Two Sites, Twice the Gratitude!

Photo (c) Susan Cleaver

I took this photo years ago, out of my gratitude for the beautiful sunrise. Like many of you, I'm a big fan of gratitude lists and journals.

In the last few months, I found two sites featuring gratitude journals. They're both fun and easy, and I want to make sure all my readers know about them!

Photo (c) iStockphoto/Warchi

The first one is called Happy Rambles (TM), and you can find it at http://happyrambles.com.  You, the writer, can choose to write yours in any form that pleases you.  

The site also encourages you to add photos if you wish.  It reminds you by email when it's time to write again.  It also allows you to save your entries.

I use this site, but I have no other affiliation with it.  I just like it!

Photo (c) iStockphoto/VickyLeon

The second site I'd like to introduce you to is Laura West's "Joyful Business" site.  (Again, I'm just a happy user of her site, with no other affiliation.) 

To get to her gratitude journal, use this link: www.joyfulbusiness.com/online-success-gratitude-journal.  

This one is a little more structured, but you'll still usually have the elbow room to express yourself as you wish.  There are a few playful but provocative questions in the structure.  Laura's journal allows you to print out what you've written when you're done.

I've been following Laura West's work for years before I came upon this journal.  I like the content and style of her site. 

Photo (c) iStockphoto/IrvStock

I hope you'll find these two sites to be helpful and fun!  Please let the rest of the creative4life Community know how they work for you.

Thanks,

Coach Susan

The Great-Life Advocate (TM)

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Results of the "Fall 15" Challenge!

In my last post (11/3/13), I put out a "Fall 15" Challenge with three choices of challenges, each involving the number 15 in some way.  I hope some of you tried one and found it helpful.  We'd all love to hear about your results!

Here are mine!  I chose the second challenge, "Find 15 items in your home to donate to charity within the next 15 days."  I started on November 3, so I had until November 18. 

I'm happy to say that I finished finding and packing up the 15 items by November 6, and they were off our property and donated the next day to Goodwill Industries.

I feel good about making the donations, and I'm glad to have them out of our home and back in circulation again for people to buy for very low prices.  It sure beats sending them to a landfill! 

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Have you ever wondered if your work could be better and easier by knowing a few basic coaching skills that you and I could tailor to your job?

It's true for most any line of work!  

Here are a few examples:

Teachers

Parents

Middle Managers 

Grandparents

Small-business owners with a few employees 

Social workers

Leaders of non-profit organizations

Guidance counselors

Research and Development Teams

Health care workers 

Trainers

Let's talk about it!  Please email me here to set up an informal consultation.  It's complimentary and eye-opening!

~All of Susan's posts are copyright Susan Cleaver.~

~Member of the local TriCounty Community Network at www.tcnetwork.org~

Please Join Us for the Resolution Revolution!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Marek Uliasz

A Call to Action: Prepare Now for Your 2011 Goals...

And Help Others Do the Same

"Isolation is the dream killer," says career coach Barbara Sher. So I propose we work together on our resolutions for the New Year! You don't have to sign up for anything, and you needn't spend any money for it. It's just this simple: if you want to join us, you're in!

Just watch this blog and/or my snail-mail newsletter from now until the end of 2011. My other readers and I would love to assist you with your problems and questions, and to cheer for your victories!

You can join in the conversation by commenting on the blog, calling me (610-385-3766), or by email at scleaver@dejazzd.com. I'm not harvesting contact information here...you can even send in your comments or questions by snail mail with no return address if you wish! (Susan Cleaver, P.O. Box 586, Douglassville, PA 19518-0586).

This is a stand-alone, complimentary program that does not require attendance at any fee-based programs that I may offer on the topic.

Many of you are familiar with SMART goals, I'm sure, and if we add a few more elements to this system, it becomes even more effective. I call it WAPP:

~Work with a group for encouragement, accountability, and fun!

~Always state your goals in terms of what you do want, not what you don't want.

~Prepare your goals ahead of time so you can work out any wrinkles in your plan.

~Put your goals in writing.

Now let's take a look at the SMART goal process:

My goal: 2011 will be a year of Audacious Self-Care for 200 or more people who will take successful action related to what I'll be writing and speaking about throughout the year. These people will notify me about their successful action so I can keep track of how close I am to my goal.

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What's your Audacious Self-Care Goal?

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How is my goal SPECIFIC?

~I will share my Audacious Self-Care Message at five or more events that I will lead or participate in .

~I'll write 25 or more posts on this blog that will help others with their Audacious Self-Care.

~I'll write 12 or more articles in my newletters this year on the topic of Audacious Self-Care.

~I intend to have a record of 200 or more anecdotes from readers, clients, and participants that explain the Audacious Self-Care actions they took and how they helped.

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How is your goal SPECIFIC?

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How is my goal MEASURABLE?

~The articles and posts mentioned above will each be 50 words or longer.

~The minimums mentioned for the posts, articles, and anecdotes in the section above will provide clear ways to measure my progress as well as the achievement of my goal.

