Maria Connolly, LPC
In the quiet moments before dawn, while most of the world sleeps, Warren Buffett is already awake, not reviewing financial statements, but immersed in a book. This isn’t occasional leisure; it’s a deliberate daily practice consuming 80% of his working hours. What does one of the world’s wealthiest individuals know that many aspiring leaders miss? Never stop learning!
It’s normal to want to be loved, to fit in, and to be accepted. We care what other’s think. That’s why we all do the dance of give and take – we’re trying to find our place in our family, the workplace, our community and the world. And if you start from a grounded, well-balanced sense of self and others, it isn’t so difficult to stand up for yourself, celebrate the unique person you are, and be your own woman. However, many women have learned that being a people pleaser is safer.
Every December, I engage in a powerful ritual called Best Year Yet. It’s a time when I pause, reflect, and realign my vision for the year ahead. This process often reveals something profound, a shift in how I understand myself in connection with performance and potential. This new understanding is the foundation that helps me adjust my Master Life Plan.
I created my Master Life Plan years ago with the intention that it be flexible — allowing me to grow or rest as I need. It guides me throughout each coming year, making it better than the last. Do you do something similar to get ready for a new year?
“It’s all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self-love deficit.”~ Eartha Kitt
Why does this year lead many to wonder if it’s time to reset your life? The flurry of activity during the holiday season is kind of like a snowstorm — it blows in with gale force, disrupting our regular flow and leaves us feeling a little worse for wear. Plus the changing season — darker days of winter here in the western hemisphere — contribute to the holiday/winter blues.
Have you noticed that when a snowstorm hits, you often have to fiddle with the radio dial to get the station to come in more clearly? (Yes, some of us still have radios with dials!) The storm disrupts the regular flow of radio signals. Life is like that too. We stay in touch with our truest self by looking for signals that mean it’s time to adjust “our dials”.
Predictability is safe. Some say it’s boring. Being spontaneous may be scary or thrilling. Predictability or spontaneity — which makes you feel most alive? Or do you need both?
When life is overwhelming, predictability gives stability like an anchor that keeps you from totally losing it. It creates calm in a world of chaos. At times like these, you’re tapping into the benefits of predictability: