Friday, June 21, 2019, was the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere. It was the longest day and the shortest night of the year, and the beginning of summer. The summer solstice is honored in several cultures as the union between heaven and earth. As we emerge out of spring, where we were in a period of renewal, birthing new ideas, and shedding icy layers, we slowly grow into summer, a time of manifestation and ripening of fruit. Summer is an ideal time to set intentions and state goals for the rest of the year. Below are suggestions for starting the summer off right.

– Unleash your spirit. The summer solstice enables us to take advantage of the light that can help us release burdens, doubts, and fears, so we can become open to new opportunities. Enjoy and bask in the sun. Connect with your inner child, and take time to play.

– Listen to your inner self. Pay attention to your dreams, sorrows and beliefs.  Reflect on ideas that have been sizzling in your mind since spring. Ask yourself, “What progress have I made in the past year?” “What do I want to accomplish within the next year?” “What goals do I want to attain before the end of the year?” What can I do to attain these goals?” What people, resources, skills, and other do I need to attain my goals?”

– Make friends with your inner child. List things parents warned you about. Examine attitudes and beliefs you developed as a result of these teachings. Do admonitions like “Never question authority,” “Boys don’t cry,” apply today? Examining long-held beliefs opens you up to new ways of seeing things.

– Rise early. Watching the sun rise is a powerful reminder of nature’s cycles we often take for granted. Wake up with the sun. Watch it rise. When the sun is low in the sky, you can stare into it, fill your eyes and body with light.

– Restructure work time. List your job energizes and stressors. Concentrate on the positive responsibilities, and intersperse negative activities with short breaks and rewards. Avoid unnecessary meetings and delegate.

– Develop a positive outlook. See the glass half full instead of half empty. Reinforce the positive in yourself and others. Most of all, develop a sense of humor and learn to laugh at yourself. Smell the roses. Enjoy small pleasures such as walking in the park or watching toddlers play.

– Be active. The ancient Greeks and Romans saw real meaning in the summer solstice. Many festivals were held at this time. An important festival was the run-up to the Olympic games. The summer solstice marked the one-month count down to the athletic games. Start your new exercise regime during this summer solstice.

– Spring clean. For the ancient Romans, the summer solstice was time to celebrate the home and family. Use this summer solstice time to care for home and work chores like cleaning your work office or home attic.

– Plant a tree. For the ancient Chinese, the summer solstice was a time to celebrate the earth by giving back to it. Plant a tree in your backyard or a local park. Help clean up a public place or work with your neighbors to sweep trash off the streets.

– Have a bonfire, but ensure the fire is out before retiring for the night. Sitting around the bonfire and talking with friends, co-workers and family, may be the quintessential summer activity. It’s also what the ancient Vikings of Scandinavia did to celebrate the summer solstice.

– Plan a trip. The longer and warmer summer days allow travelers more time to see sights and explore cultural and geographic destinations. For example, Stonehenge in England, built by the Druids thousands of years ago, gathered at this remarkable landmark to mark the summer solstice.

– Express gratitude. Remind yourself of what you are grateful for. When you focus on what you have, rather than what you lack, you emanate the energy of abundance. And the truth is we all have something to be grateful for!

– Find something stimulating in each day. Seek challenges at work or in leisure activities. Respect yourself. Engage in positive self-talk. Tell yourself, “I’m OK just as I am,” or “I’m human and I’ll make mistakes.” Reward yourself. Realize that you don’t always have to prove anything or excel over others.

– Draw or doodle. Write a question that clearly states what you want to know. Underneath it, draw whatever flows though your hands. Use your intuitive skills to interpret the meaning and symbols in the drawing.  Note the sequence of steps and your thoughts and feelings as you study the drawing.

– Play mental games like “what if….” These require a willingness to think freely, so don’t close doors on ideas. Resist thinking, “Don’t be silly!” or “That’s stupid.” Lose yourself in enjoyable activities daily. Exercise, sew, paint, sing, dance, write, start a scrapbook or photo album.

– Make something for yourself. Creativity feeds the soul and focuses the mind. Pick something you’ve always wanted to learn how to make. Soap! Beer! Bread! Jewelry! Leather stamping! Painting! Knitting! Go to your local craft or hardware store, or checkout YouTube and find something you’d like to learn how to do and do it!

