1 Year

In 1 Year so much has happened, there have been some big changes in my life.

I am most Excited that I am now Married.  Getting Married to My Man was such a wonderful day - the happiest day of my life.  Words cannot really capture the Joy and Excitement and Love of our day on 11 April 2011.  It was such a perfect day.  What made it so perfect was being so happy and in Love - we had the biggest smiles all day.  It was also a perfect day, being surrounded by so many of our closest Family and Friends, those who we Love.  My Nieces were our Flowergirls and they looked so beautiful - it was so special having them be a part of our day.  I love my Nieces so much.  And it was very special for me having my Mum and Dad share our day.  I am so lucky to now have a wonderful Husband - who is my best friend, my everything.  I am very blessed.

And our Honeymoon was FANTASTIC!  It was so great going away together to Fiji, we just loved it!  No computers, no TV, no phones, just beautiful warm weather, relaxing days just the two of us.  Bula, Bula - everyone is so friendly.  The food was incredible, so much food - best fish I have ever tasted.  My Man loved the snorkelling, I saw this totally new side to him - he was so active and excited about going snorkelling and kayaking.  And I loved the swimming pool - as soon as I woke up I was in my swimming costume and just loved swimming in the pool.  I really loved the opportunity to relax in paradise together.  PARADISE is the word!!!

The Turtle is important in Fiji - it means goodluck.  I loved the Turtles on Treasure Island.  My life has been filled with good blessings in the last 1 Year.

And I do believe in making my own goodluck.  I am blessed that My Man came into my life and yet I do know that as soon as I became clear and conscious about what I wanted in a relationship, that I was able to be so confident that My Man was so right for me.  I also did not settle for anything less than the Vision I had for my True Love.  Finally!!! I am happy and in Love.  And the greatest realisation is that neither my Husband or I have to be perfect - we Love each other, we can grow together, we can learn and get to know all the different Parts of each other - and best of all, we are the Creators of our life together.

In the last 1 Year I have also been learning from being in my own Coaching business.  I have been Coaching for 1 Year now and now is the time for self-reflection - to look at what I have learnt and take those learnings to plan for the next 1 Year ahead.

I am happy.  It has been a wonderful 1 Year.  I am also blessed that my Mum is well and happy and healthy and we had a lovely Mother and Daughter day today.  And I always love to see my Dad, it has also been a big 1 Year for him.

It has been a big 1 Year.  Some things are not within my control - and yet I am choosing to focus on what I can control - choosing positive thoughts, letting go of worry, and very importantly taking ACTION towards my Goals - what are my Goals?  Time to set some new Goals - where do I want to be 1 Year from now?  I have learnt from the last 1 Year that I can make a difference, that I can consciously choose - now it is time to Visualise 1 Year from now and also start taking steps in that direction.

This week I plan to make time to reflect on the question on the back of my Business Card -
Ask yourself from the heart, if I could be, do or have anything I would definitely...
... Stay tuned...

Community

The other day I was with at my Parents' home and we were reminiscing about the days when I was a Runner.  I loved Running.  I was a part of a Running Club and I loved my Community.  I loved being part of this Community.  For a long time Running was a major part of my life - my week days and weekends were dedicated to training and competing.  And I loved it.  I do miss my Running and hope to get back to Running after we have a Family.  And I also love that now I have discovered new Parts of my Self.

I was showing My Man my photos from my Running and I also found a piece of writing from 26 January 2001 - 10 years ago.  Here is what I wrote:

"MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS

My wish is that all people will become actively involved in, and enjoy the benefits of, true Community.

Community is where a group of two or more people, regardless of differences, are able to accept and transcend these differences, enabling them to work effectively towards common Goals.  In a true Community, members support and encourage one another.  It is a place where there is freedom to be oneself, where ideas, opinions, sorrows, joys and Dreams are shared.

I am so fortunate to be part of the Western District Joggers & Harriers Club, which is more than just a Running Club... we are a Community... a Community that makes a difference to people's lives week in and week out.  The Running Club Community which originated in mid 1967 with only a few members now has over 200 Members.  Our Running Club meets every Saturday morning at Lake Gillawarna, Georges Hall at 7:30am.  We are a Family Blub which promotes Health and Fitness, with our Members enjoying the benefits and good feelings associated with being a part of a true Community.

My wish is that every individual becomes involved and joins a Community - such as a sporting group, a social club, a volunteer organisation, a church group, or a hobby group - any place where you can meet up with other people who may have the same interest (even if the interest is based on a desire to meet new people and enjoy new friendships).  I believe that the benefits for the individual and society of building communities are immeasurable.

My wish is that everyone can be proactive in building Communities within all their day to day relationships - within their Marriages, Families, work environments, social groups, sporting groups, suburbs, cities and countries.

As individuals we can build Communities by:

- Doing what is right;

- Being open and honest in all our interactions;

- Encouraging, celebrating and accepting our Uniqueness and different opinions, thoughts and ideas;

- Listening and being genuinely interested in others;

- Learning from one another's experiences;

- Always doing the best you can, in all you do;

- Being personally committed to continuous improvement;

- Treating others, as you would like to be treated.

God gave us the best Gift of all - the Gift of free will - the ability to choose.  Each day we make Choices.  We can choose how we want to spend our time, who we want to be, our Attitude and how we act and react.

My wish is that today, on Australia Day, 26 January 2001, all individuals make a choice to take personal responsibility and make a Commitment, to being the best they can be, and to build Communities within all their relationships.

It only takes small changes as individuals - but together we can make a big difference in building a better world.

I hope my wish comes true."

I loved reading what I wrote 10 years ago - feeling Inspired and seeing that my Values and Philosophy are still very similar.  And for the last 6 months I have consciously been aware of my feeling of a lack of Community in my life, or rather, the desire for me to regain a sense of Community in my life.  I am Grateful that I have a strong sense of Belonging with my Family and now with My Man, and yet there is a Part of me longing to again be a Member of a broader Community.  The Journey of being a Member came out when I was working with my Coach last year.  And I also know in my Heart, that some of my happiest times was when I was part of my Running Community - it is a time that brought me such great joy. 

