Transformation Coaching Magazine May 2023

PUBLISHERS

CONTRIBUTORS

We believe that self-employment is the ultimate form of empowerment. Our mission is to bring you guests whose powerful entrepreneurship stories and real-world advice will give you the inspiration and tools to create a business and life that you love.

Listen on our website or your favorite podcast app or watch the video version on our YouTube channel.

Here at Transformation Academy we are excited to announce our May’s Transformation Academy Rising Star – Maurice F. Martin!

Our goal with this initiative is to recognize and celebrate group membership who demonstrate the heart and service of a coach. Each monthly recipient of this recognition will be selected for a unique reason. Some will be seasoned coaches who serve as valuable mentors within the group. Others may be just starting their coach-training journey and exude a contagious attitude or passion. Others may be actively supporting other group members, whether by providing resources, answering common questions, or providing moral support. Regardless of each of our wonderful group members’ background or experience, we all benefit from the mutual support and varied perspectives offered within this diverse group!

The Rising Star initiative is a way to give a special THANK YOU to those who go above and beyond to share of themselves within this community.

ABOUT MAURICE:

Maurice F. Martin, Akron, OH

Embrace Coaching and Consulting

Embrace the Impossible

“Know that your life CAN change for the better. Know that you can be a better version of you. Believe that and then take action steps to prove it, one decision at a time.”

Maurice F. Martin is a bestselling author and a spiritual life coach. Facing a crossroads, Maurice chose a path less traveled, the life-changing journey of healing, growth and purpose. His second book, Your But is Too Big: 7 Principles That Empower You To Heal Past Hurts and Get Motivated to Find Purpose was written to help you heal your past wounds, discover who you really are, and live a peaceful, purpose-driven life. Maurice has been through his fair share of trauma—from masking the private pain of his childhood to battling depression in his 20s. After becoming an award-winning vocalist and songwriter, Maurice hit rock bottom and it became clear that there was only one way out: he had to let go of what had been holding him back. Now that he’s healed, Maurice is on a mission to equip and empower you to release your limiting beliefs and become the person you were born to be.

WHAT IS YOUR NICHE (COACHING FOCUS) AND HOW DID YOU CHOOSE IT?

My coaching focus and niche is that I am a spiritual life coach who helps individuals find the motivation to heal past hurts and get fully moving in their life purpose. I chose this path because I love to see people living their lives with hope, fulfillment and spiritual alignment. I remember what it is like to be successful in the world but empty on the inside. I love to see people as more successful in their hearts than they are in the boardroom or the bank account. In other words, I love to help people reach the kind of success money can’t buy.

WHO IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?

Oftentimes, I work with entrepreneurs, educators and spiritual leaders who the world considers “successful.” Despite the achievements they’ve had, a lot of people feel like there is still a sense of emptiness or a feeling that something is missing. I would say my ideal client is someone who is open to exploring their mindsets, story and identity, and someone who is willing to do the inner work necessary to create lasting change in their thoughts, emotions and actions. There is nothing more important to me than to see results that last. I want you to be able to look yourself in the mirror and feel that your life feels authentic, meaningful and whole despite the fact that there will always be pressures and challenges to overcome.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LIFE COACH?

I used to feel overwhelmed by the story my resume didn’t tell. My resume looked impressive. Working with Grammy winners and Emmy winners. National TV licensing deals. Life was amazing on paper but felt empty in many ways. I didn't know how to talk about it, how to face it, or if it was even possible to overcome it. I eventually hit rock bottom and if I’m being honest, I didn’t feel like I wanted to live. That is a scary thing to feel. It was a moment of “change or die” for me. I began a tough but life-altering process of doing the work to heal old wounds, change my mindset, and seek spiritual clarity. As I walked through the process, it connected me to what I call my God-given purpose. I began to feel like the greatest thing I could do is to help other people walk the type of path I walked. Facing what is holding you back, redefining what is possible in your life, and seeing it begin to come to fruition in your life.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COACHING?

Haha, I guess that depends who you ask! Some people would tell you I’ve been unofficially coaching people since I was a little kid. Officially, I was certified to begin coaching in 2018

and have coached people in multiple formats. It has been an honor and a privilege watching people’s lives change one courageous choice at a time.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST CLIENT?

I wish I could say that the first one came to me through great marketing but, honestly, my first client came to me and told me that she had been thinking about dealing with some major issues and she “felt like” I was the one to help. She said she had been praying about it and was ready to change. I remember being scared and feeling “not ready”, but her process was a real inspiration for me. It was a catalyst to keep growing myself, keep learning, and to keep making a difference like I was able to with her.

HOW HAS YOUR COACHING JOURNEY CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am for coaching. I don’t just coach it, I am constantly reminded that I need to live the change and transformation in my own life. I am not a finished product. I can thank coaching for that in many ways. I often say that life has a way of putting “you in front of you.” In other words, years or even months after I work through an issue, someone seems to always end up as a client who is working through the same thing. It blows me away. I always remind myself that someone in my household or on my roster needs the more healed version of me, and that gives me the courage to keep evolving in my own life.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BEING A LIFE COACH?

The most challenging part of life coaching for me has been learning to embrace the process of getting specific about whom I serve, what they need, and how I can best provide that service. When I started coaching, people would ask me who I

was meant to serve and I would say “everyone!” If I am being honest, I think something in my brain still feels I am called to serve everyone on Earth, but my heart is learning that there are clients that I am specifically tailor-made to help support and serve. They are the most receptive to how I coach, and my skill set is the best suited for their life transformation in this season.

WHAT IS THE MOST FULFILLING PART OF BEING A LIFE COACH?

The most fulfilling part of spiritual life coaching for me is seeing a person’s eyes change. I’ll try to explain this in a way that is clear. Sometimes, people look so lifeless and broken at the beginning of their time with me. They begin the first session looking confident on the surface, but, as they speak, there is something else you can see in their face. Pain. Hopelessness. Confusion. Being lost. With time and healing, you can actually see hope enter their eyes eventually. It is hard to put that into words, but many coaches will understand what I am describing. You see joy where there was emptiness. Belief where there was doubt. Light where there was darkness. A person has a new fire that is lit within them, and you know that that fire will spread to their loved ones, employees, or whoever is called to them. That is a feeling that is indescribable for me.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST INSPIRATIONAL COACHING MOMENT, WITH A CLIENT?

