Game VS Significance

By: Joanne Waldman
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:40:21
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In our everyday existence, we often take ourselves and our lives too seriously, giving too much significance to life events. What would happen if you made things a little lighter in order to have more fun and feel less overwhelmed? By bringing some game into your routine, you could loosen up and enjoy your life a whole lot more.

What does bringing some game to a situation mean? Here is an example. June and Isabelle worked for the same organization, yet lived in different parts of the country. They were responsible for a large project and both had procrastinated for several weeks around completing their individual pieces of the project. Worry had consumed valuable time for both of them. Due to their mutual concern, they decided to see how they could support one another in completing the assignment. During a discussion, Isabelle made the comment that it was too bad that they did not live closer, so that the one who finished first would have to buy the other one dinner.

That idea sparked something in June and she suggested that they make finishing the project a contest. Whoever finished first would have to buy the other a gift of their choice in a pre-determined price range. Both agreed, and felt really energized around the new way to look at the project. What had taken weeks was completed in just one week. June was the winner and Isabelle a close second.

What do you believe is significant in your life right now? Your finances, career, or relationship? What could you do to look at them in ways that would maintain their importance yet make them more empowering and fun?

Sandra worked with a coach and decided that one of her goals was to start saving more money. She stated that spending money on outside activities needed to be limited. To bring some game to the mix, her coach asked her to write a list of ways that she could have fun for less than $2. Sandra was very creative in finding things to put on the list and even invited her friends to help her. Now she can pick from many options and not feel deprived in the process.

One of the reasons you perceive significance is due to the fear you feel around life situations. You have been taught and you have learned that failing is “bad”. But what would change for you if you could believe that the only real failure is not participating in life? By not participating you may avoid failure, but in actuality those who bring some game to the process are the ones who move forward in life, living life to the fullest. What could you do to bring some game to the process of failure?

What would happen if you decided to take one element of your life and make it less significant? What could you do to lighten it? How could you even make it fun? Would you then be willing to spend a day or even a week living from the perspective of someone who doesn’t take life too seriously? You would have to identify where you are being too significant and do your utmost to lighten up. Who couldn’t benefit from a little more fun in their life right now?

Joanne Waldman is a trailblazer in global learning and personal/career and retirement coaching so her alma mater recognized her with the Citation of Merit for Outstanding Achievement and Meritorious Service.

In 2001 she started New Perspective Coaching. Previously, Joanne consulted with Fortune 500 companies. Joanne trains coaches for International Coach Academy and Retirement Options. Awarded the Master Career Counselor title, Joanne also earned her Professional Certified Coach designation.

Joanne has a Masters of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. A Licensed Professional Counselor with national counseling certification, Joanne also serves as a Nationally Certified Gerontological Counselor and completed the Geriatric Scholar Fellowship Program through St. Louis University.

Joanne has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has published over 50 of her articles. You can reach Joanne at 314-469-3288 or joanne@newperspectivecoaching.com

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