Enjoying The Highlights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Yellow Heart

I am blessed that I now have such a strong sense of my Soul's Home - My Yellow Heart.  

For me the image of my Yellow Heart is my Touchstone to the way of being where I am totally Present.  In this place I am Love, I am Light, I am Acceptance, I am Warmth.  In this place I am Relaxed, I am at Peace.  In this place I can hear the whispers of my Soul, my Yellow Heart is the home of my Soul.  

In this place I have Connection with my Wise Self - a Part of me that guides me on my Soul path.  Today I enjoyed a Meditation listening to my new CD 'Pure Sounds Gyuto Monks of Tibet' (which is wonderful) and I felt my Self sitting in my Soul's Home of My Yellow Heart and being in Communication with my Wise Self (who was sitting opposite me).  This was a wonderful experience.  This is my image of my Wise Self.

As I sit in my Soul's Home of My Yellow Heart in my Meditation I also have a sense and the image of my Guardian Angel holding my right hand.  My Guardian Angel whispers "I am here, you are not alone."  My Guardian Image is beautiful - her dress is made of crystal and gold.  This is a beautiful experience.  I also have a sense of another Angel holding my left hair - she is dressed in purple.  My Angels explain that they are here to help guide me, and that by allowing this Space in my life, I can be in touch with my Intuition.

As I am in Meditation I feel my Self sitting in my Soul's Home and I feel so Peaceful - I want to stay in this place, I want to stay in this place forever.  And then came the realisation that I can stay in this place - I can always sit in My Yellow Heart and be Love and Light and Peace and Acceptance.  In my Soul's Home I feel that I am sitting in a circle, my Guardian Angel to my right, another Angel to my left and my Wise Self opposite me - and there are Others from the Universe also Present to support me.  In my day to day, I can take this Awareness with me, feeling the Love and Light of the Universe.

Recently in a Coaching Session I discovered my Soul's Home is this place of being "Present and Warm to What Is".  By Consciously choosing to be in my Soul's Home I feel more at Peace.  At work I am just being  "Present and Warm to What Is", and so rather than overthinking about my Monday-Wednesday, I am able to be Present and focus on my work.  In this way, I am not wasting energy thinking about anything other than being at work - and as I focus on my work I am able to exceed my Targets and I feel a sense of Achievement.  In my relationship with my Man, I am also practicing being Present.  And in this place I can express my truth and all of my feelings. 

When I am with my Clients I feel myself in My Yellow Heart, listening with my Heart, totally Present.  In My Yellow Heart I sit in Honour of my Clients, in Honour of their Courage.  I am Honoured that they are sharing their Journey with me.  In My Yellow Heart I am Love, I am Light, I am Acceptance, I am "Present and Warm to What Is", I am Peace.  As I sit in My Yellow Heart I hold a Sacred Space for others.  In my Yellow Heart I allow Space.  Space for me offers the opportunity to Pause.  Rather than rushing in and speaking, I allow Attentive Silence for my Clients.  I also allow the Space for my Intuition, to hear Spirit.  And then I can respond to my Clients. 

Space in my own life allows me to gain insights for my own life.  Having Space is very important to me.  Space allows me to tune into my sense of achieving Balance within my Self and my Life. 

When I am Home in My Yellow Heart, I have a strong sense of Self-Love and Confidence.  I remember who I am, my Soul Journey and my Soul Purpose.  I am True to me.  And as I move into the Future and looking at my Ideal Scene in 5 years I want to be having this same internal experience - where I can be in the daily living of being in My Yellow Heart, my Soul's Home, the Light, Love and Peace within me - that is me.  When I am Home in My Yellow Heart I allow the Space to be in Connection with Spirit.  I have a knowing that I can draw on all of the Strengths and Resources within me, including my Wise Self and other Archetypes. By being "Present and Warm to What Is" I feel that I can always carry this with me - no matter where my Life leads I can be in My Yellow Heart.

From My Yellow Heart I can Spread The Yellow.  From a Natural, Heart-Felt, Genuine, Place of Love, I can Share, Moment to Moment, my Love, Warmth, Connection, Presence, Genuine Interest and Curiosity, My Interest In What You Have To Say, My Interest In Your Journey, My Care.  I can Communicate  I SEE YOU, YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME.  I can Share JOY, Happiness, Positivity, Energy, Excitement, Enthusiasm, Eye Contact, Just Being With Another, A Smile, A Moment, A Kind Word, Words From My Heart, A Hug, An Encouragement, An Acknowledgement, Gratitude, Appreciation, Gift Of Words, Gift Of Thoughtfulness, AWARENESS, Opportunities, Possibilities, the Right To Choice, the Right To Choose, An Offering, An Invitation.  From My Yellow Heart I can Make A Difference, I can Make This Moment Count!!!

I have a sense of a Butterfly landing in my Soul's Home, an image of Transformation.  The Butterfly gently reminds me that Life is a Journey and that change is a part of Life.  The Butterfly reminds me to Honour the Journey of Others.  The Butterfly reminds me to Honour my own Journey.