And I am Excited that I have found a Community that I am growing to love.  I feel so at home when I go to Church on a Sunday - Kingsway Community http://www.kingsway.org.au/Welcome. There is so much Spirit within this gathering of friends.  I am made to feel so welcome and at the same time given Space so that I am not overwhelmed or rushed to give more than I can.  I have been going on and off for about 2 years and it was only recently that I started going there again more frequently after being away for about 5-6 months.  When I went back to Church I was overwhelmed with this feeling of being at home, overwhelmed with being somewhere so special, so emotional that I was moved to tears - happy tears. 

I love being in Connection each week with new people and I really love the messages each week from the Pastors.  What I love is that the Pastor is able to make the bible readings very relevant for today.  I also love that what the Pastors talk about is very much in line with my work in Coaching.  I love the Kingsway Community Churchs' Mission and Vision - Refuge for Healing, River for Refreshment, Resource for Unity.  Just the other week one of the Pastors was talking about all people being in touch with their Uniqueness  in the divine plan - I loved listening and felt so Inspired after being at Church - especially since this is an area I am so Passionate about in working with my Clients - helping Clients connect to their own sense of Uniqueness and Greatness.  I also loved when one of the Pastors talked about Community as "sharing the joy of Hope".

I loved being at Church on Sunday.  I was actually Excited to be going, as I know I always enjoy the feeling of being in this Community.  This week at Church the Pastors talked about this year being a year of "letting go".  He talked about the verse in the bible from Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)  "since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" and used the metaphor of an Olympic Runner who is trying to run with a whole crate of lead and how he will be slower versus someone who is free.  He gave examples of "Everything that hinders:
    * Unfulfilled and unrealistic expectations
    * Disappointments/hurts/offences
    * Fear and insecurities, self-esteem issues
    * Apathy/laziness
    * Busyness
    * Accumulation/material obsession/worldly goals
    * Self reliance
    * Isolation/individualism
    * Programs
    * Belief systems
    * Health/fitness issues – physical/emotional/spiritual
    * Facades/masks
    * Unhealthy relationships
    * Demarcation
    * Control/pride
    * My agenda
    * Judgemental criticism
    * Disobedience
    * Comfort
    * Bitterness/unforgiveness
    * “Rights”/title/position."
I loved how the Pastor talked about Mindsets, Beliefs and Attitudes that slow us down and trip us up, and the importance of Perseverence.  I just love that the language that is used at the Church is in line with my life and my Beliefs and my Coaching.  I just love these words in one of the Pastor's Blog "The exciting thing in all of this is the goal … which is greater FREEDOM. Imagine for a minute what it would be like to be totally free … free from ‘every weight’ that slows you down, hinders your relationships, distracts your purpose, hampers your development, obstructs your growth and holds you back from being the extraordinary person God wants you to be for Him and His kingdom … NOW. The more we can get rid of these burdens, weights and loads from our life, the better and more effective we will be …  and the more fun we will have together."

I feel very Inspired to become more involved in this Community.  Whenever I go to Church I feel Inspired to Volunteer and now I feel Inspired to offer up my Gift of Coaching.  I am not sure in what form I will be involved - I would be happy to offer some Workshops and Coaching and I am Excited that I spoke with one of the Team Leaders last Sunday and will meet her for a cuppa and see if I can be of Service.  I was also very interested to hear about the Youth Programme the Church is running and may be able to offer Coaching to one of the teenagers.  I was amazed to hear that of the Youth going to a Youth Group on a Friday night, only 20% are from Families who go to the Church, 80% of the Youth are coming on their own, perhaps connecting to a sense of Spirituality for the first time.

I am Excited to have found a Community that I love.

I am also very interested in joining in the Community of Coaches that is being led by the Vision of one of my friends from College.  We are meeting in a few weeks and I am looking forward to hearing more about the Vision and Mission of this Community.  My wish is that I can combine my interest in being involved in the Community of Coaches with my desire to be more involved in my local Community.

What I love about my Church Community is that they are Local and offer so many great Programs for the Local Community, and they are also very Conscious and Connected to the Global Community.  And I love the music, I love the music - it is a chance to rejoice and be Grateful.  Here are some of the songs from last Sunday that I loved singing
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MKAzYJcWSY
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UJtuyY8v1g (very Inspired by the words of this song)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79055I6o-NQ

When I was a Member of my Running Club, I loved seeing friends week in and week out, being caring and supporting each other, being of Service in the Community as Club Captain, and also being of Service for the greater good (as we raised money for different charities).  My wish for my Self is that I become a true Member of a Community again, and I feel I am taking steps in the right direction.

Perfect

Perfect - Defined as:
- conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type
- excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement
- exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose
- entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings
- accurate, exact, or correct in every detail:
- expert; accomplished; proficient.

When do we start trying to be Perfect?  Is it when we are young and start school and try to get everything right so that we get some gold stars and be "good"?  Is it when we are teenagers and start comparing ourselves to other people in our class, stars on television, models in the magazines?  Is it when we start working and there is the pressure to know all the answers and act like we are great at every part of our job (especially since we try so hard at the interview to impress and 'act' like we will be Perfect for the role)?  Is it when we become Wives and fall 'victim' to the 'Perfect HouseWife Syndrome'?

I am about to become a Wife again and a big Part of me wants to be the Perfect HouseWife.

I remember years ago - years and years ago - when I bought my first home with a boyfriend, a man I thought I was going to marry.  I loved our house.  And I was keen to make it a home.  I wanted it to be Perfect.  After a few months, my boyfriend broke up with me - he said I was like 'Betty Crocker' and he wasn't ready to settle down, he wanted to travel and party and stay young - he wasn't ready.

And then years later I got married and my ex-husband was happy for me to be his Wife.  And I wanted to be Perfect.  And I struggled to be Perfect.  As a couple we were far from Perfect.  And in my Self I was searching to be Perfect, to find the Perfect career to make me happy.  And I had a lot of stuff - I remember that one of our bedrooms of our three bedroom home, the study, was a mess, and I would always quickly shut the door if we had visitors.  I hated that I wasn't Perfect.  And then the imperfections became  very clear as our marriage started falling apart and I started falling apart.  And this was a long time ago.

