Smart Women Smart Solutions» Have The Life You Love!

Smart Women Get a “Personal” Check-up

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:00:05 +0000

Recently, my husband Greg was in the hospital for a health issue. He started in the emergency room and was eventually admitted to the hospital. This experience created a lot of thought and reflection for me on many levels. One that I think might be helpful to you is how Smart Women occasionally need a personal or business check-up if they are to truly realize their Big Idea, Dreams, and Goals. This week, I’m going to offer you some simple solutions on your “personal” check-up. Next week, I’ll share some reflections and simple solutions on your “business” check-up.

“What am I passionate about?” “What am I called to do?” “What would provide me with a happy fulfilled life each and every day?” I asked myself these questions 8 years ago. I knew I deserved to wake up every day full of energy and anticipation. Unfortunately, there is no “magic” pill that provided the answers. I needed help. I made a decision to get my own “personal” checkup, and went through a process of evaluation. Follow these easy, simple solutions that I’ve created for you to begin your “personal” checkup:

Get Connected With an Expert – Ask the “Right” Questions. During Greg’s entire stay at the hospital, there was one constant at all times: He was asked questions, a lot of questions. And when you thought there could be no more questions, the experts asked more questions. Why? To clarify what was really going on; to get focused on what seemed to be the root of the problem. It’s important to spend some quiet time thinking about where you are right now in your life and ask some clarifying questions: What’s working? What’s not working? What do I need to change? What do I need to let go of? Get connected to a coach, mentor, or other wise individual that can help you ask the “right” questions so you can get on the right path to a life that you love waking up to every day.
Find a Care Partner. On the wall in each patient’s room is a big white board with the words “care partner” and each day someone became Greg’s care partner. I like that word–care partner. It means this person cares about you, your healing, your life renewal, and moving forward. A care partner is there to support you in your journey to move ahead, wherever you are going. Who’s your care partner? Does anyone come to mind? It’s essential if you are going to renew your life, re-invent yourself, or make a change that you have a care partner and support system around you. Start thinking about where you need support and care in your life. In my Women’s Success Circles, there is a care partner community that is created. Women come together and become part of a caring support system for one another so that they can ask themselves the big questions and move forward in their passion filled journey.
Create a Plan for the day. On the white board in Greg’s room, there are the words “Plan for the day.” Every day, Greg’s expert physicians and care partners are reviewing the progress from the day before and making decisions about what needs to happen today so that Greg will continue to move forward. Do you have a plan every day to move you forward to living a life filled with energy, passion, and purpose? Is it moving you toward your life goals? Getting up every day and “winging it” won’t take you very far. I know because I was “winging it” in my life some years ago and it quickly brought frustration, as I did not seem to make any progress. Think about your plan for the day. Is it like a rocket ship that will launch you to your desired goals or is it like a merry-go-round that seems to move but never goes anywhere?

Why is all this so vitally important? When I walk the halls of that hospital and glance into each room, I know that if I went inside, took a seat beside the bed, and asked each patient what they wished they had more of in their life, they would most likely reply, “I wish that I had spent more time doing those things in life that made me happy, that filled my soul with passion, that made me feel my life had purpose and meaning.”

Get your “personal” check-up right now and open your arms wide to embrace the world with all of its possibilities.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a
Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more
articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops,
teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website,
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at
Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Smart Women Ignite Their Fire

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:45:42 +0000

As I was getting ready for a day of skiing on a recent family ski trip, I had one goal in mind: Stay warm! I knew it was going to be cold and windy that day, and I wanted to make sure that I kept my body heat inside. This got me thinking about how Smart Women who are living a life filled with passion and purpose do just the opposite: They give themselves permission to release their “fire” of desire and passion out into the world.

