The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/105037
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, January 23, 2013 A-7 How working Moms can make guilt-free choices By W. Granville Brown As a professional life coach, I'm privileged to have some very successful career women as clients. I've discovered that many of them face challenges quite different than those encountered by men. For example, consider the deep feelings of guilt many working mothers experience. They feel as if they are being split in half and would gladly sacrifice a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes for more hours in the day. When we are dealing with a female who is voluntarily willing to give up her highend shoes, you know we have a serious issue. Just as serious is the confusion between making a decision and making a choice. Many of these educated women suffer from the consequences of their choices and struggle with making better choices they can live with and feel good about. Humbly speaking, I believe a process and a skill set are associated with decision and choice making. In order to recognize the difference, as well as the need to learn or improve upon the skill set, a person must be open to personal growth. Each new client has discovered that something is "off" in that individual's life, and he/she wants to turn it back on. Often the issues are related to the choices made, which, in turn, have led the client to seek my assistance. Oftentimes the two words (decision and choice) are used interchangeably, when, in fact, they have complete and separate meanings. Let's start with decision, which means "to reach a conclusion or pass judgment on an issue." A choice is defined as "a selection from a number of options." To simplify: you make a decision to have dessert after dinner, and then you choose between ice cream, cake, or pie, keeping in mind that a moment on the lips is like an inch to the hips. Five simple steps to choosing your path Illustrates five simple, but powerfully impactive, steps to making wiser choices. Once applied to our daily lives, these steps have proven quite effective in their simplicity. 1. Think it out: That should be a logical process, but a lot of times in life, we merely react based on experience, the past, emotions, or a myriad of other reasons, without giving much prior thought to making a choice. 2. Willingness to deal with the consequences through ownership: Yes, we have to own our choices. We can't point fingers of blame at others when things don't work out and only take credit for the good. We must own all of our choices. 3. Accept responsibility: Whether you like it or not, choices mean responsibility. Now you're getting into deeper waters. When we step up and claim responsibility, we are indeed stepping up. 4. Be accountable: When you hold yourself accountable, the message is, "This is on me." And that truly takes strength of character. 5. Be honest: This is admittedly the hardest step for a lot of people. Some of us simply find it too difficult to look into the reflected image of truth, which can hurt. The tendency to develop safety mechanisms, in an attempt to protect one's heart, can be too great. UnContinued on page A-11 NETedition Exclusive video Extrication training The Petersburg Fire Department did extrication training on Saturday, to teach their firefighters how to safely remove injured people from damaged vehicles. Some of the other techniques demonstrated were the proper use of sledgehammers and axes to open up a car. Ross Elmore, who led the training session, said, "We just had a crew of new guys come in and wanted to walk them through basic auto extrication." Elmore said the car used for the training was supplied by Blake Towing. Above: Robby Haislip uses a crowbar to open up the training car and free the giant plush dummy trapped inside. Left: After learning how to safely break open windows on a car, firefighters go over the basics of automobile structure and safe points of entry when trying to rescue a trapped passenger. Leave f or Haw aii HAWAIIAN ADVENTURE GET LIMITED TIME SAVINGS ON THE NUMBER ONE NAME IN COMFORT. GET LIMITED TIME SAVINGS ON THE NUMBER ONE NAME IN COMFORT. Three island 10 day Tour Featuring oahu, Kauai and Maui June 20-29, 2013 299 now $ starting at $ GET LIMITED TIME SAVINGS ON THE NUMBER ONE NAME IN COMFORT. $ The trip will highlight Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, Polynesian Culture Center, Kilohana Plantation, Waimea Canyon, Kauai Coffee Company, Iao Valley Monument, Lahaina and Polynesian Luau. 13 Meals Included | Leave from Evansville BOOK NOW AND SAVE $300 sPeCial TraVel PresenTaTion JAN. 30|6 P.M. Pike County Chamber of Commerce Office © 2012 La-Z-Boy Incorporated 714 E. Main Street, Petersburg © 2012 La-Z-Boy Incorporated RSVP for presentation to 354-8155 or chamber@frontier.com The full brochure is available on our website $ http://www.pikecountyin.org No obligation to attend presentation © 2012 La-Z-Boy Incorporated On the Square in Downtown Jasper (812) 482-6477 or 1-877-744-6465 Mon.-Thu. 9-5:30; Fri. 9-7; Sat. 9-3; Sun. Closed