Gifts Of Today

Today I enjoyed a nice sleep until 7.15am - it was not a sleep in, yet what was different about this morning was that somehow I forgot to set my alarm, and so it was nice to just naturally wake up, without the buzzing of my alarm.  Yes I am definitely adding this to my Gifts Of Today List - my Gratitude List.

I love to get outside in the morning and I was Grateful that there was still time to take a 30 minute walk.

I am Grateful that I didn't get caught up in my mind, overthinking - instead I felt very Present - and in such a brief period of time I was able to enjoy such Beauty - more points to add to the Gifts Of Today List.

When I arrived at Gunnamatta Bay it was such a treat to see the baby Pelicans - I love seeing baby Birds.   I love  Birds.  I also enjoyed seeing the Galahs - everyone knows I love Yellow - and yet there is something special about the pink and grey colour of Galahs.  As I was enjoying the Beauty of the Birds, down came the rain - it was not heavy - just a light drizzle and I felt happy being out in the rain - feeling very alive.  I loved seeing a new red rosebud, waiting to bloom - and loved seeing the richness of red in the bottlebrush and a rosella happily sitting on a branch.  And I just love the smell of Jasmine at this time of year. 

And then today when I was walking in my breaks at work I just loved feeling the warmth of the sun.

I definitely feel myself in my Nature Child Archetype - feeling free and in love with Nature.  I would love to just sit and watch and Connect with Nature all day - even the Beauty of the snail caught my attention this morning.

These are the Gifts Of Today - Gifts that are free.  These are the Gifts that bring me Joy, as I take a brief moment to savour the Beauty of Nature.  I often reflect that it would be great to have my camera handy to capture these moments - and I do love taking photos - and yet I often find that this can distract me from being totally Present in the Now.  

I have been reading about 'Positive Psychology' http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/PositivePsychology.pdf - I am very interested in this area.  It "seeks to understand positive emotions such as Joy, Optimism and Contentment".  I love that "Positive Psychology is interested in the conditions that allow individuals, groups and organisations to flourish."  In reading about 'Practical strategies to increase your level of happiness' I read about "Savouring: Savouring is the awareness of pleasure and of giving deliberate conscious attention to the experience of pleasure".  This morning I was definitely in practice of Absorption which is defined as "Allow yourself to become totally immersed and try not to think, just sense."  I also enjoy taking a mental photograph of these moments.

And now tonight rather than putting on the tv - I enjoy listening to Pink and I light all my beautiful candles and I love making a pumpkin and asparagus risotto and it is nice to just sit down and enjoy time with My Man and then we have a dance  As I enjoy these moments they flood the experience of my day with Joy and Positive energy (rather than an alternative choice of just acting as if today was just another day at work).

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

I am very Grateful - Thank You God for your Blessings and Miracles.

Enjoying The Highlights

Day by day, week by week, month by month - time keeps moving - I can't believe it is September 2010.  I love that it is Spring, I love the warmer weather and yet I can't believe that I am already hearing conversations about Christmas.  And as I leave work today, I say "Goodbye and have a good night", knowing tomorrow will roll around so quickly and we will all be back doing it all over again.  AND I want to avoid living my life as if it is 'Groundhog Day', as if I am repeating the same day over and over again.    

My Goal is to live in the NOW and enjoy every moment and be very much Conscious of Enjoying The Highlights of each day.  Enjoying The Highlights for me is about being very Present, to be delighted and surprised by the beauty in the world - the wonder and beauty in my world.

Friday night I was very Excited when My Man saw an Owl out the front of our Unit block.  We had just come home from Cronulla and it was dark and yet My Man caught sight of the Owl.  I love Birds and I have never seen an Owl just out and about free to be, free to fly.  I love Owls and the representation of Wisdom - perhaps there is a message from the Universe for me.

I was also Enjoying The Highlights of my Sunday.  I was delighted when I saw a beautiful Kookaburra sitting on the fence next to our garden.  We were running behind time to get to my Parent's Home and yet I quickly ran upstairs to get my camera to take a few shots of my Friend the Kookaburra.  I just love Kookaburras - I love hearing the laugh of the Kookaburra and I just love seeing them when I am out Walking.  Even this morning I was delighted to see two Kookaburras up close on my morning walk.

Yesterday was Fathers' Day and it was great to see my Dad.  It would be easy for me to get caught up in my mind thinking about my Dad seeming so much older and more fragile.  In the past I would have been in overdrive in terms of worry - and now I am Grateful to just enjoy time together.  My Dad was quiet and was just sitting watching football - definitely more quiet than normal - and I especially enjoyed just for a few minutes sitting with him and holding his hand.  I love my Dad.  I also love spending time with my Mum - she is an amazing woman - upbeat and positive and so loving to us all.

I was also Enjoying The Highlights of spending time with my beautiful Nieces.  They fill my Heart with Joy.  I loved when my 4 year old Niece, Olivia was pretending to be the teacher and my 7 year old Niece, Ashley was the teacher's assistant.  I loved being involved in my Nieces creativity, them in their role playing and imagination. I just love my Nieces.  I also love that my Nieces love My Man - I love that they always want him to be involved in their games and give him a hug.  I love their hugs.

