Motivation 1-2-3!
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
Getting yourself motivated is really easy, that is, if you talk more positively about your own self. Listen to your own thoughts. Do you talk to yourself in an angry manner? Do you need to talk to yourself more positively?
The following are basic tips and advice to help you conquer your own negative thoughts and replace them with ones that are more positive.
Be true, be honest, be you. Very often, there are moments wherein you find that talking insults and cursing yourself is a lot easier. Imagine if you talk like this to your boss or to someone that you really care about. What would they feel? Do you imagine them staying to talk or be with you more? Be kind to yourself. Believe it or not, one’s natural tendency is to give and be loved, unless you let yourself be distracted by your past negative memories. Your true self is genuinely kind. Be kind to yourself. Do not treat yourself badly. Be respectful, patient, and more understanding. If you could act that way to someone else, you certainly could treat yourself in a similar manner.
As much as possible, always be your best when talking to yourself. Doing so will make you treat others a lot better. Eventually, these same people will then react positively towards whatever it is you are to say and do. Ultimately, you will get whatever it is that you want because these people will help you.
Make yourself heard. Observe how much you go through the day with a dialogue that only you can hear. What does this dialogue say?
To motivate yourself much more effectively, make sure to put passion as well as enthusiasm into whatever it is you have to say to yourself. Put energy into every word.
Difficult? Try to imagine this. Talk to yourself the way you probably would to someone who is standing in front of you, clearly waiting to be really inspired. Now, imagine that this person is you.
Speak loud, speak with passion, and speak with excitement and enthusiasm. The fire is in you. All you have to do is release it.
Feel good even if the going gets rough. Sometimes (and this happens), even if you are clearly focused and positive about yourself, there will be days when nothing really seems to go the way you want them to.
It is during these days when you really need to hear yourself talk, more positively that is.
Make sure that you have a collection of memories or talks that you could instantly play in your brain at your easy disposal.
Music is a good example. Or, you could also use memories of those people you know who have told you how much they appreciate you. Believe it or not, your feelings will soar and you will feel motivated enough to go through the day with a song in your heart.
Overall, the choice is yours as to how much positive vibes you want to play in your brain. All you need to do is unlock your hidden nature and set it free. A human being’s natural inclination is towards evolution, not devolution.
END.
Tips for Fighting Procrastination
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
It’s hard to find someone that has never had to deal with the problem of procrastination. It’s so common because most people naturally put off activities that they don’t enjoy.
On some days, procrastination might be a more difficult problem for you to conquer than others. One day you might sail along smoothly and the next you might not feel like leaving your bed. While everyone has a bad day from time to time, it’s also a good idea to overcome a procrastinating mindset.
Consider following these procrastination tips:
Take small steps. When you’re putting off starting a large project it may be because it seems like a huge task that will eat up all of your time. Instead of expecting yourself to work for hours on end, try starting with 10 minutes. This will get you going on it and then it will be easier to continue.
Give yourself breaks. While sitting down for 8 hours to complete a task sounds daunting, try dividing it up into small steps and take a break when you complete each step. Another method is to give yourself a 10 minute break every hour. Go for a walk in the fresh air, surf the ‘net, or text a friend on your break. Doing so will refresh your mind so you can get back to your project with renewed energy.
Make a plan. It’s easy to continue on the path of procrastination when your goals remain unclear. Give yourself a strict deadline if necessary. Write down the tasks you need to complete and the details of those tasks. It’s a way of holding yourself accountable for what is or isn’t done at the end of the day.
Get to the root of the problem. Sometimes there’s an underlying reason why you’ve been procrastinating on one specific issue. You might not be able to identify this reason until you really think about it. If you can identify the reason, you might solve your procrastination problem for that specific issue.
Reward yourself. While a break might seem like a reward, you can promise yourself other types of rewards for completing tough tasks. Decide on something you want to have or want to do. Allow yourself this luxury once you’ve completed the task at hand.
Believe in yourself. When you believe in yourself, you gain a passion for life and an enthusiasm that will help you get through the day. Once you believe in yourself, you have the power to get over procrastination and reach your ultimate goals in life.
Do the least-liked task first. When your day consists of many tasks you need to complete, start with the one that’s hanging over your head. While you might be procrastinating against all of them, once the bad ones are out of the way, your day will improve.
Schedule fun tasks, too! It’s important to make time for yourself, so enjoyable tasks should be a part of your day, too. Since your to-do list is usually packed with undesirable tasks, you should include enjoyable activities as well.
For example, if you want to play volleyball on Tuesday nights, write it down on your to-do list. When you cross it off your list, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something important – and you have!
Practice these techniques to help you fight procrastination and soon you’ll find that much of your stress has melted away and you’ll have more time for enjoying the things you love the most!
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Four Common Self-Sabotaging Tactics
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
There are four common self-sabotaging tactics that you should avoid at all cost.
Do you find yourself repeating behaviors that sabotage your success? Are you ready to put your limiting behavior to rest in favor of a better outlook and greater fulfillment?
The first step to the success you crave is being able to recognize the limiting beliefs that stand in the way of your success. Once you do, you can banish those beliefs in favor of more empowering ones. Become aware of these self-sabotaging thoughts and beliefs that you hold so you can replace them with more productive thoughts that support your success:
Settling for less than your best causes you to stop short of unleashing your fullest potential. Sometimes you settle for less because you’re scared of encountering failure. Other times, you may settle simply because you lack awareness of your own strength.
Test your strength constantly by going out of your comfort zone. Face your fears, because more often than not, your fear is the only obstacle between you and ultimate success.
Expecting too much from others. When you automatically expect help from others, or anticipate that others will bail you out of a tough situation, you’re expecting too much. You are only responsible for yourself. Even if your friends and family have helped you in the past, they may choose to let you fend for yourself this time around. Always be prepared to suffer the consequences of your actions and clean up your own mess. Choose a more sensible path that takes into account that you may journey to your destination alone.
Do you feel sorry for yourself? If your current situation causes you to feel like something’s missing, change your circumstances. Instead of dwelling on what could have been and focusing on the unfortunate hand you’ve been dealt, seek to learn from every experience and focus on solutions, instead of problems.
Your success is your responsibility. Hold yourself accountable for your results and allow unfortunate situations to steer you toward success, instead of deterring you from achieving your dreams. By maintaining this mindset, even your worst trial will be far better than remaining on the sidelines of life.
Lack of a back-up plan can be a problem. If your initial plan gives less than desired results, your only chance at success is your ability to adapt. Everyone needs a Plan B. You may feel like a pessimist by planning for an unfortunate outcome, but this planning is actually proactive. It shows your mind that you’re serious about reaching your desired destination. Ensure your financial security, mental health, and well-being by always planning for the worst while hoping for the best.
If you often find yourself creating any of these self-sabotaging behaviors that hinder your chances of success, decide that today is going to be a new day.
The important thing is that you recognize the thought patterns and behaviors that limit you and head in a new direction that supports your success.
Replace unproductive ways of thinking with a more productive, solution-oriented focus that tells your mind you deserve the success you seek. When you do, your success is inevitable.
END
Be a Better Spouse
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
Marriage can be the greatest blessing of your life, but it takes a lot of work to maintain a close, vibrant relationship for a long time. Sometimes it seems as though the odds are against the success of your marriage.
By taking these simple steps, you can continue to experience the intimacy and fulfillment you crave within your marital relationship:
Accept your spouse’s faults. Your spouse may be perfect for you, but they will make mistakes. Everyone has their faults, and a healthy marriage relationship is built on forgiveness and an environment of safety where you can be who you are without fear. Seek to create that environment and watch your relationship blossom. Remember that having different interests is healthy. Celebrate your differences. Seek to enjoy the things your spouse is interested in, and your spouse will likely show more interest in your passions. Show that what’s important to them is important to you also, and your significant other will have no doubt that you love them.
Be willing to compromise. In marriage, it’s important to pick your battles wisely. Some of the things you do will annoy each other, but it’s important to provide the grace and compassion that makes the other person feel valued. Be willing to give up your way on the small things, and your spouse will likely reciprocate.
Ensure both parties contribute. Marriage is a two-person system. Having just one person run everything will make things challenging for both of you. Whether it’s the bills or chores around the house, divide the tasks so that you make it easy for both of you. This is also true for recreation. When deciding how to spend your time together, take turns choosing what to do. If you have a movie night, make it a double feature so that each person is guaranteed a movie that they enjoy.
The 50/50 rule is a good basis for this. With this set-up, both partners play their part in the relationship and no one is superior to the other. As it should be, both become equal partners in the relationship.
Show them that you care. A lot of times, when a couple has been together for a long time, they settle into a routine and forget the little things. Each person in the relationship assumes that the other knows how he or she feels. Instead, date your spouse like you did when you first got together. You’ll be shocked at the results.
Show your appreciation and love for your spouse in small, everyday ways. When you do this consistently, you will notice a dramatic improvement in your marriage almost overnight. Small, inexpensive, thoughtful gifts throughout the year say more about your affection than one large gift on your anniversary. Say: “thank you” and “I love you” often.
Common courtesy is king. When in doubt, use the golden rule. Treat your spouse how you wish to be treated. Be considerate and thoughtful. Always be looking for new ways to express your love.
Be supportive of your spouse. When he feels down, do what you can to let him know you stand behind him. When she’s had a rough day, pamper her and show her through your actions that she matters to you more than anyone else in this world.
Marriage can be a complicated road sometimes, but it can also be the source of tremendous happiness and joy for both of you. Start today to take small steps, commit to loving your spouse with all your heart, and savor a marriage filled with passion, excitement, and a fulfilling journey through life together.
