Crossing The Threshold

Well today was my last day of my job, it is a day of Crossing The Threshold - moving towards a role where I feel I will be of greater Service and working on Purpose.

Today at work, everyone was very lovely, we had a morning tea, the Operations Manager said some nice words about me, that I have "definitely been an asset", and everyone gave me a hug goodbye and wished me well and my Operations Manager once again said that he knew it would all go well for me.

I took some photos - I wanted to capture the people that I work with who have helped me grow in so many ways - and capture this day for me, a day that I will remember as it represents a big change for me, a big decision (that seems easy), the Crossing The Threshold.

It feels a bit strange leaving my job, I don't really know how I am feeling - perhaps sadness... I am not sure of the emotion... although I definitely do not feel relief or huge joy - which is a good sign in a way - I am leaving while the energy is still positive, rather than leaving a job I do not like.  I have worked at this company since 1 March 2010, not that long, and yet I feel that I have settled in and given my best. Whatever the emotion of leaving my job, it is definitely side by side the Excitement of my new Journey I am about to begin. While I have given my best at my job, I know that there is more of me that I can give...and so I am Crossing The Threshold.

I definitely feel that I am responding to the Call of my Soul. And I am definitely leaving the comfortable and known and stepping out into the unknown.

I found these great words about Crossing The Threshold by Alvin Soon "You’ve committed to leaving behind the Ordinary World and stepping into the New World of your Hero’s Journey. And as you do, you’re exposed to new sounds and sights, new learnings, surprises, adventures and experiences you’ve never had before.  As you do so, you might feel out of place. You might feel uncomfortable, inexperienced. You are the proverbial babe in the woods. You ask yourself, ‘What was I thinking to leave my ordinary world behind?’. We’ve all been in situations like this.  But you’re stretching beyond your old self."

This morning when I was driving to work, for my last day, the first words I hear are "Shine a little of my light on the world" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qzqzb9QTLA and I am loving this song and feeling so motivated as I sing along "I'm gonna give myself permission to shine, I'm gonna shine so bright" - loving this song!  And then it was funny, as I'm feeling so Motivated and Excited, and then the news comes on and they tell the news about an armed hold up at Burwood - hmm, great, this is where I will be working.  Although I know there can be crime anywhere and this will not take away my Excitement.  Then a speaker comes on talking about Jesus being with his Disciples in the storm and I felt reassured and reminded that God will be with me everyday.

Ever since I have been young I have wanted to be of Service. For a long time I was planning to be a Teacher and then changed my mind at the last minute before my university preferences needed to be submitted.  And for most of my Career I have worked in corporate companies and I have always tried to find a Purpose in my role to keep me Inspired.  And now I am Crossing The Threshold where I feel that I can Make A Difference everyday - and that is my Commitment.

I feel ready to step out into the world.  I feel Excited that I can be a Life Coach everyday.  My Commitment is to see the Uniqueness and Greatness in every person, and help my Clients be the Creators of their own lives.

I refer to my website www.shinecoaching.com.au 'About Me' and I feel that the very essence of what I offer in Coaching, will be able to be offered in my new role:


* 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 and express their unique gifts in the world

* 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 desire is that the Process of Coaching can help more people LOVE SELF and LOVE LIFE

* MY BACKGROUND: I have 5 years experience working in Training and Team Performance and with a Diploma in Transformational Life Coaching I love working with Clients to help them live a life that they love

* I BRING TO COACHING: My strong Presence and offering of Sacred Space, my Passion and Enthusiasm, Positive Attitude, belief in our ability to create a life that Inspires and Excites us, Commitment to my Clients, empathy and compassion

* I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE

* I Am Here to Help People CREATE A NEW STORY FOR THEIR LIVES

* I Am Here to Help People SHINE in Life


And so as I am Crossing The Threshold, I realise that I may be stepping into the unknown, yet I have Confidence and Strength in my own Self and a clear Vision for my Lifework... and so I feel at Peace... Thank You God, Amen

My Uniqueness, My Greatness

I am a big believer that we all have a Life Purpose or Soul Purpose, that is different for each and every person. We all have our Unique Gifts and I believe that when we are in the space that allows us to express our Uniqueness and Greatness, we feel alive. And the opposite of this is also true. 

I have been asking myself what is “My Uniqueness, My Greatness For The Glory Of God”? In being Christian I do believe that God has made us as unique beings (in his image) and by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, listening to The Call, we can live our truth and serve God for the greater good of all.

Thanks to the Process of my Coaching Course I was able to discover my Life Purpose as “To Love and Serve, to Spread The Yellow, to Make A Difference” and lately I have been asking myself, am I living this everyday - or how can I better live this every day.

I love my work Coaching my Clients - it is wonderful and such an honour to be a Coach. The work that I love is helping Clients access their own truth, where they can be true to themselves in the daily lives - in their relationships and their work. I am committed to being an Integral Practitioner and so I challenge myself to live my highest potential by also being true to myself.

