Think about it. What do you want in this new year? It could be for you personally, for your family and/or friends, for this country, or the world. What do you want? Now consider, what could you do to bring that into reality in 2011? If your honest response is 'nothing' then I suggest you adjust your thinking. If you have no input towards or control over what it takes to get what you want, then it is probably not a realistic goal.
Create a goal that is something you can cause to happen or at least influence others to bring it into reality. It may be that, in reality, it is just not likely to happen in 2011, but that you could exercise some influence or activity to move closer to making it a reality in 2012 or 2013. In that case, you could still start developing plans or setting the groundwork for what will come.
If necessary, start with small plans to make big changes and increase your speed as you go along. The important part, in my mind, is that you start with what it is you want and go from there. It is also important that you believe that you can achieve what you want - the mind can be a strong ally. Some people find it helps to make posters/signs with inspirational messages or words of encouragement and place them in visible spaces. Others find that just writing out and posting their goals in a place where they will see them regularly is all they need to keep motivated. Do what you need to do to bring about what you want.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, non-retirement planning, coping with an empty nest and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information on her services.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Time to be Thankful
We are in late November and many of us have been busy preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Some may have traveled, other hosted, others may have dined alone. Unfortunately, there are many people n this country who did not enjoy a thanksgiving feast. Others ate, but not a "feast". Still others may have had not much more than scraps. That is the reality of life today.
So, for all of us who have access to this technology and who have been busy this month preparing for Thanksgiving day, I encourage you to take a moment to give thanks. Not just for the food you received or for the fellowship of family and friends, but for your many blessings. It is so easy to go through each day taking things and life for granted. I encourage you to take the opportunity to express your gratitude verbally.
Tell people who you love and appreciate that your do. That should not be something they have to guess at or assume. Express your gratefulness for the many people and things in your life that are blessings. Also be appreciative of your challenges - for it is often the challenges in life that help us to recognize the things we should be grateful for.
So during this Thanksgiving season, express your gratitude and full appreciation of all the many blessings, opportunities and challenges that you have received and those yet to come.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, in private practice specializing in coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including life planning, coping with an empty nest, retirement planning, career change or job search, and loss of job. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
So, for all of us who have access to this technology and who have been busy this month preparing for Thanksgiving day, I encourage you to take a moment to give thanks. Not just for the food you received or for the fellowship of family and friends, but for your many blessings. It is so easy to go through each day taking things and life for granted. I encourage you to take the opportunity to express your gratitude verbally.
Tell people who you love and appreciate that your do. That should not be something they have to guess at or assume. Express your gratefulness for the many people and things in your life that are blessings. Also be appreciative of your challenges - for it is often the challenges in life that help us to recognize the things we should be grateful for.
So during this Thanksgiving season, express your gratitude and full appreciation of all the many blessings, opportunities and challenges that you have received and those yet to come.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, in private practice specializing in coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including life planning, coping with an empty nest, retirement planning, career change or job search, and loss of job. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Day Dreams
Day dream - is that something that you no longer allow yourself to do? So many of the people I talk to say they can't remember when they 'allowed' themselves to day dream. It seems that as we continue to mature - or when we became 'adults' - that day dreaming was something we gave up. Sometime between childhood and today, we have lost touch with the ability or willingness to day dream. But I believe that daydreams, imagination, and creativity are very important tools in designing the life we want.
So often when we do try to visualize what our life will be like when it is the way we would like, we are not able to 'see' it because we immediately become afraid. Fear of so many things comes over us - fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of success, etc. Visualization requires the ability to day dream or to see something 'in your mind's eye'. Many believe that if we can visualize it, we can create it, or at least develop a plan to bring it into being. If we cannot visualize it, it is very unlikely that we can do no more than just wish or hope for it. And wishing and hoping, alone, do not usually bring about results.
Give yourself permission to sit quietly or with soft music or quiet sounds of nature surrounding you and clear your mind of the day-to-day worries. Focus on you and your innermost wishes; or focus on nothing, just listen to your breathing and the soothing sounds. Many people need to build up to doing visualizations - take it slowly - maybe start with just 5 or 10 minutes of sitting quietly and build up to 15 or 20, then 30 minutes of solitude. When you are able to do that you can begin to focus your attention on filling in the blanks or listening to your heart. What is missing from your life? What do you need to fulfill you? What would bring you joy/happiness? Consider whatever aspect of your life you believe needs something different.
During your quiet time, if distracting thoughts creep into your mind, put them aside for the time. You can deal with that issue or those problems or that 'what if worry' later. Take the time to allow yourself to daydream and to believe.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career and job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, non-retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Counseling Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information on her services.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential voice message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
So often when we do try to visualize what our life will be like when it is the way we would like, we are not able to 'see' it because we immediately become afraid. Fear of so many things comes over us - fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of success, etc. Visualization requires the ability to day dream or to see something 'in your mind's eye'. Many believe that if we can visualize it, we can create it, or at least develop a plan to bring it into being. If we cannot visualize it, it is very unlikely that we can do no more than just wish or hope for it. And wishing and hoping, alone, do not usually bring about results.
