Authentic Self

Get Your Priorities Straight–No More Settling for Good Enough!

Posted by Kimberly Englot on March 18, 2009 · 1 Comment 

By Kimberly Englot

Enough of settling for “good enough” when it comes to your priorities…or do you even know what your priorities are anymore? Is it time for you to reassess your life, dreams, passions and goals? I know that life gets busy. Spouses, kids, jobs, pets, and homes all require attention, but what about you? You’re not a lot of help to anyone if you’re resentful, tired and only living via obligations to other people!

Get out some paper and take some me time to figure out what your priorities are. This might take some time upfront, but it will save you energy and aggravation later because you won’t be worrying about things that don’t matter! And you’ll know what you need to focus on to live your extraordinary life!

Think about all life areas when you’re deciding your priorities. Contemplate recreation, career, money, relationships, home life, and personal growth. What area’s are lacking? Is having fun a huge priority for you, but you find that you never bother to make the time to scrapbook, or meet the ladies in your book club, or show up for the volleyball games? You need to stop settling for “good enough” when it comes to your priorities in life. This takes courage and probably some hard decisions, but it will be worth it when you notice you’re happier and enjoying your life for a change.

The “good enough” aspect of life is a double edged sword. You also need to have your priorities straight so that you can know what to let go. If being on the ABC Board doesn’t really matter to you, why are you wasting your time doing it (and don’t use the whole “obligations” argument). If you don’t care about have a perfectly tidy house, don’t use up precious energy nagging the kids to clean their rooms or picking up your husband’s socks.

You free up all kinds of energy for other things when you get your priorites straight! It’s time to reassess and start looking at what really matters to you. Clear away anything that doesn’t make you shriek “Hell Yes! I need that in my life!” I’m not talking about the small things like laundry, or dishes, or walking the dog. Those are matters that have to be done, if only to avoid chaos. However, if those things are not a top priority, then you can set yourself free from being so sticky about them! Yes, laundry must be done. However, don’t forgo your workout for laundry.

Living a great life is all about priorities! Go to http://www.kimberlyenglot.com and subscribe to my weekly Authentic Self Newsletter to grab a copy of my Authentic Life Checklist, which is a great tool to help you assess your life.

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What destiny path are you on?

Posted by Kimberly Englot on March 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

We always tend to fulill our own expectations of ourselves.”

Brian Tracy Assuming that this quote is true (and according to Brian Tracy, and Kimberly Englot ;)  ) it is true, what destiny track are you on? When was the last time you actually sat down and thought about your life purpose and if you were even close to living your dream life? It might be time to sit down and reassess your life, your purpose and your goals. Goals are not scary, so don’t be afraid of them. Set something reasonable and then stretch yourself just a little bit farther. The key is to get started working towards it. If you find that it might have been a little too unreasonable, or too easy, give yourself permission to change it. A goal is not a set in stone thing! It’s meant to be fluid and change. Get your goals in order and do something everyday to get yourself closer to it! With this comes satisfaction and confidence that goes with all achievements! Before you know it, you’ll have changed your destiny path to one that truly reflects you!

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Are you in a hurry to get things done? Rush & rush until life's no fun?

Posted by Kimberly Englot on February 17, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

“I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But, I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

Don’t know why
I have to drive so fast
My car has nothing to prove
It’s not new, but it’ll do 0 to 60 in 5.2 !

I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But, I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

Can’t be late
I leave in plenty of time
Shakin, hands with the clock
I can’t stop
I’m on a roll and I’m ready to rock!

I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But, I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

I hear a voice
It says I’m running behind
I better pick up my pace
It’s a race and there ain’t no room for someone in second place

I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But, I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”

Those are the lyrics to the song, “I’m In a Hurry” by Alabama. I grew up loving that song! I viewed it as a theme song for my life. I was continually in a rush, but I never really knew why. I was running around from one thing to another always telling myself that I would take time to enjoy life after (insert whatever I was working on)…But I never did.

I was constanly trying to fill an internal void with external success, and so happiness and peace always eluded me. Then a HUGE thought hit me!

