Start a “Got-Done” List
I have a beautiful new pottery drinking cup. On the outside rim the ceramic artist has hand-written the words “sometimes I surprise myself”. I love the whimsy of it – and of course the truth. Because sometimes we DO surprise ourselves. Actually, if we thought about it more, we would surprise ourselves often, but it is only occasionally that we allow ourselves to go there.
We don’t have to win the Nobel Prize for Peace to be amazed (and Barack Obama did look pretty stunned). It is the smaller, everyday things that I find pretty remarkable sometimes. Like remembering to fertilize the plants at the right time, or stocking up on sweets to give to the neighbourhood kids who come trick or treating on the increasingly popular Halloween outings. For some people, on some days, just getting out of bed in the morning can feel like an enormous achievement.
Sadly, we are so used to berating ourselves for the things on the to-do list that haven’t been done yet, that we often forget to recognize what we do manage to get right. And every day, we all get a staggering number of things right.
I tried this exercise with the participants in one of my tele-classes the other night; I asked them to write a list of everything they had accomplished in the preceding 24 hours. The results were remarkable. Every person who did the exercise was amazed at how much they had done, how much they do on a daily basis, and how little credit they give to themselves for all that they pull off. One of the women in particular had the rest of totally exhausted from just listening to an account of the first four hours of her day. While I don’t think those of us listening to her were startled by how much she gets done, she certainly was. It was like a light bulb had been turned on in her voice. The more she read, the more she realised how much she gets done (this from a woman who – only the week before – had told the class that she “didn’t really do anything”) every single day, just by being herself.
Inspired by the tele-class participants and my beautiful new drinking cup, I now spend time every evening thinking about how I surprised myself that day. It is very rewarding and affirming. I recommended that, every day, week, month, and year, rather than compiling “To-Do” lists for yourself, you write “Got-Done” ones. I am pretty sure that you will surprise yourself more than sometimes.
Here’s to pats on the back.
Love Judy
P.S. If you are looking for transformational things to add to your “To-Do” list, here are some ideas:
It’s Never Too Late Adult Child Tele-Class - STARTS NEXT WEEK
Understand and eradicate limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviours arising from challenging childhoods through this powerful tele-course. R 2 000 for 5 classes, including all materials and e-book.
The first of these tele-classes is proving to be fabulous and I have been asked to offer at least one more before the end of the year. It is a dynamic programme consisting of preparation reading and exercises and phone classes held at the same time and location – your home! – for five consecutive weeks. Depending on demand, I will be offering another programme at the following times from next week 9 November:
- Saturdays 5pm Johannesburg time (GMT 2)
- Fridays 9am Johannesburg time
- Tuesdays 7:30pm Johannesburg time.
Please mail me on judy@stellarlifedesign.co.za if you are interested in signing up or finding out more
“Design Your Life for 2010” – NEW DATE
I will be offering this workshop together with fellow Martha beck coach, Margaret Clarke on Sunday 22 November at a beautiful house in Beaulieu, Northern Johannesburg.
The Design Your Life workshop helps you assess where you are in your life, where you would like to get to in the upcoming year and how to get there.
Participants can either start the day with a view to understanding and improving a specific area of their lives, or be open to seeing what comes out during the course of the day and acting on that. We will evaluate what you want to change, identify what you want to bring in, and visualize how to do that.
This is a tried and tested formula and is highly recommended as a generic introduction to a life coaching experience.
R 1 200 per person, including all refreshments and materials.
Sunday 22 November 2009 9am to 4:30pm
e-mail me or Fiona at info@stellarlifedesign.co.za for more details and to register.
Into the Light: Stepping out of the shadows of a challenging childhood is still available for the special introductory offer of R150. It is my first ‘self-help’ e-book which combines information on what makes “adult children” with powerful life coaching exercises to help readers make sense of their past and how it affects their present, in order to enhance and improve their future. Click here (to homepage) to read more...