My most inspirational coaching moment may have been my most recent one. I am not trying to avoid the question, but I try to cherish each of them and let them be special to me. In my last session, I worked with someone for the first time who is a leader who is respected, beloved, and admired by people who know him. I watched him cry tears that have been locked inside of him for years. He felt empowered to give voice to some feelings that had been hidden for almost his entire life. That moment was truly special. It was not the first time I have experienced that, but because it was the most recent, I would say it is my current inspiration. I haven't watched his life change yet, but watching him face something so major in only his first session gave me hope for how far he can go in this journey. I believe his story will inspire many. One person gets a flame lit and that flame of hope spreads.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COACHING ACTIVITY OR EXERCISE TO DO WITH CLIENTS?

I love to talk to clients about their stories of origin. The story that you believe about yourself matters! It is impossible to rewrite an internal code that you’ve never read. Tasking a client with the process of discovering the story that they believe, and the limiting beliefs within that story often leads to powerful revelation and insight for their life.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR FINDING CLIENTS AND/OR GROWING YOUR BUSINESS?

The most effective strategy for finding clients has been finding opportunities to get potential clients in front of me. Workshops, free sessions, or whatever gives them chance to experience what you bring to the table. Coaching is not theoretical; it is relational and experiential. To me, life change is not “one size fits all.” If you sit in a space with me, you will know if I am the right fit for you and vice versa. I find that many people don’t really know what the role of a life coach even is. If they can sit with you, hear from you, and experience you, they can get a sense of how you fit into their overall structure of support.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF BACK WHEN YOU FIRST DREAMED OF BECOMING A COACH?

I would tell him to first serve the client in the mirror, then be the greatest support and service to the people in his household. When you keep your life in proper alignment, you are healthier, happier, and more whole to serve the people in your life outside of your home. I would let him know that the man in the mirror and the people in his home are the people he is called to serve first. They are his purpose first. When that is solid, you increase your strength and level of effectiveness in what you bring to the world.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE IN THIS WORLD?

I want to be an instrument of change and transformation in the hands of my Higher Power. I want to be used to bring true hope and healing to people. I want people to grow through past pain and step into the purpose they were born to walk in. I want to touch as many people as possible, but to always remember that my ultimate impact is one person at a time.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH TRANSFORMATION COACHING MAGAZINE READERS?

To all of my fellow coaches, keep going. Don’t let your clients outwork you. If they are finding inspiration, motivation, and leveling up their life, make sure you keep doing the same. To everyone else who is reading, know that your life CAN change for the better. Your business can grow, your heart can heal, your relationship can improve, and your focus can become clear. Know that you can be a better version of you. Believe that and then take action steps to prove it, one decision at a time.

Pathways to Connecting:

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Deck 1 Easing In – playful questions to break the ice & have fun!

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Deck 4 Daring to Divulge – Provocative questions that spark deeper conversations and encourage meaningful connections.

JustAsk123.com & LoveIstheNewCurrency.com

Embracing an expanded concept of family can create a more loving world.

By Linda Commito

Most of us have grown up with a concept of “family” and what that looks like, whether ours fit into our definition and expectations or not. And although mine was considered traditional, with two parents and a couple of brothers, for whom I am grateful, I have learned to expand my definition of “family” by appreciating the way that the heart sometimes has a totally different idea about the value of loving relationships.

I would love to share with you an inspiring story about one amazing mom, Care, and the uniquely loving family that she and her husband Rick have created.

Rick, the son of dear friends of mine, met Care in the Peace Corps, both stationed in Azerbaijan and passionate about serving others and making a difference. Although they had arrived at different times and were living in different areas, they met and overlapped for five months. That connection was all that they needed to get engaged three months later.

Although they both wanted to have a family someday, Care had always wanted to rescue a child and had

even considered adopting internationally. That was one thing that she was clear about as she told Rick: “Adoption is nonnegotiable.” Although Rick hadn’t thought about it, he was open, saying: “I had been loved unconditionally and wanted to replicate a family like the loving one I had grown up with, but not the details. But with Care, I was willing to do whatever it took.”

Once married and living back in Michigan, Rick was establishing himself as an assistant principal and Care was working as a counselor with children, they felt ready to consider adoption. Although friends and family may have wondered, “why adoption?” rather than having their own child, (especially since it costs $36,000 to adopt an infant domestically and $50,000 to adopt internationally), they were willing to support the determined couple with financial assistance through Go Fund Me. Rick and Care then put together their “book”—what prospective mothers in the United States use to choose who will adopt their baby. In it, they shared their stories, family history and what their dreams were about raising a child. Little did they know that synchronicities and prayers were about to make that happen.

Morgan, an 18-year-old freshman college student, was caught off guard by her pregnancy. She decided to find a couple to adopt her soon-tobe newborn and was given 30 “books” of couples who were hoping to be selected. It was Morgan’s sister who noticed Rick and Care’s book and put it on top, especially when she noticed their handwritten message: “May the Lord bless you and keep you always,” which is what Morgan’s grandmother used to say to her.

When they met for the first time, it went well. They got a call the next day. They were chosen to be the parents of this baby. And exciting as it was, a month later, Care says, “I was also aware that I would be walking out with a baby and that, sadly, Morgan would not.”

And here is where BIG LOVE came in. Care said: “I’m not a jealous person. I knew I’d have the capacity to share.” Care and Rick invited Morgan to be a part of their family. Their biracial baby, Lana, grew up with a huge extended family who all loved her. In fact, Morgan cared for her daughter one day a week, and, over time, Lana would refer to her as “birth mom” and Care as “mom.” Lana experienced so

much love, even celebrating holidays as one big extended family with Morgan’s parents and grandparents, as well as her own.

Rick and Care’s family has grown and blossomed over four years, especially when they decided

to have a child of their own, and two years later Ezra (“Ezzie” or “Sissie” as Lana likes to call her) came into their world. Now they even take family vacations together.

I love this expanded concept of family. It makes me feel more hopeful

Love is the New Currency with Linda Commito

that we can create a more loving world that sees one another as family, as dear friends, or as people with whom we can share our love.

How can we open our hearts to each other, to experience BIG LOVE, and open to possibilities?

Linda Commito, author, speaker, entrepreneur, consultant and teacher, is passionate about her vision to leave this world a kinder, more loving, and interconnected place. Linda’s award-winning book of inspirational stories, Love Is the New Currency, demonstrates how we can each make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others through simple acts of love and kindness. Her latest project, the card game Just Ask 1 2 3, was inspired by a desire to connect people of all different ages, beliefs and lifestyles to share our individuality and find commonality. Linda also created “Kindness Starts with Me,” a program, book and website for children. For more information visit http://www.LoveistheNewCurrency.com or visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Justask123game.

