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.

Inspired To Go For It

After being an Observer to my Yin and Yang and realising that I need to bring my Yang into power - Today is the day.  I have decided that I want to be more Confident in building my Coaching Business - this MATTERS TO ME.  Through the day I draw on my image of Yin and Yang in power - me in my power.

As my growth area is to strengthen my Yang, I also draw on my Yang images, the ones that I have chosen that represent my Yang.  As I am Visual, I find it easy to see these images in my mind's eye.

First thing this morning I read my friend's Blog and I feel Inspired, it is a great way to start the day http://piece-sunshine.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-abundant-life.html - I love reading that my friend is "really excited and inspired", that Kara refers to her life as being "amazing" and I love that Kara asks questions to her readers - "what is stopping you from living that life NOW? Why wait for the future?" - and I love this line "So live the life you want to live, NOW."  It is a wonderful, must read Blog.  

I then look at my emails and notice that I have a SPAM folder, that I have never checked before and I find this wonderful quote that was sent to me this morning -

“Time waits for no one, it just ticks away. Why then do we make our lives so much about saving or making time, why not just make it about having a great time?!!” Amir Zoghi -
"Slow down Kathryn, slow down. What are you really in a rush for? Does it really matter at the end of the day? How would you live if you knew that you only had a limited amount of time here? I’ll tell you, you would wake up to living every moment for what it is and for what it has to offer you. Well my dear, I have news for you, you are here for a limited amount of time. Did you forget that? Start living and stop waiting for the right time. The time is now, it has always been.  The UNIVERSE"

Yes - what a great way to start my day - a wonderful Blog and now a great quote to get me Inspired.  Last night at my Course we did an exercise of putting an anti-virus system around your own mind - it was a Meditation and I imagined a Yellow light radiating out.  Anthony Robbins talks about having a guard to your mind to stop negative self-talk or anything negative from entering your thinking.  This to me is so important  and I am blessed that I am naturally a Positive person.  And yet, I also believe that we all have the opportunity to read great stories or Blogs, to have great books or quotes on hand - even just have a quick look at a page of a book that is filled with Positive words and Inspiring quotes - anything that will help us be Motivated and Inspired for the day.

Today I was Inspired - Inspired To Go For It - it is time to bring my Yin and Yang into their maturity - to take ACTION.  I meet with the Operations Manager and I tell him from my heart, with Passion and Energy, that I have started my Coaching Business and that I am experienced in Motivating Staff and would like to be more involved at work in helping Coach staff and run an Incentive Program and Motivational Sessions and utilise more of my Strengths and Coaching at work.  My Yin is Passionate, My Yang is Confident and gives examples of ideas that may help staff SHINE at work.  I am rapt when my Manager says that he has been thinking of how I can help in different areas at work - and when he gets back from work, we will have a meeting with the Owner of the Business.  AWESOME, I AM Excited!!

Today at work I am also Confident when talking to other Staff about my Coaching Business - I show them my Flyers and I have a lady who says she will talk to her Husband about me Coaching her daughter - it is an Honour that she would consider me.  I look at her directly, and speak from my heart - telling her how Passionate I am about Coaching, how much I love working with people to help them grow.  I love that this lady from work offers me some ideas for promoting my Business in the local area.  I love when people offer tips and ideas - wanting me to be Successful, as they believe in me  I also love that this lady looks at my Flyer and says how much she likes it - that means so much - a kind word - the Gift of words are my favourite.

The power of my Yin-Yang is also coming into force in other areas of my life - helping me in my Communication with my Family - as we support and care for each other and work together for the Greater Good.

And then I get home and I love being home - my home with my Man.  I am so Grateful that I am so in love.  And I am so surprised when my Man walks in the door and greets me with a big bunch of Sunflowers - they are so beautiful - like they have been picked fresh from the garden - they are so beautiful.