And now I am getting married again - and I can't wait!!!  It feels very different this time.  Last time, I remember 6 weeks before the wedding and I was worried about sending out the wedding invitations and I spent a lot of time thinking and justifying in my mind why I should get married - while my Intuition, my 'gut' feel, was yelling out to me - and I didn't take notice.  Now I pay attention to my Intuition and I am so Grateful that now every part of me knows that my marriage to be will be wonderful - our relationship is wonderful.  What I love about being with My Man most is that I can be Me.  I also love that I do not have to be Perfect.  And I love that My Man is Perfect to me.  We are both imperfectly Perfect.  We accept all Parts of each other. Our love is Perfect.  How Perfect that I can be my ImPerfect Self and be loved by My Man.

As a Coach I am always on the look out for my Clients' Perfectionists, who may be stopping my Clients from moving forward in achieving their Dreams.  In working with my Clients I help them access other Parts of Self so that they can set and achieve their Goals.

And so I ask my Self - what is the role of the Perfectionist in our lives?  What is the role of the Perfectionist in my life?  I know from my Training and experience that there is a Gift to every Part within our Self.  As I Dream about being a Perfect Wife I wonder what is the message here for me?

Just today I have been thinking about what I want to achieve before we get married - apart from having a Perfect Wedding Day.  I have set my Self some Goals that are important to me: 

- Clean my Study (so much paperwork and clutter)

- Organise my Superannuation

- Clean and organise and de-clutter my garage (again). 

Perhaps the Gift of my Perfectionist is that this Part of me is reminding me of what needs to be done to clear clutter and Create Space in my home and in my mind.  And it is easy to be motivated to achieve these Goals as I know that I will feel very happy.  I always feel good after housework - I actually enjoy cleaning.  Now it is time to make more time for our home and my personal finances - it is time to get done what is important to me -  to treat these as Priorities in my life. 

It is my Mum and Dad's 43rd Wedding Anniversary today - which is beautiful.  I feel bad that I am not the Perfect Daughter as I have had such a busy week and day that I forgot that today was their special day - and now I am justifying and finding excuses.  And I am happy that my Mum and Dad had a lovely day out today - that is most important - and so it doesn't matter if I wasn't Perfect in my own eyes - what is most Perfect is that I love my Mum and Dad so much and they love me.

I love that I have such wonderful role models of marriage from my Mum and Dad.  And I do think that my Mum and Dad are both Perfect.  And My Man and I will be Perfect in our own way, in our unique way.

And as I think about my upcoming marriage I do believe that things will be different - I want things to be different.  I know that I will feel different.  We have lived together for a year now and yet I know for me marriage is different.  Some people say that when they get married it is no different from living together.  And yet I know it will be different, I want it to be different.  Getting married for me is a very BIG deal, especially after I have been previously married and it did not work.  I believe that I will feel different.  And I want the exterior to also be different - and so I want to do a BIG clean up before we get married.  It has been challenging moving 2 x 2 bedroom homes into 1 unit - and that is just an excuse.

I think that I have been so against being Perfect, that I have been too Relaxed.  And I have loved the Relaxed Part of me - it lets me relax on the lounge and watch my favourite shows after having a busy day at work.  And now it is time to bring the Organiser Part of me onto the Stage of my life and help me achieve my Goals before I get married - and I don't have to be Perfect.

I need to remind my Self - I don't have to be Perfect.

I don't want to be like the women in 'Stepford Wives' - I just want to be My Self.

Now that I am a Life Coach, working with Clients to create a life that they Love, I often challenge my Self - shouldn't I be Perfect and have every area of my life at a 10 out of 10?  Sometimes this is what I ask my Self - and then I remind my Self that I do not have to be Perfect - that, like my Clients, I am also on a Journey and I am learning and growing.  What I can promise my Self and my Coaching Clients is that I am committed to Self-Reflection, Self-Awareness and Self-Development.  With this promise and knowing I can be less Perfect and more accepting and more loving to my Self.

Living Your Dreams

I love books.  I love reading.  I have been reading self-development and spiritual books since I was 21.  I remember I had just finished my degree, I had a great job in the city and I had just broken up from my boyfriend of 4 years.  I had spent 3 years reading text books, read a novel over the Christmas holidays and then I discovered a love of reading these life changing books.  This is where my boyfriend and I were different, he did not share my passion for personal development.

Of course, I wish I had have put everything I learnt into action - as I have stumbled and made many mistakes.  I often laugh that I did a course on decision making and yet over the last 20 years, I  have made (what seems) many bad decisions - and yet this has been my life journey.  And it is my life journey that gives me such deep empathy and compassion for my Clients. 

It is my commitment to lifelong learning and also my life journey that serves me now as I am stepping out in the world as a Life Coach.  I love reading books that will continually enrich my knowledge and it is my commitment to apply what I am learning to my own life and also help me in serving my Clients.

Among the books that I am currently reading (and loving), is 'Living Your Dreams' by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen - a brilliant book!  I love the Inscription on the first page of the book - “We dedicate this book to everyone who has had the courage and commitment to pursue their most heartfelt dreams with passion and perseverance.  By your example you have shown the rest of us that whatever you desire, believe in, and pursue with love, joy and determination is possible to achieve.”

I was given this book to my friend in November 2003 - inside the books is a message from my friend "Dear Kath, Go For It!"  This was given to me when I was leaving a Marketing Job – deciding I wanted to move out of the corporate world and move away from working on products to working with people.  This was 7 years ago - the magic number 7.

I just love the beginning of the book - it talks about "How To Live Your Dream" and gives 10 Steps - many of which are explored in the Coaching Process:
- Step 1. Decide What You Want - "You must first decide WHAT you want, before your brain can figure out HOW to get it."  I really love "The Genie in the Lamp" where you can imagine that a Genie appears before you and grants you three wishes in all of the key areas of your life.

- Step 2. Believe in Yourself: Use Positive Self-Talk - "Eliminate any negative and limiting belief, learn to control your self-talk, and maintain a constant state of positive expectations."  This is a big area in Coaching, helping Clients let go of their inner critic and help Clients embrace new and positive beliefs and attitudes.

- Step 3. Build on Your Core Genius - I LOVE THIS PART, I love these words - "Everyone is born with a unique set of talents and abilities - what we refer to as your areas of brilliance or your core genius." - I really love working with people in finding their life purpose and to express their unique gifts in the world.

