TQ says "Say 'NO" (to some things)

Say "NO" to Some Things to Have More Time for the RIGHT Things...
--

Spreading Yourself Too Thin?

It's easy to do, so don't over commit. If you devote a little of yourself to everything, you won't have enough time to devote your full attention to what's really important.

You have a valuable tool in your time-management arsenal. Just say "NO!"

"Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can."~ Willis Whitney

Today's TQ-Routine Planning

Make Planning a Routine Part of Today's Agenda....

Have You Forgotten Anything?

By writing down a task, project, wish or goal, you don't have to worry about forgetting it. Put everything that you want or need to get done on your Master List.

Write down everything regardless of how small in one location -- your Master List -- today.

"Determine what specific goal you want to achieve. Then dedicate yourself to its attainment with unswerving singleness of purpose, the trenchant zeal of a crusader."~ Paul J. Meyer

Today's Quest...
Is your Master List close at hand? Where?

What happens to your schedule when you must digress to something you'd forgotten?

Have you left anything out of your Master List today?

6 Steps to Simplification

Abby Seixas: 6 Steps to Simplification
Wednesday February 25, 2009

Every week during Lent, I will focus on one of Abby's Seixas's six steps (in her book "Finding the Deep River Within"). As part of "Mindful Monday," I will expand on one at the beginning of each week so that you can follow my program of simplification, if you'd like. Here they are.

Take Time-In. Taking time for ourselves. Again, I'm starting with one hour a week.
Make Boundaries. Taking back some control over daily interruptions.
Befriend Feelings. Getting still enough to confront some of the ugly feelings.
Tame Self-Expectations. The killers that lead us to perfectionism that can cripple our creativity.
Practice Presence. Mindfulness ... trying to be present to what is going on right in front of you.
Do Something You Love. When I'm grounded and rested, this means writing from my heart.
To read more Beyond Blue, go to http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue

Todays TQ-Take Action Today!

Take Immediate Action on Whatever's Next -- REGARDLESS...

So, Is It So Because You Said So?

The degree of power in your life is measured by your ability to cause action.

Action creates power, not the other way around.

"Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions."~ John Randolph

Today's Quest...
What one step can you take right now that will help achieve this week's goals?

What action can you take right now to significantly affect how you'll feel at the end of the day?

What do you want to accomplish by the end of today?

Exit Your Comfort Zone

Exit Your Comfort Zone
Find another side to you!
by Adrianne Stone

It's easy to become a creature of habit, favoring the same foods, styles, music or friends for years until we've fallen into a predictable rut. You may be comfortable this way - ordering the same items from the menu of life, day in and day out. But if you continue to do this, there are no new expectations, no discoveries, and no journeys… and what fun is that?

So why not try breaking out of your comfort zone to experience a few new things? You can start small. A woman who'd always ordered the same items from her favorite sushi bar was forced to change her options when she was under doctor's orders to abstain from raw fish during her pregnancy. While her friends ordered sushi, she chose items like tofu with asparagus and baked salmon skin salad and was thrilled with the experience. She never would have thought to order those items, but once she did, it was like finding a secret kitchen that designed new and exciting dishes just for her. Ever since, she's been opting for the items that she'd never have thought to order and discovering new tastes and food items each time.

Challenge fear
You can broaden your horizons in other areas, too. Are you shy? Take an acting class! When you're in character, you'll find that you can behave in ways you never would as yourself. And in doing so, in front of strangers, you'll realize that this is a great way to cover your shyness in normal situations. As you excel in your acting, you won't even have to pretend to be confident, because the energy that you derive from your acting background will shine through.

Similarly, if you are uncomfortable with public speaking, you can try the old "Brady Bunch" philosophy (remember the episode when Marcia was afraid of her driver's ed teacher and she was advised to picture him in his underwear?). So, try picturing your audience in their boxers, briefs or Spanx and your biggest concern won't be speaking to them - it will be controlling your laughter as you fight those amusing images.

Conquer phobias
Do you have phobias? Experts agree that the best way to beat your fears is to face them. That means that if you're afraid of heights, taking a skydiving class may be the antidote. Not only will you have conquered your phobia, but you'll have had an exhilarating experience!

Has your workout routine stagnated because you haven't tried different sports? If you never swim because you haven't learned to properly do the crawl, take a class at your local pool. Before you know it, you'll be swimming laps and feeling great. If you've never skied, try visiting a ski resort this winter. You can rent skis and sign up for a beginner's class that will have you gliding down the bunny slopes in no time. If you never bowled or played golf or skated… just go to where these things are done and sign up. You'll not only learn something new that was never part of your daily activity, you will likely make new friends.

Move beyond discomfort
Are you uncomfortable dining alone in a restaurant? Simply march yourself into a place that you've always wanted to visit and find a nice table where you won't be disturbed. You can bring note cards to write overdue letters (a far nicer touch than emails) or a journal in which you can write your thoughts, lists or stories. Don't bring a book. This would completely take away from your dining experience. But if you're writing after your order is taken and occasionally pick up your pen to write while dining, you'll keep yourself from feeling the discomfort of dining alone and will also stave off unwanted approaches by other diners (unless, of course, you're open to meeting someone). A side bonus: Restaurateurs may suspect you're a food critic and be overly attentive to your needs in anticipation of a good review!

Just be open to all the things that you always told yourself you couldn't/wouldn't/shouldn't do. Take the plunge! Every time you step out of your comfort zone, you expand your possibilities and discover another side of yourself.

