Changes

Over the last little while I've had David Bowies 'changes' song in my head. So with this prompting of a song the internet was searched over a period of days in order to get any insights on what energies are currently effecting us. What I found was a fantastic range of websites offering up various forms of the same message. We're changing. We're evolving out of the ego, whether we want to or not. It started a while back and this year is effectively the time where we begin to fully integrate all these changes and live as a more enlightened and evolved being. Everyone is going to read it differently, simply because we are all experiencing the journey differently. No one is going through the same experience because in this we are truly unique. One strong message however is that the change is happening with our without our consent! Any emotion or belief you've been holding on to that prevents you from moving or becoming enlightened, will be challenged...and finally released. For some this will be completely obvious and a liberating experience, one where they fully engage with what is occuring even though it might be challenging. For others it will sound like hippy talk and the resistance to it can be expressed as anger, frustration and lashing out at others. Whatever way you find yourself experiencing this energy, it's something that is happening to everyone. Its purpose is to remind us that we are all connected and that connection needs to be reset. We need to remember our connection to one another and realise that we all count. No one person is special or better than another. As the new you emerges during this phase, be kind to yourself and realise that we are all on this journey. Be kind to others without taking on their energy, as it prevents them from learning their own truth and the lessons to help them make change happen.

Understanding Emotions

(image courtesy of http://wiaob.blogspot.com/)

Oprahs site can be unbelievably hard to navigate through as there are so many links and brilliant bits to read it's easy to end up far from the original page you wanted to view!
Subscribing cuts this problem out to some degree. So this week I found a brilliant article in my emails from the site about understanding your emotions surrounding reaching for your dreams.
As a coach, when setting goals for myself or with a client, the focus can be more placed on motivating and maintaining a positive frame of reference to get to the end. Via this article however, the flip side of this was examined. It made for some really thought provoking reading!
What really struck me is how often people, myself included, just won't LET themselves get what they want. They have the goal, they go for it, and then they stop short. They give it a shot but perhaps don't fully succeed, then the goal/dream is left alone with citings of valid reasons for why it wasn't meant to be.
So by falling short or giving up, what emotions are we resisting or dodging? Even when it gets hard, what are we most scared of and what are we avoiding?
There are 4 approaches to dealing with it, and I recommend giving it a shot (copy link to go to the page - http://www.oprah.com/spirit/How-to-Reach-Your-Dreams-Understanding-Your-Emotions/3).
It can be really refreshing to sit with yourself in honest conversation and greet the fearful emotions that hold you back. It may not result in you rocket launching yourself into your goals but it does lighten the load and get you moving again.

Seek truth and you will find a path. ~Frank Slaughter

We do not err because truth is difficult to see. It is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable. ~Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Spiritual Energy of the Year - AWAKEN

(image courtesy of the www.innerexpansionblog.com site)

Over the last number of years I've subscribed to this link from www.innerexpansionblog.com
The Inner Expansion Group have been around for quite a number of years, and I've had the chance to attend some of their workshops when in Dublin. Every time they've been uplifting and particularly helpful in assisting with clearing and focusing energy. Previously they sent a newsletter containing the energy of the day and month, but now they've made it available to a wider audience online.
This is one of those sites that is down to earth, practical and uplifting all at the same time. Understanding how energy works and how you can best use it can be particularly helpful as you can use the energy at the start of the year to get a grip on where you are and what you would like to change in your life.
There are many positive sites out there on the web, but in this case this is one of those sites that I just keep coming back to as it is spiritually uplifting every time.
So this year is all about AWAKEN. Go to the site to get all the info on it and find out what kind of energy the month holds. I hope you get something from it too.

Look at how far you've come! - June

So we are now in June - half way through the year. Some of the goals you set at the start of the year may be forgotten, completed or refreshed. Either way this is definitely a month to examine what you have achieved so far!
It is very easy to get caught up in the whole process of going for your goals, but it is vital that when you achieve them that you celebrate it.
Just as important as all of that though is a recognition of the journey you've made. You made a decision to honestly strive towards your resolutions and goals this year...and no matter what has happened in the last 6 months, there is no denying that the journey has given you food for thought along the way.
Perhaps during the remaining part of this month, look at what you have achieved so far - even in some of the situations where you feel you might have not done so well, look for the golden opportunity of learning in it all. It will boost your energy and help you focus on the good things you've achieved, and when you acknowledge that every event has a chance to learn then you know your journey is well worth it!
Keep the faith and get ready for next months blog as we'll be stepping it up for the remaining 6 months of 2008!

The importance of being good to yourself..