END
Tips To Get You To Where You Want To Be
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
While you should strive to make your dreams come true, concentrate, on yourself and your journey. When you spend less time wishing things were different and more time accepting what you’ve got, you’ve already found a sense of peace and happiness right there.
Dr. Joe Vitale, renowned motivational speaker and author, often says: “the fastest way to get where you want is to be happy with where you are.” Believe it or not, this mindset really works! It may take some changes and soul searching on your part, but in the end, it’ll be more than worth it to adopt this positive mentality.
Here are some tips that can help you become who you want to be right now:
Feel gratitude. When you concentrate on the big picture, it’s easier to exhibit feelings of gratitude. When you’re grateful, you remain positive and appreciative of every joyful moment in life. Sometimes people get too caught up in a sense of entitlement, which leads to negative feelings. Concentrating on gratitude, instead, will get you where you desire.
Be optimistic. Some say that life is all about optimism. And it’s true! An optimistic attitude is one of the few things you need to succeed. If you’re trying to achieve a concrete goal, optimism will help you accomplish it. If you’re trying to change your mindset, optimism will make the task easier. Optimism can be the driving force that keeps you going.
Exhibit the traits you desire. It was Gandhi who said that you should be the change you want to see in the world. With these wise words in mind, you can replace wanting with some bold action. With some persistence and perseverance, you can make it happen.
Adopt a prosperous mindset. Take a moment to determine what prosperity means to you. Are you hoping for money, a fulfilling career, or a relationship that lasts a lifetime? Know what you want, then adopt the right mindset. Once you do, you’ve then set yourself in the right direction toward your goals.
Find the silver lining. As you go through life, you will no doubt realize that things are not always going to go your way. But even in tough times you need to keep your chin up. Instead of allowing negativity to consume your life, seek out the silver lining. This fresh attitude can be the difference between being held hostage and achieving your goals.
Take small steps. When the place you’re going seems far away and unachievable, it’s important to break it down into small steps. Give yourself an achievable goal with a realistic time frame. Break that one down into smaller goals. When you avoid getting overwhelmed, you’ll gain the confidence to persevere.
You’re Already There! It’s a good idea to practice one of these tips at a time until you’ve incorporated them into your life. Perhaps you can spend a week perfecting one strategy and, then the next week, add another one to your repertoire while continuing with the first one. Soon enough, you’ll be a natural at all of them!
Once you choose a powerful and positive mindset, you’ll find that you’ve already achieved much of what you want. Just remember: You already have the traits, mindset, and lifestyle you desire, and you know that success is inevitable, but only when you have the will to break through the obstacles in your mind!
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Stop A Child From Becoming “LOST LUGGAGE”
by Dawn M. Rubin, C.M.L.C.
“Crazy” you say? Well think again. I am not only a Certified Master Step Family Life Coach, but also a police dispatcher at an International Airport. Every summer, every Christmas, every spring break, myself and my fellow Dispatcher’s see this happen over and over again — parents sending their children to a relative’s or a parent’s house.
They bring the child to the airport, wave good-bye and kiss them gently. Sometimes, with tears in their eyes, they glue their face to the big window as the tug pushes back the aircraft that will soon depart into the sky.
So, what happens now? Maybe the child has a connecting flight? Maybe the person who is to pick up the may be late? What if the weather gets bad and there are flight delays? What happens if the person picking them up can’t make it through the snow covered streets? What happens if the child misses the connecting flight? What if the aircraft has mechanical issues and it never takes off? And what if the child becomes ill in flight?
Many parents feel that this is no big deal. That once the ticket is bought and the child boards the aircraft that the child is now the airline’s responsibility. TRUTH: we need to inform parents that this is not totally true.
The airline does take on some responsibility, but not all. Here is a check list for every parent that boards a child onto an aircraft:
- Communicate with your Child as to what they will experience. It doesn’t matter if it’d their first flight or their tenth.
- WARNING! Parents DO NOT send your child on any trip without a cell phone!!!! You can get a $10.00 cell phone just about anywhere and a $10.00 phone calling card.
- Give your child a list of all phone numbers and address, especially the contact information for the individual or relative who is picking the child up.
- List all the child’s allergies to both food and medication. Provide a list of any medication is the child is current taking. Also list any medical or physical conditions the child may have. The name of the child’s doctor and phone number should accompany the child. Make sure you also sign and notarize a letter stating that the person the child is visiting has a legal permission from you to have the child treated medically, if necessary and ensure this is kept in the child’s carry-on bag and is shown to a Flight Attendant should it be needed.
- Keep a copy of your child’s ‘confirmation number.
- Make a note of what your child is wearing. Many cell phones have a camera function. Please use it.
- Be sure you send your child with enough money for at least four meals in case of delays on either leg of your child’s journey.
- If your child has a connecting flight, make sure the reservation is an early one. This way if the connection was missed they can be put on a later flight and not stranded, alone at a strange airport.
- COMMUNICATE with your child as to what to do in case a flight is missed or an unexpected event occurs.
- It is important to remember — it is NOT the airlines responsibly to take care of the child if the flight is delayed or cancelled due to weather. When this happens, the airlines will usually call us, the Airport Police, for support.
What can occur when parents don’t follow these 10 simple rules? The parent receives a phone call from a rather emotional caller, blaming, sobbing and/or screaming. Now we have a scared child and parent with no way for them to communicate, feed the child or even house the child. The beds we have at the Police Department are in the prisoner’s cells. If the child in under 16, he or she will be held at the airport because the Police will maintain custody of the child until the next flight.
Please pass this information on to prevent a child from becoming lost luggage.
Word of the day? “Communicate.”
END
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About the Author: Dawn M. Rubin C.M.L.C is a Certified Master Step Family LIFE Coach and Master Co-Creative Communication Life Coach, who specializes in the process of Blending Extended and Step Families and in Family Communication and Dynamics. Dawn is also the founder of “One Voice – Children Supporting Children,” an organization for children to obtain the support of other children who are adjusting to the “Blending” process. Dawn has been a long-time graduate and friend of Express Coaching™ and you can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca
Bring Your Personal Goals into Reality
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
Do you go about your daily life just getting by from one day to the next, all the while saving your dream goals for “someday?” Wouldn’t you love to turn that “someday” into today?
Your personal goals can become reality, and sooner than you think, too! By believing in yourself and taking decisive action, even if it’s one small step at a time, you can wake up one day soon and find that you’re living the life of your dreams.
What’s your biggest reason for putting off your goals until a later date? Is it because your goals are unattainable or require a tremendous change from the life you’re living now? The good news is, even with such large goals, you can get yourself on the right track by consistently allocating a little free time toward these goals.
Here are some tips to help you achieve your goals:
Clarify your goals: Instead of thinking of your goals as vague ideas, determine exactly what you want. If you want money, how much do you want? If you want to lose weight, how much? Specify your goal in a measurable format.
Make a solid plan: The planning phase is very important. This is where you figure out how you’re going to get what you want. It’s as simple as choosing a path toward your goal and writing down each step you’ll need to take to achieve it.
Hold yourself to deadlines: Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to achieve each step and hold yourself accountable. When the going gets tough, just picture that big payoff you’ll enjoy when you get past your hurdles and achieve your goal.
Be prepared to deal with setbacks: Expect the unexpected. Sometimes, things go awry. When facing a setback, learn what you can from the situation and then fight your way back into the game. Most importantly, continue to believe in yourself. Each challenge you overcome makes you stronger.
Explore your options: Sometimes when your circumstances in life change, your priorities also change, and that’s okay! Never be afraid of reevaluating your situation and your goals. If you decide to take a different path in life, it’s your decision. Make new goals, and corresponding plans, for your new journey.
Be serious about your goals: When you feel that your goals are a priority, it’ll be easier for you to avoid procrastination. Taking your wants and needs seriously could make all the difference between reaching your goals or not.
Break your goal into smaller pieces: This tip is especially important when you’re pursuing a large goal. For example, if your goal is to go after a career that involves a great deal of specialized training, then make each type of training a goal in itself. Celebrate as you complete each step because you’re now one step closer to your dream!
Get the help you need: There are many people willing to help you reach your goals in life. Whether it’s someone to lean on to give you an extra confidence push, or someone to outsource work to, it’ll show you that you can count on others for help. With help, you can accomplish more.
It all comes down to your attitude. Once you’ve got your goals organized, if you have a positive mindset about achieving them, you’ll also have the drive necessary to keep working until you reach success. Take these strategies to heart, and live the life you desire – and deserve!
END.
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About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
How Do You Define Failure?
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
What do you think when you hear the word failure? You probably are thinking that you’re not good enough and that you should give up.
While failure can involve those thoughts and emotions, failure can also make us stronger or wiser. A simple definition of failure is: An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.
When I think of this definition of failure, I’m reminded of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. While there are many conflicting stories of how many times Edison “failed” at inventing the electric light bulb, most agree it was in the thousands before he found the right combination of materials.
One of Edison’s most famous quotes is, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” If you adopt this same attitude, you’ll overcome your feelings of failure and be able to see your dreams and desires come to fruition.
Robert Schuller stated these famous words, “Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure; it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.” Henry Ford said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
When you consider those words from these wise and successful people, you’ll truly begin to understand the power of failure. The truth is, you only fail when you give up! When you keep trying until you’ve found the answer or the solution, you’re successful. You’d never say Thomas Edison, Robert Schuller or Henry Ford were failures would you? Sure, they were unsuccessful many, many times, but they didn’t give up until they found the answer, the right procedure or the right materials to solve their dilemma.
In case those quotes weren’t enough to make you believe failure has a positive power and strength, here are some more you might relate to:
“Failure is an event, never a person.” – William D. Brown. The next time you try your hand at something and don’t achieve the desired result immediately, remember failure is an event; it’s not you.
