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Thursday, January 31, 2008

THE INTERVAL


"The Interval" is an interesting topic of discussion. Formerly referred to over the ages as "The Midlife Crisis", "The Frantic Forties", "The Transition" and the "Red Sports Car", it continues to rear its ugly little head even when we spend thousands of dollars trying to become aware so that we may be spared of the uncertainty that manifests in our chattering mind during this time. The truth is it starts at age 35 and ends at 42, just like clockwork. Periodically we may experience a slightly longer or shorter version just like in pregnancy but the reality is, Mother Nature is in charge when it comes to THE INTERVAL. The only control that you have is in developing an understanding of it. And the good news is if you don't develop an understanding of it, life will wake you up anyway once it passes. It is a gestation period. Whether you liken it to a caterpillar gradually experiencing greater degrees of confinement in a cocoon winding tighter as time progresses or carrying a fetus until such time you experience the labor of birth, both reference becoming more uncomfortable as the end of your new beginning nears.

One of the injustices that man has imposed upon himself since first beginning to speak, is the notion that he or she is an adult at or around 21. The reality is, he is mature, he is in perfect bloom, he is full term and brand new, he is fully assembled and road worthy. He is not an adult. He does not KNOW HIMSELF. Adult implies that he is ready, well-equipped to make intelligent choices while existing in an ignorant world. This is like trying to see clearly underwater in a muddy lake. Intelligence requires self-knowledge beyond likes and dislikes. If one enters THE INTERVAL slimed by life, it is likely that a great deal of disillusionment, hardship and even self-destruction will take place. It's important that one try to remain clear-headed during this time. Marriages frequently fall apart (80%) and children are left to suffer the effects of it all. Some remarry and others simply leave town looking for something outside of themselves. Careers begin to have a lack luster appeal and many often feel trapped by their own vain imaginings. Some feel sorry for themselves and others fear the sky is about to cave in on top of them. Nothing is as it seems during this time. Knowing that this is completely natural and that one's energy is likely to diminish, and life appears to be pedestrian, routine and annoyingly repetitive, it's vital that intelligence prevail and you not throw the baby out with bath water.

The life you have created up until this point has been a co-operative effort and even though it may feel like you are on the escalator to nowhere, you will arrive at a new destination and you will be pleasantly surprised. Back in the day when marriages lasted for 50 and 60 years, there was little to distract one from merely surviving. The bonds that formed in marriages and in the family institution were strong because they saw and intermingled with each other daily. Prior to that era women died during this interval because at age 39, which represents the eye of the hurricane, many would get pregnant for the last time and their bodies could not take it given the demands of a pioneer lifestyle. Consequently, the men that remained behind experienced change. And change is what this interval is all about. There is no other interval like it. It changes YOU forever and the people in your life. If you are wise and intelligent enough to hang onto the baby while making efforts to clean the water then that which lies on other side will be paradise. If you choose to throw the baby out, you will be faced with loneliness, intermittent friendships, hidden guilt and having to reinvent yourself. It's a very selfish time and most of us just don't know how to handle it. The voices in our head are louder than usual and the discontent and sensitivity to all that was once familiar (people we loved, places we call home and once favorite pastimes) all become close to intolerable. We are not feeling like the same person. We are essentially a trapped caterpillar inside an ill-fitting sleeping bag.

In spite of the fact that it may feel like suffocating or being held prisoner in our world, it's vital we not discard anything or anyone during this time. Infidelity and hair brained schemes will pound upon your door. Should you decide to open the door, there will be consequences that will impact every moment of your existence from that point on. Total peace becomes a long way off and self-discovery introduces new painful realities of life that otherwise would never have come about. As age 40 commences, our thought processes become more refined providing we haven't fallen prey to drugs or alcohol trying to sedate the voices in our head. This means common sense begins to whisper in our ear as a new sense of reality begins to manifest. New opportunities that before never seemed possible show up in your life and eventually, life as you know it, is changing rapidly.

