I Wish

The other day I went into Paddington to get some makeup for my wedding. As I do not wear makeup very often and like a very natural look, I have been looking for a makeup artist and the right makeup. And after meeting a lovely beautician on Thursday night, my journey took me into Paddington.

I am not a big shopper and yet when I arrived at Paddington, I heard the faint whisper of a Part of me that said “I Wish”... I was shocked - the voice said “I Wish I was rich...” In a second I thought about how I would go to the day spa all the time for facials and massages and “I Wish I was rich to go into all of the fancy clothing boutiques” and ”I Wish I had the confidence to go into the fancy boutiques”. And then in an instant I thought “I Wish I was more beautiful”,” I Wish I had perfect skin”, ” I Wish I had perfect features”, “ I Wish I had beautiful long hair”, “I Wish I looked all dressed up and fancy like the ladies passing by me”.

I was very curious about this Part of me...

Normally I sit in a place of Gratitude and Thankfulness for all I am and all I have. Very big in my Awareness is the fact that so many people live in poverty and struggle for their basic needs or even just people who are affected by sickness and disabiity. And yet here I was wishing for more.

And it is not that I can’t afford clothes in those boutiques - maybe one or two pieces (maybe a scarf) if I made it a Priority - yet it actually comes back to the larger Part of me that does not really like shopping. And yet I have noticed that there is this Part of me that is become louder and wants to wear nice things and wear makeup and look pretty. For a long time I did competitive Running, it was always about being faster - short hair, skinny, Running shoes, Running clothes, Running, training, competing - very Masculine and Yang. I even remember a boyfriend at the time who grew sick of my tracksuits and wished I wore more skirts - I still remember him saying that to me. And after I hurt my back I started wearing shapeup joggers to help my back, and they do make a difference - and yet now I want different. Now my Feminine Part of me, my Yin, is coming more alive, back alive - where I am finding myself wanting to buy magazines, wear pretty blouses, wanting to paint my nails - and even travelling to Paddington to get the right makeup that is right for me.

These thoughts in my head of “I Wish” only lasted about one or two minutes. I was then able to return to the Part of me that knows I am so fortunate. And then I also sat in a Space of what is really most important to me - what “I Wish” for the most - “I Wish my Mum didn’t have cancer”, this is the big number one - and “I Wish we have a baby soon”, another big, very important Wish.

Being in the Space of “I Wish” made me think of the Serenity Prayer - “God grant me the Serenity to Accept the things I cannot Change; the Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference.” For me there are many things outside my control, some of the big things. And if my greatest ”I Wish” is about Family for me, I can continue to treat this as a Priority in my life.

And if I am finding my Spirit come alive and some excitement regarding matters of the Feminine, it does not mean that I have to get caught up in Consumerism, Materialism, Shopping - yet I can enjoy my trip to Paddington to buy makeup, I can buy and enjoy flicking through magazines, and I am really enjoying now that I am back again wearing more dresses, embracing my Feminine. And it doesn’t mean I have to spend a lot of money - I even enjoyed a look at St Vincent De Paul’s at Paddington and found a really nice designer blouse and also a dress - all for the total price of $18 - I was Excited. I don’t really care about the “designer” bit, although there was a Part of me quietly Proud as if I had bought it at full price - and the main Part of me loved the bargain. Mostly I always love the opportunity to be on a treasure hunt to see what surprises and delights me in second hand stores and I love the chance to Recycle and Reuse.

The “I Wish” related to the Feminine Part of me is loving colour and fabrics and fashion. My Spirit is highlighting that I could get back to sewing again - I remember with fond memories sewing clothes -back when I was about 16-20 years of age. I used to love sewing dresses and wearing them out. Perhaps a new hobby when the time is right. And I am also interested in expressing my creativity through photography - another hobby I once loved.

I am not going to say” I Wish I had more time”.   I know I have the power to manage my time so that I can focus on my Priorities and Values.

I just realised that if I stay in the “I Wish” Space for too long (more than a couple of minutes), I am almost sitting in powerlessness, almost waiting for someone to rescue me or make my dreams come true.

Instead if I use the “I Wish” Space as a window to when my Spirit comes alive and when I feel Inspired, I can decide if this is really my heart’s desire.  There is almost a childhood Innocence here -  I can ask my Innocence Part of me what I really want, and in the quietness listen to my inner voice.

For ages and always, since I have stopped Running over the last couple of years, whenever I see a runner, I always say to myself “I Wish I could run again”, and so today on my walk, I allowed my Self to enjoy a few minutes of Running, in between Walking, enough to make me feel the aliveness and Joy of Running. Wonderful!!!

From the “I Wish” Space I can also check to see what is underneath the “I Wish” and show Curiosity of how I can fulfil Needs for my Self, my Soul. As an example the “I Wish I was rich and I would go to day spas more often”, I know this for me is about yes being pampered, but most importantly just wanting time to relax and have “me time”.  And so this morning I made it a Priority to get up early and take a walk in nature, and this evening made time for a relaxing bath.

And so from the “I Wish” Space, which feels so distant and far away, I am able to move to a place of feeling Excited and Empowered.

Music Moves Me

Balance is important to me.  Sometimes I like silence.   I especially love silence when I am out walking - I don't like listening to music while I am outdoors in Nature - I just love the silence and the Space.  And I love when I can enjoy silence at home, silence in the car - just time to have Space.   I am so fortunate that this year I have been able to enjoy more Space in my life.