Bill Cosby also said it well when he said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” If you’re trying to please everyone, you can’t possibly succeed!
“Never confuse a single defeat with final defeat.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
“You can’t have any successes until you can accept failures.” – George Cukor
Just because you’ve failed once, twice or 10,000 times at something, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You only fail when you stop trying.
Still not convinced? How about this:
“You always pass failure on your way to success.” – Mickey Rooney. What do these words mean to you? No matter what you’re trying to succeed at, whether it’s a sport, project, career, invention, or at school, there will be times when you don’t succeed. But you mustn’t let that stop you from reaching your goals, dreams, and desires.
The common thread among all these famous people and their wise words is the same. You can’t have success without failure. Never give up and never stop trying. There is power in failure, you just have to give yourself a chance.
Keep trying, keep failing and soon you’ll find true success!
END.
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About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
The Power of Action
by Evie Harrison, C.L.C., M.S.L.C.
Have you read all the books in the world about achieving success in life and till now you are getting zero results? How and when will you see significant changes in your life? Are you brave enough to keep going and never quitting?
If yes then, let me share with you the important factor that is tightly connected to success. No body can ever succeed without this factor.
Here it is:
“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton
It is all about taking action!
Have you applied what you’ve read? Have you taken bold actions? Are you persistent enough?
The common characteristics of highly successful people are that they never quit and they always keep moving.
They are not afraid of making mistakes. They believe that mistakes are their vehicle to massive success. Therefore, they simply learn the lessons and keep moving.
If you are in a journey and discovered that you lost your way, stopping will not take you anywhere. You have to choose another direction and keep moving.
Being in motion is the only way that will allow you to reach your destination. You can take shortcuts, you can take a faster vehicle, or you can get a map to identify the shortest path. Whatever you choose to do, the most important thing is to keep moving and take action.
Successful people are action-oriented. They work very hard, they are determined, and they are focused.
To rise above mediocrity, learn from your mistakes, keep moving and never quit. This is your secret formula to taking powerful actions that will lead you to achieve massive success in your life.
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About the Author: Evie Harrison, C.L.C., M.S.L.C., is a Certified LIFE Coach and Master SPIRIT LIFE Coach who specializes in Career Coaching within the private sector. Evie has been a long-time graduate and friend of Express Coaching™ and we appreciate her return to our newsletter. You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca.
6 Simple Rules in Life
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
As a life coach I am often asked how to go about improving life in a simple manner that will bring about a positive difference. Let me tell you, life is simple and peaceful if you incorporate the following six rules into your daily routine.
Practice some quiet time everyday. Quietness of mind is the secret ingredient to a happy and successful life. Make it a regular habit to enjoy some quiet time every day. To start with set aside just 10 minutes at the start of the day. Just sit in a quiet place without paying any attention to your passing thoughts. You could pay attention only to your breathing and notice your chest and abdomen while breathing. This is not yoga, meditation, etc. This is simply a quiet time. Just ten minutes a day in the morning or night before bedtime is ideal for you to enjoy the peace within. If you make this a regular habit you would witness a better quality of life real soon.
Exercise your body and mind. Daily exercise keeps you away from mental and physical illness. Exercise keeps your body flexible, supple and strong. This leads to a balanced mind. There are plenty of good exercises you could choose from to keep yourself healthy and enjoy a long life. If you have not been exercising, you could start today. Just go for a brisk walk and feel the fresh air filling your lungs.
Eat sensibly. This area really poses a challenge for most of us. ‘You are what you eat’ is not just a mere saying. It is a fact of life. What we eat, why we eat, when we eat and how we eat are important factors related to our physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. It would be wise to choose a healthy diet and stick to it. Your goal should not only be to lose weight but also to keep it under control so that your body and mind does not bear the strain of overweight.
Choose a fulfilling profession or job. Many people have a habit of switching jobs. They do not seem to know what they are looking for. They are not sure if they are after money, challenge, job satisfaction, etc. It is important that you have clear-cut ideas of what you are looking for in a job. You should love your job in order to do it well and succeed in it. You would find fulfillment in your career only when you love your profession or job.
Maintain good relationships. Life is for sharing. Share your love and happiness with your friends and family. Learn to cherish your relationships. Respect everyone around you and develop good communication skills to establish truly valuable relationships. Relationships make your life meaningful.
Get enough sleep. Sleep restores energy. Make sure to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Deep, regular and restful mind is good for body and mind. If you have unhealthy sleeping habits get rid of them and develop good sleeping habits. Enjoy the benefits of good sleep.
When you practice these simple rules you are bound to enjoy a happy, healthy and peaceful life. Life is quite simple, really!
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About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
Setting Highly Effective Goals for 2011
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
A New Year, sometimes requires a new way of thinking …
As we move into 2011, you need to know that having the right attitude is not only the key to becoming successful; you must also set the proper goal that will assist you in your overall success. Goal setting is one way of establishing several steps to guide you in meeting your objectives. This means identifying specifically what you want to achieve. If done the right way, your methods might result in a successful enterprise as you work your way to success.
There are Three Qualities of Setting an Effective Goal:
Before you start your goal setting, keep in mind the three qualities that will help you get to where you want. Your goals must be measurable, realistic, and well-reviewed.
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Ask, Believe & Receive
by Kenya Johnson, M.P.G.C.
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24 KJV
“For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].” Mark 11:24 Amplified Version
Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful and other are not? Have you ever wanted to know how to be successful in everything you put your hands to do? Well, today you are going to get a glimpse into the world of success at its best. As some of you may know, I love to pull my inspiration from the Bible and work on putting all of its teachings and principles in use in my life. The above scripture in Mark 11:24 is basis for my article today – Ask, Believe & Receive. You don’t have to be a Christian to understand this principle and it can be applied in your life as simply asking, believing and receiving.
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Lessons Not Learned From An Expert
by Steve Kiges, C.E.C.
In my first career, I was a professional musician. My formal training was at Juilliard: one of the finest music & arts schools in the world. It is the kind of place where I got to hang out with future superstars like Robin Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Yo Yo Ma and Kelsey Grammer when they were just struggling students trying to figure out life just like me.
In my second semester, I was assigned a particular teacher which I will refer to as Mr. Negative. I am sure you know the kind that never has anything good to say and has this permanent scowl plastered on his face. Everything he said seemed off or didn’t make sense, and no matter what I would try, I just could not please him. In my head I was thinking, here I am at “The Great Juilliard School”, the students are the best of the best and the teachers are the best of the best, what is wrong with me? Why can’t I get what this teacher is trying to teach me? He must be great since he’s teaching at Juilliard.
I was sitting in the lounge feeling pretty bummed out and one of the PhD candidates came and sat next to me. He asked how things were going and I explained my struggles. He got this big grin on his face and said, “ Oh….. you’ve got Mr. Negative this semester…….. we all had to learn how to survive his class; it’s one of the rights of passage …… everyone has to do their time in his class….. ”. He then said, “Mr Negative is actually one of the best teachers in the entire school; you just do the opposite of what he says and you will be right on the money”.
Wow, what a relief and what a great lesson! It was a lesson about trusting myself, my own beliefs and what is best for me. We are all showered by the media, friends, and family with suggestions and opinions masquerading as facts. “Do this…. No, you need to do this…. No, do this”. Some roads are good to try and some we need to just say, “No thanks”.
I had a serious obesity problem for many years. My success in losing 170 lbs and staying in my healthy weight range for over 7 years now has not been about doing what all the experts say or being a diet disciple. It has been mixing and matching things that work for me. It has been paying attention to what I need at the time and, at times, ignoring good advice. If I try one path, it does not mean I am married to it for life(big lesson here). Maybe I do it only a few weeks and if that does not fit anymore, then onto something else.
Being open to new ideas, does not mean you have to accept them or take any action. For the next few days or weeks, pay attention to advice-givers and information you read or see on TV. Just because the experts say ……. does not mean it’s right for you or that you have to do it.
Trust yourself.
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About the Author: Steve Kiges is a Certified Master Empowerment Coach. He holds certifications in several modalities including; Masters Level Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy and Core Transformation. Steve also brings a wealth of knowledge from several successful careers including; Symphony Musician, University Teacher, Software Company President and Entrepreneur. Steve now specializes in working with individuals struggling with food addictions, an issue that he struggle with for many years. Please visit his website to contact him and for more information: http://www.theunreasonablelife.com
Your Own Personal Development Plan (PDP)
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
You may have heard about personal Development Plans and may be wondering just what these are? More and more people are beginning their journey into creating their PDP and maybe it is time you did the same?
A personal development plan is a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to consider and improve upon his personal, educational and professional development. The individual is in control of his own development with the opportunity to monitor and steer his growth. It is simply a tool to encourage and support lifelong learning.
The process involves identifying the areas that need development, planning, executing and reviewing.
We all tend to have a mental block when it comes to addressing our own problems. Many people are afraid about taking time and thinking about their problems and solutions to those problems. A PDP would help them to solve their problems in an easy manner.
You could start developing your PDP anytime. Based on your present situation and role, you could draw a PDP that could help to prioritize the most important areas of your life that need immediate attention and concentration.
Identify areas that need progress – This is the first step towards constructing your PDP. You need to be in tune with your current situation in life – know who you are, what you want to achieve, what you have and what you lack. You also have to be clear about what is working for you now and what is not. You need to check on what you are ignoring, too.
Many people may delay in this first step if they have problem identifying the areas of their life that needs development. If you are one of them just think about those areas that are important to you – for example, you could consider the following areas: Physical and mental wellbeing, education, spiritual pursuit, finances, recreation, relationships – personal and professional, etc. You do not need to write down everything in detail but just make a list of these areas.
