It's All in How You "C" It!

The holiday season means many things to many people - but busy-ness is always a factor with overwhelm just around the corner. If overwhelm does set in, it's easy to react negatively. I fell victim to this just last week - at the hands of a tiny baby.

While my six-week old daughter Sierra is unquestionably the best gift my wife and I have ever received, I'll admit that fatherhood has been challenging. In the past few weeks, I've repeatedly noticed that parenthood is much like running a business: it can be all consuming, tenders huge lessons, and tosses in teachings about releasing control.

Just the other night, amidst happy holiday clutter, Sierra began to cry. With Practical Wisdom as my touchstone, I wisely realized that crying can mean many things. I fed her, changed her, rocked her - but nothing worked. Eventually I caved, reacted to the sounds of her screams, and threw a brief temper tantrum of my own. First, I wondered if I was cut out to be a parent. Then, I felt angry. Maybe life was over as I knew it. If I didn't have to care for a crying baby, I could ... oh! the list was long.

Afterward, I remembered the title of a seminar I have just started offering to business professionals entitled, "It's All in How You "C" It.' If we take the C from the middle of the word reactive and place it at the beginning, it becomes "creative." By shifting one letter, we shift our perspective and thinking. Once I was in a creative space, I was able to release my expectations for my baby's behavior and create a new perspective by laughing at myself and my huge ego trying to control everything. Sierra gave me a huge gift.

There will definitely be times in my life when my daughter, wife, or business associates will say or do something which have me respond in a reactive manner. The goal is to catch the reaction, remember that I can always choose again, and select a way to be more creative.

What is your crying baby this holiday season? How can you be creative instead of reactive? If youÕd like to explore this, give me a call at 503-522-4562 to set up a time to talk.

Best wishes for a very happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season!

Warmly,

Jason Stein