- Step 4. Build an Awesome Dream Team Alliance - "A Dream Team Alliance is two or more individuals who voluntarily come together to creatively put their energy behind a definite purpose." - I definitely believe in the power of the Dream Teams and I will be offering Group Coaching opportunities next year.  Now that I am newly engaged I am also Excited to create a Dream Team with My Man, especially now as we are planning our wedding and our life together

- Step 5. Visualise and Affirm Your Desired Outcomes - I love what is written in the book about Visualisation - "Visualisation activates your creative subconscious, which will start generating creative ideas to help you achieve your goal; Visualisation programs your brain to more readily perceive and recognise the resources you will need to achieve your Dreams; Visualisation activates the Law Of Attraction, thereby drawing into your life the people, resources and circumstances you will need to achieve your Goals; Visualisation builds your internal motivation to take the necessary actions needed to accomplish your Dreams."  I am really Excited that I will be running Vision Board Workshops from January 2011 which are designed to help Clients create a Visual representation of their Dreams.

- Step 6. Act to Create It - This part of the book reinforces the importance of taking ACTION - "We recommend making the commitment to do something every day in at least three different areas of your life that moves you in the direction of your Dreams."  I also like the part that states "One of the secrets of success is to start acting like a success before you are one.  Act as if."

- Step 7. Respond to Feedback - I like the reference to Thomas Edison "reported to have tried more than two thousand different experiments that failed before he finally got the light bulb to work" - "If you can adopt that attitude, then you can be free to take an action, notice what result you get, and then adjust your next actions based on the feedback you get."  The book encourages readers to - Ask others for feedback, ask yourself for feedback, ask your higher self, your inner wisdom for guidance and feedback.  One of my favourite parts of Coaching is helping Clients access and trust their own answers and insights.

- Step 8. Never Give Up: The Power of Determination - "After taking ACTION, the most important quality you will need to develop in order to live your Dreams is persistence.  You must be persistent in your disciplines and habits; perseverant in the face of adversity, hardship and challenge; and determined to achieve your dreams no matter what."  Working with a Coach can offer you support during these challenging times, helping you overcome any obstacles and staying true to yourself and your Dreams.

- Step 9.  Celebrate Your Victories and Give Thanks -  I really love working with Clients to acknowledge and celebrate their Wins.  I also love that the book talks about having an "Attitude of Gratitude" and rewarding our inner child (yes, I must book a massage this week - planning an hour and a half luxury massage in my last week of College to reward myself).

- Step 10. Give Something Back - "The best way to ensure an ongoing flow of abundance into your life is to share with others the wealth you receive."  I also believe in helping others who are less fortunate than ourselves.  I am passionate about helping children and communities living in poverty, with $5 from every Coaching Session donated to Plan Australia http://www.plan.org.au/

I love quotes - here is a great quote from 'Living Your Dreams' -
"Take the first step in faith.
You don't have to see the whole staircase.
Just take the first step."
Martin Luther King Jr.

Body, Thinking, Feeling

Body, Thinking, Feeling - I have been considering all of these Aspects within myself.  The Process for me has involved an Evening Review for the last two weeks.  As offered by my Teacher and Mentor, Self-Reflection is very important -"supporting you to become wholly integral and ethical practitioners".

Once I started looking at these Aspects within myself, it became obvious that I was spending most of my time in my Thinking, in my Head.  It was a surprise to me to see how much energy I can waste in being in the Shadow of Overthinker or worrying.  And I am very Conscious of not wanting to waste my energy.  This is the time for me to get rid of those energy leaks and direct my energy to achieve my Goals and have Space for relaxation and to be in the flow.

The valuable qualities of my Thinking is that it does definitely help me at work.  I realise that I have been wasting energy worrying about work and Overthinking if I am in the right job, and yet when I just direct my Thinking to focus on my work and give my best to each Project, I enjoy my day and exceed my Targets.  

By being an Observer to myself, I am able to witness myself when I go into Overthinking.  To help create change, I am using the word of STOP, which helps me STOP being in my Head - and then I bring myself back to my Body through focusing on my breathe, breathing fully and deeply.

I wonder about my Belief or Assumption that I have been carrying for a long time, possibly all my life.  I am not exactly sure - and yet perhaps it has something to do with our Society of rewarding Thinking.  I also believe that I have grown up trying to make the most of my time, where if I was driving or walking, this has been an opportunity to Think.  

Since training to become a Coach I have enjoyed Meditation and the opportunity to be Present and be in my Body, just being a witness to Thoughts and Feelings, almost as if they are just clouds floating past and I am just sitting in my Body, unattached - and this is when I experience Peace.

I feel that my Logo helps give a Visual to the new way of Being that I am embracing in my life.

In this Logo, My Yellow Heart is my Soul's Home - this is where I am Present.  For me My Yellow Heart represents being in my Body.  I love just being in my Body, just sitting in Presence - I am relaxed, I am breathing deeply, I am not Thinking or Feeling - I JUST AM.  When I am sitting with my Coaching Clients I feel totally in my Body, I am totally Present.  When I am in my Body, I can hold a Sacred Space for my Clients.  I feel Grounded, Centred and Present.  

I love being totally Present when I am with my Nieces.  Today I spent time with them in the playground and it is beautiful to just be Present with them and enjoy every beautiful moment.  Last night I was also babysitting my Friend's little one - she is an angel - she is 7 months old.  I felt totally Present and in my Body and by being in this place I did not feel upset when my Friend's Baby was crying.  I was just Present and loved being the babysitter.  I especially loved rocking the Baby to sleep, her little body cuddled into me and me singing to her to help her sleep.  I love spending time with babies and children and I can't wait until we have own Baby.   Today I have started a new Vision Board and for me it is quite simple - having my own Baby is my greatest wish.  And I am so Grateful that I have learnt to be in my Body rather than being busy or distracted in Thinking or Feeling.

I feel that by being in my Body, I am then able to make Choices - from my Body, I may be moved into Thinking or into Feeling.  In my Business Logo, my Thinking is represented by my Yang, the left-side of the brain, my Masculine part of me and my Feeling is representing on the right-side of the brain, my Yin, my Feminine. 