And tonight we can relax together, enjoy some Thai home delivery (I love that my Man always orders Vegetarian dishes that I can enjoy) and some quality time together.  I am so happy with myself - I am giving myself a pat on the back, celebrating the Wins of my day, where I gave my all and was Inspired To Go For It - I loved feeling the energy and force of what is possible when my Yin and Yang work together to Make A Difference.  I am genuine in my desire to Spread The Yellow and I have a Commitment to make every day count.

Yin-Yang Synthesis

* Synthesis is a stage of Blooms's Taxonomy - a stage of learning - the next stage of learning for me in relation to Yin-Yang. 

It is time for me to look at Yin-Yang Synthesis.  Synthesis - compiling information together in a different way by combining Yin and Yang in a new pattern to form something new.

As I was wrote in my Blog yesterday - the key for me is to bring Yin and Yang into maturity - not just having them kissing at the school disco - but Consciously bringing them together everyday to move me towards my Vision for my Coaching Business.  It is time to create a new story - and bring my Goddess and Strong Man into their power - a strong union of LOVE and PASSION...

When I look at Yin-Yang being a strong union of LOVE and PASSION - an image that came to me this morning in my Meditation was the scene from the movie "Shall We Dance" with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez - the Passion, the Connection - Yin giving her Yang instruction at first - and then Yang comes into his strength and they are in unison - this scene from the movie is electric.  See the link - Wonderful, Wow! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bibtqDxXv1o

I feel so in touch with my Yin - maybe not so much as a Goddess - and yet I am so Inspired when I look at beautiful Goddess images.

I really love the following image of the Goddess - I almost feel like it is a picture of how I would like to be with my Yin-Yang Synthesis - a Goddess in her power, with her strength.

I feel like I need to bring my Yang into power.  I am happy to let my Yin feel into the Next Step and let Yang know what needs to happen, and yet I have a sense that Yang could be a more powerful Resource in my life.  I look at the Strengths of Yang, and in true Yang style, I make a list of areas that I would like to develop:

- Doing

- Being Organised

- The value I place on myself - my Confidence in myself, my abilities, my capability to do things

- Being in charge of my own life

- Looking people in the eye and commanding attention (whether I say anything or not, because of my strength within)

- Taking risks, not afraid to put myself out there

- Being Decisive

- Able to focus and concentrate in order to get something done.

When I think about Yang and a time when Yin-Yang has been in power - I think about the time my Mum was sick with a brain tumor and we received a bad diagnosis and I rang Dr. Teo's Office and convinced the Receptionist that I needed to see Dr. Teo - my Yang would not take "no" for an answer - I spoke from my heart (my Yin) and my Yang was Strong and Confident.  We got the appointment and this changed our life - we thought my Mum would not go home from hospital and that this was the end - and yet my Mum was home by the weekend - just as Dr. Teo predicted - Dr. Teo saved my Mum's life.  When I remember this series of events - I know it happened because of my love for my Mum - that this was a life and death situation - that this mattered SO MUCH to me.

And now I need to embrace this Strength of Yang as I bring my Coaching Business to life.  I am so Passionate about Coaching - I love people - I am Passionate about helping people love their life.  This matters SO MUCH to me.  My Yin is inviting my Yang to dance.

As I imagine my Yang - these are the images that feel right to me - the Businessman Richard Gere from "Shall We Dance" + a Serious Muscle Man who has strength and is here to stay and means business + a Marathon Man who has endurance and Commitment and is my feet on the ground.

I love all these images - these bring my Yin-Yang Synthesis to life for me.

What I love about Coaching is that it is designed as an opportunity to learn new tools and techniques to help people in their life - tools and techniques that they can take away with them to apply for their own development as they move away from the Coaching relationship.  I love that I can Coach myself.  Tonight I am Grateful that I went to a NLP Course - where I have learnt some new techniques that I can apply in my own life and that will also be beneficial in my work with Clients.  In the next few days I am going to practice some of these NLP techniques to help me in bringing my Yin-Yang into power.

I am also committed to building my Yang through celebrating my Wins and through positive reinforcement of myself.

What a wonderful Journey, I am on the right path and I feel that I am moving in the right direction.

INVITATION TO MY YIN AND YANG - LET'S DANCE!!!  TIME TO EMBRACE!!!!!!!!!!!

