Hi!
I found this fun tool and wanted to share it.  It is a fun way to play with words.  Check it out! It’s for my playshop called Living Joyfully – a one day retreat on February 13th.

What do you think?

Joyfully,

Deb

Hi!
As a coach I listen for patterns in my client’s language.  The wording they use often gives me insight into what might be slowing them down from attracting the things they want in their life.  I personally find that words and phrases can be very inspiring or very de-motivating and so I consciously choose to use the inspiring ones.  I think this can be really helpful when you are setting intentions or making resolutions.  Here are a few examples that I thought of:

1. I to resolve to get fit or I am creating vibrant health?
2. I resolve to go on a diet or I nurture my body with delicious and energizing food?
3. I resolve to get a new job or I earn good money doing what satisfies me?

Can you think of some other ways to use inspiring language?

Joyfully,

Deb

Happy New Year!
Well, here we are a week into 2010 and life seems to still be moving at a pretty good speed!  I thought things would slow down a bit after the Christmas holidays but it seems that I was mistaken!  I’m not complaining but rather just observing and wondering if there is something that I need to do to create more breathing room.  Have you made New Year’s resolutions?  I’m still playing around with mine…just experimenting for the time being until I find a few that really feel like I could commit to them.  I like the idea of trying out a few resolutions to see if they fit before I actually dive in and get started.  I feel like I can be more successful that way.  So I am currently experimenting with ways to create more space in my day, or ways to slow things down a little bit. As I do that, I am also paying close attention to my environments.  Is there something I need to create in my environment to help me make space like setting my blackberry to automatically shut off at an earlier time of day or having my groceries delivered…lots of possibilities here!  The main thing to remember is that for any resolution to succeed, it’s important to set up supportive environments. 

So, what about you?  What are some of your New Year’s resolutions? I’d love to know what your plans are for 2010!

Joyfully,

Deb

Hi!
I just returned from the International Coaching Federation conference.  Wow!  Over 40 countries represented and 1200 people participating!  What an amazing place to be if you are a coach.  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend four days immersed in everything coaching.  I can’t wait to start putting everything I learned into practice.  Any of you who are my clients – get ready…I’ve got some new methods to help you move toward your goals even faster!!

Have you ever been to a training event, conference or workshop and been really inspired by what you learned?  Did you come back to work feeling energized and ready to implement the changes you were inspired about only to find that a week or two later, you hadn’t changed anything?  This happens to most people.  You go to a different environment, you learn something new but you return to the old environment where everything is still the same.  Making the changes you want to make becomes too difficult so gradually, you find yourself doing the same old thing again.  I knew I would learn new ideas and methods when I went to the ICF conference so I made sure to create some changes to my environments so that I wouldn’t lose my inspiration when I came home.  Just by telling you that I was at the conference and that I am going to implement some of the new ideas creates an environment that will hold me to my statement.  I also mentioned on my Facebook page that I would be sharing my new ideas there so now my “fans” are expecting new information from me.  I am also meeting with my Mastermind group tomorrow and they are waiting for me to report back to them and also for me to give them the three things that I will be accountable for implementing.  These are some of the simple steps that you can use to help you create supportive environments.  Stay tuned to my blog…I will be sharing some stories from the conference and a picture of me and one of my coaches!

Joyfully,

Deb

Hi!
This is another yoga story!  Again I was in yoga class and was trying to get my body into a particular pose. I was struggling and wavering all over the place and getting more and more frustrated.  The instructor mentioned to another student that they could use a prop to help them if they couldn’t fully get into the pose.  Well, the light finally went on for me on two levels…ask for help and use the resources available to you!  My yoga blocks where sitting on the floor right next to me, why not engage them in supporting my body so that I could more fully understand the pose and its benefits instead of being distracted by my frustration and erratically wavering body?! 

Now, with my body propped and supported the idea came to mind that this is what most of us do in our daily lives. We think that we have to do everything on our own without help. As a result, we end up tired, frustrated, scattered and unfocused.  Why not ask for support?  Engage and invite the people and resources around you to support you in your goals.  I know they will be happy to help and everyone will feel much more joyful in the end!