I really like these quotes -

- "Intelligence is present everywhere in our bodies . . . our own inner intelligence is far superior to any we can try to substitute from the outside."  Deepak Chopra
- "The body always leads us home . . . if we can simply learn to trust sensation and stay with it long enough for it to reveal appropriate action, movement, insight, or feeling."  Pat Ogden
- "In our bodies, in this moment, there live the seed impulses of the change and spiritual growth we seek, and to awaken them we must bring our awareness into the body, into the here and now."  Pat Ogden
- "Our own body is the best health system we have--if we know how to listen to it."  Christiane Northrup

It is interesting, I have been getting lunch from a cafe for the last few months and very often I am caught in a rush and am still in my Thinking mode.  By Consciously bringing myself into my Body, and feeling relaxed when I arrived at the cafe the other day, I was then surprised to feel a sense of stress within my Body - I then realised that this experience of rushing to get a sandwich, rushing back, rushing to eat my sandwich was far from relaxing and while I was waiting for my sandwich to be made I felt so stressed seeing that my vegetarian sandwich was being made with chicken filled tongs.  Even after requesting clean tongs my Body sensed the stress of this situation.  Yes, this sandwich had appeared such good value to me and then I realised that this is not being made with love and is causing me stress.  Time to bring in my Organiser and start taking my lunch to work.

By being in my Body, I can also be Present to what is real for me.  And rather than moving into my Thinking, I have been able to sit in my Feelings.  I am not sure what I have done in the past - perhaps in my positive, energetic, enthusiastic, half full attitude, I may move away from the depth of my Feelings.  And yet now I have been able to be Present to my Emotions, to be Present to what is real for me.  The other day I enjoyed a Meditation and was able to get in touch with anger from my past and then an email from a Friend from my past brought up Emotions of rejection and pain.  And there were tears and tears.  And I was okay.  By being with my Emotions I was able to release rather than store the pain - the next day the Emotional charge was no longer Present.

By being in my Body - I feel My Yellow Heart is so open and so often I am just watching a television show or a movie or I hear a story and I feel emotional, my eyes well up in tears.  From this place I have so much empathy for others.  From this place I have such a strong love of others.  I am in Connection. 

I thought that there was only two options, that I was either in my Head or my Heart, my Thinking or my Feeling.  And now I have learnt to just relax into my Body and let my Body be my guide.

I am also loving that I am now doing Yoga which is helping me become more aware of my Body and I am feeling a greater strength in my Body.  As I become stronger in my Body and more in touch with my Body, I am also more Conscious of checking in with my Body Felt Sense. 

In my new way of Being, I wish to be in my Body and use my Gifts of Thinking and Feeling to assist me on my Journey.  Being an Observer to myself, to my Body, Thinking, Feeling and spending time in Self-Reflection will continue to be important to me.  Meditation and Focusing will also help me, and when I do make time for these important Activities, I love the sense of being Present and in my Body.

My Financial Health

Now is the time to look at my Financial Health.  There is a Part of me that feels some resistance to looking at this topic, as I do not feel that I am in the best Financial Health right now.  It is definitely an Area that needs my attention, and for that reason there is definitely another Part of me that is motivated to become better Organised and Planned in this Area.  It is time to bring in my Yang.  I keep talking about bringing in more of my Yang as I am usually so much in my Yin.  I revisit my Yin and Yang images, inparticular I am inspired by my Yang Masculine image - I need this Part of me to definitely be more active.

Before I start reading my notes from College, I take the time to reflect on the History of my Relationship with Money.  I remember getting my first job while I was at school and my Parents were always very generous in letting me spend the money on whatever I wanted - clothes, going out, clothes.  Even when I went to University and I was working casually, most of my money just went to clothes and going out.  As I write this now I have a sense of sadness that I didn't contribute to my University books or stationery, I just remember my Dad going to work every day, week in and week out, working hard for his family and giving me money when I needed it.  I didn't think much about the value of Money or having Choices about Money when I was a child or even a teenage, although I do remember being sent money for my Birthday and Christmas from my Nana and Papa and Aunty Joyce and making Choices of what I should buy.  

I then remember my Cousin telling me that every time she would reach $100 in her bank account, she would transfer it to another account, and with this advice I started saving, and I loved saving.  Saving made me feel great, especially with a Goal of buying a car.  In my early 20s I bought a grey charade - I loved that car.  

Once I started working full-time I started spending money on fancy clothes for my fancy jobs in the city, I was always buying suits and scarves and stockings and shoes.  I then went to Atlanta for work for 4 months and I spent a fortune - books, clothes, perfume, presents for everyone back home.  I was also given so many presents from the place where I was working, and so when I returned home I had too many bags.  At the last minute at the airport, I had to organise for some bags of my luggage to be sent home.  

After years and years of shopping and spending, I settled into a savings plan, I don't really know how this happened or what Inspired me.  I was still living at home and I settled into a long-term relationship and before I knew it, after about 4 years, I had enough for a deposit on a home.  And then a whole new Journey began - buying a home, a mortgage.  And then a relationship breakup.  Followed by a new relationship and marriage and divorce.  Followed by other relationships and other breakups and selling my Home.  My Health and My Financial Health suffered as I went in and out of different relationships and in and out of different properties.  

About five years ago, a lot of things changed for me, where I started working with People in Hiring, Training, Management and Motivation.  I loved this job.  After years and years of Financial loss, this job gave me the opportunity to save and plan for my future.  I loved being able to buy a car and then my own Property again and I enjoyed having a feeling of Financial Freedom where I felt able to buy clothes and presents for loved ones and I was able to go out and enjoy myself and I felt in control of my Finances and my life.  

When I changed jobs, this changed for me.  And now I am choosing to start my own Business.  I feel my Journey over the last two years, and my experience of now, is just the opportunity for me to learn about My Financial Health.  I have never had to worry about a Budget or really worry about Money until now - and so now I see the opportunity to shift my perspective and learn how I can be more responsible and become more active and more abundant in this Area.

I read 'Invest In Your Financial Health' from 'Take Time For Your Life' by Cheryl Richardson and there are many parts of this excerpt that resonate with me.  "Although most of us know by now that money doesn't bring happiness, the lack of money can bring plenty of pain.  If you're living without financial reserves, it's impossible to be in control of your life.  How can you leave a job that's making you crazy and affecting your health or take time off to care for a loved one?  When will you take that trip you've been planning for the last ten years or start the business you've always dreamed of?  It's impossible to 'follow your bliss' when you've got a hefty mortgage to pay or feel saddled with unwanted debt." This resonates with me - I have always had this reserve of money and now with my decision to start my own business and stay true to my Dream, this reserve is no longer available, right now.  Time to build back the reserves.