– Make something for co-workers. Cut that soap up and wrap the bars individually in something you’ve designed. You can design a label for that microbrew you made and give a bottle to coworkers! Getting something homemade means more to many.

– Host a potluck for co-workers. It’s a wonderful time to reach out to people you’d like to get to know better. You’d be surprised how much fun you’ll have and how many work colleagues you will know better.

– Limit time you spend on social media. Social networks can be great for connecting but they can also sometimes skew how we perceive ourselves and other people. We can be fooled into feeling as if everyone else’s lives are so much better than our own, but they’re not really. Most of us try to show our best selves on social networks and we should. But there are times when it’s better just to turn it off.

– Strengthen at least one Quester trait to add spice to life. Tips for developing Quester skills like confidence, purpose, creativity, and resilience are found in Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life: http://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963

Author bio: Carole Kanchier, PhD, is a registered psychologist, coach, internationally recognized newspaper/digital columnist, and author of award-winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life. Carole Kanchier has taught at University of California, Berkeley and Santa Cruz and University of Alberta, and served as visiting fellow at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, and other institutions of higher learning. Dr. Kanchier is known for her pioneering, interdisciplinary approach to human potential. Contact: carole@daretochange.com

Are you considering a career transition? Are you unemployed? If so, manage money wisely.

Here are some tips.

– Prepare. Planning and willingness to live on less temporarily will stretch the time you can go without a full-time job. You’ll not only have more time to find that ideal position, you’ll also eliminate a financially controlled deadline.

Before making a career shift, determine how long you can live without an income. How much can you live on and where will you get it? A careful review of expenses and potential income may disclose that you can manage several months without a salary.

–  Create a budget. Identify your monthly income. List all current income sources like salary, unemployment benefits or severance pay (if applicable), interest/dividends, savings and partner’s income. Also itemize assets that can be converted into cash including pension funds, insurance policies and stocks. And, identify future income sources such as student loans or assistance from relatives.

Next, identify expenses. Include housing, education, furniture, clothing, dry cleaning, medical and other insurance, entertainment, car, utilities, food and restaurants, taxes, job hunting, and miscellaneous costs. Add 15 percent as a cushion.

Try to lower your standards temporarily. Look for ways to cut. Involve family members in financial discussions. What expenses can they can cut? List a lower number for each expense.

–  Conserve your cash. Live frugally. Saving early in the process will enable you to have enough for essentials later. Will your old car do? Do you need to eat out as much? Stay disciplined. Use coupons. Look at your needs, rather than wants. But do treat yourself sometimes.

–  Look for additional income sources. Can you get a part-time survival job?  Work as a sales clerk, waiter, delivery person?  Register with a temp agency? Can a family member help?

Contact your creditors. Work out interest-only or reduced payments early. Most will cooperate.

Reduce credit card purchases. Pay cash to save interest charges and prevent overspending. If you must use credit cards, pay the full balance each month.

Cash in “luxury” assets. Comparison shop for insurance and other expenses. Trade down to a less costly home or share a residence.

– Deduct job hunting expenses from your federal income tax if you’re moving to similar work. These “miscellaneous deductions” require receipts. Allowable expenses include employment or career counseling, resume costs (typing, duplicating and mailing), phone and transportation.

If you’re relocating to another city, you can deduct some moving expenses. Education costs are also deductible if you’re upgrading your skills to maintain or enhance your present job or salary. However, if you’re changing fields, establishing a business, or have been unemployed for more than a year, you can’t deduct these. Contact an accountant or the IRS for more information.

– Review your health coverage under the COBRA Law. Check Department of Labor’s web site to learn ways they may be able to help with your issues:www.dol.gov/dol/pwba. Surf the internet and yellow pages to investigate other health care options. Many local clinics provide services on a sliding scale fee. Better, maintain a healthy lifestyle.

– Borrow. Some debt is okay provided it excludes mortgage payments and doesn’t exceed 10 to 15 percent of your income.

The easiest loan option to negotiate comes from parents. To maintain family harmony, agree on an interest rate and repayment schedule. Consult an accountant to determine if it’s taxable.

Credit unions are often cheaper and easier than banks. If you deal with a bank, shop around. Consider borrowing from your 401k, your company profit sharing plan, your life insurance policy or stock investments. Check the feasibility of a home equity loan or reverse mortgage to tap your home equity.

