Great Thinking

A lot can happen in a small space of time

During a conversation there is a small space of time that occurs between person ‘A’ finishing their sentence and when you launch into your retort.  It is very intelligent to use this small space of time well and to consider your agenda, desired outcomes and intentions before you retort.  It requires a good knowledge of yourself.

 

The extra mile

If you have a goal or a target or a dream that is not being fulfilled, take a look at what excuses you may be using as your alibi.  How much do you want this?  Are you prepared to let alibis rob you of your success or are you willing to walk the not so walked extra mile to break away from the results of mediocrity?

 

Did you know?

One of our GREATEST FEARS is Fear on criticism. 

 

Big Rocks  S. Covey

I am noticing a recurring theme with all of my coaching clients currently, where time management is a debilitating issue.  I am finding people are not really aware or prioritising what is most important for them.  Your big rocks are the things that are most important to you.  If you fill your time vessel with lots of little things (sand) and pebbles, by the time you come to the big rocks, there is not enough space/time/ energy left.  Know what your big rocks are and prioritise scheduling them in, then get to the small seemingly urgent and distracting things next.

 

Question

What are you the most worried about in life?

What are you doing about it?

 

Habit 5 (7 habits of highly effective people)

Seek first to understand, then to be understood 

Principles of empathic communication

Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.

They are either speaking or preparing to speak.

 

Talk it up

Talk to yourself as though you were your best friend.

If you wouldn’t say it our loud to another person, under no circumstances say it in your mind to yourself. Positive inner dialogue is crucial to happiness and success.

 

Baked Custard (low fat) (serves 4)

Serve warm with poached fruit

• 3 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 450ml Soy milk (naughty is with cream)
• 60g caster sugar
• Freshly grated nutmeg, to dust
• Shaved coconut

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C.
2. Beat the whole eggs, egg yolk and vanilla extract together lightly (you don't want them to become too frothy).
3. Place the soy in a pan with the sugar and coconut, stirring to dissolve. Heat to just below boiling point then pour onto the eggs and stir to combine. Strain through a sieve into a 1-litre (4-cup) capacity baking dish.
4. Stand in a roasting pan half-filled with hot water. Sprinkle the top with nutmeg. Bake for about 30-35 minutes: it should still wobble slightly.

Funnies

*	A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a work station ...
*	A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
*	A day without sunshine is like ... night.

I can’t claim this as my own writing though I think it’s worth sharing now that I have stumbled across it.

 

Having an Attitude of Gratitude - Visitor's Story

by Bobby C.
(Savannah, Georgia, USA)

Ever wondered what it means to "Keep up with the Jones"? Many times we sit and watch as our neighbours bring home new boats and new cars. We are so quick to say "if only" to ourselves. As we watch our neighbour pull into his driveway with his brand new luxury automobile, jealously rears its ugly head deep within our spirit. "What makes him think he is better than me? If he can have a car like that, I can too." The next thing you know you are off to the nearest car dealership and spend entirely too much money on an item that depreciates the instant it leaves the lot.

Society teaches us through the multitude of advertisements what it thinks we should wear, drive, eat and drink. The average person is bombarded with literally thousands of commercials each week. Roadside billboards, placards on the side of city buses, radio, television, internet and many other avenues are used to guide our subconscious mind toward a particular brand of product. We as a society are being "branded" to think and act a certain way.

Now that I've told you everything you already know, take a journey with me. If you will utilize the tools provided in this chapter, I guarantee it will forever change your life. Utilizing these simple techniques you will change the way you look at ALL situations. You will become thankful for what you have instead of focusing on what you DON'T have.


Technique 1: Compared To Whom?

Instead of comparing yourself to the rich families, look at the families who are living in the poverty stricken area of your city. I'm not implying that we are to look down our noses at them, not at all. What I am implying is compared to their situations, I'm sure your situation is looking pretty darn good. It allows you to see the extreme other end of the spectrum. I often see families that are poverty stricken and my heart goes out to them. I never let an opportunity to share my blessings with them pass by. I'm not ashamed to give my last dollar to that homeless man standing on the corner holding a cardboard sign.

