Jingle bells jingle bells . . .

Jingle all the way ?? Yeah right, you may be thinking - you don't feel very Christmas-y, and there is so much to do before then. Sound familiar? If so then I'd like to do something a little different this month. I would like you to sit back, take a couple of very deep breaths, and give me 5 mins of your time.

Think back over the year that has almost gone. Imagine you are watching a video of 2003, and this particular video is playing back to you all the events of your year, at work and outside work. Can you imagine it?

As you sit and watch, what do you notice? Do you notice how busy you were, or how relaxed you were? Do you notice the wonderful successes at work, or the things that have caused you a sleepless night or three? Do you remember the holidays or the 50+ hour weeks. Do you think of the high level of self care you maintained or the extra couple of kgs that went on? Just think about YOUR year - what else do you see in this video? It is different for us all.

I have suggested this little task to make a point. When we humans are asked to assess how we do, and how we are, many of us choose to focus on the negatives. We do make it tough for ourselves. We are often drawn to what is still to do, where we have fallen short of our intentions, where we think others will think ill of us, where we think ill of ourselves. I could ask WHY we do this ~ and I am not going to. I will leave others with different skill sets, to ponder that one. What I am passionate about is supporting people in libraries to make different choices in the future, starting from NOW, this minute, today. We choose our thoughts. So for those of you who want to try changing the focus a little, read on . . .

These suggestions and ideas are geared to offer you different choices, so you can get different results. If you want less stress, less upset, less dissatisfaction or on the other hand, more fun, more time for you, more lightness and more enjoyment, then have a go at these different perspectives. They may not feel comfortable initially because you are changing patterns (of years?)

1. I suggest that you start to regard yourself as a managing director of a company called MY LIFE.com Not only are you the MD but you are also the major stakeholder and you own the majority of the shares. Now think about the decisions you are making in that light. Is MY LIFE.com healthy? Has it got good long-term prospects? Is the MD up to the job? If not then take control, cos she/he is the only one this company will ever have.
   
2. I suggest that for a whole hour of one day this week, you speak only positive thoughts and ideas. Just notice the size of the challenge, and you do not even have to be with others. If you choose an hour when you are alone, then monitor your self thoughts and notice the cacophony of voices in your head ~ you know the ones ! ~ we all have them. How many are not positive? Park them and replace them. Again this is your choice ~ if you want to listen to the same old boring critical refrain, then do it, but don't go expecting different results.
   
3. I suggest that you get the focus real clear on what you personally have to be grateful for, at work and at home. What do you really really really have to be grateful for, and let's start off simple. What about a warm smile from a customer, or praise for a job well-done? Think about the way you have got to grips with some meaty challenge, or were offered a place on a new project. When did you have a delicious conversation with a child, or an adult? What about some yummy food you recently ate, or the longest and most delicious cool drink. When did you last walk in the bush or along the shore? When did you last curl up with a god book, that was not work related? These are all things to be grateful for, they are there for the taking, and they help us get through the realities of the workaday week. They also fill up the energy tank. They are there if we choose them. And why don't we?? Cos work gets in the way? Cos we have no time? Maybe. Could it be that we don't make them a priority ~ that we choose not to value our selves ~ that we are stuck in patterns ~ that we need a gentle, or not so gentle reminder of what is really important now and again.

When I was working on a particularly challenging project at my former employer a few years ago, a colleague said to me. You know, when you are up on Alpha Centauri, you can't even see the City Council. An exaggeration I know, but you get the picture. Wake-up call indeed. As the festive season and end-of-year approaches, please think of what is really important to you, and think beyond the standard business-as-usual answer. Honour what is really important at work and at home, because, put very simply, you are worth it.

Best wishes for a peaceful and joyful time over the next few weeks, and throughout 2004.