Which Describes You Best – Complaisant or Complacent?

Merriam-Webster defines complaisant as:

• willing or eager to please other people; easily convinced to do what other people want.

And complacent is defined as:

• satisfied with how things are and not wanting to change them.

As busy professionals, we can sometimes find ourselves with schedules that rocket out of control;– impossible deadlines, after-school activities for our children, perhaps you’re caring for an elderly parent.  These types of demands on our time can wreak havoc on our lives and on our state of mind.  We try so hard not to disappoint anyone – our clients, or our families – even at the expense of our own sanity at times.

So how do we create balance that keeps us from becoming complacent, yet still allow us to be complaisant?

Perhaps today is a good day to welcome spring in a whole new way.  Many people draw a correlation with the arrival of the new season to getting rid of the dust and cobwebs winter left behind.  By identifying the types of events that create pitfalls to our sanity, we can learn to clean away the less desirable nonsense of a hectic life.  Maybe it’s as simple as taking a few minutes at lunchtime to step out of the office to enjoy a few moments of sunshine on a beautiful spring day?  Or maybe it’s as simple as watching the daffodils and crocuses and hyacinths spring to life?

Or perhaps it’s not so simple as that.  Maybe it requires a more permanent transformation.  Try rearranging your office furniture so you have a better view out the window.  Maybe you need to add some fresh flowers or plants to your office, or paint your walls in a calming and tranquil color.

Whatever it takes to identify those moments in your day where you can regain your positive momentum and reduce the stressors that steal your joy, let the spring of 2015 be a changing of the guard for your soul.