At age 42, you get to catch your breath, rest , recover and heal from the trauma that was imposed NATURALLY upon you during this time, regardless of whether you chose to wait it out or not. It is a birthing process. This survival brings about a great gift. This gift is ADULTHOOD. It is not until we reach 43 that we can truly call ourselves an adult. In fact, many of us stay in denial right up until our 43rd birthday. But just like the sun rising, so does our welcoming of adulthood as we begin to viscerally understand we only have one body and one life in this lifetime and that making history with someone requires total commitment. IN absolute TRUTH you wake up to a new YOU and become as aware as you are clean. If you are in this interval, know that it is only temporary. Do not discard, dismiss or degrade anyone or anything during this time. Stay calm, stay clear and stay true to yourself in knowing that change is taking place and you are to do nothing but lie still in the cocoon until such time Mother Nature urges you to emerge and fly. Remember, "it is not a straight-jacket" but just another womb. Those that feel confined and emerge prematurely suffer greatly in the days that follow. Don't fight it or blame others for your discontent. You have to fake it till you make it. I call it the bridge of pretending.

For the most part, the human being is an interesting creature. It operates in three modes...Intelligent, Ignorant and Pretend. When it takes good care of itself, it exhibits signs of intelligence and when self-maintenance is overlooked, it begins to exhibit symptoms of ignorance. Unfortunately, we live in a fairly toxic world even in the most remote pristine areas of human existence. Consequently, the ability to maintain an intelligent presentation is almost impossible thus, we have created a third method of performance called Pretending. We do this to keep moving forward and to manage our physical energy wisely. We are in the Pretend Mode every time we pretend we like something when in truth, we don't. How many times have you pretended to enjoy a meal, an activity or an event when in fact in you didn't care for any of it? The reasons for not being honest is multi-faceted but truthfully it boils down to remaining energy efficient. Very few people are privileged to live in a world of constant intelligence simply because ignorance permeates every fiber of our environment. Words of ignorance are often woven with threads of disease and ill intent. We find ourselves manipulative, intimidating, negligent, and self-absorbed almost daily. Pretending is choosing the middle road, mediocrity and being average in a world where few have respect for intelligence. Intelligence is not "being book smart". It is knowing how to stay clean in a dirty world. It's understanding the significance of bringing yourself to center daily and the role that meditation, taking long quiet walks and singing in the rain have to offer. Journaling, jogging, and making faces out of the clouds as you lay down on a blanket of grass, are all methods of bathing one's self. We have to do those things that maintain the integrity of our being. It's a dirty world out there and if you don't know how to dust yourself off regularly, you'll become a proponent of toxicity and contribute only disease to this lifetime. The interval is when our immune system becomes most vulnerable in terms of making intelligent choices. It is very easy to subscribe to ignorance simply because we no longer have a clear view. Mother Nature wants us to be still and discover our self but society and family demand our presence as usual. This requires that we stand strong in our mode of pretend until such time nature allows to proceed with a more enlightened understanding of life and how it really works.

Life in this interval has you restless, unhappy, and making excuses for why things are no longer satisfying. If you feel trapped and stifled by the very lifestyle you have helped to co-create, then you must begin to seek ways to calm your anxiety and distract your thoughts. Tell yourself, "This is only temporary" and that "I can choose to love an be happy today" or "I can choose to embrace those who love me deeply." Be in the moment. Live only for today and not a minute longer. Do not look at tomorrow for a single second and do not look over the fence at how much greener your neighbor's grass is in comparison to yours. Your ability to judge during this time is veiled by nature's cocoon. Use this time to explore and expand your own inner understanding of what you are about to become and how you can be the best you can be. Should you take this advice, the rewards that come on the other side of this interval are many and most importantly offer a history of commitment and love. Be strong enough to endure the insanity of this growth period. Growing pains make us incredibly uncomfortable in our own skin.

Don't give up the history you have created with another, you lose a part of yourself when you make this choice. Stay whole, stay true. Focus on being love rather than being in love. Love is the oxygen of life. It will keep you in check during this very natural and temporary time of life. There's a lot to be said for, "And this too shall pass" because it is absolutely TRUE!

Zannah Hackett
Founder & CEO YCG,LLC
Relationship Technology Expert
"Creating perfect relationships in Business, at Home and in Life"
http://www.yourp.com/
http://www.ultimatelifetool.com/

Sunday, January 27, 2008

IT'S A NEW YEAR

IT’S A NEW YEAR!! Yes, can you believe it? We are fast into 2008 already and I just LOVE the challenge and opportunity to reaffirm my commitments, goals,wishes and dreams at the beginning of each new year. One of the MOST important aspects of the creative process is to not only hold the vision of your goals, but committing them to paper. That's right, commit them to paper. Some people say "Why should I write my goals down?" "I know what I want!" Well,that may be true, most of us do know what we want, but have no process by going about achieving those wants- other than wanting them. The true process of creation on this 3rd dimensional plane is actually quite simple: It's understanding the workings of the Laws of Nature:

1) Get clear on what you would like to create. (The Law of Intention and Desire)

2) Commit your vision/s to paper in a very specific manner; times, dates, etc.. (The Laws of 3 and 7)

And ...

