Keep it Small & You Will Shine

It's that time again - New Year's Eve.  It's a time when we sit back and say "I need to change something"; "I need do something about ......"; "I really should......." etc.

I know that you're thinking about changes for the new year because I am too! Changes that will have a positive impact on your life and ultimately, make you feel better, healthier, and happier.  Yes, I want to make those changes and so do you.

The question is how do we make our changes last longer than a day, a week or a month?  How do we make it a true "lifestyle" change?  One that will have impact and we'll be able to actually celebrate?

Here Are the 3 K.I.S. Tips for Success:

Keep Your Changes Small - smaller - smallest

I want to lead a more active life - yes, I do.  But just saying that makes me feel a little stressed.  What does that mean?  How will I measure my success?

In order to succeed, I'm going to make my target small - smaller - smallest:

• I will take a leisurely walk on three mornings each week; or
• I will choose one night a week and make it a tv-free night; or
• I will commit to having a meat-free meal once a week; or
• I will choose to set the table and eat a proper sit-down meal at least one night each week; or
• I will only eat potato chips on Saturday nights while I'm watching the hockey game!

Now I can celebrate my accomplishments.  Much nicer than feeling horrible that I haven't accomplished this huge, unmanageable goal and then quitting.

Tell Your Truth

Stop lying to yourself!  Be honest and tell yourself the truth about what you will and won't do.

I did this exercise and now I'm completely comfortable knowing that I will never set foot in a gym - yuck; I will never completely stop eating junk food but I can accept only eating chips on Saturday.  What a treat to look forward to!

Be crazy honest with yourself.  If you want to change something about your life, what are you willing to do and what aren't you prepared to do.

Now, breathe a sigh of relief because you are on your way to success, honestly!

Allow Flexibility

Be flexible!  Flexibility lets you bend a little.  When you are flexible and you can bend, you won't snap and break your promise to yourself.

Let's say I wake-up on one of my leisurely walk days and it's raining cats and dogs.  I have two choices:

1. go out in the rain, get soaked and cold, be miserable, not joyous and feeling good about myself; or
2. Choose Flexibility - I will stay home today and walk tomorrow and I'm okay with my choice.

Choosing to be flexible will inspire me to keep going.  

Think about your goal 

Make it small - smaller - smallest

Tell Yourself the Truth 

Be flexible - bending so you won't break

You've got this!  

Happy New Year.

About Susan Ball:  Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people discover and live their ideal life through NLP, Mindfulness, and G.R.A.C.E.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

Turn Off Your Phone and Be Present Now in the Moment

People want to engage with you and see your smile, listen to your words.

Nature wants to seen and be fully appreciated.  Nature is waiting to be discovered in all its amazing glory.

How can you possibly engage and communicate with real people if you're neck is bent toward the ground and your eyes are focused on your phone?  How can you connect with nature and her magnificence if your eyes are riveted to your phone?

I recently conducted a successful workshop on the topic of "Mindfulness and Connection".  Participants were asked to leave their cell phones at home....period.  I had anxious callers telling me how they couldn't do that because they were expecting a very important phone call from someone.  To each special request I simply replied leave your cell phone at home....period!

All the participants who attended complied and were pleasantly surprised to discover that their stress level was significantly reduced.  They were relaxed and enjoyed the conversation and looked forward to our next group chat.

There was a time not so long ago that your phone was connected to the wall in your house.  If you went out with your friends, family or just for a walk, your phone stayed at home!

You were free to simply enjoy the moment, the activity, and the people.

Action Steps to Live Phone Free 

Leave your phone at home, in the car, or the office for 15 minutes each day.

Meet up with family, friends or take a walk in the park.  Focus on the moment, what's happening right now.  Breath and relax.  Be present in your life.

After 7 days, increase the amount of time you leave your phone behind.

Remember - when the phone was attached to the wall, you survived, business carried on, family crises happened, your kids arrived at their destination, and anyone and everyone was free to leave a message.  You would get back to them at your leisure.

Disconnect and Kick the Phone Habit - you will be a new person in a very short time and you will look forward to your "no-phone time".

About Susan Ball

Susan inspires her clients to live the life of their dreams with passion, joy, and love. Susan is an experienced international Life Coach helping people discover and live their ideal life through NLP, Mindfulness, and G.R.A.C.E.

Learn more about Susan by visiting her Online, on Facebook

It's Thanksgiving! What a Perfect Time to Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude

You hear about practicing gratitude everyday and I'll bet you wonder "how on earth can it make a difference in my life?"

Well, an attitude of gratitude can and will change your life.  It will definitely raise your happiness quotient, it will reduce your stress and it will positively impact your overall sense of contentment and peace.

I was so skeptical when I was first introduced to practicing gratitude.  I thought how could being grateful possibly change my life for the better? I was healing from an abusive relationship.  Truthfully, I was drinking too much and engaging in destructive behaviours.  I really couldn't see anything good in my life for the present moment and the future was even bleaker.

A very wise friend who was tired of hearing my tale of woe asked me one day, "What are you grateful for?"  Huh!?  She simply said "What about music? You love music.  It brings you pure joy."  She was right.  Music did and on countless occasions music helped me get through a rough patch.

So, it turned out I did have something to be grateful for.  I decided to earnestly give gratitude a shot and see what happened if anything.

Gratitude worked for me and it will for you too!

Start small - take 5 or 10 minutes and write down or just reflect on things you are grateful for. When you're ready, start your gratitude journal or jar.  Each week or month, reflect on all that you have been grateful for.

Say Thank You with a Smile- to the servers, to the police officer, to your children's teacher, to your spouse, to anyone at anytime who does something to make your life better.

Write a Letter of Gratitude - Have a teacher, coach, co-worker, old friend, or mentor who has made a difference in your life? When was the last time you told them?  Sit down and write a handwritten note of thanks for the difference they have made in your life.  Deliver it by hand or pop in the mail.

Next time you are outside or with a group of people, instead of checking your phone, take time to simply enjoy the moment.

Exercise your gratitude muscle often.  You will be grateful you did.

How do you practice gratitude?  Would love to hear how you bring gratitude to your daily life.

Susan