I hate making New Year’s resolutions. I know it’s something that one is supposed to do, and it’s probably a good way to start off the year. My issue with resolutions is that it seems that what I’m really doing is setting myself up for certain failure. Not that I won’t try, but I’m human, and old habits are sometimes hard to break. So instead of feeling energetic and positive, I end up feeling like a failure, or that I’ve let myself or the Universe down.
If I really MUST do resolutions I make sure I list things that I know I won’t have any difficulty achieving, that way I can pat myself on the back for keeping all my resolutions. This year’s list.
I won’t go bungee jumping.
I won’t get acupuncture. (I hate needles)
I won’t go swimming in Lake Michigan and New Year’s Day.
I won’t eat chocolate covered ants.
I won’t have sex in a public place.
I won’t run over that inconsiderate person who cuts me off.
The last few years instead of writing out that “list”, I’ve started doing something different. Sometime around the first of the year, usually not on New Year’s Day, I do a visualization process instead. Why not New Year’s Day? There are football games, parties, phone calls, people getting together, and various other activities that take away my focus. If New Year’s Day works, that’s great, but if not, I just find a little quiet time that first week.
How does visualization work? My method is pretty simple, I think about my life and what’s working and what’s not. I allow my thoughts to go to each area of my life. As I do this, I pay attention not only to my thoughts, but to my feelings as well…do certain areas cause me to feel tired, stressed, anxious, depressed, is my body relaxed or is it suddenly tense. All these things are an indication of feelings that may not even be acknowledged yet.
I go through and look at and feel each aspect of my life and notice how I feel about each and how my body feels as well.
Relationships with friends and family. Do I spend enough time with the people who are important to me? If not, what can I do to change that? Are the relationships working? If not, how would I like them to look and feel?
Work. Do I look forward to work or is just thinking about it exhausting? Do I enjoy the people I work with, or do I find myself just waiting to get away from them?
Money. Do I need more? Do I need to make other changes in my financial picture (spending, saving etc)?
Physical. Do I feel energetic and well, or am I exhausted and sick? Do I get enough exercise? Am I eating right?
Home. Is my home and/or workplace pleasant and organized? Do I feel good when I walk in the door?
Spiritual. This is going to be different for each person depending on your own religious views or lack of them. For me, I focus on whether I feel at peace in my life, do I feel like I’m connecting with spirit?
Okay, so I’ve taken a survey of my life and I know what’s working and what could use improvement.
Rather than make a list of steps and tasks – the old type of resolution – I instead do a visualization of each area in my life, working at optimum. Rather than putting in detailed pictures and lists of what’s needed in each area, I do my best to focus on the feelings that I imagine I would have if each area was at its highest ideal. That way I can allow the Universe (god, etc) to bring about the circumstances, opportunities, choices that bring me to that ideal.
Allow yourself feel and sense how life could be…if you get mental pictures, great, if not, just try to imagine and feel.
Relationships with friends and family. How would I like to experience my relationships? Would I spend more time in person or on the phone? How does that make me feel? Do I feel connected, loving, happy?
Work. What would my ideal work be? Could I make changes that make work more fun and interesting? Can I make a shift in relationships? Do I need to make a change in my career? How would I feel if I were satisfied and excited about my work?
Money. How would my life feel if money wasn’t an issue? Would I feel more relaxed, more free, more expansive?
Physical. I feel my body fully energized, vibrant and healthy.
Home. I see myself walking in the door and feeling happy to be home, with lots of light an air. (Put here what your ideal is, do you want to feel cozy, expansive, organized?)
Spiritual. I feel joyful and fully connected with my own intuition and divine guidance.
I’ve found that this method often allows more flexibility and sometimes surprising changes and opportunities that I couldn’t have thought of, but by allowing the space for manifestation things end up working out better than I could have done if I was trying to control each aspect. Don’t get me wrong this doesn’t mean that I just put out there a visualization, then sit back and expect things to happen. Instead I stay alert to opportunities and take action when necessary. I also keep in mind that sometimes on the way to getting there, wherever “there” is, there may be some interesting jigs, jogs and detours along the way. Sometimes it’s those jogs and detours that eventually bring about the fruition of our dream. Nothing is ever a failure, and nothing is without reason or meaning. You may not appreciate or understand each circumstance at the time, but often later can see how the pieces fit together to get you where you needed to be. The beauty of this process is that you stay more open and flexible, spend less time beating yourself up, and have more time and energy left to enjoy the unfolding of your life. It’s always an adventure if you chose to see it that way.