Change Worry to Action

Immediately Stop Worry from Dragging Your Performance Down...

Worried?

Worry wastes time, steals your energy and prevents you from accomplishing anything. Stop worry by taking some kind of action. Transform worry into a positive action.

Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's moving forward by focusing on the desired outcome instead of the fear.

"How hard it is, sometimes, to trust the evidence of one's senses! How reluctantly the mind consents to reality."~ Norman Douglas

Today's Quest...
What's one thing you could do right now to change a worry into a positive action?

What types of things worry you the most?

What's the biggest worry facing you today? What can you do to address it immediately?

TQ says "Focus on Solutions"

Focus on Solutions -- Do NOT Remain Absorbed in the Problem...

Are You Looking At The Storm Or The Rainbow?

Focus on the solutions rather than the problems. You will be more productive and effective when your attention is on the positive rather than the negative.

Focus on the fix. Spend no time today on negative reactions. Cross quickly to the sunny side -- the solution side -- of every situation.

"The idea is to make decisions and act on them -- to decide what is important to accomplish, to decide how something can best be accomplished, to find time to work at it and to get it done."~ Karen Kakascik

Today's Quest...
Do you spend more time focusing on setbacks or solutions?

Are you focusing on problems or solutions right now?

With whom can you consult or team up, the next time a problem bogs you down?

More from "ThinkTQ.com"- Block Out Time

Block out Time to Focus on Your Top Priorities Each Day...

What Will Have The Most Impact?

Begin each week by determining in advance the one or two activities that can make the most impact. Then schedule specific blocks of time for those activities in your calendar first.

Block out time in next week's schedule to focus on each of your most important tasks.

"You will never FIND time for anything. If you want time, you must MAKE it."~ Charles Bixton

Today's Quest...
When, this week, would be the best time to schedule in a block of time for your most important tasks?

Have you blocked in time for one or two actions this week that will make the greatest impact in your personal life?

How much time have you blocked into your schedule this week to further your spiritual goals?

Learn the Lesson

"Mistakes are portals of discovery." - James Joyce

Think Big

The Magic Of Thinking Big
As long as you are going to go about your day thinking anyway, you may as well "think big". Anyone can think small, and most people do. In fact, most people keep themselves in the same place in life, doing the exact same thing, without significant growth or change because of limited or conditioned thinking.

It is probably true that many of your current and future clients are living in that place right now. Who better to support them than you? The coach who is thinking big.

Ideas
Don't just think about what is possible, think about what might seem nearly impossible, that would require you to grow and move beyond who you currently know yourself to be. Think about what you have always wanted to do or have in your life ... those things that your heart speaks of.

"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~Walt Disney

Thinking big equals going big. Thinking small means staying small. You decide. You get to choose your thoughts. Try giving big thought and energy to the direction of your practice and who you are becoming as a coach.

Be outrageous and let your imagination fly. This does not mean thinking unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky stuff, like being able to suddenly perform superhuman feats. It means allowing yourself to stretch and believe in the beauty of your dreams.

Propose they experience a complimentary coaching session with you. Then, have THEM propose the next step. When done correctly and confidently you won't have to close the sale. Your prospects will be asking YOU when they can start.

Always the Student, Always the Teacher

"You are always the student in a one-person art school. You are also the teacher of that class." (Irwin Greenberg)

TQ asks "When Are You Most Productive?"

Schedule Tasks Around Your Most Productive Time Periods...

Do You Know Your Own Biorhythms?

Study your daily performance. When are you at your mental and physical peak? Schedule your top priorities for those times, and assign the rest of your work for less energetic periods.

"Only a mediocre person is always at his best." - Somerset Maugham

"A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."~ Patricia Neal

Today's Quest...
When, during your day, are you at your peak performance?

During what hours are you at your physical prime?

When are you the most energetic during the day? When are you the most optimistic?

Today's TQ

Concentrate on Tasks that Produce Your Greatest Rewards...

What Should You Concentrate On?

Concentrate on what's most rewarding. These are the items that get you closest to achieving your goals.

Prioritizing may mean some things won't get done. However, those things may not have been worth doing in the first place.

"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; whenever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together."~ Earl Nightingale

Today's Quest...
What daily activity always brings you closer to your destination?

Did your activities in the last hour demonstrate to others what's most important to you?

What will you eliminate from your schedule today to make time for a higher priority?

More from "ThinkTQ.com"

Confirm Major Values -- BEFORE Making Key Decisions...

Why Do You Suppose You Did That?

If you want to understand why you do anything, you only have to look as far as your values, vision and mission. They dictate every action you take and every decision you make.

Want to make better decisions? Make a better mission!

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."~ John Lennon

Today's Quest...
If your mission is what you stand for, where are you standing right now?

If someone else looked at your current actions, would they correctly deduce your mission and your vision?

Is your current mission of who you are, or the visions of what you want, satisfying you today?

California Psychics say "Pay Attention!"

Attention!
Control your focus to create your reality

Are you easily distracted? Do external circumstances dictate your mood and energy levels? Do you get so caught up in the details that you fail to see the bigger picture? When outside elements control the way you perceive things, it's time for a shift of attention!

The ability to control where you focus your attention allows you to create your environment. It's something we're all born with (although it's easy to forget!) - it gives us the energy to do work, finish projects and succeed in our endeavors big or small. By increasing your awareness to include the whole picture as well as the details (something that's not easy for everyone - we all tend to get caught up in our own personal minutiae) you enable yourself to react to situations with enough rationality to direct them toward your objectives.