This list would help you to prioritize your areas. After you identify your areas that need improvement, write down what improvements you prefer to make in each of these areas as it relates to your personal growth.
Set a timeline on each goal – Begin with your short-term goals and then proceed to long-term goals
Write down your action plan – how do you plan to go about this process?
Review your plan – is this plan workable? Would you like to make a few changes or draw a new PDP?
Implement your plan – stick to your plan and follow your schedule
Review your progress – are you following the timeline? Are you progressing accordingly?
When you develop your own PDP, follow through with action and achieve your goals you would feel like you are on top of the world. You gain more confidence that your life is in your control. You get a great satisfaction. Take one step at a time and enjoy the process.
That is the key to success.
END.
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About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
Motivation Strategies
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
Success and achievement requires work, patience and motivation. Motivation can be viewed by some as a temporary solution to a permanent problem. What that means is, there is always something to do when it comes to success.
We need to succeed at better grades. We need to succeed at becoming more profitable in business. We need to succeed in our family life – being a better parent or spouse. We need to succeed financially – be it personally or business. We need to succeed physically. Maybe we need to drop a few pounds or add some muscle mass.
The bottom line is, we all need motivation on some level whether it’s for a short time or for an ongoing long time frame. Below are twelve ways that you can become more motivated for your success trail.
Some may be for you. Some may not. But with these you are sure to find at least one that works with your personality.
Reading –
Reading can be inspirational as well as motivational. It’s a form of learning, research, escape, entertainment and even training. Reading up on your desired goals can be motivational. For example, if you are wanting to get in shape, you may subscribe to a well known fitness magazine. The articles and pictures alone could be motivation to keep you on the treadmill or bench press.
Listening –
Listening is a lot like reading. But instead of being tied to a book, you can listen to motivational recordings just about anywhere. The most common place is the car. If you are working in an office setting away from your home, you may have a lengthy route to work. That’s a perfect time for motivational listening. If you have the luxury of listening while at home or in the office, a great way to further your motivation is to actually take notes of important points that you hear from your recordings.
Affirmation -
Affirmations are good for those of us who need repetition. Have you heard the saying, “Tell someone something long enough and they will eventually believe it.” Well an affirmation is that kind of motivational resource. Someone usually finds a saying that really charges them – something they really believe in – and they will write it down and read it daily, sometimes several times daily. This eventually will get in that person’s head and they will own it as a fact or part of who they are. The great thing about affirmations are, they can really take good information, motivational and inspiring information, and flood out the negativity that’s in your head. Out with the old (bad) and in with the new (good).
Visualization -
Here’s a powerful way to stay motivated. If you can see your outcome, a lot of times it will motivate you to see it through to the end. The only downside is it takes a little practice. But it is well worth the effort. Your results will show you how worth it.
Negativity -
Negativity is a harsh motivator. What I mean is, negativity is bad. But if you’re the kind of person that likes to take the negativity from people and feed it back to them by your positive results, then you have a great motivational technique by tuning into the comments of others who ‘don’t think it’s possible’. With this technique, you have to be careful that the negativity doesn’t rub off on your and you start to believe it.
Remembering why you’re doing what you’re doing is a great way to stay motivated. If you’re building wealth to give your family things they never dreamed possible. Just remembering that fact can motivate your drive harder than when you first thought about it. As time goes on, you will be more driven the more you remember your reasons.
Huge amounts of motivation are already in you. You just have to know how to tap into it. And if these half dozen motivational strategies are a start. If you don’t see one you connect, there are more coming!
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About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
If I Could Only Ask Her
by Wendy McDonnell, Hons.B.Sc., C.F.C.C.
Inspired by hearing others speak about their mothers, I was thinking about the things my Mom used to say. You’ve probably heard these before. Maybe, like me, you’ve caught yourself saying them yourself.
Don’t make me stop this car.
Close that door! We don’t live in a barn!
Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.
This hurts me more than it hurts you.
Now that I am a mom and love my Mom very much, I wanted to try my hand at translating her words.
I share this because I want to love and understand my Mom. Perhaps this’ll resonate with you too.
I’m overwhelmed and doing the best I can do.
I’m saying the things that others said to me because I think I should.
Those are the only words coming to me when I feel stressed and exhausted.
I’m afraid, vulnerable, and afraid to tell you how I’m feeling and ask for what I need.
I don’t have all the answers and I think I should.
I’m uncomfortable asking for help. I want to trust that my needs matter.
My Mom died 6 years ago. I wish I could ask her if that’s what she meant.
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?” Henry David Thoreau
“The key is to not resist or rebel against emotions or to try to get around them by devising all sorts of tricks; but to accept them directly, as they are.” Takahisa Kora
We can create the space to engage with each other when we are in conflict so we can look through each other’s eyes. When two or more people live together, conflict is inevitable. Sure, some conflict is preventable. Some is not. Why not prepare to engage conflict? We have food in our fridge for times when we feel hungry or ask for a hug when we need closeness. Conflict also needs space and a plan.
Dominic Barter speaks about Restorative Circles (www.restorativecircles.org) a Restorative Justice model developed in Brazil. It’s been a very creative and compassionate way to engage with painful conflict in our family.
Dominic Barter writes:
“It is common for our responses to conflict to be organised around the desire to bring security and healing to those involved, and thus to focus on resolving conflict. This seems obvious only because it is a given for most people that conflict is problematic…Restorative Circles engage non-adversarily with the complex and often intense reactions to what was done. …They then seed new action. One consequence of this is to see conflict not as something that needs to be changed or managed, but as the expression of crucial feedback about personal and communal well being.”
Read the whole Restorative Circles Blog Post by Dominic Barter: Dedicated Spaces for Having Conflict and the video (4 mins, 42 seconds) http://www.restorativecircles.org/dedicated-spaces-for-having-conflict
Conflict is not the problem. Conflict alerts us that we have something very important to fight about. What do we value? What are we drawn to? Translating our words and actions into what’s important for us can help us to move from conflict to taking care of ourselves and our relationships.
Perhaps my mother may have said, “I’m feeling scared when I hear that volume in the car. Safety is important to me. Would you be willing to use a talking voice while we’re driving? Otherwise, I will park this car until I feel safe to go.”
If I had noticed my mother’s pursed lips, I may have asked, “Do you feel overwhelmed by our yelling because you want to drive safely? Hey everyone! Let’s keep our voices down until we get to the park!”
After that, if the conflict remains, I have hope that we can gather to talk about what we were looking for when we did what we did and share how we are about that now.
What space does conflict have in your family?
“Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.” Mother Teresa
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About the Author: Wendy McDonnell, Hons.B.Sc., MFCC, is a Master Family Communications Coach with training in Psychology, Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Circles, Collaborative Divorce, Grief and Bereavement, Reiki, and teaching. Her hands-on experience in transforming her own childhood violence into love motivates her to support other parents to create extraordinary family relationships. You can learn how to value everyone’s needs and work together, without giving up…and without giving in. Visit her website www.CompassionateSolutions.ca for your free newsletter, gift, or coaching consultation.
Lessons from Popeye
by Keith Bray, B.A., C.A.L.C.
I’ve spent many years loving Popeye the Sailor and the lessons he has taught me! One, of course, is to eat your spinach; but that is not the great one. Popeye is my favourite philosopher. It took me many years to learn his simple philosophy, “I is what I is and that’s all that I is”. Think on that one a while as your saying “This guy is nuts!” By the way, I am that too.
I spent too many years trying to be what other people thought I should be and not being who I really was. This “actor on a stage” life led me to a lot of places I didn’t want to go. It led me to trying to escape the false person who I had become. It took me to a very low spot in life, a spot I now call bottom. It helped make me sick and tired of being sick and tired. I lived irritable, restless and discontent. I wanted pleasure and I wanted it now.
Today, I know that that is not who I am and not who I was meant to be. I became what others wanted and acted how they expected. I played a role I was never comfortable in and when you’re not comfortable in your own skin, life is not a joy! Can you relate?
Today, I have accepted Popeye’s philosophy. To accept that I am what I am and that is just perfect for me has been a journey. Along the journey, I’ve had a lot of help and support. I have found and worked with people who have actually LISTENED to what I was saying and feeling, and have conscious contact on a daily basis as a result of this help with a power far greater than me. I’m thankful daily that I found this power within me and around me. From Hazelden:
I Am Who I Am — Sometimes we want to be someone else – anyone but who we are. We want to be someone who feels more free and at peace. We want to be someone who doesn’t have to take medications day after day. We want to be free of the pain and loneliness our illness has brought us.
Thought for the Day — When I look within, I will discover that accepting myself and being myself are far more fulfilling that expected.”
There is hope that the same changes can happen within any person who really wants to be their authentic self and is prepared to be honest, seek help and take action. Today’s life is far more than I ever expected and being just me is all that I need to be. It is nice to be true to myself and that small quiet voice within that I now listen to a follow as best I can. Popeye, you are simple but brilliant.
I would love you to share your thoughts on that, and if I can help you be your own Popeye, just ask.
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About the Author: Keith Bray holds an undergraduate degree from UWO and is a Certified Addictions Life Coach. Mr. Bray has an extensive business background and currently is working with others through his coaching practices, “Coached To Success” and “Hope & Serenity.” You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca. Visit his website www.hopeserenity.ca to find out more about his unique gift and work.
People to Stay Away From
by Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
Outrageous lifestyles of successful living are envied by most of the world. Are you part of the envied? Or are you part of the envying? If you are living a successful life by your own standards, congratulations. If you haven’t quite reached that level yet, then this article is for you.
There are several characteristics that those who practice successful living possess. The characteristics listed below are NOT any of them. In fact, they are the opposite. See if you possess these characteristics and, if you do, my advice to you is… change.