I wrote about some of this in a previous blog, but it fits here as well. Change has been a big part of my life, and when I haven't made changes willingly, the Universe has stepped in to give me a boot. The most dramatic of those "boots" was a fire that burned down the company I'd worked for for ten years. I'd known it was time to move on, but just wasn't doing it. Wow, what a wake up call. Since then I've tried to be more in tune with myself and what's working and what's not, but I don't always manage.
Recently I was working as an accountant, which actually can be quite interesting. However, in this case it was production accounting, doing books and monthly sales and payroll tax for 30 clients. Never ending deadlines and a fairly negative work environment were getting me down and I was rapidly losing my normal joy. So what happened? I fell at work, I tripped over an electrical cord I'd complained about numerous time. I was quickly shown the true nature of my employers in that they gave me no support and no understanding of the fact that I was injured. It took me several more months of continuing pain and depression to realize I needed a change in a big way. In one week my doctor, chiropractor and massage therapist all told me they were worried about me and I needed to quit. I finally did it, and almost miraculously the pain in my ribs almost completely went away...felt a bit like I'd removed the knife from my side. hmmm
Another quick way to visualize your life is to think about qualities that you’d like to embody more and really feel that feeling and let it become part of you.
If you want to learn more about using your intention read the book by Lynne McTaggart “The Intention Experiment”. The minute I opened this book I had tingles of excitement. I’m excited because she brings scientific research to a subject that until know has been mostly subjective. The Intention Experiment is the first book not only to synthesize the scientific evidence about human intention, but also the first to explain how to use this power in one’s life, individually and collectively. Read the book or order her Master Class CD set http://www.wddtyhealthshop.com/products.asp?recnumber=430.
The Intention Experiment is a groundbreaking exploration of the science of intention. It is also the first book to invite you, the reader, to take an active part in its original research. With the aid of a team of highly experienced scientists who number among the world’s most prestigious investigators into consciousness research she has enlarged her research to encompass on online community, where we can even chose to take part in future experiments. http://theintentionexperiment.ning.com/
Let’s all make 2009 a year of Intentionality and Joy.
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Questers - Are you a Quester or a Traditionalist?
I’m sure you’ve noticed that we are living in a world of ever increasing change. I’ve been talking a lot lately about fear and how the Shield can assist you in moving through fear. With the Shield you’re no longer dealing with the fears of the planet and everyone on it. After we’ve released fear, we’re more able to deal with changes and challenges.
I've been a quester my entire life, although I never had a word for it. Change has been a big part of my life, and when I haven't made changes willingly, the Universe has stepped in to give me a boot. The most dramatic of those "boots" was a fire that burned down the company where I had worked for ten years. I'd known it was time to move on, but just wasn't doing it. Wow, what a wake up call. Since then I've tried to be more in tune with myself and what's working and what's not, but I don't always manage.
Recently I was working as an accountant, which actually can be quite interesting. However, in this case it was production accounting, doing books and monthly sales and payroll tax for 30 clients. Never ending deadlines and a fairly negative work environment were getting me down and I was rapidly losing my normal joy. So what happened? I fell at work, I tripped over an electrical cord I'd complained about numerous time. I was quickly shown the true nature of my employers in that they gave me no support and no understanding of the fact that I was injured. It took me several more months of continuing pain and depression to realize I needed a change in a big way. In one week my doctor, chiropractor and massage therapist all told me they were worried about me and I needed to quit. I finally did it, and almost miraculously the pain in my ribs almost completely went away...felt a bit like I'd removed the knife from my side. hmmm
My point here is...is your life working? If not, can you make changes that will support you better?
