Your Growing Edge

You've probably heard the term "leading edge" used to refer to technology or products that are in front of the curve, that are really advanced. You may have even heard the term "bleeding edge" in this context. I want to talk to you about your personal "leading edge," your growing edge.

Your growing edge is that area of your life where there's still a lot of room for improvement but you're pushing ahead and stretching the margins of that area every day. For some this is productivity in business, for others it's personal balance, for still others it's family time and quality of interaction.

How do you find your growing edge and what do you do about it once you've identified it?

First, finding your growing edge. This can be easier than you might expect. It's a simple matter of looking at your life over the last few months or year and seeing what challenges you keep bumping up against. For me, it's eating right. I don't eat breakfast or lunch and I eat too much junk. Over the last year I've struggled with this repeatedly, each time managing to eat "well" for a little longer, but then falling back into my old habits. The point is that I am growing in this area. You may have an area like this, too. You're challenged by it, you make some changes, you retreat from these changes, and you make the changes again.

So what do you do with this "growing edge"? Exactly what you've been doing, only more so. If you've been building a new habit and then letting it go in times of stress, which is what most people do, then you need to develop new stress habits. It's easy to do the right thing during calm, peaceful times in your life, as if any of us really have those. It's harder when the real stress starts. So what you need to do is develop a list of things you can do during a stressful time to keep your new habit going. For me, a real problem when I'm stressed is caffeine. I have a problem staying off of it, and when I'm stressed I guzzle it. My ways to avoid caffeine include not having it in the house, keeping plenty of decaf soda cold, and drinking more milk. I love milk, so this is not a hardship. When I get a caffeine craving I have a glass of milk.

The bottom line on this is that action leads to solutions. Make a list of actions you can take to keep your growing edge growing, even when you don't feel like it, and keep taking those actions. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know how you're doing.

About The Author

Angie Dixon helps small business owners get their acts together. She is a personal development coach specializing in helping people integrate their home and work lives so they feel less stretched and more balanced. Get her FREE EBOOK on balance at http://www.discoveringtruenorth.com. For questions or to discover how coaching can change your life, contact Angie at mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com.

You are free to use this article in ezines, web sites and print publications. If you do use it, please send a quick email to mailto:angie@discoveringtruenorth.com. Thank you.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Learn to Do What Winners Do But Others Will Not

If you want to be a winner you have to... Read More

Motivation By Comparison

Motivation by comparison is a dynamic form of motivation which... Read More

Heres How Tiger, Oprah, And Spielberg Stay Motivated

I want to share with you a powerful principle that... Read More

Overcoming the Fear of Getting Started

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.... Read More

Ability, Motivation, and Attitude

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what... Read More

Success Secrets - Achieving Ultimate Success

I hope you're having an AWESOME week!Let me first say... Read More

Success: Its Really Pretty Simple

From the 'What You Need to Succeed' SeriesEvery once in... Read More

A Woman?s Road To True Beauty

We live in a world where society dictates the norm.... Read More

Back to Boot Camp

You know, whenever you are going to make a major... Read More

Practical Ways To Motivate Yourself To Learn A Skill

One way to motivate yourself to work hard at anything... Read More

Make It Happen Now!

Most people think that when they have chosen a path... Read More

Keep the Channel Open

Why do you do what you do? What is your... Read More

Motivation By An Audience

Sooner or later, if you keep working hard in a... Read More

The Power Of The Brain

THE BRAINThe Brain is the instrument of the mind, the... Read More

Change 101: How to Handle the Changes that Come Your Way

One of the few things that are constant in this... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know... Read More

7 Stepping-stones to Career Growth and Excellence

Achieving excellence in our work is an integral part of... Read More

Overcoming Procrastination

What are the reasons that YOU procrastinate?Are you a perfectionist?Do... Read More

How Breaking Routine And Unexpected Acts of Kindness Can Energize Your Day!

Sometimes life becomes so routine, we don't have to think... Read More

9 Ways to Motivate Yourself When You Just Dont Feel Like It

Achieving the really big goals and dreams always involves breaking... Read More

Develop Guts to Achieve Glory

It is just amazing the amount of people who don't... Read More

The Benefits of Keeping A Journal

Keeping a journal has many advantages and benefits. Whether you... Read More

People Who Get What They Want: What Are They Thinking?

Imagine being able to choose any outcome and automatically feel... Read More

Making the Most of Now

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every... Read More

The True Cost Of A Lack of Motivation

And what a lack of motivation means..As you read this... Read More

Questions for the Game of Life

"If you could eliminate one day from your past so... Read More

7 SECRETS To A Great Life

A great life doesn't happen by accident. A great life... Read More

Pushing Through Your Comfort Zone

Our greatest growth in life comes from pushing through our... Read More

Ten Terrific Self Motivating Tips

No one can motivate anyone to do anything. All a... Read More

Even Though

As often happens following one of the Best Year Yet... Read More

The Dawn On The Nile Valley Has Secrets To Tell! (3)

Me and Mao Tse-Tung!My first political experience was with Mao... Read More

The Most Courageous People in the World

Who are the most courageous people in the world? Armed... Read More

After the Big Project: Recovering From Success

My older daughter got married 10 days ago. The wedding... Read More