| Published
by Kathy Paauw Organizing & Productivity Consultant Certified Life Coach |
November,
2001 Issue 21 |
||||||||||
I recently heard an Irishman comment that “Finally Americans know what it’s like to live in fear all the time.” As those words echoed through my mind, I wondered if fear would ever subside for many of us. It’s no wonder with all the news we’ve been barraged with since September 11… news about the threat of additional terrorist attacks, anthrax, and anti-American protests around the globe. During these times of uncertainty, it’s easy to give in to fear. I found myself wondering what the opposite of fear was. For me it is represented by being at peace -- the kind of peace that is not based on circumstances, but rather on independent will and choosing where I focus my thoughts. CBS news anchor Dan Rather recently stated that "America's greatest threat is not anthrax, it's panic." I agree with him. If we allow fear to dominate our thoughts, eventually panic will set in …and then the terrorists will have accomplished their goal. If the terrorists are able to penetrate us with enough psychological warfare, they won’t even need weapons to inflict deeper wounds. We’ll devastate our own economy and dismantle our country from within. Yes, the terrorist attacks have hurt us economically. Hundreds of thousands of people, including individuals from 80 other countries, have been deeply affected by what happened on September 11. Some of us were fortunate enough to not lose a loved one, the breadwinner for the family, a place to work, or the place we call home. Those of us who are more fortunate need to remain strong so we can lend a hand to those who need it. We have choices
about our response to these terrorist acts. We can choose to be victims
of this psychological warfare and live in constant panic mode, or we
can choose to call on our own personal strength and power and rise above
it. |
|||||||||||
|
The
Power of Your Mind
|
|||||||||||
|
We forfeit our freedom
of choice through our own thought processes. There are very few things
in life that leave us without choices. Yet some of us forfeit our choice
to the point of seeing our options in life as more limited than they
are. This generally leads to a feeling of hopelessness. Just as we treat anthrax exposure with antibiotics, so can we treat fear and panic. The prescription for this: be a gatekeeper for your mind and take control of your thoughts. Rather than focusing on what not to think about -- which gives those thoughts more power -- focus on what you choose to think about. Replace the negative with positive thoughts. Replace “what if…” with positive possibilities in your life. Here’s an acronym to help you remember the four steps to overcoming FEAR:
|
|||||||||||
|
Take
Care of Yourself
|
|||||||||||
|
Like many others, I found myself becoming consumed by the news and visual images on TV. About a week after the September 11th attacks I reached my saturation point. Since then I have limited the amount of time I spend listening to the news or reading the newspaper. I choose to be informed but not consumed. I’ve found some wonderful distractions by watching our amazing Seattle Mariners (my home baseball team) in the playoffs. I’ve found solace from fear and anxiety in reading a good book or calling a loved one. I’ve taken time to re-read some favorites stored in my e-mail “humor” folder. I've read spiritual and inspirational materials that keep me focused on the power of love and faith. And I read stories about human kindnesses that remind me just how many really good people there are in America and all around the globe. We need to be physically, mentally, spiritually, socially, and economically strong so we can function at peak performance and be available to lend a hand to those who need it. Here are some ideas to help you practice self-care in each of these areas. Make a list of the ideas that appeal to you.
Now that you’ve identified some ideas to help you be strong and healthy, reserve time in your schedule to make these things happen. Yes, that’s right! Make appointments with yourself so you have time reserved to do these things. Visit http://www.orgcoach.net/sixsteps.html to review a six-step planning process you can use to build these things into your weekly schedule. If you need assistance
building balance into your life or reassessing your personal or professional
priorities, give me a call at 425-881-6627. The first no-obligation coaching
call is free. |
|||||||||||
|
Extend
a Hand to Someone Else
| |||||||||||
|
t!
One of the clients
I am coaching (I’ll call her Janet) has been living with a disabling
disease for several years. For many months she has not been out of
her home much at all and has had very little contact with people outside
of her immediate family. During our last coaching call I asked Janet
to tell me about her dreams for the future. She told me that once she
got better she wanted to do something to help others living with disabilities;
she wanted to visit them so they didn’t feel as isolated as she has
felt over the last several years.
I asked Janet why she was waiting until she was well, and she indicated that it would be too difficult for her to get out and visit others in her condition. I asked if she had trouble calling and talking with me for our coaching appointments, and she said that most of the time it was not difficult for her to do so. Then I asked what she thought about fulfilling her dream NOW…by visiting with other homebound people by phone. She had never considered the possibility of anything but a face-to-face visit. The whole tone of her voice lit up as she began thinking of ways she could be of service to others in her present circumstances. I share Janet’s
story (with her permission) to illustrate a point: By helping others,
we help ourselves. There’s something empowering about extending a hand
to someone else in need…for it is in giving that we receive. We all
have a need to feel needed and of service to others.
If you are ready to move beyond fear and panic, I encourage you to find someone who needs a hand and extend yourself to them. You may not need to look far to find a place to be of service – perhaps within your own family, neighborhood, place of worship, or in your workplace. And there are countless ways to volunteer through local non-profit organizations. You’ll be helping yourself in the process. The US Constitution begins with the words "We, the people" -- that's who we are -- the people! And we will not be defeated.
As we gear up for the holidays, you may wish to read my article from last November, Preparing for the Holidays: Ho Ho Ho…or Bah Humbug!, which contains tips to help you enjoy more a more meaningful holiday season. | |||||||||||
| My offer still stands to provide coaching services at no charge to any victims of the terrorist attacks. Victims include family members of those who were injured or killed or witnessed this horrific event, as well as rescue workers, police officers, firefighters, etc. The road to healing is a long one, and I stand ready to do whatever I can to assist in the process. If you or someone you know feels a need to talk with a certified professional coach -- someone who is trained to listen and provide support -- please invite them to contact me. They can either e-mail me at orgcoach@gte.net or call me at 425-881-6627.
Our
web site has received the
Internet Clinic Award, based on the following criteria:
Get my FREE
Organizational Assessment tool. Executives,
CEOs, and Managers: Declutter your environment by donating items you no longer need -- an old computer, cell phone, children's shoes and coats, clothing and household items, or even a car -- and get a valuable tax deduction in the process. Click here for more information. I help individuals committed to moving their lives forward in powerful ways by decluttering their schedules, spaces, and minds. Table
of Contents for Past Issues
Copyright © 2001 Kathy Paauw, All Rights Reserved. |
|||||||||||
Interactivity
