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06/21/2011

Refusing to Be Seen.

Filed under: Hiding — Tags: , — Joyce K Reynolds @ 1:23 pm

Sometimes we don’t know we’re doing it. We think  it’s just safer to stay under the radar. Smarter to remain out of the line of fire. More comfortable to hide out and avoid confrontation.

It may seem that this strategy will make life easier, more manageable. And, on occasion, maybe it does.

But, when we routinely avoid the spotlight, make ourselves small in order to feel safe, we also sacrifice a lot.

This kind of hiding out is really radical people pleasing. Going beyond being nice to being invisible where we simply can’t offend anyone.

Ultimately, this behavior will mask our uniqueness – kill our potential –  dilute our power. In the end, lead to losing ourselves.

Next time you’re tempted to back up,  duck down or play small,  quickly ask yourself if making someone else comfortable is worth the price of your well-being.

We each have a rightful place in life. Something to say. Clearly, there’s a proper time and place but making sure we are seen and heard is essential to our success, our happiness, our well-being.

Well worth the price of exposure.

06/13/2011

In Pursuit of Perfection.

Filed under: Imperfect — Tags: , , — Joyce K Reynolds @ 1:27 pm

Ah, yes.   Many of us seek it.  Need it.  Crave it.  Demand it of ourselves and others.

Perfection.

Not to mention that it is ever-changing and strictly in the eye of the beholder, it can seem like a reasonable if not appropriate thing to reach for.

So what could be wrong with seeking perfection?

Especially for those whose parents, teachers, mentors and others encouraged, expected or required it.

Well-meaning that some of those instructors may have been, what they failed to realize is that the quest for perfection can also lead to a tortured life.

Chronic disappoinment. 

Unease. 

A sense of constant failure due to impossibly high standards that neither we nor others can reach.

Those are just some of the possible results of living a life in pursuit of perfection.

Human behavior researcher and author, Dr. Brene Brown, urges us to take a break. Her newest book, The Gifts of Imperfection, “urges us to expose and expel our insecurities in order to have the most fulfilling life possible.”

In other words, not only live with them but embrace our imperfections. 

Seek the lessons they teach us instead of trying to kill them off.

Release the stress of overdoing and overworking that results from the quest for perfection.

After all, when we grasp the fact that our human journey is really about learning and experiencing rather than condeming ourselves to repetitive, unsuccessful attempts at clearing the bar of perfection, we can actually start to expand our horizons. Freely learn new things.  Experience renewal. Even – once again – be silly, childlike and have some real fun.

How about that?

Sounds perfectly delicious to me.

06/09/2011

Stop Blocking Your Good.

Filed under: Think the Best — Tags: , , , — Joyce K Reynolds @ 12:20 pm

Whether tongue-in-cheek or not, Mark Twain knew a thing or two about how many of us think when he said, “I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.”

The truth is we all too often expect, anticipate or down right insist on living in worst case scenarios.

There are, of course, myriad rationales for this.

Some people are flat out addicted to scaring themselves.

Without looking back to the needless worry they’ve put themselves through, others believe expecting the worst is a hedge against disappointment. Or that there’s some degree of controlling the situation in this way of thinking.

Still more are convinced that it’s more reasonable, even safer to expect and prepare for the worst.

But, unless we’re talking about hurricane season where there is some real benefit to being prepared, we are robbing ourselves of positive anticipation, optimism, freedom from worry and serenity.

Even more importantly, when we expect things to not work out, chances of this happening are beyond magnified.

We can almost ensure a bad outcome by expecting it.

Conversely, we incrementally improve the chances of a positive, excellent result by expecting and preparing for just that.

There is absolutely no harm in expecting the good. The better.  The best.

None.

So –  to quote you know who –   JUST DO IT.

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