I have been working for four days in a company as a Team Leader/ Project Leader. I have enjoyed my job - I understand the work, I feel that I do it well, the company is local to my home - and yet I do not feel alive or energised. And in reflection, I feel that there is not the room to fully express my Gifts, my Self, my all, My Uniqueness, My Greatness.

I have been reading Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl which is based on his experience and learnings of being in a concentration camp and a quote I love is “it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.”

I have been praying, asking God, where can I serve, and asking him to open up opportunities for me. And I have been sitting with a sense of peace, trusting in God.

There have been signs and I am glad that I paid attention.

There was a small hint of possibilities when I was watching the clip on the Nature Care website from one of my previous teachers and she was talking about the Life Coaching Course and the opportunity to either work for yourself or use Life Coaching skills in a workplace.  Hmm... this sense of possibilities resonated with me...

The first real sign was how uncomfortable I was feeling at work when people in my workplace were making jokes and remarks about minority groups and people who have disabilities. I know that they were harmless remarks and were said without meaning to be offensive - and yet I felt so anxious and stressed every time I heard these remarks. My oldest friend is in a wheelchair and I am so aware of her huge ability and how amazing she is - and so any comments about people with disabilities makes me feel that I can’t breathe. This reaction got me thinking...

At Church I asked the Pastor to pray for me and she prayed that conversations would take place and there would be new possibilities for my Lifework.

I then went to a Coaching Workshop and was talking about my reaction to what was happening at work. Then after meeting fellow Coaches who were working in organisations where there is more room for them to share their skills, I felt Inspired to look at Seek on the computer. At that time I intuitively felt The Call to look at Recruitment Services for people who are unemployed and may also have disabilities. Instantly I felt excited and passionate and without any hesitation I started applying for positions.

I am now so excited that I have found a great new job. On Monday 18 July 2011 I start a new role as a Group Facilitator for job seekers and a Placement Consultant for adults and teenagers with short-term and medium-term disabilities. I am so excited that I feel that I will be able to use my Training and Life Coaching skills on a daily basis. I am not sure where this Journey will lead me, and I feel excited that I can show up with love and help people to see their own Uniqueness and Greatness so that they feel confident and Empowered to be the Creators of their own lives.

I feel excited that I am answering The Call of my Soul.

I have been reading Soul Currency by Ernest D. Chu, another brilliant book, and I love all of the stories that highlight the Uniqueness and Greatness of individuals:

- Walter Simonson studied a major in Geology, and everyone who did not know him thought that he was very serious - however he had a gift for drawing fantasy stories and on Saturday nights he would share his comics with his friends - his parents wanted him to study medicine - today Walt Simonson is one of the most beloved comic book illustrators and writers, his joy and talent show in illustrations in The Hobbit, Thor, X-Factor and The Making of a Sorcerer - he has reached the top of his profession

- As a young six-year old girl Author J.K.Rowling would write fantasy stories about rabbits in her diary, and through following her Soul Purpose and using her Uniqueness and Greatness has successfully written Harry Potter, a series that people all over the world love

- Kenny Kramm worked as a pharmacy technician in his family business, and when he had his second child, his little girl at only ten days old had a massive brain hemorrhage - Kenny and his Wife tried to give their Daughter medicines to help manage her cerebral palsy and seizures, yet their daughter would spit out the awful-tasting medicines - Kenny then started experimenting with harmless additives and flavours, where the drive to help his daughter and then the idea of helping other children has encouraged him in his work - today FLAVORx Inc is the leader in flavourings for medicines

- John Wood took a vacation from his high-stress job as a Microsoft Marketing Executive - he also had an intention to find meaning in his life - he went hiking in the Himalayas and visited a school where he noticed the school’s library only had a few books left behind by hikers - John Wood soon resigned from Microsoft and established Room To Read, an organisation dedicated to foster literacy in countries affected by poverty

- John Robbins went to Harvard and was being groomed to be President of the family business, Baskin-Robbins, one of the world’s largest ice cream producers - but he believed that ice cream contributed to “disharmony with our environment” and wrote the prize winning Diet For A New America.

Mother Teresa once said “It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of Love that is put into them that matters.” Love is what will Inspire me as I start my new job and commit to making a difference.

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.

Help Children In Poverty

I am Very Passionate about wanting to Help Children In Poverty, Children Living In Poverty.

I heard the Call last year - feeling Inspired to visit and support Children and Communities living in impoverished countries.

This Call seemed out of the ordinary, certainly without explanation, perhaps without logic - especially since there are other Causes that are very close to my heart - and also because I have never travelled before, and rather than being excited or motivated to go on a traditional holiday - here I am wanting to pay money to volunteer to be with the children.  It makes a lot of sense in that I love children - I just LOVE CHILDREN - yet, at my age I "should" just be focusing on having my own children, which is also a wonderful dream for me.  I can't wait to have my own baby - that will be my greatest dream come true.  And I still want to Make A Difference in the world.  It would not be easy for me to just live my life, without Consciousness or ACTION.

