Fresh Start for 2012

I have been praying for good things to happen not just for myself and my family, but for everyone too. I am giving myself a chance to grow and one of doing that is to jump out of my comfort zone. I started with my career. I was not getting anywhere with my career in the place where I am in so I thought, the only way to go forward is to apply for a lateral move somewhere I can showcase my talent and skills. And God has been good to me. He knew what was best so he gave me the position I applied for. So, by end of February 2012, I will be reporting to a new department with new people to meet and new challenges to face.

My health is another aspect in my life that I want to give a new lease. I started walking again. It's still early to say if it's going to be regular but I am envisioning myself to do that. I just hope my determination to wean off my other medications will be a great impetus for me to carry on with the weight loss. Also, I am working towards making myself fit enough to carry another full term pregnancy. My daughter has been bugging me for a sibling and I am pushing 40 this March. I think it's not yet late for that.

The financial aspect of my life is getting better too. Although there are still plenty of bills to pay, I can finally scrimp enough to save some which will eventually go to our dream house project.

My personal life is rosy too! It's mostly rosy anyway but this year will be more of family solidarity and giving time to people who truly matters.

So, I welcome 2012 with open arms, new hope and a better perspective in life. I pray that God will have more compassion to humanity inspite of the negativity surrounding us. I know God is good and He will not forsake mankind. I just pray that 2012 will be great for everyone.

Self-Motivation Tools

Self-motivation is becoming my favorite topic these days. I recently posted tips on how to motivate yourself. I am going to share some tools which I found in the web so you can pick up some great tips. The site is Mindtools.com and it has plenty of articles on time management, decision making, problem solving, various skills on communication/career, creativity, stress management, and motivation. You can take a quiz to check how you fair in self-motivation. 

I took the quiz on self-motivation and I got 49. To know what it stands for, you have to check the site and take the quiz.

Self-Motivation - When No One and Nothing Else can Motivate You at Work

I am still fortunate that despite the recession, our company has maintained its staff. Although it is difficult to work with 400x as much load as you previously had, we cannot complain. This is the time where employees are being squeezed dry to the limits because the employer can always give you the "take-it or leave-it" approach. And if you are one of the millions who have bank obligations to settle, you have no choice but to keep mum and just bear and grin it (for the time being...).

Unfortunately, it is also difficult to maintain one's sanity when you work in a place when no one even bothers to motivate and look after you. I have that misfortune. So, I am sharing some few tips (and tricks) to those who are in a similar boat as I am. 

1. Be positive. 

Time and time again, this line can always surpass the cliche mode and it always work. I use the power of positive thinking to help me get by. You know, always see the glass "half-full." I always tell myself that I am lucky to have a job and that matters a lot especially at a time like this.

2. Be thankful.

Lift your head up and say a prayer. Be thankful for the blessings no matter how great or small. A humble man prospers just like what the 8 Beatitudes say: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

3. Be creative.

Spruce up your cubicle with nice photos of you and your family. That's what I did. Although we are not allowed to make a collage out of the cubicle wall, we can put nice pictures in frames to display and my table is brimming! Put pictures of happy trips you have, candid shots with funny faces, pictures of your pets and beautiful sceneries. Post sticky notes on your computer monitor with a smiley face drawn on it. That will put a smile on your face.

4. Surround yourself with wisdom.

Read books that you like and inspiring during your coffee break. Read the bible. Read, read, read... Read newspapers (but try not to read the negative headlines! This will just defeat the purpose of self-motivation) especially the comics section (I do this all the time and it brings a smile to my haggard face).

5. Blow your Horn.

Okay, you may think that this contradicts what I have pointed at number 2. It will only if you boast about it. In this case, you do this tooting of horn in silence, in your thoughts. Well, I do "pat myself" for a job well done when no one else will and let me stress this out - I DO IT IN SILENCE. Yes, it sounds weird but it works well for me knowing that what I have done is great and I congratulate myself for that. It boosts my confidence too. Try it. You don't have to announce to the whole world how marvelous you are. Just say it to yourself and believe.

6. Pray.

Start your day and end it with a prayer. I always lift all my worries to God. I am only a mortal with limitations and weakness. I surrender all my doubts and concerns to Him because He knows what is best. At the end of the day, I always tell myself that I have given my best and I offer all those sacrifice to Him and my family. I may not be recognized at work but in His eyes I am worthy.

So, I hope I have helped impart some important tips to help you get by if you are in a similar situation as I am. I know it is very difficult to motivate yourself but look at the bigger picture. Millions of people out there have no work as I write this. You and I have... Shouldn't that be a motivation in itself?