This time last year the sun was shining, people were walking around in t-shirts and the vibe of summer was clearly in the air. What a contrast! When the weather isn't the best it is easy to get down and feel less than 100%..thats if you're even up the 100% mark as it is! This is also the type of weather for getting colds which really doesn't help either. When you are in a low place the last thing you're going to think about is whether your on track for your goals!
So this month is about focusing on looking after yourself. Eat well, sleep well and get some light exercise in if you can. This will keep your mind healthy as well as your body, and is also a key way to ensure your self esteem is kept at a healthy level.
If you've been particularly busy the last while, then this is definitely the time to take time-out. Get some DVDs in, wrap up in some comfies and just chill, distract and forget about the world for a little while. Chocolate, popcorn and ice-cream are of course, optional!
Either way, the important thing is to recognise that life can get busy, and external factors that can't be controlled simply happen. Having a window of quiet time provides you with a moment to gather your energy, recharge your batteries and then you can continue with your quest.
Being good to yourself is extremely important - so no excuses of 'not enough time!' or 'i'm simply too busy!'...you just got to do this one important thing for you..no one else.

Is your goal working for you?

We are now into March. February was a tough month and even though spring was promising the weather didn't really reflect spring! So how are we doing with our goals so far?

Time to stop and think for a minute. If you have achieved one step towards your goal now is the time to really go 'Nice Work!'. Sticking to your goals can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you are not getting inspired by it. So here's what we do for March.


Lets have a quick look at how you made your small step happen - how did you go about it?
Did you get excited about it? How did it feel to accomplish it?
If you didn't manage to get anywhere with your goal then maybe the goal isn't REALLY what you want?
What qualities in a goal make it attractive? How do you get excited about a goal?


Lots of questions I know, but maybe this is what March is about. Celebrate the good things you have achieved so far in the year and figure out what can attract you or distract you where making a goal is concerned. Sometimes we think we want a certain goal, but when we start going for it the energy and enthusiasm doesn't seem to be present.



Goals are something to be passionate about or at the very least enthusiastic!! So if it's not working now is the time to find out why and change it!

Spring Clean your Life!

We are coming to the end of January...whew!..what a month. It seems like a long time ago when you made those resolutions right? Well lets see what happened.
You put down some great ideas - change jobs, lose weight, stop smoking, get healthy...and so on.
How did you do?
Probably started out pretty well no doubt, and then into the second or third week well... the weather wasn't great, work was tough, it was raining so you couldn't walk or the stress got to you so you had a cigarette. It happens.

Spring is just around the corner. Yep, Spring starts on the 1st February! So here are some things you might do to make the most of this new energy.

REVIEW - have a look back over January - write down some details on a piece of paper with a line down the middle of it.
On the left side of the page title WHAT WORKED, and on the right title WHAT DIDN'T WORK. Take the time to really think about the good things you did this month, what you DID achieve, even if it was simply sticking to your diet for a week that is something that worked and that is important!
THINK - Think about what you DID achieve, even if you simply kept to your diet for a week jot it down and mention what kind of things you did. Next think about some of the stuff that didn't work to keep you on track.
Maybe you caved in on the smoking when you were out with a bunch of friends that do smoke or maybe you felt stressed so ate more...don't dwell too much on it, just observe as we aren't here to get caught up in bad feelings about all this! The idea here is to get a pattern of what situations helped you stick to your goals and what situations might be stopping you and throwing you off track.
When you've done that then you're ready to move into February with a clearer vision of how to reach your goals as you have the advantage of knowing what works! If you aim to do less of the stuff that doesn't work for you then you are moving closer to your goals!

New Years Resolutions

So you made a list of goals and targets for 2008, and you are not even finished the first week of January and you've abandoned the whole lot!...or at least some of them! Sound familiar? Your best intentions about getting fit, quitting the cigarettes and changing jobs are well placed but how do you turn these intentions into your success story of the year?

Often we pile on a ton of things we'll give up, never eat, never drink, must do, will never do again and so on, as resolutions. We put ourselves under pressure and give ourselves unrealistic goals and times in which to achieve them. Most of the time we aren't even clear about what it is we want to put down as a resolution or goal!

The clearer you are about what it is you want to achieve the better. Sure...getting fit is a great idea, but what exactly do you mean by 'getting fit'? If you can jot down a list of ideas about what it means to you, for e.g. getting back into a pair of jeans you love, having more energy, feeling happier about yourself, then you make it more specific.

If it helps how about trying the following -
Be specific about just one of your goals
Commit to giving it a shot for the month of January only

Small steps are better than no steps!