From left: Morgan, Lana, Care, Ezra and Rick.

UNCOVERING OURSELVES UNCOVERING OURSELVES

By Mary Boutieller

Self-reflection—the ability to discern our behaviors, to tease apart the things that feel right versus those which bring discord, is an important part of my life these days. Much like hindsight, selfreflection often occurs when the voice inside my head says, “I wish I had done ‘this’ instead...” These instances give me the opportunity to take another step forward in clarifying who I am and who I am not.

Michelangelo once said, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Piece by piece, he removed what was no longer needed to reveal the masterpiece already residing inside the stone. This is what we do, day in and day out, if we are awake and breathing. We carve, not to fix necessarily—because fixing infers that something is wrong—but to hone in on the truth that is already there.

As we delve deeper into who we are, we experience the seesaw ride of life—revealing our truth and then covering back up again. We feel happy one moment and crabby the next, for no apparent reason. We feel kind and generous, then act harshly toward another because they

trigger something in us that hasn’t healed. We think our wounds are ours alone and that no one else can see or feel them. And then something happens. The other day, I witnessed a woman walk away with slumped shoulders wrapped around her precious heart, and I felt her pain. I felt it because it was also my pain. Memories of past rejection and heartache flooded my consciousness— thousands of tiny cuts, as they say. I wondered about the wounds we all carry, and how it is that we heal from those tiny cuts. How do we recognize the frightened child (or adult) who only wants love or acceptance, whether in ourselves or in others? And, equally important, how do we reach out and let our hearts meet theirs—raw and open, even when it is uncomfortable? At Samaritans.org, they suggest that we start a simple conversation. We say hello; we ask about their day. Simply checking in with another might change the road they are on for the better.

James Carroll said, “We spend most of our time and energy in a kind of horizontal thinking. We move along the surface of things...(but) there are times when we stop. We sit still. We lose ourselves in a pile of leaves or its memory.

We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper.”

That whisper is the stone being carved away, chip by chip, revealing the person underneath it all—the one who isn’t afraid to feel or love or fail. The one who is willing to take chances, to dive below the surface and swim the big waves, even when it’s scary.

This is the person I want to continue to unveil in myself. One who is not afraid to reach in and reach out, knowing that it’s not a straight road and it certainly isn’t perfect. The “two steps forward, one step back” adage feels pretty accurate. Still, there is progress...and that is something.

The awesomeness of this life and these revelations fill me with hope... knowing that there is more to uncover.

Nancy at Sweetbird Studios said, “I have learned to change the narrative of my story from often fear to curiosity. To feel scared and do it anyway.”

Have faith, my loves, and know that you are beautiful and resourceful and amazing. Be curious and chip away at that which no longer serves you—be it a habit, an attitude or a belief, and become more of who you already are.

The Yoga of Life with Mary Boutieller

Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.

Self-reflection allows us to clarify who we are—and who we are not—take chances, and reach out to let our hearts meet others.

Six principles to help you move in a new direction, change your view, and improve and enhance your life.

By Darrel L. Hammon

The word pivot can be both a noun and a verb. When I was growing up in Idaho, home to probably the best potatoes on the planet, many farmers began to expand and convert large chunks of land into huge potato fields and other crops. They needed a way to control water irrigation of these large tracts. Thus, the “pivot” was invented to create a mechanized way to manage a consistent irrigation pattern.

“Pivot” irrigation equipment moves around in fields, and it monumentally changed the way farmers irrigated potatoes and other crops in their ever-growing production chain. Now, instead of scratching their heads and fretting about consistent irrigation methods, they could water thousands of acres of crops by installing massive pivots throughout their farms and grow enormous amounts of hay, grain, potatoes, beans, corn, and a host of other crops that feed the world. They did all this by learning to pivot in a variety of ways.

In my younger days, I loved to play basketball. I learned the hard way that you cannot hold the ball and move both feet around. It’s called “traveling,” and you must give up the ball to the other team if you do it, thus losing possession. To be able to move around while holding the ball, you must keep one foot—the pivot foot—planted on the floor while you moved the other foot, which can pivot around in any direction.

In our lives, we experience some of these same challenges, perhaps more similar than we can imagine. We, too, stare out into

our fields of dreams and wonder how we are going to make them grow and come to great and life-changing fruition. Repeatedly, then, we need to plant a pivot in our lives so we can turn to make changes, hopefully in directions that will improve and enhance our lives.

So, how do we pivot in life? Let’s discuss six principles.

1. PIVOTING IS MERELY LEARNING HOW TO MAKE LIFE CHANGES.

Often, we suffer from paralysis when attempting to do something different. We feel comfortable in what we are doing, but we don’t like what we are doing. We feel stagnant in our jobs and/or our lives—but the thought of change frightens us. What we must understand is that pivoting simply means that we make incremental changes. Changes don’t have to be giant steps to one side or the other. Rather, they just need to be big enough to move us in a different direction. Thus, we pivot to a new direction, a new view.

2. PIVOTING DOES NOT MEAN QUITTING.

Frequently, when we find ourselves in a situation that we need to change, we believe we have to quit our job, whatever we are doing at the moment, and radically change the direction we are going. Sometimes we do have to stop what we are doing

and contemplate our next move. However, often we don’t necessarily have to quit—just pivot—sometimes a degree or two, maybe more.

3. PIVOTING REQUIRES FORESIGHT MIXED WITH HINDSIGHT.

One of the equations in strategic planning is F + P = PR (Future + Past = Present). We need to know where we have been, know where we want to go, and that decision becomes our present. Once we know where we are going, pivoting comes into play, so, we pivot to where we want to go. The amazing part of pivoting is that even a slight pivot can change our direction and give us a new perspective and view because we see things differently, thus helping us see the future more clearly.

4. PIVOTING IS A NATURAL WAY OF CHANGING DIRECTIONS.

Throughout our lives, we have always had to pivot in some way. I started first grade in the same house and lived there until I was 19 years old. For the first three grades, I went to one school. For 4th through 6th, I went to another school and a brand-new school for the later part of 6th grade; for 7th-8th grade, I traveled seven miles to another school; for 9th grade, I attended a different school; and then for 10th through my senior year, I traveled seven miles in a different direction—all the time living in the same house. I had to pivot for every school change. Granted, many other students did the same thing. Sometimes, we went to a different city, and students from other communities joined us. Environments changed; some friends changed. Pivoting happened almost daily. Then, when I was 19, I served a mission for my church in southern Chile, thousands of miles from

my home in Menan, Idaho. Population 596. Talk about a major pivot for two years—a new language, new culture, new country, new friends, new food, and big black boots for the rain. Pivoting is what we all have done throughout our lives. It’s just what we do.

