Put your hands on the wheel

We have all experienced times in our lives where we have felt hurt, dissapointed, annoyed, or angry with a situation or an individual. In these moments the only thing that seems clear is an uneasy feeling. It can be said that you can measure your happiness in life by how often you are experiencing these feelings.

Even in a professional environment, feelings cannot be ignored. There are several reasons for this; first, our feelings are a powerful tool we have choice and control over, second, individuals who are feeling content or happy on a regular basis are more productive, and create a more pleasurable working environment; finally, negative feelings, when ingnored, will grow and eventually spill into the culture.

We are going to now change the word feeling into the word perspective. For the most part what we call feelings; are based on our perspective. Now lets keep in mind for a moment that feelings are a natural, and important part of life. However, there are times when they are based on perspective that can be shifted to create a new feeling, to our advantage.

For example; if you lose someone you love the obvious outcome is you will be sad, you may even become depressed. Rightfully so, no one would ever question this. However, if you look around the world, there are people that use faith, or beliefs to overcome those feelings. Therefore, their perspective or feelings will shift.

In day to day life, we experience situations on a much more diluted level. Someone may say something that you thought was offending, or not in line with what you percieve to be appropriate. Or maybe someone critizies you and now you feel a lack of confidence. The list of experiences goes on.

Now the question is, where do these perspectives come from? How do I arrive to these feelings and conclusions?

In Motion, and Emotion

It always amazes me how just at the right moment a book, a song, a person or an experience will come my way. Hard to ignore the fact that when you focus on a particular idea or subject long enough; you stumble upon an inspired thought, meet someone who shares your ideals, or you land smack in the middle of that energy. Some might say; hey you were looking for it and you found it. But how many times do you hear people are looking for something they cannot find? More importantly how do you know what you are looking for is what you want to find? This life is definately more then just a read through (RHCP). But often times we are so caught up in the idea of the end result, the early retirement, the new BMW, the large bank account, the future rather then the present. I'm in motion and in emotion about these thoughts. To me it seems that the real idea is to constantly design your life in line with your standards, your ideal life. It is not so far off to say never settle for less, because in many ways that is true, but only if you know how to shift your perspective.

To make an immediate change try the following;

Look around you; begin to recognize the things you appreciate about what you do for a living and where you are;

Maybe its the BBQ's they put on for you once a week, the gift certificates they hand out, the opportunities they provide, the amazing people you work with, the fact that they want you for that position, whatever it may be start taking stock in the things you appreciate. If you really want to see results, don't assume it does or doesnt work, just be objective and do this for 21 days, see how you feel~

This doesn't mean it is your dream job, or your final experience, the be all end all. Because that is all yesterday's news.

It's about the future, what will you be, how will you get there, where do you want to be?

Put in motion the emotion of appreciation

Let me know how it goes'; i'd love to hear all about it...

jennifer@level88.ca

The Sour, an unpublished song (not mine)

i could never live life easy
i could never just slow down
and as long as i keep moving i'm falling
but it feels so good to get up off the ground
and if i'm the same when i'm older
i won't be just a face in the crowd

i'm only as crazy as you all make me
and that doesn't make me wrong
love it or hate me, you can't mistake me
and that doesn't make me wrong

i could never live like its over
when running in circles is allowed
cause it takes so much to keep me from falling
but i'd rather be a risk than on the ground
and if i'm the same when i'm older
i won't be just a face in the crowd

the sweet, isn't the sweet, without the sour

so lucky so strong so proud