One Thing

Was sent this recently and felt empowered by it.

One thing better

Don't despair that you can't immediately make EVERYTHING better. You can always make ONE thing better.

Then, you can continue that momentum, making another improvement, and another, and another. You can start right now.

Even one little success is empowering. It points you in a decidedly positive direction.

What if you could see each little nagging problem as the opportunity for improvement that it is? You would realize that there's no shortage of ways to be successful.

You already have everything necessary to start right now and create a continuous stream of value. One positive, effective, meaningful effort will get you going.

Feel how right it feels to make your world better. Delight in making a difference, over and over again.

-- Ralph Marston

Make your one thing GOOD. Make it count.
Ruth

What's the name of the song playing in the background in the intro to the Sir Ken Robinson website?

http://www.sirkenrobinson.com/

Recognize it??

Found out...it's Sia, Breathe Me...
Beautiful.

What You Believe

"You become what you believe - not what you wish or want, but what you truly believe." - Oprah

Make it good. Make it count.
Ruth

Promises, promises

A core value for me is integrity and keeping my word so if I say I'm going to do something, it gets done. This was an interesting week for me. I felt depleted and a couple times I chose to say NO to friends and YES to myself. I like to keep the promises I make to others but I'm not always good about keeping promises I make to myself and that needs to change. If I'm depleted I show up differently. I'm not as present and whoever I'm with is not getting the same QUALITY of interaction so we're both losing out.

Experimenting with saying yes to myself this week was a positive experience. I was reinforced for honouring myself because I felt restored and found that my friends wanted that for me so they understood.

Are you honouring yourself? Are you keeping the promises you make to yourself? A dear friend told me that Robin Sharma asks, "Tell me what is important to you and then show me your calendar." Be deliberate about taking time for yourself - book time in your calendar for the gym, for rest, for reading quietly, for whatever restores you.

Make it good. Make it count.
Catney

There are no words

Here’s what reaching the pinnacle of a lifelong dream can look like. There really are no words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlHgRl2iHaA

Own today! Make it good. Make it count!

Catney

Satisfaction Guaranteed?

Eight Steps Toward a More Satisfying Life – Robin Sharma

Want to lift your level of happiness? Here are some practical suggestions from University of California psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, based on research findings by her and others. Satisfaction (at least a temporary boost) guaranteed.

1. Count your blessings.
One way to do this is with a “gratitude journal” in which you write down three to five things for which you are currently thankful—from the mundane (your car is sparking clean) to the magnificent (a child’s first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night. Keep it fresh by varying your entries as much as possible.

2. Practice acts of kindness.
These should be both random (let that harried mom go ahead of you in the checkout line) and systematic
(bring Sunday supper to an elderly neighbor). Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers, triggers a cascade of positive effects—it makes you feel generous and capable, gives you a greater sense of
connection with others and wins you smiles, approval and
reciprocated kindness—all happiness boosters.

3. Savour life’s joys.
Pay close attention to momentary pleasures and wonders. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the shade. Some psychologists suggest taking “mental photographs” of pleasurable moments to review in less happy times.


4. Thank a mentor.
If there’s someone whom you owe a debt of gratitude for guiding
you at one of life’s crossroads, don’t wait to express your
appreciation—in detail and, if possible, in person.

5. Learn to forgive.
Let go of anger and resentment by writing a letter of forgiveness
to a person who has hurt or wronged you. Inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving allows you to move on.

6. Invest time and energy in friends and family.

Where you live, how much money you make, your job title and even
your health have surprisingly small effects on your satisfaction
with life. The biggest factor appears to be strong personal relationships.

7. Take care of your body.
Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practiced regularly, they can
help make your daily life more satisfying.

8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships.
There is no avoiding hard times. Religious faith has been shown to help
people cope, but so do the secular beliefs enshrined in axioms like “This too shall pass” and “That which doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” The trick is that you have to believe them.

Make it good. Make it count!
Catney

Hope

I liked this quote.

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work. You don't give up."

Anne Lamott, writer

Make it good. Make it count.
Ruth
http://catneycoaching.com/

Sir Ken Robinson shared a great quote in his 2009 Rhode Island School of Design Commencement speech that speaks to diversity.

“Being British these days means you drive home in your German car, stopping to pick up some Irish beer or Danish lager, picking up some Indian curry or Greek kabob, and spending an evening sitting on Swedish furniture watching American programs on a Japanese TV. The most British thing of all – suspicion of anything foreign.”

Watch his most recent Ted Talk - http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html

www.catneycoaching.com

Just Like You Expect

Again, my friend sent me this one and I wanted to share it with you!

ENJOY!

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Just like you expect
+++++++++++++++++++

When you are prepared to find fault, you will. When you are
prepared to find goodness and value, you will.

