Transitioning From a Slump to a Good Place (By Danielle R. Gault)

Two weeks ago, we went for my husband, Bill's, cancer assessment to get the results of his CT scan which was done the day before the assessment meeting. After two years of wondering what would happen to Bill regarding his bladder cancer and whether or not he could keep his bladder or his life, when we learned that his tumors were 'resolved, we went emotionally blank.

Our news from the CT scan could not be better. The scan showed no sign of cancer. The tumors disappeared and the lymph nodes were back to normal size.

WHY AM I NOT REJOICING?

So why am I not rejoicing? The doctor was astonished -- he said he has rarely seen anything like this and the nurse cried when she shared this great news with us. We don't think the news has hit us yet but will probably only make it real when we don't have to keep going back to the cancer hospital so often for treatments and can pick up on other things in our life.

The funny thing is that I went into a slump the very next day after the good news. My blood pressure went up and I felt gloomy. Why? My rational mind has come up with the following reasons:

A. It is a great relief and I can now exhale and let go of the immediate caretaker concern that has been a big part of 'who I am' in this part of our life and now the life we were starting to get use to we are released from.

B. It is just before Christmas and the holidays make me feel a bit sad around family stuff and how things have changed over the years.

C. I have to accept that getting older is part of life and let go of expectations and ideas that are outlived.

CHANGING MY PERSPECTIVE

I looked for ways to deal with the internal processes of adjusting to this change. Here is my philosophy that has helped pulled me from the slump to a good place as I move through life's journey with all its ups and downs:

1. Just carry on. Like walking the Camino, you will have to go uphill and downhill in the rain, the cold, the heat, and the warm and sunny days - one step at a time.

2. Face the day as best you can by keeping as positive an attitude as possible. When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself "what can I do to contribute to life today?"

3. Face your struggles and strive to confront and deal with them in constructive ways. Never pretend something away - look for solutions EVERYWHERE. There is no one key that works for anyone and there may not be one key that works for you - explore a problem from many perspectives, continue to explore, be curious and keep an open mind. Answers can come from the strangest places if we're open to SEE.

4. Learn from each struggle you face and let it teach you something that will make you stronger. Life is a great teacher so be open to learning from it - you never know what you'll learn about yourself along the way. Isn't life dynamic and so very interesting?

5. Look for the sunshine in the day. No matter what the day brings, be grateful for something - a little flower popping up out of a crack in the concrete driveway, a child smiling at his grandpa, a beautiful piece of fruit to eat. Life is rich and generous even if it doesn't feel that way at this moment - look for the gifts and be as grateful as you can that you are alive and can witness a lovely image or experience.

6. Events in life happen but the processing of their effect on us takes time. Be patient with yourself and give yourself a break from the tyranny of pursuit in life. You really don't have to 'do' anything today. Give yourself some 'gaps' in life. Take a breather and let that be OK.

BOTTOM LINE

Change what you can and if you can't change something, be sure to change the way you're looking at it so that you maintain a healthy frame of mind and a good flow of hormonal chemicals throughout your body.

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. ~Philip K. Dick

Stay awake, alert, and aware - be aware of what may trip you up, how others may affect you, and what you need in order to stay strong - that is how we grow; YOU are the most important person in your life. The rest of the story is our teacher.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Transitioning-From-a-Slump-to-a-Good-Place&id=9852625

7 Tips For Choosing a Coach (By Michelle Perkins)

Coaching is a remarkable process, and it is no wonder that it's caught on and taken off in the last decade. Ten years ago, not many people understood what a life coach was. In 2018, we have to explain less what coaching is, and instead reveal the greatness that could come of working with a talented coach.

I have multiple coaches and coaching/mastermind groups that I participate in. Early on, I worked with coaches to gain knowledge and learn skills, with the idea that I would move on to implement and work on my own.

I did stop receiving coaching intermittently, but always found that the periods without the support, accountability and guidance of my coaches were not as productive, well directed or enjoyable.

The coaches in my life now are the exact right people for me at this time. I feel blessed to have found them (although I don't believe there was any accident in that) and I take the relationships seriously.

Coaching is an investment in real results and change. Whatever the investment amount, it is always an investment in yourself and that differentiates it, in my mind, from many spending options. Coaching is all about the client and every dollar you spend should come back to you in both income and self development (often the part that feels most valuable).

It simply improves the quality of life in a very holistic way if done well.