Today I had a slight case of Monday-itis and yet I know that going out Walking in the mornings is a great way to start my day.  I love being outdoors.  When I am out Walking I am Conscious of staying out of my thinking, out of my mind, and I just wanting to be Enjoying The Highlights.  I love noticing the beautiful flowers, hearing the Birds singing, wandering among the Trees.  I love being in Nature.  I feel that I am in my 'Child of Nature' Archetype - "This Goddess Archetype feels most at home in the outside bonding and communicating with the forces of nature."  On one of the websites about Archetypes I read "Your health and well-being is affected if you are unable to spend time outside working with animals, plants and other nature spirits. Your idea of hell is likely to be working in a busy office in the centre of town." - this can be true for me.  I have a beautiful image of a Nature Goddess that I love - this is the essence of this Part of me.

I have been reading 'The Four-Fold Way' by Angeles Arrien, a brilliant book and it resonates for me, when I read, "Native peoples recognise that the most empowering and healing tool we have available to us is our connection to nature and the wilderness."  It is definitely true for me that "Nature, beauty and healing environments support my Health and Well-being".

When I am out in the morning, feeling the breeze and also the warmth of the sunshine and just being outdoors, I wish that I could be a Wanderer all day.  The Wanderer is another one of my Archetypes that I am beginning to enjoy now that I have space in my day and space in my life.  I read the definition of the Explorer/Seeker/Wanderer who "leaves the known to discover and explore the unknown. This inner rugged individual braves loneliness and isolation to seek out new paths. Often oppositional, this iconoclastic archetype helps us discover our uniqueness, our perspectives, and our callings."  In my Wanderer Archetype there is space and quiet and I am led by my Intuition.  I like these images that speak to me about the essence of the Wanderer in me - being in the Field of Sunflowers and then finding the Uniqueness and Greatness of the Sunflower in a Field of Lavender.

I love that I am learning about all of the Parts and Archetypes within me - these are my Strengths and Resources that serve me on my own Journey.  While Enjoying The Highlights for me, can sometimes be a strategy to cope with Mondayitis by focusing on the positives of my day, I am also able to get a sense of when I am living by my Values and what has Heart and Meaning for me.  I can then enlist the help of my Archetypes, the Parts within me, to bring more of these Highlights into my life - more time with Family and more time in Nature, more time doing my lifework of Coaching.  It is key for me to be in Love with my Life and be Grateful for the Gifts of each day, such as the beautiful white butterfly I enjoyed seeing on my break at work - it was just for a few seconds, and yet I felt the stirring of my Soul.  Thank you God.

Spring Is Here!!!

So much is happening.  It is hard to capture everything that is happening for me and my Family.

There has been some very challenging times starting with my Dad's heart operation.  The great news is that he is getting stronger day by day.  I love my Dad.  I am disappointed that we never celebrated his 80th Birthday and know that when he is feeling better we will definitely do something special as a Family.  Another very challenging day was at the hospital with my Mum yesterday, her regular cancer check-up - it was a tough day, especially sitting in the room waiting for the verdict from the Specialist.  It was upsetting to see the brain tumor on my Mum's scans and the positive news is that my Mum is very well now and no other tumors have surfaced in my Mum's brain.  It is hard realising that my Mum has cancer.  In the past, when cancer appeared for my Mum, she has been able to have an operation and get rid of the cancer - now my Mum has to live with this tumor.  There are no answers at this stage.  And so we agree that there are no more questions right now.  My Mum says that she just wants to forget about it - and just live.  My Mum is so strong.  My wish is that I can be as great a woman, Wife and Mother as my Mum.

Despite the challenges I am very Grateful for the wonderful moments in the last couple of weeks.  I am very much about the moments - capturing the Beauty and Love in the moments of my life - capturing them in my Heart and mind's eye.  I feel myself breathing in the moments.  Since our Engagement, I feel like I have spent so much time in my car racing around to hospitals - and I have also really enjoyed some moments of Love and Life.  Once again, I acknowledge and accept and see myself holding the Paradox in Life.

I love spending time with my Family.  I loved spending some time with my Nieces and Aunty Joyce and my Mum and My Man at the Park - it was just nice to be outdoors and enjoying time playing at the playground.

It was also wonderful to enjoy some precious moments at my Niece Ashley's Birthday.  My Dad wasn't well enough to come to the Party and he was missed and yet it was still lovely to see the smiling face of my Niece Ashley and to see how much all of my Nieces are loved.

And Spring Is Here!!!  YAHOO!!!  I love Spring!!!  I love the Sunshine.  I love the feel of Spring in the air.  This morning My Man and I were up early to see the Sunrise.  It is a ritual that I have enjoyed all year - watching the Sunrise on the 1st day of every month.  It was a bit of a struggle when I heard the alarm this morning, and yet I love seeing the Sunrise at the beach.  It is one of my favourite sights.  I love seeing the beautiful colours in the sky at Sunrise and Sunset and I loved taking a walk with My Man - just being outdoors together is FANTASTIC!

I love being outdoors.  With so much happening in my life, I love being in Nature which gives me a Sense of Peace, Simplicity, Beauty.  I love hearing the Birds singing.  I love the Wattle Trees.  I love Flowers.  

I love being in the NOW when I am in Nature, just capturing the moment.  I love being in the NOW - Fullstop, Exclamation Mark!!!  This is how I want to live my life, just in the NOW, not thinking about the Past or worrying about the Future - just being in the NOW.