As women, we can spend years–if not decades–keeping our “fire” of desire and passion inside of us. We hold our Big Ideas, dreams, and goals at our core because we are nurturers by nature and put others’ needs ahead of ourselves. We give care and support to family, friends, colleagues, and community. The great misfortune is that if we’re not careful, our fire can get blown out or extinguished. Unsupported, we begin to have conversations with our committee of one about how our Big Idea or Dream “would never work, it’s not possible, what was I thinking?” Even worse, if we can become courageous enough to share an idea with someone, we often find a negative judgment or criticism about the “fire” of desire and passion we hold so close in our heart, soul, and core of our being.

I remember a time in my life, over 10 years ago, when I felt my fire had gone out. It had been extinguished. There was a lack of energy in my emotional and physical being most every day. I have always been a woman who was an early riser, jumping out of bed to greet the day with all of its magical moments. During this time in my life, I rarely felt like getting out of bed and would drag myself through the day without passion or purpose. I spent a lot of time watching TV in the evening. It was a place where I could escape my own life, for it seemed dull and listless.

It was not until I created the space to explore what might be next for me in a supportive environment that I began to feel that surge of energy, that passion, that fanning of the flames to bring my desire back to a full burn. Today, I’m living a life that is full of energy, passion, and purpose because I made a decision to ignite my flame of desire for what was next for me. Working with women to help them achieve their desires both at work and at home is my passion, my purpose, and my gift to the world.

In my Success Circles, women come together to ignite their desire and passion for something new. They have made a decision to create the space in their lives to fan the flame burning deep inside of them. They are giving themselves permission to release their “fire” of desire and passion into the world. The Circle provides a safe space for women to explore in an environment that holds possibilities for the future.

How about you? Is your flame of passion and purpose burning bright? Do you wake up every day ready to experience magical moments and bring your Big Idea, Dream or Goal to the world? February, Passion month, is the perfect time to give yourself permission to look at what’s possible for you. Acknowledge that, “I deserve to live my life with Passion and Purpose.”

When I’m in a cold climate, I will always make sure that I find ways to hold my heat, my fire, inside to keep me warm. However, most days I want to open my arms wide and allow my fire, my desire, and my passion to reach out into the world. I invite you to do the same. The world needs you right now……

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions^TM, a
Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more
articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops,
teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website,
www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at
Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Smart Women Have Dreams Too!

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:28:21 +0000

My son Jack came home from school today with an excited, “Yippee Mom, there’s no school next Monday because it’s Martin Luther King Day!” A few minutes later he comes running back into the kitchen and asks, “Mom, who is Martin Luther King anyway?” Wow—what a question. How do I answer that one and still have time to get dinner on the table?

So here goes. Martin Luther King was a man who lived in courage and vision every day of his life. He was a man who most likely lived in fear and faced challenges for pursing his dreams and convictions. In August of 1963, he gave a speech entitled, “I Have A Dream”, which changed the way this country saw equality and fairness forever.

What, you might ask, does this have to do with Smart Women? Well, a lot actually. Many times women live other people’s dreams. Not because we don’t have any of our own. You all know that I believe we are the most creative beings on earth with Big Ideas. Many times we don’t even realize that we are not connected to our dreams and desires. Women are so busy helping others to realize their dreams, (family, friends, co-workers) that we don’t take the time to ask ourselves the question, “What am I dreaming about?” “What’s my vision for my future?” And… “Do I have the courage to act on this dream and vision?”

When I had my first child, I was fortunate to be able to stay at home with my new son but there was something missing from my life. I couldn’t identify what it was in the beginning. It took me quite some time because I kept having this conversation with myself that went something like this: “You should be happy.” “You are so lucky to be at home with your child.” “You are 40 years old and have waited a long time for this.” When I really gave myself permission to reflect, I discovered that what I really needed in my life was to be a woman who wore three hats: a wife, a mom, and an entrepreneur. Is it a challenge? You bet. Am I more divided? Absolutely. However, I can tell you that I am much happier and I have an energy that fuels me each and every day for this full life.