"Coaching comes from the world of sports and the arts, where athletes and actors receive coaching so that their work will become extraordinary instead of just okay. Coaching gives clients a secret weapon, a competitive edge that their un-coached peers do not enjoy. Coaching takes people from good to great. Coaching is not for dysfunctional people. It is not here to heal the sick and wounded. It's there to help people reach their higher callings and unlived lives, the lives they are not living because they are trapped in their own isolated self-critical egos. Coaching expands their world." Steve Chandler - The Prosperous Coach

So how do you choose a coach. What should a person look for when making that investment in themselves?

Your coach becomes a significant partner in your life's journey, and selecting someone goes beyond qualifications. As coaching has become more prevalent, the number of coaches has increased, as have the certification programs. The field has become easy to enter so choosing a coach can be confusing.

When you are seeking a coach, some of the recommendations I and my colleagues would make so you can experience the highest level of coaching magic are:

1. Ask a coach to give you the experience of coaching with them before you decide to commit. In a conversation, you can get a sense of coaching style, relatability, and listening skills. By the end of the conversation, you should know more about them, but more importantly, you should know something new about yourself.

2. A person who will push you beyond your self imposed limits and see what you can't, but should, see. If someone can hold you as powerful, even when you cannot, they are more likely to help you achieve your goals and discover greatness within you.

3. Your coach needs to be fearless, and more concerned with your growth than with being liked. It's important the coach be able to suggest bold action and address issues that are below the surface. Every client has a "goal behind the goal" and the right coach will be able to uncover the deeper level desires of the client.

4. The person you choose as your coach should relish a challenge, be fun as well as serious, and set a high bar for you and your life. They must believe in you and your ability to achieve the goals you want to reach. They should also be able to see all of your strengths and understand that success in life is more than achieving a single goal. A holistic approach is best, and success on your terms should be the criteria.

5. Are you looking for both self discovery and advisement? Some coaches lead you to your own conclusions and actions with powerful coaching questions. Others may offer more ideas and advice on what to do and how to do it. Some coaches combine the two, and are intuitively understanding of when to ask questions and when to offer advice.

6. How much coaching does your prospective coach receive? If someone doesn't use the services they are offering, it begs some questions. It is critical that coaches work on themselves and consequently are less likely to bring their own issues into the coaching work.

7. Are you interested in taking action? There may be a great deal of clarity needed or decisions to make before you feel ready to act, but nonetheless, action is typically one of the desired outcomes of the coaching process. There are times when people are deeply disturbed or depressed and need to understand their feelings on a deeper level and therapy is a better option. A coach with integrity, who is aware of the difference, will be able to recognize specific needs.

Coaching is one of the greatest support services you can treat yourself to. There is nothing like having an objective, dedicated and trusted advisor whose main objective for you is success (as your define it) with no other agenda. A person who will push you beyond your self imposed limits and see what you can't see about and for you.

If you want the fullest life possible, coaching isn't a luxury as much as a very smart investment in yourself.

http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Tips-For-Choosing-a-Coach&id=9871234

Message From the Universe: Everything Happens for a Reason

"You chose your dreams for the journeys they'd make possible, and you knew when you chose them, there would be obstacles, crises, and young souls who'd stand in your way. They exist by design. To tempt you, lure you, test you. So that you can come back, prevail, rise above, and rock on. And ultimately to convince you of your awesomeness. They're part of the plan. There've been no mistakes. All is supremely well.

These are the days, mid-adventure, that will mean the most to you.

Enjoy the journey, 

The Universe"

This message is spot on to what is happening in your life's journey. When you start a new venture, you come to realization that it will NOT be easy, that you will face challenges and obstacles, jealousy and hatred, and much more that will come into the equation to make you abandon your dreams. How much of that can you handle? You know that everything you do from this day forward will require your constant attention to make things happen the way you want. The question is: How much do you want it? How passionate are you with your ideas and dreams? Are you willing to give everything you have to reach your goals? For anyone who have studied finance, it is said to not put ALL your eggs in the same basket, when it comes to investment. This is good advice, of course, making sure that if the company goes belly up, you don't follow the same demise because of other stocks in your portfolio. However, can this advice be wise when it comes to your business? If you work hard day and night, for years and years, for that ONE business, and it goes belly up, how quick are you to get up and start all over again? Is this principle based on someone's personality to overcome disappointment and depression and learn from life's lesson or any entrepreneur should actually work on many different ventures at the same time and organize themselves accordingly to attend to all ventures equally? Depending on each and everyone's mindset, some might say:"You failed in your business because you didn't put 100% attention on that ONE business and you spread yourself too thin, trying to do so much at once", while others might say: " It was definitely wise to do different thing so if one fails, you have other venture to rely on for a constant stream of revenue. You can then use money from other businesses to finance the one that requires more investment on your part for potential growth and success.

