Susan a happily, married mother of two small children is a high profile Montreal professional. A beautiful home, rental property, a country home and supportive parents leads observers to believe this is a great life!
Like many, she was a perfectionist, a worrier, and selfless giver for everyone but herself. Behind on work projects; personal accounting; a cluttered house; with no time; exhausted, never sleeping through the night. Susan turned to professional coaching.
The year of Susan
Step 1: determining her core values: accomplishment, recognition, intelligence, control, responsibility, self-awareness, honesty, fun and family will fulfill her life. Step 2: setting goals based on getting organized; feeling in control; more family time; and her dream of writing a book.
Yet for weeks Susan’s to do list remained the same. What was getting in her way? Susan let others run her life. She didn’t know how to say “no” or see what would work for her the proverbial “superwoman” syndrome. She made others’ wishes come true but was exhausted, frustrated and unhappy.
Susan revealed how her mother, who had recently finished decorating her own home, started pushing Susan towards redecorating. “Where’s this on your list of goals?” I asked. It wasn’t. Did Susan want to redecorate now? “No! The busiest time at work and so many things still undone.” she lamented. “What’s stopping you from saying, ‘No mom, this doesn’t work for me right now’?” Dead silence, then, “I can’t say no, she enjoys it so much!”
| To ensure that Susan maintained her power while meeting her needs we created the project name: “The Year of Susan” to focus on her priorities. Things that were not, or didn’t support them were a ‘no’.
Creative solutions
Letting go of pleasing others led to creative solutions to complete her priorities while taking the needs of others into account, “I know my mom’s bored, maybe she’ll help me clear my house clutter.” Susan learned that the power of saying “no” and the compassion of saying “yes” to reasonable explanations created understanding and support.
Taking care of her priorities lessened stress levels, giving her more energy.
The next, important step: stopping her energy-draining, worrying mind, to become more powerful in her thinking by expanding her perspectives. Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Brethnach, teaches how to see the world from a place of gratitude, beauty and joy. Susan learned to quiet her mind and create the room to honour her priority of writing a book.
PS: Susan and her Mom completed the renovations after the business and personal goals were completed.
Anita coaches professionals to make more money in less time. H&L |
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