We can never be sure what happens in our life.  Just today at work I was listening to the stories of Colleagues and their own struggles and pain.  One lady told me that her Dad underwent an operation, where the doctor said they could not complete the surgery as his heart could not take the operation - and so now he is in intensive care waiting to see if they can try again.  Another Friend told me that her Brother had a car accident on the weekend and he is in intensive care, he has had two operations and they are also not sure of the extent of any brain damage.  As I listened, I felt tears welling up in my eyes.  We all have problems and pain and suffering.

I am learning to be Grounded and Centred and Present to what is - and I feel Stronger in my Self.  My Teacher said that I am in a place of Strong Presence.  Once in Meditation an image came to me where I am enmeshed with a Tree, Strong and Grounded, firmly in the Earth and I am also reaching for the Stars, reaching for Spirit, open to receiving from God, the Universe, Angels, Love and Light.  In this place I am also in My Yellow Heart, open and loving and Present.  I cannot find the exact image that captures this for me, it is probably a combination of some of these type of images.

And as I am Grounded and Open to Spirit I can hold the Paradox of Light and Dark - I feel Strong.  In this Place I am living in My Yellow Heart.  This for me gets me out of my Head.  My Yellow Heart for me is Love, Light, Peace, Truth.

In My Yellow Heart I am in touch with my Sage and all of my other Archetypes as my Strengths and Resources.

I am very Excited that Spring Is Here!!!  And for me it is a time to Celebrate Joy.  I want to engage in activities that have Heart and Meaning for me.  I want to be in the NOW and ENJOY every day, every moment. 

It is also a time to bring in my Organiser for Spring Cleaning - I start this Friday.  The sooner I get my Spring Cleaning DONE, the more time I can have for being outdoors - a great reason to be motivated and focused for the big job ahead of me.

YAHOO Spring Is Here!!!

Different Parts Of Me

Today I am Grateful for my day.

When the alarm goes off this morning I feel tired and I would have been happy to stay in bed a little longer, a lot longer - I stay a little longer.  I feel my Athlete Archetype wanting to come on stage.  Last night I read about the Athlete Archetype in 'Sacred Contracts' by Caroline Myss - "This Archetype represents the ultimate expression of the strength of the human spirit as represented in the power and magnificence of the human body."  I have been Walking rather than Running - and I have enjoyed Walking - and yet I love Running.  This morning I felt Inspired to go Running and it felt wonderful to be Running.  I only ran for 8 minutes and it was slow - and yet it was just for me.  I remember the days when I would be out Training every morning, Running, Racing, Competing, Sprinting - and it was an incredible feeling when I was Racing and it was amazing crossing the finish line and winning Races.  And there may come a day when I Race again.  And yet for today and for now, I am happy to just Run.  I am glad my Athlete Archetype came through for me this morning.

When I reach the Park I am happy to be in Nature.  I love being in Nature.  In the Park I have a sense of the words "I Am Health, I Am Beauty, I See Beauty".  I could stay in Nature all day.  I love being in the Park, I love looking out at the ocean, I love watching the seagulls.

On my way to work I am delighted that I see a beautiful Kookaburra - I love Kookaburras.  The Kookaburra is sitting in our backyard, peacefully sitting on the wooden outdoor setting.  I am running a bit behind time, and yet I love Kookaburras and so I walk up and say hello - not being too close - just close enough for me and enough space for the Kookaburra not to be scared.  Seeing Kookaburras brings back wonderful memories for me of when I was a child and would be away with my Family and we would feed the Kookaburras on the balcony.  I look up Google Images and yet I cannot find a photo that would capture the picture in my mind's eye.  I love having my camera on hand to capture images and yet I very much love just being in the moment to capture the moments in my heart and mind's eye.  When I am in the Park, in Nature, spending time with the Kookaburra I feel I am in my Yin Goddess Part of me - my Goddess Part that I have affectionately called Rose.

In 'Sacred Contracts' I read about the Child of Nature Archetype - I find information on this website
- http://www.goddess-guide.com/archetypes.html
"This Goddess Archetype feels most at home in the outside bonding and communicating with the forces of nature. The Child of Nature is often emotionally very sensitive and prefers solace and the company of animals to being with people. They are often independent and physically fit... To have this particular stereotype you need more than a love of nature. Your health and well-being is affected if you are unable to spend time outside working with animals, plants and other nature spirits. Your idea of hell is likely to be working in a busy office in the centre of town."

I love being in Nature.  And when I am in Nature, I wish I could stay there all day.  When I am at work in the office, I love getting out, at every chance I get - just to be out in the fresh air, enjoy the Trees and Flowers and hear the Birds singing.

I am really enjoying getting to know the Different Parts Of Me and then I love reading about the Archetypes.

Peak Moments In Time for me involved me being in Connection with others.  I love being in Connection, enjoying Conversations with others.  Today I loved listening with interest to the stories of some of the ladies from work, I really enjoyed sharing a sacred space, just for a few minutes.  This weekend at College I have been reminded of the power of listening, attentive silence, reflection - the power of being totally present.  I feel that when I am in Connection with others and when I genuinely offer an acknowledgement from my heart, I feel that this is my Gift to Spread The Yellow.

