Diana Fletcher

Retreat! This Could be Just the Thing to Set Goals & Get That Momentum Going!

Posted on 16. Feb, 2010 by Diana in Uncategorized

Retreat!

Sometimes we need to go away.
Did you ever notice how hard it can be to change habits or develop new habits, when the same old, same old, is around?

Did you ever try to think about what you want in your life and really concentrate on changes you would like to make, and you keep getting interrupted?

“I can’t even finish a thought!” you find yourself saying in frustration.

If you know what I am talking about here, and you are nodding your head in agreement, then you need to go away.

A retreat can be for an hour, or it can be for a weekend.

If you have young children, it is very important to have retreats. That you love your children dearly is not the point. No one benefits from being together constantly.

You can arrange for babysitters and actually leave the house for a walk or a quiet cup of coffee somewhere. You can employ a mother’s helper to play with your children, while you retreat to your bedroom and do some stretches, or lie down to rest.

You will benefit from a walk in the evening, to think, and let your thoughts drift as you walk.

A retreat can be lunch by yourself with a book, instead of going out with everyone from work, yet again, to rehash office politics.

A retreat can be a movie by yourself, or a bookstore outing.

When we let our mind be refreshed with new images and thoughts, it starts to work with possibilities, and “what ifs.”

There are structured retreats and resorts that offer packages, if you can take the time. (If we try hard enough, and make it a priority, we can take the time.)

There are Hiking retreats, Yoga retreats, Spiritual Retreats. Search the internet and see what interests you.

Years ago, I did a Survival Weekend in the woods, and it was a great retreat. It was not restful, but I needed a change of scenery, and I was eager to learn new skills. That was the kind of retreat I needed at that time.
Different retreats for different times in our lives.

Do not consider yourself so indispensable that you cannot leave your life or situation for a couple days here and there.

Since my children have been very young, I take a weekend a year to go back up to Michigan to spend the time doing whatever I want. I shop with my sisters, laugh, read, visit friends, and eat when I want, whatever I want. I am not tied to anyone’s schedule but my own. This was not easy to do when the children were very young. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who stepped into my shoes and took over.
I came back refreshed and though the relief on his face was unmistakable when I walked back through the door, we both knew it was worth it.

My husband takes a golf outing every winter. This is not always easy for him to arrange. He has to make sure everything can continue without him at work, and we have to make sure we have all bases covered at home. But, the pleasure and the relaxation he derives from his retreat, gets him through the rest of our cold, Pittsburgh winters!

We both have other trips we take, and now that the children are older, it is easier for us to arrange to be away. We try to go on trips together when the opportunity arises, or when we can create the opportunity.

You may miss your children and your partner while you are away, but remember that you need distance sometimes to realize the importance of people and situations in your life.

Being away from the same old haunts and breaking up your routine, lets you look at life from a new perspective, outside yourself and your fatigue.

A couple days of sleeping in, and changing your schedule, and you start seeing your life and your daily routines differently. You think, “Hey, why do I put up with that? Why don’t I eat better? Why can’t I change this? Why wouldn’t this or that work…?”

It is helpful to keep some notes when you retreat.

Jotting down thoughts and feelings as you experience them instead of hoping you remember your brilliant thoughts on that hike, is a good way to bring the benefits home.

Thinking about your thoughts and feeling while you were away can help you make changes.

You may think, “How could I feel like that in my daily life?” and you come up with an idea for a breather during your work day.

You remember a great meal you had, and you think, “I could make that for myself on the weekend!”

Retreating can help you gain perspective, get new ideas, and relieve you of unrelenting work and pressure.

Try it. Go away.

“Adventure must start with running away from home.”
-William Bolitho

5 Steps to Implement TODAY to Make a Change

Posted on 11. Feb, 2010 by Diana in Uncategorized

This week I would like you to think about something.
Why do we make changes such a big deal? Do you find yourself doing that?

Why do we drive ourselves crazy thinking there is something wrong with us when we cannot stick to a plan or achieve goals that we really desire in our lives?
I think it may be becoming part of our nature to want to complicate things. Really. Maybe it wasn’t always this way, but somewhere along the line, we decided that things were complicated and that everything was always going to be hard and that is just the way it is.
But what if it doesn’t have to be that way?

What if everything you want to achieve could be broken down into simple, manageable steps. Everything.
I think it can. I came up with 5 steps that you can implement today to make a healthy, stress-reducing change in your life. Start with one change that you want to make.

Here is how you can get results.
1. Make the change a priority. Decide and choose to make this goal, this decision, this choice, the most important thing in your life. If you are already thinking, “but it can’t be, I have other things…” and so on…you are not ready for achieving your goal and you can stop reading.
2. Schedule quiet time for planning every single day. This should be at the least 15 minutes and could go as long as an hour.
3. Be prepared to make reasonable, logical, and manageable lists toward achieving your goals. Cross one thing off each day. It can be a small thing, it can be large, but you must do one thing each day toward achieving your goal.
4. Be prepared to use affirmations. Allow time for affirmations, and decide that you will use them everyday. You can find lists of affirmations many places. The absolute best are from Louise Hay. If you don’t know who she is, find out and read her affirmations. You must stop any negative thoughts.
5. Find support. There are coaches, and there are groups online and in person. Do some research and find someone or a group to support you and hold you accountable. You need to have to report your progress to someone else and have someone to cheer you on.

These are the steps to achieving your goals. Do not be fooled by the simplicity. (I know you have heard me say that before!)
It isn’t complicated.
It may not always be easy, but if you truly want to make a change, then do it.
Stop making it a big deal!
Wouldn’t success feel great?
I will be expanding on all these points and more, Thursday, February 11th, during my Free teleclass.
If you would like to know more about how to implement these steps in your own life, please don’t wait–sign up for my Thursday night teleclass right now!
The class is recorded so if you cannot call in Thursday at 7:00pm, you can listen later.
It is going to be a great call and I am really excited about the information I will be sharing.
Don’t wait to make the changes.
Let me give you the help you need!
www.dianafletcher.com/events/teleclasses