What fuels you? What’s your dream moving forward into 2009? It does not have to be a vision or mission as big as Martin Luther King. It can be finding time to engage in a hobby that has been on your mind, acting on a Big Idea for a business, growing an existing business or engaging in a fitness/exercise program that will keep you strong and healthy. It’s about you taking action on your dream.

In my Women’s Success Circles, women give themselves permission to pause and reflect on what’s next in their personal and professional lives. When you land on where your energy and passions are, you feel this incredible sense of being alive with possibilities. Everything seems possible.

I think that’s what Martin Luther King must have felt. Alive with a future full of possibilities for people everywhere. How about becoming alive with possibilities for you this year?

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

Smart Women Know What They Want

Joy Chudacoff — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:51:57 +0000

Last week, after my husband Greg read my article “Smart Women Are a Lot Like Rocket Ships,” he had an interesting question: He said, “Every week you write about the same thing—making your Big Idea happen, Reaching your Goals and Dreams, getting the right support, blah, blah, blah… when are you going to write about something else?”

Being a woman who encourages new ideas and new perspectives, I went off to take a bubble bath (a nightly self-care ritual!) and to reflect on his question.

In my work with women, the foundation is always around passionate and purposeful living. In order to live a life full of unlimited energy filled with passion and purpose, you will be making big things happen in your life. You will be connecting with your Big Ideas, dreams and goals. You will seek and find the proper support to help you achieve your goals. This becomes a way of life for women who choose to live without boundaries around what they can and deserve to accomplish.

The challenge for me is that I know only a fraction of women in the world are living the kind of life I just described. It seems unrealistic to many women–not possible, not achievable. I think this is the reason I continue to write so often about this idea. I want to encourage women in every way imaginable that having a life that is overflowing with abundance is possible.

How about you? Is this something you desire? To create a life that is on purpose, both at work and at home, and achieving those Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals? I know this is something that I desperately wanted in my life 10 years ago. I was searching for what might be next for me, what my purpose was, who could support me in going to the next level in my life. I would wake up most days with those nagging questions and the empty answers: “What do I want to do next?” “Who can I talk to that will be able to help me?” “What might be the next step to move me closer to my dreams and goals?”

Today I am living a high-energy, passionate, purposeful life but it was not by accident. It was through taking the right steps to find out what I truly wanted for myself (not what others might want for me), finding the right support to make it happen, and working with my support system to put a plan together that would result in a successful outcome.

I invite you to grab a pen and some paper, sit down, and ask yourself a very important question:

What do I want?

Not just what you need to get by or what other people think you should want. Initially, you might catch yourself writing something “safe.” “Safe” meaning it might be within your reach but it’s not really what you truly want at your core.

So yes, Greg, you are correct. I am going to continue to write about Making your Big Idea , Dreams and Goals Happen. I’m going to write about living a life filled with unlimited energy, passion, and purpose and all the blah, blah, blah. At least until I’m satisfied that more women are waking up to this lifestyle each and every day.

The New Year is fast approaching (13 days!). Now is the time to “get real” about what you really want moving forward. And I’m going to be here to support you in getting what you really want both in your personal life and your entrepreneurial life, but you have to do some of the work. You have to decide what it is…

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

Smart Women Know How to Work the Puzzle

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:58:30 +0000

This morning, my 6-year-old daughter Jenna decided to work a new puzzle that she received for her birthday. The puzzle, when put together, would represent our solar system. She dumped the pieces out all over the floor and began to realize how “big” this process was for her.

I could feel and see that she was becoming overwhelmed. I sat down with her and asked if it might be a good idea to place the cover of the box in a place where she could refer to the “big picture”—what the puzzle would look like when she’s all done. She agreed and set to work turning over each piece, getting organized, and putting the pieces that looked similar together.

This got me thinking about how Smart Women create a blueprint of what their lives and work should look like, get organized, and then put the pieces where they need to go.