For me my Business Card helps highlight my way of Being and Doing that feels right for me.  My Yellow Heart is at the Centre and this Inspires Emotion and Action through my Yin and Yang, the Parts of me that act from a place of Love.  There is Balance, there is Space, there is Light.  And as I Honour My Yellow Heart, I will SHINE.

I feel so Grateful to recognise the Yellow in my own Life.  As I sit within My Yellow Heart I can be real with every emotion and I can also have an Attitude of Gratitude.  I am very Grateful to my Man who surprised me yesterday with a beautiful card and words and a thoughtful present, that is very me.  My Man is continually bringing Yellow to my life, always buying me Yellow flowers and recently he bought me a Yellow shower curtain.  I am so happy that I see my Man in my Future, he is in my Ideal Life.  I am blessed to be so Loved by my Man and feel such Love for him.  And in My Yellow Heart I have Love and Care for my Self.

My Archetypes Evening Review

I have spent so much time getting to know my Yin Feminine and Yang Masculine and now is the time to get to know my Archetypes (which are a combination of Yin and Yang).

I enjoy looking at this website http://www.herowithin.com/arch101.html which has a lot of great information about Archetypes - "Archetypes provide the deep structure for human motivation and meaning...  Twentieth-century psychiatrist C.G. Jung called them 'archetypes'.  Building upon Jung's work, Carol S. Pearson has created a system of 12 archetypes that put a human face on the meaning structures that are correlated with success and fulfilment today. Studying Pearson's archetypes can help you:

* Better understand your own journey

* Increase communication between your conscious and unconscious minds

* Trigger a greater sense of meaning and fulfilment in your life

* Inspire and motivate others

* Cope more effectively with difficult people

* Have greater flexibility to respond to the challenges of life

* Be more effective within your family, workplace, and community context."

When I read the above paragraph I feel motivated to learn more and embrace the Archetypes in myself, essentially the Strengths and Resources within me.  As part of my own Journey and my College work,  I enjoy time in Self-Reflection, where I am especially interested to understand the Archetypes that are showing up for me on a daily basis.

Today was my Niece's 4th Birthday.  I love my Nieces, they are a blessing in my life, they bring me so much joy.  We had a great day.  Time now for My Archetypes Evening Review to see what Archetypes were present for me today.  This is a Process recommended by my Coaching Teacher, Mentor, my Coach and I am happy to finally start looking at my Archetypes by using a more Yang Structured Process.

To assist me in this Process I enjoy the details on this great website -
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mYkgixQeeIsJ:www.marketingforsports.com/content161.html+CAREGIVER+ARCHETYPE&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au

 

MY EVENING REVIEW
1. Which different Archetypes were predominant at different times during this day? What circumstances (inner or outer) made them emerge or withdraw? Were there any conflicts between them?
- Today I feel that I was in my Regular Gal Archetype "The Regular Guy/Gal/Orphan understands that everyone matters, just as they are.  Down-home and unpretentious, it reveals a deep structure influenced by the wounded or ophaned child that expects very little from life, but that teaches us empathy, realism, and street smarts"

-  I also felt that I was in the Caregiver Archetype "The Caregiver is an altruist, moved by compassion, generosity, and selflessness to help others.  Although prone to martydom and enabling behaviours, the inner Caregiver/Atruist helps us raise our children, aid those in need, and build structures to sustain life and health."

- I felt that I Consciously chose to be in the Regular Gal Archetype and my Caregiver Archetype naturally came in when I was with my Nieces and my Parents.

2.    What were the valuable qualities and what were the limitations to the situation of each Archetype or in their proportions? How did each help me or get in my way?
- In the Regular Gal Archetype I felt comfortable and I felt a sense of belonging with my Family, I did not feel any sense of pretense, just a genuine care and interest in everyone
- The limitation was that in blending in with everyone, there was not always the time and opportunity for a sense of Connection
- In the Caregiver Archetype I had a desire to look after my Nieces when they were in my care when we went to the Park and I also had concern for my Dad
- The challenge for me of the Caregiver in me is that I need to respect that my Nieces are not my children and that I have to trust my Mum and Dad in their own decisions - I can offer care and then I can move away and continue on my own path

3.    What did each want to contribute? What would it like my life to be if it could contribute to its highest level?
- I like what I read about the Regular Gal and Caregiver Archetypes that rings true for me
- "The Regular Guy / Gal wants to fit in. By developing ordinary, solid virtues and avoiding any form of pretense or pomposity, the Regular Guy / Gal achieves a sense of belonging in his or her chosen environment.  The Regular Guy / Gal archetype begins as an orphan who seeks somewhere to belong. At the second level, the Regular Guy / Gal learns to connect with others, accept help and develop friendships. The highest level of the archetype is the humanitarian who believes that all people have value regardless of their abilities or circumstances."
- "The Caregiver helps and protects others. By serving others and supporting them emotionally and financially, the Caregiver helps others achieve their goals.  At the lower levels, the Caregiver archetype involves caring for one’s friends and family, and learning to balance caring for others with caring for oneself. At its pinnacle, the archetype involves an altruistic concern for and desire to help the entire world."

