Archive for clarity
In the Absence of Complete Clarity
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Do you find yourself in the absence of “complete” clarity. I’m right there with you because in this season of my life, there’s a lot in flux in both my personal life and business. I have a sense of where these shifts will take me and I’m moving forward in action in new and positive ways.
At the same time, I find myself challenged by the lack of “crystal clear clarity” that “us coaches” support our clients to discover. Perhaps you’re like me, finding your schedule jam packed, having little margin, and new opportunities coming to you at warp speed.
Here are some of the realizations I’ve had over the past few weeks:
Strengths taken to an extreme become a weakness. My can-do attitude has resulted in me saying “yes” too often. Don’t get me wrong; I am saying “yes” to good things that honor my values, strengths and vision. The end result however, is that my quiet time has been impacted and the quality of my personal relationships is being affected. What about you? What strengths have become weaknesses in your life?
The “good” can crowd out those things that are “best”. When you receive an opportunity that appears aligned with your strengths, talents, values, vision, etc. pause before saying yes. Evaluate whether the opportunity is “good”, “better” or “best”, and choose accordingly.
Replenish on a grand scale so you can continue to give to others in a big way. You must renew and replenish to the same degree you are giving to have increase your impact, influence and results. To be in service from a “full” tank you need to take care of yourself. This isn’t selfish; it’s a fact of life!
So now what?
Reduce your screen time—my daughter’s pediatrician told me that she should have no more than 2 hours of TV, Computer, and Electronic Games a day. Hmmm, I wonder what that means for us adults. For me, this means that I must turn off the computer when I leave my office daily.
Aim for an earlier bedtime—what bed time allows you to wake up being your best self? I have found a time that allows me to wake up refreshed and every time I “push it”, my morning is challenged.
Radically reduce your multi-tasking—you can’t send an e-mail, put a load of laundry in the machine, talk on the phone and be present all at the same time. Keep the main priority your focus and be real about how many activities you can handle at any given time.
Here’s the truth in all of this. You need to shield yourself from the busyness to hear what your body, soul and spirit are saying. External noise and excessive activity interferes with your ability to hear the still small whispers within that will give you the “complete” clarity you need.
What do you think? I welcome your feedback and comments.

Slow Down and Breathe
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On your mark, get set, GO! It’s off to the races, go, go, go…Come on get going, now! Can you feel the shallow breathing, the quickness of your pace, and your thoughts being consumed with “what’s next?” It’s almost suffocating, isn’t it?
Thanks to blog read Lisa Lauffer for her inspiration as she shared that tip #27 from the Quick Tips for Daily Living blog post has encouraged her to “slow down”!
Here’s what Lisa had to say:
“I felt led lately to follow #27–sloooowwww doooowwwwwnnnnn. I mean really–what’s the hurry? Why am I trying to get through everything and get everywhere so darn fast? Aren’t I doing all these things so I can enjoy the journey of life? This single one-liner has led me to take many a deep breath and sink into my experiences, so that even if I’m scraping dried food off my countertop with my fingernail, I’m really engaged with that activity! And I’m loads more engaged with my kids. Life feels fuller, and I close my eyes at the end of the day with much more satisfaction.”
Ahhh, breathe into that?! Feel the spaciousness and life that comes with slowing down and breathing.
I want to invite you to slow down for a minute right now and breathe fully. And by the way, it doesn’t take any extra time for those of you with with an already full day!
As you breathe, contemplate the following questions:
- What do you notice around you? Become present to your surroundings.
- What’s going on in you? Check-in with your thoughts, your body, your heart to become conscious right now.
- What’s the wisdom from slowing down and breathing? Make a choice right now that will allow you to engage completely with today’s journey.
I’d love to hear the impact this has on you. Share your comments below. And keep breathing!

Quick Tips for Daily Living
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Remember when you were a kid and there was that Magic “8″ ball toy that you’d ask a question, and when you turned it over you’d find your answer. Do you ever wish you had something like that to give you answers now?
What do you use for step-by-step instruction in those moments when you are feeling scattered, overwhelmed or unclear?
Today’s “Quick Tips for Daily Living” are powerful “one-liners” that you can refer back to when you just need someone to give you the answer. It’s your “press here” when you need to know what to do next! I’m not sure who to credit for the following list because the author was unknown in the e-mail I received from a friend. I do hope these little doses of wisdom give you exactly what you need in those moments when you just need to know what to do next!
- Pray.
- Go to bed on time. Get enough rest.
- Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
- Say “no” to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
- Delegate tasks to capable others.
- Simplify and unclutter your life.
- Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
- Allow extra time to do things and get to places.
- Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult problems over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
- Take one day at a time.
- Separate worries from concerns.
- Live within your budget.
- Have back-ups; an extra car key in your wallet, extra stamps, etc.
- K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
- Do something for the Kid in YOU everyday.
- Eat healthy.
- Get organized so everything has a place.
- Listen to a tape while driving that can improve your quality of life.
- Write down thoughts and inspirations to read when you need them again.
- Every day, find some time to be alone.
- Laugh! and laugh some more!
- Take your work seriously, not yourself at all.
- Develop a forgiving attitude.
- Sit on your ego.
- Be kind to unkind people; they probably need it the most.
- Talk less; listen more.
- Slow down.
- Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
- Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.
- Love yourself.
Would love to hear which of these speak to you. What tip will you use today? Post your comments below!











