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Can You Be Virtually Problem Free?
by Kathy Gates
Can your life really be problem free? Aren’t problems just a
part of modern living? Yes and No. I believe that by learning to anticipate
problems instead of waiting for them to hit you over the head, you will find
that yes, your life will be virtually problem free.
And yes, I see those hands waving at me. And of course, you’re
right. There’s no way you can foresee every single problem even in a car or a
home, much less in your life. Things do happen over which you have no control.
But as in the example of the car, if you have the tires checked
regularly, and get a tune up, and have the oil changed, the likelihood of an
unexpected problem is severely diminished.
The keyword here is “unexpected”. Problems will arise, that’s
life. Things will leap out from you behind stranded cars, and dark bushes.
That’s life.
But if you can anticipate them -- or at least be prepared in the
event of them-- then the impact is much less devastating.
The same with your life.
If you budget your money, set aside extra for emergencies, and
make sure you have enough insurance to cover disasters, you will be less likely
to encounter financial problems that could potentially ruin you.
If you have your health checked routinely, when a problem
arises, it will be caught in the earliest stages and treated most aggressively.
Waiting until a health problem presents itself could be too late.
If you choose your relationships carefully, and exercise
boundaries and high standards, you will have happier more successful
interactions.
Problem Free living is a pre-emptive strike. It’s building the
ark before the water rises. It’s saving for college before she’s 18. It’s living
life on your terms instead of the economy’s.
It’s proactive vs. reactive.
Put these ideas to work in your life and you’ll see the
stress-less benefits immediately.
Shoot for Simplicity While it’s an old joke almost, the
less you have, the less you have to break down. I remember my dad hated when
electric car windows first came out. “Just something else to repair”, he’d
grumble. Does that mean you should deprive yourself of new and improved things
in life? No. It does mean that you should consciously consider what is
contributing, and what is contaminating, the quality of your life.
Listen to your inklings They are wise: Have you ever
noticed a clink clink clink in your car, maybe even reported it to a significant
other, or a mechanic, but were told it was probably just a rock in the hubcap?
Then later find out it was the start of a big problem? Trust yourself. If you
feel something is wrong in your finances, or your relationships, or your job,
check things out. Listen closely. Trust yourself.
Rally the Reserves Reserves are the ultimate in planning
ahead. Having reserves means exactly what it appears to -- you have extra. But
it’s not just about stockpiling, although that is a basic starting point. Also
create a reserve of love in your life, a reserve of support for those bad days,
a reserve of opportunities for when life’s winds blow.
Choose Better That really sounds easy enough, doesn’t
it? Then why is it so darn hard? The trick is in learning 2 new habits: (1)
Choose consciously. We generally know when our choice is right as opposed to and
when it’s coming from somewhere that’s selfish, or immature, or fearful. When
you are living life consciously, it makes it easier to choose better because you
KNOW the results will be better. (2) Never trade what you want at the moment for
what you want the most. It’s too easy to just give in and do whatever feels good
at the moment. Evaluate each choice in light of what you ultimately want in your
life.
Waiting until the storm arrives is usually too late to do much
to help. Learning to be proactive in your life is the ticket to making a life
that is less stressful and more joyful. And you too can be virtually problem
free.
Kathy Gates is a Professional Life Coach in Scottsdale Arizona. What is Life
Coaching? Your life --only easier happier, more joyful! Learn more about how
to create a simpler, less stressful, more joyful lifestyle.
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