The
Trailhead
From Patt Osborne, AdventureCoach.
"Climb Mountains, But Bring a Good Guide"
Welcome to the January 2003 issue of The Trailhead!
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Thank you to those of you who have passed this newsletter on to others. If you know someone that you think might find something valuable in here, please forward this newsletter on. And… welcome, new subscribers!
Each month, you will receive some practical tips on ideas such as eliminating stress, finding your passion, clearing clutter, and maybe even some travel tips or favorite recipes. Also look for helpful resources including book titles and websites. In addition, don’t be surprised when you find a call to action. I am a coach, after all! I hope you find some useful tidbits. If you decide to take me up on one of the monthly challenges, email me and tell me about it. I would love to hear what you are up to! And remember…the adventure begins at the start of The Trailhead!
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In this issue:
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Bag the New Year’s Resolutions and Focus on Success!
Here we are…beginning a new year again…Happy 2003! I love the start of a new year! We get to wipe the old slate clean and start with a brand new slate. That offers all kinds of wonderful and exciting possibilities!
So often, we begin the New Year with a host of resolutions-things we promise to do for ourselves that will enhance our life (or others lives) in some way. But let’s face it…those traditional resolutions that we so intensely make for ourselves in January often go down the tubes by the time February arrives. Why is that?? I have come to realize that despite our very best intentions, our resolutions often fail because most of them are filled with “shoulds”. We “should” lose weight. We “should” start looking for a new job. We “should” have better communication with that cranky person we have to frequently deal with. The problem is that although those resolutions may have the best of intentions, they may be based on others expectations of ourselves and not really our own, honest “wants”. I say that it’s time to bag the old resolution stuff and try a new approach.
We can start by using a different term. How about Success? What about thinking about the idea of how to attain success as we move into the New Year? Sound good? Well…first off, what IS success? My Roget’s thesaurus lists these synonyms: accomplishment, achievement, attainment, happiness, progress, triumph, victory. In our culture, success is often defined as how much money we make or how many toys we own. But let’s dig much deeper than those superficial ideas. Instead of living your life based on someone else’s definition of success, what does it mean for YOU? How do YOU define success? When thinking about it, think passion…if you are not passionate about what makes you successful, you may not really BE successful or be heading toward success. Pay attention to what makes you feel energized, excited, stimulated, connected, and pumped. What gets you going and gives you your juice as you follow your path to success? The New Year is a great time to be thinking about what you want to do to become your Best self. I always like the idea of starting from the inside. By setting an internal goal first (like becoming more honest, bold, or creative) you will find that you will begin to attract opportunities that support your external goals, thus leading you towards success. What will that mean for YOU in this New Year? What steps will you take? What changes/shifts will you want to make to lead yourself in a successful direction?
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Challenge at the Trailhead:
Success is whatever YOU say it is…not something defined by your parents, your spouse, your friends, your boss, or the media. Watch how you measure success…if you measure it only in terms of how much money you make, how many honors you’ve earned, how many goals you’ve reached, you may end up feeling unfulfilled and wishing for more. How else can you find success? Take some quiet, alone time to reflect on your answers to these questions:
*What is YOUR definition of success?
*Would you consider yourself to be successful? Why or why not? Would others?
*Think of the people you know. Who are your models of success? What qualities do they have that you admire and make them successful in your eyes?
*What 2 or 3 actions will you take to move yourself in a direction that leads to a successful life for you?
*And remember…success can come in big packages or small ones. Success might mean snagging that new sought- after position you wanted OR it might mean that you have incorporated 30 minutes of quiet, down time into your daily schedule, just for YOU.
So…now it’s bragging time! Send me your thoughts on how you have found success. I’ll share your nuggets in the next Trailhead.
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Upcoming Events:
*New! Self-Care workshops series (in-person) Beginning Thursday, 1/30/03
*Virgin Islands Adventure & Other Happenings
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This month on the Trailhead Bookshelf:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. “In this fascinating book, Goleman makes the case for emotional intelligence being the strongest indicator of human success. He defines ET in terms of self-awareness, altruism, personal motivation, empathy, and the ability to love and be loved by partners, friends, and family members.”
Seus-Isms:Wise and Witty Prescriptions for Living from the Good Doctor by Theodor Seuss Geisel. “In his remarkably perceptive trademark style, Dr. Seuss takes on everything from aging to activism, from belief in others to belief in yourself. Irreverent and refreshing!”
Blessings by Anna Quindlen. “This powerful novel begins when a teenage couple drives up, late at night, headlights out, to the estate owned by Lydia Blessing. They leave a box, drive away, and the Blessings world is changed forever.”
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Trailhead Travel Resources:
Tired of the expense and often impersonal feeling from staying in a hotel when on vacation? Here are 2 great websites that I have used to rent some interesting, offbeat, privately- owned properties in some pretty cool places in the world.
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Some Great Quotes…
“If success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.” ~ Anna Quindlen~
“To laugh often and much. To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others. To leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition. To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
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Well that’s it, folks! Wishing you all a successful and happy year ahead! Thanks, as always, for reading!
Warm wishes,
Patt
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To schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching phone session, email me at patt.adventurecoach@verizon.net or call 609-953-0027
Visit my website for more coaching info. www.adventurecoach.com
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