5. PIVOTING ALLOWS YOU TO SEE LIFE IN 360-DEGREE MODE.

The best part of pivoting is that we can ultimately see ourselves and the world in 360-degree mode if we choose. Seeing life “in the round” can be highly influencing, enlightening and refreshing. Seeing the 360-degree view allows us to become more holistic, so we can observe and feel the whole view, not just the narrow focus that disconnects us from everything around us. We must see all to be able to see ourselves in the true light, our own best selves.

6. PIVOTING CAN BE PIVOTAL IN LIFE.

Pivoting periodically in our lives can produce the results we have always desired. It is essential that we pivot. If we are not progressing and growing, we are retrogressing. There really isn’t such a thing as stagnation. Each pivot can be a critical step in our lives. Even members of our team can pivot to help us see differently and gain a new perspective. Together, we can learn to change our lives and our organizations for the best possible future. Our lives are full of pivot points. Some we take; some we don’t. Sometimes we kick ourselves for not pivoting at the right moment. The key always hinges on pivoting when we need to change.

Sometimes you have to pivot to capture a better view and position yourself for the success you want and deserve in life. Whatever your reason, don’t hesitate. Begin pivoting now!

Darrel L. Hammon has been dabbling in writing in a variety of genres since his college days, having published poetry, academic and personal articles/essays, a book titled Completing Graduate School Long Distance (Sage Publications), and a picture book, The Adventures of Bob the Bullfrog: Christmas Beneath a Frozen Lake (Outskirts Press). He also was the editor of the Journal of Adult Education (Mountain Plains Adult Education Association). Most of his essay/article writing has focused on topics about growing up, leadership, self-awareness, motivation, marriage/dating, and educational topics. Some of these articles/essays are in Spanish because Darrel is bilingual in Spanish/English, having lived in Chile, Dominican Republic, and southern California, and having worked with Latino youth and families all of his professional life in higher education. He has two blogs, one for personal writing at http://www.darrelhammon.blogspot.com/ and one for his consulting/life coaching business (http://www.hammonconsults.blogspot.com/). You can listen to a poem titled “Sprucing Up” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihTmuOUIAEI

Pathways to Connecting:

NOT JUST A GAME!

Each custom-designed deck of Just Ask 1 2 3 cards offers 53 thought-inspiring questions and a Directions card. A lovely organza gift bag is included to hold the cards for selecting.

Just Ask 1 2 3 is a fun pathway to conversation, kindness and connection!

Only $15.95

Deck 1 Easing In – playful questions to break the ice & have fun!

Deck 2 Getting Closer – thought-provoking questions to get to know each other better . . . including ourselves.

Deck 3 Deepening Conversation – Insightful questions that invite sharing experiences and reflections on life and relationships.

Deck 4 Daring to Divulge – Provocative questions that spark deeper conversations and encourage meaningful connections.

JustAsk123.com & LoveIstheNewCurrency.com

Raising your frequency of consciousness has a healing effect on your body.

By Owen Waters

Nothing in Creation is essentially good or bad, but we judge lower vibrations as bad because they oppose our natural desire to raise our consciousness.

For example, toxins in food vibrate at a lower frequency, while health-supporting nutrition vibrates at a higher frequency. Because body, mind and spirit are interconnected, toxic food depresses the frequencies of your mind and spirit as well as your body.

Besides food, thoughts and feelings that are toxic will interfere with your ability to rise into the peaceful and enlightening realms of spiritual awareness. For example, being exposed to negative news material that incites division between people will take them further from the underlying reality that all life is essentially one.

It comes as no surprise that raising your frequency of consciousness has a healing effect on your body, but here is one surprising discovery that supports that simple truth in a powerful way. Viktor Schauberger (1885-1958) was a natural science pioneer who, aided by his keen sense of intuition, observed that mountain streams purify themselves of toxicity. He observed that the meandering flow of mountain streams includes vortex eddies, which are areas of circular motion.

We now know that the key to explaining why vortex motion purifies water lies in realizing that the circular rotation of a fluid vortex induces etheric energy down its axis.

Toxins exist within their own frequency range. When they are carried in water and then the frequency of the water is sufficiently raised, the toxins can no longer manifest in either physical or pre-physical etheric form.

Spiritual Dynamics

with Owen K. Waters

Waterfalls are another cause of purification in mountain streams and rivers because oxygen is a ready carrier of etheric energy and the aeration caused by the waterfall allows oxygen to add energy to the water.

No wonder a brisk walk in fresh, oxygenated air produces such health benefits!

Fresh fruits and vegetables are typically sprayed with insecticides and herbicides. These are poisons which, while they are insufficient to kill large bodies like humans, still contribute to one’s overall level of toxicity. It seems strange that such foods are called “regular” while the non-poisoned, unsprayed alternatives are given a special name (“organic”) which makes them sound like the irregular option.

One’s level of toxicity is further enhanced by unfiltered, fluoridated water and airborne smog. Processed foods are a major source of toxic chemicals. Just look at the ingredients on the label, especially the mysterious chemicals with long, unpronounceable names! Now that we know that toxins lower the frequencies of our bodies – physical, mental and spiritual – we can more easily guide ourselves into healthy choices in life.

Owen Water is a cofounder of the Spiritual Dynamics Academy and InfiniteBeing.com, where a where a free spiritual growth newsletter awaits you at https://www.InfiniteBeing.com. He is an international spiritual teacher who has helped hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers to understand better the nature of their spiritual potential. Owen’s life has been focused upon gaining spiritual insights through extensive research and the development of his inner vision. He has written a spiritual metaphysics newsletter since 2004 which empowers people to discover their own new vistas of inspiration, love and creativity. Spiritual seekers enjoy his writings for their clarity and deep insights. Contact Owen via email News@InfiniteBeing.com

The energy-raising effect of adding etheric energy actually transforms lower frequency toxins out of existence!

Photo by Alex Gruber on Unsplash

Let nature remind you of the BIG picture.

By Terez Hartmann

When you are in a concentrated environment where you are outnumbered by trees and animals, have you noticed that there is a sense of well-being that truly dominates the air around you? Trees, plants and animals live in a much clearer and more consistent state of allowing, ease and flow than humans, so it is no wonder that unless you enter nature-prevailing settings kicking and screaming, you always come out feeling better than before you arrived.