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How is your goal MEASURABLE?

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How is my goal ATTAINABLE?

~My goal is doable with a bit of a stretch. A little stretching is good!

~Putting numbers to most of the sub-goals was not to difficult, because I had past performance to guide me.

~The tricky one was the one where I'm intending 200 or more reports back from folks. I have not made a request like this before, and the goal requires actions that are out of my direct control. Like Scarlotte O'Hara said, "I'm counting on the kindness of strangers [and friends.]"

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How is your goal ATTAINABLE?

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How is my goal RELEVANT?

~This goal supports the personal growth and happiness of the those I'll be able to reach with it (including me).

~This goal supports my values, and I'm excited about getting started. Now that's AUDACIOUS!

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How is your goal RELEVANT?

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How is my goal TIME-BOUND?

~The actions and results will take place during the Year 2011.

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How is your goal TIME-BOUND?

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"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom."

~~Victor Frankl

Let's help each other choose the powerful responses to our resolutions in 2011!

Thank you,

Susan

***Gift certificates are available for Coaching and/or Reiki. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or call 610-385-3766.***

***All of Susan's posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

***Active member of the TriCounty Community Network, where we're "partnering to improve health, social and environmental conditions" in our area. www.TCNetwork.org ***

Befriending a Better Habit

Energy-Draining Bad Habits
The results of a bad or outgrown habit are like a swarm of gnats...distracting and annoying! The energy it takes to shoo them repeatedly away adds up over time and raises our stress levels. Yet like gnats, bad habits can be very persistent, as we all know!

I'll use one of mine as an example. I was a life-long producer of clutter who was also great at maintaining it! Ugh! In the past several months, I've finally gotten a handle on it. It's a lifestyle change that I have adopted, and I'm keeping a structure in place to assure that the new habit sticks.

Speaking of Structure...
...create some for yourself. Set up some way to be accountable to others for the changes you want to make. Choose your accountability partners carefully, because you will need gentle support and encouragement from them as well.

I continue to receive support and accountability from my family, friends, and coaching colleagues. Last fall I even went public here on my blog with a decluttering challenge that I had set for myself!

Make It Fun!
I know...this is where you're thinking, "This woman is nuts!" But give it a try. You might pair the new activities required with something you enjoy, such as listening to music.

Make yourself a chart so you can visually track your progress. Use colors and symbols that make you smile.

For my clutter-zapping and prevention, I set a goal of 15 minutes a day in four areas for a total of 1 hour a day. This keeps me on track, and the rewards of not having to deal with clutter or cleaning much during the rest of the time are well worth it.

And I do track my time on paper. If I'm out of town for the day, I make up the time later.

The Key to Motivation
O.K., even if you don't think you can find any way to make a new habit fun, ask yourself this: "How will this new habit support my larger vision?" This question could make a crucial difference to someone who, for example, is setting out to change from a procrastinator to someone who is proactive about getting things done.

When I saw decluttering as something I "should" do, I couldn't muster up the resolve to see it through. As my friend Sally says, "Don't should on yourself!"

Now, I see life much more holistically, and I know that staying organized affects the Feng Shui of my office and home, as well as my personal energy. I also see organization as an important element of my self-care. And it's important to me to be a great role model for clients, participants, and readers.

Some coaches don't discuss topics they are still struggling with because it makes them feel out of integrity. My feeling is, however, that if someone else can learn from something I know but have not yet been able to fully implement, why not share it with them? To stay in integrity, I just admit right up front that I'm still working on the issue myself.

These days, with the clutter issue, I can honestly say that I have a handle on it. There are a few drawers and closets that still need some work, but now that my new habit is in place, they too will soon be more orderly!

Best of Luck as You Develop New Habits that Will Serve You Better for a Lifetime! Please share your successes, setbacks, and questions with my other readers and me.

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. Shameless Plug: Contact me to set up a complimentary trial coaching session by phone or in person at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766!

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

***Member of TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at www.TCNetwork.info.

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A Shot in the Arm for Health Care

Note: Please read on even if you're not "local." You may be inspired to help develop or support a similar program in your community!

Community Health & Dental Care, Pottstown, PA

Please go to http://www.ch-dc.org/ to check this out! Any overview I could give would not do justice to this amazing organization. I learned about them through my membership in the TriCounty Community Network (http://www.tcnetwork.info/). I will say that through the generosity of several organizations and individuals, Community Health & Dental Care is in a position to accept under-insured and even uninsured patients as well as those with adequate insurance.

Perhaps you or someone you know would like to become a patient and/or supporter! Community Health & Dental Care's Director of Development, Carolyn Brunschwyler, says, "...we've all been challenged to help turn this country's problems around, and health care is certainly one of those problems." I think that sums it up nicely!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. for Local Folks: Sign up for my complimentary workshop, Trade Up to a Healthier Habit, by calling my host, McCormick Chiropractic, at 610-705-0201! I'll be presenting the workshop on Tuesday, February 17, from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm at their Pottstown office.

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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