Awareness is influenced by our surroundings (and what we perceive that to mean as individuals). You can consider your environment to be your home, your neighborhood, your state, your country, the world and so on… But the more you're aware of, the broader your scope. The narrower your point of view, the smaller, and conversely, seemingly more important your thoughts are to you. But really, the opposite is true. If you're caught in your own head, stuck only on the details, small things seem bigger and more important than they are. This happens all the time because awareness can only include things we take the time to notice.

Perspective
But if you recognize that we're all connected, part of a universal energy wherein our individual highest good benefits the greater good, whether or not you had a bad hair day seems insignificant. Likewise, your concern over a rocky relationship lifts to reveal the real issue. If you stay in a situation where you're unhappy without trying to fix it, you're not benefiting anyone, least of all yourself or your partner. There is a world of love out there, waiting for you to be a part of it.

Focus
Consider that we become aware by placing our attention on something. Before placing your attention on that thing, it didn't exist for you. Once you became aware of it, it's real and part of your consciousness on some level. By observing, you make things alive in your own universe. On the other hand, when you put less attention on something, it tends to disappear. Problems don't go away, no. But by focusing on the solution, you may find you get there quicker. Remaining focused on bad brings bad. Finding the positive incorporates it into your reality.

Is your life precisely what you wish it to be? If not, no matter the reason, you can still learn to control your attention, and thereby, learn to create it. Does that mean you can materialize something out of nothing? No. Awareness and action work hand in hand. But without the former, all the work in the world may prove useless.

Armed with greater awareness, you can be the change you wish to affect, in your own life and in the world at large.

Are you easily distracted? Do external circumstances dictate your mood and energy levels? Do you get so caught up in the details that you fail to see the bigger picture? When outside elements control the way you perceive things, it's time for a shift of attention!

The ability to control where you focus your attention allows you to create your environment. It's something we're all born with (although it's easy to forget!) - it gives us the energy to do work, finish projects and succeed in our endeavors big or small. By increasing your awareness to include the whole picture as well as the details (something that's not easy for everyone - we all tend to get caught up in our own personal minutiae) you enable yourself to react to situations with enough rationality to direct them toward your objectives.

Analyze this...
Awareness is influenced by our surroundings (and what we perceive that to mean as individuals). You can consider your environment to be your home, your neighborhood, your state, your country, the world and so on… But the more you're aware of, the broader your scope. The narrower your point of view, the smaller, and conversely, seemingly more important your thoughts are to you. But really, the opposite is true. If you're caught in your own head, stuck only on the details, small things seem bigger and more important than they are. This happens all the time because awareness can only include things we take the time to notice.

Perspective
But if you recognize that we're all connected, part of a universal energy wherein our individual highest good benefits the greater good, whether or not you had a bad hair day seems insignificant. Likewise, your concern over a rocky relationship lifts to reveal the real issue. If you stay in a situation where you're unhappy without trying to fix it, you're not benefiting anyone, least of all yourself or your partner. There is a world of love out there, waiting for you to be a part of it.

Focus
Consider that we become aware by placing our attention on something. Before placing your attention on that thing, it didn't exist for you. Once you became aware of it, it's real and part of your consciousness on some level. By observing, you make things alive in your own universe. On the other hand, when you put less attention on something, it tends to disappear. Problems don't go away, no. But by focusing on the solution, you may find you get there quicker. Remaining focused on bad brings bad. Finding the positive incorporates it into your reality.

Is your life precisely what you wish it to be? If not, no matter the reason, you can still learn to control your attention, and thereby, learn to create it. Does that mean you can materialize something out of nothing? No. Awareness and action work hand in hand. But without the former, all the work in the world may prove useless.

Armed with greater awareness, you can be the change you wish to affect, in your own life and in the world at large.

Dreams CAN Come True!

"All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them."
- Walt Disney

Today's TQ-Eliminate Distractions

Eliminate ALL Distractions -- of EVERY Nature...

Is Your Goal Slipping Out Of Grasp?

Anything that takes up your time, thoughts or energy without advancing your goal is a distraction. Get rid of distractions.

For everything you do today: If it's not part of the solution, it's a distraction.

"Be ready when opportunity comes. Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet."~ Roy D. Chapin Jr.

Today's Quest...
How much time have you spent today on things that have nothing to do with your goals?
How often do you allow distractions to extend your finish line?

Is anything keeping you from giving 100% of your attention to your tasks today?

_________________________________________________________________

Oops! I can tell you right now, I waste a lot of time on this here computer. Sometimes I use it to make new connections and get important info, but much of the time, I use it as a distraction.
Coach Sherrie

What Artists Need

Dear Sherrie,

Yesterday I took part in an advisory panel. This is where a couple of somewhat respected artists take a look, one artist at a time, at the work of up-and-comers. For each half-hour interview, my accomplice Janice Robertson and I were presented with three originals, digital assemblies of recent work, and the artists themselves to talk about their goals and aspirations. Many wanted to know if they were ready for galleries. Some were looking for higher status in some organization or were wondering about more workshops and seminars. Most were simply asking, "What do I do now?"

I've always been suspicious of advisory panels, but artists seem to want them and not all artists are masochists.

Over the afternoon and evening we looked at beginner wanderings, wild imaginings and remarkable, professional accomplishments.

