Coaching Corner: Choose wisely!
By Marilou Butcher Roth, Master Coach
Choices...we make them countless times throughout our day, whether we are aware of this or not. What we eat, what we wear, conversations we have, actions we take. All day, each and every day. What I am posing to you today is the idea of how you are choosing. Ultimately, regardless of any choice we make, or action we take, we do so with the idea (conscious or not) of that choice or action bringing some level of happiness into our lives. We certainly do not choose to bring something unwanted into our lives.
Let’s look at one of my favorite analogies -- let's say you decide to visit the neighborhood buffet for dinner. And let’s also say that some of your least favorite foods include lima beans and iceberg lettuce. As you make your way eagerly through the line of dozens of foods, all begging to be chosen, you notice the foods that you love and also the lima beans and the iceberg lettuce. Under no circumstances that come to my mind, would you choose the two foods that you absolutely do not like! Now, think about times when you are choosing actions or activities in your life that are the lima beans and iceberg lettuce. Yep! We all have done this.
There are various and individual reasons why we make our choices. The key here is to become aware of what we are choosing and then to take it to the next level -- will this choice/action keep me in integrity with myself? Ah, there it is, the “I” word again.
Choices get made sometimes because we think it is the “right” thing to do. Or because we want to avoid some sort of confrontation or pain. Either way, starting today, I invite you to check in with your choices -- the big ones and the small ones. Will this choice keep me in alignment with myself and my integrity? Some of these answers may be challenging and may bring some unwanted emotions. Ultimately, however, if you are choosing from a more conscious place, your happiness will be there.
So let’s get on it and make those conscious choices. And, for heaven’s sake, stay away from the lime beans!!! (Unless of course you actually do like them!).
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