4.  Were my Archetypes in harmony with what I wanted to do, or did I have to integrate or synthesis them? What part did I take in harmonizing and directing them?

- In my Regular Gal Archetype I just naturally sat in this place and then moved into the Caregiver Archetype as needed through the day

- In terms of my Caregiver Archetype I did need to remind myself that I am not the main Caregiver of my Nieces or my Dad and just need to give love and care in the moments and I need to ensure that this does not extend into worry

5. What are the underlying or implicit values and beliefs operating in each?

- Values of my Regular Gal Archetype are Family and Love - My core belief is that I do Belong with my Family

- Values of my Caregiver are also Family, Love, Service - My core Belief is that I do have a responsibility to give care to my Family

 

6. What assumptions can you challenge upon which you base/d your ideas, feelings and actions regarding not working with an archetype in the optimal way?

- Being in the Regular Gal Archetype assumes that I am just like everyone else and should just blend in - perhaps then I am not bringing my energy or personality or uniqueness or greatness to the day

- Being in the Caregiver Archetype I have a sense that I need to be loving and caring and yet I also must respect that my Family have their own lives and it is not my responsibility to be the worrier or rescuer

7. Recognise potential biases or discriminations in your choices or engagement with them

- Being in the Regular Gal Archetype I almost feel that I am not consciously bringing my whole Self to the day

- Being in the Caregiver I have a potential bias to move to overcare or worry

8. Describe any fears to acknowledge them and build resources to transform them

- In terms of being in the Regular Gal Archetype I have a fear that I am not bringing other Parts of myself to the day, I am lacking Consciousness of what Parts of me I may need to bring onto the stage

- In the Caregiver Archetype there is also a fear of stepping into worry and also a sense of being misunderstood or unappreciated

9. Identify possible areas for improvement. What might make a difference?

- In terms of being the Regular Gal Archetype I do not want to just be sitting in this Archetype - I would prefer to be sitting in my Soul's Home of "Being Present and Warm to What Is" and then Consciously bringing my Archetypes onto the stage as guided by my Intuition

- In terms of the Caregiver Archetype I love my Nieces and my Family and my Man and I can bring in my Sage's wisdom to stop me from going into overcare or worry

10. What are the most compelling reasons to make this difference and grow?   What is the deeper meaning of this for you?

- By sitting in my Soul's Home of "Being Present and Warm to What Is" I can tune into my Sage and understand the Archetypes that will support my being, my day, my Journey

- While I love the Gifts of the Regular Gal of realism, empathy and lack of pretense - I do not want to fall into complacency where I just blend in and lose a sense of my uniqueness

11. What change does this call for? What theories and philosophies might help and assist your growth? Where or who might that help come from?

- I have a sense that Meditation on a daily basis will help me connect with my Soul and Sage and this will assist me on my Journey

- I also love just taking this opportunity to learn about my Archetypes and believe that Art Therapy will also help me on my Journey

12. What is your Vision for the outcome of these differences?

- My Vision is to sit in a place of Awareness and Consciousness of all Parts of Self

- By also Being in a relaxed, peaceful and natural state, with a Consciousness of being "Present and Warm To What Is" I feel I can choose how to act and respond by tuning into my Sage

- Other times, by having an Awareness of all my Archetypes, I feel I will naturally bring them on to the dancefloor of my life to serve the greater good

13. Outline the specifics if you need to (mind, spirit, body, emotions). Where is the first place to start experimenting with the change? When will this occur? 

 - For me I am making the Commitment to enjoy Meditation every day

 - I am also going to use my Journal and all of these questions for Self-Reflection

14. What else might create opportunities for practicing the “how” of the change?

- I can practice this change when I am in the workplace from tomorrow, just being "Present and Warm to What Is"

- I can also continue to remind myself that my Family are on their own Soul Path and rather than constantly being in the role of Caregiver I have to be active in caring for myself with a focus on my own Path

15. What might help move this toward becoming a new positive habit?

- Affirmations will help me - "Present and Warm to What Is" and "Trust others to be on their own Journey"

- Art Therapy

16. What systemic changes might create powerful additional help with reinforcement of whole new directions?

- These changes will free up my energy and create Space, so that I can tune into my Intuition and my Sage that will guide me on my Next Steps for my Purpose, my Life, my Coaching Business.

WOW, that is a big Process - a lot of great questions.  This Process is definitely worthwhile.  I have a sense that I can Consciously choose which Archetypes will serve the greater good.

And after such a Yang Process, I embrace my Yin and enjoy Art Therapy.  When I spend time on the Regular Gal Archetype I draw lines and lines of colour and then I have a sense that this does not feel right, that I want to shake it up!  I also write next to the Regular Gal heading - 

"How can anyone be Regular?  

We are all the Same,

We are all so Different!!!

We are Ordinary, 

We are Extraordinary!!!

I also enjoy sketching in colour in Reflection on the Caregiver and I have a sense of rays of light and energy all coming from me towards others.  I write the following words -
"If I direct all my light and energy to others, I am not taking care of myself.
In this space, I am not trusting others to care for themselves."


