Karen Main

Lead a Life you Design and Love

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Life Coaching
  • Contact

The surprising connection between shoe laces and wins

July 21, 2014 By Karen Main 4 Comments

The morning rush was in full swing
Lunches packed…. tick,
Teeth brushed….tick,
Library bags ……tick.
Money for petrol or I might not make it back…..tick.

Then drop the kids, head home and get cracking on my own list for the day.

As I quickly wiped the bench I noticed both kids sprawled on the floor tying their laces. Nothing unusual and yet somehow the magnitude of this had escaped me previously.

I stood still, holding onto my breath, fearing time would shift and the moment would be lost.

I indulged in a quick mental slideshow filled with glorious memories of the past nine years.

The first time I squeezed chubby little baby’s feet into their tiny pair of shoes. The countless array of colourful and often sparkly runners.  The gumboots and the puddles they jumped in.

Then finally that momentous occasion when I began to teach them to tie their own shoelaces.

The endless mornings that followed filled with tears, tantrums and encouragement.  The hours spent practicing and the look of determination on their young faces.

The patience required to hold back, to give them an opportunity and to finally stop doing it for them.

Today I stood in my kitchen, watching my children both effortlessly tie their shoes and I could not remember when this started happening.

I was now finally celebrating the win.

Shoes

Tell me about your wins.

This is the very first and most favourite thing I ask my clients each time I see them.

Tell me about your wins;  What went well?  What felt good?  What are you proud of?

Work with me long enough and you come to expect this question and yet it continues to be one many people struggle to answer.

They are ready to tell me what is going wrong, what is not right, what they want to change.

No wonder.  In such a noisy world bombarding us with information on how to eat, live, love and parent better it is easy to fixate on what is not right.

We gaze at our screens comparing our behind the scenes to the highlight reel prancing before us.

In a week when you have not seen the bottom of the laundry hamper, your inbox is never empty and you are desperate to finish a cup of tea while it is still hot, WINS are the furthest thing from your mind.

Instead of deciding what needs to improve, change or cease let’s decide what one thing you can do that matters to you.

Let’s set you up for a big, delicious WIN.

Now when I say big and delicious I do not mean hang gliding this weekend or running in the next Melbourne Marathon.  I am talking an important everyday WIN, something you want to do because it adds value to your life.

Something that will have you giving yourself a satisfied wink in the rear vision mirror.

Let me get you started, could it be:

  • Mailing a handwritten letter to a friend because you miss them
  • Helping change a life by loaning money through Kiva
  • Eating a healthy breakfast
  • Replanting that pot of dead flowers lingering at the front door
  • Using that free pass for the gym
  • Getting up early and watching the dawn break
  • Baking a cake and inviting a friend over for giggles


Okay now over to you

This week I will___________________________________________________

because I secretly love to ___________________________________________

I will do this ______________________________ (when, c’mon book this baby in) 

And afterwards I will celebrate by ______________(winking at myself in the mirror)

Now make a commitment and let me know in comments what you plan to do this week that matters to you.

This is your one great life, Lead it Fabulously.

Signature large photo Signaturelarge_zps82b3ad36.png

Filed Under: Feeling Fabulous, Purpose and Meaning Tagged With: achievement, wins

Comments

  1. Tricia says

    July 23, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    Oh my goodness my brain is rattling with all of the things I want to fill in those blocks. Finish my book proposal (I am so close!). Email a new mama friend (it’s past time for a visit). Finish and send a gift to another mama friend. Maybe the last two are where I need to be – I do love supporting new mamas!

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      July 24, 2014 at 9:19 pm

      Wow Tricia a book proposal, now that sounds exciting. Wishing you lots of luck.

      Reply
  2. debbie says

    July 26, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    I love the analogy of the laces. Simply brilliant. And, I love your challenge to identify and tackle one (not 10!) meaningful thing… of course it seems once accomplished it cascades into additional success. Lovely post… now off to complete my assignment.

    Reply
    • Karen Main says

      July 27, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      Debbie enjoy the assignment and thanks for embracing the meaning in my words.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Something just for you

Sign up for my weekly inspiration and you will also receive my six manifestos for keeping life SIMPLE for FREE
* = required field

Categories

  • Being Mum (50)
  • Captured Bliss (40)
  • Celebrate Madly (21)
  • Connection and Support (25)
  • Create and Explore (28)
  • Curiosity and Wonder (22)
  • Desire Map (14)
  • Feeling Fabulous (62)
  • Feeling Inspired (52)
  • Growth and Learning (75)
  • Intuitive Feelings (33)
  • Less can be More (29)
  • Outside your Comfort Zone (47)
  • Poetic Words (27)
  • Purpose and Meaning (68)
  • Self Care (7)
  • Time to reflect (43)
  • What matters most (80)

Event Calendar

Powered by Eventbrite

Meet Karen

Karen Main is a Life Leadership Coach for people who are ready to make a change in their lives.
Through her coaching, workshops and speaking gigs she’s here to help you design a life you love — while making it all feel like a celebration.
And when she’s not working, you can find her indulging in a long walk with the dog, laughing with her kids or at her favourite yoga class Read More…

Recent articles

  • How To Prepare And Set Meaningful Goals For 2019
  • Why You Want To Review and Celebrate before Setting Any Goals For This New Year
  • How to ease up on your dreams to get more of what you want
  • What are you willing to struggle for?
  • Why you want to start with the good, the bad and the wacky ideas

Something just for you

Sign up for my weekly inspiration and you will also receive my six manifestos for keeping life SIMPLE for FREE
* = required field
Follow me:

Copyright © 2022 Karen Main · Log in

 

Loading Comments...