YOUR LIFE A-Z:BATTLE

STAND TALL ABOVE THE RUBLE AND BE NOT COMPLACENT

BATTLE

A BATTLE is not just a fight for fighting sake.  A BATTLE is a well thought our plan and strategy for defeating the enemy in ways that liberate you.  Notice the word used is not “kill” the enemy, but defeat the enemy.  Our anger often gets in the way of us living conscious healthy lifestyle choices and we end up trying to kill off that which bugs us rather than defeat it or render it powerless.  I tell the parents of teenage kids to choose their BATTLES with their children wisely, less they be fighting all of the time.  We are at the half-way point of the TWENY-MINUTE COACH now it is important to increase our energy for change and focus again of what is working and not working in our daily life.  A war cry lets the enemy know that you mean business.  Do you really mean business?  Do you really want to change and get what you want out of life or is that default button on?  A BATTLE?  Yes, life is often a BATTLE but what is missing is a well –organized strategy to get what you want.  Becoming complacent is dangerous on the BATTLE field.  The enemy is waiting for you to get lackadaisical.  The enemy wants to defeat you and send your back into your depression.  Be a warrior wizard and BATTLE until you see results.  You are capable of winning what you want, so look at your strategy, tweak it and move forward with the armor of great warrior prepared for BATTLE.  

YOUR LIFE A-Z: RIGOROUS

ATTENTION TO DETAILS

RIGOROUS

RIGOROUS seems to be the right R word to follow Own, Pride, and Quality.  RIGOROUS is defined as meticulous, exacting, scrupulous, demanding, and painstaking as well as many more synonyms.  Are you ready to step up in your life and Develop a RIGOROUS exploration of your life? Choose one goal you want to get RIGOROUS about and start changing it.  Some changes take a clear focus and painstaking plan that you must execute RIGOROUSLY in order to produce the change you want.  Old habits are really hard to break and the messages that those habits send fill your unconscious relentlessly.  You might often experience success and then immediately sabotage yourself by over-sleeping, speeding, or losing something very important.  Next your negative self-talk takes over and beats you up and your fortitude diminishes.  But with RIGOROUS attention to detail, determination, and attending to the goals of your dreams and passion, you will be back on track.  Be RIGOROUS and go forward with leaps and jumps.  Being RIGOROUS requires strength, courage, and determination.  Being RIGOROUS is not for sissies.  Being RIGOROUS is for the serious and those that really are being honest with his/herself!  How bad do you really want if?  If you really don't want it, then please do yourself a favor and let it go, toss that goal to the abyss.  Only be RIGOROUS about things that really matter.  Do not set yourself up for disappointment or failure.  Be RIGOROUS in real matters of your heart. 

YOUR LIFE A-Z MANAGE

Rise and Shine.  Time to Wake up and Get Going

MANAGE

Yes, MANAGE your life in all things.  MANAGE your Budget. MANAGE your time. MANAGE your health.  MANAGE your life as if you are getting paid to be the CEO of your life.  Chief Executive Officer’s get paid big bucks because the buck stops with her/him.  The responsibility rests on the CEO’s shoulders the same as how you live your life rests on top of your shoulders.  In reality you are the CEO and the buck stops with you.  Thus, begin to MANAGE your life as if your life depends on it because it does.  MANAGE your life in all things.  Manage it for more joy, happiness, and peace of mind.  Create the assets you need to feel comfortable and safe and learn to live joyfully within your means.  What does it mean to MANAGE?  It means to Analyze, think, plan, Fit, and make Effort to have the life and lifestyle you want. MANAGE the way you approach your year, your month, and your day.  As a result you will have a life that develops a sense of purpose, peace, and possibilities. Boredom will subside and Adventure will ebb and flow around the edges of a Meaningful life that is well MANAGED.  Take a minute now to examine the quality of your life and ask yourself what will work better and more efficiently in your life if you, as you the CEO, are in charge of that area?  