Everyone have their own personal point of view of what is the best approach, but the most important point of view is YOURS. You are the one jumping into this venture with hopes and expectations. You are the one taking the risks and if anything, you are the one aware of what is required to make this dream a great success. I agree that asking a mentor for advice is crucial to direct you in the right path, as we do not know the answers to everything. Entrepreneurs with experience giving you advice is definitely better than any bachelor, Master or even PhD degree you may ever receive. They can share with you their mistakes that NO degree can teach. These mistakes can cost millions and they were able to help you avoid making the same mistakes as they did. Depending on your situation, it is important to compare apples with apples here, so make sure you take their advice into consideration but also, that their advice is applicable to your existing situation. You need to really determine what is best for you and act upon it. Do not wait for the perfect moment as it will never come. Work on what you need to do today and always make sure to keep faith and that your thoughts are in sync with your feelings. Feel good about what you are doing, think positive about your path in life and no matter what happens, you will know that you have given your all and you can't regret anything about that.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Everything-Happens-for-a-Reason&id=9592839

Finding Our Own Innate Wisdom

As we venture on our life's journey our own innate wisdom deep inside is our challenge in daily life for many of us. As we search for the meaning of who we are and what we are destined to be and do with this lifetime, we need to contemplate and ponder on the bigger questions.

As doing this and giving ourselves the space and time in today's society we find it harder as we search for the meaning of life. For most people I have experienced that this quest is something that does not come into itself until we are in mid-life and we find that we need to take more responsibility for who we are and what we have created understanding that the time to live our truth is becoming limited.

Some of the most common questions asked are: What is the meaning of life? What is my life about? What is my life worth to me and to others? What am I meant to be doing to express the greater part of my being? Who am I really? What is my greatness in all of this?

These are all questions we start to ask when we are ready to find out the deeper side of ourselves. For some this will never come to light and some will never ask. The quest for answers is something that comes as we delve into the ancient wisdom and answer the question 'Who am I really?'

I wonder how many recognise the awesomeness deep within their being and if they do, is it acknowledged. When we open up the Finding Our Own Innate Wisdom doors to our true self to honesty, we set ourselves free to become truly authentic. Being REAL is not always easy as our baggage from the past can drag us down and bring self-doubt. We need to move past that and into our true essence by understanding that all our past are our lessons to becoming our true innate self. Embrace the gift of life's lessons so that we can become a 'better me' so that the lesson does not continue to repeat and continue the cycle, not only in our life but in the next generation too.

We all have our own truth, which is not necessarily other people's. We project our own truth in every thought, word, feeling and action. Just because our truth is true for us, does not mean that it is truth for another. We are a result of the learning from our early care givers who taught us as they knew life from their own experiences. These were what we needed at the time. As we grow older and wiser we hopefully learn to understand what serves us now, as clear thinking adults, and question the validity in our own world that we have created through our own experiences.

As we grow and discover our own truth and live by it, understanding what is right for us as an individual, we start resonating with others who are like-minded. I have found that my values and beliefs have changed and varied as I have got older as I have modified them to what feels right for me now as I am and not as I was. Our authenticity is our truth. It is something that we feel with every fibre of our being. It is heart felt and not from the head. It is our intuition or gut feel that talks to us and resonates from deep within with a feeling of knowing. The deeper you go into that feeling of knowing, the more you will start to understand your own deep truth of who you really are. Reveal yourself, for you are unique and special.

As adults we all have within us our own hidden fears, doubts and worries at times. By allowing the wise and powerful part of ourselves, our higher self, to show itself in its true light, we can overcome the doubts and fears that often consume us and our lives.

Allow your passions, values, talents, abilities and sense of purpose to been seen by those who have the ability to see them. I find it so very hard to watch those with extreme talent and gifts squander them as a result of their own self-worth and inability to walk through the past. We are unable to change what life has brought us. We only have now, the present. The past is gone and the future is the future. Enjoying what is now and living in moment, instead of the past or what could be, we become free to be who we really are.

Until we really understand our real purpose of why we are here and what we are to do in this life, we will be short-changing not only ourselves but others too, by not showing the world our true unique identity. When we understand what we are here in this life to do and be, then we will know the importance of leaving a legacy behind, when our time on earth is over.

I leave you with this one last question to ponder. What do you want people to say about you when you die and your name is mentioned?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Finding-Our-Own-Innate-Wisdom&id=9331101