Cheryl Richardson explains "A lack of financial reserves is the biggest obstacle to my clients, living the lives they want most... The more trouble you have with money, however, the more energy this piece will take from you and the more challenging it will be to live the life you want.  Extreme self-care includes taking care of your financial health.  If you struggle to make ends meet, have trouble saving money, or feel burdened with unwanted debt, it's time to do something about it."

Time for the Financial Health Checkup - with 15 points:

- I balance my bank statement every month - No

- I always pay my bills on time - No

- I live debt free or utilise a plan to get there - No

- I contribute to a savings plan consistently - No

- I don't dream about or depend on the lottery or other gimmicks to fund my financial future - Yes

- I know where my money goes and how much I spend on personal and/ or business expenses - Yes

- I have a long-term financial plan that supports my present and future Goals - No

- I live well within my means - Yes

- I am financially secure, I don't worry about money - No

- I always carry enough cash with me -No

- When I feel financially full, I share my wealth with others - Yes

- I pay my credit cards in full each month - No

- I pay my taxes on time - Yes

- I have an excellent financial adviser/ accountant who supports my financial goals - No

- I have a bookkeeping system that allows me to access my financial information at any time - No

= 5/15

I am reassured when I read "If this checklist feels overwhelming or depressing, don't worry.  Eight percent of the people that first take this test score between 3 and 6 points out of the possible 15.  Becoming aware of the missing pieces in your financial puzzle is the first step.  Once you know how to improve your financial health you can take one simple action and be on the road to fiscal fitness.  Inaction is what keeps you a victim to external forces."

As I am a Coach, I am all about ACTION and I also have a Commitment to Coach myself and be true to being my best on my Journey.

I enjoy reading and learning from 'Take Time For Your Life' - "This lack of skill, discipline, and basic money management expertise gets you into trouble in several ways.  First, there are concrete issues of debt and liability, what I call the practical issues.  Following close behind are the emotional issues - a looming sense of anxiety about where your money goes and a sense of hopelessness about your ability to improve your financial state.  Finally, you end up feeling frustrated, irresponsible, and bad about yourself, and this is what blocks you from increasing your wealth."

"I am convinced that the secret to creating the abundance you desire is very simple: once you take full responsibility for your financial health, money stops being a source of frustration and starts to flow into your life naturally."  I feel Inspired reading this paragraph as I have heard about this before, in line with The Secret and Law Of Attraction and as suggested by Cheryl Richardson, it is now time to send the right message to my Wise Self that I can be responsible with My Financial Health and allow more abundance into my life. "To allow more abundance into your life, you must invest in your financial health.  By shifting your attitude and developing 'adult' money skills, you'll open to the abundance that is rightfully yours.  Time and again I've watched as clients balance their checkbooks, start paying off debt, or ask for a well-deserved raise and thus open the door for more money to enter their lives."

"Restoring your financial health begins with a shift in attitude, from 'dealing with money is too much work or too stressful' to 'I'll do whatever it takes to restore My Financial Health'.  This shift sets the stage for action.  When you take the necessary actions to get on track, you end up feeling good about yourself, and that's the key ingredient to creating abundance.  When you feel secure about the way you handle money, you naturally attract more."

I like the opportunity to look at how I think and feel about money - and explore these statements:

- Money is -  Freedom and Choices 

- My bank account is - A tool I can use to be Organised

- Those who have more money than me are - Successful

- Money never - Brings happiness (oops I don't think I should be sending out that Belief)

- Money always - Makes everything easier

- When it comes to debt, I believe - That it is okay to have debt as long as it is kept under control

- When I am faced with money problems, I believe - In being aware of my debt and having a plan where I can make Choices for my future

- When it comes to money management, I am - wanting to develop better skills

- For me to make money, then - I have to follow my Vision and be true to my Self

- I can't make a lot of money because - ____________ I don't believe in this statement - I believe I can make a lot of money and I open myself up to abundance

- I deserve - for My Financial Health to be strong so that I can make Choices and Make A Difference in my life, to my loved ones and in Community.

I like this Checklist - Prescription for My Financial Health - I will be working on getting this Area of my life right (what is right and healthy for me) - 

"The Inner Work - Change How You Think and Feel About Money

- Change your beliefs

- Develop an Attitude of Gratitude (this one is easy for me)

- Share your wealth (I am already comfortable and active in sharing my wealth)

- Get comfortable with more

- Respect Yourself (I can tick this off the Checklist - and need to continually Honour my Self)

The Outer Work - Develop New Money Skills

- Ask for help

- Balance your accounts

- Know where the money goes

- Cut your expenses

- Pay your bills on time

- Eliminate debts

- Repair your credit report

- Start saving

- Put a bookkeeping system in place

- Create a personal spending plan

- Invest in your future, invest in you."

I definitely need my Organiser Archetype to help me in this Area.  I am Excited to be meeting with my Accountant this week and so I feel that this will give me a great opportunity to improve My Financial Health.   And with the start of the new Financial Year it is a perfect time to put systems in place.

Commitment

'Commitment' is the word that has been coming up for me in the last few days - just the sense of Naming my Commitments and Honouring my Commitments.

Yesterday and today my Organiser Archetype has been in Action, with my To Do Lists, getting things done. And by being in Yang ACTION mode I do feel good about myself, I feel a sense of Achievement.  I have been organising my tax, health appointments and an Advertisement for my Coaching Business.  I have made a Commitment to get more Organised, so that I feel more Empowered in my Life.  

This morning, as I was lying in bed, I had a look at my Values on the wall and Commitment is one of my Values.  I love having my Values on my wall - they guide me for my day and for my life.

As I was lying in bed and enjoying lying in bed, I see the words Commitment and Health.  I am choosing to Name and Honour my Commitment to my Health.  Recently I was shocked to complete a Wheel Of Life Activity and have a sense that my Health is only at a 2 out of 10.  I was looking at my Wheel Of Life on 1 July 2010, knowing that I still had 6 months left of 2010, I wanted to put my own Dreams into ACTION.  I am SO HAPPY that I am now going to Yoga - I have a Commitment to go to Yoga at least once a week - and I love it.  I love the feeling of stretching and strengthening my body, I just love it!!!  After Yoga, I was very relaxed sitting at home on the couch and I was very very tempted to have some chocolate - and yet I have made a Commitment to not eat sweets during the week.  I am not sure what changed for me, I never used to eat chocolate, sweets, cakes.  I am glad that I am more relaxed and yet I need to Balance this with my Commitment to my Best Health. 