Questers: An Interview with Carole Kanchier, PhD
I found this article http://www.galtglobalreview.com/careers/questers_interview%20I.htm
This article about change seems especially appropriate at this time of year. The New Year always seems to bring us to a point of reflecting on the year past and the year we’re moving into. Sometimes we view the coming year with excitement, other times with trepidation and worry about all the changes that are coming. This year with a new president about to be inaugurated, I’m sure we’re all feeling a bit of both. Carole's work shines a new light on the subject and I believe it will help people embrace the fact that change can be an adventure, part of a quest for a more meaningful life.
In our company newsletter I also write about how I think the Shield can assist one in dealing with change. However, I don't want this to sound like a spam...or an advertisement, because that's not my point. My true point is to find ways to embrace change and to deal with it in positive ways. How you do that is up to you. I've found a Shield can help. I've also created jewelry using gemstones that are specifically meant to bring ease with change, manifestation, etc. If you're interested in knowing more about either the Shield or my jewelry line, please email me or comment.
Questers: An Interview with Carole Kanchier, PhD
By Faye Mallett
Carole Kanchier, author of Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life, is uniquely qualified to write and talk about change. With over 25 years of demonstrated success in the career, psychology, education and business fields, she has researched career/life transitions and counseled individuals experiencing change. In an interview for the Galt Global Review, she discusses the connection between career and life transitions, and the people whom she calls "Questers."
Your book, Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life, not only inspires you to rethink your career and life, it shows you how. Could you give a brief summary of the book?
Dare to Change shows individuals and organizations how to move beyond traditional thinking about careers. It provides an integrated perspective on how we grow and change through life and how we make major decisions. Dare to Change normalizes change and shows how “Questers” move forward by strengthening Quester qualities such as authenticity, resilience, a sense of purpose, intuition, and optimism.
One of the things you address is how the career and life cycles interact. Can you expand upon this?
We tend to alternate between transitional and developmental periods throughout life. Transitions, which generally begin during late adolescence then occur every decade after that, are times for questioning who we are and what we want to do. Changes in priorities, needs and lifestyles may result.
During developmental periods we make commitments to and work toward desired goals. At the same time we also experience the career cycle of entry, mastery and disengagement. During entry, we’re enthusiastically learning new job tasks. In mastery, we’re competent, confident and productive. If we’re no longer challenged by our job duties, we lose enthusiasm, productivity and confidence.
This disengagement stage of the career cycle tends to parallel the transition stages of the life cycle. By age 30 (the first major adult transition), many people are seeking new challenges and skills. Growing individuals, who feel they’re no longer deriving desired work rewards, generally move from their positions after progressing through a career cycle. Many clients I see in my counseling practice are in transitions. They may be depressed, burned out, stressed, anxious. Their feelings tend to be related to job dissatisfaction or loss, divorce or relationship challenges, pregnancy, death of a loved one or illness.
One gentleman with whom I worked experienced an intense transition at age 60. At 59, he had lost his engineering job, had issues with his son who was in trouble with the law, had divorced his wife a year earlier and lost his mother within a year of losing his job. During this major life transition he came to terms with his losses, went back to school to update his skills and is now working in a new field of engineering. In his 60s this gentleman became a Quester, whereas before he had been living his life more as a Traditionalist.
How long does a transition typically last?
Transitions average 3 to 5 years, and developmental periods average 5 to 10 years,
Although everybody has their rhythm, a transition occurs on average every 7.5 years. Interestingly, in my research I discovered that many organizations move their employees either by promoting members or transferring them to a different department approximately every 7 years. When I asked one particular department why they did this, and if it was based upon any particular research, they replied that they didn’t know of such – they just knew that this “worked.”
You talk in your book a lot about who you term as “Questers.” Who are Questers? What are the key qualities of a person who is a Quester?
They are creative, growth-oriented individuals who tend to value internal rewards such as growth, autonomy, and challenge over external rewards such as achievement, prestige, and money. Not that most Questers don't like these things as well, but they are prepared to make trade-offs to get what they want.