3) Listen to your "Hunches" – That inner voice that tells you to do or go places the rational mind would not. As a Certified Life Coach and Level III Practitioner of The Knowledge of Y.O.U; (Your own Understanding) I highly recommend visiting The Knowledge of Y.O.U. website to learn more about how these Natural Laws Show up in all of us and how we can put them to use in achieving everything our hearts desire! Knowledge IS power, and knowing all about YOU and how you work is the first step towards realizing all your dreams.

David Hackett, YCG Certified Life Coach, is the Co-founder and President of the Y.O.U. Consulting Group, an organization specializing in the development of human assessment technology software for purposes of creating perfect relationships in business, home and life.

Friday, January 25, 2008

NEED A CAREER CHANGE?


It's been my observation over the last 20 years that people typically between the ages of 35 and 42 experience a desire for new growth. Prior to such time we educate ourselves, cultivate opportunities and celebrate the process of reaching a nebulous goal of guaranteed security. Some of us are even of the opinion that we could retire at 40 without any help from the lottery or an unexpected windfall. As we enter this mid-life transition reality begins to close in on us and we find that the teaching job or the MBA that we had hoped would make life more respectable and interesting, simply falls short of satisfying what we are about to become. At the YOU Consulting Group we have certified consultants trained in a process called The Cycle of Life and this allows them to coach each phase of a client's personal growth with compassion and accuracy. If you are feeling restless, do not despair... you are right where you're supposed to be. Give us a call and allow us to answer some of the questions that may be confusing to you right now. It can be very disconcerting if the thoughts that occupy every minute of your day are riddled with the need to be growing in a different direction or are simply interfering with the quality of your performance. At some point, the need for change seems to  push beyond the necessary boundaries of what is acceptable and you find yourself doing things and considering options that a few years prior may have seemed absurd.  Never say never.  If there is one thing we can count on, it's change, and if you are in this interval and experiencing discomfort... guess what?  It's time for a change! Don't be afraid.  Don't let money matters or outside influences keep you from growing naturally into what you were meant to be.  Simply Trust in YOU!



For more information visit http://www.yougrp.com/
Make an appointment with a practitioner today!


Zannah Hackett
http://www.ultimatelifetool.com/
760.230.8016

Friday, January 18, 2008

SETTING PERFECT GOALS

The New Year for many people presents the perfect time to create a fresh start. Resolutions are made and a desire for renewal is in the air. Setting goals is one of the first steps to take in manifesting that renewal. However, many people set themselves up for failure by not identifying and developing achievable goals for themselves based on their unique design. We are all perfectly designed and no one person is designed exactly like you. The Knowledge of Y.O.U. reveals this individual unique perfection in each one of us. It provides us with the Ultimate Life Tool to assist us in understanding how it is that we operate, individually. Understanding your unique design will allow you to put your energy into setting goals that honor your design rather than ones that inhibit you from creating successful outcomes. Whether your goal is to lose weight, get out of debt, get organized, change employment, break an unhealthy habit, or any other personal goal, gaining an understanding of you through The Knowledge of Y.O.U. will help you to identify,develop, and achieve goals that are perfect for YOU.

Lisa Nelson is a Certified Level III Practitioner and Life Coach in the Knowledge of Y.O.U. She is also the founder of Polish Your Life, a coaching and consulting practice that assists individuals in creating successful, authentic connections with themselves and with people in all areas of their lives. Through life coaching, etiquette coaching and ballroom dance, she provides tools to help people build confidence and clarity to create those successful connections. The Ultimate Life Tool is a key component in her practice. She uses it in every aspect of her own life and with each one of herclients, every day. To learn about how you can add more polish to your life, visit http://www.polishyourlife.com/