I am happy to receive some beautiful Flowers from my Man - we have been together for 10 months today. My Man is so important to me and I am very important to me - and so I am now Consciously choosing to find the Balance.

I am happy to be in love and there is so much else going on for me.  I feel that I am overloaded with so much information and yet there is also so much simplicity - therein lies the paradox.  My Mentor and Teacher used this word "paradox" on the weekend and I feel that this word and reality resonates with me.  I am joyful and I also have a sense of sadness.  There is so much and yet it is so simple.

I feel that there are some big learning opportunities for me.  I feel that I carry a lot of heaviness on my shoulders.  I feel my Caregiver Archetype is strong and yet the Shadow of the Caregiver is that it wants to take care of everyone.  I feel that I sometimes worry about what is not within my control - and yet the opportunity for my growth is to allow others to take responsibility for their own lives and not feel that I have to worry or give advice or even place judgement or step into a Parent shadow.

All of this Self-Reflection can put myself at risk of turning into Overthinking or Analysis - and I really just want to smell the roses and be in Connection.  And yet I feel that this work is valuable and helps me be in Connection with me.

Self-Reflection offers me the opportunity to get to know the Different Parts Of Me and how they play out in my life.  Through Self-Reflection there is the opportunity for me to Consciously make Choices in my life.  I love that I have now made the choice to not put the TV on until after dinner - instead tonight I put on music and enjoyed dancing, I felt my Goddess dancing around the loungeroom and then I enjoyed creating dinner for my Man.

I listen to one of my Shania Twain CDs and I love this song - I feel like I am singing this to my Self  "Wanna Get To Know You That Good" - I also love this clip - Shania Twain is a beautiful Goddess -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iJvLdcvbis&feature=related

As I get to know the Different Parts Of Me, I learn to love the Different Parts Of Me.  I learn to love that I have all these Strengths and Resources within me.

And I love that I Am A Coach and I love that I can help my Clients discover their Beauty, their Self.  This is my greatest desire - to help my Clients Love Self and Love Life...

It Is An Honour

I love being in Nature.  I love being outdoors.  This morning I love my walk to Gunnamatta Bay - I love being in the natural park, so natural, I love all the Trees.  I just love the Trees.  I enjoy being a Witness to the Trees, spending time to look at the different Trees to appreciate their beauty.  I have a sense of "Bring People Here", I have a definite sense of bringing people here for Coaching.  I often get this feeling when I am at Gunnamatta Park, that this place is a perfect place to help people get back in touch with Nature, to get back in touch with themselves - where I am excited to bring people here for Meditation, the opportunity to be in Connection with the Trees, enjoy Medicine Walks, definitely enjoy Coaching just sitting on a picnic rug in Nature. 

I love watching the Birds, hearing them singing, watching them flying.  This morning I enjoy the sight of two Galahs, I love the colours of the Galahs - they are sitting on the top branch of a tall Tree - I wonder what they are saying too each other as other Birds leave the Tree and it is just the two of them - "great, finally some alone together" - I have a laugh - my Yin loves to be in my Imagination.

I ask for some Gifts of Nature to take home with me (and to take to work), just flowers or leaves that have fallen on the ground.  I am Gifted with three beautiful bottlebrush and then find two lovely coloured leaves that catch my eye on the way back.

As always, when walking this way, I smell the red rose at the corner house, it is beautiful and fragrant and I wave and give a thumbs up to the owner of the house who smiles at me from a kitchen window.  We have often enjoyed Conversations and I always tell him how much I love his garden and love smelling the roses.

When I get home I enjoy a Meditation.  I love Meditation.  At first I experience a busyness and then I drop into a stillness.  I have a sense of so much pressure on my neck and shoulders, so much pressure I am being pushed down.  I have a sense that I need not put too much pressure on myself in terms of what I "should' be doing or where I "should" be in terms of my Business.  I have a visual of me just taking small steps every day and that this will have a ripple effect.  I feel that I just need to Trust.

In my Mediation I feel myself in a bubble where I can protect myself from getting too emotionally involved or oversensitive by someone's negativity or drama, or by someone's sadness.  I can still have an open heart and send love and light.

About one or two seconds after my Mediation, my phone rings.  It is a private number and I think it is my Mum - and so it is a surprise when it is a lady and she tells me she found my Flyer in her letterbox and she asks me about Coaching.  I tell the lady about Coaching and we organise an appointment for this Friday.

I am so Excited, my first Client since launching my Business.  I feel Excited and I have such a strong feeling and knowing that It Is An Honour to be a Coach.  It Is An Honour for people to share their stories, their feelings, their fears, their hopes.  I am Honoured that this lady rang me today, she doesn't know me and yet she made a Coaching Appointment.  I admire her Courage to take the first step.

I have emailed my Client my Client Form - an opportunity for a Client to take some time and reflect on these questions which will help maximise the results of the Coaching Process.  While my Yang Business part of me was writing the email, I had an Intuitive pull to offer the Client Form as an Invitation, and suggest that if the Client uses the Form as an opportunity for Reflection, that she can choose to email me back or bring on Friday, whatever is most comfortable and convenient for her. 