Thanks to my Commitment to Yoga, the last two Thursday nights I have slept so well, sleeping through the whole night.  Getting enough sleep is also important to me.

Nature is also on my list of Values, and while I could have stayed in bed longer, I felt Inspired to get up and go for a walk.  By having a Commitment to my Health, it is easy to make a decision to get moving and get active.  

As I go for a walk, I see some runners pass me and I always have the same response, a feeling of 'I wish I was Running'.  Every time I see a runner or hear a story about Running from a friend, this feeling is always present for me.  I love Running.  I have tried other activities such as Paddling and love the idea of Swimming - and yet I always come back to my love of Running.  And yet I have made a Commitment that starting a family within the next 6-12 months is a Priority for me and so I have decided to just enjoy Walking so that I can be painfree in my back and neck.  I know that I will be Running again one day and so for now I enjoy Walking.  I love the sense of peace that comes with Walking, especially when I am in Nature.

I love Gunnamatta Park, it is one of my favourite places.  My Soul feels at home here.  I just love the Trees and the quiet.  I love being outdoors, especially at Gunnamatta Park.  I feel a sense of Connection with Nature.  I love feeling a sense of Connection with Trees.  I am drawn to a tall tree and I have a sense of the Tree's Wisdom.  I put my hand on the Tree and listen to the whisper of the words that I feel inside of me.  I wait.  I have a sense of the following words - "Be", "You are here", "You are here!!!", "Follow the signs".

I feel a sense of stillness.  These words speak to me.  I have a sense that due to the nature of Coaching and the moving forward, I am often looking forward and setting Goals and wanting to take the Next Steps and in  hearing these words "You are here" I have a feeling of Relief, Peace, Rejoice, Celebration - "I AM HERE" - WOW!!!  I say to myself "Wow, I AM HERE, look where I AM".  I have so much to be Grateful for right now - after years and years of being unhappy in my Career and wanting to work with people and be a helper and healer - I AM HERE - I am a Coach now.  This is a new Journey and I am still learning and growing and yet I Am Here - I can be happy with where I am right now.  Yes, I want to grow my Business and work with more Clients and be more Active in running Workshops and Group Coaching and today I also have a sense of being a Teacher and speaking at Seminars - and these are all possibilities and opportunities.  And this will come.  And I have reassurance in the words "Follow the signs".  I also have a sense of "I AM HERE" in the area of my love relationship - for years and years I have put so much energy into the wrong relationships and this has been my Soul Path and now I AM HERE in a loving relationship - my Man is Home to me - it is a wonderful feeling.  I have a strong Commitment to my relationship with my Man.

I love being in Nature.  I have a strong sense that I want to do outdoor Coaching that may involve Nature Walking and picnic rug style Coaching as well as Group Coaching at Sunrise and also Sunset.  These are just ideas that feel right for me, and my Organiser Archetype has scheduled 2 hours next week to put these and more of my other ideas into writing.  I definitely have a Commitment to grow my Coaching Business.  I love Coaching and working with Clients.  I also have a Commitment to Spread The Yellow in my daily living, in my Coaching and also through my Business.

I also have a Commitment to be in Community and so I enjoy being at the Bookstore today where there are some lovely woman and I love being able to talk about our Spiritual Journeys.  I really enjoying sharing time with them and enjoy a sense of Connection.  I also enjoyed a Meditation at the Bookstore today, guided by one of the healers.  This is the second time I have come to this Mediation Group and I am really enjoying this opportunity.

I always love the opportunity to just connect and relax within.  I have a feeling that I am within my Soul's Home, my Yellow Heart, which is a place of Love and Light, and I am just being "Present and Warm To What Is" - it is really nice to just take time for Meditation.

I love the image above and it captures the sense of my Yellow Heart filled with Light and the rays of Light coming from my Heart.  And I also have a strong sense in my Meditation of rays of Light coming from the Heavens - from God, the Universe, my Angels.

During the Meditation I have a sense of the words "I Am Here" (again here are these words).  And I also have a visual of a Yellow Path, that I will be guided and I just have to "Follow the signs" (these are also the words from my Nature walk this morning).  I love the visual of a Yellow pathway and I hear the words "Trust", "Trust".

I have a Commitment to my Soul Purpose to Spread The Yellow and I am asking for Guidance to show me the signs of my Next Steps.  I do not want to be so in Yang that I am not in tune with my Yin - I want Spirit to speak to me through my Yin and for my Yin to then direct my Yang.

As I Name and Honour my Commitments of my Health, my Man, my Coaching Business and my Purpose to Spread The Yellow, I believe that this will open up more doors and ways for me.  I have a sense that I have to "Be" and "Listen" and "Trust".

I love the following quotes about Commitment -
- “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Tom Robbins

- “There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”

- “Commitment unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the "right stuff" to turn our dreams into reality.” James Womack

- "When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible.” - this is how I feel about my Coaching and being in a place of Spread The Yellow - I feel like I am definitely on my Yellow Path, I AM HERE!!!  And as I say these words I am Excited and Delighted, I feel a lightness, a brightness - I AM HERE!!!  And I have a Commitment to follow my Path, even if it is not always Yellow, even if it takes me through the forest or down into the Valleys, I have a sense that my Light will carry and support me on my Journey...

And this afternoon my Man is doing a cleanup and finds some beautiful Christmas decorations that we bought last November and that we had forgotten to display at Christmas.  He brings them out and I love that there is an Angel with a Yellow Heart and also a Golden Butterfly.  They are beautiful and have so much meaning for me.  I decide to bring them into my everyday, rather than just packing them away for Christmas.  I feel the Angel with the Yellow Heart is there to remind me of my Soul Purpose - that my Yellow Heart, at the centre of my being, is filled with Love and Light and is a Gift from God.  This is why I am here, to Spread The Yellow, and God, the Universe and Angels are here to support me.

