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Articles from Julie Donley | Selfgrowth.com
- Staying Healthy Over the Holidays - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2011 from Julie DonleyThe holiday season means more parties, more shopping, more eating, more stress, and, of course, more colds and flu! So how can you stay healthy during this busy time? There are several things that you can do to practice self-care. The holidays are not an invitation to lose focus on what is ...
Views: 1195 - Leading Change from Obesity toward Health - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2011 from Julie DonleyObesity is a now a huge health epidemic – I don’t need to tell you this. It’s on television and the news. There are several reality shows such as ‘the biggest loser’ and ‘heavy’. You may even be able to look down at your own scale or at family members to see just how big the problem is (pun ...
Views: 1319 - The Answer to Your Prayers - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2011 from Julie DonleyHave you ever prayed for something and wished for it and worked hard to get it but it just doesn’t come? We have all been in this place where we want something so badly we can almost taste it and it’s not here. We wonder ‘why?’ and often think, “Why me?” or “Why NOT me?” It is frustrating and ...
Views: 1336 - Lead with Values - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2011 from Julie DonleyWhat is important to you in life? Do you know what your values are? Values are those things that are priorities. These can be anything from nature and beauty, adventure, learning, having fun, or honor and integrity. You know these things because when you see them in others, they bring you ...
Views: 2219(1 vote) - Focus on What You Want Rather Than What You Fear - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2011 from Julie Donley"I have a new boss. With recent layoffs and downsizing, my boss gave up my area to a new director. My head is swimming with thoughts about how she will treat me, what she will expect. I'm nervous that she will find a way to get rid of me. I'm just so scared of what might happen with this new ...
Views: 1258 - The Secret to Sustaining Change and Preventing Relapse - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2011 from Julie Donley“I don’t understand; I use [a diet system] to lose weight and am generally very successful, however, as soon as I come off the diet and start eating regularly, I gain the weight right back. This has happened three times now. What am I doing wrong?” This is the sad the story of relapse. You ...
Views: 1240 - Which Is Harder: MAKING a Change or SUSTAINING the Change? - by Submitted on May 13, 2011 from Julie DonleyMy aunt and I had lunch the other day. We were discussing weight loss and I mentioned my fear of regaining the forty pounds I have worked so hard to lose when she said, “It’s easy to lose weight; the hard part is keeping it off.” In my many years as an addictions nurse, I have always said ...
Views: 1292 - What’s so H.A.R.D. about Change? - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2011 from Julie DonleyWhy does change have to be so darn hard? We struggle to lose weight, get in shape, eliminate debt and stay (happily) married. Health issues such as heart disease, depression, addiction and obesity - preventable illnesses – are rampant. Why is it so hard to change? The answer to this ...
Views: 1636(2 votes) - Don’t Forget to Care - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2011 from Julie Donley‘Care’ or compassion is an essential ingredient in the profession of nursing as well as many other caring professions. Without compassion, you might as well come up with another name for “nurse” because without “care” it’s not “nursing”. But it’s not just nursing that requires compassion, or ...
Views: 1486 - Take the Time to CARE - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2011 from Julie DonleyWhen I started my career in health care nearly 20 years ago, I was struck by the compassion and care with which nurses and other professionals gave of themselves to their patients. It felt like home to me as I embarked upon my career as a caring professional. But I also noticed how unhappy ...
Views: 1506 - Motivated to Change - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyYou talk about how you want something different in your life – a new house, a better relationship with your spouse (or to find a spouse), get out of debt, or lose weight – but nothing changes. You find that you spend (waste) a lot of time talking about it, but not doing anything about it. How ...
Views: 1986(2 votes) - How to Deal With a Bully - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyMost of us have come face to face with intimidation at some point either at work or in our personal lives. It’s never easy because at the moment it occurs, there are two big things to manage: • YOU and your emotional state and • The other person’s behavior You have to assert yourself in a ...
