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Smart Women Create the Right Environment

Written by: Joy Chudacoff

Article Overview: This article is a reminder about how important it is to create the “right environment” both internally and externally is we are to live a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose. A cluttered environment creates a cluttered mind. We typically are not as creative as we might be if we have an open, reflective environment. This is also true of our internal environment---our self talk. Is your self-talk positive and full of possibility? Do you have relationships with nutritious people? The “right” Environment is key to living our dreams and reaching our goals.

Smart Women Create the Right Environment

Recently, I took a road trip with my family from Los Angeles to Napa Valley, California. During my visit I learned that it takes a different environment (soil, temperature, irrigation) to grow different types of grapes to make wine. For example, you cannot create a great tasting chardonnay when you are in an environment that creates great Pinot Noir. This got me thinking about how important our environment is when we are creating something new in our lives.

We all have dreams and ideas that we want to manifest. It could be starting a new business, a new relationship, a fitness routine, a new career, etc. What I have observed in many people (including myself at times) is that we make a plan to accomplish our dreams and ideas, but often neglect to create an environment that supports our road to success. We have both an external environment and an internal environment. What’s the difference? Your external environment is your home, your office, the community where you live, and relationships you have with other people. Your internal environment is your authentic self, your internal voice – your core. Today I’m going to share some thoughts with you about your external environment.

As you reflect on your external environment, does it spark your creativity? Do you feel at ease and “at home” in these surroundings or do they create anxiety and stress? Three months ago, I would have answered anxiety and stress if asked that question. We moved into a new home in March and like most women who are busy wearing many hats – wife, mother, entrepreneur, etc. – a lot of things were not getting done. After some deliberation, Greg and I made a decision to hire a professional organizer, Julie Gardner (julieloveslife@yahoo.com) (www.julieagardner.com/GetOrganized.htm), to support us in creating an environment that provides harmony, respite, and a place where we can envision a future for ourselves and our children.

I’ve written about the process of “letting go” in previous articles. It’s something that many of us struggle with. You have to let go in order to create the space for something new in your life. A Smart Woman knows when she needs support. In my case, it was hiring Julie. Julie “interviewed” Greg and me to find out what we wanted to accomplish and if we were really ready to move forward in creating the environment we talked about. We were, and we recognized that we needed help.

One of the big reflections for me in this process has been learning how to navigate the past, present, and future. My challenge with “letting go” of things from my past was keeping me from stepping into my present life and my possibilities for the future. When we “hold on” to everything from our past, we cannot become fully present or envision the future. Why? Because we need “space” to allow us to create an environment which will support us as we step into a passionate, purposeful, meaningful future.

How about your external relationships? Do the people in your life make you feel calm, harmonious, and “at home”? Or do you find your current relationships stressful and anxiety producing? Maybe it’s time to go through the process of “holding on” or “letting go” of these as well. In order to realize your dreams and ideas, you need to surround yourself with people who champion you – people who think you hung the moon.

I invite you to take some time this summer to evaluate your external environment. Begin to create the home, office, and relationships that support you in becoming everything that you want to be in your life. You are capable of so much. It’s essential you create the space that allows you to bring all of your unique gifts to the world.

Next week, I’ll share some ideas with you about your internal environment. Until then…

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

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Article Tags: anxiety, authentic self, chardonnay, deliberation, different types of grapes, entrepreneur, external environment, fitness routine, harmony, internal environment, internal voice, irrigation, napa valley california, professional organizer, respite, road trip, soil temperature, starting a new business, types of grapes, wearing many hats



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Re: History of Women in Business in the United States - Yes. Women have increasingly made positive economic contributions to society and their position is being recognized more and more as seen on the Forbes List of Executive Women. In general, women can be a bit more practical in their approach as entrepreneurs too.
A ton of Great Women - You might want to profile Teresa Cascioli of LakePort Brewery. She has an amazing story! I met her at at the celebratory luncheon for the Profit/Chatelaine Top 100 Women Business Owners. The Top 100 list is also a great resource for inspirational stories of Women Entrepreneurs.
Re: Are entrepreneur women more organized than men? - Women are generally more organised than men. They have good instincts more than men. Women are generally aggressive when it come to business. You don't want to mess up with them.
Re: Are entrepreneur women more organized than men? - The issue of women being more organized than men is true, start from you home, just see how messy the boys are. Women are also very cautious, unlike men who take any risk, a woman will analyze the risk first. Women are also go getter when it comes to business, once they make their mind, then they go for it.
Re: Why aren't there more women entrepreneurs? - My opinion on this (being a women, and being disabled), is; Women in general like security. Women are the caretakers, in general. In the work environment we are the one to have children. We are the ones who leave work to do this. We deal with a stigma that we are bad mothers if we work, but we are a bad mother if we do not work. I feel there is no way a man could ever understand this. Sure they can try, and some do a good job of it, however they truly do not understand. How could they?? Being a entrepreneur is throwing cation to the wind. It takes believing in yourself. It takes a women who can have someone say no, put us down or just plan old negativity and for us to turn it around. Women who can do this are called names, while men in the business world are just expected to have a thick skin. Studies show in the work environment that women are more apt to be bullies. Women are more apt to turn on each other. We expect more out of each other. Many women also use the work environment to socialize and to find a mate. Men and women are not created equal. Once we understand this and take what we are and "run" with it; the better all of us will be. Women business owners, women entrepreneurs are still considered a minority. Since there are more women then men in this world, some day this will turn around. This too is why men need to protect themselves and keep us under some kind of control. What bothers me to no end is when women give in to the mans world using sex as a selling tool. We need strong women leaders, not those who use their bodies as a step up. This is just my opinion on this subject.


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