Whatever your view is of the “pecking order” of nature and the animal kingdom, I, for one, could not imagine life without it. Nature is and has been my playground, my sanctuary, my church, one of my great loves, and the thing that helps bring me back to myself, even during times of the biggest contrast in my life when all else has failed. I could not even begin to count the ideas, songs, writings or solutions that have been inspired by spending time out in nature. For that reason, I am thrilled to encourage others to experience the infinite gifts our great Mother Earth has to share with us every chance I get!

Though this is one tiny article to express ideas and tools on this BIG topic, the thing that I would most love to impart is this: If you truly want proof that there is something far bigger than your temporary point of focus, want to absolutely

know that beauty, harmony and serenity can be found no matter what, and that all this talk about “we are all one” can be experienced viscerally and personally, get out, listen, observe and be in the magnificence of the natural world. And just as the many masters before you, you may discover a truth and unconditional, direct connection to well-being that has the power to carry you through any human trial or tribulation.

THE NATURAL PERSPECTIVE

The next time you want to chill, discover solutions, or tap in to inspiration, get a “natural perspective” on life:

1) Go to a nearby park, beach, forest, etc. where the sights and sounds of nature are dominant.

2) Unplug from the fray by turning off the cell phone/tablet/ computer, etc., along with any external conversations, and just let yourself be where you are. (It’s much easier to hear when you stop talking!)

3) 3. Relax your body and mind by choosing to “see” the world through the lens of a favorite animal/bird. Imagine peeking through the eyes of an eagle, horse, hummingbird, butterfly, dolphin or other animal of your choice. What would you feel and

experience? Take this journey in your mind and you just may find an incredible level of stillness along with powerful insights that leave you with even more than you bargained for!

4) Do one (or all) of these things on a daily basis for at least 30 days just for the joy and serenity it gives you.

5) Keep a journal/make a note of the ideas and insights that follow these experiences.

Allowing time daily for natural perspective with no other agenda than feeling good could be just what the doctor ordered for a well-being tuneup, and can translate into more benefits than you can possibly imagine.

THE BOTTOM LINE ON ALLOWING CONNECTION THROUGH NATURE

Whether you are writing a computer program, working with a client, crafting a work of art, building a new business or raising a family, it is good to remember that more than any minute detail or fleeting moment, it is the overall intention and BIG picture that matters most.

Perspective is perhaps the greatest gift that spending time in nature can give us: The sun continues to

rise without someone making a phone call or scheduling it on a calendar. Oxygen continues to flow—whether or not someone posts on Facebook or tweets about it. Even on cloudy nights, the stars are ever-present, serving as

proof that there is indeed more to be known, perceived and discovered. Get out. Go in. Remember who you are and the BIG picture of this beautiful life on planet Earth. It really is human nature, after all.

ALLOWING YOUR SUCCESS

with Terez “Firewoman” Hartmann

“When I see the eagle rising in the sky I remember I was meant to fly…” —From “Remembering”

©2012-14 TTRH

Terez “Firewoman” Hartmann is a Visionary Creative & top-rated instructor, Law of Attraction & Allowing YOUR Success specialist, published author, speaker, singer-songwriter, recording & performing artist & composer, “Catalyst for Fab-YOU-lous” and true Renaissance Woman who has already helped over 10,000 students in over 130 countries allow success and live life on FIRE. She is deeply passionate about helping other Powerful Creatives and Leading-Edge Thinkers live unique, empowered lives on their terms by cultivating the courage to dream, to express themselves boldly & authentically, and to focus Onward, Upward and Forward into new possibilities. http://www.terezfirewoman.com

Photo by Yuliya Ginzburg on Unsplash

How to let go of the fiction and stand in your truth.

By Arielle Giordano

Within every person lies their own life story, with their own unique interpretation of past and present events. Over time, we add meaning to these events and create our own stories. Eventually our interpretations become perceptions that prescribe our outlook on life. But sometimes we can misinterpret certain events or situations and become the captive of our own misguided perceptions, as our real identities remain trapped inside us.

The stories we tell ourselves can be like our personal bodyguards, which protect us from being authentic and real. When we put up a barrier, such as blocking ourselves from being able to connect with others in love, we cannot express our true self and find deep meaning in life.

Authenticity is being vulnerable at any price. When you lack inner transparency, you are disconnected from your deeper levels of

being and your true objectives and passions. When you allow your inner self to surface and express, you are being genuine. Stories insulate you like a soft cushion, preventing real communication and meaningful interaction with others. When you are free from your own subjective stories, you can stand in your own truth in today’s polarized world. You live without attachment to likes and dislikes—good and bad—and accept pain as a part of life.

Your deeper levels are available if you stop comparing, justifying and suppressing. If you cannot move past these mental exercises, the lens that you are seeing through is filtered by stories that prevent you from objectively seeing and experiencing reality. You will carry forward personal narratives created by past assumptions, pressure, difficulties and—especially—pain. In this case, your life is an illusion hiding behind the curtain of a narrative that does not serve your personal growth.

Dancing from the Inside Out

with

Arielle Giordano

It’s time to set yourself free from the stories that hold you back from living a full, rich, interactive life. Let go of the assumptions that keep you shut down and locked away from love and meaningful connections with others. Free yourself by understanding that your story is a fiction novel. Unlock your heart knowing that you can rewrite the book at anytime from a new point of view.

Editor’s Note: This excerpt is from Arielle Giordano’s book, Dancing with Your Story from the Inside Out. At the end of each chapter, Arielle offers personal journaling and conscious reflection in conjunction with free-spirited dance. She prescribes a practical means to self-discovery through fun and creative expressions. Together, the journaling, reflection, and dance assignments help unlock our stories and set our true selves free. Find out more at: https:// www.amazon.com/Dancing-YourStory-Inside-Out/dp/1945812060.

Transformational Life Coach Award-Winning Author & Speaker, Professional Dancer. Arielle’s Award-Winning book for Best Self-Help Award: Dancing With Your Story From The Inside is available on http://www.Amazon.com. Her professional career includes the Lead Faculty Area Chairperson and Professor for the College of Humanities, History and the Arts at the University of Phoenix. She is a published co-author of Transform Your Life Books 1 & 2 and author for Tampa Bay Wellness, Conscious Shift & Transformation magazine. She has published her 4th book, an Instructor’s Manual for Barlow Abnormal Psychology 4th ed. and authored Psychology, A Journey 3rd.ed. Study Guide published by Nelson Education, Toronto, ON. She has also studied philosophy at the College of Integrated Philosophy with John DeRuiter for twenty years. Arielle has been a featured guest on radio and television, in newspapers, and the media across the US and Canada. She is a certified Essentrics Stretch and Dance Instructor. Arielle offers coaching sessions, classes and workshops and a free 30-minute Consultation. Arielle’s new book Dancing with Your Story from the Inside Out is now available on http://www.Amazon.com. Websites: http://www.dancingfromtheinsideout.com, http://www.ariellegiordano.com. Email: agbeautifuldance@gmail.com

How a $20 gift to an old, homeless “mother” made for the best day ever.

