Transformation Coaching Magazine November 2022

COACHING AND BUSINESS TOOLS

Star Coach: Inga Masek

Make Gratitude a Habit

Best Coaching Practice

INSPIRATION & GROWTH More Than Enough

Move Into Your Heart

Magic of Giving

Key to Self-Love

is Interconnected

Falling Forward After the Storm

Love Ahead

FEED YOUR SPIRIT

Story of Creation

PUBLISHERS

Joeel A. Rivera, M.Ed.

CONTRIBUTORS

Inga Masek, Jo Mooy, Arielle Giordano, Emil Nazaryan, Jowanna Daley, Rena Greenberg, Anthony Talmage, Maha Magdy, Terez Hartmann, Noelle Sterne,

Waters

Copyright 2022 Transformation Services, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.TransformationMag.com

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.

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Here at Transformation Academy we are excited to announce our January’s Transformation Academy Rising Star – Inga Masek!

Our goal with this initiative is to recognize and cel ebrate 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 ac tively supporting other group members, whether by provid ing 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 INGA:

Inga Masek, South Carolina, USA Empowered Learning Solutions https://ingamasek.com

“Empowered living empowers lives.”

Inga Masek has been a homeschooling mom for 9 years. After 30 years as an educator with various roles from curriculum specialist to principal, she experienced the free

dom of homeschooling her four children and was hooked. Through out her career, Inga has helped parents make their homes a vibrant center of living and learning without the need for frustration or fights. As a homeschool coach and strategist, she's committed to helping moms who struggle with stress, overwhelm and doubt gain clarity, confidence, and courage to be who God has created them and do what He’s called them to do, while experiencing the joy and freedom homeschooling can provide.

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

My coaching focuses on moms, especially moms of schoolaged children who are homeschooling or considering it because, although I know many of the best coaching strategies can work for everyone, too many times the implementation and application do not meet the unique needs of moms who are also juggling their child’s education. I have always been a self-improvement advocate. Long before I decided to become a life coach, and even before I be came a mom, I spent my free time reading self-improvement books and attending classes, seminars and workshops. Even throughout my career in education, I found myself coaching and mentoring new teachers and leaders on more than just classroom-related subject matter. When I became a mom, and started homeschooling my own children, I felt I needed the most clarity, confidence, and courage— all things life coaching can provide—but I couldn’t find coaching that could help me navigate this season of my life with all of the intrica cies, emotions and challenges that it presented. I know that success or failure in homeschooling never starts in homeschooling, so I want

to help moms see how being empowered in their own lives helps them to create a home environment that can empower their chil dren, whether they homeschool or not.

WHO IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?

I help moms of school-aged children who are homeschool ing or thinking about it and are anxious or nervous about how to fit teaching their child at home into their life. She’s been thinking about homeschooling for a long time but feels too overwhelmed by all of the information that’s out, or she has already started home schooling but isn’t experiencing the freedom that homeschooling can bring; she second-guesses every decision, wastes too much money buying curriculum she never uses, or feels uncertain about whether she can or how she should navigate this in her life. She know she wants to give her child the best education but doesn’t have clarity about the possibilities of what that can look like.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LIFE COACH?

After an especially challenging few years of sleep prob lems, chronic pain, and many tearful nights, I knew that there had to be a better way. I started piecing together Biblical principles, along with self-improvement advice that had worked for me in the past, and practical strategies that I’d been using—all with a keen eye to this season of being a homeschooling mom. I tried differ ent things, kept what worked, and reworked what didn’t. I shared some of the tips that had worked for me with other moms I knew, and when they said it helped them too, I wanted more. I found Transformation Academy and, as I went through the certification course, I knew that I could create a coaching program that could meet the needs of moms who homeschool and allow them to reap the benefits of life coaching during this season of their lives.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COACHING?

I have been coaching and mentoring teachers and admin istrators as an Educational Coach for over 20 years, but I became a certified coach through Transformation Academy in spring of 2022.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST CLIENT?

After initially becoming certified, I coached a few moms I knew on a barter system or for a donation of their choice. I felt I needed some practice to see if the strategic system I create could work. Shortly after that, I met my first client at a church small group. I mentioned that I was a homeschooling mom, and she started asking questions. She shared some of her frustra tions and that she had worked with a coach before but was still struggling. I shared a few strategies that could work and men tioned that I had become a life coach to help moms who were struggling with the same things she was. She set up a “Discovery Call” with her and her husband and booked my year-long pro gram shortly after.

HOW HAS YOUR COACHING JOURNEY CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

Being able to see the impact of connecting Biblical prin ciples, self-growth, social-emotional well-being, and educational strategies has changed my life because I have a renewed pur pose. It has changed my hard days from being all about me to opportunities for what I learn to be able to serve others to get through their own hard days or seasons.

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

The most challenging part is in striking a balance be tween being a giver and being an entrepreneur. I’m learning to recognize that every conversation isn’t a request for life coach ing. My own coach had to remind me that giving people free coaching isn’t only bad for the business I am trying to grow, but it may jeopardize relationships.

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

The most fulfilling part of being a coach has been the “lightbulb moments” where I can see the head tilt, the eyes widen,

and then hear the mindset transformation: the new way they start speaking about the “old thing.” Then I get to watch the actions they take because of this new mindset and their genuine reactions to the results. I love serving, but this is the addictive payoff for me, and I think it’s what I work for.

