Let Go

How often do we keep things so closely guarded to ourselves thinking this is the only way. And keeping this from other people. We carry it like a burden. Giving it meaning and a life of its'own. No wonder we just don't want to give it up, what do we replace this with???

So what am I talking about? Well its just about anything really, your decisions your choices, if you are a manager perhaps you guard your work load and not share with others. Or maybe you are one of those people that are defined by a moment that happened 15 years ago. You still live there and you justify everything that happens to you based on THAT moment.

Letting go, frees your energy and it gives it back to you, thus allowing you to do more constructive things. Moving forward, you de-clutter and feel lighter as you get the monkey off your back. Letting go is a natural process, you practice detachment and just being in the moment. As we have heard, the power is in the NOW.

So what will you do today to let go?

Healthy Attitude

Do you know many people who have a healthy attitude towards food? I struggle to think of many people who really have their 'diet' sorted, people that I know of. Perhaps it is simply my circle of friends and those I have known in the past. Alcohol features highly as does refined carbohydrates, sugar and fast food. In fact many of the people I am thinking of, they are EMOTIONAL eaters, they eat to fill a void in their lives. I know this sounds harsh, but true.

They do not have a healthy perspective on what foods nourish us, instead they are influenced by advertising, expensive marketing and eating certain foods to satisfy an urge. They have an urge to satisfy their cravings as they travel through the roller-coaster of emotions. Food is a huge emphasis and it runs their physical and mental states. This reminds me of a story I saw on TV just a few weeks ago, he was morbidly obese (this is the term they used) as he was bedridden for the last 7 years of his life, as he was so big. He was so emotionally driven by food, and as a consequence his body could no longer grow to accommodate his eating habits and thus begun to suffer health issues. He died and was only 30 years old! His wife was an emotional eater too, and this was truly sad to see people not being strong enough to practise balance in their lives.

And on the polar side of things in Africa people are suffering from malnutrition! What a contrast.

So having a healthy attitude is important for respecting our bodies, and our well being. So when it looks nice on the TV, think about what is really has, and see this as an enemy which doesn't even taste good!

And grab a fruit instead.

Night and Day

Sometimes your life can be shaped like night and day. You have a wonderful moment, sheer joy an ultimate high, and only minutes later you are wondering where did it all go.

You have lost that sense of control and the state of bliss. This happened to me a few years ago, I was on the precipice of happiness and so excited. In a matter of minutes I felt so detached and sad and the news felt so surreal, it couldn't be so, I kept saying to myself..

The night came in that moment and I was somewhere else..

It takes a while to bounce back and find the day again, slowly I picked myself up. I was in a daze of cloud for months, drifting into my dreaming state wondering what I had done wrong.

Feeling sorry for myself and my situation, why me?

That place doesn't do anything for your personal power, you become the victim and blame the external. It was nobody's fault, just let it go and keep going.

I lost something but I could find it again, and I am still on that path to find it, more determined than ever.

Nowadays my days are brighter and full of love and hope, I feel inspiration everyday when I see others with what I crave.

One step at a time, closer to my dream.

Be Passionate

Today reading a newsletter I came across this quote from Robert Kiyosaki

'Rich dad used to say: "If you want something, be passionate. Passion gives energy to your life." Passion is a combination of love and hate. "If you want something you do not have, find out why you love what you want and why you hate not having what you want. When you combine those two thoughts, you will find the energy to go get anything you want."

I thought about it in reference to my life and what I am passionate about, and yes I could see the flip side of not having it, like the pain and pleasure principal. Do we go towards the pleasure or the pain, as both can be motivating forces for us. I guess for me I move in cycles sometimes towards the love and thus the wanting the pleasure from what it will give me, and other times I am focusing on the pain it could bring.

If I am totally passionate with something, I have tunnel vision and just get on with the job, and I am relentless and determined. The more determined I become the more I want it, so I stay so focused and clear on my mission. Years ago I applied this type of thinking into my exercise regime, I really wanted outstanding inner health, so I listened to my body and gave up certain foods, I got healthier on the inside. My sister at the time was carrying excess weight and she was my motivator, not to be like her! I did aerobics (this was big in the 80's) and lots of school sports. I ate in moderation and this helped me keep my weight and my fitness. Then at the age of twenty I learnt how to swim. Then I was set. I had an avenue for my regime a sport I could be passionate about.

I swam for a good 10 years on a regular basis, until I found my next passion, Yoga!

So being passionate is like a see saw, just keep an eye on the horizon and where you want to be in the next 3-6 months and believe you can achieve IT!

New Window of Opportunity

Tonight I had an interesting client, he desperately wants to move on in his life, yet feels stuck in his predictament and wants reassurances that the next step is the right one.