By Jo Mooy

It was the week before Valentine’s Day. The crush of people, and their cars that usually fill the parking lot outside the grocery store, were not yet up. It was too early in the morning for them. For me, it was the best time to shop. I buy a large cup of coffee, perch it on the basket, and stroll through the entire store buying produce, bakery and deli items and exit before it fills up with “snowbirds.”

I was already dreaming of being back home and sitting on the lanai with the coffee and reading a book when I got out of the car and heard a scratchy voice singing an unknown song. I thought to myself, that song makes no sense. Even the words seemed made up. Then I remembered that my mother did a similar thing. When she did the dishes or worked on some project, she sang or hummed similar songs known only to her. Looking around, I searched for the sound. It was coming from a picnic bench on the sidewalk down a ways from the entrance to the store. Sitting on the picnic bench was a disheveled form, with matted hair, (once curly) sticking out from a ski cap, hunched over a torn paper bag. It was an old woman eating a meager breakfast out of the bag. Her foot was hooked around a shopping cart that was filled

with her life possessions. Black plastic bags vied for space with a broom, a dirty pillow, and a boom box from the 1980s. It was attached to a white extension cord that was plugged into the store’s outside electrical outlet. She was singing along to whatever song was playing on the boom box. She never looked up as I walked past her towards the store entrance, but everything about her and the scene she portrayed was etched in my mind because she was the second older homeless woman I’d seen that morning. The other one was lying on the ground in front of the UPS store. The singing woman stayed on my mind all through the shopping trip. I had the means to buy everything I needed for the week. After the weekly shop, I was going to a safe home with a full refrigerator, a lanai overlooking a lake and a flowerstrewn garden. How did I warrant that while she had nothing? Was it karma? The vagaries of life? Choices made? The lack of choices?

At the line to the cash register were all sorts of Valentine’s Day goodies to purchase. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and bouquets of flowers filled the aisles. Glossy over-sized and too expensive sappy cards competed for the attention of shoppers. By the time I got to the register, the store was filling.

Bagging up my purchases, talking to the cashier, and paying with a credit card, I’d momentarily forgotten about the homeless woman outside. I was also in a hurry to leave the store and get home before the traffic jams began.

As I wheeled my cart down the sidewalk, she was still sitting there by herself at the picnic table bench. Other shoppers walked past her. Many left the “safety” of the sidewalk and veered into the roadway so they wouldn’t have to get too near her. She never looked up at any of them but all of them looked away from her. I hoped she didn’t notice that. Or perhaps given the condition she was in, she no longer cared. Her entire focus was on the pastry she was eating out of the paper bag and the song on the boom box.

What’s going on in our collective consciousness that we all turn away from those who are down and out? The questions on karma and life choices floated into my mind again as I headed in her direction. She carried everything she owned in a Publix shopping cart. She had a broom that looked well used. She had a pillow wherever she rested her head. She was having breakfast al fresco in one of the most desirable U.S. cities to live in: Sarasota, FL. In a way, she may have been better off than many of us.

Something made me stop as I went down the sidewalk, and I turned my back to her. I never

carry cash but that same “something” made me open my wallet and look inside. There, between my driver’s license and Medicare card was a $20 bill. It wasn’t much, but I knew I had to give it to her. Before my mom died I would have easily spent that and more on the flowers, or the box of chocolates or the ridiculously expensive Hallmark cards for her. Taking out the $20, I tucked it into my palm, and pushed my cart towards hers.

As our carts came together I stopped. This time she looked up at me. I put the $20 into her rough gnarled hands and said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mother!” With crumbs falling from her mouth, her glazed eyes looked into mine like I was an apparition. Then she realized she had something in her hand. She looked down at the $20 bill and she began repeating, “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God” while looking up at me and down at the $20. I nodded and repeated, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mother.”

Saying “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mother” to a homeless woman wasn’t thought out. The words spontaneously came out of my mouth. Driving home I wondered if “The Homeless Madonna” might have been a gift sent from my mother. I decided it was because helping the homeless was something she often did at her church. The Homeless Madonna gifted me that morning with the best day ever!

Conscious Living with Jo Mooy

Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training allows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guidance to students, and present esoteric teachings in an understandable manner. Along with Patricia Cockerill, she has guided the Women’s Meditation Circle since January 2006 where it has been honored for five years in a row as the “Favorite Meditation” group in Sarasota, FL, by Natural Awakenings Magazine. Teaching and using Sound as a retreat healing practice, Jo was certified as a Sound Healer through Jonathan Goldman’s Sound Healing Association. She writes and publishes a monthly internationally distributed e-newsletter called Spiritual Connections and is a staff writer for Spirit of Maat magazine in Sedona. For more information go to http://www.starsoundings.com or email jomooy@gmail.com

By Mark Pitstick, MA, DC

Four prominent men believed in the concept of reincarnation. It just made sense, they said, and explained many mysteries of life. It seemed to be part of a universal plan that conserves energy and knowledge from one lifetime into another. They believed that never-ending, but periodically changing, lifetimes would assist soul growth. These men found that model to be a guiding light in their lifetimes. They are highly respected in American history, but you may not have known about their beliefs. Who are they? Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and General George Patton.

Reincarnation is the theory that we experience not just one, but many lives in the course of eternity. Although this concept may seem strange or foreign to some, it answers questions that people of all ages have wondered about.

When I was 10 years old, I sat in church and looked through the stained glass windows while the minister talked about heaven. “One day,” he said, “we will all walk on golden streets and play golden harps forever.” Even at that young age, I thought: “Wouldn’t that get old after a while?”

Think about it with an open mind for just a moment. How long could you play a harp—even a golden one—before you would be ready for a piano, guitar or even an accordion? Novelty and challenges make life more interesting and rewarding. A concept of neverending, but sometimes changing, experiences seems so much more likely than a static state of eternal existence.

Once a word has become well-established in a culture, it is difficult or impossible to change its intrinsic meaning. I use various synonyms for “God” and “soul” because those words have such firmly entrenched and limiting meanings. The same challenge exists for the word “reincarnation”; it isn’t ideal for several reasons:

1) Some people associate the word reincarnation with the occult or cults. That term can negatively trigger those with conservative religious beliefs and those who haven’t researched the topic for themselves.

