Press Release
Summary = Attempts as well as achievements are part of your “Success
History”, says self-help author.
Press Release
Body = June is traditionally the month for celebrating achievements
and marking accomplishments. But degrees are not only earned by
academic performance or awarded by accredited institutions. Long
after the textbooks are left to gather dust on our bookshelf, we
continue our educational experience in the “School of Life,”
says Nancy Christie, author of The Gifts of Change (Beyond Words
Publishing, 2004) “Each day, we gain a little more experience
and knowledge,” she notes.
“Unfortunately, because we are so busy ‘doing,’
we rarely have time to reflect on what we have achieved, let alone
celebrate those accomplishments.” In The Gifts of Change,
Christie stresses the importance of maintaining a storehouse of
positive experiences. “Then when we hunger for good thoughts
or nourishing emotions, we can go to the shelves and take what we
need: the embrace of a lover, the encouraging words of a friend,
even the vision of a beautiful summer sunrise,” she writes
in the chapter entitled “The Pantry of the Soul.” “As
we sniff, touch and taste each occurrence…we realize what
a wealth of nourishment can be drawn from these experiences; not
only when they occur but also when they are remembered.” To
help readers commemorate these events, Christie has created a “Personal
Profile”
worksheet as part of The Gifts of Change online workbook (available
at www.giftsofchange.com).
“By answering key questions, you begin to reflect on what
you have accomplished in your life, from public achievements to
personal victories,” explains Christie. “The act of
writing them down gives them more validity, allowing you to go back
and reread the list during periods of self-doubt.” “Memory-joggers”
include “What was the most difficult challenge you faced in
the past 12 months?” “What activity did you engage in
recently that moved you out of your ‘comfort zone’?”
“What fears have you faced and overcome?” “The
key is to acknowledge attempts, not necessarily measure successes,”
says Christie. “Often we may try something and it won’t
turn out the way we hoped or planned. When that occurs, it’s
all too easy to focus on the disappointing outcome rather than the
courage it took to attempt it. The memory becomes a rotten potato
in our mental pantry, spoiling other recollections and robbing us
of emotional nourishment.” Instead, Christie emphasizes, focus
on what you did or had to overcome, not the result. “Suppose
you tried self-employment but after a year or two, you just
couldn’t make a go of it. You might consider that a failure,
but if you look at what you learned, what abilities you uncovered
or new skills you developed, you realize what you gained from the
attempt. It was a learning experience, and any time we learn something,
we grow as a person.” “The other advantage to tracking
these events is that you realize how much change is a part of your
life and how each change illuminates new aspects of yourself,”
Christie adds. “This gives you confidence to face something
new or undertake something different, thereby opening new dimensions
to your life.”
For more information about Nancy Christie and The Gifts of Change,
visit www.giftsofchange.com or contact her via e-mail at info@giftsofchange.com
or by phone at 330-793-3675. The Gifts of Change is available online,
in bookstores nationwide, and in select military exchanges worldwide.
2012
