ONE OF THESE THINGS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Molly Cain Three things in life are certain. You already know two of them. The third is this – we humans love to dish out advice but rarely take it ourselves. It gets us into a heap of trouble. We can even watch ourselves as we do the very things we’ve cautioned our friends against. You know, things like “Don’t date that guy!” or “Don’t leave the house in that horrible outfit!” Oh, we’re excellent at telling other people what to do, aren’t we? As a consultant and occasional speaker, I dole out advice often on all things workplace and career. As a woman with friends, I offer advice of all kinds (even unsolicited, it’s a girl thing). And the epiphany I finally had one day was that we really need to listen to all that great advice we’re giving other people. In fact, I personally took my own advice just the other day on a major decision that was hounding the heck out of me. When I did, it was as if the sky opened up and showered awesome down on me. So that being said, I wanted to share pieces of advice I’ve given others (and myself) over the years. I’ve found many of these to be richly rewarding. While a lot of these are obvious, many are things we find hard to execute in real life. Your list is probably different, but I think you’ll find something here that will make a positive impact on your life. Do something weird. There’s a massive sliding scale here. Your weird is totally different than my weird. Broccoli is weird to me (no, it doesn’t make a food item more appealing when it looks like an actual tree). My usage of the word “y’all” might be weird to you (it’s such an efficient word, though). Perhaps you were raised in a traditional family, but you suddenly find yourself in a struggle to mirror that. Screw it. Go with your “weird” and explore the options to adopt versus going the traditional route. We only call things “weird” when we don’t understand them. Only you can make it a “normal.” And if you do, you’ll expand your life. Stop Screwing Up Your Job Search In These Ten Ways Susan Adams Susan Adams Forbes Staff The 8 Things You Do Wrong On LinkedIn Glass Heel Glass Heel Contributor Quit. There are times in life (and there’s never a perfect time, mind you) when we need to quit. Quit a toxic job, a relationship or maybe a bad habit. Quitting these things doesn’t mean you’ve failed. No, it actually means you’re exhibiting strength that many people never drum up, simply because they’re too comfortable with the thing they need to quit. If you’ve got something in your life that you need to quit, and you refuse to acknowledge that need, you’re holding yourself back from the life you’re craving. Pay for it. I don’t know about you, but paying for something makes all the difference for me. It’s not like I’m a cheapskate. Ok, fine, actually I am. If you’ve been talking about reaching a particular goal, but just haven’t done it yet, you should pay for it. Want to finally get that Ironman under your belt? Pay for it. Want to take that trip? Pay for it. Somewhere in between paying for it and then letting your friends know you’re doing it, you’ll realize you just kicked yourself in the butt. Paying for it makes you accountable to your wallet. You can thank me later. Be grateful. If you’re always waiting for the next big thing, you’re going to miss out on that great life you’ve already got. It’s not rocket science, and yet we all struggle with this. Whether it’s more money, more hours in the day, a real romance or a bigger house…all too often we forget to stop and be grateful for what we do have. Make it a point today to inventory what you’ve got already and appreciate it (and THEN go out and make more money). This website. Hey angry person with an ax to grind, I have just the thing for you. Cute baby animals. Maybe it won’t change your life, but watching a baby elephant sneeze will absolutely change your mood. Volunteer. Anyone can donate cash to a cause (don’t misread that, I believe this is a great thing to do), but if you want to enhance your life while also helping others, then you should volunteer. The charitable cause is up to you. Generally, I recommend that if you feel a little heart tug when you hear of a cause, then that’s actually your heart talking (some people don’t get that concept). So fill it by pitching in. I personally spend my time volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas. It’s quite possibly more rewarding for me than it is for the kids. But you can choose to walk dogs that have been abandoned by their owners at the shelter. You could mentor a high school kid and help them with college essays. Pick something and change your perspective on life. This quote by Steve Jobs. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Saying yes or no. Sitting on a maybe is perhaps the wimpiest thing you could do (ok, I’ll use the word we here because I’m guilty). Many of you are holding onto a decision and waffling right now. Do you have a business idea? Turn that maybe into action or someone will do it before you. Are you on the fence about moving across the country for a job opportunity? Decide, or stop thinking about it. Maybe’s make my stomach hurt. They leave things open-ended and they torment you. A yes or a no could potentially change your life. A maybe will not. Stillness. I once wrote about a woman who spends her vacation time taking silent retreats. That’s sitting in complete silence for the duration of her trip. Yes, really. You don’t have to go that drastic, but you should still look for opportunities to be still for a second. That whole counting to ten thing that people do when they’re angry? It works. Taking a walk to clear your head? That works. Stopping your crazy day for just one hot minute so you can avoid a total breakdown? That works. For me, it’s yoga. While the first 15 minutes of every class drives my ADD absolutely nuts, it has a calming effect on me like no other. Find what works for you and sit still. Here’s hoping something on this list will catch your eye. If not, make your own list and get at it. Ultimately, you’re the only one that can change your life. Molly Cain is the Editor in Chief of GlassHeel, career consultant and award-winning business communicator with an eye for the humorous moments in today’s workplace. The rest of the time, Molly’s burning off her ADD by destination running, finding the end of the internets or hanging out with her retired racing greyhounds. Follow Molly on Twitter @MollyCain.
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 04:21:44 +0000