Views: 1579 - Are You Committing Lateral Violence? - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyWhat? Lateral violence? What’s that? Lateral violence, also known as horizontal abuse or violence, is the disruptive, disrespectful or antagonistic behavior of others on the same hierarchical level within an organization. Lateral violence, in essence, is abusive acts committed against people ...
Views: 4779 - Frustrated? Let Go of Your Emotional Energy - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyYou’re really frustrated. Angry. There is so much happening in your life and you have so many emotions floating around you can’t think straight. You’re tired. You’re moody. Ok, even irritable. Friends are complaining. Your spouse is complaining. Your kids hide when they see you. So you withdraw ...
Views: 1936 - Do People Enjoy You? - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyWhat is the experience you provide for others? Consider how your presence and behavior impacts your employees, your colleagues, your boss, your children, your parents, your spouse. The experience people have when they are with you, when they enter your department or have dealings with your ...
Views: 1421 - Six Steps to Managing a Negative Work Environment - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyDoes your work environment bring out the best in you or the worst? When you leave work, do you feel drained, exhausted and even angry? Do you generally feel like you are dodging bullets all day? It happened to me the other day. As a practicing RN, I take shifts at a local, acute care ...
Views: 6707(4 votes) - Powerful Communication: Apology Do’s and Don’ts - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyDo you apologize for anything and everything? Do you apologize for things that are completely out of your control? How about apologizing for other people’s behavior? Do you tend to apologize just to see if the other person will apologize? An apology can be a very cathartic act. It can mend ...
Views: 4860(2 votes) - What If YOU Were Front Page News? Four Steps to Freedom from Secrets - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie Donley“You cannot look at someone’s exterior and know what’s going on inside.” This quote from the book The Journey Called YOU is a very profound statement because what it means is that looks can be very deceiving; someone who seems to have it all together may in fact be living a life of ...
Views: 1760(6 votes) - How Self-Esteem Issues Show Up - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyMost people experience self-doubt on a regular basis and I am not immune. I have spent entirely too much of my life trying to accept myself as I am. While easy for me to see how wonderful and special you are, it was a challenge for many years to see myself in the same light. It’s no wonder that ...
Views: 2186(6 votes) - The Essential Ingredient in Achieving Your Goals - by Submitted on Jan 15, 2010 from Julie DonleyOk, so you turn the calendar to a New Year and suddenly you think something should change. You’ll get those pesky 20 pounds off once and for all! Or you’ll definitely get promoted or change jobs this year. Or perhaps this is the year you will have a better relationship with your spouse – or your ...
Views: 1289(1 vote) - Managing Your Emotions after a Layoff - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2011 from Julie DonleyChange is constant. We just aren’t always aware nor do we pay attention to every change that we make through the course of a day. But when big changes occur, like a layoff or termination of employment, we stand up and take notice. We have to! With every change we experience, there are three ...
Views: 1371(1 vote) - Leadership Strategies: A Productivity Model - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2009 from Julie DonleyIn 2005, as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the International Coach Federation, I held a meeting with the Board of Directors because in some areas we seemed to be hitting snags in accomplishing our objectives. While people were working hard and committed to achieving our goals, we were ...
Views: 1455(1 vote) - Winning the Battle in Your Mind - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2009 from Julie Donley“When I try to do the work, to approach a task or push through my procrastination, a battle ensues in my mind. I wind up feeling so intimidated that I take a seat and let the battle go on. I get so distracted that I’m paralyzed and I don’t get done whatever I wanted to do. It’s limiting – it ...
Views: 1713(1 vote) - Five Steps Toward Eliminating Overwhelm - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2009 from Julie DonleyOverwhelmed? It happens to the best of us at times. Some people live in a constant state of overwhelm. Knowing yourself, being aware of your abilities, and creating an environment that nurtures your success can help to alleviate or minimize overwhelm. You also must learn to stand up for ...
Views: 1390(1 vote) - Let Go of Your Need to Be Right - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2009 from Julie DonleyHave you ever had an argument? It’s a silly question, for sure. Everyone has. You know, in that moment, when you’re so sure that you’re right, when you just wish the other person would hear you - your version of reality, that is, your right way of looking at the world. If they would only ...