Monday, January 14, 2008

The POWER of FOCUS

You achieve what you focus on. Many people make New Year’s resolutions, and they usually only last about two weeks. Why? First, we don’t always take an inventory of ourselves, and we are not honest about our strengths and weaknesses. Using the Ultimate Life Tool allows you to get to really know yourself. Second, we often set lofty goals, and don’t put a step by step system to achieve them. Set a reasonable 90 day goal, and you are more likely to stay focused. Break it down into manageable chunks. Look at the actions in your every day life… what you eat, whether you are going to the gym, working to increase your income, more time with family, etc., the action you are taking in this moment, is it moving you toward your goal or away from your goal? Make every moment count. Keep the negative actions to a minimum, and remember to have some fun along the way. Third- What gets measured is what gets done. Are you measuring your progress, or are you just hoping you end up at the goal? Use a tool to keep you on track, like The Desktop LifeCoach which lets you journal every day about the actions you take.

Hal Taylor VP of International Business and Live Events and a YCG expert. Hal has been active on the cutting edge of the field of human behavior for the past 15 years. He has traveled the world helping people make shifts in their underlying beliefs to improve the quality of their lives. His specialty is helping people break through their fears, and help them live the quality of life that they deserve.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

WHAT ARE YOU WAITNG FOR?

Are you one of those people who like to hide this time of year because everyone is talking about New Year’s resolutions? If you are, it’s time to take a serious look at what you are afraid of. Our fears are our biggest enemies but they can also be our biggest proponent for change. What do you have to lose by spending a little time understanding your dreams and desires a little better? If even a little part of today’s current pop craze, The Secret, is true, then the universe is listening and it’s waiting to give you what you want. So, if you’re a skeptic, I relate. I’m a practical business, minded individual and sometimes it’s difficult to embrace some of today’s more esoteric approaches. However, I’m positive by nature and open-minded so I say, “Why not?”. I have nothing to lose by telling the world what I want and focusing my energy in those directions. So, you say, “Well Angie, that’s all great but where do I start?”. The best place to start is in understanding yourself and the best way to do that is to use an assessment tool. Assessments have been around for hundreds of years and there are many but none are as comprehensive and cutting edge as The Knowledge of YOU. The Knowledge of YOU has been my bridge from a successful but sometimes boring corporate ladder career to a wide open playing field where I embrace my unique talents and the differences I bring to the world. I wish that for you too. So, what are you waiting for?



Angie A. Swartz is an expert level YOU consultant. She is a former corporate ladder climber who reinvented her own life and became an executive coach and author. As part of her own journey as a new mother on the quest to have and balance it all, she founded the Six Figure Mom’s Club where career-minded women can connect with their peers to discuss the issues they face. Her passion is in helping people view themselves as the leaders they are by developing the confidence to know they can have most anything they desire. She works with six figure professionals, offering a unique combination of strong business acumen and a warm coaching approach to encourage creative thinking about their career and life options. You can learn more about Angie at www.aaswartz.com.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Zannah Hackett American Perspectives Interview

Whenever someone asks me to do an interview, I get a little concerned.  Often times, I don't know the person that is interviewing me and have no clue as to what their agenda is in showcasing the information I have to offer. I have found over the last 20 years of doing talk radio that our voice has to become expressive because it cannot be seen. Seeing a person's voice is a gift and being able to make it visible leaves all kinds of impressions.

My voice is very indicative of my STYLE as it is understood in The Knowledge of Y.O.U. which is the basis for a human assessment technology developed by YCG called The Ultimate Life Tool.  It is a fragile voice until it has a chance to warm up.  Fortunately in this interview, because of its length and because of the hostess' great questions, it becomes quite comfortable in the first minute or so.

My STYLE typically has a child-like quality to it and you can hear the feminine child-like traits in the beginning of this interview.  Even at age 54 it accompanies me and still I have people on the phone asking me if my parents are home.  Fortunately, it does not remain childish and soon adopts a sense of purpose and strength.  Knowing one's style affords others a great deal of input if they have a clear understanding of the laws of nature that produce that kind of outcome.  It is in SEEING the true nature of someone even as they speak, that we are afforded the opportunity to accept, understand and benefit from their authenticity.

The Greeks frequently insisted that we "Know Thyself".  It is in accomplishing this that life becomes purposeful and effortless for we all are perfect.  Afterall, "God doesn't make mistakes...man does".  Zannah

To view the interview click here:  Zannah Hackett American Perspectives Interview