DEB ROBINS - PROFILES - DONNE TEMPO
Deb Robins, Shoveling Crap to Find Peace
By Jacquie KubinDeb Robins is an author, speaker, global consultant, peace keeper and crap shoveler. She is also a woman I deeply admire and am proud to be able to call her “girl-friend”.
I first met Deb on her publicity rounds for her book “Where Peace Lives” (read my review here). The concept and goal of Peace, from my personal everyday peace to peace on a global level, is something I think about daily.
It is more than a bumper sticker, a sign made with your hands or the theme to a political campaign.
In her book, Deb speaks of peace on a very esoteric level. It’s not a journey the global we can take without a real call to action. The book is filled with recognizable peacemakers along a path that is not always easy.
An inspirational mover and shaker, she will be standing by helping you discover your inner “greatness,” and maybe a bit of personal peace along the way.
Author of the upcoming book (Shovel It! Kick-Ass Advice To Turn Life’s Crap Into The Peace And Happiness You Deserve) she has turned her unique way of looking at life into a theory that we can all use.
But first, a few questions:
Donne Tempo: Are you happy? Why?
Deb Robins: One of the reasons I love Donne Tempo is that you go right to the heart of the matter. "Are you happy?" is the big human question and I have worked my butt off to be able to answer it with a resounding "yes.”
This doesn't mean I don't shovel continual crap, because I do! Fortunately, I know how to help myself because disturbance upset, hurt and anger are unavoidable. I judge my success rate not on how much happiness I have (a minute, hour, day, week) but on how quickly I retrieve it when the crap hits the fan.
That's one of the reasons I can say I’m happy. I not only know how to create what I like, what brings me joy, but I know how to get it back when it's taken away. That gives me enormous control over my happiness factor.
DT: Deb, most of emotional therapists and life coaches I have encountered are always these overtly cheerful people that look at you and say, "be happy. It's a choice." Ok, that may be true, but how when there is so much distracting us from "happy." How do you keep your focus?
DR: While I agree that happiness is a choice, just like peace, the part of the equation that most Therapists and coaches leave out is that life is a rugged ride. It can really suck.
You're constantly assaulted by your own crap - your issues. And then there is the crap of others (inconsiderate, crappy behavior).
I'm not afraid to admit that. I have never made it through an entire day without something or someone disturbing my peace. Have you?
Which is why it is so important to have life strategies to rapidly deal with the never ending bumps in your road. I call these techniques your "crap shovelers!"
I call it the Tippy Hendren effect! As individuals trying to make a living or just make it through today we multiple concerns - family, business, emotional, physical, financial -- all those thing plus this electronic net we are tied to.
People’s complaints are non-stop. From multi -layered issues and snarky comments to requests for us to do things, from lengthy projects to "click here" for a joke.
DT: Where do you start when need to moderate your day?
DR: This is a great question because the unfortunate reality of the Internet is that it has made our lives crazier rather than simpler.
This gives you a golden opportunity to strengthen your 'focus muscle'. Successful people have one thing in common, they're focused, which means they understand their priorities and act accordingly.
Here's my quick advice: first, make a list of all the things pulling on your time and energy. Then, rate them in their importance. The top three are where to place your focus.
The rest, allocate to someone else to do. If you can't afford to hire someone then get an intern. There are a gazillion young people out there looking for mentors and work opportunities. That's an awesome way to take care of you and take care of others.
DT: You wrote the book, WHERE PEACE LIVES. What does Peace mean in your life?
DR: Peace means one thing in my life - it is a place where I experience no "againstness". No judgments against myself or judgments against others.
It takes a lot of crap shoveling to get there but boy, it's worth it!
DT: Is there one thing you do everyday?
DR: As cliché as it may sound, I meditate everyday. Meditation takes me above the crap. It allows me to experience the "perfection in the crap", which is not always easy to see when you're slugging through garbage and have left your shovel at home.
Random Life with Deb Robins begins on Monday, June 1st. Check back and learn more about my dynamic friend. I am excited that she will bring us the tools we need to add to our daily work belt that will help keep us on a path to greater peace and sanity!