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

My first client was struggling with feelings of doubt, overwhelm, fear, and other feelings she wasn’t quite able to fully articulate. I was walking her through the decluttering exercise during the clarity phase. As we were doing each section, she just kept saying, “Inga, this is so good.” It was funny because the ses sion went on a little longer because of this, especially since I was holding back tears as I could visually see the shift in her thinking. When we got to the end of that session, we sat quietly for a few moments so we could both take it all in. She just kept shaking her head. When I asked her to share how she felt after that, she said she was trying not to cry and could not imagine that “homeschool coaching” would be like that. I usually ask my clients if we can begin and end in prayer, and as she prayed she thanked God for

answering her prayer through me. She even prayed over my

ness that I would be able to give this gift to more moms. Needless to say, I got choked up then (and still do now as I type it today). That has meant the most to me because I continue to ask God to only send me the people that I am supposed to serve.

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

My favorite coaching activity is helping clients to build their Homeschool Blueprint because they get to see how the different pieces we’ve been working through up until then help them to craft a homeschool, in and around their life, that can truly enjoy. I also love the decluttering exercise because I know how important clarity is in our process and it sets the framework for everything else I do.

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

You have to have the courage to talk about what you do and why you believe in it. I don’t think you necessarily have to sell yourself, but, rather, you have to be able to hear what potential cli ents need and align the part of your courage that could help them. I don’t believe that a person who is struggling or searching is looking for more information. They want proven strategies for success or to overcome the challenge they are facing. While social media can be so time-consuming for a new coach, I know that's a place where I can connect and communicate how I can serve the most people. I also share what I am doing with my community and always remind them I can share my info with anyone that they feel I can serve.

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

Trust God, Trust yourself, and Trust what has worked. You don’t have every part of the business aspect figured out before you start treating this as a business.

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

My desire is that the work I do through Empowered Learning Solutions would help one million families to have a mom that is empowered to be who God created her to be and equipped to do what He called her to do without the bondage of self-doubt or overwhelm.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Naassom Azevedo

Detaching from the drama and the extremes of appearances allows us to see how we are all sustained, supported and thrive as one connected being.

By Jo Mooy

The word enough seems like it’s well, enough. But is it? Its origin comes from Olde Eng lish meaning sufficient in quantity or for a purpose, meaning there’s more than enough for everyone. But that’s not the case, plus it’s developed other mean ings. When fed up parents yell, “Enough!” to squab bling children, it’s fair warning mom means she’s had it with all of you

The great upheaval with Covid pierced a sharp chasm into human consciousness. Fears, greed and hatred assaulted truth and facts. Extremist views dominated the conversations and press reports. So cial media broad-brushed the world into opposing camps. The constant barrage of negativity made ev eryone mentally and emotionally scream, “Enough!” It had the same meaning as the fed up parents. Enough! I’ve had it with all of you!

Michael Jackson sang a song, “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough!” Enough what? Was it a call to over-saturation? To keep adding to the inventory of stuff? Thinking about it in the context of Thanks giving this month, maybe enough has still another meaning. Over the last three years I found my need for consumption (not the disease) and accumulating things had significantly tapered off. I looked around the house and concluded I had more than enough I didn’t need most of the material stuff that I had so got rid of lots of it.

What I did not have enough of was human contact. I missed the kind of contact where friends can sit together quietly in each other’s company over a cup of tea. I needed the kind of contact where a smile lights up someone’s face and causes yours to respond the same. I longed for the kind of con tact where a remembered experience between old

friends erupts into gales of laughter. Maybe there’s never enough of that kind of contact.

But sitting with the word enough I thought about what I did have enough of. I have someone who loves me and never hesitates to tell me. I live in a safe neighborhood in a temperate climate with the wonders of my garden to enliven me. I get a dai ly reminder that gratefulness, the act of being in a state of giving thanks, doesn’t have to occur only on the third Thursday in November. Rather, it can be an every morning prayer.

Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki said, “To live life is enough!” That simple phrase is more than enough to guide my passage. The act of being grateful fo cuses me on all the little things of a life that says I do have enough! A dying orchid that responds to my care and puts out a tiny purple and white blossom is enough. An unexpected text from a grandson say ing he was thinking about me is enough. YouTube videos where I learned to propagate basil from one leaf, plant renewable green onions, or fix a broken toilet handle is enough. That state of gratefulness seeped into the other parts of my life and became dominant. There was nothing I wasn’t grateful for and the state of gratefulness gently moved into one of daily happiness and joyfulness in the enoughness of my life.

The slowing down of the past three years proved to me that every soul on this bountiful planet has more than enough and that developing a state of gratefulness will prove it. If we get over ourselves (and surely we will) there’s more than enough to support and sustain and share with everyone. Don’t think so? If you’re reading this, be grateful for the computer or smartphone that allows you to do that. Or the eyes that see with or without glasses. Or the trees that keep you alive by producing oxygen.

Despite perceptions, the Earth is always in balance. If she swings out of kilter, she’s a sentient being that knows exactly how to rebalance her self. What we see outwardly and take to be facts are actually extremes in du ality that have judgments assigned to them. Dualities like fire and water, heat and cold, love and hate, truth and lies, up and down, black and white are only poles of the same thing. If you see a cup, acknowledge it as a cup. If the cup is large, or small, or blue, or clay, ig nore the outward appearances and let it simply be a cup. Fire and water are elements. Heat and cold are tempera tures. Love and hate, truth and lies are emotions. Up and down are directions. Black and white are colors. They’re all cups without a value or judgment as signed to them.