Tonight I also email my Client some information about Coaching.  I feel that this offers some more information to help prepare the Client.  I am happy with what I have prepared and offered - I am really happy with my notes on Transformational Life Coaching, Client Benefits, Transformational Coaching Process and  SHINE Coaching - About Me.  I feel that by offering more information to the Client upfront, this will help her feel more comfortable and it means that we can spend more time, more space on her Agenda.  I would like to share some of the information that I emailed the Client on my Blog - as an opportunity to know more about me and my Coaching work.

Transformational Life Coaching 
•    Helps Clients move forward in a positive direction (Coaching is about now and the future, while Counselling is more about now and the past)
•    Transformational Life Coaching is a Client-Centred Approach with a genuine belief that people are Creative, Resourceful and Whole
•    Offers the opportunity for people to make the changes they want to see in their lives - to consciously design and achieve personal, relationship, health or career goals – they may be external goals (to change jobs, start a new business, lose weight, to live a healthier lifestyle, to be in a loving relationship) or inner goals (more confidence, greater self-esteem, greater happiness, more joy and fulfilment in life, a new way of being in the world, a new way of being in relationships)
•    Works at a far deeper level, accessing the inner values, needs and longings of the whole person - with more focus on the person, rather than solely focused on the goal
•    Helps people who may be feeling stuck or lost or uncertain of the next steps to help them move forward
•    Helps people grow and strengthen their inner resources and life tools to support them when going through times of change, including tough and challenging times. 

Client Benefits 
S - Self-Awareness, Self-Confidence, Self-Reliance, Self-Care, Success of Goals and Celebration of Wins 
H - Happiness and Joy and a Sense of Gratitude
I - Inspiration - Feeling Energised and a sense of Purpose and Meaning
N - New Awareness and a Feeling of Newness, Hope and Excitement, A New Beginning, A New day
E - Empowered - Sense of working with what is within one’s own control and using one’s power to make positive choices. 

Transformational Coaching Process
S - Based on the Client’s Specific Agenda and Goals – with an opportunity for Self-Reflection and a focus on a Client’s Strengths and Resources 
H - Holistic Coaching is about bringing about Balance and Authenticity in all Areas of Life, as well as attention to Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Aspects
I - Intuition - Coaching is not about giving advice or direction, the Process involves assisting a Client to access their own answers and Insights
N - Next Steps – Each Session offers the opportunity to identify and commit to action steps for forward movement, with a space for people to be accountable to themselves
E - Experiential – The Coaching Process allows space for sharing, and there are invitations for different exercises, questions, meditations and visualisations to assist a Client. 

SHINE Coaching – ABOUT ME
· SHINE: Excitement, brightness, glowing, brilliance, excellence, eyes lighting up, a feeling of basking in sunlight, reflecting light to others
- As a Coach it is a Honour to work with people – As a Coach I see the light in people, their uniqueness, their greatness - so that they may SHINE
- I have been working with people for the last 5 years in Training, Motivation and Performance Management and now with training in Counselling and Coaching, I have recently started my own Coaching Business where I am very passionate about working with people in the local community
- The Coaching Process involves shining a light on areas in life that are both working and not working, shining a light on the Vision for the future and bringing obstacles into the light to help bring about change
- My belief is that each day is a new day, that we are not defined or restricted by our past, but that with the rising of the sun there is the opportunity to begin again or take new steps towards our desired destination
- My heartfelt wish is that the Process of Coaching can help more people LOVE SELF and LOVE LIFE.

It Is An Honour to be a Coach.  And it is also important to Honour my Man and make time for us.  He is so lovely, he has been so busy with housework in the last few days so that I could focus on my Coaching.  And he bought me beautiful Yellow tulips on Sunday which brighten our Home, brighten my day. 

 
Now time for my Man...

Keep It Real

It is cold.  It is so cold.  I am sitting here in my layers of jumpers and a scarf and a tracksuit, with a heater and my rug.  

It took me a long time to get to sleep last night, my thoughts were racing.  And then again this morning.  I tried a Meditation and yet my mind was way too busy.  And so I reluctantly got out of bed, and  enjoyed a hot shower (probably the last one for a while, as our hot water has now shifted to warm water - I am disappointed as I was looking forward to another hot bath). I then enjoyed some Art Therapy - just getting out my textas and crayons and blank paper.  I am certainly not an artist and yet I enjoy just playing, letting thoughts and feelings in my unconscious mind come to the surface.  I love the opportunity to express my inner experience.  Here are my drawings from this morning - the first one is a current reality regarding my current room for my Coaching Business and the second image is my desired reality.  

As I share these images and write these words, I get a sense of 'should I share so much' - and yet, it is interesting that my theme for today has been to Keep It Real.  I have realised, quite to my surprise, that although I am Committed to being honest and true and authentic, I have realised that I am not entirely happy with where I am setting up my Coaching Business.  This is a surprise, as I have been saying how much I love my Coaching space.  My strength of being naturally happy and positive and looking at the sunny side of everything may be getting in my way.  I do love that I am starting my Coaching Business.  I ldo love setting up my room.  And yet I feel that there is not enough natural light in my room, I love natural light.  I also feel that I am isolated - whereas my desired reality is to be working in a Community of healers.  I feel that I am needing to work hard at bringing the light and energy into the room.  Perhaps it is just the rainy weather - and yet when I draw an image of my desired reality, it is naturally a place of light and energy and it is dynamic with other healers working in a Community.  I am in a room with natural light.  There is less need for me to fill the space with "stuff" - there is space for the power and energy of the relationship.  

