Mind Over Matter

I'm continually amazed that the feedback on my book Making Work at Home Work focuses on the mental aspect of working from home. By far the majority of those who have written to me have said that what helped them the most was the idea that their mindset makes all the difference when it comes to making work at home work.

It does.

When you approach your work with a loving, forgiving attitude, you'll find that you thrive. When you approach it with pre-child expectations and a perfectionistic attitude, you're more likely to be disappointed and frustrated. At least that's what I've found to be true.

One thing I've noticed about myself: I'm harder on myself than I am on others and my expectations of myself are higher than others' expectations for me. In some ways, this has been responsible for any success I've had. But it also makes me my own worst enemy.

Today, I invite you to ask yourself this question: How am I responsible for making work at home harder than it has to be? Then listen quietly for the answers you hear.

When I asked myself this question, here's what I heard:

• Don't be so tense about deadlines. If your clients are comfortable missing them, you need to be too.
• You need to lighten up.
• Recognize that what didn't get done today can get done tomorrow.
• Client satisfaction with you is more important than your satisfaction with yourself.
• The value you think you bring to a project may be different in the client's eyes. As a result, don't be so hard on yourself.

Notice that I didn't give myself an excuse to slack off, miss deadlines, or lower my standards. But I did give myself permision to be kinder to myself. And that's made all the difference when it comes to saving my sanity in my at-home business.