Detaching from the drama and the extremes of appearances al lows spaciousness to open up. In that space, it’s much easier to see how we are all sustained, supported and thrive as one connected being. If you don’t think so, remove one single element and watch the system collapse. Liv ing our lives in states of gratefulness, in a place of Thanksgiving for what’s around us, will seal the knowledge that there’s more than enough to go around. It’s a daily practice that can reap immense joy, not just once a year on the third Thursday in November!

Conscious Living with Jo Mooy

Jo Mooy has studied with many spiritual traditions over the past 40 years. The wide diversity of this training al lows her to develop spiritual seminars and retreats that explore inspirational concepts, give purpose and guid ance 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.

Leave your stories behind and learn to soften into the truth of who you truly are.

By Arielle Giordano

Getting down to bare bones means diving into the nitty gritty of who you are, getting naked and being hon est. The truth is that you are either opening and softening or closing and hardening your heart. When everything becomes a story—your story— you, as awareness, are closing and hardening your heart. And it does not matter or make any difference how right your story seems to be.

When you are resting in your heart, you move as awareness the same way you did when you were a baby— you move as a being. What matters is for that movement to be unconditional regardless of your story, thoughts,

feelings, will or emotions. The way that you move in your heart is then how you move into your true Self.

To accept this profound truth, you must sacrifice your programs, beliefs and patterns. When your condi tioning gets activated or triggered, you, as awareness, can objectively relate to it and continue to move in your open and soft heart regardless of what the stories dictate. But if you focus on the story, you strengthen the experiences— or delusions—you are trying to release or change.

There is only one way for you to be in yourself, and that is from within your heart. We grow from the inside out, not the outside in, and no story has any relationship to who and what you really are. It’s time to stop writing and let your heart sing.

Dancing from the Inside Out

with Arielle Giordano

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

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Tamara Gak

When we give without expecting anything in return and come from an attitude of gratitue, our lives will experience a profound tranformation for the better!

By Emil Nazaryan

The holiday season was some thing I looked forward to from 2008 to 2013. It wasn’t because of the reasons you might imagine; my motivations were somewhat selfish. At the time, I was a property manager, and I knew that most owners and residents would be sending me holiday gifts in the form of checks and cash. I was sure to drop down a couple of lines in a “thank you” card and send it back to them—to show my appreciation. That should make them feel good. I can’t send them any gifts, though. After all, they have all the money, not me...

Surely, I’m not the only person who has embraced this mindset. I imagine many people live with “poor me” written all over them, dreading their powerless ness and victimhood in this life. I even dare to imagine that they sincerely be lieve this to be true. I know I did—for sure. They’re not to be blamed. They have been programmed this way, probably from ear ly childhood by their parents and environ ment. They don’t know that an alternative attitude exists; maybe it does for someone else, maybe…but not for them. How about you? Do you feel this way?

When the year 2014 rolled around, things were starting to shift with in me. Small and barely perceptible, new and unfamiliar patterns were beginning to emerge. These changes came after read ing The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. You may have heard of it, as it was also made into a popular movie. The book is about the law of attraction. It talks about how expressing gratitude for certain things can help you manifest more of those things in your life.

Since I wasn’t very happy or satisfied at that point, I decided to give Rhonda the benefit of the doubt and try it out myself. On a sunny day sometime in February on my lunch break, I started feel ing gratitude for all the job interviews that I have had in my life. I would remember

all the “right answers” that I gave, all the strengths I thought I exhibited during the interviews. This gratitude was heartfelt and sincere. Magically, within two weeks of that experience two new job interviews landed on my lap. One of them turned into a better job opportunity, so within a month I had a new job with better pay! Uplifted by this experience, I decided to read another book by Rhon da Byrne called Magic, which is entirely about gratitude. The application of the action steps outlined in the book further fertilized the soil of my soul. The changes in me grew bigger. Gratitude helped me overcome some of the negative emotions that had been holding me down, includ ing guilt, regret, jealousy, fear and indif ference. This may sound abstract to you, but trust me, as someone who had been dominated by those negative emotions all of his conscious life before the big change, practicing gratitude was well worth a try. Now, think about yourself for a moment. If science invented a fancy new “emotion meter” and you attached it to your heart and monitored your emotions 24 hours a day, what emotions would you observe? Which of your emotions are running your life? Remember, the “emotion meter” has a 100 percent ac curacy rate so you can’t lie to yourself. Is it anger, frustration, sadness, guilt, worry, fear? Or is it love, joy, gratitude, peace, serenity and faith?

Here is the big surprise…the “emotion meter” has been invented! In fact it has been around since the beginning of time. It has always been available, even if you weren’t aware of its existence. Your life today, at this second—your results, your experiences, your surroundings, your environment—is the most accurate mea surement of your emotions. You may be sure that if your life is dominated by nega tive events and people, it is a direct result of the emotions and feelings you have been dominated by up until today.

Thankfully, the Creator of this “emotion meter” has also given YOU the power and the tools to change your re sults. Right now, at this moment, perhaps for the first time in your life, you are getting access to the remote control of the “emo tion meter.” There are many channels you can tune in to, including gratitude, love, joy, appreciation, etc. But today I want to introduce you to another action channel that can change your life forever.

I learned about this principle from Napoleon Hill in his famous bestseller Think and Grow Rich. It’s the law of increasing returns, also known as the law of sowing and reaping, the Golden Rule. If you render someone a service that you are not expect ed to render, and do it in a positive, pleasing mental attitude without expecting anything in return, the law of increasing returns will bring back to you more of the kind.

