Having Too Many Goals Is Like Having None
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Back when I was a little kid, my aunt and uncle had a chicken farm with two very large chicken houses. On one or two Sundays each month, my parents would take my brother and me to spend time with our relatives where we learned to talk with a very country accent and learned to appreciate air conditioning. In all seriousness, we loved going to visit my great-grandparents, aunts and uncles and other relatives and it’s odd how so many of the little things I learned have stuck with me. Sayings like:
Boy, no one can get your goat unless you tell them where you tie it. –my great-grandfather, Otis Hancock
He was referring to our tendency to get irritated and then be vocal about it!
Have you ever heard the phrase “running around like a chicken with its head cut off?” Once, when I visited my Aunt Hazel and Uncle Spencer’s home, my Aunt went outside to “harvest” a chicken for our Sunday evening meal. Now, nothing tastes as good as Aunt Hazel’s fresh fried chicken, and no chicken was as fresh as hers. On this occasion, she tied the bird to some wire on the fence just outside the kitchen door and proceeded to cut it’s head off and allow the blood to drain (if this is disgusting, remember that we’re far too removed from the realities of where our food comes from). All the other times I had witnessed this event, the bird went through a brief spasm and expired there on the fence, but this time, the wire wasn’t tight enough and, though HEADLESS, the bird escaped the bonds of it’s ankle wires and began running all over the yard with Aunt Hazel and all the grandkids and nephews chasing it. It was pure pandemonium.
After about 40 seconds, the poor bird ran into the road and was hit by a pickup truck. Talk about having a bad day!
When you have too many goals, you’re a lot like that crazy chicken — running all over the place, people chasing you, out of your mind, and probably about to be hit with something big that will stop you in your tracks.
If this describes you, take these steps so you don’t end up as someone’s dinner:
- Slow down and breath.
- Think.
- Choose one clearly articulated goal at a time and focus like a laser on it.
- Bring that one thing to completion (completed tasks rarely come back to bite you).
- Repeat as necessary.
You don’t have to live a crazy life if you take some time to slow down, take a deep breath and work on one thing at a time. After all, you can’t do more than one thing at a time, at least you can’t do more than one thing at a time really well.
One well defined, measurable goal can motivate you to action more than multiple goals with various deadlines and will generate a feeling that hitting your goal is imperative, not merely desirable.
How Does Car Insurance Work?
If you drive a car, you need car insurance and in most states (48 of them), it’s more than just a good idea — it’s the LAW! When you buy car insurance, you are buying what is called a policy. The amount you pay is called a premium. Your policy’s premium is based on a variety of factors including the type of car you drive, your driving history, your credit score, other drivers in your family and what kind of insurance you want.
Since state laws vary, some of the coverage types listed here may be required by your state and some of the coverage may be optional.
- Liability – This is the minimum coverage you must carry in 48 states. Liability protection pays for accidental bodily injury and property damages to others, not YOU! Injury damages may include the medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages due to someone involved in an accident where you’re at fault. Property damage includes the damaged property of others and their vehicles. This coverage also pays defense and court costs. State laws determine how much liability coverage you must purchase, but you can always get more coverage than your state requires.
- Collision – Pays for damages to your vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or object.This coverage is almost always required if you owe money on your vehicle.
- Comprehensive – Pays for loss or damage to the insured vehicle that doesn’t occur in an auto accident. The types of damages comprehensive insurance covers include loss caused by fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism or theft.Again, if you owe money on your car, you’ll probably be required to carry comprehensive coverage.
- Medical Coverage – Pays medical expenses regardless of who is at fault when the expenses are the result of an auto accident.
- Uninsured Motorist -Pays your car’s damages when an auto accident is caused by a driver who breaks the law and doesn’t carry liability insurance.
- Underinsured Motorist – Pays your car’s damages when an accident is caused by someone who didn’t buy enough liability insurance.
- Rental Coverage – Pays for a rental car if your car is damaged in an auto accident and needs repairs. Often this coverage has a daily allowance for a rental car.
The first step in choosing the insurance you want for your car is to know the laws in your state. This will tell you the minimum insurance you need for your car. It’s good to keep in mind that, just because your state may not require extensive insurance, extra coverage may be worth the expense. After all, no one wants to be stuck with thousands of dollars worth of bills because of an auto accident — especially if you were not at fault!
Many insurance policies combine several of these types of coverage into various packages. Don’t be afraid to ask your agent to tailor a package with the types of insurance you specifically need. They CAN do that, trust me. If they won’t, move on to another agent.
photo credit: bobster855
12 Ways to Gain Control of Your Emotions
With the economy in a miserable state, it can be easy to allow your emotions to dictate your responses to everyone from your spouse and children to your boss and coworkers. But responding emotionally can sometimes make a bad situation worse. While it does takes practice, you can control your emotions. Every negative emotion you have begins with a thought, so learn to control your mind and you’ll gain control of your emotions by default. Take every thought captive before it sinks its teeth into you! Give it a shot by following these tips:
Use affirmations: “I can do my job better than anyone,” “I can do a great job on that account,” “I can handle that advanced class.” Politicians are renown for saying only what they want to hear and repeating the same mantra over and over. They “stay on message.” Craft YOUR message and stay on it.
Consciously relax all your muscles. Imagine that you’re being slowly dipped into warm water. Start with your feet and work up to the top of your head then out through your fingertips. Concentrate on keeping all muscles relaxed as you move up your body. Imagine that your forehead is cool to the touch.
Breath deeply. Take several slow, deep breaths and concentrate on feeling calm and relaxed. Use those affirmations while you breathe.
Take a walk. Exercise of any sort will help you relieve stress and clear your mind. A clear mind is better able to control emotions.
Go outside. Get some fresh air and a little sunshine on your face. Getting out into nature can have a wonderful effect on our emotions. You are part of nature so getting out in it is just a natural act.
Visualize yourself remaining calm, succeeding and remaining in control. Imagine that you are able to handle this stressful situation just like the calmest person you know. Visualization is a strong tool that can help you achieve your goal of remaining composed and in control.
Phone a friend. Talking with a supportive friend will help you see things from a more neutral perspective. Everything is going to be okay.
Focus on right NOW. Don’t let a negative emotional reaction affect the outcome. Purpose to NOT allow that to happen.
Use distraction tactics. Think of something that gives you pleasure. Re-live a wonderful time in your life where you could do no wrong and everything was right.
Take a hot shower or relax in a hot bath. Sometimes just being still and quiet can help you reduce stress. Practice your positive affirmations while soaking.
Read something funny or watch a humorous TV show. Humor can make things seem more bearable.
Remember that there are always alternate outcomes. Over 90 percent of what you worry about never happens anyway and 9 of the other 10 percent of the time, things aren’t as bad as you imagined. Refuse to worry about when something is going to happen, instead decide on your course of action if it happens.
Discover your capacity to cope, and impress yourself with your ability. See, you can handle more than you ever thought possible!
Take positive action steps, no matter how small, and you can control your emotions.
Vacation Here I Come!
photo credit: P Keigan
I’ll be on vacation with my family this week. We’re going on a western Caribbean cruise! I have some posts lined up but I may be a little slow in approving comments and getting back with you if you try to contact me.
Have a great week and a fabulous Fourth! I’ll post pictures when I get back!
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