– Seek financial assistance. Visit Credit.org: https://credit.org/  Credit.org is the country’s leading debt relief and financial education company. They provide financial consulting to ensure clients are on the right path to wise money management.

The National Center for Financial Education: www. ncfe.org, offers money management tools. Quicken Basic 99and Microsoft Money 99 give ability to track various accounts. For debt management, contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at 800-388-2227 or visit: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/national-foundation-for-consumer-credit.asp

Award winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life, offers additional ways to stretch income. https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963. Carole Kanchier, psychologist, digital/newspaper columnist, coach and author of Questers Dare to Change, shows clients how to clarify and attain desired life career goals. carole@daretochange.com  www.questersdaretochange.com

In the movie, “Star Wars,” Obi Wan-Kenobi gave Luke Skywalker a sword that seemed to have magical powers. The sword was useless to Luke when he lacked confidence in his abilities. But when Luke realized that he had the magical powers within to create his own perception of reality, he wielded the sword with confidence and accuracy.

Do you have control over your life career?
Indicate yes or no:

1. I didn’t get the position because I didn’t prepare for the interview.
2. When I trust my judgment I make wrong decisions.
3. I can solve most of my problems.
4. I’m often a victim of circumstance.
5. I can get any job I want if it’s congruent with my personal qualities and I persist in pursuing it.
6. I’m too old to go back to school.
7. I can learn new skills if I try.
8. I try to avoid challenging projects.
9. If I studied hard at school, I got good grades.
10. I don’t perform well under stress.

Scoring: One for each yes to odd numbered statements, and each no to even numbered ones. The higher your score the more you believe you have control over your destiny. You assume responsibility for your thoughts and actions.

Take charge of your life career
Pay attention to the words you use to express your thoughts. They influence how you feel about yourself as well as goals and outcomes you attain.

Review the speech patterns below that express independence and self control, or dependence and helplessness. Choose those that demonstrate choice and responsibility.

– Differentiate between knowing and imagining.
You haven’t given your supervisor a report that was due three days ago. You say to yourself, “He stressed how important it was to submit it on time. He’ll be furious.” How does your internal dialogue continue?

a. “I wonder how I can slip it on his desk without seeing him?”
b. “I don’t really know he’ll be furious. … I’m imagining this. What really happens may be different.”
c. “I’ll take my lumps. I’m late.”

If you chose b you distinguished between knowing with imagining. We can make educated guesses about peoples’ future behaviors based on past experience. But we can also scare or anger ourselves by imagining a negative scenario and convincing ourselves it will occur. Don’t live in a world of untested assumptions. Look for and expect positive outcomes.

– Differentiate between can’t (inability) and won’t (emotional choice).
As you’re finishing work, a colleague invites you to discuss a new job opportunity. You say, “I’d like to but I have to participate at the meeting. Thanks anyway.” When he leaves, you talk to yourself.

a. “I don’t have to go to that meeting. I’m choosing to go even though I’d rather find out about that job.”
b. “Rats, another stupid session when there’s no time to get anything accomplished.”
b. “I have so many clerical tasks to complete that I never have time to look after my career growth.”

In selecting a, you’re choosing to affirm that you have a choice, even when you select the same option. We often choose to do things because of the negative consequences of not doing them (getting fired if we don’t choose to work). However, this is a choice.

When you say, “I choose to,” new options may become apparent. For example, instead of staying in a job you dislike, you can choose to look for another job in the same or different organization, return to school or establish your own business.

– Restructure negative beliefs. Write down all negative thoughts you had within the past day. Rephrase these to make them more positive and to illustrate personal control. For example, if you said, “I’ll never find a job because I’m too old.” Restructure this, “I have the experience, skills, maturity, confidence creativity and persistence to find the position I want.”

Don’t be a prisoner of false beliefs. Choose thoughts, words and speech patterns that express images of confidence, independence, responsibility and control. Empower yourself by using words that illustrate personal control.
Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life, by Carole Kanchier, gives additional ways to gain more control over your life career: http://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963

Author bio: Carole Kanchier, PhD, is an internationally recognized newspaper/digital columnist, registered psychologist and author of the award-winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life and the forthcoming Arouse the Force Within You!  Dr. Kanchier has taught at University of California, Berkeley and Santa Cruz and University of Alberta, and served as visiting fellow at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, and other institutions of higher learning. Dr. Kanchier is known for her pioneering, interdisciplinary approach to human potential. www.questersdaretochange.com

Can we create our own reality? Can thoughts, meditation, visualization, faith and intentions help us achieve desired career goals?

