Hate That Chore? Change Your MindWritten by Lynn Cutts
March (and April) bring income tax season. For most people, entire process is a nasty chore, from gathering information to filling out forms, to paying taxes. And while chocolate helps, it’s not enough. Which brings me to topic of this essay: handling tasks we hate. We all have them, whether it’s taking out trash, paying bills, getting up in morning (for some, that’s a real chore), exercising, or whatever. So how can we make those nasty chores less distasteful?Our mindset and attitude make a lot of difference in how we perceive life. If we have decided that something is going to be awful, then we subconsciously look for proof that it is. And we usually find it. Conversely, if we are convinced something is going to be fun, we look for that instead. That’s why two people sitting side by side each other at same event can have two totally different experiences. Let me tell on myself. I hate cooked carrots with a passion, almost as much as I love chocolate. (For me, eating cooked carrots is more than just a chore I hate–it’s cruel and unusual punishment.) This is not something new; my father tells me that first time he fed me strained carrots I spit orange goop right back out in his face. Anyway, a couple of years ago, I was eating at a restaurant in Vermont, run by students from Culinary Institute of America. My plate came out with some orange puree on it, and I cautiously tasted it, quite prepared, if necessary, to re-enact scene with my father. It was delicious. It didn’t taste like squash, or rutabaga, or sweet potato, all of which are orange vegetables that I like. I finally asked our server. “Carrots,” he said. Since I didn’t know they were carrots, I hadn’t decided that I didn’t like them. Since I ate orange stuff without a preconceived idea, I actually enjoyed them. All it took was changing my mindset. (By way, I still don’t like cooked carrots. I don’t know if it’s because I know what they are and have made up my mind already, or if carrots at that restaurant were just exceptional. I suspect it’s a bit of both.) So when it comes to taxes, and other chores we hate, way we approach them can change our experience of them. Here are a few different things to try. • Find a way to be grateful for chore. Yes, it sounds Pollyanna-ish, but in some ways, she’s gotten a bum rap. Thank goodness you have a job so you have taxes to pay. Be happy you have a refrigerator to store your food in, even though you have to clean it out once in a while. Heating bills? Hey, you were warm last month when thermometer took that plunge. • Focus on outcome of what you are doing. Think how good it will feel to have those taxes done and off your mind. Think about that sparkly clean fridge–and not being afraid to open up an unmarked container. You might even arrange for someone (a spouse, friend, kid, family member) to cheer and applaud your accomplishment when you are finished. Or plan a reward for yourself.
| | Design Your Perfect Lifestyle Written by David Wood
Design Your Perfect Lifestyle We often fall into trap of thinking we have to wait until retirement to have our life be just right. (Of course, in retirement people often get bored.) So stop waiting! This article is written to help you design your ideal life. Then ask question: What would it take to have this NOW, or this year? If that's absolutely not possible (and it probably is, so look hard!), then you design a plan to reach that. Following is an extract of Perfect Lifestyle Program. (Better still, you can currently download full Program free of charge at www.life-coaching-resource.com Look for Design Your Life option.) Instructions: Print out following, and create a picture of your ideal lifestyle in following seven areas. Use questions as a guide and also add your own questions. Assume money is not an issue i.e. you have plenty. You can worry about HOW to get your picture later. Now dream! a) Self Care How many massages per week? How much drinking water per day? What kind of body? Exercise program? Diet? How much energy would I have? How many walks would I take? How much peaceful time/fresh air? How much sleep would I get? How do I dress? b) Home Environment Where would I live geographically? Which suburb? Which country? House/unit? On water? In country? Friendly community? Climate? What would my bedroom look like? My yard? How tidy is house? Do I have a cleaner? Someone who shops for me? Does washing? What car do I drive? c) Relationship From your partner, do you want a commitment for life, or a commitment for now? What kind of commitment do YOU want to make? Do you want an exclusive relationship, or one where you explore other relationships? To what limits? Kids? What's your ideal sex life? d) Friends and Family How many friends do you want in your life? Do they drop by spontaneously, or set up weeks in advance? Do your friends know your other friends? Are they rich? Interesting? Creative? Warm and Open? Or busy and stressed? Ideally, how would your relationship with your mother look? Father? Siblings? (Don't let your history block you here. Create 'ideal' relationships!
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