Here is today’s daily thought from www.dailyom.com. When I read this, it resonated with me, as I’ve always been unsettled with the way I treat an encounter with a homeless person. I wanted to share this with you today.

Choosing Not To Look Away

Homeless people in our communities are a fact of life, especially in big cities. Many of us don’t know how to interpret this situation or what we can do to help. We may vacillate between feeling guilty, as if we are personally responsible, and feeling angry, as if being homeless is entirely on their shoulders. The situation is, of course, far more complex than either scenario.

Still, not knowing how to respond, we may fall into the habit of not responding at all. We may look over their heads and not make eye contact, or look down at the ground as we pass, falling into a habit of ignoring them. Each time we do this, we disconnect ourselves from a large portion of the human family, and it doesn’t feel right.

Most of us know in our hearts that the homeless and the poor are not so very different from us. They may be the victims of poor planning or an unavoidable crisis. Some of them are mentally ill, some are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and some are choosing to be homeless for reasons we may never understand. We can imagine that, given their lives, we would likely have ended up in the same place. This does not mean that we are meant to rescue them as they are on their own learning path, but it does remind us that we can treat them as equals, because that is what they are.

Even if we aren’t able to offer food, shelter, or money, we can offer a blessing as we pass. We can look them in the eye and acknowledge our shared humanness, even if we don’t know how to help them. This simple act of kindness and silent or spoken blessings can be helpful to those living on the street.

If you want to help with information, you can learn about the services in your area and share the locations of food banks, shelters, and other resources. As parents, perhaps you would like to plan ahead, talking with your children about how as a family you would like to handle these situations. Whatever you decide to do, you will feel much better when you make a conscious choice not to simply look away.

This article reminds me of how we over-complicate situations in our lives. Simply acknowledging them as a person is a great start toward doing the right thing by our fellow humans.

Coach Charrise

Life is busy. It’s very easy to become scattered, distracted, and disengaged. It’s really important that we don’t get caught in the trap of rushing around thinking we don’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish what we want. In fact, we do.

One of my favorite authors, Steve Chandler, suggests that we don’t really have too much to do. There is only one thing to do, and that is the thing you have chosen to do right now. Now seriously, think about this! How empowering is it to know that you just have one thing to do at any given time. No more multi- tasking. If we do that one thing as if it’s all we have to think about, imagine how much better we’ll be at doing it.

This is a powerful concept: The mind entertains one thought at a time, and only one.

One of the most common things I hear from leaders in my coaching practice is frustration over the lack of time to accomplish all of things that need doing. It’s a serious source of stress that we put upon ourselves. Managing our time and our priorities has become a significant barrier to our business success.

How do we make this mental adjustment? Choose the things from the list that need doing, delete the things that are unproductive, and then prioritize your list. We’ve all done this before – it’s not rocket science. The mindset change occurs when you FOCUS unilaterally on that ONE THING. Do it well, as if your life depends upon it. Get it done, feel satisfied, and move on to the next ONE THING that needs doing.

Not allowing yourself to become overwhelmed by your task list will take practice. The payoff is that you become calm, centered, focused leader. Your team will gain trust that you will follow through with your commitments, because you’ll stop making promises you can’t keep. They will follow your lead, doing one thing at a time to deliver focused and consistent results.

Do one thing. And then the next, and the next…

Coach Charrise

What makes one person happy, while another in similar
circumstances would not make the same claim? Is disposition an inborn trait? Do we really have a choice about how we feel? I
believe we do.

What do happy people do to stay happy? Here are 30 things
suggested by www.sparkpeople.com to do to make April a happy
month:

• Start a hobby. People who engage in captivating activities
  are more satisfied with life.
• Get plenty of sleep. Keep a consistent sleep schedule and
  get 7-8 hours each night.
• Develop your spirituality. Research shows that people who
  are spiritual tend to be happier and healthier than those
  who are not. Consider meditation, spiritual readings, or
  prayer.
• Cultivate friendships. The happiest people spend the least
  amount of time alone.
• Take Action. If you don’t like your job or other life
  circumstance, make a plan and take charge.
• Find meaningful work. The nature of your job isn’t as
  important as how you approach it. A positive attitude and
  a focus on the meaning behind your work make it more
  rewarding.
• Smile! Grinning, even if you don’t feel happy, releases
  serotonin in the brain and instantly lifts your mood. Plus,
  smiling people are viewed as sincere, attractive, and
  sociable.
• Make time for yourself. Pursuing personal growth is just as
  important as spending time with others. Pencil in some
  “me” time, even if it’s only a few minutes each day.
• Savor every bite. Eat in calm environment and use all of
  your senses to explore the texture, smell, appearance and
  flavor of your food. You’ll be more satisfied after every
  meal.
• Simplify your life. Unburden yourself of possessions that
  lock you in the “rat race” of earning more money to pay for
  more things you don’t really need.
• Start a journal. Use it to record positive experiences and
  things you are thankful for.
• Eat chocolate!
• Be optimistic. A positive outlook is associated with better
  health, a longer life, greater joy. When you look to the
  bright side and believe people are good, you directly
  increase your own happiness.
• Exercise regularly. Physical activity produces endorphins,
  which promote satisfaction and well being.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. Happy people judge
  themselves by their own standards, never against what
  others do or have. Keep up with yourself – not the
  Joneses.
• Play with your pet.
• Forgive and forget. Refusing to forgive fosters anger and
  resentment, which makes your own life miserable. Let go
  and put your energy into something positive so you can be
  happier.
• Teaching, helping a child, reading to a kid or something.
  Help others.
• Beat stress. Life’s difficulties can take a toll on your
  mood. But stress busters like exercising, talking to a
  friend, and journaling can help clear your head and calm
  you down.
• Get some sun. Sunlight improves your mood and can help
  prevent the onset of seasonal depression.
• Maintain your health. The healthier you are, the more
  likely you are to be happy. Eating right, exercising, getting
  preventative care and reducing your stress level can
  enhance health and happiness.
• Celebrate Earth Day! Getting closer to nature can help
  you feel more connected to the world at large.
• Just say no. If you’re already overworked and
  overscheduled, don’t take on more tasks in order to please
  others. You have to remember to please yourself too!
• Create a mantra. Does a particular word, phrase, or quote
  make you feel better? Make it your mantra. Write it, think
  it, and repeat it any time you need a little perspective or a
  pick-me-up.
• Connect with your family. Make time for your loved ones,
  partner, and children each day.
• Do your best. Your accomplishments are important and
  deserve recognition, so be proud of a job well done.
  Mastering skills and meeting goals can increase your own
  self-esteem.
• Grow a garden. Watching plants grow and thrive under
  your care is a great experience. Din in with cheer, knowing
  you’re beating stress, becoming more active, and
  surrounding yourself with beauty.
• Make a donation. Clear the clutter in your home and give
  all those “extras” you don’t use to someone who needs
  them.
• Laugh out loud. Visit a comedy club or watch a funny
  show. Laughing makes you feel good.
• Ask for help – if you need it. If you feel unhappy most of
  the time, talk to a therapist, career counselor, or spiritual
  advisor to help you find what makes you happy.

I believe these are great tips. They are only great if they are put
into action! There are probably many more action items you can
think of that will enhance your life and bring you happiness. Why
not make your own list, and get committed to taking action?

Coach Charrise