Success without Stress

Success without Stress

‘I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues’
Duke Ellington

How do more energy, more time and a better quality of life sound to you? Attractive! Yes, I thought they might. We live in a fast paced, I need it yesterday world where being busy and overwhelmed is commonplace. I often hear people say they feel exhausted and tired of not having enough time to spend with loved ones or enough energy to do the things they really enjoy. The very technology designed to give us more leisure time is taking over our lives. Are we becoming human-doings, instead of human beings?

Do you ever find yourself running around like your life depended on it? What are you running after? Are you chasing more money, a better career a new and improved lifestyle? What would happen if you simply walked? It may take longer to reach your destination, but you might enjoy the journey, maintain your health and on arrival really enjoy your achievements.

As a Health and Success Coach, I support people who need to make important life changes. I also work with organisations on change management, stress reduction and work-life balance. Two things I can be heard repeating time and time again are: “being successful doesn’t have to be stressful” and “if you are not creating ease in your life you are creating dis-ease”

Success without Stress is a lifestyle choice. Despite the overwork, overwhelm and low energy levels many people are accustomed to, it is possible to achieve more of what you want with less sweat and struggle. It is all about how you use your energy.

Pareto’s Law - better known as the 80 – 20 principle, states that 20% of causes are responsible for 80% of effects. For example 20% of the world’s population uses 80% of its resources. 20% of your wardrobe accounts for 80% of what you wear. 20% of all recorded music is played 80% of the time. Is this starting to make sense? 20% of your energy creates 80% of your results. So according to Pareto (Italian economist) most of what you do creates very little at all.

Quantity doesn’t determine your success as much as the quality of what you do. It’s all about effective use of energy. For example, when you try hard to remember a name, it’s almost impossible, but as soon as you relax, the name emerges. A different part of the brain takes over allowing effective use of your whole brain. Rest and relaxation are important for success. The sages of old understood the workings of the brain and the universe by being still and meditating. It has taken thousands of years for science-quantum physics to produce similar knowledge to that which sages received through stillness.

What does this mean in our fast paced modern world? You must get clear about how much energy you are willing to spend to achieve your goals. Think of energy as a currency of exchange and ask yourself, “How much is my career costing me?” Parents often feel guilty for not spending enough time with their children The American Medical Association says, “stress may be the cause of 80-85% of all human illnesses and disease”. The cost of not creating ease in your life can be extremely high.

Today more and more people hire Professional Coaches to create balance and make winning at life easier. Coaching is a partnership for success offering effective tools for life and business development. I recently worked with a client helping her complete and publish her new book in less than six months. I have helped professionals develop confidence and skills to leave the corporate world and become business owners. And I have helped lawyers and busy executives achieve work-life balance, meaning, more life and less work. I am going to share five tools I use to successfully help people move from where they are, to where they want to be with more success and less stress.

Success Strategies

1. Alone Time – create time each day to connect with the sacred, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Have quiet time in nature, meditation or prayer. This relaxes your mind, refuels your body and helps clarify and focus your thinking. Also schedule at least one retreat a year to re-charge and take charge of your life.

2. Purpose – have a vision for your life. Where do you see yourself in 10yrs, 5yrs, 1yr, from now? Begin to clarify your vision. How does your perfect life look? Dare to Dream. What steps can you take to make your dreams reality?

3. Planning – if you are not planning for success you are planning to fail. Plan with the precision of a child who knows exactly when to ask and how many times a request must be repeated in-order to achieve success. Don’t let fear steal your dreams.

4. Action - Don’t waste energy waiting until all your excuses dry up. Take action now and make the REST of your Life the BEST of your life.

5. Support – Identify what support you need. Get your team together and your dream will come together. Avoid unnecessary struggle by getting support from family, friends and expert help from a professional coach or business mentor.

If you are serious about enjoying a better quality of life with more energy and more time, follow Duke Ellington’s example and use your energy wisely. Adopt these success strategies and enjoy life as a human being with more success and less stress. The choice is yours.

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