Adults Aren't the Only Ones: Over-Scheduled Kids

Do you want your children to grow up knowing how to live creatively and how to be independent thinkers? Here's my two cents...don't let them over-schedule themselves now, while they're young!

Constantly running from one structured activity to another gives kids little time to just "be." Kids need to learn how to use unstructured time in ways they will enjoy.

Kids don't have the judgement and experience to know when they're setting themselves up for stress and overwhelm. It's up to the parents to guide them about leaving time to "chill out" and time for unexpected things that may crop up.

Let's give the kids a chance to hear the "still, small voice" that invites creativity into their lives!

All my best,
Susan

P.S. Try a complimentary coaching session with me called...
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Start Here; Grow to There!

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Are you embarking on a huge project or challenge?

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During your phone or in-person session, we'll take a personalized look at three areas where you can take action RIGHT AWAY!

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~~We'll get a clear picture of who you'll need to be to best meet your challenge.~~

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~~We'll develop a strategy to invite those changes.~~

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~~We'll break the project or challenge down into steps that will make it easiest for you to tackle, given your strengths and preferences.~~

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To set up a time, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. Let's get you moving!

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P.P.S. for Locals:

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Family Services in Pottstown, PA, Presents an...

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Anxiety and Stress Management Group

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Facilitated by Sarah Lebo

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Six Tuesday Evenings Beginning October 13, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Family Services, 1976 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464.

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This program is FREE.

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For more information or to register, contact Sarah Lebo at 610-326-1610 ext. 499 or slebo@fsmontco.org.

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

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

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Five Great Reminders for Self-Care

1. "People spend more time planning their vacations each year than they spend on planning for their care and well-being the other 51 weeks." ~Thomas Leonard

Yikes! This is all too true for many of us. Do you have a written plan for your own well-being?


2. "Remember to avoid over scheduling, over committing and over yes-ing! The more you say yes to things that may zap you of your time, strength, and energy, the less you stay true to your values and priorities." ~Debi Silber

Do you have effective boundaries in place?


3. "They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them." ~Mohandas Gandhi

Is maintaining your self-respect non-negotiable?


4. "And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson

Great self-care makes you a wonderful role model for others!


5. "Put your own oxygen mask on first before attempting to help other passengers." ~Every airline I've ever flown on! :-)

You can't help others if you're running on empty yourself.


Take care...of yourself,

Susan

P.S. Whether you've taken on a "Plan B," or one has been thrust upon you...contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching session by phone or in person. It's called:
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***Plan B: Transforming Transition***

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In this session we'll stragetize for your smooth transition to "Plan B" with...

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The Five R's of Transformation:

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1) Regroup

2) Reframe

3) Reserves

4) Resilience

5) Rewards!

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P.P.S. for Locals: Stop by Sunnybrook in Pottstown this Saturday, Sept. 26, between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm, to watch or experience my Reiki and Laser Coaching Demos at my exhibit table! There will be lots to see and do at the PMSI Community Health Fair!

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

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

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Make the Decision to Read this Book

Book Review:

10-10-10: 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years; A Life-Transforming Idea

by Suzy Welch, 2009; Simon & Schuster Inc. and Simon and Schuster Audio

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I listened to the unabridged audio version of this intriging book, which is read by the author. Out of her own necessity, Welch has developed a wonderfully clarifying model for making decisions.

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As the title implies, the method involves thinking through the short-range, mid-range, and long-range likely results of the options at hand. Welch's model is also very useful as a low-conflict way of making decisions with others. It's a great way to explain your decisions to others who will be affected by them.

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Below I've pulled together a fictional example to illustrate how this method might be used in everyday living.

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Molly's Quandary

"My kids want a dog. I love dogs, too. But can I take on that extra responsibility as a single mom with three kids?"

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Let's say Molly starts exploring the "Yes" possibility using Welch's 10-10-10 method. She jots down, "Ten Minutes: I'll still feel definite trepidation! The kids will have to contribute more than just 'lip service' about promises to help.