The beginning of 2015 is when I started intentionally applying this princi ple. Daily, I would ask myself: “What good can I do to someone who doesn’t expect it today?” Answers started flowing in. Even though financially I was in a pretty tight space, with full faith and trust I decided to implement my decisions. I started leav ing $1.00 tips to cashiers at 7-Elevens and grocery stores, paying for people behind me at the drive throughs. On Valentine’s Day I bought a bouquet of red roses, broke it apart and left a single red rose on every desk at my office before anyone got there in the morning. I started genuinely compli menting everyone, especially people who are not used to it (drive through atten dants, construction workers, janitors, etc).

I’ll be honest, this was all quite uncomfortable at first, but people in those situations were always caught by surprise, dazzled, sometimes speechless...and al ways beautiful! Those smiles, those grate ful looks, and tears on some occasions, were priceless. I realized that even if the law of sowing and reaping was false, even if I didn’t get any sort of positive return,

the unspoken joy, happiness and grati tude I experienced as a result of these si lent acts of unconditional kindness were more than enough compensation. I bring up these examples not for bragging, but in the most humble way to give you ex amples of how actions so small and seem ingly insignificant can profoundly affect the lives of others and yours.

I was a changed man. No longer was I making projections of the checks and cash I was going to receive. No longer was I looking forward to receiving at all! All I could think about was giving. Who can I give to? Who can I help and how?

Magically, within two to three months of starting to intentionally apply the law of sowing and reaping, blessings started pouring into my life. Again, out of

nowhere I got a wonderful job offer, my sales started increasing, and my wife’s busi ness started to flourish. To top it all off, our baby girl was born on December 21, 2015, right on time for Christmas as a testament to the power of giving, the power of do ing good, the power of feeling good, the power of being good. Could all of these blessings be coincidental? Absolutely not!

They couldn’t be as nothing of the sort hap pened to me in my 33 years of life before this big change in attitude and perception. Today you have received a magic key for success in life. It is giving inten tionally, giving unconditionally, giving wholeheartedly, without an expectation for anything in return. Don’t think of giv ing just as giving money, which you might not have. Give a smile, give a compliment,

give your time, give your encouragement, give your service, give your love, give your support, give your appreciation and grati tude. Give more than you think people deserve. It matters not whether the re ceivers will appreciate you or thank you. That’s secondary. Remember, you’re not looking for anything in return anyway. Just keep giving. Not only will you never be the same again, but your life will never be the same again. Guaranteed!

So start today, start small. Ask yourself the same question Benjamin Franklin asked himself every morning: “What good shall I do today?” Then make it more specific, “Who may need help but doesn’t expect any?” And wait for the an swers. They will pop into your head. All you’ll have to do is listen to them then act!

Emil Nazaryan is a motivational writer and a contributor to the monthly Motivational Corner column of HR Realtor Magazine. He has undergone a spiritual transformation which has led the way to sharing the insights he has experienced with the others. He is well acquainted with all major spiritual traditions of the world, but it is the direct experience of the essence of these teachings that is responsible for the altered life outlook and the motivational articles that stem this. In his daily life Emil is a successful REALTOR and he resides in Norfolk, VA, with his wife and two children. Contact him by email at emil.rw@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Vitaly Taranov

There is a strong link between gratitude and happiness, self-esteem and other positive emotions.

By Jowanna Daley

As a life coach and leader, I can relate to people’s stories about hardship during their childhood. As I look back to see what really made me different from some of my rela tives who shared traumatic experiences, gratitude is the key. It changed the trajectory of my life. Luckily gratitude is a habit that you can master, too.

WHAT IS GRATITUDE?

Gratitude is actively recognizing and being thankful for what you have in your life. It is not only practiced when something good happens but also when bad events take place. Practicing gratitude helps us build resilience, develop positivity and increase happiness. Everyone—including your clients— can benefit from gratitude.

Research has shown that gratitude can positively im pact our daily lives. It cultivates connection with others and life satisfaction. This contagious feeling can help create an authen tic connection with your clients. According to positive psychology research, there is a strong link between gratitude and happiness, self-esteem and other positive emotions. People who practice gratitude are usually happier regardless of their external circumstances. Additionally, gratitude has been linked with many positive out comes, including better physical health, improved sleep quality and reduced stress levels.

HOW TO BECOME MORE GRATEFUL

The key to gratitude is to make it a habit. There are two ways to do this. First, you can choose one or two things you are grateful for daily and think about them throughout the

day. Second, you can practice gratitude in your everyday life by doing little things like counting your blessings or writing down the things you appreciate.

While gratitude comes naturally to some, many people have to be mindful and intentional about practicing because it can be easy to take things for granted. However, if you want to be the example of a happy person who enjoys life, it’s crucial to be grateful for what you have. Here are a few things you could do:

1) Make a list of things you appreciate in your life. Starting a gratitude list can be a great way to become more grateful. Make a list of all the good things in your life, big and small.

2) Keep a gratitude journal. Having a gratitude journal allows you to practice gratitude consistently. Journaling can help you train your mind to appreciate the good things in your life.

3) Meditate on your blessings. Practicing mindfulness helps you train your brain to be more grateful. Take a few min utes daily to think about everything you’re grateful for.

4) Thank people for the little things. It’s easy to take people for granted. Recognize what people in your life do for you, and you’ll find the more you appreciate, the more people love doing things for you.

5) Try to be more positive. When you’re grateful, you tend to be more positive. So if you want to be more grateful, try to be more positive in your attitude and outlook on life.

GRATITUDE IMPROVES OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Gratitude is a powerful tool for improving our rela tionships with others. When we are grateful for what we have, it’s easy to be happy and satisfied. This happiness and satisfac tion can then be shared with others. Gratitude is not just an excellent idea; it’s an integral part of the relationship advice we all need.