Research suggests that our mind can influence our physical reality. When the body is in peak condition and the trained mind is completely focused, an individual can achieve the extraordinary.

Athletes, who do mental training along with actual practice, show greater improvement than those who only do physical training. Tiger Woods mentally pictures his golf ball rolling into the hole. World class figure skaters mentally rehearse their routines.

Moreover, ordinary people have learned to shrink or eliminate tumors and undergo surgery without medication using similar techniques.

Some use mind power to achieve desired career goals. Barbara, a former Silicon Valley technical writer, imagined herself tending her herb garden and teaching in Hawaii. She’s currently living her dream.

You too can train your mind to achieve desired career — and life goals.

You are the director of your life. You create your own life script by your mental attitude, the thoughts you think.  Mind has unlimited potential, but like other muscles, it has to be built up.

You need to practice mind building skills such as relaxing, breathing, meditating and visualizing desired outcomes. You must also have faith that you’ll achieve your goal and work hard.

Your subconscious mind holds the key to your potential. It takes orders from your conscious mind. To strengthen your mind power, learn through relaxation and meditation exercises to slow your brain wave frequencies at the alpha or subconscious level to seven to 14 cycles per second (the conscious mind functions at 15 or higher cycles per second). Then practice techniques such as visualizing outcomes and stating affirmations to help you achieve desired goals.

Seven goal attainment strategies

1. Write your goal and deadline. Have a clear, precise picture of your desired outcome. Ensure your goal is consistent with your purpose. Write a paragraph indicating why you want this goal. Include all the benefits to yourself and others. INTEND to achieve your goal.

2. Practice imagery daily. Imagine yourself living your goal today. Do this in a relaxed state, when your mind is at the alpha level. Visualize your goal clearly; include details. Don’t limit yourself by thinking about money, responsibilities or other externals. Hold your desired outcome firmly in your mind.

Experience achieving your goal. Notice how it feels, smells, sounds and looks. If you find this difficult, make a collage or take a photograph depicting your goal.

3. Identify barriers that may hinder you from reaching your goal. Write down how you can overcome these obstacles. Include all the people, groups, resources, personal strengths, and tools that can help you overcome obstacles.

4. Develop an action plan. Every day do at least one activity that will lead you to your goal. Use a daily organizer to plan activities.

Focus on your goal. Concentration is like a lazer beam that cuts through obstacles. Work hard. All your activities should lead to your goal. Ask yourself, “Is what I am doing  moving me closer to my goal?” Turn down promotions if they’re not compatible with your goal.

Consider failure a learning experience as you move toward your goal.

5. Have faith you’ll attain your goal. Faith consist of desire, belief and expectancy. Desire is the initial motivation, the force that pushes you towards your goals. Belief is what sustains you between desire and expectancy. Expect to achieve your goal.

Avoid negativity. Think and talk about things you want, not those you don’t want. Eliminate negative thoughts and feelings such as such stress, worry, hate or anger.  Replace negative thoughts with positive statements or pictures.  Avoid phrases such as, “I can’t.”

If there is the slightest hesitancy in your mind, you’ll not achieve your outcome. You’ll also fail if you try too hard because this suggests you have doubts.

6. Develop a support group. Meet often to review your progress and to get encouragement and suggestions. Avoid negative people

7. Keep your mind, body and spirit in top working order.  If you use you’re mind you’ll get what you want. Make sure you know what you want.

Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life by Carole Kanchier provides additional tips to clarify and attain desired goals. https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963

Author Bio: Carole Kanchier, PhD, is an internationally recognized newspaper/digital columnist, educator, speaker, registered psychologist/coach, and author of the award-winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life and the forthcoming Arouse the Force Within You!  Dr. Kanchier has taught at University of California, Berkeley and Santa Cruz and University of Alberta, and served as visiting fellow at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, and other institutions of higher learning. Carole Kanchier is known for her pioneering, interdisciplinary approach to human potential. Contact Carole: carole@questersdaretochange.com; www.questersdaretochange.com

Adaptability and flexibility have meanings which are broadly the same but not identical. Adaptable indicates long-term changes; flexible suggests more short-term alterations. One might adapt to the introduction of a new shift pattern, and be flexible enough to work late next Wednesday.

