Find New Direction... Motivate and Make a Change! (10/08)
By Dianne Chambers
October seems like the month when our thoughts first turn to the fact that the year is really about to end. With winter just around the corner, many of us feel a little more sluggish as we wind up the year and look forward to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. It may not seem like it, but if you feel like you need to make a change, now is the time! We are all trying to find our “bliss.” Whether you are in school, working, or thinking about transitioning into something new, it is never too late to reevaluate your path. I say this because it is something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. The big question is how?
This topic came to me on the eve of an event I was attending with some girlfriends. My friends and I used to meet on a monthly basis in the mid 90s to talk, share and support each other. Over time, and with the advent of normal life changes such as career moves, marriages and children, most of our group slowly drifted away. Soon there were just a few of us who were still close, but unable to make the commitment to meet on a monthly basis. This year we decided that it was time to reinstate that support network, and our first meeting was a big success. It turns out that even though we had not made the time, we still needed the group. Most of us had fallen into a day-to-day process of taking care of family, going to work and not doing anything for ourselves. Sharing ideas has led me to decide that there are some things that I need to do in order to make an ideal life. Having a group to work with is great, and if you don’t have that, how you can explore what you want to achieve? I have put together a few suggestions to hopefully assist you with finding your path.
First, there are many Web sites that can assist you with this journey. Here are three that I have found helpful:
- www.motivateus.com: Created by a company called Motivating Moments (based in Waterford, MI), this site is filled with quotations from famous speakers of the past and present. In addition there are original articles on topics such as motivating yourself at work, how to attract the type of life you want, and how to manage your financial life. These are all things that we think about on a regular basis, but these articles provide great tips on achieving your goals. The articles on this site go back to 1998.
- www.motivationmama.com: This is a wonderful site written by a woman who is currently a professor of theatre. Her articles challenge you to choose your perfect life. What a great idea! Most of us react to life, but these words of encouragement give you ideas and steps on how to get there.
- www.nelson-motivation.com: This is the site of motivational speaker, Bob Nelson. Nelson is a best selling author whose area of expertise is motivation in the workplace. There are articles on this site on motivating your employees if you are a manager, and also how to create a harmonious work environment.
Searching these sites on the Web is just one option. Another option is to curl up with a good book. After all, we are librarians! Of course, there are the popular titles out there – The Secret, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and Chicken Soup for the Soul. However, some other titles I have found useful are listed below:
Beyond Positive Thinking, by Dr. Robert Anthony: This book offers positive, practical ways to motivate and change your thinking, and thus your life. It is a classic, having first been published in 1988, then updated and republished in 2004.
Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don’t, by Michael Losier. This book is similar to The Secret, in that it focuses on attracting what you want by thinking positively and focusing on your goals instead of what you do not have. This is a great book to get you started on the road to where you to want to be.
Last, it is always helpful to have a good group of friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members to share your ideas. If you don’t have this type of support, seek it out where it is most comfortable. I have a great network of friends and supportive co-workers. I also rely on my sister and my two grown nieces for ideas and motivation.
I hope this is helpful to get you started on your own path. There is no doubt that actively working on these traits will make you happier at work and happier in life. Find your bliss!