Gratitude has been shown to improve our relation ships with our coaching clients in a few ways.

• It increases feelings of connection and closeness. When we express gratitude to our clients, they feel seen and ap preciated, which builds trust and strengthens our bond.

• It helps us to stay positive and focused, even when things get tough. It can be a real challenge to stay upbeat and supportive when our clients are struggling, but when we’re grateful for them, even in tough times,

it helps us to maintain perspective and continue to provide our best possible support.

• It creates a healthy cycle of giving and receiving. When we express gratitude to our clients, they often respond in kind, which makes us feel appreciated and valued. This reciprocal exchange of gratitude benefits both coach and client and helps strengthen the relationship.

30-DAY GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

November is National Gratitude Month. The holidays can be a challenging time for many. Here’s a gratitude challenge you can do with your family, clients, and friends.

Day 1: Why do you think gratitude is important

Day 2: What are you grateful for today?

Day 3: What are some things you’re grateful for that you don’t often consider?

Day 4: What are some things you’re grateful for that you take for granted?

Day 5: What are some things you’re grateful for that have hap pened recently?

Day 6: What are some ways you can express gratitude?

Day 7: What are some things you’re grateful for that you don’t have?

Day 8: What are some things you’re grateful for that you can’t see?

Day 9: What are some things you’re grateful for that you don’t have yet?

Day 10: What are some things you’re grateful for that happened long ago?

Day 11: What are some things you’re grateful for that are invis ible?

Day 12: What are some things you’re grateful for that you don’t understand?

Day 13: What are some things you’re grateful for that are beyond your control?

Day 14: What are you grateful for in your relationships?

Day 15: What are you grateful for in your career?

Day 16: What are you grateful for in your health?

Day 17: What are you grateful for in your finances?

Day 18: What are you grateful for in your spiritual life?

Day 19: What are you grateful for in your creativity?

Day 20: What are you grateful for in your leisure time?

Day 21: What are you grateful for in your home?

Day 22: What are you grateful for in your neighborhood?

Day 23: What are you grateful for in the world?

Day 24: What are you grateful for in your childhood?

Day 25: What are you grateful for in your life journey?

Day 26: What are you grateful for in your challenges?

Day 27: What are you grateful for in your lessons?

Day 28: What are you grateful for in your growth?

Day 29: What are you grateful for in your blessings?

Day 30: What are you grateful for in your happiness?

Enjoy November, and remember—gratitude improves your attitude and increases your blessings.

NOVEMBER CONTENT CALENDAR

Can you believe it’s already November? This month there are holidays, observations, and awareness days cele brating small businesses and women and promoting mental health. Below, I share holidays to inspire you. Remember, it’s good to have some content that gives without expecting any thing back. And don’t forget to have fun with it!

NOVEMBER 1

• Give Up Your Shoulds. A time to celebrate by letting go of things you think you “should” do. This could be anything from feeling guilty about not spending enough time with your family to feeling like you need always to be productive and working on something.

#nationalgiveupyourshouldsday

• National Family Care Giver Day. Family caregivers are often the invisible heroes of our families and communi ties. They often provide care for their loved ones without expecting anything in return. National Family Caregiver Day is a time to celebrate all these caregivers do for their loved ones and raise awareness about the challenges and hardships they often face.

NOVEMBER 2

• International Stress Awareness Day. A day highlight ing the importance of managing stress and recogniz ing the signs and symptoms of stress. It is a day to promote healthy coping strategies and to provide support to those who are struggling with stress. The goal is to help people to feel more in control of their lives and to improve their overall well-being.

#internationalstressawarenessday

NOVEMBER 3

• Cliché Day. National Cliché Day is a day to celebrate the overused and often meaningless phrases that perme ate our language. It’s a day to recognize the clichés we use every day and try to use them less when we communicate. #clicheday

• National Depression Screening Day. A day to raise awareness of depression and suicide and provide screen ings for those at risk. #nationaldepressionscreeningday

NOVEMBER 4

• National Skeptics Day. Celebrated every year on November 4. This day celebrates critical thinking and skeptical thinking. It is also a day to celebrate scientific skepticism and to appreciate the scientific process.

#nationalskepticsday

• Use Your Common Sense Day. On November 4, use your common sense to make decisions and solve problems. Draw on your natural wisdom and intuition to navigate through life’s challenges. Of course respect oth ers and use your best judgment to act by your values.

#useyourcommonsenseday

NOVEMBER 6

• National Healthy Eating Day. A day promoting healthy eating habits. As we near the holiday season, this day is an excellent opportunity to make healthier food choices.

• Zero Tasking Day. A holiday meant to promote produc tivity by encouraging people to eliminate all unneces sary tasks from their day. The goal is to focus the day on the essential tasks and eliminate anything that doesn’t contribute to that goal. #zerotaskingday

NOVEMBER 8

• National S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. Day. A day to celebrate science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. It is a day to promote these subjects’ importance and encourage students to pursue careers in these fields. #nationalstemsteamday

NOVEMBER 9

• National Chaos Never Dies Day. A day to celebrate the chaos in your life and never give up on your dreams. No matter how chaotic life may seem, always remember that you have the power to make your dreams a reality. #nationalchaosneverdiesday

• World Mental Health Day. This international holiday promotes mental health education and awareness globally. #worldmentalhealthday

NOVEMBER 13

• World Kindness Day. The official world kindness day is November 13, and it celebrates the idea of spreading kindness throughout the world. It is a day when people can come together and do something kind for someone else, whether it is a small gesture or something more substantial. It is a day to remind people of the impor tance of kindness and how it can make a difference in the world. #worldkindnessday