YOUR LIFE A-Z JOIN

NATURE INVITES YOU TO JOIN HER TODAY

JOIN

JOIN a group that will enhance the quality of your daily life.  JOIN a cause that will give you a sense of Purpose.  JOIN an organization of like- minded people.  Life is too short to live a vacuum of the little corner of your world. Get out of your rut by allowing yourself to JOIN something new.  Something new will feed you, nurture you, challenge you and allow you to learn and become new again.  Just because you JOIN something does not mean that you have to stay forever or that you cannot quit.  You will not know if the group, organization, or cause is right for you until you give it some Effort.  If it is not what you thought you signed up for then Tweak it or Quit it.  Use your noggin to make sure that the places you choose use your energy and feed your soul or spirit in some way that makes a difference in your day-to-day life.  The Joy of JOINING is a win –win situation, not only for the other person or organization but also for you.  So take a look at the many opportunities you have to JOIN and choose something.  I encourage you to choose something out of your comfort zone, something that will stretch you a bit and help you grow more into who you can be.  But, if that feels too intimidating then JOIN something really emotionally safe for yourself.  Just don’t let your life stat the same, JOIN something different today.

YOUR LIFE A-Z HONEST

A MUST READ FOR PERSONAL HONESTY

HONEST

In the word Effort I spoke about being HONEST with yourself. The word HONEST is more than not lying, stealing, or cheating.  HONEST implies congruence between ones actions and words and how one actually lives his/her day-to-day life.  When I asked the question are you being HONEST with yourself, it is a bold question inviting you to soul search your motive for your Effort.  Is the Goal you set in the last word, really what you want or is it a “should” imposed on you from your inner judge; society at large; a family member; or friend?  If the Goal is not yours and you are forging ahead with it, I promise you that you will fail or even if you succeed you will not enjoy the positive energy of succeeding.  More than likely you will feel underwhelmed and joyless at your accomplishment.  Why?  Because it was not your Goal.  You achieved it for someone else. They may be ecstatic and joyful for you, but you are thinking, “what’s next, now what do I have to do to win your approval?“  Give yourself permission to be HONEST, very congruent with your GOAL.  If it is not your desire, toss it, at least for now.  Maybe once you give yourself permission to toss it then you will Discover that there is a larger percentage than not that also wants this GOAL.  You will not be able to answer that question with the naked HONEST truth until you give yourself permission to toss that which does not come from your inner most self.  

YOUR LIFE A-Z:GOAL

GOALS ARE THE METAMORPHOSIS OF OUR LIFE

GOAL

Wikipedia defines GOAL as a desired result a person or system envisions, plans, and commits to achieve.  Remember that our first G word was Go.  Then we covered the G words, Generous, Gratitude, and Gentle.  Now we have some very practical tools behind us to help us Define our honest GOALS and Develop a pan of Action to accomplish exactly what we want and it is only three and a-half months after starting The Twenty Minute Coach: Your Life A-Z.  It is a perfect time to explore what you really want and to set into Action a plan that will help you achieve the clear ways of exactly how to get there.  Next, Define your GOAL.  Choose not more than three GOALS, but choose one GOAL for this exercise.  Write out your GOAL.  For instance, I want to go on vacation this year.  Now answer: When do you want to go?  Where do you want to go?  How much will it cost you to go?  How much money do you have saved toward this?  Where can you get the rest of the resources to go on this trip? Garage sale? Overtime at work?  EBAY?
Now, re-examine your GOAL.  Is this how you sabotage yourself?  Is this GOAL accomplishable in the next year?  If not, what do you need to Tweak?  The deadline?  When is this GOAL accomplishable?  Set a realistic deadline and set a few small weekend trips to satisfy yourself until you can achieve your Defined GOAL.  It is not an all or nothing endeavor.

YOUR LIFE A-Z FIT

A GOOD FIT GETS US WHERE WE ARE GOING

FIT

Do you FIT? What does it mean to FIT?  Are you FIT?  Lot’s of questions pop up with this powerful three- letter word.  No wonder it follows Diligence and Effort.  I am sure each of you readers has at least three-five stories about how you feel when you do not FIT in.  In the process of growing up I am sure you found your self in the garden of misFITS more than once.  Ah, but the word garden would imply you are not alone.  Misfits are often the most colorful, productive, and vibrant part of the garden of life.  Just because companies make a size 10, does not mean that everyone FITS into a size 10.  Maybe you are a size one or a size triple X, so what?  You are you.  It takes working with your daily difference in positive kind ways to give yourself permission to FIT in just as you are without having to change one thing.  Also, reframe the word FIT in terms of your physical health.  Often your body weight or your BMI are the only focus of FIT.  But how are your heart, sugar levels, cholesterol, lungs, and muscle groups?  Are they FIT?  Remember what it feels like when you put on your favorite clothes and they fall perfectly, cozy and comfortable on your body.  It feels wonderful.  You want your body to feel that wonderful from the inside out.  It may take some more Diligence and Effort, but take one thing at a time and bring it into the perfect FIT for you.

