Contrary to some circles of thought we are not supposed to be miserable. Slogging through the day, the workweek, and life because we should, because we have to, because what we really have a passion for and is fun for us doesn't seem "responsible" or what we "should" be doing to make a living.

Work and careers take up 50 to 75 percent of our time that we are awake. Come to think of it for most of us it takes up a good percentage of the time we are a sleep too. Why not spend those hours doing something you love?

I know there are bills to pay, commitments, responsibilities. You're right and one of the biggest responsibilities you have is to take care of yourself, to do things that give you joy, which fulfill you, and give you energy. When you do this you are happy, engaged, living! And you will have much more energy and focus to take care of all of your responsibilities, commitments, and people you love. I am not recommending you walk into work tomorrow and quit your job. What I'm suggesting is that you make an appointment with yourself everyday this week all seven days, for five minutes each day.

Write it in your calendar, palm pilot or what ever you use to schedule your time and under no circumstances cancel or delay the appointment, if you can make it the same time each day, that will provide routine and structure for this exercise. Get a notebook and a comfortable pen just for this exercise. Nothing fancy, you won't need to invest more than about $6.00, but get a new notebook and a pen just for this exercise.

Ask yourself these three questions: 1. What do I really want my life and career to do for me? Be specific, money, thoughts, things, feelings, relationships, experiences, opportunities 2. What actions can I take right now to start creating these things? 3. What makes me happy, how do I want to spend my time?
No editing allowed, just ask yourself the question, write down the answer and move on to the next question. When you have finished close the notebook, put the pen and notebook in a safe place, and go back to whatever you were doing. Don't look at what you have written and don't judge your answers when they come to you, just write them down. Use a separate sheet of paper for each of the seven days you will be doing this exercise.

I have used this exercise with many of my clients to help them discover what is important to them.

One clients experience went something like this; he wasn't happy with what he was doing and that unhappiness grew so much he was bringing it home with him. I asked him to do this exercise; only I spoke with him every day and asked him the questions.

There was great resistance at first. He thought it was kind of dumb, pointless, he just had to work and that was that, he thought whether you were happy or not really wasn't an issue, you had to grin and bear it, provide for your family and take what little time you had left to have some fun, if you had enough energy. The first few days most of the answers were some version of I don't know. Midway through the week the resistance gave way to thoughtful answers, possibilities, and embracing the idea of consciously choosing what he wanted. By the end of the week he embraced the idea of being able to choose what he wanted to do. He ended up staying in the same field but moved to a new company. When he went for the interview he clearly laid out what he needed to be fulfilled from the job and the time he was willing to work. Thinking, that because he was just starting with the company he would have to take a reduction in salary, he was thrilled when the CEO hired him at a 30% pay increase and his job description fit his needs and his wants exactly. He is very happy and fulfilled in his job, has plenty of time for his passion of fly-fishing and his family. This job change occurred three weeks after doing this exercise.

Go buy your notebook and pen and get started creating the life you choose to live.



~~~ Resource Box ?BZ Riger-Hull. www.in-spiros.com For valuable free articles, assessments, & practical success tools mailto:A1@smartautoresponder.com Certified as a Success Coach, ?Four Agreements? Facilitator, & Tele-Course leader We help you communicate powerfully, reduce stress, Strategically Attract success, & increase your financial well-being.




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