Tag: PoWordful

Freedom To Choose

I know from experience that it’s not easy to be content with your circumstances. In a job, that you feel that your skills are not being utilised. In a relationship or friendship where you’re taken for granted. I’ve been there and ‘worn the tee-shirts’. I had to be patient with myself, l had to have a strong mind to find contentment in my circumstances.

Then suddenly out of the blue my circumstances began to change. In the mist of chaos, things can and do change. Life can improve dramatically. I wasn’t acting proud in the mist of my circumstances, rather, l had to learn to be content until things were able to change. Sometimes we are placed in circumstances to see if our deepest inner most attitudes would change.

 

WHY IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE JOB

Just recently l was in conversation with someone that had been working in the same organisation for 15 years, and had been offered a new job in another. He mentioned the reason for the change was that ‘it was time to change the job’, and that he was ‘no longer enjoying the role’. I was delighted for him as the move would have meant a change for him, his family, friends and even his colleagues.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR JOB?

You know when you have outgrown your job because you are at the point of moaning and complaining continuously about it. The drive and enthusiasm is no longer there. Whilst you continue to moan about it, that negative energy affects your family and friends, irritates your colleagues as they too are tired of hearing you whining. It may get to the stage where your colleagues either try as much as possible to avoid conversations to do with work, or find ways of totally blocking out your continuous whining. What constant whiners do is to try to make you feel their frustration, in the hope that you will help them in doing something about it. We all have to tend to our own overgrown lawns eventually, only that some of us may not be quite ready yet, so therefore able to put-up with it a lot longer. It is time for change!

WHEN THE WHINING CONTINUES

Then you get home and the whining continues. Your complaining about the job, your colleagues, the travelling, how stressed you are. You may not even realise that you are constantly complaining about anything and everything. When we are unhappy it is those that are closest to us that bear the brunt of our frustration. You get easily irritated, angry, sulking, short tempered. This is all about your dissatisfaction and not anyone else’s. It’s time for change!

WHEN THE ‘SELL-BY-DATE’ HAS EXPIRED

When you have exceeded your ‘sell-by-date’. Somewhere during the time, you took the job until now, you probably set yourself some personal goals and targets to meet. One of them may have been to only stay for a period of time. You have now exceeded that period, you are still there, and worse still no longer enjoying it. It is time for change!

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

When the question ‘what’s in it for me’ mind-set arises – it is time for change. When you initially started the job you had an enthused mind-set – one that was eager to learn etc. The ‘what’s in it for me’ attitude has developed because the role no longer fits or serves your needs – you have outgrown a job that once appealed to you. When you are given tasks to complete you may find yourself scrutinising it to find out ‘what’s in it for you’. If there is nothing there any longer for you, there may well be for someone else in the role. It is time for change!

‘SHRINKING TO FIT’

When you are ‘shrinking to fit’ in your career, you are likely to be ‘shrinking’ in other aspects of your life too. We all have to make adaptations in our lives that enables growth, otherwise, we become static or feel trapped. The stimulus related to the job is now dissipated. If there are no other opportunities within the organisation, it is those that are brave enough that will make the change and leave. It’s time for change!

Change is an individual choice which when prolonged will inevitably affect other aspects of your life. Change is a positive development pushing you beyond your ‘comfort zone’.

So you can now understand the depth of my enthusiasm that he had got a new job.

 

NO PAIN NO GAIN

If you ever want to improve on something, you need to work at it. There is no easy way through life without ever having to put our soul into doing, into applying, into practising – those very things that promotes a ‘growth mindset’ and ‘conscious leadership’.

It is not enough to just read e.g. quotes, inspirational or motivational books, attend inspiring seminars etc., without having to apply those underlying principles. I am referring to some basic underlying principles such as ACCEPTANCE, GRATITUDE and HUMILITY. Those principles that govern how we live our lives on a deeper and more meaningful level. These principles that strengths your learning, your practice, and enables you to take responsibility for your actions (rather than blaming others).

The results are evident in the application – taking some form of action (in doing), otherwise things remain the same. If they do change, it may just be on a superficial level. Those principles have in many cases been tried and tested by yourself (without being fully conscious), and others that you respect and admire.

The challenges which we face are in the application of those fundamental principles (apparent in our materialistic world), which are difficult to live by let alone practise. That is our real test!

 

EVERY LITTLE HELPS

‘Every little helps’ happens to be a large retailer’s strap-line. How very true it is when we look at the spiritual aspects of these simple words in helping us in tackling our more complex challenges. Those very words have taught me to take things one-step at a time. Also, that the storms of life does get better, based on those little things that we choose to do each day. Whenever we shift our focus even for a few seconds on something that lightens our anxiety, could be all we need in helping us to make the necessary adjustments.  

Smiling
I make every effort to smile. I am not talking about faking a smile, because people can tell the difference when it is a fake smile by your facial expression, as well as your vibrations or energy too. Smiling makes me feel good, and equally expands the vibrations of my positive energy to others. Whenever you smile, you are lifting someone else’s mood by sharing and spreading your seed of light. 

Greeting
A genuine greeting along with a smile is so uplifting for the giver and receiver. It makes the heart smile. I look forward to my weekly exchange of greetings and waves with our local Refuse Collectors. I exchange greetings with the Milkman each time we meet, and occasions will stop for a brief chat. I exchange greetings with Parents and their Children on their way to school.  What a fabulous way to start the day!

Praise 
I will give praise when it is necessary, without any expectations. No hidden agenda! Praising others is encouraging, enabling you and others to grow in spirit and love even more. So be kind! Be encouraging!

Gratitude
In showing my gratitude – deep gratitude and not just lip service, when someone does anything for me.  On occasions, I would even go to the extent of expressing my heartfelt gratitude with a hug. It is my way of expressing thanks, love and respect.

These 4 simple though powerful steps, requires a certain attitude towards yourself and others. One which is open, non-judgemental and without pre-existing assumptions about others. Rather much like the slogan, adds value, quality and service. ‘Every little helps’, when practised regularly creates a life of love and light for you and others. Upon everything, it makes you feel good.