Hmm... this is all very surprising to me.  Time to sit with this insight, do some research on other opportunities within the Bookstore or within the local area. 

I really love Art Therapy - I take away the pressure of having to produce artwork and let myself enjoy the process.  I look up Art Therapy and I read on Wikipedia -
"Purpose of Art Therapy - The purpose of art therapy is much the same as in any other psychotherapeutic modality: to improve or maintain mental health and emotional well-being. But whereas some of the other expressive therapies utilize the performing arts for expressive purposes, art therapy generally utilizes drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and other forms of visual art expression. For that reason art therapists are trained to recognize the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are communicated within the creative process, symbols and metaphors which might be difficult to express in words or in other modalities. By helping their clients to discover what underlying thoughts and feelings are being communicated in the artwork and what it means to them, it is hoped that clients will not only gain insight and judgment, but perhaps develop a better understanding of themselves and the way they relate to the people around them. According to Malchiodi (2006) 'Art making is seen as an opportunity to express oneself imaginatively, authentically, and spontaneously, an experience that, over time, can lead to personal fulfilment, emotional reparation, and transformation. The creative process can be a health-enhancing and growth-producing experience.'"

After the Art Therapy I feel tired - I have a lie down - it is rainy outside - not much to do - I decide to just rest.  My Man is lovely and he buys us lunch and then I enjoy reading on the Couch - reading my wonderful 'Soulcraft' book - WONDERFUL!  There are some beautiful paragraphs that speak to me - especially since I feel that since being made redundant I was given the chance to hear the Call To Adventure
- "The angels have arrived to summon you to the adventure for which you have longed.  They are your guides to your Soul.  But the opportunity does not arrive in the form you had imagined.  It arrives in the middle of an enormous storm: now the immense loneliness begins."

- "Why an immense loneliness?  In surrendering the mainstays of your former worldview and separating yourself from everyday community life, your old anchors and familiar reference points disappear.  You will have to rely on yourself more deeply and fully than ever before.  You will have to surrender the cherished belief that someone is going to protect you, save you, do the work of growing for you, or show you the way.  The descent necessarily begins with an immense loneliness, and only someone who possesses the skills required to complete a first house of personality ('the worldview you began forming in the expansive growing season of adolescence and that carried you through your first adulthood') - only that person is going to be ready to handle that degree of loneliness.  Although the knock on the door does not require you to be alone per se, it does require you to go your own way."

- "Once you have been called, you will have to separate - psychologically if not physically - from the ordinary life of your community.  During your young adulthood, you had some confidence in your personality and you felt you could trust the powers of nature.  Now... your life becomes 'a riddle again, and you again a stranger' - to yourself and others.  You will have to relinquish your temptation to conform or to seek acceptance from others.  You will have to go out on your own."

I could lie on the couch and read all afternoon - and yet I love being outdoors.  My Man and I decide to enjoy a walk outside  together - despite the rain.  We equip ourselves with a large umbrella and enjoy a lovely walk together - we have a lovely time.  We walk to Cronulla and enjoy a chai - I love being in Cronulla.  I feel this is where my Coaching Business belongs - this is where I belong.  My Man and I walk through Gunnamatta Park - I just love Gunnamatta.  I just love being out in Nature.

Gunnamatta Park has an amphitheatre and when I walk past this outdoor amphitheatre, I often think of a key message that I would present if I was the one on stage.  The other day I had a sense that the message I should present would be 'Make Your Life Great'.  Today I stand on the stage and it feels very real standing on the stage - what would be my key message if there were people in the crowd?  I look around - the message is obvious - Keep It Real.

I love being outdoors and in Nature.  This is so important to me - HUGE for me.   I love witnessing the beauty of Tress.  I love seeing Birds flying and listening to their songs.  I am blessed to be surrounded by such beauty.  I am Inspired when I am in Nature.  I love starting my day Walking around the Bay and through the Park and to the beach.  I am blessed.  I am Grateful.

When I get home I have a sense that there is a book with a message - words that will speak to me.  I scan my bookcases - shelf by shelf - wanting something to jump out - and I then pick up a few books that I thought (rather than felt) would contain some words of wisdom.  I flicked through a few pages and yet no words spoke to me.  So I get comfortable again on the couch and start reading 'Soulcraft'.  Within minutes I read the words I need to hear - powerful words -
"... anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you."

WOW!!!  These words raise questions for me - does my room bring me alive?  Or am I bringing it to life?   I close my eyes and almost have an image of me shrinking - is it taking away my energy?   

 

Perhaps I am also attaching too much importance to having a room, booking a room every week, making sure I have space and belong.  Perhaps the real adventure belongs in letting go of certainty, being free and just having a few options available and trusting that the Clients will come and see me - that the power is not in the room.  I do believe that the power of Coaching, the magic, is in the power of the relationship.

I am concerned that I am paying money every week and just sitting waiting for Clients.  Instead, if I am honest, and to Keep It Real, my preference would be to have a room or two available where I pay for the space when I see a Client.  This would mean that I would be free to be in Community, meeting people who may be Clients or be able to refer Clients, as well as designing Programs from my notes - working on my business - rather than just sitting in my business.  I just need to Keep It Real and spend some time, tuning into my Yin, and using the strength and confidence of my Yang. 