Funnily, we advisors often found ourselves telling one artist to stop painting big and to move to smaller works, while others were told to give their small stuff more power by painting bigger. Some are advised to paint "looser," others "tighter." So it goes.

I'm not a believer in critically picking at works here and there. I rather like looking at artists' general direction and trying to see what they might wish to become. A few observations were clarified by yesterday's encounters:

Artists need to learn to be their own best critics.

Artists need to go to their rooms and hone their styles.

Artists need to fall in love with their own processes.

Artists need to march to their own drummers.

Artists need to constantly ask, "What could be?"

Almost all artists need to further sensitize themselves to their subject matter and their passions, as well as to the further possibilities of their chosen media. They need to think ahead and work their plans. They need to be impulsive and audacious. Artists need to be--artistic.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't." (Erica Jong) "In those days he was wiser than he is now--he used frequently to take my advice." (Winston Churchill)

Are You Really Committed to Your Goal?

Fully Commit to ACHIEVING Your Goal -- or Change It...

How Committed Are You?

The degree to which you are committed to a goal indicates the likelihood of your achieving it. Commitment -- sheer passion and will -- can help you overcome any deficiency in time, money or education.

The secret to success is simple. Never quit. Correct and improve always, but never quit.

"If you're climbing the ladder of life, you go rung by rung, one step at a time. Don't look too far up, set your goals high but take one step at a time. Sometimes you don't think you're progressing until you step back and see how high you've really gone."~ Donny Osmond

Today's Quest...
Have you determined what your goal is going to cost you?

Have you made the commitment yet, to do whatever is necessary and ethical to attain your goal?

Do you have the passion and commitment necessary to carry you forward, regardless of anything that may interfere?

Remembering Yourself

Remembering Yourself
Dust off an old hobby
by Martine Jeanne Craughley

You're busy. Stressed. Overbooked and often overlooked - even by yourself. How often do you do something for the pleasure of it? Growing up, you may have enjoyed painting, swimming, chess, or playing the piano.What happened to all those aspects of you? These are often only distant, sunny memories. Yet, you might be walking by your guitar, art supplies or running shoes a couple of times a day. It takes a shift to realize that these things won't spontaneously become part of your life again. If you're already tired, it seems counterintuitive, or actively repellent, to pull out sheet music and sit down on the piano bench, or to set up a canvas and brushes, or to pull on those sneakers.

Those who exercise regularly, know the indescribable lift that a short walk or run gives, especially on days when they didn't feel like it. For the rest of us, you'll have to test this out by trying it.

7 setps to the real you
Try these steps to get back into something about you that has been loved and lost. You'll be a much happier person for it...
1. Pick your favorite, long missed activity.
2. What do you need to get started? Perhaps sign up for lessons or get a piano tuner, or new paint and brushes, or new sneakers.
3. Make a schedule. How much time can you reasonably commit to this? You'll be amazed at how much difference a daily half hour makes over time. Then make a firm commitment to do this activity. You wouldn't cancel an appointment with your boss or a client, so why not treat yourself with the same respect?
4. Let a friend know what you're going to be doing, and ask them to follow up with you.
5. Keep a brief journal of how it felt the first seven times you did it. Keeping brief notes is important, so when you get busy again, the activity doesn't as easily fall to the wayside. We sometimes don't really acknowledge the effects of an activity on our mood. This step allows you to have a concrete record in your diary about these effects and then remain committed to giving this to yourself.
6. Once you've established a rhythm and a level of comfort, considering sharing this activity with others. Would a monthly painting group, swim team or running session make it more fun and help you maintain your motivation over the long haul?
7. Buy a biography of someone who was a master in the field - Michael Phelps, Frida Kahlo, Tiger Woods, Hillary Clinton. Reading about their commitment and struggles may put you in touch with the passion you both share.

Many times the people who live the most fully are those who've suffered the most loss, or even nearly lost their own lives. It's very easy for the rest of us to get caught up in meaningless rushing through life.
Remind yourself that life isn't endless. Choose to let yours be filled with activities and passion that give your life meaning. Now you can savor every possible moment.

Did You Learn the Lesson?

We should not feel embarrassed by our difficulties, only by our failure to grow anything beautiful from them.

—Alain de Botton

Positive Expectations

Achieve Greater Success by DOING TQ Attitude Factor 3d Today...

Maintain a Positive Expectation for Every Action You Take...

Are You Ready To Give Your Word?

You will increase your positive expectancy whenever promising to do whatever it takes to succeed. You can then expect to succeed, precisely because you promised yourself you would.

You'll succeed when you keep your promises -- especially the ones made to yourself.

"Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude."~ Timothy Bentley

Today's Quest...
Which things in your life are you expecting because you've promised them to yourself?

What one thing would you like to have that could be made more real with a personal promise?

For what are you willing to promise yourself today?

Today's TQ-Get Organized

Keep Your Work Area Well Organized...

Can You Find What You Need Right Away, Every Time?

By practicing "a place for everything and everything in its place," you'll know exactly where to find what you need .

An organized work area is an efficient work area. Know where everything belongs, and make sure you put it back when you're finished with it.

"There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."~ Aldous Huxley

Today's Quest...
Do you have a place for everything?

Are you keeping everything in its place today?

Can you always find what you need immediately?

Find Your Passion

How to Discover Your Passion
These five steps will help you find what you truly love to do.
BY: Debra Moorhead

What do you do with your free time? Are you so motivated with your life's tasks that you jump out of bed in the morning, eager to start your day? Does the word "task" have a negative connotation for you?

