Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine (sm)

"Positive Psychology to the Rescue" (sm)
November 2007

Published by Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D., CMC
Founder & CEO, Patten Coaching & Consulting
www.pattencoaching.com

Please pass this issue on to friends or coworkers. To unsubscribe or change your address, follow the easy Subscription Information at the end.

In This Issue:

1. Preview

2. You Can Beat Feeling Overwhelmed

3. Getting into Action

4. Looking Ahead

1. Preview

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine explores how to progress rapidly from dreams to action.  It is a free monthly email newsletter written by Maurine D. Patten, life/business coach and clinical psychologist.

Using Positive Psychology, topics are presented from the perspective of Maurine Patten and are provided to help you get the results you want.  It will help you manage change, improve your Emotional Intelligence and make better decisions with less effort.

As we move into the last two months of the year, we begin to:
  • Reflect on what we have accomplished so far this year.  
  • Think about how we can complete important goals that we have not gotten to.
  • Prepare for the upcoming holidays.
This issue focuses on how to handle the drain on your energy caused by the increase in demands on your time.
Back to Index


2. You Can Beat Feeling Overwhelmed

What keeps you up at night?  A recent survey of 2,152 people by the American Psychological Association indicates that America's top stressors are:
  • Money and work (tied)
  • Health problems affecting parents
  • Health concerns and state of the world (tied)
  • Health of immediate family
  • Children
Add to that list the pressure you may feel trying to meet the goals you hoped to have accomplished this year, prepare for the upcoming holidays, and keep a sense of balance in your life.

Activities that use your strengths help you to handle stressful times.  Recent Positive Psychology research stresses the importance of finding wasy to daily use some of your top five Signature/Character Strengths which represent your values.  Choosing an activity that lets you use your strengths is:
  • Energizing
  • Motivating
  • Engaging - helps you focus and be attentive
  • Meaningful

Any of these feelings will help inspire you to seriously look at how to increase the feeling of balance in your life.

Back to Index

3. Getting into Action

When there is not enough time to accomplish as much as you had hoped to in a day, it is even more important to select on or two of the following suggestions to create a feeling of inner balance:
  1. Count your blessings by writing down three things you are grateful for and why (because) at least three times a week.  It helps the most when you are having a tough day.  It is also a good thing to do when you are ending your day.
  2. Practice "savoring" the joys of life instead of "stewing" on problems.  Notice an increase in energy when you are savoring even momentary pleasures.
  3. Spend time and energy with family and friends.  Strong personal relationships bring a high level of satisfaction with life.
  4. Write a gratitude letter to someone whom you are grateful for in your life.  If possible, visit the individual and read the letter to him or her.  If a visit is not possible, you can email it, call the person, or send it by mail.  Notice how you feel after doing this.
  5. Take care of yourself physically.  Even 10 to 15 minutes of exercise and/or meditation can release tension.  Get plenty of sleep, and make healthy food choices to have the energy that you need.
  6. Be sure to find time to laugh and catch yourself smiling.
Back to Index

4. Looking Ahead

Hopefully, choosing to do some of these ideas will be renewing, increase your energy, and help you focus.  Each idea will help decrease the feeling of being overwhelmed.  Doing several of these ideas will increase your confidence and help you make the most of your available time.

What choices are you going to make that will help you beat the feeling of overwhelm and regain your feeling of inner balance?  Let me know how I can help you identify your top strengths and make healthy choices to stop from feeling overwhelmed.  I look forward to hearing from you,   
Maurine Patten
mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com

Back to Index

Subscription Information

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is a free publication. If you, or someone you know, wants (to continue) to receive the Journal, click on SUBSCRIBE or go to: http://www.pattencoaching.com and click on Ezine Archives.


If you do not want to continue to receive the Journal, click on UNSUBSCRIBE or go to: http://www.pattencoaching.com and click on Ezine Archives.

Be assured your name and email address are confidential. We do not sell, rent or share our mailing list with anyone.

Contact Information

Patten Coaching & Consulting

Voice: 630-584-8936
Fax: 630-584-8868
Web: http://www.pattencoaching.com
E-Mail: mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com
(c) Copyright 2002 Patten Coaching & Consulting
All rights reserved.

Distribution Rights

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine (sm) is copyrighted, but you may retransmit or distribute it to whomever you wish as long as not a single word is changed, added, or deleted, including the contact information. However, you may not copy it to a web site. Republication of Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine (sm) in paper media is encouraged and permitted by individuals, organizations and associations, as long as the issue is reprinted in its entirety, without change, and includes the contact information.

With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue to fit your space requirements. Republication also is encouraged under other circumstances. However, the advance permission of Patten Coaching and Consulting must be obtained in the event that changes in the text are desired.

Mission

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is dedicated to inspiring and expanding your perspective in order for you to move forward in your personal and professional life.

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is a publication of Patten Coaching & Consulting; CEO, Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D., CMC,  mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com

We would like Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine to be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments, topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time. Send your e-mail to ezinefeedback@pattencoaching.com.

Please forward this issue to anyone you think would find Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine interesting and beneficial. Your recommendations help us keep growing, and ensure an excellent exchange of information and techniques.

Archives

You can read previous issues of Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine in our archives on our archives page.

About Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D., CMC

Maurine Patten is a clinical psychologist and certified life/business coach.  Her professional career includes: independent business owner (26 years), Assistant Professor at Chicago State University and consultant for education and business. She is a graduate of the MentorCoach program and a member of the International Coach Federation.  She is experienced in training and management development for large national and international firms. She has a strong background in working with individuals and couples on clarifying and achieving goals.

Dr. Patten has training in coaching, Emotional Intelligence, retirement assessment and planning, cognitive therapy and health psychology. She has published articles, made presentations, and conducted workshops about:
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Creating a Fulfilling Retirement
  • Anxiety and Achievement
  • Stress Management
  • Setting and Achieving Goals
  • Self-Esteem
  • Communication Skills
  • Marital/relationship Enrichment
  • Wellness Issues
  • The Psychology of Happiness 
Back to main