Christmas Calendar 2017 #9

Yesterday I feel down by not being able to post my quote. This was because I didn’t have my computer with me so I will be catching up today and tomorrow. Yes I could have just forgotten about it, but instead I have decided to follow the advice of today’s quote and stand up. We can’t always control every thing. Sometimes we just have to pick ourselves up, dust our selves off and keep going.


Relocate

We have relocated to 14 different homes in 3 different cities during my life. On top of these moves I have  also moved back home to my mother’s 3 times with or without my family.

At first moving was daunting. But now it’s a simple process that can be broken down into steps and described as an acrostic poem.

Research the area you are to move to and get excited

Explore your options

Lock in you choices and plan your move

Organise you belongings, what will stay, go or be given away

Collect cardboard boxes and start packing

Ask for help if necessary

Transfer you belongings to your new home

Enjoy sitting in your lounge room with a glass of champagne

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/relocate/


Retreat

Retreat is an active word. It’s not a sign of weakness, but a sign that you are in-charge of your reactions. It shows you know when to do something differently. To me, the word RETREAT breaks down into the following powerful actions and helps me to move forward in the direction I need to go even if it’s not the direction I originally wanted to.

Return to a safe space

Experience feelings associated with current stress

Take time out

Recover your strength

Experiment with new ideas

Activate a new plan

Test it out

Have you ever found retreating to be a successful strategy to move forward?

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/retreat/


Treasure

Treasure is something of value. It can come in all shapes and sizes, be shiny and sparkle or be ugly and covered in dirt. Everyone’s treasure and things they value are different. For me, my most valued treasure is my personal values.

T rust

R esponsibility

E mpathy

A cceptance

elf Respect

understanding

eflection

ncouragement

They are how I  live my life, raise my family and connect with people. Without any of them my life would be unbalanced. Individually, my values are only part of the picture, but together they form a very strong bond that can get me through any obstacle life throws my way.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/treasure/


Feedback Sandwich

When I think about a sandwich I don’t think about food but a way to deliver difficult feedback. I start by telling the person something they do well. Where possible I try to make it as close to the topic we are discussing. After we have discussed this for a minute or two I then introduce my difficult feedback. Where possible I look at the big picture of the issue discussing how the problem impacts the person and others. If appropriate, I will also give some ideas to help the person to move forward and make the changes required. To complete my feedback I would ask the person if they needed anything from me and remind them of the positives of what they are doing.

Often feedback is very difficult to hear but I find the more open the discussion, the better the outcome. By using the feedback sandwich, the person becomes less defensive because the news has been softened by positive feedback. It is a system that works well and has an overflowing impact of developing respect between the people involved.

A win/win for everyone, the feedback sandwich is:

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

DIFFICULT CONVERSATION

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/sandwich/


Crisis

Crisis

Working in mental health, for me crisis management, big and small, can be a daily occurrence. And while helping someone or even myself through a crisis is a good feeling, I don’t believe it is the best part of the experience. Like Marilyn Monroe in the above quote, “Within crisis, are the seeds of opportunity,” I agree that the opportunities that arise after the event are. They create personal growth within us that transforms our lives. We are a changed person, older and wiser. due to the lessons we have learnt or have been forced to deal with due to the crisis.

For more information on my inspiration to get through a crisis stop by my earlier post below.

Getting Through Tough Times

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/crisis/