In true Yang style I decide that I will write a list of what is important to me (some of my findings from my Art Therapy and insights after writing this Blog) and then I will see whether the current space is the best place, as well as exploring other options.  Most importantly, I just love working with people.  I am very passionate about wanting to help people move towards a life they love - and so I want to work in an environment where I am not isolated - a place that is dynamic and energetic and there is the potential for people to be referred to me (as other healers know that I am Committed to working with my Clients so that they may feel Successful, Happy, Inspired, New, Energetic, Empowered).

Tonight I Keep It Real - I ask my Man if he will take me to Woolworths so that I can buy some Clinkers, the last chocolate for a while, and now I am having a glass of wine.  Tomorrow, 24 May 2010, I start my Detox - with Health being a HUGE Priority for me.  This will be easy for me - my greatest desire is to have my own Baby and so I am choosing Self-Care.  No matter where this Journey may lead, Self-Care will always be important - as well as my Commitment to Keep It Real.

Blank Canvas

I look at my Blank Canvas - it invites my Imagination - it represents a world of possibilities - a world of opportunities.  I CAN CREATE MY LIFE.  I am the Designer.  I have the power.

I close my eyes for a 15 minute Meditation.  I clear my mind by imagining the Blank Canvas.  I fast forward to 3 months - the Blank Canvas (in my mind's eye) very quickly turns to Yellow - the outside and the inside of the Canvas - bright, bright, Yellow.

I ask myself - What do I see?  What am I doing?  How do I feel?  I feel VERY Excited.  I feel Excited when I sit down with a Client for their first appointment.  I am SO Excited!  I am Excited that Clients are making themselves a Priority, to work on their life - so that they may LOVE THEIR LIFE.  That is why I am here - to help people who do not love their life - to help people SHINE.  It is that simple.

In my Meditation - I am Excited when someone first rings me on the phone - we talk briefly - I find out why they would like to see me and how they found out about me.  Word of mouth is spreading.  I Make A Difference.  People are recommending Clients to me.  I see a Yellow web (like a spider web), where I feel the Connection and Energy that is all around me and is spreading out.

I see myself with beams of light coming from me - everywhere I go - I Spread The Yellow. 

In the Meditation I see an image of my Coaching appointment diary - and it is full - 5 appointments for a Friday - and there is space - space to digest, reflect, relax, be centred and ready for each Client.  My diary is full - yet I find space and extra times and another room for all prospective Clients.

In my Meditation, I feel so comfortable and happy as a Coach - I AM A LIFE COACH.  I am living my Dream, I am living and loving my Vision.

I hear the words - "Do not fear, people will come" - "Be You" - "Be In Community".  The words "Be In Community" are strong.  In the Meditation I ask my Future Self what advice I can give to my Present Self ?  And I get a sense of me walking around and introducing myself to businesses in Cronulla - I feel drawn to hairdressers - that I need to just walk in and say "hello" so they know me and I may be of service to them and/ or their Clients.  I get a sense of just being in Community and known for my light.

In the Meditation I ask what people notice about me?  People notice that I am glowing.  I hear the words "I Am The Sun" and I have the image of rays of light coming from me - like my Business Logo - and then I have a knowing that I Am My Business Logo - the Yellow heart, the love, my Yin, my Yang, my Yin-Yang working together, in love, for the Greater Good, with sparks and rays of light and energy coming from me.

Wow - I loved my Meditation.  It was wonderful to sit in this Future space.  I write in my Journal.  Being in my Yin, my imagination and feeling in my heart, I feel that this place is Incredible, Powerful - much more than just sitting here and thinking about my Business.

Today is about having a Vision and Goals for my Coaching Business - without Goals I would not know the direction I am travelling - and I like to have Goals so that I can tune into my Intuition and see what will take me closer to my destination.  While at Cronulla I buy myself a card - I decide to write myself a Birthday card - my Birthday is 4 months away.  The card is to me and from me - I am writing to my Future Self - and by the time I read the card, I have a strong sense that my Vision would have come true.  I will give this card to my Man tonight so that he can give it back to me in September when my Dreams of a Successful Coaching Business will be achieved.  The Goal is Specific and Measureable - I want to be working with 5-7 Clients every week.  I love writing myself a card - just saying "Congratulations" to myself.

Now that I have a clear Goal and I have seen it in my mind's eye, plus I have felt the emotion and expressed it in writing - it is now time for ACTION - time to take Steps.  And so out I go into the Community, with a pile of my Flyers.  I decide that I will deliver 100 today.  Although I had originally planned on photocopying pages from the street directory and having a more ordered, logical, Yang approach to the Flyer delivery - I decide to just allow my Yin to run the show - to just listen for where my Intution guides me to go - and then Yang does the walking.  I had also planned to write down the streets where I deliver my Flyer - yet it is such a beautiful sunny day and I just enjoy feeling the warmth of the sun and love looking at the Flowers, Trees and Birds.  And everytime I put a Flyer in a letterbox I imagine sending love, light and Yellow to the household.  It is wonderful following my Yin's guidance - it takes off the pressure and makes for a relaxing time.  If the letterbox is filled with too many brochures, overflowing from a letterbox, my Yin senses that there is too much going on there right now, and my Yang agrees that I don't want my Flyer to get lost - so I just move to the next inviting letterbox.  I see a Kookaburra and that makes my heart sing and I enjoy seeing the Lorrikeets flying and splashing in a bird bath.

