Sometimes you feel that no matter how much patience you exhibit, certain matters are beyond your control and cannot be easily fixed.  Things take longer than you want them to, people can be improperly trained and inefficient in dealing with your needs, phone numbers don’t work, deadlines aren’t met, clear communications are misunderstood, etc.

What can you do?

I know, like me, you may sometimes feel like you’d like to vanish or disappear someone else.  No matter how you try to keep your cool, someone can push just your right buttons so your blood starts to boil and any amount of professional calmness you started with becomes hard to hold onto.

An hour and a half rectifying miscellaneous flight charges with the airlines and my credit card company for a trip I’ taking tomorrow when I’m pressed to prep, was not part of my day’s plan.  It’s disappointing, and yet it’s what needed to happen to be clear about something or to someone, it most often can’t be avoided.  The old expression, “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar,” is still the best way to handle matters and will cause people to ultimately respond to support you, vs. if you bite their head off.  (And on the bright side, I did create this blog while waiting on the phone).

To not let yourself get worn down or feel beat, consider that these incidents aren’t time stealers, but rather part of the normal occurrence of life.  Instead of getting disillusioned with it not flowing effortlessly, focus on accepting it as it is, vs. trying to be patient when it doesn’t go right.   Then notice how this switch can allow your patience to fall in line.  At least that’s what I’m working on, letting needless worries float on by and turning my attention to acceptance and to how I’ll restructure my day so that it will all work out — because doesn’t it usually any way?

COACH ASKS:  Am I accepting or resisting what’s occurring?  If I’m resisting, how might I take a break and revisit the situation once I’ve gained perspective on the matter.  i.e. Is it really a life or death issue?

Okay, maybe your heroine isn’t Oprah, maybe its Ellen DeGeneres or Michelle Obama or even someone famous in history, like Harriet Tubman or Indira Gandhi.  But no matter how inspired someone may appear to us, they too have both their moments in the sun and those in the dark of the moon…those moments where they’re not representing themselves in their best light.

I had one of those moments a few days ago and had trouble at first seeing myself as part of the problem.  I was frustrated with a couple of associates and found myself wanting to back out of our relationship.  My expectations and feelings of being personally affronted overwhelmed any compassion for them.

I was sharing this with a mutual friend who fortunately set me straight.  I thought how those I was disappointed in were simply not ”on” at this time and while they may have personal growth lessons to learn, it’s my lesson to accept them and appreciate them now as they are.  I was having an “off” period when I held fast to them having to show up a certain way and not allowing them room to be themselves or make mistakes, be peculiar, or just different than me and how I’d do something.

The next time you’re being tough on yourself or others, keep in mind we all have unique strengths, gifts and qualities that can’t be compared to anyone elses, even those we hold to a high ideal.  True, sometimes relationships that aren’t healthy or helping us grow have to be ended.  But more often than not, it’s about acceptance of each other and facing the reality that we all have ”on” and “off” times, so we should temper our ideals and let the natural light shine through.

My in-laws live in a senior home and are currently experiencing their second lockdown in a two month period, — no residents can leave their rooms or receive visitors.  Food is delivered to their rooms and all group activities are on hold.  This lockdown is due to a few of the senior residents contracting a severe flu and the Director deciding to control the virus from spreading.  While this seems like a well-reasoned prevention method, especially as it only lasts a matter of a few days, certain residents complain that they shouldn’t be so inconvenienced.  Some family members are unhappy about the lack of access to their healthier loved ones during this time.

This reminds me of so many other group imposed policies, including job site regulations, which are put into affect for the benefit of the greater population, but can cause hardships on certain individuals.

The reality is we live in a society, which Google describes as:

• “The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.
• The community of people living in a particular region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations.”

We are a network of individuals whose choices impact each another. (more…)

Having just finished reading the first book of “The Hunger Games,” and planning to see the movie tonight, I can’t help thinking of how it compares with the current job market.  Since it hit the box office bull’s eye and is breaking sales records, it’s clear millions of viewers are interested in this theme.

In the film, contestants must  fight to the death in a complex environment with limited resources and a minimum of training.  Sounds like pretty fierce job competition, doesn’t it?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics March report says 12.5 million people are unemployed.   That’s a lot of folks responding to the same job postings, going for the same interviews, and hunting for alliances and a competitive edge.   How can someone needing work have their wounds salved knowing these statistics and keep motivated to find satisfying work, let alone a paying job?  The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness is assuring us that they will and are fighting hard to ensure Americans jobs and stay competitive in the global marketplace, yet it gives slight comfort to anyone struggling to put food on their tables.

The Hunger Games reminds us that indeed survival is based on individual development, perseverance, and (more…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWKTfqivbRQ&feature=youtu.be

View this inspiring video on older women and outrageous fashion.  Youtube.com  4:03