Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

For March 6th from "The Journey: A Calendar Book"...."Be aware".

Dictionary.com defines aware as, "

"a·ware
[uh-wair] Show IPA
... adjective
1.
having knowledge; conscious; cognizant: aware of danger.
2.
informed; alert; knowledgeable; sophisticated: She is one of the most politically aware young women around.
Origin:
before 1100; Middle English, variant of iwar, Old English gewær watchful (cognate with Old High German, Old Saxon giwar, German gewahr ), equivalent to ge- y- + wær ware2" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aware?s=t).

Over my 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist THE most important advice I gave my patients we to live consciously. Having an awareness of the world around us changes everything about us. Living consciously means to know every moment of every day, every decision we make, every thought we think has an effect on the outcome of our daily life.

It's such a simple concept, but our busy lives impedes us from working at being so aware...it stifles us from reaching our personal success.

Be aware. Of it all.

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Woman's Daily Guide to Success"

Calendar Books by Allen James' reading for March 5th from "A Woman's Daily Guide to Success" is, "Contemplate your future". From "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success" we read, "Contemplate your future, again".

Research tells us Americans change jobs on average every 4.5 years (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). I decided to take a look back over my own working life to see if this holds true for me. I came up with very similar results:

1977 - 1982 - Worked in Food Service = 5 years
1982 - 1986 - Worked in Hospitality = 4.5 years
1986 - 1994 - High School English Teacher = 8 years
1994 - 2000 - High School Counselor = 6 years
2000 - 2006 - Private Psychotherapist = 7 years
2006 - 2013 - Vocational Counselor = 7 years

Sitting down and considering it more closely makes one realize how busy, or not busy, they have been over 36 years.

Yet notice I said research reports Americans change "jobs" on average every 4.5 years, not "careers". Most of my adult years have been spent in one career field (education) with varying jobs in that career field. Certainly every 4 - 6 years I've contemplated my future closely...closely enough to make changes advancing myself to gain more from the field.

A close friend and mentor of mine years ago taught me the importance of not making hasty decisions when considering career changes. She would say, "H, try sitting down and making a two column like of the pros and cons of the decision. If the column with the cons is larger than the column with the pros, you might want to think twice about making the change". Great advice, and advice I've taken each time I've changed positions.

There are 6 main reasons we change jobs or make career changes:
1. Life changes which require career adjustment
2. The job outlook in the field we're in worsens
3. Job burnout
4. Stress levels are out of control
5. We become bored with our current position (differs from burnout)
6. $$$$

Regardless of where you are in your current position, work wise or otherwise, contemplate your future. Making change can open you to a whole new world of exploration and adventure.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

This past weekend's readings, March 2nd and 3rd, "Have a roommate at least once in your life", and "Graduate"....respectively.

From "The Journey: A Calendar Book" for March 4th, "You've got a mind, use it".




Recent research indicated our brain is less like a computer and more like a corporation, multiple aspects working toward the common purpose, LIFE (NPR.com).
 
What's interesting about today's reading is the myth which has been making the rounds for decades regarding our typical use of our brains, this being we use only 10% or less of our brain's potential at any given time. If this were true those who tend to let others think for them would be "up the creek without a paddle" as "they" say. Barry Gordon, neurologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore says, the 10% myth is so wrong it's almost laughable (www.scientificamerican.com). 

"The myths durability stems from people's conceptions about their own brain: they see their own shortcomings as evidence of the existence of untapped gray matter. This is a false assumption."It turns out though, that we use virtually every part of the brain, and that [most of] the brain is active almost all the time," Gordon adds. "Let's put it this way: the brain represents three percent of the body's weight and uses 20 percent of the body's energy" (www.scientificamerican.com).

Don't allow unfounded assumptions affect your abilities. Don't allow unfounded assumptions to hamper you from being all you c an be. Don't allow unfounded assumptions to become obstacles in your journey to personal success.

You've got a brain, use it....to its full potential, 100%.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

Today's reading from "The Journey: A Calendar Book"....February 28th, "Take an active role when you can".

Setting back and letting life quickly pass by, whether it be at home, work, or leisure, is a certain way to become stagnant and become "blue". And anyone who has experienced the "blues" knows how difficult it is to be positive when they come around.

Just as physical activity dispels the "blues", or any level of depression for that matter, emotional and cognitive activity dispels stagnation.

When we take active roles in life we become more a part of life. Having our opinions heard and acted upon provides a feeling of self-worth which is vital to personal success.

Last evening in the Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity in America class which I teach we had a guest speaker who is a first generation immigrant from France. She was around 70 years of age. One of the questions asked of her was, "What does it mean to you to be successful?" Her answer was simple, "Success is a personal thing. Having been an active participant in creating happiness over my life is success to me. Having a family who is happy and searching for their own success means I've been successful".

How true...."Having been an 'active participant' in creating happiness over my life".

Take an active role when you can. You'll find as you pass through life you'll be a more positive, happy individual.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success"

For February 27th, from "A Teacher's Daily Guide to Success"...

"Attend social events" (James, 2012).

"I'm bored!" "There's nothing to do around here!" "Why am I just sitting at home all the time?" These phrases are often heard said by teenagers, who seem to think if life isn't a party, then it stinks. Adults can also think these same thoughts when our lives are getting in a "funk". Going through the daily motions of getting out of bed, showering, dressing for work, having coffee/breakfast, seeing the kids off, driving to work, getting home, going through the evening routine, heading to bed and then doing the same thing over and over and over leaves little time for social activities. And when would we fit it into our schedule anyway?

The fact of the matter is there are social events going on all the time. Whether it be at the church we attend or at the community center in where we live, social events are scheduled regularly in most towns/cities. Fitting a special event into our schedules ever so often is a must for social interaction and sporadic breaks from our regular routines. These give us a chance to express ourselves socially and to take a breather from what seems mundane.

Seek out social events if you need to. Attend a play at the local community theater. Head to the area education center for a lecture on an historic topic. Find a cultural event which sounds interesting.

Attend social events. You'll return to your routine thinking fresh and feeling renewed.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

February 26th....thought for the day...from "The Journey: A Calendar Book"..."Think".

How many times do we go "gentle into that good night" instead of following the words of the famous Welsh poet whose words were "do not go gentle into that good night" (Thomas, 1951). 

Too often we set our lives on cruise control and allow life to happen to us instead of our happening to life. 

We don't "think" enough.  We allow others to think for us....through the guise of "friends", television, our boss, our parents; you can name for yourself who or what you let do your thinking.

When we take time to think for ourselves we are creating our own path to personal success, not supporting the successes of others.

Think....cause a row...."do not go gentle into that good night" (Thomas, 1951).

Keep looking up.  : )  AJ

Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Woman's Daily Guide to Success"

Today's reading is from "A Woman's Daily Guide to Success" and is one of the 30 quotes by notable individuals promoting personal success in our lives.....

" Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." Maya Angelo

No explanation needed.....just do it.... : )

Keep looking up. :) AJ