In our personal and professional lives, when a change or transition is looming we can become anxious about what this might mean for us moving forward. Sometimes we want to “dump” our options out all over the floor and quickly choose something so that we can get on with our lives. Change can be a challenge, especially if we have not given ourselves the quiet space and time to reflect on all of the different puzzle pieces in our lives and our businesses. The key is to focus on where we want to go in our lives and create a framework or blueprint to reflect this. It’s important to see the “big picture” and then look at what puzzle pieces would make it come together in the most effective way.

In our personal lives, we need to ask ourselves what’s most meaningful to us right now: self-care, relationships, family, friends, career, community involvement. These are just a few pieces of the puzzle called a woman’s life. We have to reflect and explore which pieces of the puzzle would bring the blueprint of our lives together in the most meaningful way. What makes the most sense right now? What feels “right?” Which pieces seem to fit together?

In my Women’s Success Circle, we are having a conversation around the puzzle pieces of effective marketing. As entrepreneurs, we can become so excited about our business that we want to put all of the marketing pieces together right now, all at once. We just throw it out there and see what works. We create business cards, a web site, brochures, etc., and wait for the phone to ring or emails to come rushing into our in-box.

It’s essential that you create your blueprint or framework around your marketing first. Ask yourself a few key questions: Who is my ideal client? Where is my ideal client? Where do they live? What do they read? Next, you have to decide how your ideal client benefits when they use your service or your product. Once you know who your ideal clients are and what benefits they receive, you can then determine what media you should use to reach them. Again, it’s essential to get that complete picture in your mind (or better yet, on paper!) before you begin placing the pieces of your marketing puzzle together.

How about you? Are you frustrated or anxious about the puzzle pieces in your life? Have you started to think that maybe the blueprint needs to change but there are so many pieces of the puzzle that you become overwhelmed about where to begin? It’s important to take that time to first sit down in a quiet place with some paper and colorful pens and sketch out what you want your life and your business to look like moving forward. Stephen Covey once said, “Begin with the end in mind.” Take a look at the “big” picture and decide which puzzle pieces feel “right” for you at this time in your life.

It took Jenna some time to put it all together. She called on me a few times for some gentle support and guidance—everyone needs a coach! When she finished, she stood up and took a moment to gaze carefully at her solar system. There was a look of confidence, achievement, and satisfaction in her face.

Smart Women Visit the Magic Kingdom

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:01 +0000

Recently, our family took a trip to the “happiest place on earth”—Disneyland! As we made our way to the Magic Kingdom, I noticed a large sign hanging over the entrance that read, “Where old friends meet for the very first time.” I began to smile. This got me thinking about how Smart Women take time to reconnect with their old friend—the authentic self.

Sometimes, our lives are moving at such a fast pace, we can become disconnected from what’s truly meaningful in both our personal and professional lives. We are so busy “doing” everything for everyone around us that we lose touch with that part of us that knows what we should be making time for. Your authentic self is like an old friend. She is secure in knowing exactly who you are and what you are passionate about. She knows every gift you possess and can help you access them. The challenge, of course, is staying connected to this old friend. Life, with its many twists and turns, brings about such “busyness” that we often find ourselves too tired at the end of the day to stay connected to our authentic self.

If you are a woman in business, the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey is about realizing a Big Idea with passion and purpose. You begin to navigate a course to accomplish your goals. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation. Somewhere along the way, you can get off course in your business by working “in” your business rather than working “on” your business. If you are always working the day to day tasks and never giving yourself the creative space to vision the future of your business, the chances of optimal growth are minimal. In my Women’s Success Circles, the space for possibility thinking and a plan to support women in their vision is created so that they can realize their Big Idea.

In your personal life – as a woman, mom, wife, partner, entrepreneur, community volunteer –it’s easy to see how you can lose touch with this old friend… your authentic self. She is the most important friend that you have. She loves and cares for you, she will be completely honest with you, and she makes no judgment about you—she sounds perfect, doesn’t she? The key is to create the space and time to reconnect. Your authentic self holds the answers to all of your burning life questions.

