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LIVING BY DESIGN NEWSLETTER
by Leslie Karen Sann, MA, LCPC
V2, #3
March 15, 2002
IN THIS ISSUE
Being True to You
Quotes
Practically Speaking
Wonder Questions
Coaching Corner
Write to Me
BEING
TRUE TO YOU
Life is a journey, a process, NOT an event. It is an
art, a creative endeavor. There is no wrong way to do it. There is no
right way to do it. We do it the way it works for us. The important thing
is to learn to discern what it is that works for YOU, because each one of
us is different.
Every human being has a unique DNA coding. There is
not another person on the planet that has the same fingerprints as you do,
or the same footprints or lip prints that you do. You are totally unique.
Therefore your experience of life is unique. You're the one that gets to
decide what kind of life will fulfill you. Are you up for the challenge?
Of course you are!
Taking conscious control of your life's direction
isn't easy. There is so much outside influence. We are continuously
bombarded with images, thoughts and programming telling us what to wear,
how to think, who we should be. Self-help books, motivational speakers,
schools, media hype, religious organizations, all attempt to shape our
thinking and tell us who and how to be. But remember, none of those is an
inner yearning, but, in reality, an outer imposition.
It's important to stop and consider, from your own
heart, what fulfills you. It's OK to "think BIG," but remember
BIG is relative. Many people think they have to have BIG goals in order to
live a significant life. Yet what is BIG?
One person may find tremendous value from growing a
garden, and another person could look at that and think, "That is so
boring, what I want is to learn how to fly planes and be an acrobatic
pilot." Someone else may want to teach children and another may want
to create a lot of money. Who is to say one person is more fulfilled than
the other. What is true is that each is doing what feeds them. That is
what is essential.
I often counsel clients about the value of coming
present with where they are in their lives, and in learning to honor the
essence of who they are. Living our life in a way that brings enjoyment
and fulfillment is the 'right' way for us. It doesn't really matter what
we do. It matters how we do it.
When we create our own fulfillment, we can give in
to the world (give in to the world - not take from the world) the essence
of our enjoyment and our satisfaction. When this happens, the world
becomes a richer, more complex, more beautiful place to live.
Leslie
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QUOTES:
"Your work is to discover your work
and then give yourself to it."
~ Buddha ~
Let yourself be silently drawn
by the stronger pull
of what you really love
~ Rumi ~
"When we are motivated by goals that
have deep meaning, by dreams that need
completion, by pure love that needs
expressing, then we truly live life.
~Greg Anderson ~
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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
When working on uncovering what it is you really
want to create in your life, it is sometimes helpful to look at your
immediate circumstances, what you are involved in on a day to day basis.
Observe your life. Notice where you spend your time
and energy and ask yourself "is this how I'd really like my life to
be in this area?"
Become aware of how you feel about each endeavor.
You may even choose to assign yourself a score where "0" is
"no fulfillment or satisfaction" (a.k.a. lousy) and 10 is
"completely fulfilled."
(Note: 10 does not mean it cannot be improved or
that it will not require continuing attention to maintain this level of
satisfaction, it means that, for the moment, you are feeling complete.)
If any area is less than a 10, ask yourself, "Hmmmmm,
what would a 10 be for me?" and then write it down.
Let's say, in the area of recreation, you are at a
7. Now ask yourself, what would it take to get me to an 8. (The key here
is taking one step at a time on our way to a 10 . If you know another way
to do it, let me know.)
Now you have a game plan. Next stop--an 8.
Incorporate those actions into your life in easy and graceful ways, until
you find yourself at an 8, at which time you can figure out what it will
take to get to 9!
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WONDER QUESTIONS:
- What level of satisfaction am I experiencing
in the different areas of my life?
- What actions could I take in order to improve
the experience I am having?
- Am I willing to be the predominant creative
force in my life?
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COACHING
CORNER
Got Questions? Get Your Answers Here.
I am open to you for questions on how to use the
tools shared in these newsletters. Submit your questions to: leslie@living-bydesign.com
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WRITE TO ME!
I am interested in your successes! Write to me and share wins you have experienced
using any of the techniques I have shared.
Perhaps you have a story about how gratitude transformed a challenge into a blessing, or
how the simple act of acceptance has brought peace more present in your life.
Tell me which strategies have worked and what occurred. Send your story or any
questions you may have to me at:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
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COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
c Copyright 2002 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:
Copyright 2002 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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