Minimize Distractions on the Front End

It's an all-too-familiar scenario: You finally have time to focus on a project that is important to you. It's full speed ahead! Until....

Knots, tangles, detours, and other interruptions spring up in your path. Ugh. These little gremlins come from three major sources:

*From the project itself (logistical issues, etc.)

*From outside of you and the project (household emergencies, technology problems, entreaties for help from others, etc.)

*From inside you (lack of sleep, ADD, fear of success or failure, etc.)

Head 'Em off at the Pass. Proactivity is a concept that has been thrown around a lot lately...and with good reason. Being proactive has become one of my most valuable ways to avoid stress! A few tips:

*Have a rainy-day fund in as many of these areas as possible:

~Time

~Space (in your physical surroundings, in your schedule, etc.)

~Money

~Flexibility

~Resources

~Patience (Learn to accept what is while still intending to move forward.)

~Supplies (It stinks to get a great idea for a watercolor painting and then realize you never got around to replacing your worn-out brushes. When inspiration strikes, the last thing you feel like doing is running an errand!)

*Educate others about your needs and boundaries.

~Let them know when your focus time is, and when you're available to be reached.

~Sure, you want to help others when they truly need it. But be firm with those who tend to disrespect your time and/or expect you to bail them out because of their own lack of planning or follow-through.

And for the gremlins and interruptions that manage to sneak through anyway....

*Ask yourself why it happened. If you could have avoided it, own up to that and learn for next time. But don't waste energy beating yourself up about it.

*Prioritize...is the interruption important enough to drop what you were doing completely, or can you put the obstacle in a holding pattern for a while?

*Dispatch...choose the best course of action for the interruption:

~Ask for help if that's appropriate.

~You may choose to deal with it on the spot, especially if it's urgent or can be gotten off your plate quickly.

~You may choose an appropriate future time to handle the issue; be sure to make a note on your calendar.

~Ask yourself if it really needs to be done at all. The gremlin may be a sheep in wolf's clothing!

Cultivate inner calm. In college I took a speed-reading course. One of the exercises was to read while hearing (but not taking in) a variety of noises on a recording. I still have a difficult time reading in a noisy environment. It's an interesting exercise, though, and may work for some folks if they practiced it enough.

Here's one I'm much better at...keeping my base-line stress level down by following my own advice from this post. This allows me wiggle room when I need it, so I can respond to situations rather than react to them.

An all-purpose reframing affirmation from author Susan Jeffers, PhD: "Whatever happens, I'll handle it." Give it a try!

All my best to you,

Susan

P.S. for locals: Don't miss the Healthy Lifestyles Expo at the Montgomery County Community College West Campus in Pottstown, PA, on Friday, April 17! I'll be demonstrating Reiki at my exhibit table. Please stop by! Contact me for more details at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766.

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

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Values, Vision, and Vitality Equal Results

Here's one way I propose to look at the manifesting process, using a nautical analogy....

Values
The value that guides your vision will serve as a beacon throughout the process of manifesting that vision. For an example, let's use "helping others to help themselves" as the value. And let's say that where you are now is the shore you're currently on concerning making something happen that will align with that value.

This value gives us the compelling purpose and motivation for developing the vision.


Vision
The vision is the vehicle that will get you to the far shore, which is the manifestation of the vision. An example of a vision guided by the value above might be starting a non-profit organization that extends loans to micro-businesses in third-world countries.

Keeping the vision aligned with the value contributes to the integrity of the project. It also inspires others with the same value to support the vision.

Through the vision, you can articulate your desired results in a way that others can understand, imagine, and get behind. In computer terms, it's like putting your idea and desire into a PDF so everyone can see it easily. Next, we can partner the vision with vitality to assure the feasibility of the project.


Vitality
What resources will it take to make the project work? Vitality is the bridge for the vision to cross. This bridge must be engineered with a firm foundation consisting of self-care, financial responsibility, leadership, patience, trust, flexibility, and sustainable energy.