I distinctively remember a time when my wife and I were coming back from the grocery store. We were almost home and we were the third car in line at the stoplight. I noticed what appeared to be an elderly man holding a sign that read "homeless and hungry". I watched as the first car (Mercedes) and the second car (Lexus) passed the man and never looked over. I do not drive an expensive automobile and I don't have an excessive amount of money, but deep within my spirit I felt the need to give. I had $6.00 in my pocket and I was honoured to give it to that man.

I often hear people say that all I'm doing is giving that man money to buy more alcohol. That may be absolutely true; however, after I give him the money, it is his money to do what he wished with it. If we all thought that way, we would never help others in need. I give because I would want someone to do the same for me if I were in that situation. My blessing from God is still the same no matter what that man does with the money. Do not worry so much about what others think of you. You are in control of your life and what you manifest into your life by the blessings you bestow upon others. Let other people maintain a negative attitude and outlook on life and they will get their just reward in the end. Follow your heart and your spirit and you can't go wrong.


Technique 2: Thankfulness and Positive Thinking

Stop reading for a moment and take a look at your surroundings. Maybe there is a television or radio playing in the back ground. Maybe the scent of dinner is drifting throughout the house. You can hear your children laughing and playing just outside your window. You have many things to be thankful for. If your eyes open in the morning and you inhale your first breath for the day, be thankful! If you have a roof over your head, food in your stomach, clothes on your back, a car parked in your garage, a loving wife/husband and children, be thankful! So what you don't like your job! Be thankful you have a job.

A well known speaker told a story of a lady who was expressing her dissatisfaction with her job, he told her to stop for one minute and think of one positive thing about her job. She could not think of one thing positive. It was only after some coaching that she was able to think of positive thoughts about her job. Every work place has difficult people. Are you going to let the attitude and personality of one person dictate how your day is going to turn out? Understand that by letting the negative actions of another person change your thoughts from positive to negative; you are allowing them to have control of you. They are ruling over you.

Take a look at the following situation. You are driving to work one morning, the sun is shining, and it has turned out to be a beautiful day. You are noticing the newly bloomed flowers along the shoulder of the road when suddenly another car comes out of nowhere and cuts you off causing you to slam on your brakes to keep from hitting the car. You offer some choice words to the driver and take great pride in telling them they are number one using a "certain" finger. The further you drive the more upset and angry you become. While you are sitting in your car fuming over the situation, they haven't given you another thought. Continuing to let anger build will have a negative impact on your entire day. It will determine the way you treat others, the way you perform your daily duties and the way you will treat your family when you get home because of your bad day.

You are completely capable of controlling your thoughts. Just as easily as you got upset, you could've shoved off the negative feelings. How you wonder? Instead of looking at the stupidity of the other driver, be thankful that you were able to stop thus preventing an accident and possibly injuring you or God forbid ending your time here on Earth. I'm sure you have heard the saying "Every cloud has a silver lining". That is completely true. Every negative has a positive side. It is up to you to search for that positive side. Unfortunately not many people are willing to take the time to do such, but I promise you, if you take the time to look for that "silver lining" it will greatly improve not only your day, but your life as well. Finding the positive in any negative situation will greatly improve your quality of life as well. It is no secret that stress is the number one cause of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and many other medical problems. Finding the positive will instantly decrease the stress level in your body, thus greatly improving your quality of life.

On a higher level, through the imaging being your imagination process you are transmitting to The Universe/The Mass Consciousness, what it is you would like to see manifested in your life. The image you are holding in your mind, puts you into a certain feeling or vibration, which is being transferred out to the world and based on your vibration, you are attracting what is coming into your life. 

As a personal life coach I get to work with a wide variety of people where we are always focussed on "thinking".  It has been consistent thus far to see people have experiences in their life in line with their thoughts, even if they are not really that conscious of their own thoughts.  
Some people seem to attract way more attitude and grief from other people and find they are pre disposed to living on the defensive, while others seem to have very serendipitous lives attracting things to them in line with their deepest desires.