Now time to give Care to Self...

Break My Heart

I feel my prayers have been answered today - my Mum received positive news after a scan - we are relieved.  Thank you God for your miracles and healing.  I love my Mum.  And I love my Dad for being such a great man and so wonderful.  For the last two days we have been waiting for the results, and it is a tough time for my Mum and Dad (and me).

I went to Church on Sunday morning.  I enjoy going to Church and I especially wanted to focus on praying for my Mum.  Of course, I can pray outside the Church and yet there is something so powerful of praying as part of the Community.  We were praying for two people of the Community asking God for his healing and love and as I joined in the prayers I brought the image of my Mum to my mind's eye and I imagined rays and energy of love and light flowing to my Mum.  I love my Mum and pray for her continued good health and high spirits. 

I am so happy that I went to Church on Sunday - I always feel happy and uplifted and I really enjoy being at Church.  I love the opportunity to pray, I love the music and I love the Community at the Church.  I love the Commitment by the Church to be active in Community, active to Make A Difference.

We sang a song 'Hosanna' - I really love the words in this song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGJdTpMUcU&feature=related

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me 

Break My Heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity"

The Pastor talks about the line "Break My Heart from what breaks yours" and this line resonates with me.  I feel very Inspired listening to the Pastor - he says that it is our Responsibility to Act, Serve, Give our Resources, Gifts, Strengths, Passions to Impact with Strength and Love.  He explains that "when we pray we must be prepared to be part of the Answer - to Give, Go, Serve, Speak..."  

I have a desire to be more active in this Community, certainly to "show up" more often to Church and just be Present and see where my Journey leads me.  We watched a dvd about the Cambodia Mission where a Group of people went to Cambodia as part of a Tear Australia Program.  It was amazing watching the Community in Cambodia where money raised by the Church has helped build a dam and well which now provides water to a Community of 200 people.  This has been incredible for the Children and Families and Community, where in the past Children had to walk two and a half kilometres there and back to fetch water a few times a day - and now the Children can go to school on a full-time basis.  WOW!!!  I learn that the funding from our Church is being directed straight into the Community via a local Church, which means the majority of money goes directly to the Community.

I love that the Church is very active in the Global Community.  When I see images or hear stories of Children and Families living in poverty this does Break My Heart and I am motivated to Act and to be involved financially through my Business and on a Personal level.  For the last two years I have heard the Call to get involved with Communities living in poverty and I have made a Commitment that for every Coaching Session I will donate $5/ Session to Charity.  This is just one small way that I can Spread The Yellow.  I would also love to do Volunteer work with Children and Communities overseas.

I love the information in an article that I received from the Church

- "What are some practical ways to help the poor?

1. Buy Fair Trade wherever possible! Fair Trade products are those that are produced in circumstances whereby producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions, and where environmental sustainability is promoted...

2. Go Green! Environmental destruction is a major problem for the poor of our world as it affects farming, production, livelihood and safety...

3. Get educated! There are plenty of good websites out there, and plenty of opportunities to hear good perspectives...

4. Use your vote! This is an election year, and many of the important political debates are based on issues involving the poor and marginalised of our world – climate change, immigration, health care. Do some careful research and thinking about which party to vote for. Dialogue with others who have a concern for the poor and find out their perspective. Don’t waste your vote! Or worse, don’t vote based on your own personal benefits...

5. Think about money! And I don’t mean that in a capitalistic sense. Think about how much you earn – how much do you really need? How much can you give away to solid aid and development organisations or local services that help the poor? By all means, don’t just give money to the poor without thinking about the effect it has – you can have a very detrimental effect this way, as you could rob the poor of dignity, and perpetuate the cycle of dependency. But money used well can be a true gift and blessing to people around God’s world."

When donating money to support Communities in Poverty, I have recently been learning the importance of ensuring that the money helps people become Empowered.  I love what is written in the Church Newsletter "Some organisations simply provide money and services for the poorest people, and do nothing to empower them with options, dignity and education. In this way the poor become dependent on such aid, and they never really lift themselves out of poverty at all, thus continuing the cycle of victimisation."

As I am a Coach and I love helping people become Empowered to look at Options and make Choices for Transformation, I am keen to support the organisations that are helping Communities become Empowered, to Make A Difference in their lives.  When I think about Poverty it does Break My Heart and so I am saying to God and the Universe that I am here to help.  My Man and I are definitely looking to support Children and Communities in poverty and I have recently been doing some Research, wanting to make sure that the organisation that we support does help people become Empowered.  So far, I am interested in Tear Australia and Plan Australia.  

There is a Conference in July that sounds wonderful.  I would love to go to the Conference and yet I have Coaching Training over that weekend and when I realised that there is a clash of dates I was very disappointed.  Since I have such a strong feeling of disappointment, I feel that this Call to be involved in helping Communities living in poverty, in some capacity (it could be a small or a big capacity), is definitely real.  When I am at Church and when I am driving from Church, there is a part of me that wishes my Man was at Church with me and that he was as Passionate as me about being involved and active in the Local and Global Community.  And yet I know that he does Make A Difference in the lives of children every day, as he is a Teacher, and is very motivated and excellent at his lifework.  And the Sage in me, the wise Part in me, reminds me that my Man gives me Balance.  If we were both the same we may be on a plane to go and serve in Cambodia or Thailand or Vietnam - and yet my Man helps keep me Grounded in the other areas that are important to me - like being with my Family, and also looking forward to starting our own Family.  