The Call is becoming stronger and stronger - especially after studying Vision and Purpose at College.   Normally I would race and make plans and work out a checklist to make this happen - using my head and getting action plans in place.  Yet now I am learning a new way of being in the world - allowing myself to just go with the flow and see where the Journey leads.  I am showing up and I am asking for God and the Universe to guide me.  This Project desires my Yin and Yang to work together as the creative force for the Greater Good.

I have been designing my Flyer for my Coaching business and I have included the statement - "Active in supporting children and communities in impoverished communities".  For every Coaching Session I will donate $5 towards charity.  It is a start.  I also have plans for my Spread The Yellow business - products and services - where money will also be donated to Help The Children Living In Poverty.

As well as donating money, in my heart I am also Inspired to visit the children and communities and volunteer my time.  This Call is strong for me.  My Yin is intuitively being guided, and then an 'Aha' moment came a few days ago and my Yang goes into action.  I had an idea, an insight, a remembering where university students go to impoverished communities - Yin heard her intuition - Yin got her Yang to Google "students volunteer travel" - and I am EXCITED - I find some great Projects where I can volunteer for 2 weeks.  Community work with children in Sangklaburi, Thailand, organised through STA Travel, catches my eye - I look into the eyes of these children in the photo and feel drawn to be in Thailand.

These are the words about the Project on the STA website "Enjoy working with children and want to help improve their lives?  Do you want to help children in a stunning part of Thailand who are not getting the care and attention they so deserve? This project helps the staff at care homes that are drastically underfunded and where the staff are overstretched and therefore greatly need any help that you can give them. You will be able to make a massive difference to these children’s lives by giving them support, playing games with them and teaching them English. All of which will give not only the children but the community as a whole a promising future to come." YES  YES  YES  YES!!

I look up the Calendar of Terms for College - we finish College on 30 August and go back to College on 20 September - there is availability from 4 September for 2 weeks.  I feel Very Inspired.

Rather than race to book this tour I decide to just sit with this idea (at least for a couple of weeks) - yet I am Excited.

And then today while sitting at home, watching the Channel 9 morning show which is unusual for me, normally I watch Channel 7 - I see an advertisement for 'Plan' - helping children and communities.  I haven't heard of Plan - yet I have been frequently visiting websites of World Vision, Oxfam, Tear Australia, Save The Children to see all the work that is being done and how I can get involved or if I would look at donating to their Projects.  And then today I learn about 'Plan' - glad my Yin was paying attention.  I am very Excited to learn about Plan, and my Yang is active in exploring their website - "About Plan - Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work with communities in 49 developing countries and raise funds to support our work in 21 countries like Australia. By actively involving children, and working at a grassroots level with no religious or political agenda, we unite and inspire people around the globe to transform the world for children."

When I read their website - there are some key paragraphs that really stand out for me:

- "Child centred community development is the term we use to describe how we aim to do our development work. It's a rights based approach to development where we support communities to develop the structures and skills they need to provide a safe and healthy environment in which children are able to realise their full potential.  It is our belief, based on many years of experience, that this can be achieved only if children’s best interests are at the heart of everything we do and if children themselves actively participate in the process."  As a Coach, I love the words they use - Community, Development, Support, Children are able to realise their Full Potential - and I love that children are actively involved - they are being given the tools for their own Empowerment, realising and releasing their own power within.

- "Children are the hardest hit by poverty.  Childhood is the most crucial development period in an individual’s life. It is when an individual’s main physical, mental, emotional and social development and growth takes place. Damage at this stage cannot be overcome later in life, and poor children are likely to pass poverty onto their children, perpetuating the cycle. Poverty reduction must begin with children."

- "Poverty alleviation generally tries to increase income at a household level. Children, though, exist within households and usually have the least power and influence on how income is spent. This is particularly true for girls. Poor households often have to cut back on expenses for children and frequently are forced to rely on sending the children to work. Battling with extreme poverty every day often leaves adults too busy and exhausted to properly nurture children. To combat child poverty we need to consider the impact poverty is having on children in poor families."

What I also Love about Plan is that you can not only Sponsor children and communities but you can also organise to visit the communities, organised through Plan - this is wonderful - to see the difference your sponsorship is making in their world.  I also love that they encourage fundraising activities - which I will embrace through my Spread The Yellow business to increase awareness and donate funds to Make A Difference.

I feel so Grateful that I am open to the gifts from the Universe - increasing my Awareness and my Yin intuitively being guided to opportunities where I CAN Help The Children Living In Poverty.  I know that my Family will say that I "should" just be focusing on getting married and having my own children - and this is also important to me - and I cannot ignore this Call - "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." (Helen Keller)