Yin-Yang Project Review

On 11 April 2010 I set myself a Project:
1. To get to know the Union of Yin-Yang, feminine-masculine, these 2 Parts of myself - not as separate or competing entitites that abandon each other or isolate from one another - but that embrace each other, support each other, work together.  The Project I am setting myself is to understand the Union - the coming together in Love - getting to know the Love Story of my own Yin and Yang - my feminine and masculine

2. To bring these 2 Parts of myself together in birthing my dreams - loving and protecting the spark and yellow inside me - and then through their Union they are able to make it happen - by feeling into the creative tension between them - holding the creative tension.  Yin is in the magic and mystery and ease and flow of life - and Yang waits.  Yin will feel into her intuition and guidance and will have a knowing when it is the right time to act and will know the right action to take - and Yang who has been a rock, stable and strong and waiting will step into action - will move forward with power in a clear direction...

I am looking at my Project in relation to Bloom's Taxonomy and the 6 different levels of learning.

* Knowledge - I love that I have learnt about Yin and Yang

- Yin - Feminine, Spiritual, Intuitive, Feeling, Emotional, Heart, Internal Energy, Being, Goodness, Right Side of the Brain

- Yang - Masculine, Logical, Thinker, Organised, Analytical, Head, Physical, Doing, Strength, Left Side of the Brain

- The two parts of ourselves that are opposites

- Yin and Yang need each other for Balance, together they make the Whole

* Comprehension

- To comprehend this new knowledge, I have enjoyed spending time researching these two parts of myself, I love researching Yin and Yang and learning more - wanting to compare these two parts of myself and fully understand their role and their strengths - and how I can bring them into my life
- I love reading about the Masculine and Feminine Side (article by John and Micki Baumann), an article that is great at comparing the Yin and Yang - "The masculine side deals with the strength of the self... The thing that is most important in determining the strength of the masculine side, is the value that you, at a deep level, place on yourself... Placing a high value on yourself affects your whole being and helps you feel strong and confident in operating your life."
- I love this part - so in line with the Coaching Process - "You can build the masculine side through progress and small Wins, through positive reinforcement, by practicing, and by doing things and generally taking an active part in operating your life."
- I just love this article - I am learning a lot from reading this article - "If you have a strong masculine side, you are in charge of your own life because you are internally controlled.  You tend to look people in the eye.  You stand straight, and you usually command attention when you walk into a room, whether you say anything or not.  This happens because of the strength within.  If you have a weak masculine side, you also have a lot of doubts.  You doubt yourself, your abilities, your capability to do things.  Things intimidate you and you don't move forward well.  You are afraid to put yourself out there because you know you are going to fail, so you don't even try to accomplish things."
- "The masculine side also includes the ability to take risks when appropriate, to be decisive when necessary, and to focus or concentrate in order to get something done.  In addition, it includes being able to figure out how to accomplish things so you can get more of what you want out of life."
- "The feminine side is based on a value that you, at the same deep level, place on others... The value you place on others affects your whole being.  If you have a strong feminine side and place a high value on others, you are often giving and unselfish."
- I love this part as it talks about enthusiasm - "The feminine side also includes having enthusiasm and zest for life, and recognising what things are worth getting enthusiastic about... In addition, the feminine side also includes being kind, compassionate, patient, responsive to the needs of others, and it includes knowing how much energy you can put into each of these without hurting yourself by draining your own energy."
- I love Knowledge and Comprehension - and I find myself having a thirst for more information on Yin and Yang - and yet I also know that Applying this Knowledge is so important  


*Application

- I have been enjoying using this new knowledge - being an Observer/ Witness to myself and making Conscious Choices, using the power and force of Yin and Yang working together

- Looking back I have realised that after being made Redundant, I abandoned my Yang, wanting to let go of the business, corporate part of me - and live in Yin, loving the Spiritual, Emotional, Feminine, Intuitive part of me

- With this Project - I decided to bring Yin and Yang together - to use the strengths of both to bring my dream to life - starting my Coaching Business