2) It implies a linear series of interrupted lives, deaths and rebirths. But some evidence suggests life is a seamless series of experiences amidst eternity.

3) It suggests that we experience being different people in chronological order and separate places. However, some evidence suggests otherwise. For example, evidence for parallel or simultaneous realities indicates that your energy does not have to manifest in just one place at a time. Part of it energizes your current physical body, but another part might be experiencing other formed

or formless possibilities. In addition, part of your consciousness might never have left home/ Source. From this vantage point—as the old children’s song suggests—life is but a dream. Reality may be more accurately understood as a series of virtual reality experiences as your energy visits other times and places.

As such, I will alternately use the following word combinations as synonyms for reincarnation: cyclical lifetimes, multiple lives, varying life experiences, and never-ending but periodically changing lifetimes.

Let’s discuss three common models about the nature of life, and then next month we will examine clinical and other evidence for this view of reality.

Model A: If you are like many people in Western cultures, you were taught that your life started with an earthly birth date. Your time on this planet can last from a few minutes to many years, and then you die. Then a long sleep in the ground until some judgment day, or an instant visit to the pearly gates. Finally, a judgmental God consigns you to heavenly delight or burning torment forever.

This model is full of problems. For example, how fair is it that your brief earthly experience determines your fate forever if you were: molested, raised by alcoholics or drug addicts, influenced by atheists, struggled with mental illness, or had organic brain damage? I consider this model to be a kindergarten understanding of reality.

Model B: The concept of varying life experiences throughout eternity makes more sense and is supported by contemporary evidence that will be discussed next month. A model of cyclical life experiences allows for the eventual evolution of all beings. We each have more than just this one earthly visit to learn and grow.

Reincarnation is a vast improvement over the conventional teachings of model A. To extend the analogy, model B is like a high school understanding of reality. However, this model appears to be only relatively true because it implies dualism and all that goes with that.

Richard Bach’s character in the book Running from Safety perhaps said it best:

“Do you believe in reincarnation?”

“No. Reincarnation is a series of lifetimes, isn’t it, one after the other, in order, on this planet? That feels a little limiting, it fits a little tight across the shoulders.”

“What fits you better?”

“An infinite number of beliefs of life experiences, please, some in bodies, some not; some on planets, some not; all of them simultaneous because there is no such thing as time, none of them real because there’s only one Life.”

Model C: This most accurate description of reality indicates that life is an uninterrupted series of experiences throughout infinity. All life is seen as sacredly interconnected with outward differences being trivial and transient. Ultimately, life is an eternal dance of energy as Creative Mind alternately manifests Itself. Each seemingly separate aspect of consciousness is like a single cell within One Mind. New scenarios and adventures are endlessly created as Life discovers its fullness.

In this model, physical death is not viewed as the beginning of a long sleep. Life is seen as an uninterrupted process as death opens new doors into the next phase of forever. Time and space are understood as being only relatively, not absolutely, real.

For those who are awakened to the big picture of life, death can be especially seamless—like walking from one room into another. Birth and death are realized to be no big deal, just commas amidst a never-ending sentence. We can best reveal our inner light and special talents when we realize our real selves are birthless and deathless. This is like a graduate school level of understanding reality.

Class dismissed.

Author’s Note: Get ready for the second lesson. Next month we will explore evidence of reincarnation from past life regression therapy and the clinical work of researchers including Dr. Ian Stevenson and Dr. Brian Weiss.

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is an author, master’s clinical psychologist, holistic chiropractic physician, frequent media guest, and webinar/workshop facilitator. He directs The SoulPhone Foundation and founded Greater Reality Living Groups. Dr. Pitstick can help you know and show—no matter what is happening to or around you— that your earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst forever. Visit http://www.SoulProof.com for free articles, newsletters and radio interviews with top consciousness experts.

THE BALANCING ACT

THE BALANCING ACT

How to help your clients achieve life balance and tools for the process.

By Jowanna Daley

It’s no surprise that people are seeking life balance. The COVID-19 lockdown caused many to evaluate how they were living, and, as a result, they hired coaches to help them think beyond their careers and learn to enjoy other aspects of their lives. However, balance means different things to different people, and the secret to helping a client is understanding what balance means to them.

WHAT IS LIFE BALANCE?

Life balance is prioritizing and managing different aspects of one’s life for well-being and fulfillment. Finding a balance between work, family and personal time is vital to happiness. As a coach, it’s important to always remember that life balance is subjective. For some, it may involve balancing work and personal life; for others, it may mean finding an equilibrium between physical and mental health. Additionally, personal values, cultural background and life experiences can influence how an individual defines and strives for balance.

Life balance is an ongoing process that can be challenging to manage long-term. Luckily, there are coaching tools you can use as you take a client through different phases of a program.

THE INTAKE PROCESS

The intake process should provide insight into a client’s problem. Aside from the basics, such as name, email and phone, pertinent questions will help uncover where to focus during your initial consultation. Then, when you meet with your client, it’s essential to take the time to actively listen and ask open-ended questions.

Of course, you must establish rapport with the client and create a safe, nonjudgmental environment where they feel comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings. Empathetic listening techniques and reflective questions will help you better understand someone’s unique definition of balance and develop a personalized plan with desired outcomes.

Remember, once you and a client decide to move forward, the onboarding process will help refine the plan. The client may give you the symptoms and then need help uncovering the root causes, for example.

THE ONBOARDING PROCESS

When onboarding a client seeking life balance, just as with any other client, make sure you effectively communicate your coaching process and establish clear expectations. It is crucial to begin with a discovery session to understand

the client’s needs, goals and challenges. Include a Wheel of Life assessment to help uncover imbalances and reveal where further evaluations are needed.

There are many outstanding onboarding templates available on channels such as Etsy. They can streamline personalization while building trust with clients. However, make sure to update any third-party materials with goals and timelines, and include a clear communication channel for ongoing support and feedback. Additionally, provide tools to help clients articulate and then achieve goals, such as worksheets, goal-setting templates and progress trackers. Regular check-ins and progress reviews also should be scheduled to ensure a client is on track and achieving desired outcomes. Recommendation: Create a matrix in Excel that allows you to quickly identify the tools your client needs.

PROCESSES TO BUILD INTO EACH SESSION

Being able to deliver outcomes requires measuring progress with established metrics. As the coach, you also should align progress with the defined program outcomes. Track progress every step of the way. Here are some activities that will help you update a plan and implement corrective action to keep the client on course:

• Send a pre-session worksheet so your client can report wins, challenges, life events and any other feedback or concerns. This pre-session practice enables you to ask the right questions and prepare for a meaningful session.