Views: 1675 - Using the Law of Attraction to Achieve Success - by Submitted on May 07, 2009 from Julie DonleyA few years ago, there was a movie produced called “The Secret” which introduced to the mainstream population the principles of the Law of Attraction. The basic premise is that whatever you dream of, you can create by focusing on what you want and how you will feel when you achieve it. If you ...
Views: 1165 - Learn How to Be Happy - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2009 from Julie Donley“He's simply got the instinct for being unhappy highly developed.” ~ Saki, British author (1870 - 1916) Happiness is not about what you own, who you married, or what you collect. Happiness is feeling good – not having your life look good – and it can only be felt right now, in this moment. It ...
Views: 1384 - What Impact Are You Having on Others? - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2009 from Julie DonleyLately, people, places and things have been reminding me of my friend and coaching colleague, Susan Race, who died suddenly in 2008. She was one of the first coaches I met when I entered coaching in 2001. She offered a bright smile, was always supportive, loving, energetic, and generous with her ...
Views: 1344 - Self Management is Critical for Handling Problems - by Submitted on Feb 05, 2009 from Julie DonleyA staff member doesn’t handle a problem with a customer well, and you, as the manager, are upset. You think to yourself, “Why on earth would he do such a thing? Doesn’t he know better? He should know that’s not how to deal with a customer!” Your young child is playing upstairs. You decide to go ...
Views: 1146 - Take Charge to Create a Healthy Financial Future - by Submitted on Jan 15, 2009 from Julie DonleyThe economy woes are having a huge impact on our most important asset: people. People are scared. Therapists are seeing an increase in patients as anxiety intensifies keeping people awake at night and interfering with their ability to focus and be productive. Fear is taking over what were ...
Views: 1348 - Where Do You Look For YOUR Value? - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2008 from Julie DonleyThousands of thoughts go through your mind in the course of your day and each day you make many choices. Your choices intend to bring you the greatest value. Your perception of what adds value is based on your thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and habits. These were created from your life experiences ...
Views: 1469 - An Introduction to Value Science - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2008 from Julie DonleyYou have thousands of thoughts that float through your mind all day every day. How do you sort through them all to determine which thoughts are good ones? In other words, how do you know which thoughts will lead you to good outcomes? It’s hard to know. You can become attached to certain ...
Views: 1373 - The Basics of Emotional Intelligence: Emotions as Messengers - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Julie DonleyDo you find yourself at the mercy of your emotions, a victim of reaction, behaving in ways that you’re not proud of and often regret? Are you one of the millions of people who avoid conflict and confrontation because you don’t know how to deal with other people’s emotions? ...
Views: 1778 - Strength In Being Human - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Julie Donley“I am seen as a pillar of strength. I was brought up this way. I don’t show my emotions or to talk about the bad stuff going on in my life. When people ask how I’m doing, I say, ‘I’m fine.’ As a nurse, I am always there for others. I don’t want to have to ask for help or lean on others for ...
Views: 1638 - Managing Impressions - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Julie DonleyEvery morning you get out of bed and go about your day. You say good bye to your spouse, get the kids off to school, and make your way to your job. At work, you attend meetings, greet customers, and chat with colleagues. Maybe you go to the gym a few times during the week. Weekends, you spend ...
Views: 3118 - Three Elements Of Trust - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Julie DonleyA key element in creating a team is establishing trust. Most people are familiar with environments where trust is absent where you cannot simply be yourself for fear of reprisal or ridicule. So instead, you shrink, hide your true self and create a façade, play the game and work the political ...
Views: 2061 - Staying Positive in a Negative Environment - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2008 from Julie DonleyProbably one of the hardest things we must do as leaders is to stay positive when everyone else around us is negative. It’s not easy to maintain a positive attitude and not be drained or consumed by the negativity that surrounds you. But as a leader, that’s exactly what you must do. ...