- An example has been my Business  Card – my Yin was loving all the creation, loving getting my crayons and textas out and I kept sketching and sketching – but I needed to bring this Card to life – I needed to get my Yang into action – I needed to get organised, be clear and direct with a graphic designer and keep focused on what I wanted to reflect my Coaching Business.  My Yin and Yang worked together - my Yin looked at each design at a heart level, felt into the card at an Intuitive Level and then my Yang went into ACTION and gave feedback to the graphic designer.  By getting my Yang to work for my Yin, I now have printed Business Cards that I love

* Analysis

- I really don't like this word "Analysis" - shows I am naturally more Yin, than Yang

- Today seems like a perfect time for a Yin-Yang Project Review - an opportunity to see what is working and what is the future direction of this Project

- When I start out on this Journey I feel like I am in a Child Yin and Yang State/ Story - children getting to know each other - it is fun, it is exciting, there is no pressure, it is natural and flowing, it is day to day, spontaneous, no planning for the future - just being in the now

- My Child Yin and Yang Story - My Yin loves playing dolls, loves colour, loves imagination.  My Yin loves being outdoors, smelling the flowers - Yin follows her heart - she loves lady beetles, dogs and  cats.  Yin and Yang are childhood friends - they become best friends

- I watch 'My Girl' and I love watching the friendship between Vada and Thomas - Yang always there for his Yin
- And I love these cute images of children

- I look back on my own Childhood and love looking at photos of my own best friend

- And I love the photo below of myself and my Childhood Friend - with my Nana and Papa (I miss them)

- As I Reflect back on my journey over the last 5 weeks, I can see changes in my Yin and Yang - as I feel that I am becoming more familiar with their power 

- And yet I feel that this Yin and Yang Journey is still developing - I still need to bring them into their power

- I feel that I am in an Adolescent/ Teenager Yin and Yang Story

- My Yin has a teenage crush - she dreams about her Yang, the one she wishes is her boyfriend

- My Yin knows about her Yang, she dreams about her love in Science class, not particularly interested in Science, much preferring to write his name in coloured textas in her diary and colouring the margins in her exercise books

- Yin hangs out with her group of girlfriends - Yin loves being with her Yin friends

- And then in magical moments, Yin sees her Yang at a party or at a school disco where they dance and finally kiss

- Yin loves kissing her Yang

- My Adolescent Yin and Yang Story reminds me of the movie 'Sixteen Candles'

- What I loved about this show was that the main character Molly Ringwald had her own style and was happy to just be herself - in considering this realisation, it seems that the Yin character also had a well-developed Yang

- I look back on my photos when I was a teenager - here I am going to a disco - feeling very feminine, very Yin - definitely in search of Yang

My Yin-Yang Project Review highlights to me that I am still very strong in my Yin and that I am getting my Yang to work for me, in terms of bringing Projects to life - and yet I am mostly in Yin.

The key for me is to bring Yin and Yang into maturity - not just having them kissing at the school disco - but Consciously bringing them together everyday to move me towards my Vision for my Coaching Business.  My greatest desire is to Make A Difference and Spread The Yellow - it is time to create a new story - and bring my Goddess and Strong Man into their power - a strong union of LOVE and PASSION...

I Choose To Be A Coach

Spread The Yellow - I have a knowing that this is my Soul Purpose. 

Spread The Yellow is a choice.  Today, it is in the moments of laughter with colleagues, it is in the interest and enthusiasm that I show to Customers on the phone, it is in time and interest I offer to the friendly woman at the dental surgery.  I am Grateful when I feel others Spread The Yellow to me - I am touched that a friend from College sponsored me in the 'Relay For Life' - so Grateful - and I am happy to receive the small acts of loving and giving from my Man when he helps me and my Parents in organising their phone, when my Man puts hot water in my bath and when he steams broccoli for me and organises dinner.  Spread The Yellow is sharing excitement and Joy in beauty - in the simple - in our Organic Fruit and Vegetable box that was delivered again tonight - we have placed a permanent order for Monday nights - I love it - I love the surprise and I am so Excited to explore the contents and imagine all the wonderful Vegetarian dishes I will Create.