Yes we all feel like this at times, wanting to know that the next decision will be the right one and have absolutely no regret. In life there are no guarantees, only learning and choices. So if that is the case see the next decision as a window of opportunity and living the life you want to live. Being your authentic self and being responsible for your choices. Sure it is not easy, yet if you do not change then you are unhappy and everybody may appear happy, however deep down they feel your energy and your sadness. So for the good of all concerned, be happy yourself and everything else will follow.

Be passionate about life and your choices becoming empowered along the way. If others make you feel guilty, then you choose to feel guilty, they too have a choice. You are not responsible for other people's happiness we all need to create that for ourselves, one individual does not hold all the power. I guess I have seen this too many times in coaching couples, one is the master and the other does everything for them, they worship their word and there are no arguements no differences of opinion because they are always right.

Really look at what you have and know that with every situation there is a new window of opportunity, so the next question is,

Are you willing to take that new opportunity?

Peaceful Moments

The other day, there was a party next door, it was a weeknight, so I innocently thought, 'oh it will end soon around 11pm as most of the neighbours have to get up early' Well was I mistaken!

They partied hard til 6am, with no wind around the noise travelled throughout and even though they were in a different building, I could hear everything, the later it got, the less I undersood as their speech slurred as if they were trying to out-do each other with drinking games. The music was so loud at times, I was just wanting for the police to arrive.

People did complain as the volume of the music fluctuated throughout the night. I, like the rest of us, tried to sleep and intentionally used some visualisation techniques to greet the sommeil.

I had some peaceful moments and focused on scripting, a process I picked up, and this is like day dreaming whereby you think about what you want and make a short movie (or long if you like!) You go through the motions of being in that perfect place, what is around you, the detail and act as if it was real. This was actually a very powerful way to let my mind know this is what I want and this is where I am going..

and then the music woke me up, then I drifted again, it was peaceful.

The next day I woke up tired, however felt I did something positive to counter act the noise, even singing of of those songs they kept singing. Funny!

Share the JOY

Today as we were walking along the beach, I could see so much joy, in the people's faces, children playing in the sand. Others swimming and surfing. We holding hands as we walked along the soft sand. It was one of those moments when nothing else matters, you are in the moment looking at where to place your next step, navigating through the seaweed and the waves breaking, all the while, talking and smiling at what a wonderful life we have.

Gratitude, yes it touched me and made me realise that I am in the right place and everything is PERFECT. What else is there? Love, laughter, joy and sharing it with the rest of the beach crowd.

It was a lovely afternoon, even the clouds cleared up and the sun shone in approval. An absolute delight.

Share with those you love, it makes everything else seem so irrelevant.

New Habits

As this is a new year and we have started with no baggage from 2007, how about we create new habits.

Being more tolerant of others, having more patience and being empathetic to our neighbours. This is a great time to create a new habit, something you have thought about and have not acted upon.

One I would like to share, is : ok here goes, is to have a tidy desk, 90 % of the time. I am often leaving paper cluttered everywhere and it serves no purpose, just to make me more disorganised and confused. So my intention in 2008 is to be tidier with my paperwork and my home.

So what would you like to share?

It would be as easy as, saying thank you more often, or walking home a new way. Trying a new coffee shop in your neighbourhood.

Give it a go, you may surprise yourself and like your new habit and wondered why you didn't do it sooner.

Why Coaching?

Great question, why would someone want a coach? Well think of it this way, you have wants and dreams, they are just that, dreams. You hope that it will all turn out after all you are a good person right? Ok good, just checking :) you see that it will take effort to get to the next level in your job, your finances your relationships (you want a partner and don't seem to attract the right types!) So it gets overwhelming everything you want and you do not see the HOW..

A coach is not related to you, they are unbiased and non-judgemental, they see your potential even if you don't, so believe me having them as your cheering squad, YES PLEASE. A coach can be your sounding board, someone who will ask you about your past actions and keep you accountable.

A coach is 100% present for you, nothing else matters for them, you are their sole focus during that session and they will ask questions to make you think, and think and get you in the empowerment phase, the ACTION place, the place of wanting it so bad that you will do whatever it takes to make it a reality..

That is some of the things a coach does. One loyal client I coach, she is in the UK, and a high achiever already, accomplished, centered, grounded, giving and very passionate. She just wants more out of life and streamlining her operations, having me in her life helps her do just that. Get on with her job, whatever role she is doing she is more focused and ready.

She is a stream-train and a wonderful leader. I am attracting wonderful action driven women to coach, they just want more and they want balance.

So if you are already achieving some success, great, if you want to be phenomenal GET A COACH.