Success Tips for Life

Relationships as Islands

I picked up my copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's, Gift From the Sea, and noticed I bought it in 1996.  Her words and ideas, originally written in 1955, are still spot on.  I marked a particular passage and as I re-read it, the wisdom of it touched me again.

"The only real security is not owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even.  Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what is was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now.  For relationships too, must be like islands.  One must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits - islands, surrounded and interrupted by the sea, continually visited and abondened by the tides.  One must accept the secuity of the winged life, of ebb and flow, of intermittency." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Marketing & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Opposing Reality

Consider this excerpt from Byron Katie's book, A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are.

"Life is simple.  Everything happens for you, not to you.  Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon nor too late.  You don't have to like it - it's just easier if you do.  If you have a problem, it can only be because of your unquestioned thinking.  How do you react when you believe that the past should have been different?  You scare yourself stuck, because what you resist persists.  You get to keep your stressful world, a world that doesn't exist except in your imagination; you get to stay in the nightmare.  It hurts to oppose reality, because in opposing reality, you are opposing your very self." - Byron Katie

Marketing & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

More Compassion, Less Control

 

I've discovered a fabulous combination.

More Compassion + Less Need for Control = Loving Peace.

Give it a try, see what happens.

Marketing & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

The Best Present in the World

 

During the holidays we are busy thinking about presents we want to give and gifts we'd like to receive.  The best present in the world you can give yourself, at anytime, is the moment - the here and now.  And when you are present, that is also a gift to everyone around you. 

"Through self-observation, more presence comes into your life automatically.  The moment you realize you are not present, you are present.  Whenever you are able to observe your mind, you are no longer trapped in it." - Eckhart Tolle

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Wanna Play?

When is the last time you played?  The last time you had fun?  Play isn't just for kids (although that's what we're told).  It's never too late to release the playfulness in you.

"Play is an attitude." Alan Cohen

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

The Inside

Have you ever noticed how often we think about things outside of ourselves?  We worry and wonder about what other people think about us.  We think about other people and how they are doing.

But how often do you consciously inquire as to how you are feeling at any given moment?  I was re-reading Eckhart Tolle's book, Practicing the Power of Now (his new book, A New Earth is also a must read - http://www.eckharttolle.com) and one section really struck me.  Here's what he said:

"Make it a habit to monitor your mental and emotional state through self-observation.  'Am I at ease this moment?' is a good question to ask yourself frequently.  Or you can ask, 'What's going on inside me at this moment?'  Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside.  If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place."

Only having to get the inside right sure seems a lot easier, and more peaceful, than spending time trying to make everything on the outside right.  So why not start tending to your interior and see what happens?

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Change

Some quotes about change...

"Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal." - Arthur Schopenhauer

"Change means movement.  Movement means friction." - Saul Alinsky

"The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it." - Marcus Aurelius

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." - Mary Engelbreit

"We are entering the dimension where we have control - the inside." - Byron Katie

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor Frankl

"Things do not change; we change." - Henry David Thoreau

"Our only security is our ability to change." - John Lilly

"It's not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." - Charles Darwin

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Don't "Should" on Yourself

Do you ever find yourself saying (or thinking) "I should ...''?  Whenever you notice that you are feeling like you "should" do something, stop.  This is a sign to consider whether or not it is really something you want to choose to do.

That's right, you get to choose.  You don't "have to" do a lot of things.  Many times we cross our own boundaries and do things we don't really want to do because we are trying to please other people.  Remember, don't "should" on yourself.  You'll have more peace and you'll feel good about the things you do decide to do.

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Two Tasty Words

The two words 'thank you' are so easy to say and yet sometimes we simply forget to use them.  A heartfelt 'thank you' means so much to the person who receives it.  And guess what, it also feels good to say it.  Who can you thank today?

Saying 'thank you' is important in your personal life as well as your professional life.  Here is a link to an article I wrote about how it can affect your business:

http://www.fireflycoaching.com/Articles%202006/Articles%20april%202006.htm

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.

Recipe for Instant Peace

I've created a recipe for instant peace that works for me.  It's quite simple and just requires that you pay attention and remain aware of your thoughts.  Here it is:

Ingredients:

* One part of staying in the present moment (the now)

* One part of minding your own business

* One part of positive thoughts and words (eliminate the negative thoughts and words)

Mix all ingredients and serve on a plate of gratitude. 

To enjoy this recipe, simply notice when you are feeling anxious or stressed and ask yourself these questions: 1. Is this my business?  2. Is this happening right now?  3. Is this a positive or negative thought?  Once you get clear about this, remind yourself of at least one thing that you are grateful for to supercharge your peaceful feeling.

Enjoy your peace!

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward is the author of the FREE special report “7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time” grab your copy, plus free monthly business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.