The happiest and most successful people on this planet are those with a sense of purpose, driven by their passions. But how does one go about discovering what she's passionate about?

I've read a lot on this topic over the past 20 years or so and I have a certain amount of personal life experience to back up what I’m about to say. So, without further ado, here is my step-by-step process of how to discover your passion.

1. Meditate. This might mean learning to meditate--it certainly did for me. The best way to get to know yourself, who You truly are, is to get quiet and listen to your inner being.

2. Observe your reactions. Take a week or so to examine and reflect on your reactions to the things around you such as television shows, newspapers, conversations, books you read, and any other stimuli that causes you to react in a passionate way. If you come across something that has been of interest to you for a long time, make a note of it.

3. Answer some questions. What are you really good at? What specific quality do you possess that others may not? Whom do you admire? Why? Who do you know that is doing something you would love to do? What's to keep you from doing it? How could you make this world a better place?

4. Analyze your surroundings. What collections do you have in your home? Do you collect old photographs? Do you have a green thumb? There are probably many clues in your very own home or room that will provide the insight you're looking for. We tend to hold on to things we love, so, what's in your closet?

5. Try it. You do not have to be certain about something before giving it a try. Once you get involved in something, you'll either want to stay with it and expand your knowledge, or you'll lose interest and move on to something else. Keep in mind that our passions change throughout life. We are constantly growing, expanding, and wanting more. Some passions remain the same for a long time, and some come and go on a fairly predictable basis.

For example, my husband's passion for dentistry has remained strong for over 40 years. Some gardeners get excited about their passion in the spring, but tire quickly as the weather warms up. Yet, every spring, they have a strong desire to plant something. It's all good, you just have to know yourself well enough to say, "Okay, since I only like gardening in the spring, I’ll plant strawberries. That way, the harvest is over before my enthusiasm wanes."



Then, of course, there are some passions that may last for a few months or years, and then fizzle. That's okay, too. Anything you attempt will get you closer to discovering your long-term passion. And I fully believe that for some people, their passion is constantly trying new things! I had a Life-coaching session with an incredible woman a few months ago who knew herself well enough to tell me, "I'm a starter. I like to start companies, get them up and running, then sell them." She's done that several times and it works for her. Her "problem" was figuring out what to do next!

When you find your passion, you find your reason for jumping out of bed in the morning.

When you get in alignment with your inner being, you will feel exhilarated and alive.

When your time is spent performing tasks related to something you are passionate about, you do no "work," and you have a sense of vitality that is wonderful beyond words.

So find your passion. The result is worth it. YOU are worth it.

Make It Happen

Work Your Plans Until You Succeed or Find a Better Way...

What Is Your Word Worth?

The secret to all power lies in this: Make it happen because you said so.

Be your word. Set a goal. Make a plan. Make it happen.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out..."~ Robert Collier

Today's Quest...
To which plans are you committed right now?

Are you committed to your plans' start times as well as their finish times?

What do you refuse to let get in your way today?

To Thine Own Self Be True

Be True to Yourself
5 simple steps to journal from the heart
by Martine Jeanne Craughley

We're taught to be unfailingly nice, to be charmingly self-deprecating, to steel our smiles and not let our tears (or fears) show. But these social graces, little by little, turn us away from our truth. Eventually, it's not uncommon to end up being unsure of what we really, truly think - especially in public, at a party or at work.

Feelings are the best barometers for your internal truths.You know when you've strayed far from your true self when you're constantly angry, struggling or depressed. Remember the last time you ran into your ex? Rather than bursting into tears, or heaving something at their head you probably stood tall, smiled brightly and laughed just a bit louder. Suffering? Not you, as anyone could see.

But these self-protective social acts can silence the quiet, tiny voice inside that speaks our deepest truth - the truth of who we really are and who we want to be. How do you recover the sensitivity to hear your very still, very personal truth? A very powerful method of self therapy (to assist in getting in touch with your core) is journaling.

When you allow your mind the total freedom to just write, thoughts and feelings you didn't even know existed will therapeutically pour out of you. Whether written in mirror image cursive so no one else could read it, a la Leonardo da Vinci, or written to keep their spirits up during times of fear like Anne Frank, or used to connect when feeling all alone like Kurt Cobain, scores of notable people throughout history have kept journals. Below are five simple steps you can take to make the most out of journaling.

Buy an attractive journal and find a place where it will remain private, for your eyes only.

Make a "dump run." As fast as you can, write down everything that's bothering, troubling, worrying or obsessing you. Free flowing, stream of consciousness writing will let loose feelings you didn't know you had!

Choose one item from the list to work with. Let's say it's, "My boss hates me." First, ask if it is really true. Is there a deeper truth lying underneath this statement? For example, "Really, it's that my boss hates that my work is late." Then, keep digging, "Why is my work late?" Initially, you'll get superficial excuses, like "They always pile work on me, and it's not fair." Keep writing and you'll get to something buried like, "My Mom wanted me to be a bookkeeper so I'd be financially secure, and so did I, for a while. Now I'm bored stiff. I'm turning things in late because I hate my job." Now, the root truth is laid bare, it just had to be dug out. Often, as you trace an issue down to a truth, you'll start with what you think and then get closer and closer to what you feel.

Next, you can write about causes and actions. How did you get here? Where do you want to go from here?