NOVEMBER 14

• International Selfie Day. Celebrate the selfie, a photo of oneself taken by oneself. The selfie has become a popular way to capture and share a moment with oth ers. It can be a simple way to show your friends what you’re up to or a more creative way to document your life. #internationalselfieday

NOVEMBER 15

• I Love to Write Day. A day for people to express their love for writing. It can be for writing in general or a specific type of writing. It can also be for writing poems, stories, articles, or anything else. Writing can be a great way to uniquely express yourself; this day is a chance to celebrate that. #ilovetowriteday

• National Entrepreneurship Day. National Entrepreneur ship Day celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship and encourages people to start businesses. This day is an excellent opportunity to learn about the what it takes

to run a small business. From creating a business plan to marketing and finance. It is also a chance to con nect with other entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences. #nationalentrepreneurshipday

NOVEMBER 17

• Social Enterprise Day. A special day set aside to cel ebrate and recognize the accomplishments of social enterprises across the United States. This day is a time to recognize social enterprises’ vital role in strengthen ing communities and creating jobs. #socialenterpriseday

NOVEMBER 19

• Equal Opportunity Day. The day to commemorate the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the United States, which made it illegal for employers to discrimi nate against people based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The act also created the Equal Employ ment Opportunity Comission (EEOC) to help promote equitable treatment in the workplace. Equal Opportu nity Day is an important reminder that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their background or personal characteristics. #equalopportunityday

• Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. This day celebrates the successes of women entrepreneurs world wide and aims to inspire more women to pursue entrepreneurship as a career. Events and celebra tions vary but may include keynote speeches, work shops, networking events, and award ceremonies. #womensentrepreneurshipday

NOVEMBER 21

• World Hello Day. An annual event that takes place on November 21. It is a day when people around the world come together to say hello and spread goodwill. #worldhelloday

NOVEMBER 24

• Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day. Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day celebrates the unique talents that each person has. It is a day to celebrate the things that make each person unique and to encourage people to use their talents to make a difference in the world. #celebrateyouruniquetalentday

NOVEMBER 25

• National Day of Listening. A day to celebrate the importance of listening and reflect on how listening can improve relationships, build community and solve problems. #nationaldayoflistening

• Random Acts of Kindness Friday. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation observes Random Acts of Kindness Day every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. This event celebrates the simple act of kindness and encour ages people to perform random acts of kindness for others. #randomactofkindnessfriday

NOVEMBER 26

• Internal Aura Awareness Day. A day to celebrate the aura, an energetic field surrounding the body. People cele brate by reading about auras, meditating on their auras, or trying to see auras in others. #internalauraawarenessday

• Small Business Saturday. A day created to help promote and support small businesses during the holiday shop ping season. It is celebrated annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. #smallbusinesssaturday

NOVEMBER 29

• World Day of Giving. A day dedicated to celebrating and supporting charitable giving that is celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, intended to inspire people to give back to their communities and support charities that are important to them. #worlddayofgiving

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 manage ment experience to serve solopreneurs, microbusinesses, and professionals through consulting, coaching, train ing, and workshops. She is also a freelance blogger who serves corporate and non-corporate clients. Visit her website at https://www.jowannadaley.com/about/.

Tending to your soul and honoring your spirit is ultimately the only way to truly love yourself.

By Rena Greenberg

Most people would agree that self-love is essential for happiness. But what does that really mean? The problem with these well-advised words of advice is that often the recipient has no idea how to give self-love.

The advice, “Love yourself” has become as cliché as, “Just say no to drugs.”

How do you love yourself? I have pondered this question my whole life—for myself, for my loved ones and my clients. What I came to realize is that it can be more beneficial to examine the ways we, unknowingly, aren’t loving our selves, rather than “trying hard” to con jure up love for ourselves.

I came to see, over time, that one of the greatest myths about loving ourselves is the notion that indulging is a way to love ourselves. That self-indul gence may take the form of overeating, emotional eating or consuming the wrong foods. It may be abusing sex, alcohol, drugs or spending too much money.

There was a time when I thought that if I bought myself clothes or jewelry I was giving myself love. Or, if I had that extra piece of cake, it was a gift to my self—an act of kindness. In reality, these activities were a form of self-abuse. They certainly never led to a sense of long-term fulfillment or happiness. They always left me feeling empty and wanting more.

In fact, clients have come to me, often in misery, because their over-indul gence led them to feelings of self-disgust, isolation, desperation and low self-esteem. Trying to “love themselves” unsuccessfully resulted in being overweight, feeling out of control with a sense of self-hatred and shame that at times felt unbearable.

Of course, consciously, we want to feel healthy, happy and whole. So why is the result so often the opposite of that? When we explore the inner voices that can lead us astray, we often discover thoughts like, “You only live once…Why not have that extra glass of wine tonight?” or, “I help people all day long. I’m such a good person. Why shouldn’t I order dessert? It’s the one thing I enjoy.”

The reality is that most often these feeble attempts to find happiness are, at best, a form of temporary distrac tion. It’s even more likely that “loving yourself” in this way will ultimately lead to feeling worse than you did before try ing to practice self-love. Over indulging in a weak effort to feel loved is like giv ing too much candy or toys to a spoiled child. It backfires.

you give it the donut, it wants the choco late. When you buy it the shoes, it begs for boots. Sadly, the ego always wants “the next thing.”

But your soul can be satisfied.

