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Is It Time To Clean Out Your Fridge?
Category: Self ImprovementMy mother saves everything! Shoe boxes are kept just in case she needs to store something in them. The gift
Now if she actually used the leftover food the next day, or the next week or even froze the leftover food to use in a soup the following winter I could maybe understand. But she doesn’t. The food sits in the fridge and as more plastic tubs fill the fridge, the ones that were put in their earlier in the week get shoved to the back of the fridge. Eventually, those in the back of the fridge get well, kind of old, smelly, even a bit moldy at times…In fact in takes my dad to get up early on a Saturday morning and clean out the fridge. And he doesn’t wash out the old plastic tubs (no that would be too gross); instead he throws them away – not very environmentally friendly…
Why am I telling you this (I’m sure my mother is cringing…)? Well, it’s the plastic tubs of food in the fridge that got me thinking. How often do we have old plastic tubs of food filling not our fridges, but our lives? Perhaps one of your old plastic tubs is a bad relationship that well, you just don’t want to deal with. Maybe you have been putting off speaking to your boss about that pay raise or promotion that you deserve. Perhaps you have an employee that drives you nuts. What patterns have you developed over time that just aren’t working for you anymore? Maybe you bottle up your emotions until they explode one day on some poor innocent soul – perhaps your children. Maybe you have a conflict with a friend, coworker, team member or family member that isn’t being addressed. What is in your old plastic tub?
All of us have old plastic tubs, but to be intentional with ourselves, our leadership and our lives, we need to take a real look at them and decide to take care of them once and for all. Old plastic tubs in our lives take space and energy to keep. They stop us from doing and being the leader that we want to be. They hurt our relationships with others.
For example, one of my corporate clients was having difficulty with one of his team members. He hated talking to this employee and every action that this person would take would frustrate him. My client had difficulty mentioning this employees’ name and even his clothes bothered my client. As we sorted through the situation, it turns out that what was driving all of his thoughts, feelings and actions was the fact that 6 months before, there was a small performance issue that was never addressed and my client kept all of his emotions in an old plastic tub which began to get old and smelly. It began to fester and in the end, was ruining his relationship with an employee that was a great asset to the organization.
How do you clean out your ‘fridge?’ Start taking times during the day when you notice your frustrations or your levels of stress and anger begin to rise. Ask yourself what your thoughts around that situation are and what may be driving the feelings. Start noticing the relationships you have in your life. Are their unresolved issues? Do you avoid certain people? Discover if there is a pattern around that situation – it could be an old plastic tub sneaking up from the back of the fridge – that if you cleaned out of your life, could propel you taking intentional actions and making choices that move you forward rather than keeping you in place.
Be intentional with your actions and your leadership. Be aware of and live your values. Clean out those old plastic tubs that don’t support you being in integrity with yourself and others around you. Use the energy you gain to make choices that matter most to you.
Kimberly Kniveton is founder of Ascent Coaching & Consulting. With over 14 years of human capital, organizational development, training and coaching experience, Kim supports others on gaining focus, clarity and most of all, results in what matters most. Clients comment that her fun, positive and engaging personality all contribute to helping individuals and organizations achieve success year after year. Kim has a BA in psychology and communications, obtained Her MBA in 2000 and received her coach specific training from CoachU. She is an ACC certified coach with the International Coach Federation, a certified member of the 6 Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network, qualified in vrious assessment tools, and is licensed to run both team and professional Producing Results programs with Best Year Yet. Kim is on the adjunct staff at the University of Utah Professional Development Center and sits on various board positions including the local chapter of the ASTD and the Utah chapter of the International Coach Federation. Kim supports you & your organization achieving sustainable results.
Tags: choice, coaching, emotional intelligence, growth, Intentional, leadership, management, relationship, results