Questers periodically reassess who they are and where they want to go. Questers are authentic, intuitive, optimistic, resilient, confident, have a sense of purpose, and courage to take planned risks to create their desired lives. They will move up, down or sideways on the occupational prestige ladder to continue needed growth and revitalization.
Can Quester traits be learned?
We are all born with these traits. We learn to walk, we fall, we pick ourselves up and go again. Observe any small child and you will see them visibly engaged and intensely involved in whatever they are doing. This is what Questers do. Mind you, we need a supportive environment, but our natural tendency is to be involved in what we choose to do.
To nurture these Quester traits throughout development, we need at least one person such as a parent, teacher or other significant adult to give us support, feedback, and autonomy. In addition, we need challenge so we get a sense of accomplishment and confidence. This is called competence motivation, which I talk about in my book.
What was your first encounter with people whom you call Questers?One of the questions I asked for my PhD research was: Why do some people voluntarily change jobs and others not? How do people who voluntarily change jobs differ from those who don't? Are voluntary career changes related to the life cycle transitions, as theorized by Daniel Levinson and colleagues?
In my academic writing, I called them ‘changers’ and ‘non changers,' but when I wrote Dare to Change, I brainstormed possible terms with a few friends. We came up with the more appropriate 'Questers and Traditionalists.'
Nobody is a true Quester or a Traditionalist. Many of us have traits of both.
Do Questers differ from generation to generation?
No. Questers have been around for ages. Throughout history, people who've made major contributions to humankind were Questers.
It’s certainly easier to be a Quester now. As a matter of fact, people will have to adapt Quester qualities in order to prevail in the new millennium.
You tell us some interesting stories about Questers in your book. What are a few compelling ones?
One of my favorite Questers is Galileo Galilee. This Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher played a major role in the scientific revolution. Considered a revolutionary in his time, Galileo proved the earth revolved around the sun instead of the other way around.
Other famous Questers are Bill Gates and Dr. Barbara McClintock.
Many entrepreneurs are Questers. Two attorneys I know who practiced law in a big Eastern city left their thriving law practice to start a garbage recycling business. Many people, 60 and older are retiring from conventional jobs and considering a whole new set of options. I've met people who in their 50s return to school to study medicine. One gentleman returned to school at 70 to become a minister. Prior to this he had been a successful senior executive for an international organization. Many are starting new ventures at 90 or older.
Just recently I met a couple who came to Canada from Europe. The gentleman, Dr. Ivan Kropyvntskyy, a neurosurgeon approaching 40, decided after considerable soul searching not to take lucrative offers to practice neurosurgery. Instead, he chose to follow his passion: preventative health, and launched a web site called http://www.wellnessaid.com/.
Questers and the Contemporary Career
Employees in the 21st Century need strong, creative minds, the ability to think for themselves, make wise decisions, and work as a team. Most important, they need to know how to learn. Over a decade ago, Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus found the key personal quality needed for running successful organizations was personal learning. This is particularly important today.
Part II of this interview will focus on Questers and the Contemporary Career.
Copyright © 2008, Galt Western Personnel Ltd.Please make copies of this article, quote from it, send it to friends and use it for presentations or attachments. Please give credit to Galt Western Personnel Ltd., who encourages your use of this copyrighted property, and notify the editor at editor@galtglobalreview.com if you are using this in a publication.
You may wish to submit an article of yours for inclusion in The Galt Global Review. Please submit your articles to editor@galtglobalreview.com for consideration. We look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions.
To unsubscribe, please e-mail unsubscribe@galtglobalreview.com
Find more free articles at http://www.galtglobalreview.com/
I've been a quester my entire life, although I never had a word for it. Change has been a big part of my life, and when I haven't made changes willingly, the Universe has stepped in to give me a boot. The most dramatic of those "boots" was a fire that burned down the company where I had worked for ten years. I'd known it was time to move on, but just wasn't doing it. Wow, what a wake up call. Since then I've tried to be more in tune with myself and what's working and what's not, but I don't always manage.
