Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine (sm) "Positive Psychology to the Rescue..." (sm) December 2006

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

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In This Issue: 1. Preview 2. 5 Tips on Making Your Holidays Happier 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.  Happy Holidays.  December is a busy month because of the holiday season.  This means balancing your personal life with all of the extras thrown in.  That can be draining and a challenge. Following are 5 tips to help make your life easier and happier during this season. Back to Index

2. 5 Tips on Making Your Holidays Happier Simplify - As an example, I'm simplifying this ezine to make it easier for you to read.  Try to decrease the number of choices you have or that you give to others.  What else can you do to simplify things in your life, i.e. meal planning, decorating, entertaining, etc. Prioritize - What are the most important things to you about the holidays (the things you value most and will remember long after the holidays are over)?  Think of specific people you want to spend time with, traditions you want to keep, and fun things you want to do.  Those are the things you want to put most of your energy into because they will have the most meaning for you. An act of kindness - Choose to do at least one act of kindness for someone.  There is joy in giving.  Research shows it is even truer when it is done anonymously.  Choose something that lets you use one of your strengths if possible, i.e. ring the bell for the Salvation Army, shovel snow for a neighbor, bake something for someone, take someone who does not drive some place he/she needs to go, etc. Gratitude exercise - Nightly, write down or think of 3 things that happened during the day that went well or you appreciated and why (because...).  Research shows that this one activity does more to increase your level of happiness than anything else. Rest - Get plenty of sleep so that you can remain physically healthy.  To wake up in the morning calmer and more energized, choose one of the three things from the Gratitude exercise to savor as you are falling asleep.  Back to Index

3. Getting into Action You may not be able to do all five of these tips during this month.  Using just one of the tips will lighten your day.  Start by choosing one that will be easy for you to do.  Add more of the suggestions as the days go by. Back to Index

4. Looking Ahead As you enjoy the present, know that the coming year will have exciting and challenging opportunities for you. As a  life coach, I can help you achieve the results you want.  Contact me at mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com to help you fulfill your dreams.  I enjoy hearing from you. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. Maurine Patten mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com Maurine Patten mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com Back to Index

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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 (25 years), Assistant Professor at Chicago State University and consultant for education and business. She is a graduate of the MentorCoach training 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

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