This is where coaching can be helpful. It offers a scheduled time with someone who can support you. It’s having someone there to ask the right questions so that you can get the right answers from your old friend about what’s truly meaningful to you and what might be next for you in your journey.

I invite you to spend some time reconnecting with your old friend. It may feel like the very first time the two of you have met. It’s a busy life you have been leading up to now. It takes courage to create the space for you to sit with your authentic self and “hear” what might be next for you. Take some quiet time to reconnect or possibly meet for the very first time. It’s a friendship that you don’t want to miss out on.

It was a gorgeous, warm day at Disneyland. We had a terrific time. Everyone there was happy, helpful, and waiting patiently to make sure our day was special—just like an old, authentic friend.

Smart Women Get Off the Fence

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:08:06 +0000

While driving along Sunset Blvd. a few days ago, I thought about a conversation I had earlier that morning with a friend about how difficult it is for some people to make a decision. This process can be a challenge and create a lot of anxiety. I’m not sure if people are aware that “sitting on the fence” when it comes to making decisions takes a serious toll on their energy levels and their lives.

I see many people struggle with decision-making. We live in the question in many areas of our lives—where to live, where to send our children to school, what kind of car to drive, who to vote for, should we go back to work or should we stay at home with our children, what to wear, where to eat. It’s exhausting, isn’t it? Why do we have such a difficult time making decisions? One reason might be that we care a lot about what other people think of our decisions. There was a time in my 20’s and 30’s where others’ opinions really mattered to me. I wanted to make the “right” choice so I could be with the “right” crowd. Today, in my 40’s, I make my decisions based on my own passion and purpose and what’s most meaningful to me. I ask myself if this decision will move my journey forward and, if it will, then I take action on it.

When you avoid making decisions, it takes a much greater toll on your life than you might suspect. “Sitting on the fence” between decision and indecision zaps so much energy from our body and soul. Imagine the energy and concentration that it takes every minute of every day by not making a decision for or against an idea or an action. It’s important to become clear about what you want in your life.

How about you? Are you “sitting on the fence”? Are you awake at night thinking about making a decision? It will be a challenge for you to step into your own truth, your authenticity, until you do. Until you fully jump off one side of the fence and declare yourself, you will always hesitate because you are unsure. This deprives the world of your unique gifts that you have to offer.

I invite you to create the space and time in your life as soon as possible to make a decision about what’s most meaningful to you right now. Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Look at yourself, family, career, community, and your friendships. Decide where and how you want to spend your time and who you want to spend it with. Design your life the way you want to live it. This is the core of my work with women—helping them to design and live the lives they choose to live. Decision-making becomes so simple. When a situation or possible opportunity comes up, you reflect on your values, your passion, and your purpose—all of your decision-making launches from this place, so it’s much easier to make decisions and not “sit on the fence.” It frees up your energy to enjoy all of the things that are most meaningful to you.

As I made the turn off Sunset Blvd. onto the winding road that leads to Will Rogers State Park, I began to see the long white fence that winds up the hill. My first thought was, “It’s a beautiful fence, but I sure wouldn’t want to sit on it for very long! That would be really uncomfortable!” Autumn is a fantastic time to do this work. Mother Nature begins to bring about change in a slow but deliberate way. Take a look at what might need to change for you. And then make a decision to “get off the fence.”

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Smart Women Create the Right Web

Joy Chudacoff — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:54:37 +0000

Earlier this week, I was taking an early morning walk with a good friend and smart woman and we ran into a few spider webs (literally!). It’s the time of year when spiders are spinning and carefully crafting their webs together in a way that will serve and protect them. This got me thinking about how Smart Women always create a strong and sturdy web in their lives both at work and at home.

If you look up the word “web” in the dictionary, one of the definitions is “anything put together in a careful way.” It’s essential that women take the time to put their lives together in a careful and thoughtful way. Why? There are so many options and opportunities for women in the world today. You have so many choices on how you choose to live your life. What’s most important is to make those choices authentically.

