The Explorer

Volume 3, Issue 8, September 2005

a Life Navigation Coaching publication 

 

 

 

Brilliance

One beauty indulgence of mine is great shampoo.  I love starting the day with hair that feels soft and smells wonderful.  (I may end up with sand, food, or worse in my hair later in the day, thanks to my toddler, but at least I start off well.)  I rotate a couple of favorite shampoos, and some days I reach for my Aveda “Brilliant” shampoo.  Because, as my hairstylist says, “Some days you just need to feel brilliant.”  And I do.   

Do whatever works for you, no matter how odd.  If a certain shampoo makes you feel brilliant, go for it.  If written reminders of your brilliance on sticky-notes make you feel brilliant, stick them wherever you can see them.  If there’s a particular song that reminds you of your brilliance, sing it loud.  (My college students used to enjoy singing “I Can Do It” to themselves as they worked late into the night on assignments I’d given them.  If you’d like to learn the song, give me a call and I’ll teach it to you: (614) 262-8820.)

You’re brilliant.  Enjoy it – and enjoy yourself!  (See below…)

Love and Joy,

p.s.  I have another coaching spot opening soon.  If you are interested and ready to live an easier, more joy-filled life, contact me here.

Enjoy Yourself

My one and a half year old son has a new favorite pastime.  Every morning he runs into my office and points at the computer, wanting me to turn it on so that he can watch videos of himself.  He’ll happily sit for upwards of thirty minutes watching digital video clips of himself over and over.  His favorite clips are those that include him falling down, tipping over, or making strange (or rude) noises.  He once watched a brief clip more than ten times in a row of him losing his balance and falling on his bottom.  He laughed every time and kept begging for me to play it again.

He’s enthralled by his goofiness, and he’s thrilled by his foibles.  I, on the other hand, have vivid memories of numerous embarrassing moments in my life that I’d prefer to forget.  I remember slipping on ice and falling gracelessly, directly in front of the dining hall during my first year in college.  I remember the unintentionally rude comments that I’ve made to friends, where I stuck my foot so far into my mouth that it’s a wonder I didn’t choke.  And, I remember plenty that I won’t write about here!

Our lives are filled with moments of our own making that we’d prefer not to repeat or that we wish had never happened in the first place.  That’s just life.  How we interpret those moments is what makes the difference.  You can be embarrassed, certain that others will ridicule and mock you, or you can just shrug your shoulders and laugh.  (After apologizing to others if you’ve accidentally hurt them.) 

Our feelings are strongly affected by the way we interpret the situations we face.  When you interpret your behavior as embarrassing, you’ll feel ashamed.  When you interpret that same behavior as amusing, you’ll feel enjoyment.  How you interpret a situation is up to you. 

You are perfect just as you are, foibles and all.  Rather than being frustrated by the inevitable mistakes that happen to all of us, enjoy yourself.  Find enjoyment in your blunders, as well as your accomplishments.  Take heart knowing that most of the time, no one will notice your blunders.  And those that do notice will likely empathize with you, remembering their own moments that they’d prefer to forget. 

You may find that enjoying yourself is a challenge due to years of interpreting situations negatively (e.g., by being embarrassed, by wishing for perfection or by being pessimistic).  However, it’s an achievable challenge.  Each time you feel amused by your behavior, content with your imperfections, or optimistic about the future, you are strengthening your ability to interpret situations positively.  The more you practice enjoying yourself, the easier it will get.  You may never forget those formerly embarrassing moments, but at least you’ll be able to laugh about them.

Ready to enjoy yourself more?

Call Lisa at (614) 262-8820 to arrange a complimentary coaching session or click here to send an email.  

Want to learn more about life coaching?

Visit my FAQ page.  Click here.

Life Navigation Coaching
find your direction, plan your journey

 

 

 

Lisa M. Evans, Ph.D.

(614) 262-8820

lisa@lifenavigationcoaching.com

www.lifenavigationcoaching.com

 

The Explorer is published monthly to inspire curious people – people who love to explore, discover, and learn – to go out and get what they want.  It is written by Lisa M. Evans, Ph.D., of Life Navigation Coaching, who coaches people to close the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

You can contact Lisa at (614) 262-8820 or by e-mail at lisa@lifenavigationcoaching.com.

Visit Life Navigation Coaching at www.lifenavigationcoaching.com to learn more about life coaching, Lisa, and opportunities for you.

You may use material from The Explorer in whole or in part, provided you include the complete attribution, including a live web site link and e-mail link.  Please inform me when and where the material will appear.  

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© Copyright 2005  Lisa M. Evans, Ph.D.