Small tips for big changes

Who do you want to be?

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What kind of person do you want to be?

What are you doing to be that person?

Life moves fast and it is easy to get caught up in just getting by. Surviving the day to day begins to consume us and we forget who it is we want to be. 

Take some time each day to ponder who it is you want to be. Yes this includes your job, home, your physical world, but I’m talking deeper than that. Are you the person others can count on? Do you want to be that person? Think about your integrity and honor. Do you have them?

 They seem almost antique notions in this world of instant gratification swiping for coupling, bankruptcy, and the anonymous nature of our online world. It all seems to make it okay to get away with just about everything and when you do get caught complete denial.

 But is this really who you want to be? 

The old saying if your friends jumped off the bridge would you, comes to mind.  Really think about it, when did it become okay to be a mean girl? Why is it so normal to have bullies? Not just as kids in the school, but as grown-ups in the community and workplace. Why is it that most assume someone else will call the police and how are people again and again assaulted in public with onlookers recording with their phones but no one stepping in to help?

 So who is it that you want to be? Someone with Integrity whose word means something? Someone people trust and can depend on? A person who is compassionate and nurturing, a good friend, a good sibling, a good parent, a good son or daughter. 

To be this person takes little steps in the moment.  When you make a choice, think about how it affects the person you are and what kind of example does it show. Do your actions meet your words? Do they match the person you want to be? Make choices that supports the person you want to be!

I leave you with the words of Dr. Seuss

Schedule your free consultation now and we will make a plan to empower you to be the person you want to be!

Consistent, Consistency, Consistency

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Most parents are looking for that one thing that will make parenting easier, less stressful, and that joyous experience we all thought it could be. The best advice you could follow is consistent consistency.

Each family will have different rules and boundaries. You need to create the rules and guidelines that fit your home and parenting style. A few important things to keep in mind when creating rules:

  • all the children have the same rules. There are rules that you age out of and into but as you age all of the children get the same rules.
  • The rules teach respect
  • The rules are the rules all the time.

Even if you have to put the rules on the wall for everyone to remember the most important thing is that you keep the rules all the time. When you say no it really means it and don’t back down. Children are like sharks and can smell fear in the water. If they think you will give in they will try. If you say no, they scream, and you changed your answer to a yes they will remember. They will test you and they know they can win. They will play dirty, embarrass you in the store, and scream in your face until they get what they want if they think you will give in. They will cry, guilt and even hold their breath if they have to in order to get the response they want.  Kids are amazingly smart and at a very young age will find just that perfect retaliation to get everything they want. If you gave in last time and the time before that they will try harder if need be.

Take a breath and remind yourself every time you give in they will go one step farther next time to ensure they win. If you are consistent all the time they will know no means no, bedtime is bedtime, and no toys in the grocery store.

Be consistent be consistent be consistent!

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Making Your Routine

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All too often we feel the need to conform especially when it comes to how we spend our time.  The notion of the 9-5 day is still strong and many feel that they must fit their life into that schedule, and for some that works just fine.  However in this modern-day and age that 9-5 schedule is not so realistic for many of us.  You must find a routine that works for you, and not let conformity drive you.

Start by taking a look at your life.  Work seems to be a driving factor for many of us so start there.  Next, take into account your sleeping.  The idea of an 8-hour sleeping cycle only works if you are sleeping when you were actually tired, and if you have the time to set aside for that.  You also have to take into consideration that not everyone sleeps for 8 hours straight.  Think about what time you actually get tired at and what time your body naturally wakes up. This should be the time you schedule for sleeping.

Next, take into account all the other responsibilities you have, and when you’re most productive time is.  For some people it’s best to write everything down, others take on a trial-and-error method.  The idea is to make a routine that works for you and stop conforming to the social norm.  You will find that this will make you much more productive and feel more successful.