In Sync!..with Happiness...

I drove my lovely coach to the edge this week... "ab"using her as a sounding "hit"-board.... for my 100+1 questions about what exactly it is that I would like to focus on as a coach, namely the "niche" I am going to target when I finally go "on-air"!

Little did I know that my "consciousness" would make a u-turn into "happiness" (after nodding off) at a midnight hour-class with Angela Bird ... let me explain....

The "Angel" from Australia (sounds misty and a bit misleading about her "well-rounded" nature, anyway bare with me) was discussing positive-psychology, basically ideas presented by Michael Argyle with regard to the different types of happiness, starting with hedonism (pleasurable activities in the form of constant drinking, dining...) moving into the more sustainable happiness that comes from working towards a purpose that connects to the ESSENSE of our being, while feeling the "flow" through working at tasks that slightly challenge our talents yet match them in "kind", and there it hit me....

A couple of weeks into coaching school, I have attended every one of the "Communities of practice" sessions (the business, the sales, the family...) all short of the spiritual community of practice, thinking I wanted something "more marketable" that I could describe with "quantifiable" terms, I was missing the excited attitude that I had towards my healing education... I used to go on for hours while people asked me one question after another about what is it that I am learning... how does it apply to so and so.... I was "engaged" and "engaging"... I have always wanted to help people find out what is it that drives them in life, find a purpose and meaning that arises from who they are as people, an aim that they desire and that works with consideration of how "perfectly" they have been "made" for it...

So yes... quantifiable or not...I AM going to work with Happiness!!! ...

Next time u c someone drving a Ferrari....

On the stressful implications of SUCCESS: "Alain De Botton" in an enchantingly witty speech throws a crucial question:

"Are we the AUTHORS of our ambitions?" do we really know that our definition of success is based on our personal beliefs (as opposed to family expectations, media representations and social acceptance)?

Through humor and heavily provocative thoughts, I was left reflecting as to whether I have defined the thin line between "owning my success and defeats" (from a point of personal responsibility and the shunning of a victimized-attitude) or whether that has resulted in a less tolerating approach towards failure with myself and others...

In the spirit of "Celebrating"!

Tomorrow is SwissDay, and I am looking forward to an incandescent eve of fresco and "celebration" at August (I am referring both to the month and to the magnificence of) CHUR! ...

As coaches, we celebrate our clients' milestones, and we learn to live from a state of constant "celebration", which is (as elegantly put by ICA), a state of GRATITUDE that allows you to look back and SAVOR the moment...

On a more personal note, my most recent "celebration" and "Gratitude" is a very dear interview (avec moi!), published by my newest ICS friend "Serge Thill" from "ACCOMPANY"...take a look!

A Particular Case of Writer's Block!

Trying to get this post complete for the last few days, I have three drafts in place, hmmm, what "IS" the reason for this typical case of "writer's brainlock"?

In a class about UACs (Underlying Automatic Commitments) or what EFT would call Psychological Reversal and Munira would term subconscious beliefs... all with reference to the same concept, "an underlying compulsive thought contradicting our articulated (conscious belief/decision or goal if you might say), that holds us back from doing what we confirm that we want to do"...

This subliminal demon in the form of a particular fear, guilt, affirmation, internalized negative comment,or (as it is in this specific case) the famous demoralizing "fear of failure"-partially of not writing something upto par, something that is intelligent and fascinating, afraid to repeat myself, bore out my small audience- but mainly, worry of disappointing my super egotistical writer self!

How about you, what is it that's stopping you from "going to that interview", "sticking to your health plan" or simply saying "I am sorry"...

"Three" Way to "No Way"

Have you ever tried to support a friend on a weight-loss mission and gave her 'the look' on ordering her favourite chocolate cake while you were 'lunching-out' together...GUILTY (me, as charged), or maybe you were the mother who took her children on a 'guilt-trip' to arrive at what she 'believed' was the best for them, -or- you may be telling someone they will have to agree to YOUR terms 'or else!'.

Unsolicited advice- or worse..threats- robs a person from his/her GOD-GIVEN access to a wealth of wisdom that actually WORKS for THEM, the least damage would be a state of confusion and the worst a confidence crises, both leading to an impaired decision-making which backfires at our 'innocent' intentions that are tainted with our own judgements and agendas.

In a great class about the role of "ENTHUSING" in coaching (which is basically emotionally energizing our clients' dreams and goals with words of encouragement that reflect our genuine trust in human dexterity and resourcefulness), Ronnie Noize used a beautiful metaphor of a "matchstick and a bonfire" to portray how we help a cient grow his "ember" of motivation-which would otherwise be easily put-off by paralysing words of discouragement-into a blazing bonfire that would stand to winds of resistance and disapproval.

This untainted enthusiasm in a "process" of "focused attention" and "specific" goals (coaching) might be all we really need to reach beyond our goals and ambitions, "quickly and efficiently".

"Clear Your Clutter"...Karen Kingston

This is an all time favourite for my minimalistic approach, a term coined by a european-turned-balinese, based on the age-old chinese scriptures on space geometry, making it accessable to many of us whose right brain skills are still in transit at the moment.

An amazing article from the "metamorphosis" guru on the various decluttering possibilities brought to mind the one single sieve through which this book taught me to re-view "items" in my life...

"To Toss or To Keep... This is the question"

Do I use it?, Do I totally love it?, Do I have a place for it? Do I have too many of it?

If anythings answers yes to ANY of the above questions, it would have to go (or will not be admitted into my life), this applies no matter what IT costs, has or had a sentimental value, or whether my poor husband will be utterly devastated when he finds out (just a tease, I am counting on the fact that he doesn't read my blog ;))

So, just close your eyes for a moment, do you see the possibiities that this constantly renewed energy in your life can open up! What do you think?

Power "to you"!

Powerful Listening was a power-filled class.....(talking about how its easier said than done, I was trying to write this post and my husband was trying to tell me the new statistics on Syrian agriculture!!!) Ok, so when is it "precisely" that we call on the ALCHEMY of Powerful listening skills?!...

I was wondering after class if the keyword to listening is exactly the keyword to anything else in our life, Mindfulness, Being in the moment, Being so interested in whats happening now, Being especially curious to check out the result of the unravelling of a million co-incidences (or the lack of them)... the NOW... so maybe the most powerful listening tool of all is simply BEING...(in context of a coaching session) it would be: trusting that everything that we need to know to encounter this moment have already been learned, and that what needs to be born of it is being wrapped in linen around the beak of a magical stork, carrying with it a few more challenges for the days to come!