5/7 Something to think about...

[Billie]

"What you think and say determines your personal power."

Meditations for Women

It is so true, at least for me, what I am thinking determines the amount of energy and control I have in my life. What I think is my personal power and what I do is derived from all those thoughts and words. If I think negative thoughts then whoa nellie guess what:thumbsdown:

Since we were married in January, one of the great new findings of my life are weekends! :lol: Yeah they were always there on the calendar but my life although very busy, was not so full I have decided. Now I long for Fridays to come and I am enjoying every second of the weekends. I leave work at work, which I have not done for almost 12 years and enjoy the moments of simple things, yesterday planting flowers and grilling out and walking with Polly and Gabe in an "arf-ritis" walk.

What now determines my thinking more and more are relationships with my family and my friends and really the house, the dog and the yard :lol: It really is a treat in life and I feel like my whole attitude has metamorphized and been really brought to life.

I hit the work place in a much better place mentally and emotionally, my energy level at the office has always been high but now it is balanced. Last week at work was horrid, we saw 15 kids for disclosures, and I traveled out of town two days, each for two hours of presentations. I don't think I could have been as optimal without the thinking and the words that came to me over the weekend, enjoying life.

It may not be a new realization for any of you, I hope it is not new, but it is for me. I feel like a kid in a candy shop--oops maybe I should stay butcher market! :D

Have a positive spin today and make it a great one!
B

[Ottawa]

"What you think and say determines your personal power."

Definitely true. Things left unsaid, especially about annoyances, stay unresolved.
There are times I wish it were not so true, but it relates to other sayings, especially in the workplace, like "the Squeaky wheel gets the grease", "If you don't ask, you don't get" and so on.

I took an assertiveness course a few years back since I realized I just wasn't saying things or voicing my real opinion.

Recently with the change in management style at our work I have really been having a tough time providing timely service and the clients have noticed. I only see a supervisor a few times a year and am greatful for that. With these new changes, I get emails from them every few days written in what I see as a negative tone concerning procedure/policy.

Thursday was the final straw over comments concerning recent actions and I realized that I had let it go too long without voicing opposition and stating the effect that new policy is having on our client relations and how even the clients have noticed a real "loss of service." As well I voiced my concern over the implied tone in these emails and the errors that they create. When I ran it past 6 of my peers, they agreed.

My letter went to upper management followed by phone contacts and more letters on specific service reductions. Although they were dissapointed I had discussed this with my peers instead of resolving it "just between us", that a change has been put in place.
I slept better that night, and in the morning had it confrmed that all future service concerns will be dealt with verbally. They confirmed that my service level was fully satisfactory and asked for ways that these "misunderstandings could be avoided in the future". Later several peers thanked me for raising the issue.

If I had not actually confronted the issue, Monday would have been a stressful day, spent wondering how I would deal with that leftover issue.

I was not after empowerment but your quote definitely is true. Unless you you followup on concerns with "What you think and say" it is too easy just to be plowed under or pushed aside.
I know that change is inevitable and usually positive, but voicing you thoughts definitely helps in coping with or improving the changes.

Today is a great day here. We went walking to look for ducks with our grandson and had a great time. It is bright with no clouds. There was a funeral yesterday that was the most uplifting I have ever been too, with a family organized service that paid tribute to a great man who showed love for everyone. The service included a recording (Carol of The Three Bells (http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/the_browns/the_three_bells.html)) from a group he sang with. A greandson from out west had sent a recording as well that gave tribute to all the things he had inherited from Grampa Mitchell.
This man made many of the same mistakes that we will all make, yet shone with a "brightness of hope" that lifted all around him and raised a family that shines that light as well.

Today could be your best day so far. We should make the most of all of our days.

[hawk]

I rarely get to see my grandsons because my son is divorced from his first wife . His weekend with them was scheduled for something with business and he could not get out of it and asked us to pick them up from school in a town 45 min away and keep them over night and take them to soccor and back home. I'm always feeling like the absentee grandma who rarely has an influence. Then I rememberd my out of town grandma and how much I wanted to be like her. I only saw her twice a year. I realized it was only my own thinking holding me back. In 24 hours we packed in quite a bit. We even challenged each other to complete a quarter mile swim. The 8 year old had never done that and only once had swam the length of a pool.
We camped out in sleeping bags and watched movies and ate out and we cheered on the soccor games . The 6 year old made 3 out of 4 goals on his team. Mostly I hope they just realize we love them. They sure are precious.
I'm going to change the way I think and make the most of time I do have.

[Billie]

Randy, glad you spoke up, it's hard sometimes but soemtimes that is the only alternative, think good thoughts!

Lyn, you know the kids know how much you love them, they have that with them always.

[Missy]

What pleasurable posts you all have shared!!!

Billie, how nice to hear about how much your enjoying life...and being a newly wed. :D How sweet! You sound very contented!

Ottawa, personal assertiveness is such a wonderful quality..and although sometimes you at first it feels uncomfortable, once you see the positive that comes from speaking up the next time you won't hesitate..and others will follow your lead in a positive way! Good for you!!!

Hawk, I'll bet you made a grand impression on those grandkids! :D Quality vs. Quantity!!!

[gitfiddle]

What a positive boost to read today! Thanks, everyone, for sharing those thoughts.