Start a “Got-Done” List
I have a beautiful new pottery drinking cup. On the outside rim the ceramic artist has hand-written the words “sometimes I surprise myself”. I love the whimsy of it – and of course the truth. Because sometimes we DO surprise ourselves. Actually, if we thought about it more, we would surprise ourselves often, but it is only occasionally that we allow ourselves to go there.
We don’t have to win the Nobel Prize for Peace to be amazed (and Barack Obama did look pretty stunned). It is the smaller, everyday things that I find pretty remarkable sometimes. Like remembering to fertilize the plants at the right time, or stocking up on sweets to give to the neighbourhood kids who come trick or treating on the increasingly popular Halloween outings. For some people, on some days, just getting out of bed in the morning can feel like an enormous achievement.
Sadly, we are so used to berating ourselves for the things on the to-do list that haven’t been done yet, that we often forget to recognize what we do manage to get right. And every day, we all get a staggering number of things right.
I tried this exercise with the participants in one of my tele-classes the other night; I asked them to write a list of everything they had accomplished in the preceding 24 hours. The results were remarkable. Every person who did the exercise was amazed at how much they had done, how much they do on a daily basis, and how little credit they give to themselves for all that they pull off. One of the women in particular had the rest of totally exhausted from just listening to an account of the first four hours of her day. While I don’t think those of us listening to her were startled by how much she gets done, she certainly was. It was like a light bulb had been turned on in her voice. The more she read, the more she realised how much she gets done (this from a woman who – only the week before – had told the class that she “didn’t really do anything”) every single day, just by being herself.
Inspired by the tele-class participants and my beautiful new drinking cup, I now spend time every evening thinking about how I surprised myself that day. It is very rewarding and affirming. I recommended that, every day, week, month, and year, rather than compiling “To-Do” lists for yourself, you write “Got-Done” ones. I am pretty sure that you will surprise yourself more than sometimes.
Here’s to pats on the back.
Love Judy
P.S. If you are looking for transformational things to add to your “To-Do” list, here are some ideas:
It’s Never Too Late Adult Child Tele-Class - STARTS NEXT WEEK
Understand and eradicate limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviours arising from challenging childhoods through this powerful tele-course. R 2 000 for 5 classes, including all materials and e-book.
The first of these tele-classes is proving to be fabulous and I have been asked to offer at least one more before the end of the year. It is a dynamic programme consisting of preparation reading and exercises and phone classes held at the same time and location – your home! – for five consecutive weeks. Depending on demand, I will be offering another programme at the following times from next week 9 November:
- Saturdays 5pm Johannesburg time (GMT 2)
- Fridays 9am Johannesburg time
- Tuesdays 7:30pm Johannesburg time.
Please mail me on judy@stellarlifedesign.co.za if you are interested in signing up or finding out more
“Design Your Life for 2010” – NEW DATE
I will be offering this workshop together with fellow Martha beck coach, Margaret Clarke on Sunday 22 November at a beautiful house in Beaulieu, Northern Johannesburg.
The Design Your Life workshop helps you assess where you are in your life, where you would like to get to in the upcoming year and how to get there.
Participants can either start the day with a view to understanding and improving a specific area of their lives, or be open to seeing what comes out during the course of the day and acting on that. We will evaluate what you want to change, identify what you want to bring in, and visualize how to do that.
This is a tried and tested formula and is highly recommended as a generic introduction to a life coaching experience.
R 1 200 per person, including all refreshments and materials.
Sunday 22 November 2009 9am to 4:30pm
e-mail me or Fiona at info@stellarlifedesign.co.za for more details and to register.
Into the Light: Stepping out of the shadows of a challenging childhood is still available for the special introductory offer of R150. It is my first ‘self-help’ e-book which combines information on what makes “adult children” with powerful life coaching exercises to help readers make sense of their past and how it affects their present, in order to enhance and improve their future. Click here (to homepage) to read more...