Monday, February 16, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
10 Tips To Find A Soul-Centered Career While Stuck In A Corporate Job
or many of us, making the leap from a "successful" corporate career to a soul-fulfilling professional pursuit is terrifying.
It could take years to identify what you would do in an ideal universe, let alone to figure out how to actually go about doing it (and, of course, how to make money at it). In the meantime, you find yourself expending valuable energy holding onto the "safe" corporate job you loathe, and getting more frustrated by the day.
I personally struggled at this for more years than I would like to count. The good news is that no job is forever; there is always a gleaming natural light at the end of the long fluorescently-lit, cubicle-filled tunnel.
Here are 10 tips that helped me while I was working through my transition from the corporate world to my own fulfilling business as a life-coach.
1. Skip out on those coffee-break complaining sessions. Instead, surround yourself with positive, like-minded people. Do this both at your current job as much as possible, and outside of work. Having a strong support group is invaluable, especially during a transitional period like this.
Even if you're immeasurably frustrated, make sure not to spend your time around the water cooler complaining about your boss or your clients with others. Instead, focus on spending your time with those that fill you up with positive energy and that encourage each other.
2. Write down the good stuff.
Journaling is a great exercise to keep you motivated because it allows you time for reflection, which inevitably will make you more sensitive and nuanced in the ways you react to your experience. Remember, "like attracts like," so the more you recognize and appreciate the positive things around you, the more positive things will be attracted to you. Plus at the end of it all, you've got pages upon pages of great things in your life to reflect on, no matter what your job is. In other words, try to see your life as being bigger than your job. This will allow you to make your decisions from a space of more freedom.
3. Make the most out of your commute (if you have one).
And if you don't, find a time in the more and/or evening for some personal, recreational time. You may use the time going to and from work to listen to positive recordings and audio books to stimulate and encourage your positive and creative side. Simply listening to music can be equally restorative, while others might like to read or pursue a simple hobby.
4. Realize that affirmations actually work. Then try them.
Studies have shown that repeating positive affirmations can reduce stress and evoke positive change and results. Some good examples that I frequently refer to are: "Today has endless possibilities" or "I can find balance in my life." Pick what resonates and feels good to you and repeat it daily and as needed with a deep breath.
5. See the other side of the coin.
You may hate hearing this, but even jobs we can't stand still provide us with emotional and practical skills to help us work toward bigger dreams. Perhaps it's a flexible schedule that allows you time to take courses toward a new career. And there is certainly a financial justification for working as you try and figure out your goals. So write down the opportunities you observe in your current situation, and pull them out when the going gets tough. Refer to them as reminders for what you have and where you are going.
6. Talk to your boss about your plans.
Being honest and open may help take a load off your shoulders and also allow your boss to know more about your aspirations. See if there is anything that the company may be willing to do to help you on your personal journey and transition.
I was extremely lucky and grateful to have been granted a short sabbatical from my job before making the leap. This was a great opportunity for me to really explore all of my options and clear my head before committing to actually leaving. By being honest from the beginning, I was also given the chance to reduce my position to part time during my transition which allowed the company extra time to find my replacement, and me the security of having a steady income a little longer.
7. Reflect on each day as another step closer to your goals.
If we practice mindfulness, and try to stay present in each moment, it becomes exponentially easier to recognize the sense of opportunity in the every day. Remember that every day can be a small step toward your goal. You will most likely find that while working on your personal goals, your day job will seem that much more enjoyable. Perhaps it's by signing up for a course or reading a book in your field of interest. In any case, make sure to deliberately treat each day as one step closer to your goal.
8. Create a morning power ritual.
A morning ritual will help set the tone for the day and keep you balanced. Rather than starting your day rushed and running out the door frantically, plan to get up a few minutes early or start a few minutes later.
I found that meditating first thing in the morning followed by some light yoga was a great way for me to start my day rejuvenated, balanced and clearheaded and all it took was to get up an extra 20 minutes earlier.
