Perspectives

Our back deck faces west, out over Lake Scugog. We enjoy some incredible sunsets where the sky and water are drenched in vivid pinks, reds, purples and golds. The picture to the left captures one of those moments. (Yes, that's the view from our back deck and I'm constantly grateful for it.)

This past week, I felt the urge to sit in the middle of all that glorious saturation so I paddled out in my kayak and turned to face the far shore as the sun went down. An osprey glided overhead looking for his last catch of the day while behind me, the quiet murmur of a neighbour's conversation  carried to where I drifted. To them I'm sure I was simply a silhouette against the fiery horizon. All in all, a peaceful end to a busy day.

When the light show finally faded, I turned my kayak around to paddle back to the dock and stopped mid-stroke. Dusk lifted from the eastern horizon, darkening the sky as it grew. At the leading edge of the deepening shadow glowed a full moon, seemingly caught high in the branches of a birch tree. The subtle beauty of nightrise caught me by surprise.

I've been so dazzled by sunsets that I missed something lovely taking place right behind me my whole life. I had just never turned around before. 

I had to ask myself, what else have I missed? Where else could I turn around and surprise myself? How about you?

What new ways could you look at life and all it offers?

One truth I've learned as a life coach is that there are always other options. Life is rarely just about either/or choices. If we're patient and wait for it, we'll be offered alternatives and different perspectives.

The beauty of the nightrise didn't reveal itself until the sun slipped below the horizon. That was the element of waiting. The surprise was…well… a surprise. But there were also choices made and action taken.

Nightrise happens whether we're there for it or not. You have to choose to turn around and look in a new direction to discover all that life offers.

 

You Can’t Really Waste Time…

I know a lot of you will want to disagree with me on this. "Of course we can waste time", you say. "I do it all the time."

Not really. At least not the way you think you do. Looking for lost keys and misplaced glasses may qualify as wasted time but usually what you are doing is assigning a relative worth to an activity, valuing it against something else you might have done in its place. And that worth is dependent on a lot of factors.

• The Bite Test

I like to use the "Bite Test" to help me prioritize my activities. As
in 'What's going to bite me first if I don't get it done?"

I recently had a deadline of July 10 to complete a writing assignment. If I had chosen to look for my passport for a trip in September it's obvious what's going to hurt first.

What's often true in a case like this is fear of forgetting so simply write down a reminder to yourself. Your brain can let it go, knowing that it's looked after.

• Attitude

Your attitude towards an activity also values or devalues it. An evening spent at the ballet might be labeled a huge waste of time if you prefer line dancing but it certainly doesn't negate the ballet. It's only an indication of your own preferences and perspective.

• Balance

Balance is often where we, as businesspeople and entrepreneurs really fall out of whack and is often the source of our frustrations. Most of us don’t give enough weight to social activities, seeing them as ‘less valuable’ than business because they don’t directly generate dollars. (Read my previous blog on valuating your activities.)

If you "can't afford" to take care of yourself and your relationships while they're healthy what is the price you'll pay if they fail? That's the value you need to give them while you still have a choice.

 

Where’s Your Focus?

I usually half-listen to the radio in the car when I'm going to appointments. This week, however, I caught one announcer talking about the joys of a backyard skating rink and his two small boys. Apparently the 7 year old was sharing his hockey knowledge with the 5 year old and said "You just have to put the puck where the goalie isn't."

Words of life wisdom from a child.

What are you focused on? The 7% unemployment rate or the fact the 93% of people are still working? 

Shift your perspective and see the opportunities right in front of you.