As I said a few posts back, I'd rate my career as a solid 8 out of 10 - I might even kick that up to 9 out of 10 (there is a reason I don't do those surveys everyone asks us to do...).
This has been a year of learning and settling in.
For those of you who don't know, I moved from one Federal agency (and department) to another, and from one state to another - and from an urban/suburban area to a rural area.
There are some similarities and a lot of differences - and it's all good!
As I move into the twilight years of my Federal career (I'm eligible to retire in three years), I look back and can't believe how fast it has gone and how far I have come.
I have been blessed with great mentors along the way, people who saw my potential and encouraged me to grow, even when that meant they would lose me as an employee. Those folks saw the potential for the greater good of the organization as well as my growth as an employee rather than the potential loss of an asset from their particular department.
I only hope I can do the same for my employees now that I am a supervisor.
I enjoy helping others grow, and hope that I am doing a good job of that.
What have you harvested in your career this year? What areas are doing well, and what areas need a bit more pruning and fertilizing? How can you move forward in the coming year?
We will close out the Harvest blogs with relationships - until next time, Namaste!
Monday, October 30, 2017
Monday, October 16, 2017
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Finances
As I said a couple of posts ago, I'd rate the financial part of my life at most a 6 on a scale of 10, mainly because of my credit card debt. Since then, I applied for, and received, a credit line that I can move that debt over to for 0% interest until January 2019. I will likely have to move the debt a couple more times to take advantage of such offers before it is fully paid off, and that is the long-term goal. Also, I will be incurring less debt in the future by truly considering a purchase before making it.
When I look at my finances for the last few years, I have to acknowledge that my spending habits have changed - and that my credit debt is the last bastion of the old spending habits.
Like many people, I used to shop as - I was going to say therapy, but it was more like escape - having new things was like losing myself in a drug - the high lasted for a little while, and then I was back to my real life, only with more debt.
As I have gone through this self-coaching over the last few years, I realized and have taken to heart that things are not the answers to my issues.
Those answers have to come from the inside, not the outside.
And in order to be free to live my best life now, I need to free myself from the load (and land) of debt as well as that of material things that do not bring me joy or fill a true need.
I know paying off my debt is a multi-year commitment, however, it took time to get to this point, so it makes sense it is going to take time - and strict adherence to a budget - to get away from this point and to the financial place I want to be, to the financial freedom I want to have.
As I said at the end of last week's post, I am responsible for success in every aspect of my life - as I define that success. And I have redefined financial success as having a minimal credit debt, and have committed to move toward achieving that goal.
What have you harvested in your financial area of life this year? What changes are you committed making to be successful in this area of your life so that you can live your best life now?
There are two more areas to review this year's harvest for - career and relationships - and we will discuss these over the next two blog posts.
Until next time, Namaste!
When I look at my finances for the last few years, I have to acknowledge that my spending habits have changed - and that my credit debt is the last bastion of the old spending habits.
Like many people, I used to shop as - I was going to say therapy, but it was more like escape - having new things was like losing myself in a drug - the high lasted for a little while, and then I was back to my real life, only with more debt.
As I have gone through this self-coaching over the last few years, I realized and have taken to heart that things are not the answers to my issues.
Those answers have to come from the inside, not the outside.
And in order to be free to live my best life now, I need to free myself from the load (and land) of debt as well as that of material things that do not bring me joy or fill a true need.
I know paying off my debt is a multi-year commitment, however, it took time to get to this point, so it makes sense it is going to take time - and strict adherence to a budget - to get away from this point and to the financial place I want to be, to the financial freedom I want to have.
As I said at the end of last week's post, I am responsible for success in every aspect of my life - as I define that success. And I have redefined financial success as having a minimal credit debt, and have committed to move toward achieving that goal.
What have you harvested in your financial area of life this year? What changes are you committed making to be successful in this area of your life so that you can live your best life now?
There are two more areas to review this year's harvest for - career and relationships - and we will discuss these over the next two blog posts.
Until next time, Namaste!
Monday, October 9, 2017
MaXIMIze - Harvest - Well Being
In the Circle of Perception exercise, we touch on well being three times - physical well being, spiritual well being, and overall well being.
As I shared in my last post, I rated my spiritual well being at a solid 8 out of a possible 10 rating. And I'm okay with that. I wasn't raised in church and came to my own definition of spiritual well being either in spite of or because of that. I could probably rate this area at least a 9 instead at this point. I'm not searching for something or trying to make sense out of anything at this time, and I don't feel forsaken in any way, shape or form. So this particular plate keeps spinning on its own at this point.
In the area of physical well being, I'm wavering between a 6 and 7 at this point. My overall health seems good. I am slightly overweight and I would like to be in better physical shape - toned muscles and the ability to hike more moderate to difficult trails is the measure of that. And that is all on me. There are things I can do that only cost me time, since I have weights, yoga equipment, DVDs, etc. So I just need to make this a priority and put time aside to use the tools I have in this area.
Overall well being is currently a 7, as I have a couple of areas to do better in - physical well being, as noted above, and finances. I would like do better at keeping in touch with my family in California as well as my other friends and family. That is also on me. Yes, communication is a two-way street, however I could hold up my end a bit better.
So I know where I rate each part of my life, and what I can do better in - and that I have the tools to do so. I just need to make the plan on how specifically to do better and commit to following the plan.
In the end, I am responsible for my well being, and my success - according to my definition thereof - in all aspects of my life.
Next week we will look at the harvest of finances and how we can increase that over the next year.
Until next time, Namaste!
As I shared in my last post, I rated my spiritual well being at a solid 8 out of a possible 10 rating. And I'm okay with that. I wasn't raised in church and came to my own definition of spiritual well being either in spite of or because of that. I could probably rate this area at least a 9 instead at this point. I'm not searching for something or trying to make sense out of anything at this time, and I don't feel forsaken in any way, shape or form. So this particular plate keeps spinning on its own at this point.