On Sunday afternoon my Man and I had such a fun time with my Nieces, walking in the park, playing in the playground, laughing, me trying to do cartwheels, telling jokes - just being together.  While there is so much that can and does Break My Heart, I am Grateful that I can also be so Joyful and enjoy such beautiful, precious times with my Man and my Nieces and my Family.

And from this place of Joy and Warmth I can be open hearted and I can Choose to Spread The Yellow - this is my Purpose - this is why I am here - I am open to God and the Universe and his Angels to show me how I may serve - "Psalm 143:8 - Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my Soul."

For me God is love, he is the love and energy and Connection through us all, from him flows love, light and energy.  And we all have God within, the Spirit within that Connects us all.  And as I am in Connection with all I can offer my love and understanding - it is up to me to see the God within us all and live on Purpose to Spread The Yellow.  I am only one and yet I will do my best to be my best to offer love and light. 

Power Of Coaching

Today I experienced the Power Of Coaching.  Today I met with my Coach and it felt great to come into a new Awareness, which presents the opportunity for Transformation.

When I get home from my Appointment I feel very tired.  There was a small temptation to turn to a magazine or the television or the phone - and yet I really want to sit with myself and my learning from my Coaching Session.  I enjoy a Meditation and I have an image of all my Archetypes, the parts within me, all in Connection to each other, with hands on each others' shoulders - my Archetypes there for me and there for each other.  I have a sense of all these Strengths and Resources within me.  I look on Google images tonight and I cannot find the image that I am looking for, that would capture the image from my Meditation - and yet I find other images that also speak to me.

I enjoy time in Art Therapy to capture my learnings from my Coaching Session.  I love getting out my crayons and textas and pencils and paper - there is no pressure here of me trying to be an artist or get something perfect.

Through the Power Of Coaching and me describing a Story from my life, my Coach was able to establish a Framework of the Upper World and then the Sub-Conscious and then the Unconscious.  With Awareness I am able to make Choices to take the doorway and look at what is happening in my Sub-Conscious, the Fairytale in my life and then I can turn the key to open up to the Unconscious and the opportunities for Transformation.  Hmm...  it is interesting and life changing.

Through the Power Of Coaching, my Coach is able to offer a Reflection and a Sharing that helps me understand me and my different styles of Communication.  It is interesting, rather than being in a place of Yang or trying to work out how I can be better in Communication, the Power Of Coaching has offered an incredible opportunity for new Awareness.  My Coach offers that I can be in one energy when I am  in Connection with her and then I can go into my Yin, where I am purely in the Story and the description and the Emotion and move into my own world - and at these times I move out of Connection with her.  I have a sense of when this has happened in my life, this rings true for me.  And I feel in these times I am in my Innocence, my Red Riding Hood, and this is when there is the potential for the Wolf in me and the Wolf in others to come onto the stage of my life.  For me there is the opportunity to bring my Yin and Yang back into Balance rather than my Yin taking up all the Space.

I am Delighted to have a sense that I am mostly operating my life from a place that is Centred and Grounded.  The Power of Coaching revealed for me that there are almost two distinct levels of being - where I can be just walking in the world in one Archetype or I can be Present and in Communion with all my Archetypes.  I have seen so many examples from my own Journey where I am just operating from a place of one Archetype - such as Innocence or Lover or Warrior or Organiser and when I am in just one Archetype there are the Shadows of the Perfectionist and the Critic, and it is a world of black and white, light and dark.  In this place of one Archetype I make mistakes, and often I am not open to my own mistakes or the mistakes of others.  And yet I feel when I am Centred and Grounded I can draw on the different Archetypes to help me in my Communication and allow Connection with myself and with others.  Wow, I am starting to really understand the Power of this work, and it is wonderful to be sitting in the shoes of a Client to once again experience the Power Of Coaching.

I also love my Coach's Metaphor of life like a Building and that there is a lift so that when there are triggers and I look back on times in my life, there is the opportunity to take my Resources of my different Archetypes with me to support me and Transform the past.  I love this idea and believe that my Coaching Space will offer this opportunity.

It has been a big day of sitting in my own Awareness today.  I am tired and Excited by the possibilities where I feel I have a greater sense of areas for my own Transformation.  I love that my Teacher is offering us the opportunity to do our own Self-Reflection and our own work for Transformation so that as we walk with Clients on their Journey, we are also being true to our own Journey.

As I am learning more about Archetypes I am also being an Observer to them in my own life and I feel the Power of my Sage Archetype - "The Sage is quiet and stable and holds the quality of knowingness.  A good Sub-Personality to draw on when feeling stressed and caught up in the flow of life.  Hold onto the calm centred knowingness of the Sage and progress calmly, quietly and reliably through your Journey."

