I just gave myself a week-long Time Out in Mexico. The break was needed to calm the chatter in my mind and the busy-ness in which I had found myself. Even though life is quite fantastic, it has been bustling along at a ferverish pace for quite some time now and I was really starting to feel the need for a great big PAUSE.
In my work as a professional motivator, I teach my clients the 5 step process to embracing their potential: P.A.U.S.E. The first step, and the root of it all is to pause, or take a Time Out. I advise my clients clearly that ‘all you have to remember is to PAUSE, because that’s where all the answers lie’. No matter what your issue is, no matter what pain you are trying to ease, personal or professional, you will find your answers when you step off the Treadmill of Life and pause.
If you are a parent, you may have a very different idea of what a Time Out means; if you are a sports fan, likewise. Ultimately, both scenarios are teaching the same lesson and it is an elemental one. When you take a moment to remove yourself from the current circumstance (a temper tantrum, a series of bad plays, etc.) and breathe (always remember to breathe), you are much better equipped to continue and with success. Cooler heads prevail: confidence rises; fear is quashed; creativity soars; solutions are found where once there existed only chaos and uncertainty. And then there is peace.
This week I went without cell phone or internet. I emptied my mind for prolonged periods of time. At one point I said to my friend, “Guess what I’m thinking about?... Nothing.” And I laughed!!! I caught myself thinking about nothing every now and then as I stared out at the ocean from my hammock. It always made me smile. My time out brought me to places I have never been before. I will not wait another 40 years before I go back. In fact, if I just lay back and rest, I can be there again in my mind…
I can PAUSE at a moment’s notice and so can you. There is no need to go to Mexico but there IS a need to embrace your potential and take a Time Out! Lesson Learned.
If you need assistance in giving yourself a Time Out, contact me at lisa@embracingpotential.com.
Sign up for my monthly e-news at http://www.embracingpotential.com.
Professional Motivator, Lisa Payne, finds inspiration in everyday events to help others embrace their potential.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Do You Believe in Magic?
Have you ever felt like the sense of wonder that you held fast as a child has been lost to you forever? Are you too busy on the treadmill of life to stop and smell the roses? Does your job, finances, or family responsibilities take up all the space in your brain, leaving no room to experience the magic that is beyond what you can (currently) see?
I invite you to remember, not so long ago…
• The wind blowing through your hair as you pedaled as fast as your little legs could go and the thrill of zooming downhill faster than lightning.
• Feeling light as air as you swung higher and higher after multiple under-ducks on the swings.
• Trying to blow a bubble bigger than your head before your Double Bubble popped all over your face, hair and glasses.
• Staying up too late and getting up too early during a sleepover where there was too much sugar, not enough cake, and just the right amount of silliness.
• Blowing bubbles to see how far they could be carried in the wind before your friends stomped on them.
When you are desperate to reconnect with the magic that can be found as easily as it is lost, I highly recommend consulting with the experts. I have two of my own, aged 9 and 11. Spending quality time playing with children can magically take your mind of bills, reports, laundry and back pain. They say that laughter is the best medicine and I believe that the magic shared in a moment of childish fun can create lasting peace and happiness in your world and in the world at large.
If you don’t have your own children, please take mine!!! Just kidding, but I’m willing to bet your friends or relatives wouldn’t mind you sharing in their magic for a while. There are many volunteer programs where you can get a bit of this magic on an ongoing basis and make a difference in the life of someone else. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program with which I have been associated for many years. Friday past, my 12-year-old mentee and I hosted a variety show in his grade six class. I feel so grateful to have shared the past three years with them, one lunch time a week, and I told them so. I got goosebumps and was practically moved to tears as I watched these kids strut their stuff. They were free to be themselves in a safe and supportive environment. What magic, indeed!
So, how will you recapture the magic of childhood today? I feel the Tilt-o-Whirl beckoning me from the fair that’s in town; then, there’s the new Shrek 3D movie… ah, so many choices. YES, I believe in magic and I trust you do, too. Lesson Learned.
