it's been a while

It's been a while since I've thought of the "challenge of managing yourself".  Maybe this has become such a daily thing - this "challenge of managing yourself"- that I've stopped taking notice this is what I've been trying to do.

The challenge of managing yourself is exactly what it is - one big, huge challenge.  If managing other people is not easy, try thinking of how you are managing yourself, leading yourself, making sure that you are an effective, productive, well-rounded (not literally), truly happy person.  If you're having problems managing others, think about how you are managing yourself.  We can't lead others if we cannot even lead ourselves.  It's called personal leadership- the key to leading others.

The challenge of managing yourself will continue to be challenging because the need to be better, to have better relationships, to be content, will always be there.  Unless, you have given up on yourself and it's okay to stay as you are, to think that your bad relationships are because of other people, to feel dissatisfied and sometimes empty.

Ever heard of Gestalt psychotherapy? The theory involves taking responsibility for your self, for your life. It's being response-able, not just responsible.  Very Stephen Covey - Habit # 1 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - the essence of facing the challenge of managing yourself.

I think (and know) that the biggest challenge of managing yourself is that it deals with the self.  It's so much easier to see the fault of others, to try and change them, to make excuses, to tag ourselves as the victim, to say we are unhappy because of our boss or our partners in life.  And this is why no matter what we do, the challenge of managing yourself continue to be very challenging.  In fact the challenge of managing yourself becomes more and more difficult as we go along.  Because we fail to use Stephen Covey's principle of inside out - to see ourselves first:  what's wrong with us, what are we doing that contributes to the problem, what do we need to change (within us) to make things better, to be responsible for our actions, to be proactive instead of reactive.

The challenge of managing yourself should be a daily thing.  Maybe there's really no need to think about it because it is so interwoven into our routines, a habit, a way of life.  There's really no need to think about the challenge of managing yourself because you see the changes:  in yourself, in others as they respond to a better you.

Oh, well!  I don't know if I am making sense.  Maybe I should eat breakfast first.

THE WORST 4-LETTER WORD

The Worst Four-Letter Word
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published April 20, 2011

http://www.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Growth/I_Cant.aspx?utm_campaign=2011-04-20-78443&utm_source=daily-reflections&utm_medium=email&utm_content=todays-inspiration_I%20Cant&VID=78443&FromNL=1&sc_date=20110420T000000

If I was to ask you to name the most debilitating four-letter word in your vocabulary, which word would you choose? Of course, when one mentions the concept of a four-letter word, we typically think of those uncivilized curse words we tend to hear all too often. However, the four-letter word I am referring to today is not a swear word at all. It is, however, one of the most incapacitating, weakening, self-defeating and goal interrupting four-letter words in the English language. What is this devastating four-letter word I speak of? That word is can’t.

You see, once you convince yourself that you can’t do something, the game is pretty much over. And the sad reality is that, in most cases, you actually can but simply won’t for some reason. There is a mountain of difference between can’t and won’t, and there lies the reason that so many of your dreams lie broken and unrealized in your life. So today I want you to think honestly of a yet unrealized dream you have convinced yourself you can’t achieve. Then I want you to think about the honesty part of this equation. Does this dream remain unrealized because you can’t achieve it, or does it remain unrealized because you won’t pursue it? If I have been successful here today, I’m guessing that dream seems a bit more accessible now!

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare

www.innerdiet.com

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MY THOUGHTS

What more can i say? I can't think of anything else that will make this article more convincing than it already is. Unless, of course, 'can't' is your favorite 4-letter word-which is sometimes mine unless I check myself.

DO YOU NEED A CHANGE OIL?

The Story of Oak and Oil
Daily Inspiration
John H. Sklare, Ed.D
Published February 29, 2008

As you know, I talk a lot about change. As a matter of fact, I often tell people in jest that I’m really a “changeologist.” I think I may have coined that term, and it really suites me well. The concept of change was recently brought to my attention in a rather interesting way. Here’s what happened: I decided to clean my office desk the other day. I have a beautiful oak desk that I’ve had for a long time, and occasionally, I give it a good cleaning with some oil in order to bring out the beautiful grain. The inspiration for this column presented itself to me as I was wiping the oil-soaked rag across the wood. As anyone who has ever done this task knows, the change is immediate and the difference is like night and day. Not unlike running a coat of dark new paint over an old, faded wall, the visual effect was dramatic and instant. I thought, If only I could invent an oil that would do this for lifestyle change. You would wipe it on your body and voila… instant weight loss and healthy lifestyle change!

Of course, there is no fantastic oil for lifestyle change. If you want to create a leaner body and a healthier life, it’s going to take longer than an hour and more than a simple liquid. But I do believe we all have that special something in our lives that can motivate us to achieve incredible accomplishments. The key is to find out what oil works for you, if you follow the analogy. Because, in truth, my little story of oak and oil is really a metaphor for creating change in your life. So, my challenge for you today is to begin searching for the oil that will transform your oak. Find that special something that motivates you to create change in your life, and you will also see the dramatic results that change brings with it.

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare

MY THOUGHTS

What happens to your car when you don't change the oil. That's what's going to happen to you when you stubbornly declare you don't need any oil because you don't need to change.