Recently I was working as an accountant, which actually can be quite interesting. However, in this case it was production accounting, doing books and monthly sales and payroll tax for 30 clients. Never ending deadlines and a fairly negative work environment were getting me down and I was rapidly losing my normal joy. So what happened? I fell at work, I tripped over an electrical cord I'd complained about numerous time. I was quickly shown the true nature of my employers in that they gave me no support and no understanding of the fact that I was injured. It took me several more months of continuing pain and depression to realize I needed a change in a big way. In one week my doctor, chiropractor and massage therapist all told me they were worried about me and I needed to quit. I finally did it, and almost miraculously the pain in my ribs almost completely went away...felt a bit like I'd removed the knife from my side. hmmm
My point here is...is your life working? If not, can you make changes that will support you better?
Questers: An Interview with Carole Kanchier, PhD
I found this article http://www.galtglobalreview.com/careers/questers_interview%20I.htm
This article about change seems especially appropriate at this time of year. The New Year always seems to bring us to a point of reflecting on the year past and the year we’re moving into. Sometimes we view the coming year with excitement, other times with trepidation and worry about all the changes that are coming. This year with a new president about to be inaugurated, I’m sure we’re all feeling a bit of both. Carole's work shines a new light on the subject and I believe it will help people embrace the fact that change can be an adventure, part of a quest for a more meaningful life.
In our company newsletter I also write about how I think the Shield can assist one in dealing with change. However, I don't want this to sound like a spam...or an advertisement, because that's not my point. My true point is to find ways to embrace change and to deal with it in positive ways. How you do that is up to you. I've found a Shield can help. I've also created jewelry using gemstones that are specifically meant to bring ease with change, manifestation, etc. If you're interested in knowing more about either the Shield or my jewelry line, please email me or comment.
Questers: An Interview with Carole Kanchier, PhD
By Faye Mallett
Carole Kanchier, author of Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life, is uniquely qualified to write and talk about change. With over 25 years of demonstrated success in the career, psychology, education and business fields, she has researched career/life transitions and counseled individuals experiencing change. In an interview for the Galt Global Review, she discusses the connection between career and life transitions, and the people whom she calls "Questers."
Your book, Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life, not only inspires you to rethink your career and life, it shows you how. Could you give a brief summary of the book?
Dare to Change shows individuals and organizations how to move beyond traditional thinking about careers. It provides an integrated perspective on how we grow and change through life and how we make major decisions. Dare to Change normalizes change and shows how “Questers” move forward by strengthening Quester qualities such as authenticity, resilience, a sense of purpose, intuition, and optimism.
One of the things you address is how the career and life cycles interact. Can you expand upon this?
We tend to alternate between transitional and developmental periods throughout life. Transitions, which generally begin during late adolescence then occur every decade after that, are times for questioning who we are and what we want to do. Changes in priorities, needs and lifestyles may result.
During developmental periods we make commitments to and work toward desired goals. At the same time we also experience the career cycle of entry, mastery and disengagement. During entry, we’re enthusiastically learning new job tasks. In mastery, we’re competent, confident and productive. If we’re no longer challenged by our job duties, we lose enthusiasm, productivity and confidence.
This disengagement stage of the career cycle tends to parallel the transition stages of the life cycle. By age 30 (the first major adult transition), many people are seeking new challenges and skills. Growing individuals, who feel they’re no longer deriving desired work rewards, generally move from their positions after progressing through a career cycle. Many clients I see in my counseling practice are in transitions. They may be depressed, burned out, stressed, anxious. Their feelings tend to be related to job dissatisfaction or loss, divorce or relationship challenges, pregnancy, death of a loved one or illness.
One gentleman with whom I worked experienced an intense transition at age 60. At 59, he had lost his engineering job, had issues with his son who was in trouble with the law, had divorced his wife a year earlier and lost his mother within a year of losing his job. During this major life transition he came to terms with his losses, went back to school to update his skills and is now working in a new field of engineering. In his 60s this gentleman became a Quester, whereas before he had been living his life more as a Traditionalist.
How long does a transition typically last?
Transitions average 3 to 5 years, and developmental periods average 5 to 10 years,
Although everybody has their rhythm, a transition occurs on average every 7.5 years. Interestingly, in my research I discovered that many organizations move their employees either by promoting members or transferring them to a different department approximately every 7 years. When I asked one particular department why they did this, and if it was based upon any particular research, they replied that they didn’t know of such – they just knew that this “worked.”