In the area of physical well being, I'm wavering between a 6 and 7 at this point. My overall health seems good. I am slightly overweight and I would like to be in better physical shape - toned muscles and the ability to hike more moderate to difficult trails is the measure of that. And that is all on me. There are things I can do that only cost me time, since I have weights, yoga equipment, DVDs, etc. So I just need to make this a priority and put time aside to use the tools I have in this area.
Overall well being is currently a 7, as I have a couple of areas to do better in - physical well being, as noted above, and finances. I would like do better at keeping in touch with my family in California as well as my other friends and family. That is also on me. Yes, communication is a two-way street, however I could hold up my end a bit better.
So I know where I rate each part of my life, and what I can do better in - and that I have the tools to do so. I just need to make the plan on how specifically to do better and commit to following the plan.
In the end, I am responsible for my well being, and my success - according to my definition thereof - in all aspects of my life.
Next week we will look at the harvest of finances and how we can increase that over the next year.
Until next time, Namaste!
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
MaXIMIze - Bringing in the Harvest - Circle of Perception Overview
For those who have followed my blog for some time, you have heard me speak of the Circle of Perception before.
For those who haven't, or who need a refresher, here is the exercise:
1. On a piece of paper, draw a circle. I recommend 81/2 x 11 paper and a large circle.
2. Divide the circle into 6 pie pieces of equal size and label them as follows:
3. On a scale from1-10, 10 being the highest, rate your current satisfaction level in each of those six areas.
4. Display that graphically by shading the pie piece from the center to the edge of the circle for each area of life, each piece of the pie, to show the appropriate number - 1 being at the center of the circle and 10 being the full piece of the pie.
Let that image sink in for a moment.
Now, focus on each area, and think about what you did or did not do in the past year to increase your satisfaction score in that area.
I'll use my own life this past year as an example.
Career - a solid 8. Many of you know that I moved from Sacramento, California - where I spent most of my life - to Taos, New Mexico just over a year ago. I like my job and the people I work with, and I am satisfied there for now.
Relationships - I waver between 7 and 8 here. Moving out to Taos meant leaving my older two children and my three grandchildren in California, and I miss them. I am thankful for the Internet and instant communication. I miss seeing my grandchildren on birthdays and holidays, and am thankful for the updates and pictures of them. I am glad I chose to follow my significant other to New Mexico, and appreciate our time together very much. And I look forward to the day we can actually live in the same place!
Spiritual Well Being - another solid 8. I could find a spiritual community here in Taos, but the one that truly calls me is in Albuquerque, 2 1/2 hours away. And I'm okay with that for now.
Physical Well Being - I waver here between 6 and 7. I could be more active, and I know that it would be good for me not only physically - since I have the onset of arthritis and other age-related things - but also mentally. Exercise is good for the mind as well as the body.
Finances - I'd say a 6 if not a 5 - my debt has built up again for various reasons, and I have to focus on and address that fully before I will truly be able to retire. I am eligible to do so in three years, however whether I'll be financially able to do so is another story.
Overall Well Being - taking all the other areas in my life into account, I'd say a solid 7 at this point.
My harvest is good in some areas, not so good in others, and I can see clearly what needs to be done to improve for next year's harvest review.
Over the remaining weeks in October we will go in-depth in each of these areas and really look at our harvest in each one of them for 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
For those who haven't, or who need a refresher, here is the exercise:
1. On a piece of paper, draw a circle. I recommend 81/2 x 11 paper and a large circle.
2. Divide the circle into 6 pie pieces of equal size and label them as follows:
- Physical Well Being
- Spiritual Well Being
- Finances
- Career
- Relationships
- Overall Well Being
3. On a scale from1-10, 10 being the highest, rate your current satisfaction level in each of those six areas.
4. Display that graphically by shading the pie piece from the center to the edge of the circle for each area of life, each piece of the pie, to show the appropriate number - 1 being at the center of the circle and 10 being the full piece of the pie.
Let that image sink in for a moment.
Now, focus on each area, and think about what you did or did not do in the past year to increase your satisfaction score in that area.
I'll use my own life this past year as an example.
Career - a solid 8. Many of you know that I moved from Sacramento, California - where I spent most of my life - to Taos, New Mexico just over a year ago. I like my job and the people I work with, and I am satisfied there for now.
Relationships - I waver between 7 and 8 here. Moving out to Taos meant leaving my older two children and my three grandchildren in California, and I miss them. I am thankful for the Internet and instant communication. I miss seeing my grandchildren on birthdays and holidays, and am thankful for the updates and pictures of them. I am glad I chose to follow my significant other to New Mexico, and appreciate our time together very much. And I look forward to the day we can actually live in the same place!
Spiritual Well Being - another solid 8. I could find a spiritual community here in Taos, but the one that truly calls me is in Albuquerque, 2 1/2 hours away. And I'm okay with that for now.
Physical Well Being - I waver here between 6 and 7. I could be more active, and I know that it would be good for me not only physically - since I have the onset of arthritis and other age-related things - but also mentally. Exercise is good for the mind as well as the body.
Finances - I'd say a 6 if not a 5 - my debt has built up again for various reasons, and I have to focus on and address that fully before I will truly be able to retire. I am eligible to do so in three years, however whether I'll be financially able to do so is another story.
Overall Well Being - taking all the other areas in my life into account, I'd say a solid 7 at this point.
My harvest is good in some areas, not so good in others, and I can see clearly what needs to be done to improve for next year's harvest review.
Over the remaining weeks in October we will go in-depth in each of these areas and really look at our harvest in each one of them for 2017.
Until next time, Namaste!
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