Reflection. Now that you have laid all of your thoughts and feelings out before your eyes, read what's there and analyze what you see. What are your patterns of thought? How can you change any negative recurring issues? Ideally, if you keep journaling on a somewhat regular basis, you will be able to measure your progress and see how far you've come. Plus, something that may be bothering you right now may not seem so bad in the future - maybe in a few weeks you'll read what you've written and have a good laugh!

Being in tune with your heart often gives you the courage to realize your dreams. It's easy to put off change when you've convinced yourself it's not important, but once you've openly gazed at your heart's desire, the truth is undeniable. It's possible that you may uncover obstacles to your dreams that seem impossible to resolve.

We're taught to be unfailingly nice, to be charmingly self-deprecating, to steel our smiles and not let our tears (or fears) show. But these social graces, little by little, turn us away from our truth. Eventually, it's not uncommon to end up being unsure of what we really, truly think - especially in public, at a party or at work.


Feelings are the best barometers for your internal truths.You know when you've strayed far from your true self when you're constantly angry, struggling or depressed. Remember the last time you ran into your ex? Rather than bursting into tears, or heaving something at their head you probably stood tall, smiled brightly and laughed just a bit louder. Suffering? Not you, as anyone could see.

Are you feeling underappreciated? But these self-protective social acts can silence the quiet, tiny voice inside that speaks our deepest truth - the truth of who we really are and who we want to be. How do you recover the sensitivity to hear your very still, very personal truth? A very powerful method of self therapy (to assist in getting in touch with your core) is journaling.

When you allow your mind the total freedom to just write, thoughts and feelings you didn't even know existed will therapeutically pour out of you. Whether written in mirror image cursive so no one else could read it, a la Leonardo da Vinci, or written to keep their spirits up during times of fear like Anne Frank, or used to connect when feeling all alone like Kurt Cobain, scores of notable people throughout history have kept journals. Below are five simple steps you can take to make the most out of journaling.

Buy an attractive journal and find a place where it will remain private, for your eyes only.

Make a "dump run." As fast as you can, write down everything that's bothering, troubling, worrying or obsessing you. Free flowing, stream of consciousness writing will let loose feelings you didn't know you had!

Choose one item from the list to work with. Let's say it's, "My boss hates me." First, ask if it is really true. Is there a deeper truth lying underneath this statement? For example, "Really, it's that my boss hates that my work is late." Then, keep digging, "Why is my work late?" Initially, you'll get superficial excuses, like "They always pile work on me, and it's not fair." Keep writing and you'll get to something buried like, "My Mom wanted me to be a bookkeeper so I'd be financially secure, and so did I, for a while. Now I'm bored stiff. I'm turning things in late because I hate my job." Now, the root truth is laid bare, it just had to be dug out. Often, as you trace an issue down to a truth, you'll start with what you think and then get closer and closer to what you feel.

Next, you can write about causes and actions. How did you get here? Where do you want to go from here?

Reflection. Now that you have laid all of your thoughts and feelings out before your eyes, read what's there and analyze what you see. What are your patterns of thought? How can you change any negative recurring issues? Ideally, if you keep journaling on a somewhat regular basis, you will be able to measure your progress and see how far you've come. Plus, something that may be bothering you right now may not seem so bad in the future - maybe in a few weeks you'll read what you've written and have a good laugh!

Being in tune with your heart often gives you the courage to realize your dreams. It's easy to put off change when you've convinced yourself it's not important, but once you've openly gazed at your heart's desire, the truth is undeniable. It's possible that you may uncover obstacles to your dreams that seem impossible to resolve.

TQ Hints-Vision or Fantasy?

Convert ALL Dreams Into Hard Targets with Specific Milestones...

Do You Have A Clear Vision For Your Life,
Or Is It Just A Fantasy?

There's a difference between a vision and a fantasy. A vision is highly detailed and has specific goals for its accomplishment. A fantasy is anything else.

Your vision is as real as you make it -- no more, no less. Honor your vision by specifying the details and objectives required to make it happen.

"In life, as in football, you won't go far unless you know where the goalposts are."~ Arnold H. Glasgow

Today's Quest...
What's your vision? Is it detailed and specific? How? _________________________________

What details are missing from your vision right now? _________________________________

How often are you just fantasizing, as opposed to creating specific goals in a straight line to your vision?

Today's TQ-Do More By Doing Less

Find New Ways To Do MORE By Doing LESS...

Have You Installed Preventive Maintenance Into Your Systems?

Constantly improve your systems. Take time when things are going smoothly to review your systems, equipment and processes. Look for additional options and better alternatives to improve what you already have. It's always better to choose a change rather than to be forced into making one.

An hour spent improving your systems today will save days of downtime later.

"Time = Life, Therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life."~ Alan Lakein

The Secret

O.K., I'm going to try to make this as simple as possible.
Basically, the secret, as told in the movie, is the Law of Attraction.
What that means is that what we think and feel is what becomes present
in our life. In other words: We are what we think (and feel)!
I think for me, the difficulty has been with the "feeling" part of
this law. I have changed my thoughts and eventually, your thoughts will
change your actions and what is happening around you. BUT I think the key
for me (and others) is that our thoughts and feeling don't always match up.
So, I need to work on having not only more positive thoughts, but more
positive feelings as well.
I know I CAN DO this! I know you can do it too!

More from "ThinkTQ.com"

Your TQ Challenge for Wednesday, February 4, 2009: Work Smarter ~ Not Harder by DOING TQ Optimize Factor 9j Today...

Keep Your Time Log Current...

Where Are You Spinning Your Wheels?

