I blinked and somehow it’s the end of February! I missed the MOST opportune time to post about a new year and new goals. BUT, I missed it for a very good reason! I was trying to practice what I preach—to live with courage, embrace your gifts and do what you love! For me, coaching and teaching are the ways I live my best self. And, by the grace of God, I taught another class and LOVED it! How are you using your gifts? What goals are you working toward this year?
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David J. Schwartz, in The Magic of Thinking Big, states, "The how-to-do-it always comes to the person who believes he can do it." So many of us have dreams and goals. You know, those deep desires that have long laid dormant since you've become a parent or received that new job. Or, maybe the goal is staring you right in the face, like losing 10 pounds or learning to play that guitar that's been sitting in the corner of your room for a couple of years. We don't usually lack the desire or the dream; sadly, we lack the belief in our abilities So, before thinking about "how" you are going to achieve your goal, first focus on ALL that you possess to achieve that goal. Think about your strengths and consider your accomplishments--you didn't get where you are now by accident. YOU were and are the main ingredient. So, as you strive to achieve your next goal, remember that one of the most important aspects of this journey is not the "how to" but the belief in yourself.
We all know that this time of year is busy. Beyond busy. It is quite unfortunate given this is my favorite time of year. It seems to pass by in a blink of an eye, even when I try celebrating in November and throughout January [yes, I do--haters don't hate:)] . . . and then it occurred to me--the only way I can savor this season is to "pause." Pause to savor the twinkling Christmas lights. Pause to taste the warm and comforting eggnog. Pause to hear the sweet children sing Christmas carols. Pause to remember the birth of my Lord and Savior. Pause. How can you pause today?
Small Business Saturday (November 24th)! Thank you for all of your love, encouragement, and positivity! Although it may sound cliché, I am beyond blessed to be a life coach. When I partner with a client, I literally get an adrenaline rush--you know, that same feeling you get after working out or that magical feeling you get when your entire house is clean! Yes, that's how I feel about coaching! There is nothing like it! Thank you, once again, for all of your support! It means more than you know. How can you shop small? How can you live out your dreams? How can you make your life happen? Another life lesson. Learned over and over again. Feelings get hurt, and I can't help but feel like a Junior Higher all over again. Isn't that the way adulthood is sometimes? We find ourselves in situations where we are misunderstood, it's a "he-said-she-said," or worse, someone makes disparaging remarks about you. What can we do? Well, I came across these wise words from Rachel Hollis recently and it was a great reminder and exactly what I needed to hear to move forward. It's none of my business. It-is-none-of-my-business. Ahhh. Big sigh of relief. So, while I acknowledge the hurt involved, what I do to move forward is park my mind in a spot that brings wholeness and positivity. Yes, this is easier said that done, but this discipline (to focus on truth) has enabled me to overcome many challenges. And so, as I move through my day (s), this is my mantra, "Someone else's opinion of me is none of my business." This is my favorite time of year (well, I guess second to Christmas)! The crisp morning air, the color of the leaves, and the celebration of everything pumpkin--it's the perfect environment to start fresh. We often think of New Year's as the prime time to start fresh. However, I find that Fall is a beautiful season to revive that which feels broken. The changing of this season provides a remarkable metaphor for the opportunity for growth and restoration. As the leaves ripen and fall of the branch, a dormant environment is created for new growth. Right now, many of us may feel a bit worn down from the year. We may be discouraged by forgotten resolutions and tired from the demands of the year. Let's take the timely lesson from nature, and use this time to explore our hearts and minds and nurture ourselves. This time of reflection, where we feel like the branch with no leaves, can provide a crop of renewed energy, clarity and purpose. Let's take make the most of these cozy nights, cuddled up with a blanket, to self-nurture--and so create a harvest of growth. Recently, I decided to go back to teaching. As a part of my coaching practice, as many of you know, I conduct life-mapping workshops. These workshops gave me the itch to teach again. So, I returned to teaching, after a 15 year hiatus where I raised my beautiful children. I posted a picture of my first day of work at the University and I have to admit that the “gremlins” were talking. Before I hit "share" on that personal post, the little gremlins basically asked, “What if it doesn’t go well, and you just posted it to Facebook?” To make a long story short, I faced my doubt and challenged those gremlins by responding, “It’s still courage.” Brene Brown, in her book Gifts of Imperfection, states, “ . . . I’ve learned that playing down the exciting stuff doesn’t take the pain away when it doesn’t happen. It does, however minimize the joy when it does happen. It also creates a lot of isolation.” I am excited to go back to teaching, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I was a little nervous. However, as I try to do with most challenges, I work on making sure my mind is parked in truth—I am showing up. I am practicing courage. I am using my gifts. By the grace of God, returning to teaching was a positive experience that not only fanned the flame to teach again, but added fuel to the fire. In Daring Greatly, Brown writes, “Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” My hope in writing this post is that we all recognize the importance of vulnerability and courage. When we express our true selves, gremlins and all, we move closer to self-acceptance and authentic connection. I am very excited to announce the newest addition to my website, my "Giving" page. I truly believe the truth expressed by Richard Rohr--unless we transform our pain, we will surely transmit it. Both of my children struggled with severe feeding issues, and, in short, life was extremely challenging for approximately 7 years. Our daily lives were filled with doing everything under the sun to get our children to eat and gain weight. We visited our pediatrician, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, and feeding specialist on a regular, sometimes even weekly, basis.
As my coaching practice continues to grow, I want to be able to give back. Since the inception of Joseph Catalyst Coaching, giving has been important and contributions have been made to various charities from each and every coaching service. Although I am pleased with this form of giving, I have long felt the desire to make this giving more intentional and purposeful. Consequently, I researched various organizations and charities related to feeding. I have chosen the non-profit organization Feeding Matters, as this organization best aligns with my passions and history. Most of us have a stories of pain, hardship or struggle. What can you do to transform that pain into something meaningful? For those of you who know me well, this picture may seem unusual. I'm not a water-girl. In fact, I only learned to swim at the AGE OF 38. When my children were younger, it was unsettling to know that I couldn't save them if they were drowning. That reason provided the fuel that I needed to learn to swim. So, I mustered up the courage (and humility) to take swimming lessons. Well, I learned to swim! And, this ability allowed me to snorkel with my family while we were on vacation. Trust me, water related activities are not my favorite sports, but I wanted "desire" rather than "inability" to dictate my decisions. I genuinely believe that if I can do it, you can do it too! What can you do to "make your life happen?"
As the end of the school year approaches, we are busy--crazy busy, to be honest. After I had children, i learned that May is the new December: state testing, class parties, music performances, final projects, teacher gifts and more! Now that I know May is busy, I have learned to better prepare for the busyness. One of the unconventional ways I've learned to remain centered is the focus on my happy place, and in my case, it's Maui, as we are going there in a few short weeks for a family vacation. Research shows that thinking about an upcoming positive event can impact our mental health and increase our overall happiness. So, this picture is my "happy place," What's yours?
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UpdateIt's hard to believe, but I have been in business for almost 7 years! As my business has grown, I have decided to take a break from blog posts and focus my attention on providing specialty services, some of which include Purpose Clarity Coaching, Life Map Coaching, and Enneagram Spectrum of Personality Types Coaching. I have received certifications in each of these areas (accredited certifications for CEU through the Center for Credentialing and Education). While I miss interfacing with you through this blog, I am excited to offer additional services to my clients. Please enjoy my blog archives. Archives
December 2020
CategoriesAuthorOne committed to processing truth, finding light in the darkness, savoring the simple, and living fully.
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