And then from that place of authenticity, spin your life together, design and build it with energy and passion. Let it be a life that soars with meaning to you, the designer. If you choose not to do this, then your life just “happens.” It can begin to unfold in unpredictable ways with no meaning or direction. Putting your authentic life together involves having people who are supportive and loving, an environment that provides relaxation, and a place for inspired creativity.

In your business life, when you have a Big Idea, dream or goal, it’s essential that you build a web that is super strong in its marketing message as well as making sure that you have solutions on how to manage your time well so that you get the right things done during your day. When my friend ran into the spider web, it was a challenge to pull all of the sticky threads off her hat and sweatshirt.

A well-designed spider web is very sticky. Have you created a product or service that carries a message that will “stick” with your target market? When your target market needs your product or service, do they immediately think of you or someone else? A spider knows that in order to build a strong web, she needs the support of strong tree branches to protect her from the wind and other elements. This is true for you as well. Having a strong support system in your life (both personally and professionally) is key to making it happen—to help you go to the next level.

In my Women’s Success Circles last week, we spent time focusing on the essential ingredients you need to put together your own carefully planned web for success in business. We had a conversation about marketing, time management and the importance of coaching during this building phase. We also talked about self-care, which is paramount to living a life full of purpose and passion both at work and at home. Smart Women know that life doesn’t just happen—you make it happen in your own carefully, planned out, thoughtful way.

As you begin to put together your own web to make it happen, ask yourself these questions: Do you have the right support system to hold your idea in place and make it successful? Have you created the right marketing message for your target market so that your product and service will “stick” with them? Have you created the time and space that you will need to build and grow your Big Idea, dream or goal? Do you have the right environment around you to make it happen?

As we finished our walk that morning, we stopped to gaze at one of the most carefully crafted spider webs I have ever seen. It was nearly a perfect Circle with all of the fine sticky threads placed in precise proportions. And what was the spider doing? Resting peacefully, right in the middle. Smart Women and smart spiders know one thing for sure: When you are living a life full of passion and purpose, that also means time for rest and relaxation—a time for reflection—a time for you.

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Smart Women Know the Difference between a Job and a “Calling”

Joy Chudacoff — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:46:33 +0000

I am fortunate to spend time with a lot of Smart Women. A topic that comes up on a regular basis is this idea of a job vs. a “calling.” What’s the difference? How do you know what a “calling” is? Jobs are something that we do in our lives to keep ourselves and our families together. A “calling” is when our true purpose, our life’s work, is discovered.

I think most women would prefer a “calling” rather than a job. Why? Because jobs are too small for us. We are destined to do something more meaningful with our lives, our gifts. So why do we resist? Well, jobs are critical. We do need to “earn a living.” And “earning a living” gets in the way of the exploration to look for and reveal our “calling.”

We hesitate to answer the call from our authentic self, especially as we move into midlife. We become torn by the realities of being mothers and daughters—of taking care of our children and possibly our aging parents. We also become susceptible to accepting comfort and predictability. Predictability is typically the choice we make because, well, it’s predictable. We have a guarantee. Making a new or different choice creates an unknown, a mystery of sorts. Many women will ask the question, “Is it possible that I do not have a calling”? The truth is, we are all chosen. We all get the call. The challenge is making a decision to embrace your “calling” once you make this marvelous discovery.

Sometimes the call comes in and we are so busy navigating our lives—our jobs, families, community involvement—that we miss the call. Or we delete it by accident, not realizing how important it is. I want to share something with you: In my work, I find women who feel they are wasting time, as they have not found their call yet, and they become frustrated. They do not feel that they are offering their unique gifts to the world. Let me assure you that everything you have done in your life up until now has been a part of your “calling.” You have not lost or wasted any time. All of the life lessons, skills, talent, and gifts that you possess (and you have many!) will be with you always.

The key is to create the time and space in your life to discover your “calling”—your gifts to the world. Time is the elusive lover—one that we never seem to have enough of and yet, time is the tool that you must have in your backpack on your journey to the discovery of your authentic self—your “calling.” You must be courageous and make a firm commitment to time and space where you can explore what might be next for you.

