July 2010 Newsletter www.ComposeYourLife.ca Do you know anyone who would benefit from receiving these articles? Please pass this along and encourage them to subscribe by using the "Forward to a Friend" link at the bottom of this Newsletter. CONTENTS 1) Moving Day in Montreal 2) 4 Strategies to Avoid Overwhelm 3) Quotable quotes MOVING DAY IN MONTREAL As strange as it may seem in other municipalities which are celebrating Canada Day, July 1st marks the date for Montreal’s annual sporting event: moving day!! In a city where many people rent rather than own their homes, all standard leases begin on July 1st. The result is a hive of activity, a dearth of moving vans available for rent, and a huge amount of people in high-stress mode. I am pleased to say that I am not in this situation myself, having happily relocated several months ago; I am now able to happily cocoon “chez moi” and enjoy my back garden amidst the summer heat. I am however able to get a peripheral taste of the day, as I support my wonderful daughter who is one of the many in migration. The stark contrast of moving fever compared to the mellowness of summer living has provided lots of great food for thought, and I’ve come to see moving as a metaphor for milestones and opportunities for learning which all of us encounter at various points in our own lives. I hope you can take a moment to sit back and put up your feet, enjoy your breath and simply “be where you are” while reading on … 5 STRATEGIES TO AVOID OVERWHELM   Whenever we embark upon a new project we pass through a series of stages before effective implementation can be reached. Unfortunately for many, the path can become so fraught with worries and distractions that the sense of adventure dims and the journey loses its excitement. Having lived through numerous “moving days” of my own, here are 5 tried-and-true strategies for surviving and thriving in the midst of all the messiness and unpacked boxes.   1) “I’ll be happy when the boxes are all unpacked and I’m completely settled in”. Sound familiar? Perhaps the biggest mistake we are all prone to at times is to think that we must wait to finish something before we can be happy. The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Life will always be full of challenges. It is better to accept this and to decide to be happy in spite of it all. There will always be some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through or some more work to be finished. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that life will start after this; these obstacles are life! There isn’t any road to happiness: happiness IS the road.   2) Make a point of lightening up and not taking things (and ourselves!) too seriously. As G.K. Chesterton aptly noted, “the reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly”.  There may be times when it feels like work to even attempt a smile; accept this as it is – and do it anyhow! By practicing this form of “mouth yoga” we can actually help ourselves to relax and make it easier to smile more. Research in biofeedback has proven that smiling lowers the stress hormones (cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenaline) and produces hormones which stabilize blood pressure, relax muscles, improve respiration, reduce pain, accelerate healing and stabilize mood. Not bad for starters! Each time we smile we reinforce happy neural pathways that fire more spontaneously with each subsequent use. We can exercise control over our reactions to challenging situations even when we don’t “feel like it”, for although our feelings are an essential part of us, they do not define us in our totality.   3) Seems like your mind will burst with the confusing overload of details? Unburden the disorder by getting them all down on paper. For some linear thinkers it is useful to simply make lists. Others, like me, find it helpful to incorporate our right-brain tendencies by mind-mapping. Instead of using a conventional list format, mind maps arrange elements intuitively using a diagram to show the relative importance of individual points and how ideas link to one another. Lots of great information to get you started mind-mapping is available on the internet, but the most important element is simply to allow your creative inner voice free expression.   4) Choose consciously to celebrate the many small steps along the way. There may still be a mountain of unpacked boxes, yet we can take the time to be aware that one box that has been opened and dealt with. As in a necklace made of a string of pearls, each little part is a gem that is integral to ongoing success and completion. Viewed in this way, it is certainly worthwhile to slow down long enough to focus upon what already IS in the present moment, rather than just on what remains to be done in the future. Remember: What you think, you become; what you feel, you attract more of. Why not choose to attract more joy and positive vibrations?   5) Commit to your own success and steer clear of overwhelming states by enlisting the support of a friend; better still, consider hiring a personal coach. Putting one’s money on the line not only heightens dedication, it increases both accountability for  actions and expectations of accomplishment. The first step is basically a declaration of priorities, a public statement that it is important for you to move forward by defining and realizing your goals. Secondly, asking for support takes away the burden of the Lone Ranger mentality, thereby creating a partnership which makes space for encouragement and stability. Working with a coach also casts a light of objectivity upon issues so that new options can be perceived. A coach asks powerful questions which can stimulate multiple perspectives, allowing for a shift of focus on problems to a focus on solutions. Clarifying goals – “I want to enjoy the move on July 1st and experience ease in settling in” – then translates into a series of self-defined, concrete and manageable action steps. Knowing that your coach is fully committed to your success and ongoing learning can be an integral part of making smoother transitions in your own personal journey!   Interested in getting a taste of personal life coaching for yourself? Please contact me for a complimentary coaching session:  info@ComposeYourLife.ca   QUOTABLE QUOTES You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time.   -- Pat Schroder The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”  -- Mark Twain   The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.  -- E. E. Cummings   The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.  -- Oprah Winfrey   Life is either a daring adventure or nothing all.  -- Helen Keller   ****************************************************************** Do you have any questions or concerns that you would like to see addressed in future Newsletters? Please feel free to communicate with me to share your thoughts and suggestions, or to schedule a COMPLIMENTARY COACHING SESSION by emailing me at info@ComposeYourLife.ca. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!