This foundation will help you maintain your passion and enthusiasm, and it will help you align with the Law of Attraction. Vitality will also contribute to the integrity of the project by allowing you to actually move on it, and not just daydream about it.

In the case of our example above, vitality will assure that the organization can be founded, funds can be secured and managed, and enthusiasm can be sustained.

What? You don't see yourself as a visionary? Let your values give birth to your image, and let vitality carry it to fruition!

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this model!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. to "locals": Details will be available soon about the largest-yet 4th Annual Boyertown Wellness Council Health Fair! It'll take place on Saturday, March 21, 2009, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Boyertown Area Sr. High School.

I'll be facilitating a brief workshop on "Embracing Imperfection," demonstrating Reiki on willing participants, and hosting an exhibit table about coaching and Reiki. Order forms will be available for a special discount on my products. I hope to see you there!

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

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"Why Is She Telling Us This?"

This is my last decluttering update; I have finally reached 100 hours! I started on July 10, 2008, so I don't get any points for speed. I'll take credit for persistence, though!

You may be wondering, "Why is she telling us this?" I had two reasons for tracking my progress on my blog:

• For accountability (A special thanks to my hubby, Stew, and my good friend Mary Beth for heading up the accountability squad!) I also wanted to show you how much accountability helps on a project like this or most any other type. Just be sure your accountability buddies are people who are going to be positive and supportive, especially if the project is a creative one.
• As a demonstration of how you might use a similar method to break down a big project. Through my monthly updates, I've hoped to give you a bird's-eye view of how this can be done, along with the foibles and doubts I had along the way.

What about sustainability?

I spent a little time toward the end of the project setting up a plan for that. I didn't want my organizing efforts to go the way of yo-yo dieting.

I'm a member of www.Coachville.com, and they have a great program called "The 100 Day Challenge." I signed up for the one that started this week to work on maintaining what I did during my own "100 Hour Challenge." The program also gives me a fresh way to approach continuing to improve my home and office environments.

When you're planning a change for yourself, remember to figure in a way to maintain the results you'll attain. We all know how frustrating it is to slip backward. So...go for it, and follow through on the follow-through! :-)

To your success,

Susan

P.S. Contact me for a complimentary exploratory coaching session by phone or in person at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766. I look forward to hearing from you!

P.P.S. Thanks to all who attended my workshop at McCormick Chiropractic in Pottstown, PA, last night. It was fun!

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

Structure and Accountability Trump Will Power!

I know that my creativity needs elbow room, and that keeping my home and office environments in an organized state that is pleasing to me is good Feng Shui. But maintaining the level of organization that I want has always been a challenge for me. I'm doing better, but I still have times when I get really frustrated with myself around this.

Not only will I have a better chance of succeeding if I report my project and progress here on the blog, but you can use it for an example for creating your own way to accomplish what you want to do.

So here's my plan. I know that structure and accountability trump will power. So here's where you come in. I've set forth a three-month challenge for myself and I'm "going public" with it here for accountability. I'll report my progress on this blog once a month during the project: Monday, August 11, Wednesday, Sept. 10, and, finally, Friday, Oct. 11. There! Now I've put myself on the hook, but in a good way! :-) I trust you'll post nudging comments if I slip up!

Here are the details of my plan: For 50 days out of those three months, I'll invest 2 hours daily on the clearing, organizing, and optimizing of my immediate indoor environments (home and office). I also need to find ways to easily maintain the systems/environments I create. Please come back to cheer on my efforts (or to frown upon my slip-ups)!

What are you not moving along steadily/quickly enough that you could use some accountability, structure, and support around? I invite you to make a plan and write it in the comments section so that we can all be there for you! We'll all learn from it!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. To receive the alter ego to this blog, "Susan, Unplugged...Your 'Slow-Tech' Source for Creative and Healthy Living Tips," with my compliments, just send your snail-mail address to me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. If you live outside the continental US, I'll ask you to cover the cost of the postage.

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

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