Re-Search

 "Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come more effective action"        Peter Drucker

Week #3
If you're just joining me...I am working on an experiment  to determine if taking small steps will bring big results in my life.

In my blog for week #2 I decided that before I decided on the the small steps I want to take,  I would first make a list of the areas in my life that  I felt were important to me.  I also suggested that you do the same. Then I created general categories to pare down the list. Well...After several days of brainstorming, re-searching, re-thinking, and re-flecting, I found eight ‘great’ categories that I would use to label those areas (look below to see how I titled them).

Notice that I created the acronym RE-SEARCH with the names of each of the areas. .It makes it easier to recall my eight categories.  I like the term ‘re-search’, because I have often searched for ways to set goals and improve myself. Now that I’m looking at change in a new way, it feels like I’m returning to the search again….and re-searching. I suggest that you use your own ideas for category titles and create a personal mnemonic or an acronym to easier remember your categories, as we’ll often come back and look at these.

RE-SEARCH
1. Relationships
2. Environment
3. Spirituality
4. Economics
5. Artistry
6. Recreation
7. Career and calling
8. Health: Body and Mind

I’m pleased with what I have came up with. I think it is a good overview of the important areas in my life.

But, before thinking about specific small changes I want to make in those areas, I want to consider some general principles to use when making the small changes. (And I want you to think about your own as well). Let me give you an example of a principle that I want to adopt when considering small changes. Principle #1 'begin it now’. I don’t know about you, but I am guilty of deciding in November that as soon as the New Year begins I’ll start my diet. I don’t want to do that anymore, at least not in my ‘small changes experiment’. So ‘begin it now’ will be one of my principles. Another principle I would like to use is ‘keep it simple’. Sometimes my goals are so complicated that I get wrapped up in a quagmire of the goal, instead of the action…So I will 'keep it simple' will I determine a small step I want to take.

Now it’s your turn to create your own principles. Let’s meet next week, and in the meantime; please share some of  ideas you’ve come up with so far.

Homework:
#1. Create an acronym or mnemonic to help you remember your categories
#2. Make a list of the principles that you will use when determining the small steps you want to take.