• Use an established routine to report challenges and wins so your client becomes comfortable measuring both. They will need to update their plan as they uncover other information, when unexpected life events happen, and when additional activities are required to jump hurdles.

• Assess the client’s confidence in meeting their goals at the beginning and then again at the end of each session. This allows you to measure your client’s perspective and get data that helps with future sessions.

KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER

Getting caught up in the details and distracted from overall goals is easy. Life is chaotic, and, as life coaches, we must stabilize our clients and help them build resilience and discipline. Here are key ways to help empower your life balance clients:

• Establish a solid but flexible plan. Your plan will change along the way, and it should include a

description of the problem, the approach, the scope, roles and responsibilities, tasks, milestones, a timeline and assumptions. Review the plan every time something changes. This includes milestone achievements, missed deadlines, new steps or steps that are not needed. Make this a habit, and you will spend more time focusing on the client and not trying to figure out what’s next.

• Establish a trail to keep the client grounded. Your client life cycle should make a trail if you map it out (it may look a little crazy, but done right it will tell the story). Your first connection with the client begins the life cycle. Each phase feeds into the next one. You’ll also find that your client will gain confidence along the way and require less guidance as they adjust their plan to ensure they achieve their goals.

• Encourage your client to tackle one goal at a time. Your client will likely have more than one area to address, but focusing on more than one goal can become overwhelming, so prioritize and “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” Take each goal and break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This makes it easier for your client to reflect on their progress and make the necessary adjustments to the plan. Remember that your client is looking for balance, and helping them manage their load will increase the likelihood of reaching their goals.

• Give your clients a personalized experience. Templates are great; however, remember that each client is unique. Personalization should be in the plan throughout the life cycle to stay in tune with your clients and increase synergy and trust.

• Continue to use the Wheel of Life. Periodically, have your client redo the Wheel of Life assessment. This tool allows them to see progress and ensures they work on the right things. Also, it will enable you to notice changes and spot significant shifts.

• Remind your client that life balance is a process. There is no one-and-done solution for life balance. It is a phenomenon that you help clients manage. Make sure you provide tools they can use to help shift as needed. For instance, if a client wants to start a business, they must assess their Wheel of Life to see how it impacts other areas of importance.

• Your client’s life is theirs to manage. It’s easy to get overinvolved in the process, and that can be just as counterproductive as being nonchalant. Your role is to help your client—but not take on the role of a savior or a friend.

CONCLUSION

Most of us can relate to the quest of finding balance. Having the proper tools and personalizing your clients’ coaching experience will help you understand how to improve your process with each client. The ultimate gift is that you will contribute to a better world because happier people will be in it!

The Daley Word with

Jowanna Daley

Jowanna is a business and personal coach, consultant, freelance blogger, and personal brand photographer. Jowanna uses her 20-plus years of business, information technology, business analysis, and project management experience to serve solopreneurs, microbusinesses, and professionals through consulting, coaching, training, and workshops. She is also a freelance blogger who serves corporate and non-corporate clients. Visit her website at https://www.jowannadaley.com/about/.

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CHANGE UP ITUP

Ten ways job crafting can help enhance your workplace coaching.

By Marla J. Albertie

Job crafting is the process of employees intentionally changing the tasks, relationships and perceived meaning of their jobs (cognitive ability) to increase job satisfaction, engagement and well-being (Wrzesniewski & Dutton 2001)1. This approach can help to increase autonomy in the workplace by allowing employees to have more control over their job duties and structure of their work.

Now here are 10 advantages of job crafting you can promote in your coaching practice to help corporate clients understand how it can enrich the workplace:

1) Enhance employee engagement: By allowing employees to craft their roles and responsibilities, job crafting can help improve employee engagement and job satisfaction. This, in turn, can lead to higher levels of motivation, productivity and better job performance. It also can lessen the need for behavioral coaching and offer benefits when coaching for succession purposes.

2) Improve communication: Job crafting can help employees better understand their roles and responsibilities, which can improve communication and collaboration among team members. This can be useful because teams need to work effectively together to achieve common goals.

3) Build trust: When employees feel more in control of their work (have autonomy), they may feel more empowered to share their concerns or feedback with their managers. This can help build trust and open lines of communication, as well as improve employees’ skills and performace with an eye toward cultivating future leaders.

4) Identify strengths and weaknesses: By allowing employees to shape their roles and

responsibilities, the job crafting process can help identify areas where employees excel or where they may need additional support or training. This is critical, as the need for coaching continues to increase in the workplace.

5) Foster creativity: Job crafting can encourage employees to think creatively about their work and to explore new ways of doing things. In return, this creates innovative ideas that can be used in the workplace. Job crafting allows for employees to think outside the box.

6) Develop a sense of purpose: When employees feel that their work is meaningful and aligned with their personal values, they often are more motivated and engaged in their work. Job crafting will allow employees to feel as if they are making a difference, which can be useful when coaching employees to understand how their work contributes to the overall mission of the organization.

7) Encourage learning and development: By allowing employees to customize their roles and responsibilities, job crafting can encourage learning and development opportunities. It also helps employees to develop new skills and to improve their performance in their current roles.

8) Support work-life integration/harmony: Job crafting can help employees create a better integration between their work and personal lives, which can lead to better overall well-being and job satisfaction. This can be useful in coaching employees to manage their schedules more effectively and prioritize their work responsibilities.

9) Promote autonomy: Job crafting can promote autonomy and self-determination among employees by providing them with the freedom to

initiate and undertake job duties. As a result, employees can take ownership of their work and feel more in control of their professional growth and development.

10) Encourage teamwork: My favorite saying is, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Job crafting can encourage collaboration among employees, which can be useful when coaching teams to work together more effectively and achieve common goals. This can also help to develop

a stronger sense of camaraderie and cohesion among team members.

Coaches, now you have 10 ways you can promote job crafting to your clients. Which ones will you use starting today?

1Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning employees as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179–201. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.2001.4378011

Marla J. Albertie is the founder Truth Speaks Group, LLC, a multi-media coaching company dedicated to creating solutions for integrating work and life to create harmony. Marla loves to read, is a concert and comedy show junkie and a cruiser for life. Follow Marla on Twitter @tspeakscoaching and IG @Tspeaksgroup. Sign up for the Truth Speaks Group LLC Newsletter at https://www.truthspeakscoaching.com/