Sweet N Social

Tag: personal growth

  • Hit The Light Switch

    Hit The Light Switch

    I have to say the most profound changes in my life happened when I decided to take my life off autopilot. I began to question some of the beliefs that I had held on to for years.  In the beginning it was the small things that I began to ponder like why do I drink coffee with my breakfast, to eventually leading to my bigger questions, like how do I really feel about marriage. Some of the answers I received in return shocked me.

    Awareness is the definitely key to change.  Effective and long lasting change has to come from something deeper then just wanting it. Taking time out to understand the driving force, the “why” behind the change is what makes it really take hold.  To me, awareness was like switching on a light switch and looking for the cobwebs within the room.  What I found were old beliefs and outdated actions that no longer served their purpose.  Imagine what you will find when you begin to look inside yourself.  The answers just might surprise you.

  • Playing Catch

    Playing Catch

    Today is the day I walk with a walking club.  I don’t compete but I do use other walkers as incentive to push myself.  In most cases, you look for a walker who is ahead of you and you make them your focal point.  Once I can find a target walker, I put my head down and focus on my walking technique and breathing.  With such focus, you can usually “walk them down” in other words, you can catch them.  I’ve been catch and I have caught others.

    I did not try and walk anyone down today. I started late so I just focused on my walking stride and breath. I did start to pass people.  After the walk was over, a gentleman can over and told me he looks for me on the trail.  I’ve seen this man on several occasions but we’ve never spoken to each other before.  He told me he had to let me know, he looks to try and stay ahead a head of me but he knows that I will pass him eventually.

    What I’ve found most beneficial is to not worry about who is behind you. Stay focused on whose ahead.  Its not about getting catch, its about making them reach.

  • Goal Analysis

    Goal Analysis

    Like so many people, I struggle with getting things done, especially if it makes me feel like work to me.  It’s a real struggle especially when I retired from the military years ago.  I battle with laziness.  I know if I can admit it, I am recognizing it, and ultimately I can change it. Like a cost analysis, I assess my productivity by conducting a goal analysis.  Its simple. Let me explain.

    On many occasions for instance, I love to run to my favorite book buying spot to browse the books. I use browsing loosely because I can always find something to buy.  I have many books at home, not to mention a library reading list that will definitely take time to read through. What I have to do for myself is redirect my impulse to run to the store towards something that will actually get me closer to creating a legacy for my family.  I know that just buying more books will not get me there.

    Awareness is the first key to conducting my analysis.  I ask myself this: “is what I want to do going to get me closer or father away from my goal?” If the answer is no, the next question is: “what action can I do right now, that will?” I realize it just a simple matter of redirecting my energy and focus into more productive activities that will get me closer to what I want to achieve in life rather than what I want to buy throughout life.

  • Sharing is Caring

    Sharing is Caring

    I started recording little videos and sharing tidbits of my story online because I read so many success books over the years. I realized that the best part of your learning is in sharing the knowledge you gain with others.  For example when a woman buys a new dress and she gets a great deal on it, she will, like many other woman, she will tell you where she got it and more than likely, how much she paid for it.  I do it!

    Like the things we buy, holding on to it will not benefit anyone in the end.  The more you share, the more knowledge we gain in return.  It’s like creativity or oxygen, you simply can’t run out of it.

  • 58 Minutes

    58 Minutes

    Treadmill-Control-Panel

    I love walks in the park but this past winter I told my husband, “I am getting soft”. I just couldn’t handle walking in the cold anymore so I started going to the gym to walk on the treadmill. The maximum workout setting is 58 minutes. I would go in each morning, grab my hand towels, hit manual workout and start walking. One morning I was just watching the countdown timer, noticing the seconds turn into minutes over and over again. Then it hit me! I was spending 58 minutes walking on a treadmill. Those 58 minutes I would never get back again. In that moment, I realized every second of every minute is a gift.

    We all have this one precious life to live. Take a moment, stop, breathe and enjoy it.

    Photo Source: Click here.

  • What’s the Deal?

    What’s the Deal?

    Special Offer shutterstock_117843931I have been making monthly payments to a company for a couple of months.  A representative from the company called me about two months ago and asked if I would be interested in making a settlement payment that would “save me” money.  I asked the gentleman if he could call back the following month and maybe we could go from there.  The “discounted offer” was a welcomed surprise but I budgeted a set monthly payments until the debt was reconciled. The representative didn’t call back.

