| The phrase 'Fool's Gold' came from the days of the | | | | enrich your life and check . 'Do I really want to do this?' |
| Gold Rush in America when hard pressed prospectors | | | | The next step is to create a picture in your mind of |
| were 'fooled' into thinking they'd found real gold when in | | | | you carrying through each item...... How does that feel? |
| fact it was a mineral called Pyrite. Today the phrase is | | | | If you feel warm and excited, then it's your gold; if you |
| more commonly used to describe a situation where | | | | feel detached, then ask yourself: 'What was the driver |
| someone is pursuing something they believe is real but | | | | for me putting this on the list?' If you can name |
| is in fact fake. For example, those exciting 'get rich | | | | someone, then it's likely that you'll be doing it for them |
| quick' schemes and success goals as defined by other | | | | and not for you so remove it because you will a) |
| people. | | | | probably not enjoy achieving it and b) feel demoralized |
| If you often hear yourself saying things like: 'What I | | | | when you discover it's been a waste of your time. |
| ought to do is....', or 'What I should do.....' If you regularly, | | | | This technique works wonderfully whether you are |
| blindly follow the promise of 'streets paved with gold' | | | | single or in a partnership. Everyone is a unique individual, |
| which frequently turn out to be narrow, pot-holed, dead | | | | so to expect two people to want exactly the same |
| end tracks......Then there's a fair chance that you have | | | | things ALL of the time, is unrealistic. By talking about |
| been seeking 'fool's gold'. | | | | your needs and desires with your partner, you can |
| A cause of stress can be chasing a false goal or | | | | work out which are your joint goals and which are |
| dream. I'm sure you can think of people who strived to | | | | goals that you may want to pursue separately but |
| be promoted, to be managers and leaders and when | | | | with each others' support. |
| they got there, realized it had been their parents' or | | | | Your list will, of course, require action and this is where |
| partner's dream and not their own. They had been | | | | you need to motivate yourself towards the end result. |
| happy being a technical expert, hated managing people | | | | Remember that it is a life-time list, and, as you're |
| and were now stuck in a job they were unhappy with | | | | reading over it, you'll probably notice some items which |
| and under-performing in - a recipe for unhappiness. | | | | are 'quick wins', other items will require more time, |
| It's therefore important to create your own 'pure gold'... | | | | effort and planning and be a personal stretch. And |
| what do YOU want? What would make you feel | | | | some items may go hand in hand e.g. visiting New |
| content? Start by writing a list of '101 Things' you would | | | | York and going up the Statue of Liberty. It's not a race, |
| like to do during your life. Write down everything - big | | | | enjoy the journey! |
| and small which you would like to do or have....maybe | | | | Creating your list will focus your mind and help you |
| it's a job you love, perhaps it's tea at the Ritz or to set | | | | spot your own 'fool's gold' - making you feel less |
| up a charity.....your list will be unique to you. | | | | stressed as you concentrate your energy on what's |
| Ask yourself if each one is truly something that will | | | | most important to you. |