Relax from the daily grind
Sometimes keeping my cool seems an impossible task. Even Life Coaches get the blues! The past two days have been filled with traffic and what seems like an endless loop of driving and getting nowhere. My tricks of using my gratitude list or a colorful kazoo solo to prevent lapsing into road rage have not been working. What to do?
If I were my own client, I’d suggest deep breathing, listening to upbeat music or soothing myself with reassuring statements (e.g. “there is a home at the other end of the traffic”). As Alice says in Wonderland, “I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” Maybe it was the heat or the fact that I was once again on the same road, stuck, but I lost my cool today. So, here are some ways to get yourself into a more positive frame of mind AFTER you’ve lost your cool.
- Forgive yourself for losing your cool. Remember that changing negative mindsets and habits requires practice. Even Mozart couldn’t compose a symphony the first time he played a piano. Take it easy and reward yourself for noticing you lost your cool. Set an intention to notice earlier and come up with ways to cool yourself off earlier. It does get easier with practice.
- Commune with nature. After the difficult day at work, commuting home in deadlocked traffic, or wrestling with the daily difficulties, change into comfy clothes and take a walk. Even if you only go as far as the backyard, take a moment to watch the birds or appreciate the perfect symmetry of a flower. In my town, we are fortunate to have a lush greenbelt with springfed creeks. Get your feet wet! If you are a city-dweller, pour some epsom salts in the bathtub or close your eyes and listen to ocean sounds.
- Breathe. Before starting dinner, washing clothes or paying bills, take 5 minutes to focus on your breath. Close your eyes as you inhale. Feel your lungs fill, then let the air go without forcing it. Repeat until you feel calm and centered.
- Find that gratitude list and add at least one item. Are you grateful for your breath? Are you grateful that you can be grateful?
- Release the stress of the day. Worry doesn’t solve problems, action does. When we let go of our problems, our mind opens to solutions. The more we worry, the narrower our options seem to become. As the wise folks in AA say, “Let go & let God.”
- Write a quick blog entry about regaining your cool after lapsing into traffic madness. I feel better, do you?
Enjoying Life – Finding Balance
© Stephanie Bandmann – Fotolia.com
The workshop at Morning Mist Retreats last Saturday was exhilarating. It’s wonderful to spend part of the day with others who are devoted to personal development and a more soulful life. Moving our focus from ourselves helps us realize how similar (and yet deliciously different) we are.
Spring Special & upcoming workshops
Spring Special!
$150 Coaching Package
Three 45-minute weekly sessions
Includes weekly check-in phone call or email
**Call to schedule your$10 Discovery session today!
**Discovery sessions will be held over the telephone
Coaching may be done in person or via telephone/internet
May Workshop: May 15, 10:30am-3:00pm
Location: Misty Morning Retreats
Desire In Action: Tuning Into Love
Barbara Kelly, MSW, MLC, presents
Margaret McCraw’s “Tune Into Love: Attract Romance through the Power of Vibrational Matching”
Barbara Kelly, MSW, MLC, brings her skill as a therapist and practitioner of Margaret McCraw’s “Tune Into Love” techniques to help you attract fulfilling relationships using the Law of Attraction as seen in the movie The Secret.
Benefits:
Improve existing relationships or attract relationships that work
Find out how to move past blocks
Discover that forgiveness is huge
Demystify meditation or prayer
Experience the four steps to attracting the relationship you desire:
Feel-good moments
Creating a wish list of desires
Setting intentions
Releasing the outcome
Margaret McCraw’s “Tune Into Love: Attract Romance through the Power of Vibrational Matching,” is available for $10.17 (optional).
Register now: retreat limited to 15 people
Barbara Kelly, MSW, MLC, received her Law of Attraction Life Coach Certification through Behavioral Healthcare Consulting with Dr. Margaret McCraw, author of “Tune into Love.” Her Life Coaching practice integrates her therapeutic background with the Law of Attraction to assist clients in reaching their full potential personally and professionally. http://barbthelifecoach.com
When: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 10:30 am – 3 pm (lunch included)
Where: 5013 Sendero Springs Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681
Cost: $6 for lunch. Optional Tune Into Love book for $10.17.
Contact us: Call 512-255-0075 and send $6 plus $10.17 if you want the book to:
Morning Mist Retreats, 16508 Colwyn Bay Cove, Pflugerville, TX 78660.
What to Bring: A comfortable pillow to sit on, comfortable clothes, journal and pen.
Morning Mist Retreats is a Texas non-profit organization dedicated to providing retreats that are spiritual, experiential, culturally diverse, and affordable. Our goal is to provide transformative, fulfilling experiences. See www.morningmistretreats.org.
For more information contact Karen Beard, Director, at (512) 255-0075 or karenlynnk2000@yahoo.com
June Workshop – June 5, 2010, 10am-1pm
Let the Good Vibes Roll – Creating Your Life Using the Law of Attraction
Join Barbara Kelly, Certified Life Coach, for a Law of Attraction workshop based on the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, as seen in “The Secret.” Learn how to identify desires, move past negative blocks, set intentions and attract more prosperity in your personal and professional life. Come prepared to have fun, practice new techniques and learn the 4 Steps to creating the life you desire.
Cost: $25 includes workshop materials
Class size is limited to 20 participants. REGISTER NOW to reserve your space.
Great Games for Families
Okay, I’m going to admit a couple of my addictions. One is interesting board games and the other is the Dr. Laura Show. Even though I disagree with her politically, she does offer clear-headed, practical advice for families. She also recommended a great game. In addition to her recommendation, I’m including two family favorites that provide hours of entertainment and stimulating (or hilarious) conversation.
Divorce – Breaking Up or Breaking Free?
© Albix – Fotolia.com
So often, when I speak with someone who is divorced, the word “failure” comes up. We have been taught by religion, our families, and our culture that divorce is a failure of commitment. The following stories illustrate the transformative power of divorce. Whether you are the person who instigated the break up or the person who wanted to maintain the marriage bond, divorce can be a liberating and creative experience, a chance to become more authentic and define your desires in new and startling ways.
“Nature Deficit Disorder”
We are on the cusp of spring and all of us who love being outdoors are surely being affected by this seemingly never ending rain and the dramatic temperature shifts. I’ve found it challenging to write about the wonders of the gardening world while bringing my tropical plants in and out and cutting the frozen remains of my once lush and flower filled yard. I am reminding myself of the fresh palette I have to work with in the spring and have decided to thank Mother Nature for clearing the terrain for me.
Lessons from a Pilot’s Daughter – Part One
Follow this link to my latest blog:
Is Life Coaching a New Age Fad?
In a January 26, 2010 Newsweek article, Nancy Cook asks if Life Coaches are worth the money. While she gives an example of a woman who made positive changes in her career as a result of coaching, she also interviews Dr. Puder-York, who gives the example of a client who suffered emotionally as a result of a poorly prepared and trained Life Coach. You can read the article here.
Receive a free E-Booklet "6 Ways to Attract and Maintain Fulfilling Relationships" to read and share when you sign up for our newsletter.