Tending to your soul and honor ing your spirit is ultimately the only way to truly love yourself. How do you honor your spirit? By listening to it. What is your heart’s desire? It’s amazing how the sim plest things can bring you the greatest and deepest happiness.

Spending time with a child or a friend you truly love can make your heart swell with delight. Snuggling with a dog, cat or horse that’s dear to you can fill your essence with a sense of deep peace and calm. Hiking on a wooded trail, while tak ing in the magnificent colors and smells of nature, can delight your inner self. Hold ing a newborn baby, or feeling the gentle breeze against your skin as you stroll along the oceanside, can uplift you like noth ing else. And then there’s music, which is truly the language of the soul and a way to connect with your deeper self and others. Closing your eyes and listening to music can elevate your being to new heights.

Ultimately, what your heart de sires more than anything is to feel your connection with all of life. To give and receive love…to share your passion with others…to inspire and share your gifts— this is what it means to love yourself.

What is it that you really want?

The key to answering that ques tion is to go past the clamoring desires of your ego and personality, which are never going to be satisfied. Instead, the secret to your ultimate happiness is to travel to your soul. Your ego personality is always going to want more. As soon as

Loving yourself isn’t as simple as stuffing something into your mouth or pulling out your credit card. It’s holding your own heart as you challenge yourself to step into your dream.

Loving yourself is going beyond all the fears that have held you back up until this point. Self-love means asking yourself, “Why not?” when it comes to

So what’s the solution? The key to truly loving yourself is to give yourself that which uplifts you, not just for the moment, but long-term.

going for your dream and encourag ing yourself every step of the way. That dream may be having children, opening to a relationship or repairing an existing friendship or marriage. It might be taking the first step towards creating your own business, starting a nonprofit, or trying out for a Broadway show.

Loving yourself is having the courage to feel your feelings—even the ones that aren’t so pretty—without judg ing them. It’s holding yourself when you

are feeling sad, angry or lonely with the utmost love and respect.

Loving yourself takes practice and a strong resolution. It’s the willingness to pick yourself up when life throws you a curveball. Even when you’re hurting—lift yourself up as if you truly were your own best friend. It will remind you how strong you are. Look up to the heavens for sup port and knowledge that you are never alone. Breathe and sit patiently instead of raiding the refrigerator.

Love Life, Live Happy, Live Healthy

with Rena Greenberg

Rena Greenberg, a Hay House author, can be reached at http://www.EasyWillpower.com. Her weight loss and gastric bypass hypnosis success has been featured in 150-plus news stories including USA Today, Woman’s World, The Doctor’s, CNN, Good Morning America and Nightline. PBS stations nationally aired Rena’s show, “Easy Willpower,” in August 2015. Her wellness program is sponsored in 75 hospitals and 100-plus corporations. She conducts hypnotherapy sessions with people all over the world on Skype.

To love yourself is to whisper into your heart, “I love you always,” as you gently coax yourself to take the next right action in the mystery of your precious life.

Sikkema

We are all musicians in a celestial orchestea.

By Anthony Talmage

Some scientists today are coming round to the conclusion that everything in the universe is interconnected, and that the isolation and separation of objects from each other is an illusion. Everything—neutrons, protons, electrons, atoms, cells, molecules, plants, animals, people—is all part of a flowing web of interaction. This supports scientist James Lovelock’s Gaia Theory, which proposes that planet Earth is a living organism, the seemingly random processes of which work intelligently together to regulate and maintain life. In tune with this theory is the startling research which proved that after devastating conflicts, like World War I, when men died in the millions on the battlefield, more males were born than females. The Earth is a selfbalancing organism.

Controversial biologist Dr. Rupert Sheldrake would go further and suggest that the entire universe is such an organism, and that everything in it is designed to maintain a celestial balance. He cites the termite mound as an analogy of the superor ganism concept of animal societies, which dominated behavioural biol ogy until about the early 1960s. Then

there was a shift in favor of the idea that society was merely a series of random interactions among genetically programmed individuals.

However, Dr. Sheldrake and I believe the superorganism concept is closer to the truth. Atoms, molecules, crystals, organelles, cells, tis sues, organs, organisms, societies, ecosystems, planetary systems, solar systems and galaxies are all subject to energy fields, operating within one vast energy field, creating a harmony and balance throughout all life.

In fact, every molecule in the universe resonates at its own, unique frequency that acts as both a driving force and a means of communication. Individual cells speak to each other in oscillating frequencies. Pessimistic humans may believe they are just individual flotsam on the ocean of life, but in truth we are all playing a vital part in a great celestial concert. Every individual is crucial to the qual ity of the performance.

An analogy can be found in Sheldrake’s humble termite mound, where individuals each have their roles to play to ensure the well-being of the whole. They are born, nurtured, work, eat, rest and die. During this process, which matches any animal society, they carry out their functions

as if directed by the equivalent of an invisible termite foreman who en sures everything runs smoothly.

Sheldrake’s Morphogenic Field Theory explains how termites build adjacent columns, connected by arches to the two sides—which meet at exactly the right place in the middle. Termites are blind, and the inside of the nest is dark, so they can’t do it by vision. Edward O Wilson, founder of the concept of Sociobiology, considers it unlikely that they do it by hearing or acoustic methods because of the constant background of sound caused by the movement of the termites within the mound. Wilson, who represents the “genetically programmed individual” school of thought, hypothesises that they do it by smell. And even he agrees that that seems far-fetched. Sheldrake proposes that the column construction is going on within a social morphic field, which em braces the whole nest and which contains a template of the future arch. And this proposition is supported by a unique experiment carried out in the 1920s by South African biologist Eugene Marais.