If you think you may be wasting time, try keeping a time log. Once you know where your time is wasted, you can start working to get it back.

To make every hour payoff, find out exactly where you are spending each of your minutes.

"We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up in the morning."~ Henry Ward Beecher

Today's Quest...
How can you make every minute count if you don't know where it's going? _________________________________

Do you have any idea how much time you waste in a day? _________________________________

What would you do with any new time you found?

Mind Over Matter

Brain Therapy: Putting Mind Over Matter

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."
-Napoleon Hill

From "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield:

[T]he mind is such a powerful instrument, it can deliver to you literally anything you want. But you have to believe that what you want is possible.

Scientists used to believe that humans responded to information flowing into the brain from the outside world. But today, they're learning instead that we respond to what the brain, on the basis of previous experience, expects to happen next.
Doctors in Texas, for example-studying the effects of arthroscopic knee surgery-assigned patients with sore, worn-out knees to one of three surgical procedures: scraping out the knee joint, washing out the joint, or doing nothing.

During the "nothing" operation, doctors anesthetized the patient, made three incisions in the knee as if to insert their surgical instruments, and then pretended to operate. Two years after surgery, patients who underwent the pretend surgery reported the same amount of relief from pain and swelling as those who had received the actual treatment. The brain expected the "surgery" to improve the knee, and it did.

Why does the brain work this way? Neuropyschologist who study expectancy theory say it's because we spend our whole lives becoming conditioned. Through a lifetime's worth of events, our brain actually learns what to expect next-whether it actually happens that way or not. And because our brain expects something will happen a certain way, we often achieve exactly what we anticipate.

This is why it's so important to hold positive expectations in your mind. When you replace your old negative expectations with more positive ones-when you begin to believe that what you want is possible-your brain will actually take over the job of accomplishing that possibility for you. Better than that, your brain will actually expect to achieve that outcome.

Wieder's Formula to Achieve Your Dreams

Marcia Wieder is the dream coach of Americas #1 Success Coach - Jack Canfield. She believes that every person on the planet is a mere 10 steps away from achieving even their wildest dreams. Marcia goes into detail about the following ten step formula in a free exclusive interview for FinerMinds readers.

10-Step Formula to achieve your dreams from Marcia Wieder.
1. Set An Intention - Objective: To understand the power and importance of intention and for you to set an intention such as find a new job or career, or get a promotion.

2. Maintain Integrity - Objective: To learn how to live with integrity by removing incomplete actions and keeping agreements with yourself and others. It is essential that you remove or clear up anything from your past that might be in the way of you having what you want.

3. Live On Purpose - Objective: To understand the meaning and importance of purpose in order to live more aligned with your purpose. Dreams without purpose, even a job without aligning to your purpose, can be unfulfilling. We can take steps to avoid this.

4. Access Your Dreamer - Objective: To create a dynamic relationship with the Dreamer inside of you, and a dream you are passionate about. No matter how realistic you may be, there is a part of you that knows what will make you happy and what you want.

5. Learn From Your Doubter - Objective: To create a powerful and dynamic relationship with the Doubter inside of you, and to learn from the lessons this part of you offers. Left unattended, this is part of us that often sabotages our dreams. This does not need to happen.

6. Believe In Your Dreams - Objective: To create a belief as a solid foundation for making your dreams come true. If you don’t believe in yourself or your dream, no one else will either. This is a life-changing step.

7. Create Personal Practices - Objective: To learn to use all of life’s lessons as powerful tools, and to create daily practices to deepen what you learn. In this work, we look at what happened and what you learned and design practices for strengthening your Achilles heel.

8. Take Serious Steps Forward - Objective: To plan the essential action steps to insure that your dreams come true. In the end, it all comes down to taking action and the practical steps for making your dream real.

9. Building Your Dream Team - Objective: To be able to ask for help, making your dream more easily attainable. There are resources that you know and do not know who can open doors and make your life easier. Learn essential skills for asking and getting help

10. Live As A Dreamer - Objective: The objective is simple, to create a dream come true life. Once you are clear about your purpose, dreams and resources, you can look at all areas of your life and decide what you want. This process works on any dream.

*Marcia Wieder has over twenty years coaching, training and speaking experience, her inspiring message, style and wit has touched audiences from 50-5000 at companies such as AT&T, The Gap and American Express. Whether teaching at the Stanford Business School, speaking to executives in China, or addressing young women at Girl Scout Camp, her riveting style impacts audiences world-wide. She is the personal Dream Coach to Jack Canfield, starring in a new film with Bob Proctor and has coached many other famous people.

As past president of the National Association of Women Business Owners, she was often in the White House where she met former U.S. presidents, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and George Bush Sr.

Play!

Find Your Inner Child--and Play!
You're never too old to become younger.
-Mae West


From "It's Better to Be Over the Hill Than Under It: Thoughts on Life Over Sixty" by Eda LeShan:

I felt such a mixture of joy and pain, as I rode my [carousel] horse, round and round, exhilarated, delighted - playful. The joys of the past, the difficulties of the day, all meshed - a little girl allowing the real world to recede for something far more important and refreshing than sitting at my desk.
What happens, when I remember it is time for a carousel ride, is that when I become playful, the child inside me is allowed out for recess. A carousel makes me feel four years old again, and I am convinced that the only way to be creative and constructive in our adult years - especially the later ones - is to get back in touch with the child we once were.