Views: 1866 - Use Empathy to Unleash a Huge Reserve of Potential - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2008 from Julie DonleyConsider the thoughts that go through your mind on a daily basis – the fears, doubts, criticisms, and judgments. If you knew that other people have the same thoughts about life, their mate, their kids, the organization, about their co-workers and bosses, and about themselves as you have, ...
Views: 1705 - Overcoming Self-Doubt - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2008 from Julie DonleyEveryone experiences self-doubt at some point in our lives. For many people, self-doubt can be pervasive, even crippling. It can impact your relationships. It destroys confidence. It causes procrastination or lack of effort. It can be extremely frustrating to live with the reverberating voice in ...
Views: 2750 - What's Self-Esteem Got To Do With It? - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2008 from Julie Donley“I don’t think I can do that,” says Shirley. “Does it matter what you ‘think’ or does it matter what you ‘do’?” I replied. “I never thought of it like that. I know I should do this; I guess I just don’t think I’m good ...
Views: 1130 - What Does "Being a Nurse" Mean To You? - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2008 from Julie DonleyBeing a nurse used to be associated with the white starched dress uniform and cap. When you saw someone in that uniform, it meant purity, compassion and care. It also used to mean handmaiden or the “one who takes orders.” These days few people still wear white and even fewer wear dresses. Many ...
Views: 30065 - Four Sources Of Discontent - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2008 from Julie DonleyThere is a pervasive discontent in our society today. We seem to be suffering from an epidemic of unhappiness. Why do some of us seem to constantly be looking for something that we simply never quite seem to catch up to? What causes this discontent and how can we overcome it? In your mind, you ...
Views: 1645 - Sharing Yourself - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2008 from Julie DonleyFor many years, I was a lone ranger, doing things on my own, resistant of others’ help and support. Although always friendly and well-liked, I never let anyone get too close. I never felt good about sharing my deepest thoughts and feelings, perhaps for fear of ridicule. Somehow, during my ...
Views: 1141 - The Power Of Acceptance - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2008 from Julie DonleyIn our coaching sessions, clients often discuss struggles or frustrations they’re experiencing. Struggling is characterized by that feeling of trying to place a round peg in a square hole. It’s a stressful place to be. It’s also energy draining, time consuming, and it distracts you from the ...
Views: 1109 - A Puzzle: Who Are You? - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2008 from Julie DonleyHave you ever put together a puzzle? First, you open the box and dump all of the pieces on a table. You spread them out. Then, you pick up each piece one at a time, turn it over, observe it for shape, color and a glimpse of something that might be useful, and then place it face up on the ...
Views: 1247 - Say "Yes" To You - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2008 from Julie DonleyHave you ever had anyone speak to you in a tone that made you feel uncomfortable? And yet, you said nothing. Have you ever done something for someone or with someone that you really didn’t want to do? And yet, you did it anyway, only to become resentful later. Every time you say nothing, every ...
Views: 1065 - Embracing Change - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2008 from Julie DonleyChange is often very difficult for people to accept and yet it’s happening every minute. The only thing certain is change. When you find that things are not as you want them to be in your life, it’s time to get comfortable with change. The Comfort Zone Change means many things to people. It ...
Views: 1046 - Is There An Elephant In The Room? - by Submitted on Apr 11, 2008 from Julie DonleySomething is wrong. It doesn’t feel right. Maybe you know exactly what it is. Maybe you haven’t taken the time to identify the problem but it feels bad. You skirt around the issue. Perhaps it’s something with your relationship or with your kids. Perhaps it’s a work issue and everyone skirts ...
Views: 1397 - Assert Yourself - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2007 from Julie DonleyYou are asked to join a committee that meets over lunch every Friday. You promised yourself you would refrain from any additional committee work. This also means you need to tell Jane you can no longer join her for power walks. “We need you to finish the outline for the project team. ...
Views: 1410 - Preparing for Success - by Submitted on Jul 11, 2007 from Julie DonleyYou have just won the lottery! Congratulations! This is exactly what you’ve wished for and you finally won! You are so excited. But, are you prepared? Do you have a great financial advisor picked out? If not, how will you choose one that you can trust? Do you know how you’ll invest ...
Views: 1169