Being Present

Have you ever arranged a bowl of flowers in the middle of your day, creating a still life of colours and shapes and textures? And it just gives you that sense of peace and quiet. What about a pretty bouquet of flowers or even a single rose in a bud vase? What do you do to soften the edges of your busy life? Do you stop at one point during your busy day of carpools and work and grocery shopping to breathe, meditate, write a poem, say a prayer, make a wish for someone you love and someone you don't even know? What about taking a joy break instead of a coffee break and think of something that truly makes you happy and then let your imagination soar. What do you do to live fully in the moment and be present? What does it mean to be present and not worry about the past or fret about the future, but enjoy this moment right now to the full.
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."
Make it a point to stop and see the beauty around you and enjoy every moment-every sunset, sunrise, sunny day, rainy day, starry night. What about the rainbows, they do come you know, and WOW are they ever awesome. Enjoy each flower, and fall leaf that blows into your direction and watch what happens when you get quiet and stay present-give yourself permission to see the infinite possiblities in the present, in right now. Make the most of your present and you will have an even brighter future. If you want to find your bliss, stay quiet and look around at all that you have, breathe, smile and you will recognize that you are there already. Also, when you are fully present with your children, really playing Candyland instead of thinking about all you have to do or should be doing, they feel your presence and that's probably the best present you could ever give them!

Putting love in your heart

I think it's easier to say the nice thing, do the nice thing. A kind word here, a smile to boost someone's confidence, putting love in your heart, instead of unkindness of any kind. So it always shocks me when people don't move from that place. I love the story about the grandfather who tells his grandson after 9/11 that he has two wolves barking inside of him. One is the wolf who moves from a place of anger, bitterness, revenge, and hatred and other wolf moves from a place of love, generosity of spirit, kindheartedness and friendship, forgiveness and peace. The two wolves are fighting inside of him, and the grandson asks, which wolf wins? The grandfather replies, whichever one I choose to feed. Who are you feeding inside of you? Is it the loving, generous and kind person who wants to make the world a better place, who operates from a place of goodness, generosity of spirit and and love, or is it the wolf who operates from a place of ego, and winning and wanting to win at any cost, even if the cost is friendship, or a relationship of value. Remember, making other people feel good and special and loved is so important. Notice how you speak to people. Notice how kind your words are. Notice when there's an edge, or when the intent is all about making yourself feel better at the expense of someone else. Do you reach out to the person who seems to be alone or who is having a hard day, or do you avoid their gaze? How often do you smile at someone and see their whole face light up? How kind are your words and your actions? Don't we all remember the people who have touched our lives by the kind thing they've said or done, that just makes our day? What a wonderful gift you can give your children-the ability to make someone's day a little better, brighter and happier. People like that and I am fortunate to know quite a few-are the happiest people I know. As they say, you can't spread sunshine without getting quite a few rays bouncing right back to you. One of my favourite lines comes from Dr. Wayne Dyer. He says, Perform anonymous acts of kindness, expecting nothing in return, not even a thank you. The universal all-creating spirit responds to acts of kindness with the response: How may I be kind to you? Happy New Year and love to everyone.

Happiness and How to Hold onto it!

There are some people who just naturally possess the happiness gene. They naturally judge to the good, think and hope for the best, wish others the best and genuinely have a light around them that protects them from negative energy. Sometimes these people are called optimists, or they just look for the positive, but they are generally people you want to be around. What I have noticed sometimes as a Life Coach with some of my clients is there are some people in the world who feel your good energy and are not happy unless they try to zap it away from you. An incredible healer I know, always says, "Never let anyone steal your happiness." And think about how many people we allow to do exactly that to us. We may walk in to a situation with love in our hearts and an open mind, and no matter what, a person will be intent on dashing it and making you feel bad. But as a coach, I have to tell you that it can't happen, unless you allow it. And even if it's been a pattern for years to let someone make you feel bad for just being happy and content on this planet, then you have to stand up and say loud and clear, "You can never allow anyone to steal your happiness." Because that's what it is, it's a form of taking away something that doesn't belong to you. Sometimes people do it because they feel unhappy or dark within themselves and your light only illuminates their darkness even more. Whatever the reason, if you are doing good and thinking good, don't ever let anyone rain on your parade, because it is your parade and you deserve every beautiful minute of it. As a coach, I see so many people give up their dreams because they're afraid that their success might make someone's lack of it more obvious. You have a right to your happiness and you hold onto it, because it's yours and yours forever.

Gratitude

Oprah has talked about it a lot on her show. Remember the Gratitude Journal and writing down five great things that you are grateful for every day? I've taken that a step further and every night before bed for years, I ask my kids to tell me five things they're grateful for. I am always so touched by the answers, particularly the ones where they say, "This moment right now."We have a lot to be grateful for. We are alive, we are relatively healthy and we are grateful for all the incredible friends and family in our lives. We are grateful for the people we expected to be there for us and we are beyond grateful for those that have been an incredible surprise and inspiration. We are grateful for the good health of our loved ones, grateful for all that we have and for all that we take for granted and all that we will never take for granted. It's so easy to get out of the thanking G-d or whatever spiritual force you believe in for all that we have be grateful for. But we are and writing it down or even just thinking about it is something that fills me with gratitude. What are you grateful for and want to give thanks for? Write it down and notice the feeling good lift you will have and will be able to spread to those around you.
posted by Judy at 11:03 AM

KINDNESS MONTH

KINDNESS



Why is it so hard for some people to act from a place of kindness? I just know that as Aesop said very profoundly, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
I’d love to make January the Kindness month, where every day you do at least one, but hopefully more acts of kindness. Invite your children to do the same and watch how they glow when they are in that kindness place. If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is to keep on walking, Kindness. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone operated from a place of kindness? As Lao-Tzu said back in the sixth century B.C. “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” Where do you need to be kinder to others? Where do you need to be kinder to the world? Where do you need to be kinder to yourself?
For Kindness month, do one small act of kindness every day, and the reward will be the smile and the song in own your heart and in the all the hearts that you touch.

