Ok. I’ve just figured it out. I am the master of procrastination!! (Actually, I recognize that fact on a pretty regular basis, then find something else to do to avoid dealing with it

I’ve spent time trying to figure it out. Am I stuck because I am afaid of something? What is that fear? Am I avoiding a task because I just plain don’t like to do it? Sometimes for sure. When I find that I am doing everything else under the sun rather than the one thing I know I “should” be doing, I have tried to analyze my actions.

What is going on?? What are the causes of procrastination? Why don’t I seem any good at overcoming procrastination? The harder and harder I try to figure it out, the futher from reach it seems to be.

I had a coaching call with a lovely group of ladies this morning on this very topic. And, we came up with some very interesting ideas. So, in the form of brainstorming here are a few of strategies we came up with to stop procrastination:

• ask ourselves what’s the worst that could happen?
• get in touch with our “Why”. What is important about getting it done?
• Just Do It! Take a leap of faith
• break the activity down to baby steps and just do one
• make a commitment to someone else
• be creative and work from a fresh perspective
• focus on the value of the activity
• don’t do it! What’s the worst that could happen if you just left it?
• delegate it to someone else

What other ways of dealing with procrastination can you think of?

One of the ways that has been working for me is to look at my list and ask myself “what CAN I do right now?”. This is sort of an adaptation of the Action System developed for Compass by Kim George based on her principals of abundance intelligence. I’ve been working with the Compass Coaching Network for several months now, and this has been one of my biggest take-aways.

When I start to feel overwhelmed, or I’m avoiding something by wasting time, whatever the case may be… I just stop and ask myself what I can do. Right now. In this moment. And, it never fails to help me get into action.

And, once you get into action, (even if it’s not on the task you have been avoiding) you break the inertial,  feel like you are in control, and build some positive momentum.

Try a few of these hints, share some more, and let us know what works for you!

When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present…..we experience heaven on earth. Sarah Breathnach

This quote was on an email that I received recently, and I thought - “How true!”. And, I also thought about how this could apply to the “not enough” syndrome that most of us fall into at least occasionally.

It seems like there is this huge prevalence of scarcity thinking. “I don’t have enough of…”, or “I’ll do such & such as soon as….” or “when I get better at…” or “I can’t do (blank) because I don’t have….” or “I’m not good enough”.

We have a tendancy to put everything off “until”. We spend all our energy focusing on what it is we don’t have.

How would it be if we changed our thought patern just a tiny bit? What would change if I said “I can do xxx right now, and it will be even better when yyyy”. How would things be different if I really focused on what I already have, be grateful for it, and do what I can do today?

The Compass Coaching program is based on what they call “Abundance Intelligence” which has been adapted from Kim George’s book called “Coaching into Greatness“. I’ve been delving into their coaching program both as a client and now as a Certified Compass Coach for the last couple of months. And, I love it!

I find that feels really empowering. It gives me choice. It creates abundance. What is it I can do, right now? Today? It blows all of the obstacles out of the water!!

Every time I get stuck, I ask myself that question: “What can I do?”. And, it never fails to get me into action. It also makes me feel full, and blessed. I feel satisfied instead of wanting. I feel more peaceful, less anxious.

What would change for you if you chose to focus on what you do have? What you can do? Look at your strengths (and those of others) rather than weaknesses?

How would you feel?

PS. Another book that I have really enjoyed and found very enlightening on the topic of scarcity & abundance is “Trance of Scarcity” by Victoria Castle. Check it out!

Do you love wine? life? Each other?

Spend a weekend in the heart of South Okanagan Wine Country indulging your passionate side!

• Tour and taste some of the gems of the famed Black Sage Bench.
• Learn the nuances of food & wine pairing with our Sommelier.
• Enjoy an intimate gourmet dinner with local wine makers.
• Re-ignite the passion in your relationship with a certified life and relationship coach.

Located in the beautiful wine country of the South Okanagan, the retreat takes place at Spirit Ridge Resort & Spa, offering unparalleled luxury accomodation set against the backdrop of stunning desert landscape overlooking vineyards and Osoyoos Lake.

The date is November 20 - 22, 2009. Interested? Find out more at www.Life-Uncorked.com/Retreat or www.spiritridge.ca/passion.

