In concluding my recent read, I have completed the final exercises. Thanks Martha for such a wonderful book and thanks for commenting on my blog:

Tell the Truth: This has been a problem in areas that surround my personal life more than professional. I will be honest to myself and those around me.

Do What You Said: I am committed to changing my behaviors to stick to what I say I’m going to do and following through.

How’s the View: I will respect everyone’s view with compassion and understanding and will seek the capital T truth in all that I do

Got Results: I will take accountability (not blame) for the results in my life despite my perceptions and without excuses.

Everybody Gets a Prize: I will always seek to attain win-win results in my personal and professional life in part by understanding what is a win to others by truly listening.

What’s For Lunch: I will stop resisting when things don’t go the way I think they should. I will change my focus and move onto my next area of influence.

Stick - Don’t Quit: I will work on being consistent and not quitting when things don’t go the way I think they should or fear is at my doorstep.

Breathe - I will learn to apply breathing into my daily life by mimicking a giving and receiving flow in all that I am and do.

Michael and I have one more day here at Bermuda. We plan to hit the pink beaches today.

One of my coworkers S gave sent me a book last week that I am reading while visiting here in Bermuda this long self devised holiday weekend. It is called “Your Survival Strategies are Killing You” (Martha Borst). The basis of the book thus far is that we learn certain ways of functioning and surviving through our upbringing, experiences, etc that are not allowing us to be true to ourselves. One quote I read this morning really has hit home, “you must form an honest relationship with your results.” I think that I use the filters of my old behaviors to validate myself and my actions in seeking the approval my mother never gave me as a youth. Wow…am I getting too deep here? Regardless, I am being truthful and am eager to see how further down this road I will be taken through this book.

Exercise 1: List areas of your life where you have not been true to what you said you would do.

I would say that this usually works its way out on a more personal level for me (versus work, etc). I know there have been times I said I would do something to Michael and did not follow through. I always have what I perceive to be a valid excuse, but the bottom line rule I need to work on is to do what I say I’m going to do. This is also true to some of my closer friendships which has had a negative impact on my self esteem, self worth and self confidence.

OK - enough of the deep stuff for today. Michael and I have massage appointments in an hour and then off to explore the island. This is my first visit to the Bermuda and so far it looks like lots of fun. Will report more tomorrow.