July 2017 Newsletter

Hello, and a lovely lazy July to you!
Welcome, or welcome back, to my newsletter. The photo above is the earliest one I have of myself. It makes me laugh because while my Mom is holding me proudly, I'm looking apprehensively down at the floor, maybe afraid I'll fall. July is my birthday month, and always feels like a fresh start. So if your New Year's resolution hasn't held up, renew it, for the 2nd half of the year! No time like the present to start again.

Today's issue has an article about how a fresh approach to that same old problem might help you finally move forward. Enjoy!

Albert Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. Does this describe a situation in your life? Maybe you've had that same argument with a relative for years. Or you've struggled with various fitness programs, or money management plans, and you feel like you're either completely stuck, or things are getting worse! Clearly it's time for something different, but what? First, is it possible to give up the struggle? Maybe you don't have to see that annoying relative at all, or can keep your conversation to a minimum if you happen to attend the same family function. If you hate going to the gym with the chattering people (and you feel they're all judging you for your imperfect body), don't go! You can now look for another fitness option which suits you better, which might be working out at home, then going for regular brisk walks with a friend.

By "give up the struggle", I don't mean give up the goal. If what you've done so far isn't helping you make progress, it might be time to consult an expert in the field. Maybe you just need some education in debt management, or healthy eating, or relationship skills. There's no shame in admitting you don't know something you "should", even if few other people around you seem to have difficulty with it. We're all unique, and many of us had gaps in our life training. The only real shame is in not reaching for help if you need it.

Sometimes the problem is that we're too hard on ourselves. If you recently gave up cigarettes (good for you!), then deeply inhaled a friend's smoke at a party like it was the scent of roses, instead of beating yourself up for "failing", let it go! And maybe you could be a good example for your smoker friend, who is probably jealous of you. If you vowed to go to the gym every day before work and missed a day, so what? How many people never go at all? I get a lot more mileage from praising myself for what I did do, even if I wasn't perfect at it, than I do from criticizing myself. Plus it feels a lot better! Maybe you read that and thought "I'm not pushing myself enough!". I think we've all been pushed plenty, by well-meaning parents and teachers and social norms and the media, and eventually by ourselves. If you really want to do something, you don't have to be pushed to do it -- it's fun! So how can you make what you want to do more fun? Be creative here. Can you add music, or the company of a playful child, to the activity?

When I was younger my habit was to set a goal, learn as much as I could about how to achieve it, then dive in, pushing and striving. I thought not trying as hard as I could was being lazy! Now I prefer to set the goal, then feel it pulling me forward, at a pace that's both comfortable and productive. Keep your focus on that goal, then just keep moving forward, while you imagine yourself successful. You'll be there before you know it. Then you'll enjoy setting the next goal, and have fun starting out toward that.

To read about how I changed my approach to visual blur, click here.

Have you wondered if my work could help you?
I'm now offering complimentary Discovery Sessions of 20 to 30 minutes, for us to discuss what you're looking for in a coach, and to decide whether you and I feel like a fit. To schedule your Discovery Session, click here.

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Please send me your questions and comments
Let me know what you've wondered about concerning energy medicine or vision or dreams. I'll be glad to write a short article addressing that topic. Thank you to those who have sent me questions, or see a question you asked me in a private session written about here. You're helping many other people! Enjoy the first part of your July. I'll write again in a couple of weeks. Take care!