9. Make a map, or use a vision board.
By having a sense — either visually or in language — of what you are looking for in your life, you will be more connected to your goals, plain and simple. Put them on paper and keep them in front of you. This helps transform "goals" from a fuzzy, abstract concept into a real, more tangible thing. Look at it often.
10. Get in touch with what an ideal week might be.
You may even select a theme for each day to bring a new positive approach to your workweek. For example, you could try something like "Spoil Me Mondays." So on Mondays, you can plan activities that you really enjoy: it could be booking a massage, or allowing yourself an hour or two at the end of the day to relax with a bubble bath and a good book. This puts a whole new spin on the Monday Madness and also allows you time to plan in activities to help you work toward your soul-centered business, too.
Making career changes is always difficult, particularly when we start thinking about them as potential reflections of our souls. These 10 tips will help you feel more grounded as you begin the difficult, but rewarding, journey of connecting to your authentic desires for your professional identity.
It could take years to identify what you would do in an ideal universe, let alone to figure out how to actually go about doing it (and, of course, how to make money at it). In the meantime, you find yourself expending valuable energy holding onto the "safe" corporate job you loathe, and getting more frustrated by the day.
I personally struggled at this for more years than I would like to count. The good news is that no job is forever; there is always a gleaming natural light at the end of the long fluorescently-lit, cubicle-filled tunnel.
Here are 10 tips that helped me while I was working through my transition from the corporate world to my own fulfilling business as a life-coach.
1. Skip out on those coffee-break complaining sessions. Instead, surround yourself with positive, like-minded people. Do this both at your current job as much as possible, and outside of work. Having a strong support group is invaluable, especially during a transitional period like this.
Even if you're immeasurably frustrated, make sure not to spend your time around the water cooler complaining about your boss or your clients with others. Instead, focus on spending your time with those that fill you up with positive energy and that encourage each other.
2. Write down the good stuff.
Journaling is a great exercise to keep you motivated because it allows you time for reflection, which inevitably will make you more sensitive and nuanced in the ways you react to your experience. Remember, "like attracts like," so the more you recognize and appreciate the positive things around you, the more positive things will be attracted to you. Plus at the end of it all, you've got pages upon pages of great things in your life to reflect on, no matter what your job is. In other words, try to see your life as being bigger than your job. This will allow you to make your decisions from a space of more freedom.
3. Make the most out of your commute (if you have one).
And if you don't, find a time in the more and/or evening for some personal, recreational time. You may use the time going to and from work to listen to positive recordings and audio books to stimulate and encourage your positive and creative side. Simply listening to music can be equally restorative, while others might like to read or pursue a simple hobby.
4. Realize that affirmations actually work. Then try them.
Studies have shown that repeating positive affirmations can reduce stress and evoke positive change and results. Some good examples that I frequently refer to are: "Today has endless possibilities" or "I can find balance in my life." Pick what resonates and feels good to you and repeat it daily and as needed with a deep breath.
5. See the other side of the coin.
You may hate hearing this, but even jobs we can't stand still provide us with emotional and practical skills to help us work toward bigger dreams. Perhaps it's a flexible schedule that allows you time to take courses toward a new career. And there is certainly a financial justification for working as you try and figure out your goals. So write down the opportunities you observe in your current situation, and pull them out when the going gets tough. Refer to them as reminders for what you have and where you are going.
6. Talk to your boss about your plans.
Being honest and open may help take a load off your shoulders and also allow your boss to know more about your aspirations. See if there is anything that the company may be willing to do to help you on your personal journey and transition.
I was extremely lucky and grateful to have been granted a short sabbatical from my job before making the leap. This was a great opportunity for me to really explore all of my options and clear my head before committing to actually leaving. By being honest from the beginning, I was also given the chance to reduce my position to part time during my transition which allowed the company extra time to find my replacement, and me the security of having a steady income a little longer.
7. Reflect on each day as another step closer to your goals.
If we practice mindfulness, and try to stay present in each moment, it becomes exponentially easier to recognize the sense of opportunity in the every day. Remember that every day can be a small step toward your goal. You will most likely find that while working on your personal goals, your day job will seem that much more enjoyable. Perhaps it's by signing up for a course or reading a book in your field of interest. In any case, make sure to deliberately treat each day as one step closer to your goal.