The Dreadful Dud
The dreadful dud is the person who answers questions with one word. Any time there is anyone who wants to initiate a conversation with the Dreadful Dud, the conversation is dead before it gets started. These people are not mean or necessarily rude. They just don’t believe they have much to contribute, so they cut it short as much as possible. Consequently, the conversations become fewer and fewer.
Eventually, the Dreadful Dud gets the reputation of the dull guy or girl. Or you might say he or she is a dud. Don’t be a dud. Practice your natural personality. Did you know that you were created to enjoy life? Did you know that life is meant to be tasted? There are juices inside to be experienced. When was the last time you took a chance? Live life as it’s something to be loved. Practice makes perfect. Practice passion. Practice charisma. It’s who you really are.
The Social Soloist
The Social Soloist is the person who never begins to live and love life. This person finds him/herself at home, alone, on the couch, every night, watching silly reality programs. The Social Soloist finds purpose in who is going to have to eat the next set of buffalo testicles or who is going to be kicked off an island.
The irony of the whole thing is the Social Soloist is at home experiencing nothing while he/she watches those who are actually living and loving life. Does that make sense? Instead of trying to escape through the boob tube, get out and meet people. If you must start small, invite some people over to watch a decent movie. Eventually, it will develop into a social fun time and, who knows, it just may move out of the TV room.
The Pitiful Procrastinator
Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. Ever hear that one? How ridiculous! Have you ever known anyone that lived by this motto? How frustrating! The Pitiful Procrastinator always finds him/herself stressed out and behind in life. Why? They keep putting it off! Everything is always put off until later. Nothing is ever done in time. And when it eventually gets done, it’s shoddy and half-way completed. They just want to hurry up and get over with… whatever “it” is.
Laundry. Homework. Dishes. Meetings. Confrontation. Putting gas in the car. Changing Careers. You name it, it never gets done when it needs to get done. Life will pass the Pitiful Procrastinator by. And when it’s too late to make up his/her mind, regret will take hold. Do not let regret arise and dominate your mind. Instead, take control of your mind right now. Make a freakin list and stick by it! Don’t fall prey to the practice of the Pitiful Procrastinator. Remember, practice makes perfect.
The Unknown Optimist
These people have such positive energy they could suck the life out of the room if they were to make a phone call during a New Years Eve party. While everyone is having such a good time, making plans and looking forward to the future, the unknown optimist looks to the dark side. The unknown optimist looks to the dark side of everything. If you were to tell this person that he just one $1,000.000.00, he would say something like, “Great! Now I’m going to be in a higher tax bracket and have to pay more taxes.”
The unknown optimist lives in a vacuum that you do not want to live in. It’s the “everything sucks” vacuum. Take inventory of your overall attitude. Don’t take the extreme opposite route either. If you go to the opposite extreme, you’ll find yourself on the Pollyanna platform.
A great place to be is in the realistic but optimistic middle. While you’re there, be sure to live and love life.
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About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
Seize Your Life’s Moments
Life is too short not to enjoy, so while you still have time, let your hair down and remove that “Boring” tag in your so-called life and start making it worthwhile. Below are some tips that will help you escape from your self-made rut and start controlling how you spend each waking hour of your day.
Keep a Positive Atmosphere. Stop whining about the things you don’t have and how wrecked you think your life is. Rather, enjoy what you have and work on getting the things you desire. Psychologists believe that optimism is a good defense against unhappiness, so it is better to keep your optimism alive. Moaning about your life will only attract negative vibes, so be wary.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks. Life is all about taking risks; and that’s the exciting part of it. Get out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid of rejection. Challenges and failure are part of life. Once you learn how to take risks, you’ll soon realize how good it feels not to let moments pass you by. Trust me, you’ll get more out of life than what you are asking for, if you keep on trying.
Carpe Diem. Enjoy the present and let go of the past. You only have one life, so make it worthwhile. Brooding on the past just hinders you from the things you should be enjoying at the present.
List The Things You Want to Do. Stop lazing around and give yourself something to be busy about. Write down a list of all the things you want to do and make a timeline, not to stress you out, but to remind you of your goals. Say, for example, you make a list of all the places you want to visit before you turn forty. No matter how unrealistic your dreams are, still jot them down. As what Paulo Coelho stressed in his book The Alchemist, “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” So don’t put limits to yourself because you’ll never know what may happen.
Try Out Something New. Getting into something or trying something unfamiliar for you may seem scary, but nothing is more fulfilling than being able to conquer your fear. If you are afraid of heights, try bungee jumping or sky diving, even just once. Who knows? You might enjoy it! The world is a big place and there are still lots of things waiting to be explored by you. Do the things you never did or even imagined doing before. Go to a foreign place where you know no one. Eat something exotic. And, yes, even the littlest act of donning short hair, when you have lived all your life sporting long hair, still counts.
For now,
Dr. Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
Trust
Trust is sometimes a dirty little five letter word. It is defined in Webster as a “firm belief or confidence in the honesty integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith; hope.” Wow, what a mouthful!
To trust means to allow oneself to be vulnerable to a person or thing. It is putting your hope and faith in a person believing that they will deliver or believing to receive the expected outcome. How many of us have been burned by this five letter word, therefore resulting in what we call “trust issues?”
From a personal standpoint, I have had to face my issues with trusting. If you are like me, you want to be able to trust and take others at their word believing for the expected outcome. When you have been let down or your trust has been betrayed on several occasions, trust becomes a major challenge. After betrayal of trust how can one get over trust issues? Truly, there is no easy way to get over trust issues or challenges. There is no quick fix, step by step magic formula that works for everyone. Let’s explore one major word that is at the heart of trust issues, vulnerability.
Trusting means you will have to allow yourself to be vulnerable to someone or something at some point in your life. In saying this let’s note that there are ways to be vulnerable and still maintain control. This doesn’t mean that you can avoid all hurt. When you walk into a vulnerable situation you have to understand that there is potential for let down and you prepare yourself for both the good and the bad. Yes, I am trusting I will receive the expected outcome, but if I don’t, where do I go from here. It is knowing that that things may change and what is my plan if I don’t receive that expected outcome.
One final note I want to make with regard to trust is the need for forgiveness. To help overcome trust issues and the hurt that results from broken trust is one’s ability to forgive. Our ability to trust must be married to our ability to forgive. Forgiving someone after they have broken your trust is easier said than done, however, if we do not forgive we have the potential to become bitter and bitterness can lead to physical ailments as well as emotional distress. We must learn how to trust and forgive. It is the key to long lasting and healthy relationships.
Learning to trust builds character and strength; allowing oneself to be vulnerable has its ups and downs; knowing you can move forward no matter the outcome is giving stability to an unknown future.
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About the Author: Kenya Johnson, M.P.G.C., is owner of The Total Makeover Company, LLC, working to help enhance your personal growth. You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca. Visit The Total Makeover, LLC, on the web at www.thetotalmakeover.com.
Creating Avenues
by Daris Reno Blickman, M.L.C.
Today’s economy has changed many lives, these changes have brought about difficult life experiences for many. Employment has changed, jobs lost, companies have shut their doors, libraries closing their doors and schools losing their funding sources. Corporations have lumped two jobs into one employees position, thus eliminating jobs and cutting their wage cost. Unfortunately this is added stress upon the employee creating exhaustion in our work force and family life at home leaving many of us wondering what should we be doing.
This past week I participated in a lecture at my son’s non traditional school. It is a great place for young teens and young adults who want to embrace being an individual in today’s society. It was so telling to see their faces, like sponges soaking up our words, listening to their ideas on many subjects. Many were bright students but not fitting in with the traditional public schools and their style of teaching. I looked out at the crowd in front of me and realized what a gift I had just been given. I had just figured out what was standing before me.
These students were asking, how do I find my interest, my passion and where is my path from here? What if I am different then what the traditional employers want? Are our paths all the same? I took a quick review of my own path in life and said , No, we are all unique and should embrace our individuality. In saying such I decided that Creating Avenues for ourselves must begin. These children are not our future, they are our Today, our Now. So I began to speak about creating our path, our journey. We own our paths, others do not, We have the right to create much of our path, sometimes we give this power to others for various reasons.
During the discussion we came to the conclusion that in today’s world, we need to create our place, our jobs and our connection to the community. Not everything needs to be traditional, in fact, creativity is more alive and well today then ever before. So if you look around and see that the jobs are limited, do not give up. Explore, find what you are good at, see if your passion in art, music, helping others, socializing, can become your career, part of your path.
These days more then ever, we need to step outside of the box, maybe even run around it a little bit, pick up some speed and find our way, just like our fathers, grandparents did many years ago. Maybe we can be inspired by our today’s children, to seek instead of waiting, to create instead of being created by others and find our passion, our path. Networking with others can also be a powerful tool and will create new avenues. After all, some knowledge, a lot of creativity and a whole bunch of motivation can take you a long way in life. Let’s aspire to be inspired together!
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About the Author: Ms. Daris Reno Blicknan, M.S.L.C., is a Certified LIFE Coach and Master SPIRIT LIFE Coach. Daris is currently working with several Non Profits in the areas of disabilities, at risk teens and domestic violence issues. Daris is also a member of the Cherokee’s of Alabama and is involved with Public Relations work for the tribe. You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca.
Attaining Your Goals Effectively
by Dr. Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
Whether for the short or long term, every person in this planet has set a goal that needs to be reached. It may be small, like getting to work on time, or huge, like building a house in a year’s time, or even running for the U.S. presidency. Sometimes, these goals are met with flying colors. There are moments, however, when the effort ends with disappointment.
There are many reasons why some goals are not met. Needless to say, the failure to achieve them is often a key contributor to low self-esteem and drive. The trick to getting past the hard times? Don’t let them get to you and move on.
