Simms International LLC web presence has just experienced a make over for 2009.

As I learn and continue to grow, I gain more clarity about how I want to show up in my life and in this world…

My focus on personal growth has always been reflected in my life and my work. And now I want to bring it forward in my writing…

So, welcome to my world!

Follow your own star,

Michelle Simms

Well, unfortunately we haven’t discovered the secret to that little problem but we do have the next best thing - a virtual time capsule!

Write a message to yourself and have it go out into virtual space…but don’t worry, it will return to your email address at a date and time you choose in the future.

The message could be your goals, your purpose in life, a reminder note, a summary of last year, family memories, or a love letter, let your imagination lead you and just have fun.

Personally, I like to summarize the last 12 months, and then list my goals, dreams, and feelings. It is a wonderful surprise to see the message return a year later.

If a year seems like a life time to you…chose a shorter time frame…it’s up to you.

I use this concept as a support tool for my goals. A year later, I can see my progress and how my life and goals have evolved. I like to print out the email and add it to my journal.

Maybe you have a challenge you do not really want to share with other right now but would like to hold yourself accountable by having a reminder sent to you at some time in the future.

Just click on the virtual time capsule photo, fill out the form and save your message to your future self. You’ll receive the message back in due time, giving you a chance to read the thoughts you had back in the past.

The time capsule is a great way to reconnect with an event from the past.

Whatever you decide to write…have fun with it!

Follow your own star,

Michelle

Even an old dog can learn new tricks

I love to learn about new things…always have. I consider myself a life long learner. During a typical day, I spend a little time doing things like reading, listening to CD’s (music, seminars, audio books), talking with people, typing, writing, researching, walking, meditating, and searching the internet.

In fact, most mornings you can find me at Barnes and Noble, in the Starbucks Cafe, on the internet. (that in itself is a story for another day)

I have spent the last several decades committed to my personal growth. Along the way there has been some great experiences and some not so great…all bearing lessons for me. Nonetheless, I am passionate about learning, developing, and expanding my self-awareness.

Just so we are clear…when I say learning I mean learning from my experiences. I live my life to the fullest. This you will discover as we get to know each other a little better.

Since challenging myself to expand my awareness, it just felt natural to create this environment that provides information on personal development.

I don’t know where you are in your journey but I would like to invite you to poke around, comment on the blog, and maybe even join us in one of the teleclasses.

Or send me an email and let me know what your biggest challenge is…maybe I can address the topic in the blog.

By Michelle Simms

According to the Harvard Business Review (Feb, 2007), self-awareness has just been recognized as the most important capability for leaders to develop. I would add that this is a quality that is beneficial for anyone to develop.

After all, we are all leaders somewhere in our lives aren’t we? Emotions can play an important role in our careers, education, at home, in our community, and in all our relationships.

Ever find that you get upset easily or fairly regularly? Maybe you feel overwhelmed most of the time, stressed out, or even tired?

Remember the old joke, "Doc, my arm hurts when I move it like this. What should I do?" To which the good doctor quickly responds, "Stop moving it like that." 

If your life, career, relationships… (fill in the blank) are not going the way you’d like…maybe it’s time you took a hard look at "yourself"… more specifically, your lack of self-awareness.

What is Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is knowing one’s internal states, preferences, resources, and intuitions, allowing us to plan our actions and develop proactive behaviors. People with greater certainty about feelings are better pilots of their lives, having a surer sense of how they really feel about personal decisions from whom to marry to what job to take.

Why is it Important

This is where constructive or critical thinking happens. As you work to develop your self-awareness you increase your self-confidence. A good leader knows when you understand yourself you are more likely to understand others.  Now that’s a skill that can come in handy. Any one striving to increase their skills needs a solid plan.

How Do I Make A Plan

The process is not a quick fix rather it is a life long commitment. Change happens over time. So be patient with yourself while you are learning. Self-awareness allows us to take responsibility for our outcomes, plan our actions, and develop proactive behaviors. Here are some suggestions to get you going in the right direction.

1. Assessment- Assessments can identify your strengths, challenges, and personal style. Also, they mark a baseline and measure growth.

2. Goal setting- Now that you understand your unique style you can create a plan that identifies specific skills that are congruent with your preferences and tendencies yet challenges you to develop new behaviors.

3. Accountability- We all need to be accountable. Recruit a friend, a mentor, or hire a coach. Who ever you decide to work with, collaborate on a plan that spells out exactly what you need from them.

4. Support/Feedback- Feedback is probably the most important dimension in your personal development plan. It is through feedback we can learn to "see ourselves as others see us."

By developing your self-awareness you are increasing your emotional intelligence. The knowledge and skills that you develop to accurately identify and express your emotions are vital for human performance not to mention, physical health.

Author bio
Copyright Michelle P Simms, personal development coach. Her ideal client is not defined by a specific profession, but by the passion she has to grow personally and professionally. At http://www.SimmsInternational.com Michelle works with women from all around the globe.

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