Teachers adapt lesson plans to accommodate for the physical and intellectual needs of each student. They must also be flexible enough to handle unexpected circumstances, such as sudden illness or emergencies

A building might be adaptable enough to accommodate a warehouse or a school (a long-term use), or flexible enough to vary the number of rooms by having easily-moved internal walls (a shorter-term change).

Adaptability Examples

• Suspending judgment
• Uncovering and mitigating risks
• Using many resources to ace given tasks
• Willingness to learn new tasks and strategies
• Suggesting unique ways of increasing work output
• Drawing new conclusions from changing information
• Working part-time while pursuing college studies
• Changing plans at the last minute
• Taking risks! Moving into action without a plan – Planning on-the-go
• Bouncing back from setbacks with a positive attitude
• Developing a “can do” attitude to change
• Shifting priorities in response to the demands of a situation

Flexibility Examples

• Willingness and ability to readily respond to changing circumstances and expectations.
• Admitting an oversight and suggesting alternative ways to avoid similar mistakes
• Customizing cover letters to emphasize skills which correspond to unique requests of job targets
• Delegating routine tasks to focus on priorities
• Enabling workers to vary arrival and departure times as long a they work required hours
• Keeping calm while managing challenges
• Planning ahead, but having alternative options in case things go wrong
• Thinking quickly to respond to sudden changes in circumstances
• Persisting in the face of unexpected difficulties
• Anticipating and responding positively to changing environments
• Taking on new challenges at short notice
• Managing changing priorities or workloads

Job categories that require workers to be adaptable and flexible include: Sales, Marketing, Advertising jobs, Event Manager, Publicist, Journalist, Broadcaster, Mental Health Administrator, Researcher, Teacher, Protective Services workers (military, police, firefighters) Lawyer, Management Consultant, Hospitality jobs (hotel and restaurant managers), Self Employed entrepreneurs.

Take the Quester Quiz to clarify adaptability, flexibility and other Quester traits: http://www.questersdaretochange.com/services-2/quester-quiz/

Strengthening adaptability and flexibility

– Know who you are and what you want. Focus on desired goals, but be open to changing circumstances.

– Focus on the positive. Think about who you want to be and do. Believe in yourself. Look for and expect good things to happen. Avoid phrases such as, “I can’t.”

– Don’t hold grudges or blame others. Listen, understand, make needed changes and move on.

– Be open to new ideas and strategies and adapt to changing circumstances. Continue to learn. Read, take courses. Challenge conventional beliefs. Find better ways to do things. Place no limitations on yourself.

– Look upon something different or unknown as an opportunity to challenge yourself. If you don’t try something new, how will you find out you can do it? View mistakes as learning experiences.

– Use intellect and intuition when making decisions.  Research needed information, then use intuition. For example, ask dreams a question before falling asleep, journal, meditate, relax in nature.

– Be authentic. Do what you feel is right for you, not what others think. Your actions should be consistent with your thoughts and feelings. Don’t succumb to peer or family pressures.

– Manage Fear. Identify worrisome issues. Minimize these by researching relevant information and resources. Live in the present. Let go of “attachments.” Form a support system.

– Enhance courage to risk. Review three successful risks taken. Note what made these successful. Identify perceived barriers for taking another risk, and explore ways to overcome these.

– Strengthen resilience. Approach problems from different perspectives. Ask for feedback from people with diverse backgrounds. Take things out of their ordinary context and create new patterns for them. Notice the number of ways you can use egg or milk cartons. Develop a playful, childlike curiosity. Ask questions, experiment.

– Describe a work or personal situation where you showed flexibility. For example, working for a college degree while meeting changing demands of family members. In addition, recount a situation where you demonstrated adaptability.

Questers Dare to Change provides additional tips for bolstering Quester traits required for success in uncertain times: https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/15r-Life/dp/08408963

Author bio: Carole Kanchier, PhD, is an internationally recognized newspaper/digital columnist, registered psychologist and author of the award-winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life and the forthcoming Arouse the Force Within You!  Dr. Kanchier has taught at University of California, Berkeley and Santa Cruz and University of Alberta, and served as visiting fellow at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, and other institutions of higher learning. Carole Kanchier is known for her pioneering, interdisciplinary approach to human potential. www.questersdaretochange.com