Elections, struggling economy, investments taking a nose dive and housing markets are the pits….that’s all I’m hearing these days. Interestingly enough, some of the people who are sharing this with me are doing really well, not “under the circumstances”, but doing well regardless, and they’re not paying attention to it.

Things aren’t great right now.  Granted, that’s a given.  But there’s always something that’s working.  So what is working?  It’s more important than ever to pay attention to your successes no matter how small and to see what’s extraordinary in challenging times.  Why?  Because attitude is contagious.  It’s not to say you should bury your head in the sand. I’m asking “Are you realistic?”  That means the good as well as the bad.

If you’re with people who are panicking ask them what’s working.  Tell them what’s working for you.  This is the time when people need support and they really need to think you want them to succeed. They also need to hear successes are possible.  So how do you show them you’re paying attention to all they’re doing that’s great even in the midst of this chaos?

List 5 things.  List 10 things.  Even as you’re probably dying to argue with me that there’s nothing great happening in your life right now, it’s there.  All you have to do is look for it.  As I ask my clients and now ask you, “What’s so perfect about this when it clearly isn’t?”  Those are the answers I’d love to hear.

One tip…as much as you’re thinking you have to work harder when times are more difficult, nothing is more important than taking time and often, to disconnect.  This is the time to keep on an even keel and the way to do that is making sure you’re in a psychological balance.  Pushing yourself to the limit won’t change the economy or any of the other stressors that are happening globally right now.  Self care has never been more important. So stop the world now and then and get off.

Nothing is easy when you’re not willing to look at it in any other way than as difficult, just as nothing is great when you’re not willing to look at it in any other way than as horrible. Don’t give me all the reasons why you can’t slow down and take breaks. Give me all the reasons why you should and will!

Something to check out…

OK…it’s here!  The beta version of our eGuide for helping you focus, stay centered and thrive through a divorce is out.  The first 100 people will get the eGuide for a reduced price, pretty much the cost of a phone call with your lawyer, actually…. less!  All we ask is your feedback of how it’s helping you, what you’d like added etc.  We’ll review your comments and add what’s applicable to our final version. If you know someone who is struggling with just having made the decision and doesn’t know where to start, this is just the guide for them.

www.soyouwanttogetdivorced.com

As always this newsletter will be posted here.  Pricing specials are only available to subscribers.  To subscribe click http://perspectivesinbrief.com/subscribe/

I’ll leave you with this:

“Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good.” - Vaclav Havel

With deepest respect,

Donna Karlin
Founder and Principal
A Better Perspective
www.abetterperspective.com

ISSN 1913-6307

It’s amazing how many times I’m told how structure seems to impede and limit creativity and how many people tell me they don’t want to be ‘boxed’ in with structure as it will stop their creative juices.

In the same conversation I hear how people are overwhelmed with work and are scrambling. What do you have to NOT do in order to turn chaos into order?

Structure brings freedom, it doesn’t limit it.  If you’re all over the place, don’t focus on any one thing you won’t finish anything well, never mind have the time to let your creativity come out to play.

Contrary to what you might think it is not possible to do two things at the exact same time.  Your brain can’t concentrate on multiple things simultaneously so what it does is move back and forth from one thing to another with gaps in-between while you shift your thinking, taking away focus and replacing it with confusion.  You are wasting time, not saving it.

Sara Paddison said “Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating your next moment. That is what’s real.” What do you want that moment to contain? Do you want to create something amazing, no matter what it is, or something that’s perhaps just barely good enough because you weren’t giving it your full attention?

The distinction is excellence vs. mediocrity.  Think about that the next time you juggle four things at once.

Last but not least…

As always this newsletter will be posted here.  Pricing specials are only available to subscribers.  To subscribe click http://perspectivesinbrief.com/subscribe/

The economy is struggling. 

You don’t have to be. 

The faster you figure out what works best for you, the stronger you will be.

With deepest respect,

Donna Karlin
Founder and Principal
A Better Perspective
www.abetterperspective.com

ISSN 1913-6307