What if all of this rushing around was making me miss out, and my life was actually great just as it was! Couldn’t I be happy right at this very moment? Why did  I have to wait to be happy?

Could I take time to enjoy what I was doing in any one moment, rather than rushing to get something done just to start to rushing for something else. That obviously wasn’t working for me. I was stressed all the time, and unhappy. And I never did take time afterwards to enjoy my life. What if  life wasn’t a race? What if it didn’t matter if I came in second?

So, I tried something new. I begin living like THIS is it! Instead of putting off getting nice sheets, I bought them, and enjoy them! I lit the fancy candles I was saving for a special occassion, and made that occassion special! I gave myself a facial, and read that book I was pushing to the bottom of my to do list. Doing all of these supposed small things, made me realize how great my life really was.

Life is great right now!

I can really see what I was doing to myself before. I was letting my life rush past me, and not enjoying a minute of it — under the illusion that getting “life” out of the way first would make life more enjoyable later. I’m so glad I found the real secret to happiness, before it was too late.

What are you rushing to finish right now? Will you take the time to love your family after you get that promotion, or can you do that right now? What are you waiting for?

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GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION!

Posted by Kimberly Englot on February 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

20 “Permits” You Deserve
I am under the impression that most people do not allow themselves these simple principles. I know that until recently, I didn’t either. I think it’s very important to shed some light on 20 permits that you need to allow in your life. Let go of the idea that you’re being selfish. Think of it as being self-ish! Many of these permits are familiar, but being an adult and the responsibilities that go along with that move in and take over our common sense! Take a few minutes to go through this list. How many of these do you give yourself permission for on a regular basis? Take away your inner critic’s power! GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO:
1. LET GO OF “OBLIGATIONS.” If you don’t absolutely love it, consider letting it go!
2. SAY NO! Every yes you say to something, is a NO you are saying to your family.
3. CHANGE YOUR MIND. Circumstances change, so do moods, feelings, impressions, ideas and people!
4. REASSESS YOUR GOALS, PASSIONS AND DREAMS. As you change, so should your “plan.”
5. QUESTIONS OTHERS. You have every right to make up your own mind and not just follow along, especially if it doesn’t feel right for you.
6. HAVE YOUR OWN OPINION. Don’t let others dissuade you or bully you! You are allowed to think whatever you want, and so are they.
7. TAKE TIME OFF. Honestly, the world will not implode because you took a break! Take time to recharge and you’ll function at your peak afterwards.
8. MAKE MISTAKES. Life would be pretty boring if you were perfect, not to mention how much others would dislike you because they felt inferior!
9. SLEEP IN. Rest is important, schedule a day where you can sleep in if you want to.
10. LET “IT” GO. Dragging old resentments and anger will only hurt you.
11. HAVE “ME” TIME. Having at least one thing that is just for you will go a long way to improve your life.
12. BE GRATEFUL OF WHAT YOU DO HAVE. Getting stuck in a cycle of I’ll be happy when… keeps you from being happy, EVER. Look around and see how wonderful your life is now!
13. SUCCEED. Sometime you get in your own way! Fear of failure is less of a factor than fear of success in most cases.
14. DREAM BIG! Small dreams keep you safe, and small! So dream big because even if you don’t fully succeed, you’ll be much farther ahead.
15. CELEBRATE “SMALL” STUFF. This puts in your mind how grateful you are for what is in your life. Success is success, not matter how small! Treat it with the respect it deserves.
16. FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF. It’s not bragging or boasting or being arrogant to be proud of who you are.
17. FEEL EMOTIONS (EVEN NEGATIVE ONES LIKE FEAR & ANGER). To ignore emotions only gives them more power. Acknowledge them and they’ll disappear much quicker.
18. CRY. Again, trying not to only makes it worse! Crying is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of being sympathetic and caring, not to mention a release.
19. FORGIVE. “Holding anger & resentment towards another is like drinking poison and expecting it to kill your enemy.” Forgiveness is for you, not the other person.
20. REWARD YOURSELF. When you reach a milestone, reward yourself. While creating your plan, decide how you’re going to reward yourself once each big goal has been reached.

 

For the expanded version of this article, please go to www.kimberlyenglot.com/resources.

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