Joyfully,

Deb

Hello!
I was in a yoga class at my favorite yoga studio (www.sourceyogastudios.com) recently and as I was holding a pose, someone in the class let out this huge sigh.  When she did that, a few more of us did the same thing and then there was some laughter as well.  It felt good to know that others were being challenged by the pose and when we shared a laugh, there was a sense that we were all in it together.  It occurred to me that this was a very supportive environment and even though I don’t know many people in the class, for a time, we are a group of like minded people who are supporting each other with our presence and energy.  I think that’s why I prefer to go to a yoga class than do yoga by myself at home.  There just isn’t that same sense of support at home! 

This class is also a very safe place to try something new, to challenge you. No one cares if you can’t bend all the way or if you start waving around like a tree in a windstorm when you are trying to hold a pose.  It’s a place to try it out and discover how strong you really are.  Do you have places or situations like this in your life? Is there somewhere you can go to try new things and discover new things about yourself where you don’t feel vulnerable or inhibited trying?  Yoga happens to be one of the places that I go but you don’t have to take up yoga to create a supportive environment.  Join a club, pursue a hobby, volunteer for an event in your community…there are lots of ways that you can connect with supportive environments.  What are some of the things you do?  Post your ideas here – I’d love to read them! 

Joyfully,

Deb 

Hi!
The self help industry is booming and has been useful in so many ways AND at the same time, it has also created a society where people believe they have to do everything themselves, by themselves. It has created the idea that you shouldn’t have to ask for help.  That notion seems pretty limiting to me.  What’s the purpose of creating a supportive relationship environment if you shouldn’t have to ask for help and support? 

I was just a meeting of coaches recently and even one of the coaches said, “I should know how to do this, I should be able to do this on my own.”  Yep, even those of us who are trained to help others have the idea imbedded in our psyche that we don’t need to ask for help or support.   

Well, guess what?  Asking for help is what makes life more joyful for you and for others!  Asking makes life easier and easier is okay – you are allowed to have help and ease and joy in your life.  Create your amazing relationship environment and let go of the idea that you should do everything yourself! 

Joyfully,

Deb

Hi there!

Here are a few more thoughts about how you can improve your relationship with yourself. 

1. Approve of yourself with open and positive words ie: “I am a confident woman,” or “I am a very capable man”
2. Be kind gentle, loving and patient with yourself
3. Read literature that is positive and upbeat
4. Take great care of your body
5. Develop a Joy Team – people who support you and will cheer you on every step of the way

Are there any other things that you do that have improved your relationship with yourself?  Share your comments here so everyone can benefit!

Joyfully,

Deb

Hi!
I am focused on the relationship environment this month and of all the environments I work with as a coach, this one can have the most emotional charge.  It can also have the most rewarding outcomes.  The first step to designing a supportive relationship environment is to start with you. You need to develop self appreciation and self respect in order to attract others who are appreciative and respectful. Do you regularly acknowledge all of your amazingness? Are you cringing because I just called you amazing or are you grinning a little secret grin because I have obviously noticed what you thought you had been hiding?!  If you’re not grinning, it’s time to start!  Take an inventory.  What are you good at?  What are you amazing at?  What makes you the only you on the planet?  Once you start finding things to love and appreciate about yourself review your list everyday and affirm yourself with “I am amazing and I always spend my time with amazing people!”  Practice this for 30 days and watch how your relationships will start to shift!  And, keep me posted on what happens for you!

Joyfully,

Deb

Hi,
There has been so much media and talk of the H1N1 pandemic these days.  Everywhere you go, everything you read and everything you listen to on television and radio is focused on the flu shot.  To me, it’s creating a very powerful environment of fear.  That fear has really had me thinking…is it the fear of getting the flu and the possible consequences that can come with the flu or is it the fear of not really living your life that has everyone so panicked? If we had our lives in order – lots of reserves, supportive environments, living authentically, etc. – would we need to be so fearful of this flu?  What do you think?

Deb