This is why positive affirmations and an unwavering fixation on your desires or goals are a must.  If you come up against some challenge, the tendency is to focus on the challenge and lose the visionary line of sight to your goal/s.  Then, that will be your vibrational set up.  It seems as though challenges are sent to test our commitment to our vision and goals.  The challenges test our character, our default habits and our capacity to think outside the square.  So, set the right goals wisely.

How to get what you want (Thanks Tez)
The only way to get what you really want is to know what you really want. And the only way to know what you really want is to know yourself. And the only way to know you is to be yourself. And the only way to be yourself is to listen to your heart.

Thought of the week
If you are scared about making a decision, you need to establish some more facts. What do you ultimately want to achieve? What do you stand to lose? What do you stand to gain? How would your decision support what you ultimately want to achieve? Don't forget to check in with...What your intuition is telling you?

Habit 3 (Stephen Covey)
Put first things first
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Goethe
What one thing could you do (that you aren't doing now) that if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous positive difference in your personal life?

Don't worry be happy
Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us. JohnMitchell If we let outer events influence our moods, we become their slaves. We lose our freedom. We let our happiness be determined by outer forces. On the other hand, we can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives. 1. Think of solutions, not problems.

Lost in translation (she said it's not but he said she said it's snot)
The filters in our brains are all different from each others. A common cause of confusion or conflict can be because the way that your filters receive and deliver information may be different from the way another's filters receive and deliver that very same piece of information. It is a good habit to seek clarity so we don't make assumptions and then shoot before asking questions.

Recipe
Stuffed Mushrooms
1/2 cup Italian Style Dried Breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup finely diced capsicum
2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Italian Parsley Leaves
1 tablespoon Chopped Fresh Mint Leaf
Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
(2 � -Inch-Diameter) White Mushrooms (Stemmed)
Method
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Stir the bread crumbs, Parmesan, capsicum, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, to taste, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium bowl to blend.
Drizzle a heavy large baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon olive oil, to coat. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cavities and arrange on the baking sheet, cavity side up.
Drizzle remaining oil over the filling in each mushroom.
Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes. Serve.

Great Snack Idea
Sun Rice - Flavoured Rice Crackers All flavour - no fat

Life...

busy busy.....

Quality time
Time with loved ones, as is the case with many activities, needs to be scheduled in. Even if you only manage an hour a month, start scheduling in quality time with your partner, each of your children and your family. Looking back later on in life, these are the times you will remember.

Thought for the week
Everyone knows this one, though to know and not to do is not to know. If keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always gotten.Dreams are not born of indifference, laziness, or lack of ambition. A burning desire to be and to do is the starting point from which the dreamer must take off.

Mangers and Leaders
People/teams will always drive themselves and achieve greater results when they are committed, empowered and have a vision they resonate with. How can you find your teams commitment buttons instead of dragging them along with the compliance model

Clarity "Yes Please"
I am currently offering a FREE one hour "Coaching for Clarity" session. The one hour process will enable you to define what is most proximately important in your life. Clear the clutter. Your new clarity enables you to focus on how to achieve your most desired results for your life moving forward. "Great Thinking" grows via your referrals so it works for me to share with you. Call 07 3219 1544 or 0400 292 355 or email ros@greatthinking.net.au to allocate a time.

Book of the Week
Honestly Woman - Australian magazine for enterprising woman http://www.honestlywoman.com.au/

Winter Mood Lifters
To kick start some feel good hormones, try some (or ALL!) of the following techniques designed to get the blood pumping and those feel good hormones moving.

Set some goals to achieve by the end of Winter - directed behaviour helps us to gain a sense of purpose.

Write yourself a letter from 20-30 years in the future about what your life has been like - this helps to direct your energy and decisions every single day.

Spend time with people who inspire and motivate you - avoid the energy drainers.