Between Goals and Success:
Success and goal attainment always come together. More goals set almost always translates to greater success. There are goal attainment strategies that are focused on things that should be always be accessible and available. These include powerful emotions like desire and passion. It also includes expectancy and the ability to identify your current state, as well as the creativity and imagination to build the path towards your goals.
There are several approaches to successful goal attainment, and their proper implementation could be the very element that can make or break your road to achievement.
The first approach in attaining your goals is to objectively scrutinize and appraise your abilities and skills.
Setting goals that are flexible and realistic is a great help. Don’t pressure yourself to buy a brand new car in 3 months if you’re earning only around $300 per month gross. Goals that are beyond one’s normal ability to meet are a dream to achieve, IF you get them. However, they can also lead to depression if you don’t.
Be open-minded when it comes to networking. Make friends. Establish connections. Just don’t do it too much to run the risk of looking like a desperate sycophant, of course. Keep learning about your goal and searching for various ways to get closer to it. You don’t need to take just one path. Explore other possibilities and expand your horizons. Who knows, you might find, along the way, that there are more important and more urgent goals that need to me reached.
The bottomline is, be original and don’t follow a template. What may work for your colleague when he got a promotion might not be the proper route for you. All these sound like a very rigorous process, but it’s really not. You will find, as you trudge through that realistic path you laid out, that everything can actually occur naturally and seamlessly.
Internal and External Barriers
Both internal and external barriers impede a person’s ability to take the first step towards a goal. Internal barriers include your fears. Fear of the unknown, the fear of looking stupid, fear of failure, and even fear of actually living success are the common and will definitely create negative impact. Pushing all these fears out and telling yourself that you can win will definitely help you deal with them effectively. You are the captain of your ship. You alone have the power to will these negative thoughts away.
External barriers include the lack of money, the requests and petition of the family, your kids and your work, even religion and culture. Most of these barriers are things you can’t really control towards your favor. Thus, like what life coaches usually say, don’t worry about things you cannot control and focus only on those you can change. So grab a pen and make a list of what you want to achieve; and once you’re done listing, take the first step. Go on, you can do it.
END
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About the Author: Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C., is the current Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working life coach. Randin specializes in working with individuals to regain a sense of control over their lives … dreams and future. The power of Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning how to live by your own design. You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca. Visit his Website www.ajourneytojoy.com to find out more about his unique gift and work.
Living with a Chronic Disease
When first being initiated into life coach training, I was often asked for suggestions about living with chronic disease. As time has passed this is one topic that still remains at the forefront of may emails that I receive. Living with a chronic disease is difficult because of the pain, suffering, and shame that often accompanies the disease. It can be easy to fall victim to the negative mindset of “My life is ruined” or “I’m useless now,” but that doesn’t have to be the case no matter how debilitating the disease may be.
When living with a chronic disease, it’s important to focus on what you can do. Likewise, it’s important to disallow negative thoughts from dictating what you can and can’t do.
When you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, there are many changes that take place:
- Change in your lifestyle
- Change in your attitude
- Change in the way you do things
Maybe even a change in where you live
That’s a lot and all these changes can certainly be stressful!
Taking Control
Our mindset is the biggest factor on how you choose to react to a negative situation. Remember, your reaction is always a choice. You can let the news debilitate you or you can let it move you into new areas you might’ve never thought possible.
When I think of someone with a chronic disease, Michael J. Fox is one of the first people who comes to mind. He has Parkinson’s disease, which causes loss of muscle control throughout his body. Fox constantly shakes and trembles, making everyday tasks like brushing teeth and eating very difficult. Not only that, but he had to make a complete lifestyle change from a successful acting career to being an activist in helping others who have Parkinson’s or other diseases.
Does Michael J. Fox allow Parkinson’s to control his life? No, he took control and has learned other ways to live life to the fullest, despite his disease.
Making a Difference in the Lives of Others
You don’t have to be a TV or movie star to make a difference in your life or the lives of others either. There are many opportunities to help others and build a community. Some of these are:
- Start a blog about what it’s like to live with your disease. Others may benefit from knowing that they aren’t alone in their sufferings. You just may be the source of encouragement that strengthens others!
- Fundraising activities and events. Get involved with fundraising, whether it’s in your local area or worldwide via the Internet.
- Speak out about your illness. Be a speaker at a fundraiser, in a school or at other events to help raise awareness.
- Volunteer at your local community center. Be proof that living with a chronic disease doesn’t have to be debilitating. Be an advocate for yourself and those with the disease.
Support One Another
Make it your mission to find others to rely on for support and encouragement. Getting involved with support groups gives you the social support that is essential to your mental and emotional well being. Search for a support group online or in your local area and get active in the group.
Don’t let the disease have control over your life.
By taking action and getting directly (or indirectly) involved with finding a cure, raising awareness in your community, and speaking to others about it, you’ll find that life doesn’t stop because of the disease. Instead, many doors of opportunity are waiting to be opened by you.
For now,
Dr. Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
The True Measure of Happiness
Most people would judge a person who is always smiling, laughing and giggling to be a happy and jolly person. However, are the smiles and the laughter of a person enough for others to say that he is happy? Happiness is more than smiling and showing a happy facade. Remember, people are great pretenders. Some individuals may be laughing or grinning on the outside, but in the inside, their hearts are crying and in pain.
Happiness is also not measured by the status in life that an individual is in. Whoever said that the rich is happier than the poor and vice versa is wrong. The feeling of being happy is relative and the ways to attain it is different for everyone.
What Is Happiness?
Almost every person has his or her own personal search or journey to find happiness. Just like a pot of gold at the end if a rainbow, everyone tries to find it in different kinds of places, things, and people.
There is no actual and concrete definition of happiness (well, unless you philosophically define it as “the state of being happy”). Each person has his or her own version of happiness. What’s “happy” for one may still be “unhappy “for someone else, and what’s “unhappy” for someone else may already be great joy to another.
How to Be Happy
Perhaps the simplest and greatest way to lead a person to become happy is by letting go of one’s selfish desires. By ceasing to think for oneself, one begins to be happy. Sacrifice is a great step towards happiness. Although most people would say that in order to be happy, they have to do a lot of things for themselves, buy numerous material things such as clothes, gadgets, houses, cars, etc., the greatest way to be happy is to learn that it is not in pleasing oneself that man becomes happy; it is by striving to please and serve others, to try and make other people smile, that would truly make a person happy.
The material things that bring us joy are only what we can call “superficial happiness”. Admittedly, it brings us happiness, but not complete and absolute happiness. Don’t go investing too much on material things because in the end, it’s what you do, the sacrifices that you made, the people that you love and love you are the ones who can truly determine your happiness.
For now,
Dr. Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
Million Dollar Mentor
by Dr. Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
There is one way – a way that is faster – a way that is more helpful – a way that is less lonely – to become successful than the trial and error way. That way is to simply adopt a mentor.
For those who may be asking, “But what if I can’t find a mentor that will agree to mentor me?” Well, here’s a little secret.
Your mentor doesn’t even have to know. That’s right. It’s possible to have a mentor without ever even meeting him/her. This will require a little more attention to details of your mentor’s life. This is called an informal mentor. But even though it’s informal, it can be very powerful.
Of course, if you can find a mentor that will ‘take you under his/her wing’ that’s great too! But it’s not 100% necessary.
Here are a few things you will want to look for when choosing a mentor for yourself.
- Trust. After meeting or researching your mentor, you must decide if you can trust this person. If you can, you’ll want to move on to the next step in the selection process.
- Respect. Once you’ve decided on your mentor, there must be a mutual respect between the two of you (this is for the one-on-one mentorship). If your mentor ends up not respecting you, or if you don’t respect him/her, then the relationship is over. This is not usually a problem. It doesn’t happen often.
- Drive. Make sure your mentor has a drive to see that you succeed. You should know this after about 3 meetings. For those who are choosing an informal mentor, your research will reveal the drive. But chances are you’re not going to choose someone who isn’t successful. That person probably wouldn’t be successful unless they have drive.
- Direction. Your mentor should show you direction, either by telling you or by his/her actions. Your mentor will make suggestions, give examples and offer constructive criticism. This information can cut years off learning something vital to business and/or life. It is imperative to take the information into consideration. It could change your life.
There are two things that are important to note when speaking about mentors:
- When choosing an informal mentor, you want to get your hands on everything that your chosen mentor has written or recorded. This way, you will get to know him/her as well as possible. That will help you determine how your mentor would make decisions and will help you succeed faster.
- Another little secret about choosing mentors is you don’t have to limit it to one. That’s right! You can have more than one mentor. It may be a good idea to have more than one just from having a different perspective in any particular situation.
Now, start your list. Who will be your mentor(s)?
END
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About the Author: Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C., is the current Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working life coach. Randin specializes in working with individuals to regain a sense of control over their lives … dreams and future. The power of Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning how to live by your own design. You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca. Visit his Website www.ajourneytojoy.com to find out more about his unique gift and work.
Creating A Website That Attracts And Retains Clients
by Gary Glasscock, M.L.C.
How many times have you been surfing the Internet and clicked onto a site only to click right off again for one reason or another?
Perhaps the site took too long to load. Or maybe it was so poorly organized that you had no idea where to look for what you wanted. Maybe you got as far as actually ordering something, but the process was too complicated and you simply grew tired of trying to figure it out.
We’ve all been there. When you’re online, you expect instant access to the information you want, or you’ll leave. It’s as simple as that.
If fact, people take just 4 seconds when they land on a website to decide whether to stay or go. Count it in your head. That’s not a lot of time to convince someone to stick around and buy your product.
