work doesn’t allow me to do what they do; It’s really demanding but I just have to get on with it…it will all change when I deliver this project/finish this job/move companies/the kids are at school/we go on holiday……..
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. We are often more comfortable thinking about what we “should” be doing as opposed to do doing what we “need” to do to. We think it (oh…how we love to think it), plan it, intend to do it and then something else comes up; another curve ball from life that vanquishes our plans for what we had thought about doing. But at least you thought about it. After all; it is the thought that counts, your best intentions are there. Right?
Wrong!
The recipe for you to feel great is simple. For you to feel like you have “nailed it”, are in control of your life and have more energy, you need one ingredient; NOW!
You intuitively know what works for you, for some of us that just means digging a little deeper than others.
Sounds very simple, and it is! For us to really step into greatness we need to experience and embrace life on a moment to moment basis, and if that means prioritising going for a walk, going to the gym, painting, reading, catching up with friends, go away now: pack your bag, put on your shoes, get out the brushes, download the book or text your friends for a catch up. Once you take this action it will mean that you are more likely to get on and JUST DO IT!
So it’s time to ask yourself the tough questions:
If I don’t take care of myself today, who suffers tomorrow?
What do I love doing but never have time to do?
When do I feel great and have the energy to take anything on? What has made me feel this way and who was around me at that time?
There are a multitude of questions that you could ask yourself but to start with - think small (I know - it is the exact opposite to what the rest of your life should be about!). Think about the little things that you can do to influence your day to day life, that will enable you to feel like you have given yourself the opportunity to be in your peak state and as a result be better for others!
Getting into the office a couple of hours early so you can get some work done before you go to your back to back meetings for the next 9 hours, 5 days a week, grabbling take away and knocking back half a bottle of wine to relax at the end of the day is not generally a recipe that works in the longer term for any of us.
I’m not suggesting you do an overhaul of your life. It’s not practical and potentially not sustainable so let’s just start with what you feel is manageable.
You need to look after yourself, because guess what - no one else can!
Even if your mum still drops off home cooked meals for you and the family what about the rest of it?
For those of you reading this thinking, it’s still not going to work for me, my priority is [insert your important thing HERE]. This is not about being selfish. It is about ensuring that if you look after yourself, you know that you can give others more than you could if you continue in this hamster wheel!
SO there is just one question left:
What are you going to do NOW?
Chloe Blake has spent two decades working in Human Resources and Leadership Development, across a range of industries. She is a Certified Organisational Coach, a Mental Fitness Coach with Positive Intelligence, an Accredited DISC Advanced ® Consultant and works within the coaching principals of the International Coach Federation (ICF).
She partners with leaders to deal with what can be complex and emerging challenges and works with people to ensure that they are able to perform at their best and are confident to deliver.
If you would like to know more about Chloe’s work or you would like have a chat about the way she works and what she can do to support your business visit: www.chloeblake.com.au