What you are looking for determines what you find. What you
are expecting determines what you experience.

Expectations don't magically change reality. Expectations do
something even more powerful -- they change the way you deal
with reality.

Is this going to be a positive, productive day or a
disappointing, frustrating one? What do you expect?

The great thing is that you can expect whatever you choose
to expect. And though the specific details won't always
match your expectations, the overall tone of the day will be
just like you most sincerely expect.

Expect the best. Proceed under the assumption that you'll
get the best, from yourself and others, and you're well on
your way to getting it.

Ralph Marston

............................................................................
This is the Daily Motivator email edition.
Copyright (C) 2010 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All rights reserved.
Visit The Daily Motivator web site at http://greatday.com for an archive
of more than 3,000 daily messages, inspirational photos and more.

Did you know?...

Gretchen Rubin tells us in The Happiness Project that one of the most reliable indicators of not feeling lonely is the amount of contact you have with women (this is for both men and women).

Time spent with men does not make much difference. Studies show that both men and women find relationships with women to be more intimate and enjoyable.

Interesting...

Enjoy!
Ruth
http://catneycoaching.com/

Choose What you Focus on

A dear friend sends these to me on occasion. I liked this one. Reminded me of my power to choose what I focus on and the outcome I can create. Enjoy!

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Worry and confidence
+++++++++++++++++++

If you're able to worry, you're also able to be confident.
Because from a functional standpoint, worry and confidence
are pretty much the same thing.

Worry is the expectation that something negative will
happen. Confidence is the expectation that something
positive will happen.

How do you create confidence about something that hasn't
happened yet? You use the exact same process you would use
to create worry.

The big difference between worry and confidence is the
expected outcome. And the powerful fact is, you can expect
whatever outcome you choose.

There's another way that worry and confidence are quite
similar. They both tend to be self-fulfilling prophesies.

So instead of destroying your effectiveness with worry, you
can vastly enhance your effectiveness with confidence. It
takes nothing more than a simple yet powerful change in your
expectations.

Ralph Marston

Work-Life Balance & Working From Home

Here’s what I know for sure about how to create a sense of work/life balance when you have a home office.

1) Define what work/life balance is for you.

“Work-Life Balance” is such a subjective thing. What might feel like great balance for one person could be a total yawn-fest or stress-bomb for another. The key to defining what balance is for you is to aim to live by your core values. My top 3 values are Family, Meaningful Work, and Integrity (Play is in there too!!!). Choose yours from a sample list below.

Authenticity, Excellence, Happiness,
Balance, Fairness, Harmony,
Commitment, Faith, Health,
Compassion, Family, Honesty,
Concern for others, Freedom, Humour,
Courage, Friendship, Integrity,
Creativity, Generosity, Kindness,
Empathy, Genuineness, Knowledge,
Loyalty, Openness, Perseverance,
Play, Meaningful, Work, Competence,
Respect for others, Responsibility, Security,
Serenity, Service to others, Wealth.

Do a quick gut check. If you’re feeling out of balance in your life ask yourself what core value(s) you’re not meeting and once you figure it out, make a few adjustments to get them back on track.


2) Create a Work/Life Schedule that honours your values.

I have been very deliberate about creating a schedule for family, work, and PLAY.

Once you create this schedule “test drive” it for a couple weeks to work out the kinks and then make a couple adjustments as needed.

You must be very deliberate about adhering to this schedule. Honour yourself and be sure to leave your office based on this schedule. Don’t set yourself up for feelings of failure and conflict. Shut things down for the day and return to them in the morning.

A few things to practice here:
 Learn to say NO; stick with a “W.I.N.” (What’s Important Now) approach.
 Manage expectations with everyone you deal with; always under-promise and over-deliver.
 Divide the family workload with your partner fairly. Take the time to negotiate responsibilities.
 Constant communication with family is key. Make sure you let your family know what each week will look like so you can all support one another.

3) Have a separate office space from your living space.

Easier said than done, but if you can, create a work space that is separate and distinct from your living space. Having a door that offers you privacy AND keeps you OUT when your day is done is ideal but work with what you have in your home.

4) Ask for what you need.

Successful businesses and families aren’t built on mind reading – at least not yet! Many people have trouble asking for help or articulating what they need to succeed. I’m very good about asking for what I need. My husband & I divide our home workload fairly and we also bring in help for housekeeping and tutoring. We also have family help with child-care which really goes a long way.

5) Be sure to inject some FUN in your life and PLAY!

Working all the time and fulfilling your home obligations doesn’t need to be beleaguering. Be deliberate about doing what’s fun for you and don’t take yourself too seriously! Life really is too short!

Enjoy,
Ruth

http://www.catneycoaching.com/