May 2011 Newsletter www.ComposeYourLife.ca IN THIS ISSUE 1.       The Daffodil Principle 2.       Practical Lessons for Change 3.       Quotable Quotes THE DAFFODIL PRINCIPLE   This month’s newsletter has been inspired both by the beauty of the spring flowers emerging in full glory and by a true story. Popularized in a Powerpoint presentation with spectacular visuals, the tale recounts the visit to a 5-acre garden in southern California. Although somewhat reluctant to drive there initially, the author was absolutely amazed to witness the splendour of field upon field of daffodils blooming in riotous colour. Approaching the modest house in the middle of the meadow, she saw the following sign: "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958." She went on write: “For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, almost fifty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.” PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR CHANGE   1)      Chunk things down. In the face of a seemingly overwhelming task, see how you can break things down into manageable pieces in order to be able to find a starting point. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time …   2)      Keep focusing on what is important to you and allow these values to guide you like a compass. Actions informed by values have a powerful cumulative effect which can be far greater than the sum of the individual deeds.   3)      Learn to love the doing. By creating a daily practice, the journey can be transformed into a beautiful and enjoyable path. The final destination may even change over the course of time, but the process will be meaningful in itself.   4)      Appreciate and use the accumulation of time to your best benefit. Small moments of time coupled with conscious daily efforts create the conditions for wonderful accomplishments – not to mention an abundance of joy. So let’s all consider this principle and celebrate our ability to begin changing the world, one bulb at a time ... What can you do today to embody the Daffodil Principle in your own context? If you are unsure and desire professional support to create lasting results, consider hiring a certified Life Coach. For more information and/or a complimentary coaching session, please feel free to contact me at: info@ComposeYourLifeCoaching.com.   QUOTABLE QUOTES   “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. ” ~ Buddha   “True life is lived when tiny changes occur.” ~ Leo Tolstoy "It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward." ~ Old Chinese Proverb “Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away. ” ~ Indira Ghandi “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” ~ Confucius “If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results. ” ~ Jack Dixon   “When we change our daily lives - the way we think, speak and act - we change the world.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh *******************************************************************   If you liked my Newsletter, please feel free to forward it friends who may appreciate receiving it.  You can also encourage friends to subscribe by forwarding this link: http://www.composeyourlife.ca/. Growing my mailing list enables me to reach more potential coaching clients and allows me to continue offering this Newsletter.  With heartfelt thanks!