Allocate tasks or alternate useful, educational or fun activities to each evening so you do not waste too much the time in front of the TV.

Donate more time to thinking what you would really like to be doing rather than what you think you SHOULD be doing.

 

Food Tip of the Week
Prepare ahead your week and your days and have only the right food around you. When you shop think about your meals and snacks and purchase foods that only give you the option to eat well. It is still yummy. It is a bit of a no brainer though we constantly need to be reminded... Balance healthy food and at least some exercise. JUST DON'T BUY CRAP and STOP DRINKING SOFTDRINK when you are thirsty try water. The less you drink water the less you feel like drinking water. The more you drink water the more you feel like drinking water.

Product of the week
(Posture, necks and backs)
Porta Book from http://www.globalinnovations.com.au/

People in the workplace have taken to placing their lap top on a tall platform and working standing up for some part of the day. Before the OH & S specialists' start to go crazy, I am just giving an example but since we burn 24 kilojoules more per hour when we are standing, it may be worth a try.

Recipe of the Week
Way easy and quick Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Parmesan Croutons
A whole Cauliflower
1 onion
4 slices ham or bacon
2 cloves garlic
Container of lite sour cream
2 cups water with 2 tablespoons of veggie stock in it
Parmesan Cheese

Grate Parmesan Cheese and put on a greased tray in little piles about as round as the bottom of a wine bottle.
Place in 200degree oven and keep an eye on them, remove from oven once golden and crispy. Around 15mins Depending on how many croutons you would like, 2 per person is ample (be warned they are crunchy, tasty and to die for)
Finely dice onion, garlic and ham and lightly fry in the deep saucepan in a little dribble of olive oil Chop entire Cauliflower in small pieces and add to the saucepan stirring well to mix all the flavours
Add the water with added stock and stir, turn to a med low heat and put the lid on until it all softens up.
Stir occasionally. If you like your soup more liquidy you could just increase the liquid/stock (it is a thick soup) When soft, mash or wiz it up and place back in the saucepan and stir through the light sour cream and cook another 5 mins.
Add whatever tricky things you want to give it your own slant.
Top with crumbled croutons over the top.

Have an awesome week. You know how to find me if you need some Coaching around setting and achieving your goals.

Key Motivators

I love Coaching.
Sometimes it is challenging, though this is more around my expectations of how a session should flow. Having said that.... People’s brains are all different like snowflakes and fingerprints. The one consistency that does occur through the Coaching sessions I lead is always mind blowing for me and I think likewise for my clients. It is what I call "the pea".

I find that as we proceed through a session focusing on a specific aspect or subject in order to create change or progress in that area, we begin to layer by layer peel aside the perceptions, excuses, beliefs and habits like peeling the layers of an onion. Peeling and revealing until we reach the rich juicy core of the specific subject we are working on. Getting to that rich juicy core allows us to gain clarity around what it means to us, how much it is a part of us and what we ideally want it to look like and how we ideally want it to serve us.

Almost every client has the experience though, where one of the layers of their onion is welded on. It is clinging on so close or tight that they can’t tell its even there. I can’t see it either as clearly and obviously as I can all of the previous layers though I know it is there, because we get stuck, we don't seem to be able to move forward properly. The richness and clarity of the goal we are polishing up is held to ransom by an unaddressed layer of the onion, anchoring the forward movement and development of a specific goal.

It is 'the pea". It is actually this unidentified entity in our life’s/ minds tapestry that makes our decisions for us. It is the unidentified "key motivator". The key motivator that is at the head of the table for every decision or choice you have to make. It is the reason we get confused when trying to organise our life, make our decisions big or small.

We have no idea this "pea" or key motivator is even there, at some stage we have chosen to ignore it. We ignorantly think other more obvious proximate things are motivating our choices.

When we take the time to spend on ourselves, our minds, we learn about ourselves and can become more at one with who we have become and who we want to be moving forward. We become face to face and aware with our key motivators and can plan ahead with clarity the choices we need to make in order to create the results we ultimately desire.