How to strengthen, tone and sharpen your willpower

As a Life Coach, I meet a lot of people who have dreams and goals and aspirations and all sorts of passions. But it is one thing to feel it and even to know it, it's another to focus so intently on something that you can actually make it happen. So many people have said they would love to write a book, but as all writers know, writing one is a different story entirely. I have an incredible role model for willpower, perseverance, dedication and single minded vision, and that's my husband. His vision as a physician, goes beyond the ordinary into the realm of excellence and extraordinary efforts and achievements, and he knows only too well that to really achieve and fulfill your purpose, you need about one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
So when we are exercising we all know that it requires incredible discipline, focus and committment to achieve the goals we want to achieve. It is the same with your passion or dreams or goals. You have to constantly strive to strengthen your dream even when it eludes you or other things get in the way. How can we do that? There is actually a wonderful meditation, called a walking meditation. where you go on a walk and look straight ahead down the road, and move just at the right pace to align the body, mind and spirit. The task is to stay focused on the next step you are taking forward. This is very useful for people who get distracted and helps you move towards your goals with complete focus. The other way to strengthen your willpower is just to use this muscle. Flex it, do extra reps even when you don't want to. Sit at the computer and work on the book or article you want to write. Practice your music. Sing your scales. Do that extra workout. The more we exercise the muscle, the more it starts to work for us and before you know it magical things start to happen, because you are in your sphere of bliss and passion where anything and everything is possible.
For more information on Life Coaching check out www.findingyourbliss.com, and remember when your willpower is sharpened, like a brand new, freshly sharpened pencil, the sky is the limit for what you can accomplish and what can become possible.

More on Purpose-Can we ever have too much?

I have a very simple technique for finding your purpose, easily and effortlessly. It comes from the book Vivation by Jim Leonard and Phil Laut, which you should pick up if you want to know more about the technique. It's so simple, you almost don't believe it will work, but it does every time. They suggest asking yourself three questions:

What do you like about your self?
How do you like to spend your time?
What's your idea of a perfect world?
Your purpose is what links these three things together-it's a way you can use your favourite characteristics, values, abilities and attributes in activities you like best, to "manifest your vision of a perfect world".
As H.I. Khan states, "However unhappy a person may be, the moment he knows the purpose of his life, a switch is turned and the light is on. If he has to strive after that purpose all his life, he does not mind, so long as he knows what the purpose is."

Ask yourself those questions, then link them together. Talk them out with a Life Coach, say them into a tape recorder, or write them down in a journal, and soon the links will make sense and you will come up an idea of what your purpose is.

So my advice is to open up your own treasure chest of unique gifts and talents and ablities. Reach inside and pull out the jewel that is your passion. Watch it sparkle and shine and let it help you discover your sense of purpose. Take that purpose and let it guide you towards the path of your own enlightenment. You glow when you step into your own light and it's a beautiful thing to see.

So take a deep breath and step into your own light. Know your passion, and you will discover your purpose and in serving others you will lead an enlightened life.
Judy Librach-Life coach.

Finding Your Purpose on this Planet

When we are deeply fulfilled, it often means we have a sense of purpose. We know why we're here, what we have to do and we have an idea of how we're going to do it. Everything makes sense when we've found our purpose, everything comes together with effortless grace. and usually when purposeful, we are very happy and at peace. As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, "If you want to find your true purpose in life, know this for certain: Your purpose will only be found in service to others, and in being connected to something far greater than your body/mind/ego."

So what is your purpose on this planet? What is the special gift you are blessed with that brings happiness and contentment to others? Maybe your life purpose is just to be the fantastic you that you were meant to be. How can you best serve? You know what it is deep down inside of you and what you need to honour for you to find purpose and meaning and fulfillment in your life. And it's okay to think big. Thinking big, and bold is good, especially when you can reach others, and they can benefit from the gifts you were born with.

I'll tell you one thing I know for sure. Purpose is always connected to our values. What are your values? Are you honouring them? What makes your life meaningful? What do you do that you know without a doubt is the right place for you to be, where you're living on purpose and with passion, you''re in your sense of purpose and you are right inside that little sphere or bubble, that represents who you are at your best. Purpose is knowing where you are going, and how to get there in the best and most enjoyable way ever, while honouring your core values and the knowledge that in serving others, you will most likely find your bliss and discover meaning in your life.

It often helps to look back at the peak experiences in your life that gave you that feeling of being incredibly happy and alive. What were they? Write them down and watch for patterns to emerge.

Write down your ideas, be bold and daring in your imaginings. Talk your dreams into a tape recorder. Imagine what you would do if nothing were standing in your way?

Coaching helps you with finding your purpose, because in the dialogue that is created, exciting discoveries can be made that help define your sense of purpose, and help put the words into action--transforming your dreams into reality.