Today I was the Client - tomorrow I am the Coach.  I feel that I am in a Centred and Grounded place and I am looking forward to meeting with my Client.  And I am looking forward to continuing to be an Observer of my own Journey.

While today I spent a lot of time in my own Space - I was also happy to enjoy a walk and a talk and time with my Man.  For me it is about being in the Balance of Connection with Self and the Connection with others and being open to my Intuition to guide me on my Journey and to be true to Self.

I am very Thankful and Grateful for my Coach today, I am Inspired by her Wisdom and Talent and for the opportunity to enjoy the Power Of Coaching.

I am also very Grateful to my Man for his love and acceptance and appreciation of me - and to him for naturally being more than okay that I need my own time and  my own Space for my own Self-Discovery and Transformation.  He is Home to me and I am a Woman in love!!

Connection Is Most Important

Through getting to know my Yin Feminine and Yang Masculine and in their coming together, I have come to a place of Self-Love, I feel that I have Inner Resources to help me on a daily basis.  I feel more Self-Reliant, where I can depend on myself to achieve my Goals.  And yet I also believe it to be true, that people need people, we need each other. 

It reminds me of the quote "No man is an island..." - I Google the quote by John Donne - Meditation XVII "All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

When I read these words I do believe that people are social beings and they cannot live entirely alone or in isolation.  I love the movie 'Castaway' with Tom Hanks, where he makes a friend from his volley ball - in the movie Wilson is a real and true friend.  Hanks has said that in studying survivors of various situations he found that they need someone to talk to (as much as they need fire and water) and if they don't have someone, they create them.

I am Honoured to be a Coach in that for many people this offers an opportunity for Connection, for real Conversations, for people to be real and honest and speak from their heart.  Even as I write these words I  have a feeling that this is my favourite place, where I am in real Connection with others.  I read these words in 'Soulcraft', "Soul initiation transforms our lives by the power of the truth at the centre of our Soul image.  Embracing that truth results in a radical simplification of our lives.  Activities and relationships not supportive of our Soul purpose begin to fall away.  Our former agendas are discarded, half-completed projects abandoned.  Many old problems are not solved but outgrown.  Old ways of presenting and defending ourselves become less appealing, and less necessary."    

John Donne was also communicating that all mankind is interconnected - I believe that this is so true.  Perhaps that is why I don't enjoy watching the news or reading newspapers (very often) - there is so much sadness and human suffering - I cannot watch it without feeling pain for those fellow human beings, my brothers and sisters.  I can relate to the words in 'Soulcraft' about feeling a Connection to all people and to Nature, "...pathways to Soul stimulate a deep bonding, not just between people but also between humans and the other beings of nature.  Bonding across the species boundaries help us overcome the conflicts and disparities between Nature and culture and within human culture itself.  By deepening our identification with all life-forms, with ecosystems, and with the planet herself, we begin to discover within us what deep ecologist Arne Naess calls the 'ecological self' or what James Hillman calls 'a psyche the size of the earth' - the broader and deeper self that is a natural member in the more-than-human community."

Being in Connection with others when it is real and heartfelt is wonderful.  It is through relationship that we can Value and Encourage and Love each other. I am delighted when I get two emails from friends and a positive and happy email from a past Client.  I love when I feel in Connection with others.

And when I don't feel Connection with others, this also teaches me something about myself - my desire for Connection is strong and so my internal reaction is strong - I just want to be real and have real  Conversations.  My Teacher was saying one weekend in College (I can't remember her exact words) that we are meant to be in relation to each other - that we only see ourselves and find ourselves when we are in relationship to others.  When we love something about someone, we love that capacity within ourselves. - I love when seeing the lady at work Excited and talking about the photos of her daughter from their overseas trip, and also hearing my Man's Mum talk about her holiday.  And then when I have an internal reaction to someone (someone pushing my buttons) this is usually a signal that we are disowning a part of ourselves, there may be a part of ourselves in the Shadow.  By being a Witness to myself, I find it interesting to realise that there is a lesson in her for me.  Such as when my Judge part of me comes onto the stage and I am judging someone else for being a Judge, it makes me look at areas in my life where this may be playing out.  With my Yin and Yang on hand I can bring my own Shadow Parts into the light, and also be in acceptance of Self and acceptance of others.

Being in relationship is very important to me.  I love the strong Connection with my Mum and Dad - I love talking to them every day.  I love that I can have real and heartfelt Conversations with them.  Of course, I love talking to my Man - even though we enjoy our own time and interests, I feel we have a strong and loving Connection - and I am Grateful.  Spending time with my Brother and Sister-In-Law and my three beautiful Nieces is always a top priority for me.  And now I am also hoping to build a stronger Connection with my Man's Family.

Tonight I talk to a close friend.  We do not see each other very often and yet we are very close.  This beautiful woman showed me her true friendship when she would come and sit with me and just sit and share space, when I was in a deep, dark place.  It is a very long time ago - and yet I will always remember the difference she made in my life through her unconditional love and caring.  Tonight we talk on the phone, I feel in Connection with my true friend, and I tell her that I will always be Grateful for just coming and sitting with me.  This experience taught me the importance of keeping it real and the importance of a true friend.