I have started reading 'Soulcraft' by Bill Plotkin (I have 3 other  books on the go - and yet I am called to start reading this book).  It is a wonderful book.  I love the definition of Soulcraft "the skill needed in shaping the human Soul towards its fulfillment in its unity with the entire Universe".  As A Coach - a Tranformational Life Coach - it is my desire to be a witness and Honour the Soul and offer Soulcraft.

It is 3 days until I start my Coaching Business. The common question I am getting asked is "Have I got my first Client organised?". Now if I was in my Corporate Business world, entirely in my Yang, I would be overthinking my Business, or racing around getting all my Marketing organised - yet in my Yin-Yang, I feel comfortable and relaxed.  My Yin-Yang is my new way of being, it is definitely new to me and I am just learning to be in this new way - trusting my Intuition, being in the flow and then taking Inspired ACTION.  I love in the first few pages of 'Soulcraft' that the author writes "I heard the Soul's call again, this time as an urgency for wilderness solitude, to look inwardly as far and as innocently as possible, and to wait until some truth rang out."  

Normally in Yang style I would be driven and writing lists and getting everything done and writing Business Plans and a Marketing Strategy - yet I want to enjoy the flow of this Journey. I was intuitively guided to the Bookstore where I will now be working, I listened to my Yin and my Yang took the ACTION necessary to confirm the agreement and pay the rent. I just want to take one step at a time and see where that leads and then another step will follow - feeling into my Intuition, my Yin being the wanderer and then my Yang will take the necessary steps.

My Yang has been working hard for his beloved Yin - the two parts of myself working together to create my business. I am Excited that I am getting my business cards and Flyers printed and I will receive them during the week. I am Excited that I will be able to put some Flyers at the Clinics of my Physiotherapist, my Chiropractor and my Doctor. I am really Excited that when talking to my Doctor last week, he was very interested in the work that I do and asked me to drop some Flyers and cards to him, that he thought he would be able to definitely refer people to me that needed Support. I am also Excited that the Owner of the Doctor's Clinic has also offered me space at the Clinic.

Wow... the Universe is Very Wonderful.  My Doctor showers me with compliments, tells me and my Man how happy I always am, and how I brighten his day. We then go to the shops and while getting groceries I see from a distance a Doctor that I used to visit years and years ago - probably over 7 years ago - what is interesting is that I had visited this Doctor a long time ago when I was suffering from Depression, when I was at the bottom of the dark hole. It is ironic, coincidental, synchronistic - that I should see both Doctors in one day and that their experience of me would be quite different.

This experience allows me to reflect on Why I Choose To Be A Coach. A long time ago, seems like a lifetime away, or someone else's life, I experienced Depression. It was a very Dark time for me and my Family. I remember the lead up to the Depression - I was in a job that I didn't feel was right for me, I lacked confidence in my role, I didn't feel comfortable at all, I didn't feel like I belonged in the workplace, my Marriage wasn't working, we had put ourselves under huge financial strain, I was an insomniac and would go days and nights without sleeping. I wish I had have worked with a Coach - or had someone to catch me before I fell down the BIG, DEEP hole. All the signs were there, I was so stressed and anxious and felt trapped. Luckily for me I had a wonderful Mum, Dad and Brother who loved me, sat with me, helped me - and two great friends who listened and sat with me in this black space. Miraculously I eventually saw some light and found the strength to live again, without medication, just time and support.

Thinking back on this time is still emotional for me. It was so difficult for my Mum and Dad and my Brother and Sister-In-Law. Sadly, my Marriage ended - although I know my ex-Husband is a very good man and our Marriage was not supposed to be. My Marriage ended because we didn't have Connection, we didn't have enough heartfelt Conversations.