I had a lovely afternoon and just as I was on my way home a lady approached me and showed me a piece of paper with an address - she was lost and was trying to get to this unit.  English is the second language for this lady.  So I walk with her until we find her unit - we walk for about an hour, she had been given the wrong address and I also got her lost as we walked up and down trying to find her new home.  We had a nice walk in the sunshine.  I am happy that I had time to Spread The Yellow to this lady - that I can be genuine and live from my heart.  I am just so happy that I had space in my day to allow for the unexpected surprises.  Although we only enjoyed half conversations - I really enjoyed my time in Connection with this lovely lady from Ukraine.  That's one of my greatest delights - I never know who I am going to meet on my Journey

And then tonight I enjoy a Date with my Man.  I love being in love - I love holding hands with my Man.  If I was designing my life and I had a Blank Canvas in front of me - I would choose my Man and our life together at the Centre - my Man is my Now and my Future.

As I Imagine my Future - I feel that it is Bright and Happy and there is so much Sunshine and Yellow...

And even as I dream my dreams and Imagine my Future - I love the Now - Being and Enjoying the Now is  SO Very Important to me...

Love My Life

My Tag line for my Coaching Business is Love Your Life.  Here is my Flyer that is currently being printed.

So I ask myself this question Do you Love Your Life?  Yes!  YES!!!  It feels great to be able to say an ENTHUSIASTIC YES I Love My Life!

I love the Coaching question - "Ask yourself from the heart, if I could be, do or have anything I would definitely..."  I love this question.  And even as I answer Yes I Love My Life - I still have dreams and a Vision and a Mission and set myself Goals.  Life for me is a Journey - I am not fixed on just getting to one destination, I Love My Life along the way, each and every day.

Today I have a day off work and I have set myself a new Challenge.  It is 30 April and for the next 30 days I am going to:

- Walk every day

- Meditate every day

- Not eat chocolate.

Being healthy is one of my top Goals - eating well and exercising.  I enjoy eating chocolate - yet I often feel sick after I eat chocolate.  Before moving in with my Man, I rarely ate chocolate (unless I was emotional) - yet with my Man having a sweet tooth and after all the easter eggs we received, I have been eating chocolate.  Time to take a break.  Plus I like giving my willpower a Challenge.

Walking every day is easy - the Challenge for me is to not start Running again - I need to take a break for now.  My back is still sore and I am just Grateful that I can go for a walk.  I am also concerned that I need to not put pressure on my body - as I can't wait to have my own baby - in Coaching we talk about what you "ache for" - and having my own baby always comes first to my mind.

I had set myself a Running Goal - and I was doing well - I had built up to over 43 minutes - yet now I find myself needing to change direction.  I am not giving up on my original Goal - yet when I ask myself the Coaching question about my Running "And why is that important to you?" the answer is revealed after asking the question a few times, that the most important reason I like Running is that I want to be healthy.  And so for now I need to adjust my Goal to Walking.  I like reading this paragraph in 'You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 Days!' by Dr. John F. Demartini:

"Follow the Law of Completion, break down your Goals into smaller action steps, put them into reasonable time frames, and then reward yourself when you complete them.  Train yourself to do whatever you say or intend, and watch what happens!  Of course, you must figure in one other factor:  You may decide tomorrow that you have something more important to do and discard your previous plan.  That's okay.  Don't berate yourself over that.  You haven't failed to complete your Goal; you've simply clarified or upgraded it.  Some of the things you don't complete are simply refinements towards higher priority pursuits..."

I do love Walking.  I love to be out in nature, I love being outdoors.  In the past I have also enjoyed time at a gym - yet my preference in terms of Exercise is to be outside.  I just love the surprises and delights and gifts from the Universe.  Some of my favourite parts of my walk today were seeing 2 pelicans flying, walking through the park, I just love Trees, seeing one beautiful kookaburra (where I could stand within a metre and just admire the beauty) and then walking a few metres and seeing another kookaburra (I love kookaburras) and also coming close to two galahs (just love the colouring of the galah).

I love Birds.  I love Animals.  This is why Vegetarian is my preference.

I Love My Life in that I now I have the space to enjoy and explore.  I have a good day, time reflecting on my Business - just one week until I start my Business.  I journal, I write some lists and I enjoy a Meditation.  I love making the time for Meditation - it is my time - a time to connect with my Inner being, Higher Self, God, my Angels.  It is a time when I find deep peace and receive insights and Visions that spark ideas.

I also enjoy some housework, washing and vacuuming, I enjoy looking after our Home.  I love when my Man comes home from work and I am organised.  I love that I have a Home with my Man. 

And tonight I cook - I love cooking new Vegetarian dishes - it is Joyful for me and a way I enjoy to Spread The Yellow in our Home.  I make Vegetarian san chow bow for an entree and then I make roasted potatos and zucchini as a side dish with a main of roasted capsicum with a rice and tofu and vegetable filling.  I love cooking for my Man and myself - I love home-made, healthy Vegetarian cooking.

And now it is time to relax on the lounge with my Man and watch one of our favourite TV shows - just a time to relax together...