intention – One Insight Closer

Asking the right question

June 4, 2015June 4, 2015 by EvieBurke, posted in intention

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. - Dr Seuss Over the years I’ve realized how right the quote to the right is.

Asking the right question can be very important and it can be very frustrating trying to figure out what that question is.

And at the same time, if you’re not asking a question, finding the answer is a bit like searching for a puzzle piece and you’re not sure what it looks like, but you’re sure you’ll recognize it when you see it.

How much faster does the search for that puzzle piece go when you know what color you’re looking for? or if it’s an edge piece or when you have some guideline that helps you know which pieces aren’t the one you’re looking for?

Finding answers is a bit like that. You can find yourself spending lots of time trying out lots of different things because you haven’t taken the time to figure out what question you’re trying to answer. Instead, you’re picking up a lot of other people’s answers and seeing if they fit for you.

And while you might be learning a lot in that process, I bet you also feel like you’re spending a lot of time spinning your wheels or running in circles – none of it really seems to fit where you are or what you’re looking for.

When you take the time to know the question, the answers come so much more quickly.

So, spend some time today determining what your questions are. You might be surprised by how much time and energy you save looking for answers when you know your questions.

Share your question or questions in the comments below.

Re-set your intention

February 28, 2015February 28, 2015 by EvieBurke, posted in intention

Have you ever prepared for something, planned it out and got everything done that you could in advance and then something goes wrong?

Did it throw you into a tizzy?

Maybe you felt like all the hard work you did was for nothing?

Well, I had an experience that could have easily gone like that this week.

And I followed my own advice (it’s also the advice of every coach that I’ve ever worked with or known).

What was the advice? Set an intention. And re-set that intention as often as necessary.

On Thursday I hosted a workshop. I had most everything set up, just a couple of things to do that morning. Well, early Thursday morning the room was reset (I forgot to leave a note to leave it as it was) and this threw me into a bit of a tizzy.

Thankfully my friend and fellow business owner Mary was helping me and was there even before I was (Mary jumped right in and had some of the room reset even before I got there).

People pitched in and we got the room set up (my husband joined us for this and some of the workshop participants chipped in too!).

Now, this was not the environment I envisioned and intended for the workshop! Walking into a room being put together, helping set chairs and there’s no coffee made or snacks out yet!

I was a bit frazzled. I was in GET IT DONE mode. And then I remembered my intention (which was not what I was feeling).

I went to a room I could be alone for a few minutes, centered myself and set my intention again.

I share this because how often do we have this experience in other parts of our lives?

You’re going to go to a networking group (or to do something else) and then the kids really don’t want to get out of bed or argue with you every step of the way to getting them to school.

Or the map app on your phone crashes.

Or traffic is bad.

Or you spill coffee down your shirt.

Or something else happens that makes you go AHHH! not today!

And you walk into that group feeling frustrated, upset or maybe just unsettled.

When your intention was to to be confident and approachable.

THIS is when it’s time to re-set your intention.

Whether it’s an extra 2 minutes in the car or a quick trip to the bathroom or even just sitting down by yourself for a moment – you can set your intention again, just by remembering it AND taking some time to feel it.

This takes practice, sometimes you’ll remember to re-set in the car on the way home from the event, sometimes you’ll remember halfway through and eventually you’ll consistently remember to do it before you walk in.

If you could go back, when is a time you would want to re-set your intention? How would you have done it? Share below.

What’s The Question?

April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by EvieBurke, posted in intention, Overwhelm, planning

I’ve been thinking about questions a lot recently. About how important asking the right question can be and how frustrating it can be trying to figure out what that is.

Finding answers is a bit like that. You can find yourself spending lots of time trying out lots of different things because you haven’t taken the time to figure out what the question is you’re trying to answer. Instead, you’re picking up a lot of other people’s answers and seeing if they fit for you.

So, spend some time today determining what your questions are. You might be surprised by how much time and energy you save looking for answers when you know your questions.

Share your question or questions in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reviewing 2013 and Defining 2014

January 2, 2014 by EvieBurke, posted in intention, planning

Last week’s topic was about what worked and didn’t work last year and the habits that you want to create this year.

This week, I encourage you to review 2013 a little bit more and make 2014 even more successful.

What did you accomplish in 2013 that you are most proud of?
What did you do in 2013 that prior to 2013 was too far outside of your comfort zone to even be a possibility (what did you do that was a bit scary but really worth it)?
What is one fear, limiting belief or other obstacle that you overcame in 2013?
What, or who, supported you the most in 2013?
If you accomplish nothing else in 2014, what one thing do you want to accomplish that will make you the most proud?
What’s one thing that is a bit outside your comfort zone that you will accomplish this year?
One is one fear, limiting belief or other obstacle that is hindering your success that you will overcome this year?
What is one thing that you will do that will support you (and your success) in 2014?

Share your biggest ah-ha moment in the comments below.

Are You Over Complicating It?

September 27, 2013October 6, 2013 by EvieBurke, posted in attitude, intention, Task List

Have you ever over complicated something? You realize later, or someone points out to you that you could have easily done y instead of x and saved yourself a lot of time and energy.

If you don’t catch it early, it’s frustrating, right?

Do you do that with your business?

You assume that a task or project is going to be difficult and you quickly prove yourself right. Until someone comes along and offers a suggestion that renders half of your plans obsolete and you wonder, could it really be that easy?

If you haven’t already read last week’s article, “How Do You Want Your Morning to Feel?” go back and read it.

I wrote about two morning scenarios. Some of you might have read the second one and thought, “That’s a great dream, but it’s just not possible for me.”

I get it. Between you and me, I’ve had that same thought before. Mine sounded like “Planning is a great idea, but I just don’t have time for that!”

What if you’re over complicating your business? What if it’s hard to get everything done because that’s exactly what you expect?

Our brains like to be right. So, often just thinking “hey, this is going to be difficult” makes something feel, well, difficult.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you just start telling yourself, “hey, this easy and I’ll get everything done today” Your brain is smart, it’s not going to believe that.

Does this mean that you’re going to get that page long to-do list done today? Probably not, however, what would change if you looked at your page long to-do list and instead of thinking, “Ugh! I have so much to do it seems impossible!” you thought, “Great! I know what needs to happen over the next few days, what can I do today?”

But what if you started asking yourself, “What if this was easy?” And left yourself open to that possibility. Or asked yourself, “What would I do differently if this were easy?”

Allow the possibilities. Invest a few minutes of your time to sit with it and allow yourself to feel the possibility.

And let me know what you discover in the comments below.