I am definitely a cheerleader personality (99% of the time) - I am positive, happy, friendly, motivated, I get Excited. Had I not been through Depression, I never would have understood or had the level of Compassion and Empathy that I now have for others. My Mum and friend Ann were wonderful to me - they would just sit with me, they did not try to rush me, or talk their 'sense' into me, or give me advice, or give judgements - they just accepted me and gave me space to talk and be myself - in Counselling and Coaching we call this Unconditional Positive Regard - and allowing Attentive Silence and Space.  Had I not experienced Depression, I would have been more inclined to motivate people or cheerleader them in a new direction - and now I have learnt the power of just sitting and holding the space for someone as a witness and in Honour of their Journey.

I have always been interested in working with others, and since I was about 27 I was considering studying Psychology. I also remember around this time seeing an article in the Sunday magazine about Life Coaching and immediately I was interested and wanted to become a Life Coach. And after my experience of Depression, I know that I want to help people - I want to catch people before they fall into a black hole - help people find the steps in their lives to keep them moving. 

And not only moving, in terms of just going through the motions of life - but to live in a state of Joy and Happiness. 

I am fortunate in that I know the signs in myself - I know when it is okay to just surrender and sit with the feeling and I also know when I need to take ACTION. 

As well as being in the depth of a dark Valley, I have also been at the top of the Peak of Mountains.  I am fortunate, through hard work, to have won the major Awards at University, graduated with a High Distinction.  I was also selected by my company to live and work in Atlanta for a major Project, which was an incredible experience.  I have excelled as a Manager and Motivator with a love of bringing out the best in others.  I have done well in Sport - loving being the Club Captain of a running club and loving competing, winning and achieving places in running events.

For me now, the Peak Moments are when my Nieces were born, being hugged by them, seeing them dancing, loving them - as well as times with my Mum and Dad, especially when we receive good news that Mum is healthy and well.  Another Peak Moment was falling in love with my Man - and being in love everyday - choosing Love, honouring our Love.  I have been in some very difficult and heartbreaking relationships, I have made mistakes, I have stayed too long in the wrong relationships, and it was only when I made the decision to Honour myself, and Honour what I deserved, that my Man showed up in my life.

I Choose To Be A Coach - and I Choose To Be Authentic.  I am on My Own Journey.  And I have the training, skills and the capacity and an open heart to Support others on their Journey.

At College the other weekend, we did a great Coaching activity - which involved reflecting back on what you have loved about your career - the highlights - the pieces of Gold - while the Client speaks, the Coach writes down the responses to the questions - here are some of my highlights - which also show that my Career is moving in the right direction - I've always loved:

- Hearing people's stories

- Genuine Conversations

- Conversations - hearing about people's lives - joys, excitement, challenges

- Seeing the Greatness in others

- Creating Community

- Getting to know others

- Celebrating with others

- Creating structure for others to grow

- Believing in others

- Helping people find solutions

- Sitting with people in Connection

- Making people feel Valued

- Bring out the best in others

- Charity work

- Coming up with ideas

- Being free to make decisions

- Working with other people

- Harnessing the energy of others to Make A Difference

- Bringing people together for the Greater Good

- People

- Connection

- Nurturing

- Journeying with others rather than teaching them.

The Power of Coaching is about the relationship, about the Connection.  It is helpful and wonderful to read Self-Development books and Journal and yet there is something very magical about the Coaching space and Connection between Coach and Client.  Friends and Family are very wonderful and I am blessed to have such wonderful Support -yet the Coaching Connection offers a difference - offering a Space where there is no advice giving, no judgement, no opinions - just a space dedicated to the Client.  The Coach offers confidentiality and total Support and the freedom for someone to be themselves and just be.  The Coach walks beside a Client on their path, enables awareness of the right steps to help them walk towards their Vision, acknowledges their Client's greatness, their uniqueness, celebrates their Client's Wins.  I am Excited to Spread The Yellow in my Coaching.

I Choose To Be A Coach - I Love Being A Coach... 

I Love to see people SHINE - hearing people speak with Passion, seeing their eyes light up, people doing what they love, people loving their life.  My Passion is that through the Process of Coaching my Clients will feel:
- Successful
- Happy
- Inspired
- New
- Empowered.