"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."
         —Abraham Lincoln

* * * * *

Bridge the gap between potential and performance!

Companies face the increased competition of a global market.

Managers face the challenge of markets they can no longer predict.

Employees face the challenge of fast paced change in a shifting economy.

What does it take to not only survive but to thrive today?
How do companies and individuals handle increased demands and workloads?

Experience the edge coaching gives you!

Contact Benita for your
FREE half-hour coaching session!

Phone: 204-235-1075
eMail: benita@lifematterscoaching.com

The Coach Approach, October 2005
By Benita Stafford-Smith

Simplify Your Life Dramatically!

A very popular program I use in my coaching practice is titled Personal Foundation. Your personal foundation is the structural basis that supports you in living an exceptional life. Simplify Your Life is a lesson in the third part of the Personal Foundation program called the How of Personal Foundation. This third part defines and discusses how a person acts to be who they really are.

The first step in Simplifying Your Life is to ask yourself the following questions:
Is my life too busy? Why?
Why have I chosen to do so much?
What am I building and where am I going with my current lifestyle?
Is there a better future to it?
Is that future costing me my present?
What am I missing about myself because of my current lifestyle?

Next follow these 10 Steps to Simplifying Your Life
1. Understand this is a major step. If you are serious about this, you will be making big changes that will have big effects. Are you ready for this?
2. Evaluate your current life honestly. Where is the "clutter" and what is eating up
your time, your peace of mind, and your energy? Make a list, be specific and judge the negative value of these things, as well as the positive.
3. You have most likely gained a great deal from your frenzied pursuits over the past years. What are you willing to let go of? What are you not willing to part with? This includes both the material and the immaterial things. Make a list of both.
4. Make a list of how much of your "busy-ness" is composed of "shoulds".
5. Make a list of all of your current commitments (all areas, business, family, financial etc.).
6. Make a list of your habits. Which of these drain you and add to the craziness?
Which add value? Distinguish them well.
7. Eliminate all tolerations (See the lesson on this subject).
8. Re-organize your schedule to increase efficiency, even if you don't eliminate anything (Of course, deleting things is usually the best way).
9. Analyze your current financial situation.
10. Armed with this information, make a solid plan to simplify.

After completing these ten steps and the assignment that accompanied the Simplify Your Life lesson, I still felt there was something missing, something else to simplify that would make a significant difference in my life.

I decided to take some time out to contemplate on this. Over the next few days the answer came through my clients. I found over and over again I heard myself saying to my clients - I have simplified decision making by always going back to my Personal Foundation. When making a decision I look at - Are my values are honored? Is this within integrity for me? Does it raise my standards? And lastly, does it bring joy and is it effortless?

After contemplating on my dilemma I was grateful for this awareness - I have a simple, easy, effective way to make good decisions!

To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss, to love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying, to hope is to risk despair, to try is to risk failure.

"But all risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."
Leo Buscaglia