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Ten Months: We'll all be attached to the dog. I'll wonder what took me so long to bring this new source of joy and connection into our lives! I'll still be holding the kids to their specific promises to help. They may resist at times, but by then they'll know that I'm not about to back down on this point.

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Ten Years: I'll feel tremendously rewarded for having taken this risk. We are all learning first-hand about love, responsibility, and cooperation. My decision is made!"

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'Still not sure if this book is worth your time? You can guess what my advice is...apply Welch's 10-10-10 model to decide!

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My best to you,

Susan

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P.S. What?! You haven't had your complimentary coaching session with me yet? :-) Consider this topic....

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"You Are Here": Develop Your Best GPS for Daily Living

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By phone or in person, we'll work on the upgrades you want for your personal GPS !

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Possible areas to explore:

Spirituality

Values

Priorities

Strategies

Goals

Steps

Habits

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Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up an appointment. Your only obligation is to call in on time and be ready to dig in!

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

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

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Mike Dooley: "Thoughts Become Things!"

Book Review: Choose Them Wisely: Thoughts Become Things!

by Mike Dooley

copyright 2009; published by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

If you haven't read or listened to this book yet, you're in for a treat! (It's also available as an audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio, copyright 2009, unbridged. I experienced the audio version.) The book is encouraging, inspiring, and soothing.

Dooley wrote the book from the point of view of the Universe as he understands it, and he speaks to the reader directly and casually. This style and use of a persona allowed him to add gentle humor and convincing but gentle nudges to the brief messages that make up the book.

I'm sure I would enjoy the print version, but the audiobook is great...it's read by the author in a very centered, soothing, and reassuring way. I like to listen to it before I go to sleep at night!

In his "Universe" persona, Dooley reminds us that we are all parts of something grander and larger than we can even imagine. The "Universe" reminds us of our full power and potential!

I'd like to add a bit of inspiration here for you writers and other creatives out there. When Dooley first started doing this type of writing many years ago, he felt very unsure of himself. Can you relate?? Most of us can! Now Dooley has at least 4 books out, he's an inspirational speaker, and he was one of the featured teachers in the movie "The Secret"!

And wait till you see his website at http://www.tut.com/. I think you will love it! There are lots of free, fun goodies there! As with the book, the site is great for Law of Attraction fans who are looking for practical understanding but who don't want and/or need the scientific details. (By the way, scientific support for the Law of Attraction is out there from other sources, for any of you who aren't fans of it...yet!)

Please share your opinions and experiences with the book and/or the site with my other readers and me!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. Shameless Plug! Try a complimentary coaching session with me called...

Start Here; Grow to There!

For those who are embarking on a humongous challenge!

During your phone or in-person session, we'll take a personalized look at three areas where you can take action RIGHT AWAY!

~~We'll get a clear picture of who you'll need to become to best meet the challenge.~~

~~We'll develop a strategy to invite those changes. (Hint: Your challenge will "grow" you!)~~

~~We'll break the challenge down into the steps that will make it easiest for you to tackle, given your strengths and preferences.~~

To set up a time, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. Let's get you moving!

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

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

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How is Your Life GPS Working?

Just as a GPS in your car uses a number of satellites to determine where you are on the road, I recommend these "satellites" that are vital in deciding which roads to take in life.

Spirituality
I use this as my first point of reference. Without this, I feel like, as my husband would say, "a loose canoe in a swift stream."

Values
With clarity around my spirituality, I find it much easier to focus in on my most important values...perhaps the top three to five, to help me see where I'm positioned in life.

Priorities
Once I have the first two in place, from there I can set my priorities as they relate to my values.

Strategies
Once I know my priorities, I can develop strategies that will help me make sure that the priorities are addressed.

Goals
At this point, I can develop useful goals easily, because I've looked at the other areas.

Steps
Next, I can use my goals to figure out what steps I need to take on a daily or weekly basis to make sure I'm manifesting my priorities.

