November 2006

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

It's a time to step back, appreciate, and give thanks for all the wonderful moments in your life. One great way to do this is start a gratitude journal. Write down 5 things you are grateful every day. This will keep you balanced and focused on what is really important in your life during the most difficult times of your life.

Sharing a Great Holiday Stress Management Message for Work Life Balance

Next time we feel stressed (whether holiday stress or other stress) and need to complain about life, think of the following message:

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."

"Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then began eyeing each other's cups."

"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, houses, cars, things, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . enjoy your coffee.

"Being happy :) doesn't mean everything's perfect, It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections"

Live in peace and peace will live in you.

Increase Workplace Productivity: November 7-13 is World Kindness Week

November 7-13 is "World Kindness Week." We can all use a little more kindness in workplaces all across the world.

Acts of workplace kindness can increase workplace productivity and morale, decrease organizational conflict, and create a vibrant, growing work environment. The following are twelve acts of workplace kindness that you can apply today:

• East lunch with a new co-worker

• Say "hello" in the morning

• Bring someone coffee

• Write a note of appreciation

• Celebrate birthdays and other special events

• Give a compliment

• Help someone when they least expect it

• Cheer up a co-worker having a tough day

• Smile

• Forgive mistakes

• Respect others

• Offer to share a ride

So act today! As you can see most of the acts doesn't require money. It will produce big dividends for you and others.

Tell us about your acts of workplace kindness.

May I Have Your Attention, Please? Five Ways to Retain Focus and Stay in the Moment

Today many of us frequently feel stuck in overdrive - days crammed with too much to do mixed with an unhealthy dose of frequent distractions, all vying for our attention at the same time. This can cause our minds to be constantly racing which, in turn, can make focusing our attention seem like an impossible task. Is it any wonder we find it difficult to pay attention for more than ten seconds at a time without a sense of dread that we might miss something?

When our attention is spread too thin, we run the risk of putting our relationships in peril. Once others believe you have willingly disregarded their presence, whether intentional or not, your inattentiveness can foster ill-feelings including anger, annoyance or resentment. Whether you find it difficult to remain attentive with customers, peers, family or yourself, the ability to remain connected without daydreaming is possible. So how do you stay present and in the moment? The following are five ways to help keep your head in the game and strengthen your attentiveness skills:

• Practice doing one thing at a time
  Whenever possible, do one thing at a time. Whether it's your children describing their day or your partner boosting about a big accomplishment, stop what you are doing and focus solely, giving this person your undivided attention.

• Make contact
  As you focus solely on the conversation, make eye contact. You'll find it's difficult to maintain eye contact and multitask at the same time. Listen with your entire being (mind, body, spirit) and show others you are present and completely focused on the conversation - smile, nod, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, light up your eyes.

• Slow down
  Many of us are conditioned to be in a rushed state of mind because we live in a society that demands achievement be attained quickly. This is precisely the reason many of us find it so difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time. In the rush of "doing," the special moments pass us by. Make a commitment to slow down and focus on the here and now.

• Commit yourself
  There are conversations we anticipate will progress quickly, and others we know will be time-consuming. When engaged in conversation, commit yourself to the time necessary to complete the dialogue. If you find the time allotted is insufficient to conclude the talk, arrange for a mutually beneficial time to complete the discussion.

• See every interaction as an opportunity to connect
  Every contact you have with someone presents an opportunity to connect with that person, to learn a bit more about them. It's important to remember you can choose to relate with others positively or negatively. Whenever you come upon someone, always ask yourself this question - "What will I miss if I choose to tune out?" Listen to your response, and let this guide your actions and your choice.

The ability to remain in the moment is a matter of personal choice. Make a commitment and follow these simple steps and you'll expand your interpersonal skills to new heights of success.