And at other times I love listening to Music.  I love Music.  I love when I am cooking and I remember to put on one of my favourite CDs and I dance and sing around the kitchen.  Or it is after dinner and I put on a song and My Man and I dance around the loungeroom.  And I love when I dance around with my three beautiful Nieces, we hold hands and spin around - it is a joyful time.  I recently found hundreds of CDs in my garage and I have been meaning to gather some of my favourite CDs and bring them into our home to enjoy.

When I am driving to work I also love listening to songs that make me feel Inspired - I love when Music Moves Me.  I love when a great song comes on the radio or on one of my CDs and I turn up the volume and feel Energised.

Two of my favourite songs that I listen to when I am driving to meet with my Coaching Clients are by Shannon Noll - 'Lift' and 'Shine'. 

I love 'Lift' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gUWbPzDGuo

The words of this piece of Music Moves Me:
- "I know you're hurting"
- "Seems like forever
That you've been falling"
- "Your life is calling, yeah"
- "This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again"
- "Cos I know how hard it can get"
- "I know you're stronger"
- "You've got to lift yourself up above all
the hurt - Don't give in"


I also love the song 'Shine' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_9id4I0pCw

I love the song since my Business is called 'SHINE Coaching' and I love the words and passion of this song - I definitely feel Excited and Inspired. 

I love these words:
- "Today's the day you hold the world with your song
Go now, go now, go now, help escalate
Angels come down, help with this parade
To hear your voice ring out
Come on and shout it
Let your song be heard

- "This is the time
This is the day that we've been waiting for
All the world will stop to watch you shine
This is the time
This is the day that we've been waiting for
All the world believes that you will shine"

These songs help me feel positive and uplifted.  Music definitely has the power to make me feel wonderful.  And yet today when I was looking on 'youtube' I came across a short clip with Music and images that touched me with a deep sadness.  This song and clip is definitely not uplifting - instead it makes you very much stop and just sit with hard realities  

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvgXelgVqBE&feature=related

I love to be positive and uplifted and yet this clip is also a reminder of the tragedy and pain in the world that affects individuals, families, communities, countries.  And as I sit and watch the images I almost watch in disbelief and the world stops around me, as I sit with the horror and tragedy of the world events.  I am humbled and I feel compassion and empathy for my fellow brothers and sisters.  

Watching this clip reminds me that there are so many things that we cannot control - and yet we can choose to love others and Spread The Yellow - offering Connection and Acknowledgement - sitting and sharing Sacred Space with another in good times and in times of pain.  We can choose to offer a smile, a kind word, a hug.  We can see the light in another and help them see the light in themselves and the light in their world.

And we can hold the Paradox - Gratitude for the Joy and Light in our own lives and also holding the realities of darkness and sadness.  And I definitely feel Inspired after watching this clip to be active, to help others and work in Community, to Make A Difference, and to take a Stand for human rights and what is right.

I am so Grateful for the Light in my life.  I would like to share one last clip (not to take away  from, or forget, the sadness of the previous clip).  This is a great song that I heard the other day.  My Man and I are  currently planning our wedding - and I am feeling Excited.  We are planning to have this as our wedding song - it is fun and I love the words "you take me the way I am"

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBKAPazypwc&feature=related

This clip and the words make us laugh  and we are blessed to have found True Love with each other.  In True Love we can share the happiness and the sadness, the joy and the pain - we can embrace life together.

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.

Celebration

I love to be in Celebration mode - taking time to acknowledge the Wins of my day and show Gratitude in my life.  As the weekend nears to an end I would like to take the time to be in Celebration.

I am Excited that I have finally had my Garage Sale.  I am in Celebration that I was able to bring in my Organiser Archetype and make this happen. 

I am in Celebration for all of the people that visited my Garage Sale and bought my once loved treasure.  I am in Celebration for my Mum and Dad who helped me for days and joined in the day.

I am in Celebration of My Man for cooking lunch for us on Saturday and for always supporting me.

I am also in Celebration that My Man's Mum arrived safely from her 4 week holiday and was Excited and Energised about her holiday.

I am in Celebration to spend time with my Brother and my Nieces Ashley and Olivia - it was such a wonderful surprise when they came to visit the Garage Sale on Saturday afternoon.  And then we were able to go to Cronulla to enjoy ice cream.  I just love holding their hands and hearing their stories and receiving their hugs.  They are such a Gift in my life.

I am in Celebration that I have Choices where I can choose to Spread The Yellow, even in the small ways, such as when My Man and I have a disagreement, I can reach out to hold his hand.

I am especially in Celebration and Appreciation for my Coaching Clients.  It is such an Honour to share their Journey.  I am also very Grateful that I received two wonderful testimonials to include in an upcoming Editorial and in creating my Website.  I am VERY Thankful.

- "Life Coaching has enabled me to get my wonderful life 'back on track'. Having an unbiased sounding board, as well as a skilled, enthusiastic and inspiring Coach has enabled me to create big changes in every area of my life. Thanks Kath."  Julie, Cronulla. 
- "Kath's Coaching has helped me change my life around for the better. She has guided me in many aspects of my life from getting organised with a new baby to strategies to help me lose weight.  Kath has shown me how to find the abilities and tools within me to follow my dreams." Bronwyn, Caringbah.

I felt so happy when I read these words from my Clients.  I am definitely in Celebration that I am a Life Coach.

I am committed to enjoying a daily ritual of being in Celebration and showing Gratitude and Appreciation for the Gifts in my life.  This is my way to Love each day, Love Self, Love Life, Love All.

And I also Love being in Celebration with my Clients, Celebrating their Uniqueness and Greatness and Celebrating all of their Wins.