Turn frustration into action

Have you ever considered the role that strong emotions play in motivation?

The reality is that strong emotions can motivate us into action. Whether it is frustration, anger, anxiety, worry, excitement, or love we have two choices to make. We can find ways to dull down these emotions or we can choose to harness the power behind these emotions and act on them.

Like many people at this time of year one of my new year’s resolutions is to get fitter, specifically to get back into running after having a baby. My end-goal is to finish the Gold Coast Half Marathon in a personal best time in July this year. With this in mind I have set myself the challenge to run at least four times EVERY week. Over the last week, for a number of reasons, I only ran once.

I was frustrated and disappointed about this fact. But instead of finding good excuses (and there were a few) to help me feel better I asked myself, what can I do with this frustration? How can I make sure I don’t feel like this again?

After asking this question I found myself strapping on a pair of joggers and heading out for a run, after all it is only 30 minutes out of my day!

For me realising what I was feeling (and asking what I could do about it) was motivating. I’m on track to get my four runs in this week.

So ask yourself this question; what things are pressing emotional buttons for you at the moment? Then find ways to get motivated by these emotions by considering the following:
* What am I feeling?
* What can I do with this emotion?
* What action would move me further towards my goals?

Using strong emotions for positive action is a key way of sustaining motivation.

Warm wishes,

Alison & Darren

Freedom from labour

One of our goals at Change Works for 2010 is to have more holidays!

Now I know lots of people each year make this resolution with a willing spirit, but as the year rolls on, it seems only a distant memory as the pressures of family, work and life in general take effect. But a cursory look at the word holiday shows us an avenue to take lots and lots of holidays in 2010.

As with many words in the English language, holiday has many meanings, but the one that stuck for me was ‘a day free from labour’. This got me to thinking, perhaps if we can’t take a full day off to be free from labour, then perhaps we can take an hour off, or even 15 minutes! Isn’t that in effect a mini holiday?

So to fill your year with mini-holidays try these things on for size:
* Have lunch in the park, take your shoes off, and even dare to have a mini-siesta in your ‘mini-holiday’
* Slip out for a glorious 20 minute morning tea with great coffee, cake and conversation
* Visit a travel agent in your lunch hour and dream of your next ‘big holiday’

Whilst mini-holidays in your regular week will not ever replace an experience of a week-long stay in a private villa in Bali (our Christmas holidays!) they will give you a moment’s freedom from labour. That’s got to be a good

Warm wishes

Darren & alison