Where Did Your PodCast Go?

Yes, I had a PodCast... Connections Coaching Cafe. Actually, it is still around, I just have not recorded in a really long time and for those of you who subscribed and/or listen occasionally, I appreciate the love and I truly apologize for leaving you high and dry these past few months.

I was in the process of truly defining what my coaching practice was going to be and that (along with other family obligations and travel) did not allow time to regularly record the PodCast. I was barely blogging at the time too. I was in that "Where is this going" phase, it was hard to maintain focus. It was also hard to come up with motivating anecdotes when I was struggling with my own motivation. As I explained before... coaches are human too. When it comes to empowering and enriching lives, I never want to give less than 100%. I have to remember...that notion also should apply to me! I needed to step back, re-prioritize, and get to the core of what was important to me, my family, and what I wanted this practice to be.

Well, as you can see...this summer, I am back in the saddle... revamping my web presence and coming up with great coaching programs and workshops. The plan is to revive the "Cafe" with more vim and vigor!! I hope to relaunch in late August or early September. Stay tuned!

The Big Purge

I have written a few times about how I made transition from Relocation Consultant to Writer/Life Coach. I speak frequently about the mental changes I went through…I'm going through to adjust my work habits, etc. But there is one huge transition that I have not made that I have been dreading for the better part of a year…my office.

Guess what, I was actually on the HGTV show Mission Organization for my office. At the time of the show, I was pregnant with my first child and still a Relocation Consultant. Writing and Coaching were not even a blip on the radar screen. My office was redesigned to fit the productivity of my former career. It worked perfectly for that profession. When my needs, my priorities, and my career began to change, my office did too… into a big mess. Thank heavens HGTV discontinued the show because they would be so ashamed of me right now! I began piling my new life on top of my old life and things were just not working. I didn’t have space for my new files because my old files (dating back to 1999) were taking up the space. I just had "stuff" everywhere and it was getting to the point of no return. I didn’t even want to be in my office. What once was a place of inspiration became a bone of contention. I did not want to feel that way about my personal space. My supposed creative space that made my stomach turn whenever I stood in the threshold. Something had to give. It was time to let go.

Read the full article on Divine Caroline

Detours on Our Journey

Spring seems to be finally here… at least calendar-wise…though I think the weather may be a bit confused. Nevertheless it is the time of renewal…as in my last post about emerging from our cocoons into the authentic butterflies… but it is also a time of reflection or re-evaluation. As your new inspired life is taking shape, you may find yourself at a fork in the road of your path to authenticity. You ask yourself what now? What does life have in store for me?

You think you are heading in one direction and something comes up… a detour…and you wonder what it means for your journey… especially if it is a good detour…or maybe a detour that you may have thought about but never entertained or figured that now was the time to take that route. And now low and behold, you are practically forced in that direction! That may bring you to question the original path and it's validity to your journey.

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Making My Lemonade

I think I have really grown as a Coach and as a Mother over the last couple of days. I am in my own private "Mommy Hullabaloo" and I am handling it beautifully by practicing what I preach. I am sleep deprived. My whole body aches. I haven't had a decent meal since Tuesday of last week. And yet, I am very proud of myself at how I have handled things. My husband has been away for a week and I have been on my own with the kids. Normally, I go running for any available relative and hang out at their place or beg them to stay with me. Though slightly coming apart at the seams, I am holding down the fort! Why is that so surprising? Because I used to spend a lot of time telling myself that I could not do it by myself... that I always need help. Most of the time that is true but I never gave myself credit for being a good and capable mother...woman...until now. The kids are trying my patience and tag-teaming for affection and I have "lost it" a couple of times, but I have not been broken! As I coach my clients with their "lemons", I too am making my "lemonade". Well, it's 11:40pm and I need a shower but I can barely keep my eyes open... decisions...decisions...

I Am Not Immune!

I am not immune to negative feelings and negative thoughts just because I am a Life Coach! I am still very much a work in progress! I can still have self-doubt and days that I am not happy with my looks. I am human, after all. I can be disappointed that something did not go my way. I can be afraid to try something new. I can be jealous that something I wanted fell into the hands of someone else. The trick is to feel it...and then let it go! Do these things have an impact on the whole of my life? Not really. I always have to remember that set-backs are a part of life and they always happen for a reason. They happen to remind you that you are not in control, God is. The universe is. Whatever "Higher Power" you believe in is in control. Set-backs happen in order for something that is truly meant for you to occur... as in when one door closes another opens, right? Sometimes disappointments happen to save you from making an even bigger mistake. It is easier said than done. As I write this, I remember where I have had difficulty with it. I am thinking of things that I want or have wanted that I may or may not get and all I find myself focusing on is the "may not".

Like I said, being aware and living authentically does not make me immune to these feelings. I am doing the right thing with them. I am exploring them. I am giving myself the human right of feeling them. What I am not doing is allowing these feelings to consume me...or at least trying not to. I am not blaming others. I am holding on to my faith that all is going according to the plan that has been crafted specifically for me. I must not question it. There are reasons for things being the way they are and one day I will know why. I have to also remember the many ways in which I have already been blessed and know that the blessings will continue to come. I am not immune... but I am aware and very thankful for clarity and peace of mind.

Traditional Boundaries

We are in Holiday Hullabaloo and as you are running around like a crazy woman buying presents, decorating, and shopping for that big family dinner or holiday party… you may find yourself thinking "whose idea was this anyway"! The yearly traditions stay the same but do you? Setting boundaries can apply to many aspects of your life but specifically setting boundaries during this holiday season. Looking at what is going on in your life at this moment against the given agenda. There are bound to be things that worked for you last year that do not work for you this year. You are looking at the impending itinerary, shopping list, etc. and thinking this year I cant do X but mom or grandma or the inlaws or somebody will be angry if I don’t. This is where setting your boundaries comes in. Setting boundaries in essence is compromise but in your favor.

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Embracing Change

Coming to the idea of living an authentic life is a hard process. It is scary. It is on the list of the unknown things that you have fear and anxiety about. What makes us so scared is the thought of facing our true selves and what it is we really want. It sounds as if we should be happy about coming to that realization. So why do most of us fear it? Because what if the things we truly want in life are completely opposite of the life we are currently living? (Gasp!) Wouldn’t that just upset the perfect little apple cart of your life? We couldn’t bear to embrace CHANGE… even if it is change for the better! Our next fear is "what will everyone think?" We are afraid the people in our lives will not accept our new outlook and approach to our lives. What's worse, we may even be afraid of their acceptance! Isn't it funny how we consciously fear the negative and subconsciously fear the positive? What we also fear is the "work" involved in making the change. It is hard work getting real with yourself. It is happy at times and sad at times but every break-through is a step closer to knowing who you really are. What we can come to accept when we choose an authentic life is that the changes we will experience will be gradual changes…or at least they can be gradual. Alterations to just a couple of your activities and attitude can go a long way in the journey. As you become more aware and in tune with your true self, the changes will be easier to make.