8. Create a morning power ritual.
A morning ritual will help set the tone for the day and keep you balanced. Rather than starting your day rushed and running out the door frantically, plan to get up a few minutes early or start a few minutes later.
I found that meditating first thing in the morning followed by some light yoga was a great way for me to start my day rejuvenated, balanced and clearheaded and all it took was to get up an extra 20 minutes earlier.
9. Make a map, or use a vision board.
By having a sense — either visually or in language — of what you are looking for in your life, you will be more connected to your goals, plain and simple. Put them on paper and keep them in front of you. This helps transform "goals" from a fuzzy, abstract concept into a real, more tangible thing. Look at it often.
10. Get in touch with what an ideal week might be.
You may even select a theme for each day to bring a new positive approach to your workweek. For example, you could try something like "Spoil Me Mondays." So on Mondays, you can plan activities that you really enjoy: it could be booking a massage, or allowing yourself an hour or two at the end of the day to relax with a bubble bath and a good book. This puts a whole new spin on the Monday Madness and also allows you time to plan in activities to help you work toward your soul-centered business, too.
Making career changes is always difficult, particularly when we start thinking about them as potential reflections of our souls. These 10 tips will help you feel more grounded as you begin the difficult, but rewarding, journey of connecting to your authentic desires for your professional identity.
10 Things Creative People Do Differently
Being creative is a part of being human. When we express ourselves, we are able to honor our creative selves.
Some people are more creative than others simply because they've practiced it. The truth, though, is that we're all creative, we just express it in different ways. Creativity isn't always painting, photography, writing or art. It can be updating your bucket list, reading an article that inspires you and applying the lessons or researching new ways to solve old problems.
Creativity is an essential life force. When we don't express ourselves, there's a piece of us closed off.
I spent 10 years in advertising, working as a creative art director and copy writer. I left the corporate life to follow my heart and become a writer, teacher and life coach, and I can say creativity is what the human heart thrives on.
You don't have to have a job as an art director, painter or writer to be creative. Creativity is as core to the human experience as breathing.
The reason we have dreams and goals is because they're creative ways to express ourselves. When we don't allow ourselves to dream or to go for what we want, we become bored with life. We may fall into depression, sadness or guilt.
In my life coaching practice, I've discovered that one of the main side effects of not expressing your creative side is guilt. The guilt most of us feel is because we aren't being true to ourselves, and we aren't allowing ourselves to express our creative tendencies.
The most happy and successful people I know honor their creative nudges and act on them daily.
People who identify with being creative are usually confident, enjoy exploring and stepping outside of their comfort zones. Here are other common characteristics of creative people.
1. They ask what might be.
Instead of asking what is or why something is happening to you, they ask what might be. Creative folks put their faith in a better future and focus on what they want, even if it doesn't exist today.
2. They forgive themselves.
People who are in the creative industry have learned to develop thick skins and not to take things personally. They train themselves to take bigger risks and forgive themselves often. What can you forgive yourself for today?
3. They know rejection is protection.
Successful creative people know the power of NO and that rejection is really protection. Thirty literary agents and 25 publishers turned down my next book. But with enough focus, determination and faith, I landed the best agent for me, and my book found a home at one of the largest publishers. When a door closes, keep going. The right one will open and it will be glorious.
4. They are yes people.
Creative people take risks and explore the unknown. They say yes to opportunities that will expand their soul. They enjoy learning and trying new things. For them, it is not about perfection but the act of exploring and being in the journey.
5. They resist routine.
Creative people thrive on spontaneity and often get bored or anxious with a regular routine. If you feel like you are in a rut, it could be your regular routine. I thrive when I mix things up. How can you mix things up and break away from the routine?
6. They aren't afraid to be vulnerable.
Many creative people express themselves by being vulnerable. Think of the most creative person you know and ask yourself how often they show their vulnerable side. Chances are it's often. Vulnerability is the key to releasing creative energy. Allow yourself to go there.