Do you want to get more creative? Think outside the box? Come up with some vibrant, fun and innovative ideas for your business, organization, or your life? Have you been mulling over some ideas for a new business start up? Or trying to think of a new way to do an old job that you’ve been putting off?

Where do you go for help?

Well, a coach like me, is an obvious place to start. But, if you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary that you can play with on your own time, I just came across a wonderful website that absolutely fits the bill.

The Idea Champions website has a fun and brilliant “Free the Genie Card Game” that will get you literally jumping out of the box! This is what they say about the Free the Genie cards on their site:

“Because the genie is the archetypal symbol of unexpressed potential — the hidden force within us all capable of turning inspired dreams into reality. In Aladdin’s time, all it took was a rub of the lamp to free this power. Today, all it takes is some dedicated time and the willingness to interact with this very upbeat, engaging and graphically compelling breakthrough thinking tool. It’s fun. It’s simple. And it gets results.”

You can play the cards for free online, or you can buy the deck and other products from there site. So, this isn’t advertising, I have no affiliation with this site. I just think it is really exciting and fun!

So, check it out at: http://www.ideachampions.com/free_the_genie_intranet.shtml

And, leave a comment here to share if you come up with a doozy of a new idea!

When I work with clients to help them identify the things they love to do, they often get stumped. They tell me they don’t know what it is they really enjoy.

Of course, they do. But, it’s easy to get into that rut and be blind to those things that really get you energized and enthused.

Here’s a great idea I got from reading an article in the Readers Digest this morning:

Keep a diary of everything you do during your day. Then, at the end of the day, rate those activities on a scale of, say, 1 - 5. Number 1 being “I hate doing this, I wish I never had to do it again” to number 5 being “wow! that was great. I could have done that all day”.

Do this for a week or so, and you should start to see some patterns emerge. You will have visible proof of what you really love to do! Simple? I thought so.

Wanna give it a try?

I WILL WAIT……………
Here is a story and a moral about having faith and taking action:

A big flood hit a village. Everyone was evacuated and fled for safety, except for one man who said, “God will save me.
I have faith.” As the water level rose, a jeep came to rescue him but he refused help and said, “God will save me. I have faith.”

As the water level rose further, he went up to the second story, and a boat came to help him. Again he refused to go saying, “God will save me. I have faith.”

The water kept rising and finally he climbed to the roof. A helicopter came to rescue him, but he said, “God will save me. I have faith.”

Finally he drowned.

When he came face to face with his Maker he angrily commented, “I have complete faith in you. Why did you ignore my prayers and let me drown?” The Lord replied, “Who do you think sent the jeep, the boat, and the helicopter?”

AND THE MORAL?
It doesn’t matter whether we trust in God, the Universe, the Law of Attraction, or anything else if we aren’t willing to take responsibility and help ourselves!

Make your plans and dreams, set and commit to your goals, trust that they will come true. Then seize every opportunity that comes your way! Act now!

Choose to really reach out and take responsibility for creating the life you want.

If you would like help to clarify your dreams and goals, or to identify those opportunities you may be overlooking, contact me for a complimentary coaching session! I can help.

I attended an Okanagan Valley Chamber of Commerce networking event last week, and had many people stop to ask me what a Life Coach does?

My flip reply is usually “help people figure out what they really want to do when they grow up!=

And, then I go on to explain that as a Life Coach, I work with people in any area of their life where they want to see improvement. We identify where they are, where they’d like to be, and together we create a plan of action to get them there. Then, I hold them accountable and keep them focused along the way.

One fellow commented that he loved to read personal development type books and attend seminars to get new ideas and ways of doing things. When I asked him how many of those new ideas he had successfully implemented into his life - he realized not many. I then explained that part of why coaching is so successful is that it provides a process to consistently focus on new behaviours, thereby turning them into habits.

Another lady I spoke with wondered if coaching was religious. I explained that I did not use a religious or spiritual perspective in my coaching, but many other life coaches do. Each Life Coach has their own particular style, and so, a potential client can find a coach that meets their individual needs.

Do you have questions about coaching? Post your question in the comments, and I’ll be happy to answer!