YOUR LIFE A-Z EFFORT

TO GET TO THE RIGHT SPOT USE EFFORT

EFFORT

Effort is a word that can easily cause guilt so we have to be careful with this word.  Many of you may hear messages of parents or teachers saying to you, “You just don’t make enough EFFORT.”  From my point of view EFFORT IS EFFORT and “enough” EFFORT is an oxymoron.  Most dictionaries say that EFFORT is a vigorous and determined attempt, giving the example of hammering birdhouses to country fence posts in an EFFORT to bring back eastern blue birds.  Thus, EFFORT is an attempt to do something that has a clear and definable goal.  If you intend to make an “A” in a class and you make only a “B” then is that because you did not make “enough” EFFORT or just the fact that you did not plan or Tweak your intended EFFORT appropriately?  When you are not achieving your intended goal it is important to Tweak what you are doing, not just doing more of the same, if it is not getting you to your intended goal.  EFFORT requires honesty.  Do you really want to bring back bluebirds or is it just a nice idea?  Do you want that “A” for yourself or does the grading system just not matter to you?  Are you pleased with your outcome?  If so, that is “enough” EFFORT.  If you are not pleased with your outcome then Tweak your EFFORT. If you repeat your same plan it will result in the same outcome. It is important that you decide what pleases you and what honestly disappoints you in the outcome.

YOUR LIFE A -Z: SUCCESS

SUCCESS IS BEING YOUR BEST SELF

SUCCESS

How do you define personal or professional SUCCESS?  Your definition will outline whether or not you reach SUCCESS.  If you say, I know I am a SUCCESS as a parent because my kids behave, make great grades, and are all in college with happy relationships then your definition of SUCCESS is defined by how someone else is doing.  At any time something can go wrong with outside situations that will bring your SUCCESS crumpling down around you.  Is Peyton Manning a SUCCESS as a quarterback even though he failed to show up in the 2014, Super Bowl?  The game was not a SUCCESS, but still his career will go down in history as one of the most SUCCESSFUL quarterbacks of our time because of his record of SUCCESS.  How you feel about your choices on a regular basis is going to determine your measure of SUCCESS.   Were you there for your kids no matter what more times than not as they were growing up?  Did you go the extra mile in order to be involved in life?   SUCCESS is a series of steps in the right direction even when there is a storm, an obstacle, a painful event.SUCCESS is measured by the steps you took, not by your destination.  SUCCESS is an internal thermometer, not an outside measuring stick.  So ask yourself today about your steps and allow yourself to PRAISE your personal and professional SUCCESS.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: HABIT

SOMETIMES HABITS ARE INCONVENIENT TO ESTABLISH, BUT THEY ARE NECESSARY

HABIT

Habits are hard to break and they are equally hard to establish.  In order to break or establish a habit, and be successful, there must be a complete buy-in by you.  First of all you must have interest and then you must develop that interest by building steps toward your new habit.  For instance, I have never established a habit of flossing because I have no interest.  Instead, I get my teeth cleaned more often.  

The last “H” word in the TWENTY MINUTE COACH was the word “HEATLHY.”  If you have no interest in your health you are not going to do the things necessary to eat and be healthy.  If you decide to diet, you will cheat, lie, sabotage, and go back to the crap that made you heavy as soon as the scale gets to your magical number.  And,each time you promise yourself it will be different, it isn’t.  You have no buy-in of interest, excitement, or heart.  They are not aligned.  

How do you align them?  What do you want?  Establish what you want first. What are the benefits of attaining your want?  What is it about those benefits that bring you joy?  Ah yes, if I lose 15 pounds I go down two sizes in my pants!  Won’t that be awesome? And my knees won’t hurt when I run.  What picture does that create in your brain?   Find a symbol of that picture that makes you smile every time you look at it and place that symbol where you look at it daily.  Now you are building momentum toward a new habit.  When you arrive, keep doing what worked.  That is what makes it a habit and not just a “program.”