In my Women’s Success Circles, time and space are created so that exploration and discovery of your “call” can happen. It’s a place where “callings” can be heard in a safe environment. It’s a place where you can dream about what’s possible for you and construct a plan to make it happen. I remember a time in my life when I felt empty. I kept searching for something to fill me up. I had lost my energy and passion for my work. It was not until I created the time and safe space in my life that I began to discover what was truly next for me. Being courageous enough to do this has made all the difference. I invite you to be courageous as well. I’m going to leave you today with a favorite quote from one of my great mentors, Buddha:

“Your work is to discover your work and then will all your heart to give yourself to it.”

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a Certified Professional Coach and Motivational Speaker. To read more articles by Joy and learn more about her Success Circle workshops, teleseminars or keynote topics, please visit her website, www.SmartWomenSolutions.com or contact Joy at Joy@SmartWomenSolutions.com.

Smart Women Practice Gratitude

Joy Chudacoff — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:14:32 +0000

Last week, I was at my Mastermind Meeting and my good friend and Smart Woman, Chellie Campbell, mentioned that she had read an article on how expressing gratitude may be one of the keys to being a happier, healthier person. The very next day, I picked up a magazine which actually cited compelling research on how being grateful or showing appreciation can lead to a happier, healthier, more productive life. Hmmm… two times in two days? This got me thinking about how Smart Women practice gratitude.

When we look for new ways to up our happiness quotient, we typically go out and buy a new pair of shoes or a new purse. Maybe we go to the spa for a day. And when it’s time to think about getting healthy, the first idea that comes to mind is, “I need to exercise more and eat less.” The article I read in the September issue of Body and Soul was about a 9-week study conducted by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology where one group kept a daily gratitude journal and the other group kept a list of the hassles in their lives. At the end of the 9 weeks, the thankful group appeared happier, healthier, and had spent more time exercising—up to 80 minutes more per week. The other group stayed the same with little or no change in attitude or health.

I view myself as a grateful person. However, this article gave new meaning to this simple, but not always easy to follow, practice. It’s simple because all you have to do is think positive, grateful “thank you” thoughts. It’s not always easy because some days feel like a big challenge. When you are having “one of those days” (and ladies, you know what I’m referring to), it’s easy to revert back to “woe is me.”

I have found myself becoming a more grateful woman over the last few years. When I was in my 20’s and 30’s, I was in the “pursuit of happiness” in the form of new cars, clothes, lavish vacations, etc. Now that I’m in my 40’s, I find myself more grateful for things that have less material value: walking my children to school, holding their small hands, enjoying a deep and meaningful conversation with my husband or a trusted friend.

How about you? Do you practice gratitude often? Do you find yourself thinking about how grateful you are for things in your life that hold less material value? Shifting your attention to what’s most important in your life—what you value—will support you in your ability to adopt the gratitude habit. Women who are living lives full of passion and purpose find this easy to do. They have pressed the “pause button” on their lives and have spent time getting very clear on what’s truly most important for them moving forward. They release what’s no longer serving them and take on more of what matters.

Making gratitude a priority in your life requires positive thinking on a regular basis. It also requires “being present.” When I learned that it can lead to increased happiness and better health, I made a commitment to my daily practice of exercising gratitude. It doesn’t take any more of my time and I don’t have to go anywhere to do it. So, in my dream to support women toward an extraordinary life, I’ve decided to have a weekly gratitude journal here in the “Reflections” newsletter. I’ll share my gratitude journal with you and invite you to take a moment, even if it’s once a week, to pause and reflect on what you’re grateful for. What am I grateful for this week? I am grateful for:

My husband’s “thumbs up” health checkup at the doctor
The crossing guard at my children’s school
Not getting a parking ticket yesterday when I had exceeded my meter time by 30 minutes (a real blessing in Los Angeles!)

Your turn…

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