Bookmarks have been on my mind lately for several reasons. Turns out that both literally and metaphorically, they can save you (and me) a lot of time. And in the process, help us become more efficient, creating time and energy to spend on all that fun stuff we say we want to do!
Starting at the practical-yet-mundane level, there's the computer bookmark. You know, those virtual systems that have sprung up in the last couple of years to allow you to save favorite articles for reference rather than having to print them out. Saves on physical clutter.
(Raise your hand if you're in favor of less clutter!)
I'm talking about those little icons you'll find at the end of each of these blog posts, as well as elsewhere around the web. Like del.icio.us, furl and Digg.
Now even as we speak, it turns out I'm having computer issues. Seems my trusted friend latched onto something the anti-virus and anti-spyware software couldn't beat. So I've been marginally concerned about preserving the data stored on my hard drive. But guess what? I haven't had to worry about losing my bookmarked articles. They're stored somewhere else!
Cool, huh?
Then there's the "feeling" bookmark. This came out of a conversation I had just yesterday with one of this quarter's wellness coaching participants.
Seems she's been doing great on her project. In fact, she's ahead of schedule. (Come to think of it, all this quarter's participants are doing great!)
Anyway, here we were talking about her project and she happened to mention that it feels really great to be doing what you said you were going to do, when you said you were going to do it. And seeing the results of that all around you in the completed project you set about to complete.
Rah!
Anyway, that was about the time I suggested, "Bookmark that feeling!"
And I'm now making that same suggestion to each of you. You do something well. Take on something that really matters in your life and succeed. You feel great about it.
What to do???
Easy. Bookmark the feeling.
Why?
Because you know as well as I do that the moment will come, one day down the road, where you'll be setting out on another project. And you won't feel like following through. You'll begin to rationalize that you "didn't really mean you were going to do that ... then ... " You'll unwittingly set yourself out on that slippery slope of self-betrayal.
And then...
You'll call up the bookmark. The one that says, "hey there. Remember how great you felt last time when you pressed through the don't-wanna's and actually did what you said?"
You'll call up the bookmark and it'll inspire you to press through again, just so you can feel great even more often. And you'll pull off another success!
Rah!
So bookmark that feeling. While you're at it, why not try out one of those little virtual bookmarking services. It only takes a minute, you'll save a tree, and your favorite articles will be easy to find the next time you want to share them with a friend or re-read one for inspiration.
Why, you might even start with this one! :-)
Elizabeth Eckert can help you explore how simple everyday choices create health — or undermine even the best of intentions. With a background that ranges from energy medicine to structural bodywork to developmental psychology, this "Stick-To-It Coach" has the experience to support you in creating the healthiest possible expression of — you!
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