Habits
When I take the steps I need to take on a regular basis, I develop new habits that serve me well in accomplishing my goals. These new habits actually make it easier to do the steps than to not to do them!

So how about you?
What keeps you centered and on track? Please leave a comment and let my other readers and me know! Maybe you have a different series of "satellites" that work for you.

If you try my Life GPS, please let us know how it works for you!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. 'Need some assistance in this area? I'm offering...

"You Are Here": Develop Your Best GPS for Daily Living

...a complimentary coaching session (by phone or in person) where we will work on the upgrades you want for your personal GPS!

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Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up an appointment.

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

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

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The "Perfect" Excuse

What causes perfectionism? It's commonly believed that it results from a fear of criticism. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though.

Consider a more insidious source: the fear of moving out of our comfort zones. Perfectionism steals precious time from activities we consciously wish we had the time to do. But because of our unconscious fears, we use that time to:

~Stay stuck.

~Feel busy without accomplishing much of anything.

~Stall until the "perfect, risk-free" opportunity comes along (which is, conveniently, NEVER).

No matter how much we may want to move forward consciously, a frightened or poorly programmed subconscious will block it in an effort to protect us. We can reassure our subconscious minds by:

~Identifying limiting beliefs and replacing them with beliefs that support our expansion.

~Taking baby steps outside our comfort zones so the subconscious feels less threatened.

~Accepting the fear. The only way out of our comfort zones is through the fear. (See the work of Dr. Susan Jeffers, author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.)

Please comment on your adventures outside of your comfort zone!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Whether you've taken on a "Plan B" or one has been thrust upon you...contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching session called...

*** Plan B: Transforming Transition ***

In this session we'll strategize for your smooth transition to "Plan B" with...

The Five R's of Transformation:

1) Regroup

2) Reframe

3) Reserves

4) Resilience

5) Rewards!

*********************

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

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

Transition Can Be the Ladder to Higher Creativity

Hi All!

Transitions come in all shapes and sizes. Some we welcome, some we tolerate, and others...well, later we wonder how we ever got through them.

I'm sure that, like me, you can relate to more than a few of these examples (some more fondly than others!):

• career changes
• falling in love
• getting married
• becoming a parent
• physical, emotional, or spiritual illness
• shifting paradymes
• lifestyle changes
• geographical moves
• habit changes
• life simplification
• finishing a long-term project
• having an empty nest
• becoming a grandparent or great-grandparent
• overcoming a major obstacle
• breakdowns and/or breakthroughs
• value shifts
• midlife
• making and following through on a major decision
• settling into a fulfilling retirement
• personal development shifts

The bad news, as I'm sure you've noticed, is that even the welcomed transitions involve stress. But the good news is that we often bounce back from even our most devastating transitions with a renewed and improved access to our creativity and intuition! This is coming from me, a woman who would rather hug a porcupine than admit that her bitter medicine was good for her. But it's true.

I do NOT subscribe to the theory that we must suffer in order to create. However, there are times when stressful transitions do leave us on a higher rung of the creative ladder, where the view is amazing! And since we have to go through transitions anyway, why not acknowledge and employ this new level of awareness? Coaching can help! Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary trial tele-session.

Many people, like Christopher Reeve, have found creative ways for themselves and many others to benefit from their experiences. So if you find you've been bumped up a rung, voluntarily or not, take in the new sights and start brainstorming!

Good luck,

Susan

P.S. Complimentary April Dig-In Days are available two ways!

Via teleconference on Sat., April 28, from 8:00am to 10:10am Eastern, when we will tackle projects from our homes or offices with brief group support calls at the beginning, middle, and end. For more information, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. Pre-registration is required by noon Eastern, Friday, April 27.

If this date doesn't work for you, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a one-on-one Dig-In Day at a time convenient for you!

"I got more done on this project in the first hour than I've done in the past month!" --Mary Beth Krawchuk, Dig-In Day participant