Give yourself permission to sit quietly or with soft music or quiet sounds of nature surrounding you and clear your mind of the day-to-day worries. Focus on you and your innermost wishes; or focus on nothing, just listen to your breathing and the soothing sounds. Many people need to build up to doing visualizations - take it slowly - maybe start with just 5 or 10 minutes of sitting quietly and build up to 15 or 20, then 30 minutes of solitude. When you are able to do that you can begin to focus your attention on filling in the blanks or listening to your heart. What is missing from your life? What do you need to fulfill you? What would bring you joy/happiness? Consider whatever aspect of your life you believe needs something different.
During your quiet time, if distracting thoughts creep into your mind, put them aside for the time. You can deal with that issue or those problems or that 'what if worry' later. Take the time to allow yourself to daydream and to believe.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career and job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, non-retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Counseling Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information on her services.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential voice message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Are You Praying for What You Really Want?
So often we visualize something and immediately become afraid or reject the idea that has come to us. So, you may ask yourself, am I praying from my heart for what I really want or am I praying from my fear? Often we will dismiss a new idea or option because we start with thinking about what could go wrong or how we might end up regretting it. We do not often allow our hearts to determine what we will do. That could be said of working at a relationship, or deciding a career direction, or planning for the next stage of your life, or many other situations.
People have used excuses like, "Wouldn't I look foolish doing that?" or "What would people think if I said _____?" or "How could I explain that I chose _____?" When they should be saying "How would I feel if I followed my heart and did _______?" The debate between the heart and the head should not be a battle. Good decisions do require input from both, but in so many cases, the head starts thinking and the heart does to speak up or interrupt the thought process.
If this has happened to you time and time again, I suggest you let your heart speak first - what is it that your heart is telling you to do? That may require some quiet time alone to recognize the heart's desire, so allow for that. Allow yourself to daydream, to imagine, what it would feel like to follow your heart. Sit quietly and listen for signs or images of what you would do if you did as your heart desires. As that picture becomes clearer, write things down so you can begin to develop some plans.
It is at that point you can begin to let your brain start to figure out how to create those dreams in reality - to figure out what you would need to do to realize those dreams. Again, allow yourself to be creative. It may help to start with really way out ways to create what you want, then you can begin to whittle away until you shape something that is a workable plan.
Pray for wisdom to recognize your dreams. Pray for guidance and clarity to help you see your hopes and aspirations. Pray for direction in developing plans to bring your dreams to life. In those ways, you will not be praying from your fears, but from your hopes and dreams.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message to send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
People have used excuses like, "Wouldn't I look foolish doing that?" or "What would people think if I said _____?" or "How could I explain that I chose _____?" When they should be saying "How would I feel if I followed my heart and did _______?" The debate between the heart and the head should not be a battle. Good decisions do require input from both, but in so many cases, the head starts thinking and the heart does to speak up or interrupt the thought process.
If this has happened to you time and time again, I suggest you let your heart speak first - what is it that your heart is telling you to do? That may require some quiet time alone to recognize the heart's desire, so allow for that. Allow yourself to daydream, to imagine, what it would feel like to follow your heart. Sit quietly and listen for signs or images of what you would do if you did as your heart desires. As that picture becomes clearer, write things down so you can begin to develop some plans.
It is at that point you can begin to let your brain start to figure out how to create those dreams in reality - to figure out what you would need to do to realize those dreams. Again, allow yourself to be creative. It may help to start with really way out ways to create what you want, then you can begin to whittle away until you shape something that is a workable plan.
Pray for wisdom to recognize your dreams. Pray for guidance and clarity to help you see your hopes and aspirations. Pray for direction in developing plans to bring your dreams to life. In those ways, you will not be praying from your fears, but from your hopes and dreams.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message to send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Are You Planning Not to Retire?
I have talked with a number of people in their 50s and 60s who are not planning to retire - at least not in the traditional sense of retirement. They do not see a rocking chair in their near future. They are not planning to move to Florida and stroll on the beach from dawn to dusk every day. They are not yet ready to stay at home and just putter around in the garden or on the golf course. These are people who are planning not to retire - yet!
Many of these individuals plan to keep working - not necessarily in the same job, but working at something. Some people take advantage of their retirement plan and look for new ways to utilize their skills and satisfy their need to do meaningful work. That is often accomplished by finding another kind of work, sometimes that is accomplished through volunteer or community work.