True friends are important to me.  Especially now as I am entering a new phase in my life.  Connection Is Most Important to me - real, heartfelt Conversations and believing in each other, encouraging each other, seeing the beauty and greatness in one another.  I am blessed to experience Connection with many of my wonderful College friends - although my life feels very separate to them - and yet I feel they are my Soul Sisters.

I bought a new book last Saturday (another book - I love books) - 'Where will you be five years from today?' by Dan Zadra and I read these words tonight -

"Surround yourself with people who believe you can.

By all means, share your goals - 

but only share them with people

who can help you attain them.

Benchmark test for choosing friends:

Will spending time with this person drag me down or life me up?

Will he or she make me want to be a better person?

A happier person?  A more successful person?  

Will he or she help me achieve my most important goals?

If not, find friends who will."

And then this quote is also included - "One of my best moves is to surround myself with friends who, instead of asking, 'Why?' are quick to say, 'Why not?' That attitude is contagious." Oprah Winfrey

I love that I have some very strong relationships and I feel that being in Connection is Most Important, most Important to me - otherwise I feel that I am wasting time or just caught up in a story or a drama.  And there is room for the story and room for drama and room for sadness and realness and human imperfection, and I want to be in a space of keeping it real.  In my relationships, of most important to me is to, be genuinely interested in each other, ask questions, listen and be in eye contact, have an open heart, deepen our understanding of the deeper meaner, the Emotional and Spiritual Journey - "What is really going on here?".  It is most important to me to feel total love and acceptance.  And this space can be challenging sometimes - even writing these words are challenging myself to look closer at my relationships with Friends and Family, to really look at the relationship.  I am Inspired in that I can grow and strengthen my relationships.  I can ask myself questions -  What is the basis of this relationship?  Is there the opportunity to strengthen the Connection? 

Or do I need to be in Labels or Analysis - instead I can just be in Acceptance and come from a place of non-judgement.  I can have a feeling of non-attachment - with no attachment of expectations or outcomes. I can also realise that all people are different and part of being in relationship is also Acceptance - Acceptance that some people may be quiet, some people may take longer to get to know, sometimes people are just tired or may not be bright and happy and friendly or interested all the time (or at any time or in the way that I naturally show up in the world).  It seems I am very Passionate about this topic, this has been an opportunity for me to look at myself, all Parts of myself - hmm... another lesson here for me - with my Yin and Yang on hand with love to support my Journey rather than stepping into a Self Critic.  My Yin reminds me that I am genuine in my Intention of wanting Connection with others and I shouldn't worry about the thoughts of others. 

I also realise that it is not just about Connections with Friends and Family.  Sometimes I can enjoy Connection and real Conversations with a colleague from work or just waiting at a coffee shop or walking across the street.  Up comes another piece to this puzzle - if I am interconnected with all people, I have a responsibility and relationship to all people.  The best I can do is be myself and be the best I can be in my relationship with others and I can be open hearted, with a genuine, open heart, always open to being in Connection with my fellow members of the human Community. 

When I say the words Connection Is Most Important - I mean Most Important to me when I am relating to others - this is true for me (and I recognise not always the Conscious wish of others).  This is one of my Core Values.  And Connection to Self is equally as important.  To me it is about Balance - I love time with others and it is also such a Priority to me to deepen my relationship with myself.  I will trust my Intuitive Yin to guide me...  

Every Day Is Precious

We are still out of hot water - I have been wishing I could enjoy a hot bath when the taps were broken, and now I am so looking forward to the luxury of a hot shower in our home.  Thankfully, we are going to my Man's Mum's home every morning, and I am very Grateful to have a hot shower.

The benefit of not having hot water is that it means I have to get out of bed a lot earlier - so I have much more time in the morning.  I talk to my Mum and my Mum tells me that if anything happens to her, that if it is sudden, that she doesn't want me to be sad - to just look after my Dad and my Brother and have a happy life with my Man.  I fight back the tears and tell my Mum that this is just another small hurdle to get over, that she is too young - that I want her to see my children.  My Mum says that if anything happens to her that she will be looking down from heaven at me and my children.  I get off the phone and I cry.

It is one of my close friend's birthdays today and I am so happy that we are able to enjoy an extra long phone Conversation - just to catch up and chat and enjoy Connection.  I love that we can talk so openly, we have a true and real friendship.  I was telling my friend that I was using the Law Of Attraction, with images of my Mum and my children.  My friend offers a helpful, meaningful suggestion, offering me the idea that this is good for me, if I find it helpful, and that I can just allow my Mum to feel whatever she wants to feel and support my Mum as best as she chooses.  I have been studying Counselling and Coaching and I "should" know all of this - just holding space, being with what is - and yet this is my Mum - I want us all to do all we can.  And yet, I just have to trust my Mum and allow and accept.  And for now I can enjoy every day I have with my Mum, every phone call, every visit, everything about my Mum that I love.  

