Liz Sumner, Life Coach (WonderfulCoach.com)
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Articles by this expert
SelfGrowth articles and saved writing connected to this expert. Showing 12 of 14.
Article
Exquisite & Working: A Recipe for Life
What if everything in your life was exquisite and working? What if you didn't tolerate anything that wasn't-- you fixed it, replaced it, or got rid of it. What if you only had around you things that pleased you? Everything else gets tossed, returned, or given away.nnI have a sense that putting up with crap is responsible for a lot of life's misery. How much energy does it cost us to tolerate and ignore the irritants?nnOf course not everyone has the same priorities. I don't ne
February 4, 2011
Article
Resolutions That Work
What usually happens to your resolve in the New Year? Does it disappear before the pine needles are even vacuumed? Do you spend more energy on excuses than on execution? Can you even remember your intention by Valentine's day? nnTry something different this year. Take some time to think through your plan before jumping into action. Here are some guidelines that can help.nn1. Downstream SelfnImagine a vital, successful, and grateful you five years in the future looking back an
February 4, 2011
Article
When It Was Fun
When did it stop being fun to try things we're not already good at? There must have been a time when it was okay to experiment, before self-criticism paralyzed us with its withering attacks. It's so unfair to expect perfection the first time out. Wouldn't it be great if performance didn't matter and we could just have a good time?nnI've never been much for sports. I was a fat little kid and missed the skill-building years. As an adult I've continued to avoid the games at comp
February 4, 2011
Article
Cross It Off Your List
This is for people who can't seem to get everything done. Those of you who efficiently take care of every detail ahead of time don't need to read any further. nnAs a recovering procrastinator I have a great deal of experience with To Do lists. I've embellished them with multi-color highlighters, experimented with assorted list-making software, anything to keep from actually doing the tasks. Along the way I've learned a few tricks you may find helpful. nn1. Make the ListnDon't
February 4, 2011
Article
A Spoonful of Chocolate
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who was on a diet. She really wanted a spoonful of Hershey's syrup from the can in the refrigerator. But no, that wasn't allowed. So she had some carrot sticks instead. Then some celery. But that didn't satisfy her desire. So she had some more carrots. And then a peanut butter sandwich. And another one. And then she ate the entire can of chocolate syrup.nnnWhat's your spoonful of chocolate? Have you been denying yourself somethi
February 4, 2011
Article
Making Lemonade: Starting A Business After Ending A Career
What do you do when the money tree starts sprouting lemons? nnItâs increasingly common these days to find middle-aged, mid-level managers suddenly faced with huge shifts of circumstance. Down-sizing, bubble-bursting, plant-closing, and consolidating are just some of the forces creating a class of sudden solo-preneurs.nnAt 50-something you face particularly difficult job-hunting challenges. Your salary range is high. Your network is decent after so many years, but jobs at yo
June 27, 2006
Article
Well Loved: How to Get Rid of What You Don't Want
Iâm appreciating used things. I got a great gas barbecue on Freecycle; a practically new John Deere lawnmower for $50; a beautiful Le Creuset cast iron shelf from a friendâs basement, a lovely leather purse from the thrift shop. They feel like blessings. I get all the joy of something new plus an extra kick of getting it for nothing or practically so.nnIâm typing this on a computer I bought used thatâs sitting on a desk I got at a yard sale. Come to think of it, I als
June 24, 2006
Article
Patriots
Mid-way through our recent trip to Italy, my husband, Michael, got bronchitis. We had to take it easy to conserve his energy. After 4 days recuperating by the seaside we decided to venture into Pietrapertosa, a small mountain village in Basilicata. To get there by bus we had to go through Potenza-- a sprawling, non-charming city that Michael had wanted to avoid at all costs.nnAll the connections worked well. As we rolled our duffels down the cobblestone street people kept poi
April 13, 2005
Article
How To Leave Your Dead End Job
This is for everyone who is sticking with a job that no longer fits. Maybe it was right for awhile, for a certain time and place in your life. But not anymore. When was the last time you jumped out of bed with excitement about what the day would bring?nn"But I love the people I work with." n"It's so convenient." n"The money's pretty decent, consideringâ¦"nnI've heard all the excuses. Hell, I've made them. You know that job is sucking your soul and it's time to leave. The onl
March 15, 2004
Article
No Place like H.O.M.E.
A few years ago I was having dinner at a Hollywood restaurant with several of my husband's childhood friends-- one of whom was a movie producer who owned the restaurant, and another was some big deal in the music industry. I gave meaning and importance to their glamorous titles. I decided that they were better than me because they had money and celebrity. In that rarefied air I felt oversized, underdressed, and at the same time puny and invisible.nnI can still feel the outrag
July 2, 2003
Article
Being Committed
A number of years ago at my first personal growth seminar, the wise group leader asked if I had problems with commitment. I clearly remember my thought processes. "Commitment? I'm not sure I understand what that means. Oh well, it's probably not important."nnThat was a pivotal realization for me. I subsequently learned what commitment means and how it shows up for me. Maybe this is on my mind now because I'm coming up on a significant wedding anniversary-- my first. That aspe
May 21, 2003
Article
Lessons From The Bathroom Sink
All the great philosophers must have been plumbers. The work seems to lend itself to powerful insights. Plumbers unstop the blockages and get everything flowing. They plunge the depths and get rid of all the crap. Who better to pass along pithy rules of life?nnI tackled a leaky sink the other day. I'd been tolerating the drip for months. It took me so long because I didn't know how to go about starting. I'd made halfhearted attempts to ask at various hardware stores but I did
April 11, 2003