Nudges

Ever had a thought or a feeling come on suddenly that you should do something? But then, you dismiss the idea as crazy or stupid? Well . . . don’t.

Don’t?

Yes, don’t dismiss those nudges.

I’ve learned that often those nudges are that still, small inner voice and if you let it, it will guide you appropriately — every time. Your true Self will never guide you down the wrong pathway.

Ignoring the nudges only causes you much pain, frustration and loss of time in learning whatever it is the Universe is prodding you to learn. If you ignore it long enough, the Universe will beat you over the head with it until you pay attention . . . trust me on that one!

I’ve also learned that sometimes those nudges which seem the craziest are the ones that turn out to be worth the most in terms of the joy, the passion, the happiness that comes from acting upon it.

The next time you get a nudge, follow it. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

Personal vs Business

Today I heard someone say that blogs should be separated from businesses endeavors unless it’s a blog specific to that business. While I can see the point and believe that in some instances it has great merit, I don’t totally agree.

I’ve been involved in customer service for most of my working life which began at about age 12 as a newspaper carrier. And over the course of the last 20+ years since, I’ve developed quite an opinion about it. Especially in todays global economy.

Your customers on the other side of the continent and on the other side of the world want to know that you are a real person, you are a living, breathing, trustworthy ally. They want to know that your company is not a beaurocratic nightmare to deal with. In this day and age, a personal company that goes the extra mile for it’s customers, goes out of it’s way to be there via phone, email, and web to take care of it’s customers is a company with longevity.

Yes, even home-based companies need to have aire of professionalism as well but I don’t think being personal and accesible is unprofessional. In fact, I find the opposite is true. I find that the more personal I am with my customers and clients, the more they trust me and my company.

So while some people may wear two hats – one professional and one personal – I prefer to wear no hat at all . . . and just be me.

And that means providing the best customer service possible, being accessible to those who request my help, and keeping my business and personal endeavors as close to eachother as possible.

Lesson of the Week…

Don’t be attached to outcomes.

Or to the “how”.

A couple days ago someone said to me “Let go of the how. There aren’t any openings for God. That position is already taken.” And how true that is. It’s not up to me to decide when or where or why – only what.

We are told, “Ask and you shall be given. Seek and you shall find.”

Nowhere is it stated that we get to decide any of the other stuff – our job is to discover our Purpose, ask for what we desire and require to fulfill that Purpose and leave everything else up to the Universe (or God or whatever term you prefer), who, as it happens is much better at creating and directing and controlling than we are.

I find that when I try to control outcomes and other aspects, havoc occurs. If I find myself floundering, I know right away then I’m trying to control. The only thing in this life that I can control is me. Nothing else. Nobody else.

I can only control me.

Sometimes . . .!!

Every now and then, I dream of going off to a faraway island in the sun and living in a small villa with views of the ocean and nothing but my laptop. Just the two of us. Out there in the world.

Writing. Watching. Dreaming. Meditating. Being.

Just somewhere all my own. With no interruptions. No noise but the sound of the ocean’s waves as they roll in and back out again in hypnotic rhythmn.

Well, and the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard.

Ok . . . back to reality

It’s days like these, days where the kids are fighting, the internet is being wacky, the television in the other room is loud, the damn phone keeps ringing! GRRR! I just want to crawl into a nice, quiet, padded room and scream! Or maybe just work. Maybe both.

I don’t know.

But sometimes it just seems like the whole world is tilting the opposite direction from me. And I find it very frustrating. There’s no quiet nook in the house to be found. Noise everywhere. And the more I tell them to be quiet, I swear, the louder they get!

I know, I know. I read in Eric Maisel’s book, Coaching the Artist Within, that I should learn to create in the middle of things. It sounds good. I’d like to. But it just doesn’t seem to happen! Even when I put my iPod . . . on. (On? Do you put an iPod on?) Well, whatever. Even when I’m listening to my iPod.

Sometimes I just can’t shut out the rest of the world. Or the rest of my family. Not that I want to shut them out – I just want them to be quiet! Really! Is that so much to ask?

We’re so wired in this tech/internet/new millenium age that to be un-wired feels un-natural. Slow. Antique. And utterly confusing. Like something is missing. Ok . . . not just something – like a piece of yourself is missing. Amputated. Gone. Lost. And if you’re not connected somehow, the people around you panic.

Or think you’re extremely weird.

And maybe I am weird. My kids say so. My husband says so. And I must admit that sometimes I even feel weird. Like an oddity. One of P.T. Barnum’s freaks of nature.

Oh well. That’s ok. I’m secure in myself.

And even if I’m not, I can always put on my iPod, right?

Links 3.01.06

Here are some cool tools on the web that I use and enjoy  . . .

1. Writely - an online word processor. Check it out at www.writely.com
2. Simpleology - The simple science of getting what you want – Mark Joyner
3. Scale the world – a program of empowerment, answers, strategies for life
4. Basecamp - the worlds best project manager

Categories

Wow! I’m adding categories of anything I might like to talk about here over the course of time and so far, there’s 29! And I’m sure as this blog continues, I’ll likely find more to add. Who knew?

It’s not that I’m a great talker – I’m not – I much prefer to write. If I were a talker, I would probably be in radio or something. Speaking of which – I just thought of another category – podcasting. Because I do plan on putting up audio’s now and then. So stay tuned for that.

Let me know if you have any ideas. I’m open to listening. Can’t say I’ll do any more than that, though, but you never know. I might just like your idea and use it! And if I do, perhaps I’ll provide you with a copy of my upcoming book “Everlasting” due out this Spring.

Blessings for our Greatest Good,
Annie Anderson