The Corporate Ladder - Is it Worth the Climb?

I have been working for nearly 2 decades now. I am beginning to feel the wear and tear of working donkey years in the corporate scene. These past few days have been enlightening and thought-provoking for me as I begin to unravel the realities of my career advancement. Why did I say that? Well, no matter what I do now, I can never seem to please the authorities around me. And why did I say that again? Just hear me out...

I just had an unpleasant performance review recently. I honestly thought that I had improved well in the gray areas highlighted to me by my supervisor during the last performance review. I was confident that this review would merit me a better rating. Imagine my shock when I saw my review. It was completely the opposite of my expectation. Talk about having false hopes! I will no longer go through the nitty-gritty details of the review but to cut the chase, it was not what I wanted to see if I plan to apply for a promotion or career advancement. Simply put, my chances for growth has been stumped.

So, let me get back to my question at hand, is it really worthy to climb the corporate ladder? I know many of you will surely say yes if you are driven by ambition, money, power and motivated by your bosses or for any other personal reasons. However, this is my conclusion on my view as a career woman-mom-wife who has been tied in a bondage for the last 18 years of her life in the cut-throat world we call the Office. NO. Let me say that again, NO, it is not worth the climb for me.

I just realized how blessed I am for having a stress-free life after office hours, a family and a house I can come home to, a daughter who keeps me up on my toes and a husband who still has the time to hear my woes and glee. NO, it is not worth climbing when my drive for success compromises the quality time I spend with my family. NO, it is not worth the climb when my relationship with the people who TRULY matters is affected by the demands of the work force. NO, it is not worth every money I will get if I come home to a daughter who I don't have time to nurture and guide, a husband I will be too tired to take care of, a house I can never clean because of weariness, friends I cannot see and call, activities I have to cancel and life I have to turn my back to. NO, if it means I will spend lesser quality time with the people I love and more time in a place where every dealing is superficial. NO. It is not worth it at all. So, I rescind my dream of any promotion, career growth or a shot at a managerial post because what matters to me is the quality of life I will live when I leave the corporate world. Surely, no amount of money nor company accolades can top that.

I do know that I have far exceeded my Lord's expectation by giving the very best in what I do with the sincerity of my heart. I may not get the promotion I deserve here but in HIS eyes, I am a winner.

Health Nut - Weight Loss Tracker

We exercise and keep our diet on check but do we actually track our achievements or at least keep our goals on a tab?

There are a number of tools to assist us and keep us in line with our set goals to lose weight. Some weight loss tracker can help us maintain our motivation and sticking to out set goals. It also helps us to monitor our weight loss progress.

Apart from weight loss tools available in the Internet, we can also keep our progress by keeping a journal which I have been doing for years now. At least with my journal, I know exactly when I fall of the track and when.

Daily Survival Kit

I got this from a friend's forwarded email and could not let the day pass without sharing. It's really something to note of. So, whenever you are feeling blue and a little bummed, just remember this post of mine and hopefully I can give a smile on your face.

Today, I am giving you a

DAILY SURVIVAL KIT

to help you each day............

Toothpick ... to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone,including yourself.

Rubber band ... to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out.

Band-Aid ... to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.

Eraser ... to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That's okay, we learn by our errors.

Candy Kiss ... to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment everyday.

Mint ... to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family & Me.

Bubble Gum ... to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.

Pencil ... to remind you to list your blessings every day.

Tea Bag ... to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that list of God's blessings.

This is what makes life worth living every minute, every day

Wishing you love, gratitude, friends to cherish, caring, sharing, laughter, music, and warm feelings in your heart.

A Pat in the Back

I've been toiling my cute behind for many years in the corporate bondage. I've been recognized not once but many times when I have done something really remarkable. But those were in the past. I haven't been commended for anything lately and I am feeling a bit disheartened and demotivated knowing that my contributions have been vital and must merit recognition. However, I do not let those feelings compromise the kind of quality work and service I deliver. I cannot allow myself to slip a notch on the standards I have set.

Today, I got a sweet surprise from one of the project pilots of our company. I have handled this magnificent jumbo-of-a-plane fleet recently and the manuals were done by the previous manager of our unit. I must have done something really, really good to merit his praise and accolades. He even went as far as to notify the manager of my great job in a short period of time. He even said that he has been in the training department for 6 years and have never seen a work like I have done.

Wow. I can't help but blush. I just had a pat in the back! (Bubble thought: Hope they put that in writing! hehehehe)