7. They know everything is connected.
Everything is part of a bigger plan. Whether it is the job you had seven years ago now coming back into play, or an ex coming back into your life, everything comes back around. Creative people know all of their life experiences matter.
8. They get out of their heads.
The average person has 50,000 thoughts a day. For most, 80% of those are negative or self-deprecating. Getting out of your head by socializing, spending time in nature or reading a new book can help you get out of your own way.
9. They use setbacks as motivation to move forward.
Creative people look at all of life's situations and use them as fuel for their self-expression. To truly be happy and find inner peace, look at all the situations in your life as opportunities to grow and learn.
10. They don't hold on to anything too tightly.
People who use creativity to their advantage understand life is a balancing act of holding on and letting go. They don't hold on to anything too tightly. They trust new opportunities will come in when they let go of what no longer works. What can you let go of?
It is not that you're either creative or you aren't. To be human means you have the potential to express yourself fully, which is the ultimate form of creativity. Allow yourself to be true to you and watch your creative sparks fly.
If you want to make your own creative life list, grab this FREE guide.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17406/10-things-creative-people-do-differently.html
10 Free Apps That Helped Me Lose Weight, Get Fit & Have More Fun
You May Also Enjoy
Despite
my hope they would just be passing fads, I've learned "skinny" foods
and drinks are hot again. Many food companies and restaurants proudly
boast their "skinny" menu items each contain Read
Here are my favorite — and free! — wellness apps. I hope they can inspire you to get up and move also!
1. MyFitnessPal
There are tons of food and fitness trackers, and I've tried most of them, but this is my fave! It lets you easily track food, water, exercise and weight. It also syncs with trackers like FitBit and Jawbone, lets you connect with friends to stay accountable and allows you to enter your own favorite recipes for nutrition data.
2. RunKeeper
This app tracks everything: running, walking, cycling, hiking, etc. It syncs easily with MyFitnessPal and other devices like FitBit and Jawbone for easy tracking wherever you are.
3. Daily Workouts
No muss, no fuss workouts in app form. It's very basic, letting you choose the body part you want to work out out and for how long, then leads you with basic videos and moves almost anyone can do.
4. Charity Miles
Doing good while getting fit is a winning combo in my book, and Charity Miles makes it so easy to do just that. Just pick the cause you want to support, hit start and away you go! Corporate sponsors then donate 25 cents per mile for walkers/runners and 10 cents per mile for bikers.
5. Waterlogged
I don't need to tell you how important it is to drink water, but if you have trouble keeping up with your daily intake, this app will help you reach your goal. It has great visuals and lets you set reminders to take a sip.
6. WOD Deck of Cards
This is a fun app to use with the whole family if they're up for it. All you have to do is decide what exercises you want to do, and the app does the rest. You never know what's coming next and it makes for a great, fast-paced interval workout.
7. Songza
Music always makes me happy and motivates me during a workout. If you're the same way and you don't know about Songza … where have you been?! Two or my favorite playlists are Drop-A-Beat Workout and Fun & Funky Pick Me Ups, but you can find any type of music mix to get you going.
8. PopSugar Active
This is the most comprehensive, easy to use, all-in-one workout app I've found to date. I love to follow a video when working out, and this app has a huge selection led by the best fitness experts around. The app is easy to use and even lets you create personalized routines or join a challenge to take the guess work out of fitness.
9. HeadSpace
Downtime is a must, and this app will help you get it. I use this any time I need to chill but can't quiet my mind on my own. It offers guided relaxation and meditations that do the trick at the end of a workout.
10. Motion Traxx
If you get on a cardio machine at the gym and dread the time ahead of you, you've got to try this. I always move better to a beat and these workouts do the trick. Some of them are even coached, so it's like having a personal trainer right there with you.
So there you have it ten free options to get you moving, losing and having fun! No more excuses. What's a must-have app that helps you reach your weight loss, fitness or lifestyle goal?
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