Choose Your Friends With Care
As a working mom, it's hard enough to find 5 minutes to yourself let alone be able to get out the door for a "Girls Night Out". So on the rare occasion when you're able to break free, make sure it's with the kind of friends who are worthy of your time.
Here are some suggestions.
Make more time for the positive people: It's important to surround yourself with people who have a positive energy. Good friends bring you up when you're feeling down, allow you to be who you truly are without judgment, and are always there to listen, support and encourage you. Keep these people close and focus your energy on nurturing these friendships.
Get rid of the negative people: Do you have friends who are judgmental, critical and never seem to have anything nice to say? If so, it's time to cut the cord. Your reasons for keeping the friendship alive aren't justifiable enough if you end up feeling drained after each encounter. Find the courage to tell these friends how you really feel. If they don't understand, all the more reason to let them go.
Do what feels right for you: If you're not interested in taking another Mom and Tot class, don't give in because all your friends have enrolled. And if you want to go back to work after only 6 months of maternity leave, do it. Don't listen to the "friends" who judge your decisions.
Follow your heart: Women spend a lot of time agonizing over decisions and whether or not we'll hurt each other's feelings. While it's nice to have compassion for others, don't do it at your expense. If a friendship doesn't feel right, it's probably not. Be brave and strong and stand up for yourself. It's time to take care of yourself and celebrate the wonderful women around you.
Action Challenge: Make a list of all your friends new and old. Figure out how they fit in your life today. Are they positive and supportive or does their negative energy make you second-guess every decision? Figure out who is worthy of your time and who you could live without. Spend more of your time and energy focusing on the good friendships and slowly wean out the bad ones. You owe it to yourself to choose your friends wisely.
Carly Cooper is a CTA Certified Life Coach, also known as the Work/Life Balance Mentor. She specializes in helping working moms who struggle with trying to do it all and want to find some balance so they can raise a happy family and have a successful career at the same time. To sign up for Carly's FREE Balance the Mother Load Newsletter or for more information about Carly and what coaching can do for you, visit her website at http://www.listenincoaching.com or email her at carly@listenincoaching.com
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Added: August 30, 2008
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