It doesn't have to be a carousel for everyone. It might be fishing or a picnic or a game of miniature golf or going to a circus or anything else that takes us back in time and grants us a special, childlike freedom in which we accept all our thoughts and memories, sad and happy - and most of all, frees us from our grownup selves....

When we are tired or sad or truly grief-stricken over some terrible loss or find it impossible to do what we have to do, it is time to be playful, to comfort the inner child, to respect our need for nurturing. Find the place that can bring you to the lovely, special inner self that is with you from birth to death. It is the source of all creativity and of feeling most alive.

I Got Some Work To Do

Reject Mediocrity by DOING TQ Energy Factor 1c Today...

Exercise Daily -- Yes Yet Today...

Want To Go The Extra Mile?

People who exercise regularly sustain higher energy levels and stay alert longer. Moderate exercise at a time when you're feeling sluggish increases the total time you'll be alert and productive with your work, family and friends.

Rx: To maintain a high energy level, take moderate physical activity three times a day with healthful meals.

"The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before."~ Steve Young

Today's Quest...
During an average 24-hour day, when do you feel the least like doing anything? _________________________________

What else could you accomplish if you were able to maintain peak energy level for all 1000 minutes? _________________________________

If 15 minutes of exercise would buy you 2 hours of additional productive time, wouldn't that be a worthwhile investment?

Make Your Home a Place to Manifest

Make Your Home a Sacred Space
A place to manifest
by M. McMahon
Your home is more than just an address. It's a breathing, living spiritual cove where it is your choice to create harmony or leave it in a state of unease. If you create a home that will comfort and sustain you in your busy life - a place that gives you peace in your heart - that energy will extend to the world around you and attract likeminded souls (and soulmates!).
How is your home doing today?
When you enter it, do you feel relieved or tense? If you are not walking into well-being when you walk into your home, that's okay. Be gentle with yourself. Write a list of things - achievable things - that you would like to change. Perhaps you would like to paint a wall or de-clutter a closet. When you have listed everything out, don't rush to do it all at once. You will get through the list in time. Let your mind relax and enjoy the journey. Think of your home as constantly evolving and improving to reflect who you really are (or who you are striving to be
Make an altar just for you.
Pick a spot in your home to build an altar. What are your hopes and dreams? Is there a part of you that has not been honored in your life so far? Allow objects to present themselves to you. Whatever you are drawn to is the right thing. Allow your personal altar to take shape in time. As something comes to you, place it in your special corner, hallway, bay window or top of a dresser. Perhaps you gravitate towards a brightly colored vase because you are an artist or a beautiful leaf you picked up on a hike. It can be a postcard from your travels (or someone else's), matches from a favorite restaurant or romantic night out, a mini Buddha or sculpture. Whatever objects make sense to you, they are the right ones. Make sure you have at least one candle and a place for incense.
A time to reflect
Give yourself time each day to look at, pick up, and hold these objects that symbolize your past, hopes and desires. Light your candle and incense to create sacred energy from your reflections. Sit quietly and allow your inner harmony with these objects to radiate through you so you can carry this harmony throughout your entire home.
Think bigger
As you allow small objects to create sacred energy, you open yourself up to receive bigger ones for your home. Allow your inner peace to guide you toward transforming all of your surroundings piece by piece to a space that puts you, and those who enter it, at ease. Give yourself the gift of creating a home that brings you to peace each time you enter it. Reduce stimulation and clutter. Bring in colors that you like and objects that are useful and aesthetically pleasing. Take a few things off the wall if there is too much or hang one piece of art that inspires you. Think about objects that represent violence and consider if you really want to keep them out
Remember, opening up your home is a gradual evolution. If you continue to be mindful of it as a sacred space where you align yourself with the universe and all the good intentions therein, you're on your way.
Unearth your values with a guide and allow our gifted psychics to open you up to all the good things your home can hold. By honoring the inner you, you will transform yourself and your home.

Time to Take a Break?

The Inner Wisdom of Sleep

For two winters I watered and fertilized the plants in my house, expecting them to perform in the winter months as they did in the summer months. I kept wondering why they drooped and turned brown instead of bursting with color and texture. It never dawned on me that just as I cut back on my water intake during the winter, likewise the plants in my house could do without a lot of internal excitement. It took nearly killing all of them for me to experience an epiphany of sorts. My potted friends were teaching me that it's alright sometimes to slow down, to stifle the stimulation, to rest. Sometimes the best course of action is to do nothing. That's right. Sleep on it. Rest. Lie low. Cool it. Chill out. The heightened pace of U.S. life gets much of the blame for the inability of many people to take extended periods of rest, vacation, relaxation, and forced sloth. Research shows that sleep-deprived individuals often have difficulty in responding to rapidly changing situations and making rational judgments. Sleep on it because it's usually during sleep that bits and pieces of your deeper wisdom and truer feelings have an opportunity through your dreams to surface and speak their mind.

Finally, you can't access your inner wisdom if you're constantly exhausted and always in motion. Sleep rejuvenates the mind, body, and spirit, and sometimes the best defense is a great offense: rest and take care of yourself so that when the time comes to deal with the decision you have to make and stand by, you'll have the strength that you need. In the meantime, lie back and let the wisdom of sleep do its work.

When was the last time you took an extended vacation? Sloughed off and did nothing for an entire weekend? Stayed in bed all day and slept, read a book, or watched movies on the television? Could it be that the reason you're having such troubles going within and tapping the resources there is because you're exhausted, overworked and perpetually in motion? What will it take for you to slow down and rest?

--Renita Weems