First impressions count if you want to convert your website traffic into sales or leads, so your site design is critical. And as with all successful businesses, it all comes down to planning. Here’s 5 things to consider when you create your website:
Map Your Site
Think about all the pages you want to have on your website. Home, About, Contact, possibly a link to your blog (which should be hosted on your own hosting account but that’s for a later article), Testimonials, possibly a product page or two, or anything else you want to include in your site. Then…
Lay It Out In Front Of You
Get out a pen and paper and create a chart showing how the pages of your site will link together. If About is a menu option, what pages do you want to include under that heading? For example, you might want to put the Contact Page as an item available through the About menu option. Draw it out and you will begin to see the structure of your Site Map, which brings us to…
Navigation Rules
Whatever your site looks like, you need to have the important information laid out in an “F” formation on your page. Various eye tracking studies have shown that people tend to visually track across the page in that “F” pattern.
Put the most important thing at the top of the page, perhaps in the header image. Then people look to the bottom of the header image, and that is the reason why you see so many web pages with the menu right under the header graphic. Lastly, the eye tends to go down the left side of the screen which is another place you see menus.
Keep this “F” configuration in mind when planning out the navigation of your website and when laying out the design of the website. If you have a menu under the header graphic or even in the header at the top, you can always use the left side of the website layout for promotion of your additional products, or for additional information. It’s your site and your choice, do as you wish.
Images & Graphics
The main question to consider when selecting graphics or images for your website is…
What message do you want to convey? Then ask yourself if the image or graphic you are looking at conveys that message. Use graphics and images sparingly and make sure you have a constant theme and message being conveyed between the images and the copy on the page.
The Copy
There’s been many different opinions on this over the years, but one truism continually arises. Your copy should sound like you are speaking to the individual reading it. Remember, you may have many people viewing a page on your website, but ultimately they are all looking at it by themselves. So speak to that person, that one person on the other side of that computer screen. Speak right to them, and make sure it’s in a conversational style, because you want to draw the reader into your message.
END.
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About the Author: Gary Glasscock is a Master Life Coach, Technology coach/advisor, computer geek for 24 years, Business building Coach. Gary’s passion is helping people to help others by assisting them in building successful businesses. Gary is Chief Training Officer of Quest Coach Training and offers the Strategic Business Tactics Course to help train Coaches advanced business-building and marketing techniques and strategies to assist the Coach in building a profitable practice. You can contact the author through our corporate email: rhema-int@shaw.ca.
F.O.C.U.S.
Faith
Faith means to believe. In fact, the Bible says that faith is the evidence of things unseen. By using that definition, you can know that you don’t even have to see it to believe it. If you have a place you see yourself, but you’re not there yet, believe without a shadow of a doubt that you will reach that place, and you will. It’s called faith. But you must have unwaivering faith that you will achieve it. Do not get discouraged because it’s not happening fast enough. Faith = Believe and belief comes with hard core focus. Do not lose site of the goal.
Openness
To become successful – whatever that means to you – there is a universal principle that must be adopted in almost every area of your life. That principle can be called openness. Open to what? Good question. To everything really. That means being open to points of views that you would not necessarily agree with. That means being open to deals that may not seem attractive at first. You have to be open to:
- letting go
- embracing
- loving
- meeting new people
- disappointment
- success
- stretching
- loyalty
- loss
The point is, being open to everything is crucial. Expect no surprises. That way, when you ARE surprised, you’ll be able and more prepared to deal with it – good or bad.
Celebrate
While on the journey of success – and it is a journey – you’ve got to learn to celebrate. Celebrate your successes. That’s easy! Also, celebrate your trials, frustrations and trips ups. Why? You’re learning. Now, admittedly, celebrating during this process is a bit more difficult. It’s not natural to celebrate in any kind of negative mood.
But you could look at it as a silver lining. Even though you’re going through a particular frustration, you can always find comfort in the fact that you’ll have more information when dealing with a similar situation in the future. Focus on the future and the fact that you have more ammunition for success now.
Understand
Understand that focus is essential to getting what you want. How many times have you started an exercise program but never finished? How many times have you started a diet but never followed through? How many New Year’s resolutions have you set? How many have you completed?
Understanding focus is one of the main keys to success is a huge mindset to anchor. If you really understand it, you know that just the ‘knowing’ is not enough. Focus is a verb. And for it to effective means you have to – well. . . focus.
Focus means to cultivate a laser beam attention to the task at hand. Distractions can not enter and anything that will keep you from accomplishing your goal does not exist.
Understand that and you understand the essence of focus.
Success
Faith, Openness, Celebration and Understanding leads to Success. Once you’ve experienced success, don’t take it for granted. If you take it for granted, chances are you have no idea how you achieved the goal you were after.
Take a look back on your path up to your success and I bet you’ll find most of these points of achievement above.
Here’s to your success!
For now,
Dr. Randin Brons, Ph.D., C.M.H., M.S.L.C.
About the Author: Dr. Brons is the Chief Learning Officer of Express Coaching™ and a working coach. Randin’s work goes far beyond the search for your life purpose – the difference is in learning to live by your own design. Visit his website at www.ajourneytojoy.com.
How to Develop a Prosperity Mindset
Having a prosperity mindset is a key factor in reaching your financial goals. It keeps you on track toward your goals regardless of any challenges you encounter along the way.
These strategies below will help you foster a prosperity mindset that can enable you to live the life you desire.
Keep Your Focus
If you find that your mind wanders from idea to idea, create one set plan and stick to it. In your plan, create a list of specific achievable action steps that lead to your goal, and then work on at least one task each day to help maintain your focus.
Plan for Success
It doesn’t matter how focused you are if you don’t have a proper plan. Your financial goals aren’t going to happen just by deciding on a number. Make some clear plans on how you’re going to get there. This will get you past the dream phase so you can start making your ultimate goals a reality.
Be as detailed in your plan as possible and set each task as a mini-goal in itself. Achieving these small goals on a daily basis keeps you motivated and moving along toward your big goal.
Q: How do I know if Coaching is right for me?
A: Ask yourself the following questions and if the answer is YES, then LIFE Coaching IS right for you:
* Do you like people?
* Are you a good listener?
* Do you easily develop a rapport with others?
* Do you like to take pride in other’s success?
* Do you enjoy helping others?
* Do you want to make a difference in the world?
* Do you want financial independence?
* Do you want to continue to grow spiritually?
* Do you desire to work at a job you love?
Q: What is the typical income of a coach?
A: The International Coach Federation estimates that there are approximately 16,000 part-time and full-time coaches worldwide, with an average annual income ranging from $35,000 to $100,000 and up. Certain specialty coaches earn considerably more.
Q: What type of individuals become coaches?
A: People who want to contribute; people committed to personal growth; people valuing freedom and independence in their career choice. A career in Coaching is perfect for the individual man or woman who desires to make a difference in people’s lives while maintaining a high standard of personal excellence in his or her own life.
Common backgrounds of today’s Coaches: Consultants, Mental Health Professionals, Managers, Trainers in Development, Human Resource Professionals, Financial Consultants and CPA’s, Professional speakers, Sales Persons, Fitness Instructors, Holistic Practitioners.
Q: Is coaching like counselling?
A: Coaching is NOT like therapy or counselling although Coaching does draw from a diverse range of disciplines. Coaching is more concerned with results rather than understanding or processing. Therefore, there is a strong focus on action. Coaching makes its focus on the future rather than the past.
Coaching is about working under the assumption that every individual that we are coaching already has all the answers that they require within his/herself. The primary job of the Coach is to help the client tap into the deep resource that they already own to find the appropriate answers to the areas of their life that is just not working for them. It is very important to remember that the Coaching Session is an ‘advice-free zone.’
Q: Are there any prerequisites to becoming a coach?
A: There are no prerequisites to becoming a Coach. However, there are some MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
* Our programs are designed for self-directed, mature adults;
* a student must be of legal age of consent;
* Proficiency in English;
* Good written skills;
* Willingness to help others;
* Freely expresses openness;
* Embodies empathy, compassion toward others.
If you have questions about your eligibility to become a coach, please contact us and we will be happy to speak with you.
Q: Why is your course tuition so reasonable?
A:
We have made it our policy to use the Internet as well as other electronic technologies as our primary vehicle for the delivery of our training programs. This means that it isn’t necessary for us to charge exorbitant tuition in order to maintain a physical campus.
With this in mind, we offer condensed accredited coach training aimed to serve you better, faster, and for less money than any other training program of comparable quality.
We also believe that charging higher tuition prices to keep students in training longer than necessary is not conducive to fair practice. We believe in providing the very best, state of the art training at a fair and reasonable price to you, the student.
Q: What are my program learning options?
A:
Express Coaching believes strongly that everyone’s style of learning is different. This primary belief is why we have made both the Certified LIFE Coach and Master SPIRIT LIFE Coach programs available in a format suitable to most individuals.
As our student, you receive your training through convenient, relaxed, interactive teleclasses. If you live in a physical locale that does not permit you to take part of our teleclasses due to the time-shift, you can study via pre-recorded lecture format that makes you feel just like you were there! It’s convenient and easy. Please note that distance training is only accredited through the Certified Coaches Alliance and not through the International Coach Federation.
Q: Is accreditation a must?
A:
There are many accreditation bodies scattered throughout the world, all of which uphold somewhat the same standard of training. Our Core Program is accredited through the International Coach Federation (ICF) and stands as “Approved Coach Specific Training Hours.”.
Accreditation is different from certification in that it assures you, the prospective student, that the program has been assessed and reviewed for its inclusive content of the eleven core competencies and ethical standards as recognized and adopted by most world-wide coaching organizations.
Program accreditation is not necessary for the life coach to begin and maintain a successful professional practice, however, generally speaking, an accredited program is generally considered the program of choice as the quality of the program is carefully scrutinized.