My Mum wants me to continue with my life and live my life.  Even yesterday, I was feeling sad and fragile, after a worrying and dark night, and yet I know that I have a choice - I choose life, and I am Inspired by my Mum's Strength.  I will never forget when my Mum once said to me the following words - 

"You can kick and scream and say 'Why me?', and yet that won't make a difference, so you just have to do it."

And so today I go out into the world and continue to take steps towards my Goals.  I have been working at bringing my Yin and Yang into their maturity, a strong love affair - where I am able to  use my own Strengths and Resources, my Left and Right Side of the Brain, the two parts of me.  With my Yin and Yang in union, I am able to rely on myself to take powerful action towards my dreams.

After getting in touch with my Intuitive and Emotional Yin part of me over the weekend, I made a decision yesterday that I would let go of my permanent room booking.  My Logical, Analytical and Ordered Yang has been working hard for me - writing a list of what I do want for my Coaching space and what is important to me - and taking action by writing emails where there may be rooms available.  I am very Grateful when I go to the Physio this morning and it is agreed with the two owners that I can work for space at their Clinic, that I only have to pay when I book a Client and that there is flexibility in terms of days.  I love the Physio, as it is dynamic and energetic and I feel an aliveness - I bounce in and I feel myself. 

I was worried about advising the Bookstore that I would no longer be booking a permanent room on a Friday.  I thought about putting it off until tomorrow, and yet I knew that I had to go today - as Honesty is one of my Values, a guiding principle in my life.  Every Day Is Precious and I have a sense that I need to have this Conversation today, rather than bring this energy into tomorrow.  As I was walking towards the Bookstore, I realised that I was in a Emotional Yin space and then my Intuitive Yin realised that I needed to call on Yang - to take the time to sit and have a cup of tea, and write some points for my Conversation - so that my words would be Logical and Ordered as well as Passionate and Emotional - Head and Heart.  I have a sense of my Goddess in Power and definitely an image of my Richard Gere Businessman - drawing on these images to give me Strength and overcome my fear.  

I sit in the coffee shop and write some points that are important for me to communicate.  I write out the points and as I am a Visual person I draw an image of each point to help me remember to say everything that is important to me - this is helpful - drawing on Imagination of Yin and Order of Yang.  I meet with the Manager and tell her of my decision, also thanking her and letting her know that she has been very lovely and supportive.  I am honest and explain that I am looking for more flexibility where I can just book rooms by the hour for each Client and offer more flexibility in terms of different days and times.  I explain that I am looking for a room that offers more natural lighting.  I offer that I do not want to close the door as I believe there may be other opportunities, particularly for Group Coaching.  I also tell her about my Mum - I tell her that this is not the reason, as I will continue to focus on my Business, and yet it will be important to have more space available in my life.

Tonight I am feeling a sense of relief that I do not have a room booked on a certain day every week, where I had a feeling that I was just setting up my room and sitting there waiting for Clients - now I can be more active in promoting my Coaching Business, allowing Space for my Mum, and Space for Spontaneity (I say this to my friend today and she loves this 'Space for Spontaneity' - my friend encourages me to run a Workshop on this topic).

I feel happy that with Self-Confidence I ring a Prospective Client, and email my Client Form.  I feel my Yin and Yang are working together - I am following the Intuition of Yin and yet Yang is becoming a powerful force in terms of Strength and Confidence and using my Business Skills and taking ACTION.

I am also happy that I was talking to the Owner of a local cafe today, and with Confidence and Convinction I asked if I could run a Promotion.  We had a quick Brainstorm and she is more than happy for me to put together a draft of the idea and if she gains approval from Head of the Franchise, then she will happily give out the Competition Entry with every coffee.  I am Excited!  This idea was not part of a Marketing Plan - I loved that the idea just came to me and I seized the moment and asked about the possibility.  I love my Yin and Yang - by being Consciously Aware of these two parts of me, I am able to bring out the best in me in bringing my dreams to life.   

While I was in the coffee shop, there were a precious few minutes where I was Witness to a beautiful interaction of a down syndrome young woman and another young woman who has a mental and physical disability.  Their carer was in line waiting for a beverage and I was just watching the friendship and joy and laughter and love between these two young women, where the down syndrome young woman was hugging the other woman in the wheelchair and they were laughing and having what appeared to be a great time.  And then seeing the interaction of the carer with these two young women, she was also amazing.  Wow, Life Is Precious!  Every Day Is Precious.

Every day with my Mum is Precious.  When I write these words, I have a sense of a stillness, definitely a sadness, definitely an Awareness that I do not know what the future holds.

And I am Committed to being True and Authentic and making the best of every day.  I am Grateful for my every day.  I am going to try my very best to not worry about the future or worry about what might happen -  this worrying takes my energy away from the Joy of life right now, the potential for Joy.  Every Day Is Precious, and I am going to be present and treasure every beautiful moment, especially every moment with my Mum.  We do not know what the future holds or what is around the corner - and yet we have NOW, right NOW, right NOW today, right NOW in this moment. 

My Man must have read my thoughts... he just came over and gave me a big kiss...