And the Golden Butterfly also speaks to me - the Butterfly is such a strong symbol of Tranformation.  As I look at the picture of the Golden Butterfly, the Light has created a Shadow - a reminder to me that Life is Light and Dark, Day and Night, Summer and Winter and a reminder to me that I am also Light and Dark.  And as I live in the Light and Upper World, I can make Space to Witness my Shadow and be open to all emotions and open to the messages of my Unconscious... this is my Commitment.

The Organiser In Me

As part of my Preparation for my College Course of 'Life Quality and Design' I have been working through the Structured Processes of: The Ideal Scene, Wheel Of Life, Energy Leaks Inventory, Procrastinations Task Completion Sheet - and now time to look at Adrenaline.   

Reading about Adrenaline from an excerpt from 'Take Time For Your Life' by Cheryl Richardson is helpful.  "Various types of fuel give us energy needed to take action.  Some fuels are better than others.  For example, energy that comes from exercise, nutritious food, and the love and support of great people fuels you and supports your long-term health in a positive way.  Other energy sources such as adrenaline, caffeine, sugar, and anxiety may fuel you in intense bursts but ultimately put your health at risk." 

"Adrenaline is produced by the adrenal gland which regulates the body's fight-or-flight response to stimulating experiences.  These experiences can be positive and negative.  When you're late for an appointment and you hit a traffic jam, the rush of anxiety you feel sitting in the car is adrenaline.  When the deal you've been working on finally comes through, the excitement you feel also comes from adrenaline.  Adrenaline isn't bad, but when we develop habits like constantly running late or juggling too many projects at once, it gets us into trouble."

I take the Adrenaline test to see if this is fuelling me, by answering the following questions:

- Do you constantly overcommit yourself personally and professionally?  NO
- Do you double-book social engagements?  NO

- Are you usually late for appointments?  NO more than YES (I have been Consciously working on this to Honour others by Honouring appointments)

- Do you repeatedly check your voicemail or email throughout the day? Voicemail NO Email YES

- Is your schedule so full that there's no time left for you?  NO

- Do you feel lost without your beeper, cell phone, or laptop?  NO (Not anymore)

- Do you put things off to the last minute or use tight deadlines to get things done?  NO

- Do you find yourself in frequent conflicts with others?  NO

- Do you usually speed when driving?  NO

- Does it seem like your car's fuel gauge is always on or near empty?  YES

- Do you hate to stop and ask for or read directions?  NO

- Do you live on the edge financially?  NO

- Do you always feel pressed for time?  NO

- Do you put off making decisions or taking action in spite of the anxiety it causes?  NO

- Does the thought of being bored make you nervous and uncomfortable?  NO

- If the phone rings as you're heading out the door, do you answer it anyway?  NO
- Do you wake in the middle of the night with your thoughts racing, unable to sleep?  NO

- Do you juggle several projects at once?  NO
- Are you constantly coming up with new ideas to pursue? NO

- Do you often forget to follow through on commitments?  NO

I read that if I answered 'YES' to five or more questions, this would mean that I am running on adrenaline.  "These behaviours generate the constant hum of anxiety, and this anxiety pumps adrenaline into your body."

It comes as no surprise to me that I am not running on adrenaline - and I am still glad to review the questions.  It is a helpful guide for me and my Coaching Clients.  Since I was made redundant in February 2010, I have Consciously made Choices to allow Space in my life.  As a result I feel a lot more relaxed and peaceful.

This is the second time that I have read these notes, and an area that does resonate with me, and has triggered new Awareness and Behaviour is - "Start arriving fifteen minutes early for every appointment you make.  This one action can have a dramatic impact on the adrenaline cycle... you're able to arrive early and relax beforehand.  Give yourself room to breathe."  This is the only time when I feel that rush of anxiety, when I am rushing for appointments.  And I am now Conscious of Honouring the time of others by making sure that I am on time for appointments.  And I am also planning to bring into habit the practice of being fifteen minutes early for appointments.    

Apart from my rush to appointments, I do feel relaxed.  And while I have allowed the Space and have been enjoying more Space, I now feel that it is time to bring in more of the Yang Organised and Planned Part of me.  I feel I have some big Goals and I need to be doing more.  This is not to suggest that I want to be running on adrenaline - this Activity has helped highlight to me what I do not want to change.  It also highlights to me how much I have changed over the years - I remember the time when I couldn't get to sleep since I had so many thoughts racing through my head and when I used to have so many Commitments that I was so stressed and anxious.  Hmm... I am definitely enjoying being in a more relaxed and peaceful state.

As I have been studying and learning about Archetypes I am now trying to get to know The Organiser In Me.  I am wanting to create order, take full responsibility and be a leader of my life and enjoy Success of my Goals.  

I read that the Role of the Ruler/ Organiser is "to blend the other Sub-Personalities into a continuous expression.  The Ruler/ Organiser makes the decisions to leave something and start a new (enacted by the Destroyer and the Creator).  The Organiser decides who will do what in order to ensure the completion of the Goal in a timely manner."

I really want to embrace The Organiser In Me.  I have a sense that if I make better use of my diary and make lists and try to take Steps every day towards my Goals, then this will serve me well.  I know that I need to bring in more of my Yang and yet I do not want to be too Planned or Ordered or Controlled or take up all of the Space with a tight schedule.  I still want to allow my Intuitive Yin to guide me.  

I am wanting The Organiser In Me to help me with my Business, and also to continue being more Organised at home.  I also want The Organiser In Me to make sure I am making time for Meditation, Yoga, Walking, eating right - so that I am getting the best kind of energy that will support my health in a positive way.

I enjoy reading in 'The Dark Side Of The Light Chasers' by Debbie Ford "There is nothing wrong with faith.  There is nothing wrong with affirmations.  But at some point you must take the Next Step.  Make a Commitment to have what you want in life and then make a plan to get it.  It's there waiting for you but most likely it won't fall into your lap.  If you want to know whether you're serious about changing something in your life, ask yourself if you have a plan of ACTION.  If the answer is no, go back and see if you're really committed to achieving your Goal.  A plan of ACTION ought to be written down on paper.  If it's only in your mind it may be more of a Dream than a plan.  Plans in our minds tend to get lost or forgotten, or pushed aside by everyday life.  Tell yourself you'll have more of a chance of achieving your Goal if you have it written down and keep it at hand."

It is time for The Organiser In Me to get my Creator Archetype and Sage Archetype together and start writing down my ACTION Plans.