Q: Are there any hidden program costs?
A:
No, there are no hidden costs. Your course includes everything you need to successfully complete your coaching Certification with a guarantee of no hidden extras. Tuition includes all course materials, notes, supplemental reading and resources. Tuition fees include all taxes.
Upon graduation, however, there is a yearly affiliation cost of $25.00 or $30.00 USD depending on the graduate’s selection of documentation.
Q: How long will it take to complete my program?
A:
The guidelines for completion of the Certified LIFE Coach program is 6-months.
Students undertaking the the Master SPIRIT LIFE Coach program are expected to complete their program within 8 months.
We have some flexibility when indicators suggest that a student has current life issues that will slow his or her progress. At any time should you find that you are not able to keep up to the study schedule, we ask that you speak with the Chief Learning Officer so that arrangements can be made to assist you to complete the program in accordance to your current situation.
Q: Is there one coaching model I must adhere to?
A: Absolutely not. We firmly believe that the face of coaching is an ever-evolving profession.
We do not favour any particular Coaching model over another. Our program, however, will teach you the accepted ‘standard of practice’ model. We encourage our students to continue to develop his or her discipline as they so choose based on their particular background, strengths and interests.
Q: Do coaches specialize?
A:
Although many Coaches prefer to keep their options open, a great many coaches do choose to specialize and focus on a particular niche’ in the marketplace.
Business, organizational, health and fitness, relationship, career, confidence, self-esteem, and finances are just a few areas of specialty that we can mention here. The list is endless and you are only held by your imagination and your interests.
Deciding on if a specialty niche is right for you, and discovering just what that niche should be is part of your learning experience in the program.
Q: Once I graduate, must I join a governing body?
A:
To date, there is still no ‘one’ accepted certification regulatory body for the life coaching professional. The Express Coaching™ program is one of the few coach training programs that is accredited through two accreditation bodies. We are accredited through the Certified Coaches Alliance and the International Coach Federation.
Our graduates must join the Certified Coaches Alliance in order to become certified and to keep their coaching designation active. Unlike other accreditation bodies, the CCA is not mandated to govern or mandate your coaching practice.
Q: How will I be graded while doing my program?
A:
Our purpose is not so much as to ‘grade you’ as it is to provide you with the right tools and the knowledge of how to use them correctly. That said, students must complete several assignments for evaluation and a final exam. Students must receive 80% or better to pass the exam. Student’s who fail to receive 80% or better on the exam will be invited to rewrite the exam within 30-days at a cost of $250.00 USD.
Upon successful completion you will receive your certificate of designation as a ‘Certified LIFE Coach.’
Q: If I cancel my program, will I receive a refund?
A:
As our course materials are provided through electronic medium and not shipped, it is considered intellectual property and is internationally protected by copyright. After a student is assigned a USERNAME and PASSWORD to the electronic download area, no refund is permitted under any circumstances.
Q: Will I receive the support that I need when doing the program?
A:
Yes. As our student you are never alone!
Students may contact the Chief Learning Officer at any time should there be any questions, whatsoever. Students also receive ongoing weekly support emails for a period of one year. This ongoing correspondence is filled with ideas and suggestions for building your business, growing your client-base and keeping you inspired. Students and graduates of the program will also receive ongoing free access to refresher teleclasses and updates for as long as you remain in good standing.
Q: Upon completion of my program do I receive a certificate?
A:
Yes.
Every graduate of the program must join the Certified Coaches Alliance as an affiliated coach of the CCA. Upon joining the CCA affiliated coaches have the opportunity to choose to receive only a wallet size certification card to carry with you, or a wallet size certification card and wall-mount document combination. As a CCA Member, you will also receive FREE, a personal “CCA Certification Authentication Web Page” so that your prospects and clients can quickly authenticate your professional standing as a graduate of our program.
Q: Are there any associated alumni costs?
A:
It is imperative that every Coach maintain an ongoing relationship with the CCA. Your Certification as an affiliated coach of the Certified Coaches Alliance assures your International coach standing and is renewable yearly at a cost of $25.00 or $30.00 USD depending on your choice of certification documentation.
* Maintenance of your permanent student file and graduate status;
* Professional referrals made on your behalf as requested;
* Webpage link verification of your Certification;
* Access to the CCA Affiliated Coach Area.
Q: Is there anyone I can address my other questions to?
A: Yes! You can reach our Director of Admissions by visiting our Contact page.
We would be happy to receive your call and assist you in any manner that we can.
Marnie Tanner, Director of Admissions is available to receive your phone call and answer your questions each Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Pacific Standard Time. We will return calls after hours should you reside in a time-zone that requires us to be flexible.
800.925.7116 Ext. 1 [Toll Free North America]
310.209.8271 Ext. 1 [Direct]
For more information, please visit our Contact page.
Q: Once I purchase my course, how soon can I begin my studies?
A: New students enter our program while other students graduate from our program each and every week.
Once you have purchased the tuition for your program of choice the process of opening your student file and putting everything in place for you to begin usually takes no more than a couple of days.
Get Over It!
by Joli A. Campbell, C.L.C.
Just when you think you cannot stand to talk about it one more second, you start telling your tales of woe and trauma all over again. A fresh set of ears so you can start the saga again. Do you catch yourself doing this? Have you ever noticed this in other people?
I have! I have done it! What I know is that if I am still talking about it and waiting for someone to have an emotional response to my situation…then I am NOT OVER IT!
What is important to recognize is that every time the story is repeated, the nervous system reengages wrapping around the trauma one more time. The nervous system is then unable to let go so the immune system starts to get weaker. The unresolved issue can manifest a physical ailment like tension, headaches, anxiety, colds, digestive problems, and the list continues until you manifest a terminal or chronic condition.
When you do not have to tell your story to solicit the other person’s compassion, sympathy, empathy, or outrage, and you tell it without charging up your own emotions then you are done with it. I am not saying you should never utter another word about it, quite the contrary, try telling the story as if you were a detached third-party observer. If you succeed, you are over it and it is okay to tell it. In addition, when your story has an inspirational ending, shout it from the rooftops.
The big question remains: how do you get over it? Well that is different for everyone. As a coach, I like to let the person roll with it and then I ask, “What do you need to have happen in order to let go of this…?” Hearing the same story continually, prompts me to ask if they know they are stuck in the situation.
Now, ask yourself some important questions: Is this situation worth my own demise? Is this situation something I want to have rule me for the rest of my life? If I cannot get over it on my own, am I willing to find help? Am I truly willing to let it go?
Are you willing to let go? The next step is to process the unresolved issues by journaling, exercising, meditation, or professional assistance. Then close the door, walk away, and GET OVER IT!
END.
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? About the Author: Joli A. Campbell is a Writer, Photographer, and Certified Life Coach, her focus is on healthy choices that lead to a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life. In the past 15 years she has learned many helpful arts to further assist her clients including, Neuro Integration, Dream Interpretation, and Feng Shui. Please visit her website for further information: www.peoplemomentschoices.com. To contact Joli please visit her website.
Getting Kids to Listen
by Wendy McDonnell, Hons.B.Sc., C.F.C.C.
A response to the question: How do I get my children to communicate or to listen to basic requests?
Notice what your child is doing. Is she focused on a particular project or a phone call? Is he deep in thought?
Communication is a little like merging into highway traffic. Look ahead, match your speed with the traffic speed, find a place to fit in, and then join the line of cars when the timing is right. Rushing into a child’s room expecting her to pay attention to you is like leaping from the on-ramp into oncoming traffic. It’s an accident waiting to happen. Are you trying to speak without the other’s full attention?
When lovers court each other, they slow down and gaze into each other’s eyes. When a new baby is born, parents gaze into her eyes. When rapport is good, people begin to mirror each other’s body language. 90-95% of what we communicate is nonverbal. I suggest that you begin there. When you don’t know what to say, stay present in silence.
Merge with your child. Find out what he’s interested in in that moment. When he has your attention, then you can ask for his. Even if your child wants to do something else, you’ll likely be able to better understand that intention rather than thinking that he’s ignoring you. If you need to interrupt, say so. Treat your child as you would like to be treated. For example: “Excuse me, can I get your attention?” Then, ask for what you want while linking it to the needs you want to meet. For example, you might say, “Take out the trash, please.” and it may be heard. Requests are better understood when prefaced with a clear need and connection. Try something like “Remember when we agreed that you’d take out the trash after dinner while I did the dishes?” When you get a nod and smile, ask, “Could you do that now?”
What if you’re not getting the nod and the smile? The child’s attachment to you and the relationship between you and your child may need some attention. Before focusing on the behaviour you don’t enjoy in the moment, first establish good rapport with your child. For example, before talking about the trash, be sure your child is enjoying your company in the moment. We spend much of our day telling our children all the ways they are behaving badly. Begin to spend more time each day enjoying each other’s company, sharing a meal, chatting about what’s important to them, and sharing your stories. I know this gets harder the older the child. However, there is no other way. Your heart already knows how to do this. Forget all the parent training that says that children should do this or that at such and such age. The fastest way to win our children over is through their hearts. They need to depend on us to be there for them and listen to them. They need to know that we will take care of them and our relationship with them. When our kids feel secure, they are likely to help out around the house if that’s what we’re looking for.
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? About the Author: Wendy McDonnell, Hons.B.Sc., MFCC, is a Master Family Communications Coach with training in Psychology, Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Circles, Collaborative Divorce, Grief and Bereavement, Reiki, and teaching. Her hands-on experience in transforming her own childhood violence into love motivates her to support other parents to create extraordinary family relationships. You can learn how to value everyone’s needs and work together, without giving up…and without giving in. Visit her website www.CompassionateSolutions.ca for your free newsletter, gift, or coaching consultation.
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