February 3, 2009

Let Your Constant Companion Work FOR You   I am your constant companion. I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden. I will push you up to success or down to disappointment. I am at your command. Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me, For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably. I am easily managed, just be firm with me. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a Machine and the intelligence of a person. You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin. Show me how you want it done.  Educate me.  Train me. Lead me.  Reward me. And I will then...do it automatically. I am your servant. Who am I? I am a habit.   Author unknown.   Your constant companion(s) is always by your side, just because; just because you've always done it that way, or thought that way, or believed that way, or acted that way, or gotten a particular response because of the former.  Those are your habits, good or bad.    The good ones will make you and the bad ones will break you.  Yet, chances are you don't even give your habits a second thought.  They're second nature after all, aren't they?   If you did stop to think about them, what would they say?    Keep this one - it's working well for you.  Ditch that one - it's causing you too much heartache.  What were you thinking when you picked up that habit?  This habit worked for you in the past, but, hey, it's not working anymore.  Kick that habit up a notch and you'll really see results!  You inherited that habit - is it one you want to keep?   If you like what you are hearing, tip your hat to your good habits, celebrate them, and tweak them for more if you can.  Keep them working for you and they will lead you to even greater fortunes.   If you don't like what you are hearing, then it is time to break the bad habits and replace them with good ones.  Easier said than done?  Don't let that stop you.  "Breaking a habit starts with courage, ends with discipline, and is fueled by desire," says Mac Anderson, the founder of Successories. You can do it!  Tackle one habit at a time and give it at least 30 days to become a constant companion which will reward you.    You cannot deny that you are ruled by your habits.  Make your habits good ones and you will be the ruler of your best life.     "First we make our habits, than our habits make us."             Charles C. Noble   "We are what we repeatedly do."             Aristotle   "Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters."             Nathaniel Emmons   "The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken."             Samuel Johnson     True confessions.  I sometimes let my exercise and eating healthy habits go out the window.  That's easy to do, but then I get tired of hearing what that bad habit is saying to my body and off I go again, to the gym. That is one habit that needs an attitude adjustment. One more confession.  I used to bite my fingernails when I was young - a bad habit.  When did I finally stop?  My freshman year of dental school. Go figure - I choose a profession in which I must keep my nails short, and that's when I decide to grow my nails! I've never looked back though.  OK, one more.  I can procrastinate.  That's why deadlines work well for me.   You've got to be honest about your habits.  Otherwise, how can you change?   I had a great time at the Yankee Dental Congress inBostonlast week.  I saw enough of the city to know I want to go back, although it will be in the summer next time.  I attended a few classes, went to several receptions, met a lot of new people and caught up with old friends, walked the exhibit hall, and represented AAWD well.    Later this week I will be in upstate NY speaking to several dental teams re self-awareness and teambuilding.  I can speak to your teams also.  Contact me today to discuss a speaking engagement for this year - there are a few dates open.    Have a fantastic week and let your constant companion work FOR you.   Stephanie   P.S. Don't forget your mental habits.  "Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thoughts, and habits can be acquired.  An action repeated becomes an attitude realized," said Paul Myer.     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com