I invite you to remember, not so long ago…
• The wind blowing through your hair as you pedaled as fast as your little legs could go and the thrill of zooming downhill faster than lightning.
• Feeling light as air as you swung higher and higher after multiple under-ducks on the swings.
• Trying to blow a bubble bigger than your head before your Double Bubble popped all over your face, hair and glasses.
• Staying up too late and getting up too early during a sleepover where there was too much sugar, not enough cake, and just the right amount of silliness.
• Blowing bubbles to see how far they could be carried in the wind before your friends stomped on them.
When you are desperate to reconnect with the magic that can be found as easily as it is lost, I highly recommend consulting with the experts. I have two of my own, aged 9 and 11. Spending quality time playing with children can magically take your mind of bills, reports, laundry and back pain. They say that laughter is the best medicine and I believe that the magic shared in a moment of childish fun can create lasting peace and happiness in your world and in the world at large.
If you don’t have your own children, please take mine!!! Just kidding, but I’m willing to bet your friends or relatives wouldn’t mind you sharing in their magic for a while. There are many volunteer programs where you can get a bit of this magic on an ongoing basis and make a difference in the life of someone else. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program with which I have been associated for many years. Friday past, my 12-year-old mentee and I hosted a variety show in his grade six class. I feel so grateful to have shared the past three years with them, one lunch time a week, and I told them so. I got goosebumps and was practically moved to tears as I watched these kids strut their stuff. They were free to be themselves in a safe and supportive environment. What magic, indeed!
So, how will you recapture the magic of childhood today? I feel the Tilt-o-Whirl beckoning me from the fair that’s in town; then, there’s the new Shrek 3D movie… ah, so many choices. YES, I believe in magic and I trust you do, too. Lesson Learned.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Little Girl's Growing Up
It has been such a busy few weeks that I haven’t been finding much time to write. Today, I honor my biggest distraction and my biggest inspiration: my daughter, Sydney, who turns 9 year old today.
Sydney is my precious second born child, my Gemini through and through. She has boundless energy that starts as soon as she pops out of bed in the morning. She is full of life and loves life. Her nature is such that she doesn’t settle on one thing for long; and while she flits from one activity to another, she never complains of being bored nor does she require constant attention to maintain her good mood. While there is no doubt of her extroversion, Sydney finds pleasure in quiet times, too. (Okay, it does usually involve her talking with her dolls or stuffed animals, but she does manage is what I am saying!)
From her blond curls to her toes, Sydney is my sunshine. She is dramatic, to be sure, and there is never a dull moment around her. She loves people and is very caring and compassionate. In many ways, she is like her mom… but she is unique with her special gifts. Every day, Sydney brings a smile to my face and faces of everyone that sees her.
Sydney, my sunshine. I truly love her… I also like her a lot. It is for these reasons that she gives me the inspiration to be who I am in the world. I recognize the immense influence I have on my daughter. I want the best for her so I choose to live by example, demonstrating what is possible when you embrace your potential. Lesson Learned.
Sydney is my precious second born child, my Gemini through and through. She has boundless energy that starts as soon as she pops out of bed in the morning. She is full of life and loves life. Her nature is such that she doesn’t settle on one thing for long; and while she flits from one activity to another, she never complains of being bored nor does she require constant attention to maintain her good mood. While there is no doubt of her extroversion, Sydney finds pleasure in quiet times, too. (Okay, it does usually involve her talking with her dolls or stuffed animals, but she does manage is what I am saying!)
From her blond curls to her toes, Sydney is my sunshine. She is dramatic, to be sure, and there is never a dull moment around her. She loves people and is very caring and compassionate. In many ways, she is like her mom… but she is unique with her special gifts. Every day, Sydney brings a smile to my face and faces of everyone that sees her.
Sydney, my sunshine. I truly love her… I also like her a lot. It is for these reasons that she gives me the inspiration to be who I am in the world. I recognize the immense influence I have on my daughter. I want the best for her so I choose to live by example, demonstrating what is possible when you embrace your potential. Lesson Learned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)