Consider these questions:

Job/Career:

• Does my job/career serve as a means of support, or am I a slave to it?

• Does my job/career make demands that are ruining my health/peace of mind?

• Would I prefer to work overtime or spend more time with family and friends?

• Does my employer demand work that disturbs my conscience or that frequently crowds out ethics and moral values?

• Is my job a dead-end—means-to-an-end—with no real room for advancement?

• Do I enjoy my job/career?

Health:

• Do I take my health for granted or am I consistent about safeguarding it with prevention measures—healthy eating habits, exercise, and emotional and spiritual growth?

• Does my list of illnesses dominate my conversation?

• Do I take several OTC and prescription drugs?

• Do I have frequent colds, flu, headaches, migraines or stress related symptoms.

Personal Happiness:

• Is my personal happiness my first consideration?

• Do I treat myself and others with respect and dignity?

• Do I put everyone else’s happiness ahead of my own?

• Do I spend at least one hour/day on replenishing my emotional and spiritual needs?

My Partner:

• Is my partner a helpmate or a burden?

• Do I treat my partner with respect and dignity?

• Is my partner a best friend and companion?

My Children:

• Do I accept full responsibility to teach my children ethics and values?

• Do I spend time with my children, or are toys, TV and a computer their source of enrichment?

• Do I encourage and support the best from my children?

• Do I set boundaries and consistently give consequences if the boundaries are transgressed?

• Am I involved in my children’s activities or do their activities serve as a place to take my children, while I do other things.

My Home; Car; Clothes:

• What dictates the attention I give to my appearance and possessions—my personal preference and desires; the welfare of my family; the neighbors?

• Do I want to keep up with the Jones?

• Are possessions more important than my health, peace of mind and/or time with my family/friends?

Entertainment/Recreation:

• Does my choice of recreation rejuvenate me beyond the activity?

• Does it involve thrills that could endanger my health or cripple me for life?

• Is it a form of ‘fun’ that involves excitement for a few hours but that can bring long-term heartache?

• Even if the entertainment I choose is wholesome, am I spending so much time at it that it crowds out other important things?

The only way to get where you want to be is to change what you are doing. The old axiom, “If you always do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten,” applies. Life is a series of experiments.

Success in any aspect of life is difficult. Few attain success without the help of others. Oh, there is talk about self-made men and women, but no matter how much anyone does to contribute to their success—careful assessment of the situation will inevitably reveal that everyone somehow—directly and indirectly—had some help along the way from the expertise of others.

Take advantage of the expertise of others so that you can avoid the pitfalls that could easily slow your progress and ultimate success. Life coaching provides you with tools and awareness that will make your life easier and more successful. Once you have the awareness and tools, you will provide the action and motivation to be successful.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
www.drdorothy.net