Leadership: Walking Our Talk

Some of you may remember my theme from 2011, which was "Audacious Self-Care."  Well, I guess I teach what I need to learn...when I need to learn it!

The last quarter of 2010 (when I picked the topic) and all of 2011 offered some very difficult challenges for my family and me, so putting reminders about self-care in this blog throughout the year was helpful to me.  Then things caught up with me, and I had to stop blogging for a while in favor of my self-care.  The irony was not lost on me!

I apologize for disappearing, and I will finish covering all the sub-topics of self-care that I promised my readers a year ago. Thank you for your patience.

Before we move on to talking about leadership, I would also like to announce that I've expanded my business name from the same as my name to...(drum roll please)...

Mind Spa Coaching and Reiki

with Susan Cleaver

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Now for today's topic:

Leadership: Walking our Talk





Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Mats Persson



Last spring, on 6/3/11, I wrote a post about the value of personal leadership in preparation for this one on walking our talk as leaders.  Long-term success in leading others is based on how you manage yourself.

In the photo above, one of the components is "Lead by Example."  That would be problem if the "example," or role model, had the basics of his own life in disarray!  Poor role models either forget this, or they think it won't show.

For example, the poor role model may think it doesn't matter if their home office is messy and disorganized, because his followers never see it.  Well, they do see it...in the role model's stress level, even if his desk at work looks great.  What's more is that they can feel it on an energetic level, and they won't feel motivated by the leader.

This concept also applies to the leader's stewardship in these areas:

*integrity

*health

*finances

*lifestyle

*relationships

Think of this as if it were a pillow sham.  It looks great on the outside.  But if the pillow inside is filled with stones, it's useless to followers and leaders alike.  No wonder so many people come home from work with a headache!

Here's to great leadership,

Susan

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Jacob Wackerhausen

**Written material in all posts of this blog is (c) Susan Cleaver**

**Member of TCN, a local non-profit organization at www.tcnetwork.org**  

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/CGinspiration

Stop by my Exhibit for a Coaching or Reiki Sample!

Here are the three local Health Fairs where I'll be exhibiting:

Saturday, 3/31/12, The Boyertown Health Fair

Wednesday, 4/4/12, Health, Fitness, and Safety Fair, Blue Bell, PA

Friday, 4/20/12, Healthy Lifestyles Expo, Pottstown, PA

To the best of my knowledge, there will be NO entry fee for any of these three events.  For more information, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.



It's Fall...Do You Know Where Your Immunity Is?

Creative living begins with taking care of your physical and emotional health. In this holistic world of ours, of course, these areas are intricately related.

Here's a list of resources for you to check out to tune up your immune system physically and emotionally:

Chiropractic Care has helped me in more ways than I can count. It has been so instrumental in supporting my immune system, I would continue to get chiropractic care just for that reason alone! When you think about it, how can we expect any of our systems to work well when nerve signals and energy flow are blocked?

Reiki is an energy practice that I use on myself, offer to others, and teach. It supports your body's efforts to prevent and heal illness as well as to ward off stress and anxiety.

Shiatsu is a delightful form of massage that's based on the energy meridian system in the body.

Keep those endorphins flowing with...

~healthy relationships

~community involvement

~exercise

~pets

~hobbies that you love

~being in nature

~humor

Monitor Your Self-Talk. As best-selling author Mike Dooley says, Thoughts become things!" (http://www.tut.com/) So...when you get the sniffles, do you say, "By tomorrow I'll be stuck in bed with a fever!" Or do you say, "My body is escorting the germs 'off the premises' as we speak!" Remember to expect what you want, not what you don't want.

To your health,
Susan

P.S. 'Haven't had a complimentary coaching session with me yet? How about this topic....

Get Your Mojo Back!

During our phone or in-person session, we'll take a look at three areas where you can take action right away!

~~~Your Values~~~Your Passions~~~Your Self-Care~~~

To set up a time, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766.

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

***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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Getting Serious About Humor

It's 2008. Do You Know Where Your Sense of Humor Is?

Actress Cheryl Ladd says you must keep your sense of humor, even when you think "it's two towns over, in a ditch." Einstein explains why: "You can't solve a problem with the same level of mind that created it."

It's true, humor can change your brain chemically (by causing endorphins to be produced) and physically (by creating new connections of neurons). Humor can get you out of a thinking rut, often in a relatively short period of time.

''Good-humored" humor (without malice) contributes to our well-being holistically, with benefits in these areas and probably more:

Creativity

Have you heard the expression, "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly"? Humor raises our vibration to make it easier to gain intuitive input. Creativity is also enhanced by new connections among the neurons in the brain.

Learning

Learning is more effective and long-lasting if it's presented in a humorous way.

Motivation and Morale

Humor helps us to draw on our intrinsic motivation. It helps pull us toward what we want to accomplish. Motivation from an outside source, such as a demanding boss, pushes us forward. Feeling pushed can cause the quality of our work to decline, and morale will suffer.

Relationships

Because humor raises our vibration, we are more likely to be drawn to others who have raised their vibrations, too, and you will find the quality of your relationships improving.

Health

All areas of your health can be improved by humor: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Laughter has been likened to an internal massage! Humor helps to dispel negative, lower energies, and replace them with lighter, more positive ones, which over time can enhance healing.

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Life Is Messy

Being able to laugh at yourself is very important. We make mistakes. There are things about ourselves we wish we could change.

Take a tip from Abraham Lincoln. His life was riddled with personal and public defeats. And his physical appearance was somewhat awkward and homely.

One day as Lincoln was speaking in public, someone called him "two-faced." Lincoln probably knew that this person's mind was made up, so instead of trying to reason with him, he chose humor for his response. Lincoln said, "Sir, if I had two faces, do you think I'd be wearing this one??"

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Humor and creativity come very naturally to children, and it's a great way to communicate with them. Maybe some of that amazing humor and creativity that we were schooled out of will be rejuvenated!

So, when we think we're too busy for "fun and games," we need to reconsider our position. We often resist what we need the most!

The Conscious Mind Can't Go It Alone

We can shut down, hunker down, and try to create with the limited material in our conscious minds, but this is often a self-contained loop that gets us nowhere. Or we can lighten up, loosen up, and open up to the vast creative opportunities available to us when we allow the input of our unconscious mind and the collective unconscious.

Let Your Sense of Humor Bridge the Gap

Humor takes down the walls that are blocking your creativity and uses them for bridges!

Here's to a New Year filled with laughter and creativity,

Susan

P.S. 'Need any help getting the New Year off to a great start? See my Dec. 11 post on creative resolutions and/or email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching tele-session!

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