Today (Sunday, March 10th) is Good Deeds Day.  A day for us to do, at least, one act of kindness for someone. It can be large or small. Size does not matter.  What matters is that it comes from your heart.

This holiday was created in 2007, by Shari Arison, a businesswoman and philanthropist.  Last year, Arison was named one of the World's Most Powerful Women by Forbes Magazine.  Her motto is "think good, speak good, and do good"

So on this day, think what good deed can you can do for someone.  Then go and do it!

You can read about Good Deeds Day at the Huffington Post Blog.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 9th, is Get Over It Day.  Yes, there is such a holiday.  It is the brainchild of Jeff Goldbatt, an Atlanta entrepreneur, who created it in 2005, after finding himself taking a long time to get over an ex-girlfriend. The day became legitimized the following year, when ABC's Good Morning America and ESPN's SportsCenter, announced it on their shows and did segments about the topic.

I believe the slogan at the Get Over It Day website is true for all of us: "Everyone has something to get over". It could be unfair work situations, past relationships, embarrassing moments, feeling disrespected, being treated unjustly, or other hard-to-forget occurrences. Goldbatt suggests if you are not sure what you need to get over, "just ask your friends what they're tired of hearing you complain about."

In life, there will be disappointments, mistakes, and hurts (intentional and unintentional). They can come from loved ones, friends, co-workers, managers, strangers or even our own misguided behavior. Constantly thinking about them does little to help us achieve our goals and dreams.

As, Love Coach and Family Therapist, Dr. Torri Griffin says in her quote above, now is the time to "Decide to release others from the many ways they have failed you, disappointed you, or misunderstood you. Make a vow to live in the now." Dr. Griffin believes that replaying sad and hurtful scenarios over and over in your mind keeps you feeling those same old negative emotions even though the situation is long gone. Focusing on the present and what is positive in your life now, not only helps you feel better, it also keeps you open to new exciting opportunities

To celebrate Get Over It Day, I suggest you make a list of the people and experiences you need to stop thinking and talking about. Then release them, so you can stop living in the past and begin to live fully in the present. 

For more ways to "get over it", click here to read an excerpt on the topic from my book, Just Get Serious About Success.
 

I just finished taking a great time management quiz. I immediately understood several changes I could make to better manage my time. 

Here's the quiz - How Good is Your Time Management?  It is offered by Mind Tools.  If you take it, like me, I am sure you will be able to  quickly identify things you can do differently so you are less stressed because of deadlines, rework, unexpected emergencies and more.  Also the summary of your results at the end of the quiz offers valuable suggestions to get you started on the road to better time management now.

Written goals have a way of transforming
wishes into wants; can'ts into cans; dreams
into plans; and plans into reality.
- Anonymous -


During my years of reading personal development books and attending seminars, I have found that all the experts on success stress the importance of writing goals. Among them is Brian Tracy.

Today, Tracy is an internationally recognized business consultant, seminar leader, and achievement speaker. However, he dropped out of high school at 18 and, for several years, had menial jobs at factories, farms, and steamships. At 23, he got a commission-only sales position where he not only led his team in sales but also became the vice president of sales in charge of 95 people within two years.

Tracy attributes his success to his decision to write an ambitious goal to earn $1,000 a month at his job. When he actually accomplished that feat, he began to value goal setting, which led him to spend more than 40 years studying, researching, and practicing the concept. As a leading authority on success, Tracy has spoken to more than four million people through over 4,000 presentations, worked with 1,000 plus companies, and written 45 books.

With his vast knowledge and experience, Tracy says if he had only five minutes to tell someone just one thing to do to be more successful it would be, “Write down your goals; make plans to achieve them, and work on your plans every single day.”  So, there you have words of wisdom from an world renown achievement expert. I suggest you act on Tracy's advice to insure your success for 2013 and beyond.

If you are not sure now to write your goals, read my article on Set Exciting Goals to Create an Exciting Life.

This month we will be bombarded with "year-in-review" TV specials and segments. Whenever I watch them, I find myself revisiting my own life and asking "what would be in my year-end program"?  I pose that same question to you. What images, words, and feelings come to your mind when you think about what went on in your life last year?  What experiences stand out from the others?

Below are several questions that can help you form your review.  Ask yourself each one in the context of last year. You may not have answers for all the questions. However, I challenge you to delve deeply into your mind to discover answers to as many of them as you can. Many times there are rich experiences in our everyday lives that we fail to acknowledge because we are looking for something really spectacular that made a big impression on us.

Although I am giving you the questions, you may have some of your own you want to add to this list, I encourage you to do so.  If you come up with questions you think others would benefit from asking themselves, please email them to me.  I will list them in my next blog for readers to consider.  Here are the questions (remember add "last year" at the end of each one).    