Keep in mind, that for work to be meaningful, doesn't mean it has to be high pay or high stress or high profile or huge responsibilities. Meaningfulness is an individual preference. So, what I might think of as meaningful, someone else may not, and vice-versa. In most cases, in order for an activity to be meaningful, it must bring to someone some joy, pleasure, excitement, or an interesting challenge. Secondly, for an activity to be meaningful, it generally meets a personal goal or fills a need. Generally it will be an activity that allows you to use your talents and abilities. Additionally, for an activity to be meaningful, it generally needs to be something that fits with a value you hold dear. It is generally something that addresses a need on a larger scale - community, country, or humankind.
As more and more people work later in life, the picture of 'typical retirement' is changing. Think and dream about how you would like to spend time in your next stage of life and plan now to create the life you want in your retirement years.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC), by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourcareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Many of these individuals plan to keep working - not necessarily in the same job, but working at something. Some people take advantage of their retirement plan and look for new ways to utilize their skills and satisfy their need to do meaningful work. That is often accomplished by finding another kind of work, sometimes that is accomplished through volunteer or community work.
Keep in mind, that for work to be meaningful, doesn't mean it has to be high pay or high stress or high profile or huge responsibilities. Meaningfulness is an individual preference. So, what I might think of as meaningful, someone else may not, and vice-versa. In most cases, in order for an activity to be meaningful, it must bring to someone some joy, pleasure, excitement, or an interesting challenge. Secondly, for an activity to be meaningful, it generally meets a personal goal or fills a need. Generally it will be an activity that allows you to use your talents and abilities. Additionally, for an activity to be meaningful, it generally needs to be something that fits with a value you hold dear. It is generally something that addresses a need on a larger scale - community, country, or humankind.
As more and more people work later in life, the picture of 'typical retirement' is changing. Think and dream about how you would like to spend time in your next stage of life and plan now to create the life you want in your retirement years.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC), by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourcareerPlan.com for more information.
To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
IF
"IF" is a small word, but it can have great impact on our lives. Think of all the times you have used the word 'if'. Perhaps at times you have said, or thought, "If I had stayed at that job, by now I would be ___." Or "If I hadn't done _________ now I would be _________." Sometimes we decide, "If I do _________ now, I won't be able to do _________ later." You may even have thought, "If I retire when I'm _____ years old, my life will be over."
It is probably natural to think in terms of 'ifs', but I encourage you not to let those thoughts rule every decision. Allow yourself to think of the wonderful possibilities that could happen... if. Sometimes it can help to think of the 'ifs', like "If everything goes as planned, I will be able to ___________." Or, "If I change my lifestyle in this way, I can enjoy __________."
So, I encourage you to think of the potential positive aspects of your 'what ifs'. It certainly can be scarry to make a change because of the uncertainty involved. Plan for the likeliest events and you will be more likely to increase your confidence in making the change.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Ohio, a Master Career Counselor (MCC) as designated by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor. She has over 20 years of experience working with adults in transition. She meets with individuals in person through Yager & Associates' Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
It is probably natural to think in terms of 'ifs', but I encourage you not to let those thoughts rule every decision. Allow yourself to think of the wonderful possibilities that could happen... if. Sometimes it can help to think of the 'ifs', like "If everything goes as planned, I will be able to ___________." Or, "If I change my lifestyle in this way, I can enjoy __________."
So, I encourage you to think of the potential positive aspects of your 'what ifs'. It certainly can be scarry to make a change because of the uncertainty involved. Plan for the likeliest events and you will be more likely to increase your confidence in making the change.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Ohio, a Master Career Counselor (MCC) as designated by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor. She has over 20 years of experience working with adults in transition. She meets with individuals in person through Yager & Associates' Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
WELCOME TO PATHWAYS 4 LIFE
Throughout life we are presented with many choices - some difficult, some easy, some complicated, and some just plain hard choices to make. But having choices is a good thing. I think sometimes we forget that or we don't want to make a choice on a particular issue. As I have often struggled with making choices and sometimes struggled because of my choices, I feel like it doesn't get any easier - making choices. But that is a part of life.
I decided to create this Web Log to share some thoughts, some insights, some challenges, and perhaps some realizations that I have come to regarding different pathways for life. I have been working with adults in transition for over 20 years and have walked with family and friends through various transitions. And one thing I have realized is that as human beings, we can and have handled tremendous loads and very difficult journeys and keep moving on.
So, as I add blogs to the site, I hope you will find something to offer you some insight, some comfort, or some information to help you on your journey. Feel free to share a comment, if you desire.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor with over 20 years of experience providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions. She meets with individuals in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
I decided to create this Web Log to share some thoughts, some insights, some challenges, and perhaps some realizations that I have come to regarding different pathways for life. I have been working with adults in transition for over 20 years and have walked with family and friends through various transitions. And one thing I have realized is that as human beings, we can and have handled tremendous loads and very difficult journeys and keep moving on.
So, as I add blogs to the site, I hope you will find something to offer you some insight, some comfort, or some information to help you on your journey. Feel free to share a comment, if you desire.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor with over 20 years of experience providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions. She meets with individuals in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
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