    I receive a call this week from my representative buddy. This time I have plenty of time to consider and budget their “discounted offer” if it works well with my budget.  He begins stating that according to his records, he was calling in the appropriate time frame to see if I was going to make a payment settlement or was I going to make a payment.  I was waiting to hear his offer but he never  clearly stated one. I told him I planned on making my usual payment. I never sought an offer so I don’t know why they are calling me (unless he just wants to hear my pleasant voice, I never get rude.)

    The representative reminds me of times when I used to sell crafts.  I never felt like I could never “close the deal”.  I wanted to ask the representative, WHAT DO YOU WANT? That’s when I realized, I could not “close deals” because I never had clarity.

    Photo Source: Click Here

  • What Do You See?

    What Do You See?

    Dandelion in the windMy yard does not have spectacular curbside appeal but my husband does maintain it. We do not spray chemicals to the kill dandelions. When my husband mentions spraying, I must admit I encourage him not to.  I guess you would say I am kind of environmentally conscious and I try to pay attention to my environmental footprint. As I stated, I really don’t like using chemical lawn treatments but I respect those who do.

    I remember growing up and running in large fields with lots of dandelions. I would gather them up and give them to my mother. She would smile and say how much she like them. I would also make wishes as I blew the dandelion seeds.  When my granddaughter was over the other day, she picked the dandelions in my yard just as I did, oh how those precious memories came back.

    Whether you spray or not is not the point.  It is recognizing the precious gifts that the universe offers up in each day, and there are many.  We can choose to look for the negative or the positive, it’s all up to you.

    Photo Source: Click Here

  • A Day of Relaxation

    A Day of Relaxation

    o-RELAX-SLEEP-facebookI watch my granddaughter four days out of the week.  On days I don’t have her, I try and make them my “Relaxation Days” but on most occasions, I get a feeling of restlessness.

    One Monday afternoon, on a day I didn’t have Charli, I just couldn’t sit still.  On most days, when I have “Charli Watch”, I start my day at 4 AM by listening to morning motivation videos on YouTube, do early morning stretches with Joanna Suh, and sit in mediation with Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey.  By 5:30 AM, I am off to the gym for a date with a treadmill.  I make it back home with enough time to get my son up and off to school with a smoothie.  My morning is like a well oiled machine.

    My thinking days without Charli as “off days” , I feel I don’t have to put in work. I do not have to get up early and I do not have to put in the effort to take care of myself, I just want to “relax.”  I finally realized at self-care isn’t work, it’s necessary to have a balanced and productive day, no matter what is on the schedule. So I will put in the work , maybe just not so early in the morning.

    References:

    Photo Source: Click Here.  Stretching:  YouTube Channel  Meditation: The Chopra Center

  • Grandma Has Got You

    Grandma Has Got You

    hand_reaching_out

    I love watching my granddaughter learn new things. She watches my husband and I so closely that she can usually pick up and copy what we do rather quickly. The word fear has no meaning to her at the ripe age of 18 months. I take her to the park and let her climb the playground play set. She climbs and jumps and runs with the big kids. I follow and closely standby just in case she reaches out for help.

    Just watching her play has taught me so much. Life is about enjoying the moment. I used to get caught up in thinking about past events or stressing over future ones that I missed the gift in being present. Life looks more vivid, more colorful when I stop and reflect on what is important at the moment. I don’t what to miss one smile, one laugh or one reach of my granddaughter’s hand. Vow to take time each day to reflect on what’s important, there is a gift to be seen.

    Photo Source: click here.

  • An Audience of One

    An Audience of One

    20150812205130-microphone-public-speaking-mediaIt was about four years ago when I joined Toastmasters International or TI. For those who are not familiar with TI, it is a nonprofit, educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. The initial reason I joined was to become a better sales person because I talked too much.  I could not close the sale.

    Over the years, my reason for staying in the club changed. The last reason I renewed my membership was in order to become a paid public speaker. It didn’t quite workout as I planned but I did learn one thing.  I had the courage to get up and give speeches at club meetings and compete in local area contests which were all positives. However, no matter the size of the audiences I would speak in front of, the biggest critic in the room, was always myself until I focused on simply doing my best. The one person you most often have to please, is the one that lives within. As the famous African Proverb says:

    When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

    References:

    Photo Source: http://workwithadam.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-marketing-strategies-that-dont.html

    TI Information Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toastmasters_International

    Quote source: https://www.inspirationalstories.com/proverbs/african-when-there-is-no-enemy-within-the/