1.   What goals did I achieve? 

2.   What disappointments did I experience? 

3.   What new talents or abilities did I discover I had?

4.   What new personal friends did I make? 

5.   What new professional or business relationships did I form? 

6.   What did I start doing that has proven to be valuable to me? 

7.   What undertaking(s) am I most proud of? 

8.   What could I have done differently at work or in my business?

9.   What were some opportunities I missed and why?

10.  What am I most grateful for? 

11.  Who helped me in a meaningful way? 

12.  Who did I help in a meaningful way?

If you find it difficult to answer these questions because you cannot fully remember what happened last year, I suggest that in 2013 you keep a journal of your activities, encounters, and experiences.  That way, at the end of the year, you will have a resource to review to help you consider these same questions.

 You may be asking yourself "what is the purpose of this exercise?" or "why should I take my time to do this?"  The answer is that it allows you to examine and celebrate your life in a unique way. This activity can broaden your self-awareness and increase your self-appreciation. You can also gain valuable insights about yourself and those around you that can help you create greater personal and professional success in this New Year and beyond.  I hope you enjoy the exercise.

Wishing You  "Serious
Success" In 2013 & Beyond

Last December I asked several friends and colleagues to contribute their thoughts for an article I was writing on how to feel less stressed and more joyful during the holidays.  I got such a great response to their ideas, that I decided to publish them again this year.  Here's what they told me:

•    Carolyn Hartfield (CEO - Lifestyle Management LLC - LifestyleMgtLLC.com) -  Declare that this will be your best holiday ever and proceed accordingly by expecting the best and avoiding any inkling of negativity, i.e., cynical people and gloomy thoughts. Make a personal commitment to only engage in positive thinking, interactions, and activities and see how much better you will feel. 

•    Cleopatra Bell (Speaker & Author)    - I keep myself feeling good by truly enjoying the holiday parties I attend.  I meet interesting new people and stay in touch with them after the festivities.  I also find seeing Christmas lights puts me in the holiday spirit. So I don't just pass by them; I actually stop and spend time looking at the beautiful designs.  Another thing I do is go to the stores the day after Christmas to buy gifts I will give during the coming year.  Designer fragrances are usually at least 50% off, so I stock up on them. I also buy large scented candles (those without the holiday designs) at a fraction of their usual price.  These items are great gifts for birthdays, housewarmings, and other occasions.   

•    Donna Lang (Business Coach & Seminar Leader  at SmartToolsCoaching.com)  - Fear can easily ruin the holidays, especially when we become overwhelmed by many demands.  But what if we flipped the FEAR switch and asked ourselves are we Forgetting Every Available Resource?  In other words, are we asking for help to get things done?  When feeling stressed, get assistance from friends and family members. The holiday season is not the time to be trying to do everything all by yourself. Get others to help so you can stress less and enjoy more.

•    Joanne Simmons - Nothing soothes my soul like spending quality time with true friends and family members.  Being embraced and simply feeling loved, lifts my spirit to another place entirely. During this busy time of the year, do yourself a favor and schedule time with those who are important to you.  Whether it's grabbing a quick cup of coffee, meeting to chat while going for a walk, or dining at your favorite restaurant, find the time to fill up with all the love you can muster!

•    Linda Hall (Wearable Art & Jewelry Designer   TheCreativeArtisan.com) - This is the time of year when we often think about giving to the homeless, less fortunate, or those in need.  But what happens to those people during the rest of the year?  A group of my friends and I started a new tradition. We adopted a family for the entire year.  We provide them with gifts for Christmas.  But the biggest gift will be our time helping the children with homework and supplies for school trips, as well as purchasing needed items for the family for the next 12 months.  I suggest you consider starting a similar tradition of reaching out to a family or friend in need.  By doing so you will realize how blessed you truly are.  And when you feel blessed, you feel less stressed and more joyful.   

•    William Johnson - Even though I live by myself, I fully decorate my home for the holidays. In my living room I have a 9-foot tree with lots of colorful ornaments and lights. Also in my foyer I have a large design which has  brightly-wrapped presents, garland, nutcracker men, mistletoe, Santa, and snowmen. Seeing my house decorated in such a way everyday in December makes me feel the spirit of Christmas.  I suggest you do likewise regardless of whether or not you have a home filled with people. These days at my place it always "Ho - Ho - Ho - it's beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas!"

I thank Carolyn Hartfield, Cleopatra Bell, Donna Lang, Joanne Simmons, Linda Hall, and William Johnson for sharing their great ideas.  I hope you find them useful in staying stress-free and joyful at this wonderful time of the year.

As 2012 is coming to an end, it is a great time to make a vision board of your goals and dreams for next year.  By having one you can stay focused and spend more time engaged in activities that lead to you accomplishing your plans in 2013.  If you need information on creating a board, click here for an article with all the details.

Wishing you a Wonderful Thanksgiving
Filled with Family, Friends, Food  & Fun!
Donna