You talk in your book a lot about who you term as “Questers.” Who are Questers? What are the key qualities of a person who is a Quester?
They are creative, growth-oriented individuals who tend to value internal rewards such as growth, autonomy, and challenge over external rewards such as achievement, prestige, and money. Not that most Questers don't like these things as well, but they are prepared to make trade-offs to get what they want.
Questers periodically reassess who they are and where they want to go. Questers are authentic, intuitive, optimistic, resilient, confident, have a sense of purpose, and courage to take planned risks to create their desired lives. They will move up, down or sideways on the occupational prestige ladder to continue needed growth and revitalization.
Can Quester traits be learned?
We are all born with these traits. We learn to walk, we fall, we pick ourselves up and go again. Observe any small child and you will see them visibly engaged and intensely involved in whatever they are doing. This is what Questers do. Mind you, we need a supportive environment, but our natural tendency is to be involved in what we choose to do.
To nurture these Quester traits throughout development, we need at least one person such as a parent, teacher or other significant adult to give us support, feedback, and autonomy. In addition, we need challenge so we get a sense of accomplishment and confidence. This is called competence motivation, which I talk about in my book.
What was your first encounter with people whom you call Questers?One of the questions I asked for my PhD research was: Why do some people voluntarily change jobs and others not? How do people who voluntarily change jobs differ from those who don't? Are voluntary career changes related to the life cycle transitions, as theorized by Daniel Levinson and colleagues?
In my academic writing, I called them ‘changers’ and ‘non changers,' but when I wrote Dare to Change, I brainstormed possible terms with a few friends. We came up with the more appropriate 'Questers and Traditionalists.'
Nobody is a true Quester or a Traditionalist. Many of us have traits of both.
Do Questers differ from generation to generation?
No. Questers have been around for ages. Throughout history, people who've made major contributions to humankind were Questers.
It’s certainly easier to be a Quester now. As a matter of fact, people will have to adapt Quester qualities in order to prevail in the new millennium.
You tell us some interesting stories about Questers in your book. What are a few compelling ones?
One of my favorite Questers is Galileo Galilee. This Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher played a major role in the scientific revolution. Considered a revolutionary in his time, Galileo proved the earth revolved around the sun instead of the other way around.
Other famous Questers are Bill Gates and Dr. Barbara McClintock.
Many entrepreneurs are Questers. Two attorneys I know who practiced law in a big Eastern city left their thriving law practice to start a garbage recycling business. Many people, 60 and older are retiring from conventional jobs and considering a whole new set of options. I've met people who in their 50s return to school to study medicine. One gentleman returned to school at 70 to become a minister. Prior to this he had been a successful senior executive for an international organization. Many are starting new ventures at 90 or older.
Just recently I met a couple who came to Canada from Europe. The gentleman, Dr. Ivan Kropyvntskyy, a neurosurgeon approaching 40, decided after considerable soul searching not to take lucrative offers to practice neurosurgery. Instead, he chose to follow his passion: preventative health, and launched a web site called http://www.wellnessaid.com/.
Questers and the Contemporary Career
Employees in the 21st Century need strong, creative minds, the ability to think for themselves, make wise decisions, and work as a team. Most important, they need to know how to learn. Over a decade ago, Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus found the key personal quality needed for running successful organizations was personal learning. This is particularly important today.
Part II of this interview will focus on Questers and the Contemporary Career.
Copyright © 2008, Galt Western Personnel Ltd.Please make copies of this article, quote from it, send it to friends and use it for presentations or attachments. Please give credit to Galt Western Personnel Ltd., who encourages your use of this copyrighted property, and notify the editor at editor@galtglobalreview.com if you are using this in a publication.
You may wish to submit an article of yours for inclusion in The Galt Global Review. Please submit your articles to editor@galtglobalreview.com for consideration. We look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions.
To unsubscribe, please e-mail unsubscribe@galtglobalreview.com
Find more free articles at http://www.galtglobalreview.com/
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