Halloween is a great time to play the different characters or personalities we can’t be in real life. Maybe you will be dressing up to trick-or-treat with your kids tonight. I know lots of parents in Las Vegas who do that and it is great fun to see the entire family dressed up. In my neighborhood, the adult homeowners often dress up and have their yards and homes decorated like in the movies. I have a great time going out with my kids and grandkids. Maybe you already went to a Halloween party this weekend. I bet you had fun!
Halloween is only once a year. I would like to know what character do you play each day? The workplace is your stage and you are the actor. I don’t mean you are not who you really are each day, but many of us do not take time to gain a full sense of who we really are or what matters to us. So in a way, sometimes we are playing a role that does not fully engage us.
If you gain a full sense of who you are, you will be more confident at work and in relationships. You will be assertive when you need to be and able to lead others rather than be led. You will seize opportunities. Here are some strategies to get started.
Make Time for Introspection: Don’t wait for quiet time to open because it never will. There will always be a project to work on, family demands, another errand to run, and another email to send. Put yourself on the schedule just like you do everything else. Or maybe you don’t put everything else on a schedule and that’s the problem. Schedule quiet time to think about where you are in your life, who you are and what you believe in, your values and where you want to go.
Take Personal Responsibility for Your Life: It’s your life. Take care of yourself. Fulfill your needs. If you want to do something, find a way to do it and then find the people who can help you get there. Just remember it is not the other person’s responsibility to make it happen; they are a vehicle to help make things happen for you. When life throws you a curve, don’t blame others or the system. Think of creative ways to deal with the curves, the changes, the twists and turns. Pick yourself up and get on with it.
Develop a High Tolerance for Change: Life is about change, and since it is predicted that we will see more change than ever before, you better decide today to develop a high tolerance for it. You have a choice: you can let the waves of change knock you down or you can ride them like a skilled surfer.
Joan