In his book The Soul of The White Ant, he describes experiments in which he hammered a large steel

plate through the centre of a ter mite mound. The termites repaired the mound on both sides of the steel plate, building columns and arches. Their movements were coordinated and, even though they approached the wall from different sides, the arch es met on either side of the steel plate at exactly the right position as if noth ing had blocked their way.

This, says Sheldrake, seemed to demonstrate that there was some kind of coordinating influence which was unaffected by outside interven tion. Obviously, smell was not the an swer, as Wilson suggests, since even termites can’t smell subtle odors through a steel plate.

So, if societies ebb and flow in tune with a wider orchestration of human affairs, and every human has a part to play, how do we maintain our individuality? And how do we achieve happiness, contentment, se renity and a sense of fulfilment? By knowing that our destiny is set out before us and we are each playing a unique role in the unfolding of life on this planet. So go for it in the sure and certain knowledge that there is a power out there ready and waiting to give you a helping hand.

We are getting messages all the time—everything is talking to us, and to receive those messages we must walk in awareness. And listen.

A mental transformational journey to create new thinking patterns.

By Maha Magdy

In the beginning of my jour ney studying neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), we were taught that the goal of a coaching session is to help coachees overcome whatever is hindering them or holding them back from achieving their goals.

At that time, we were taught many techniques to use for that pur pose, and I thought that reframing the limiting idea or belief was the best coaching skill, and that it was enough to set a someone free from their restrictions. However, when I actually began my practical career as a life coach and started digging deep in the minds of people, I discovered that reframing a limiting idea or belief is good for solving a problem or achieving a goal, but that it is not enough for self-development and up grading one’s life—which is the real goal of coaching.

When we reframe one limiting idea, we discover that another that takes its place because the mind is using the same thinking pattern. As a result, we need to lead clients in a

mental transformational journey to create new thinking patterns to see their world from new perspectives.

I began reading many books on the subject, and, after engaging in deep coaching sessions with a resistant client who was close to me, I developed a structure for this mental transformational journey that I now consider my best coaching practice. It can guide us to help people train their minds to find new, positive, helpful meanings around events that they get stuck in, instead of continuing to process limiting ideas that need to be reframed. It takes great effort to get past resistance from a coachee’s mind, but—with enough patience and empathy—it offers great rewards.

THE PROCESS

This transformational jour ney has three main phases: First Phase: The coach needs to listen empathetically to clients and dig deeply to discover the root cause of a thinking pattern. A coach must reach the clients’ soul to know the message being delivered through this

pattern because unconscious thinking patterns root from the soul. When the soul gets wounded it begins to process negative emotions that lead to negative thinking. The negative emotions trapped within the soul block energy meridians, causing the mind to lose its flexibility and think in rigid, limiting patterns. These negative emotions carry messages from the wounded soul, and it’s our role as coaches to help clients understand the messages and respond in a helpful way.

Second Phase: After uncovering soul wounds, coaches need to help heal the soul through reframing the meaning of whatever caused the wounds, and then shift clients into new positive patterns that offer new hope for life. This is the most challenging and critical phase, and, as coaches, we need to convey great wisdom and have a strong rapport with clients for success.

Third Phase: When the soul begins to recover, it becomes open to embrace new perspectives, and we can help clients increase awareness to see and pursue new oppor tunities in life.

Dr. Maha Magdy is a pharmacist and health and wellness coach. She is an ICI certified Life Coach, Mindfulness Coach and Emotional Intelligence Coach who studied nutrition and holds a diploma in weight management from New Castle University in Australia. Maha also studied NLP; has a supplements advisor diploma and a sports nutrition advisor diploma from the Fabulous Body Academy in California; is a certified as a Health and Wellness Coach from Kilo Fit Academy in the United States; is a certified Mindfulness Coach from the Academy of Modern Applied Psychology; and a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach from Transformation Academy. Contact her at: drmahamagdy@gmail.com.

By Terez Hartmann

LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

First of all, I want to say, “Congratulations.”

If you are reading this, you made it through one of THE toughest times in (modern) human history. Even with the pan demic, fires, hurricanes, floods, political and civil unrest, global fi nancial challenges—plus whatever personal storms you or some one you love may have had to weather—the fact remains that YOU. ARE. STILL. HERE.

Add to that you are focusing upon empowering, life-giv ing ideas, rather than just sitting balled-up and shaking in the cor ner of a room somewhere—and wow. You. Just. GO! Considering what life has thrown at ALL of us, YOU, my friend, are a true survi vor who has found a way to rise above and keep moving forward, and, if I were in your presence, I would be giving you the biggest high-five or hug (depending upon your comfort level) right now!

…Yet, it’s important to understand that even though the storm is over, it often takes a little longer for your body, mind, spirit, finances, etc., to get the memo, which can be especially frustrating to coaches, mentors and leaders like us who have oth ers depending upon us and who want to get back to work STAT.

From one “storm survivor” to another, who knows what it’s like to fall HARD, here are a few ideas that have helped (and are currently helping) me get “back” to moving forward, sooner rather than later.

FIND COMFORT NOW

You are where you are and it’s okay, and even if it’s not okay, it IS okay that it’s not okay. The key to getting through the del uge is to do whatever you possibly can to move to a safer, more com fortable place where you really CAN feel some form of okay-ness. I know the whole “comfort zone” concept has been labeled a “bad” thing, but, at the same time, would you attend a memorial service or visit someone who just got out of major surgery and shout, “Get out of your comfort zone!” at them at the top of your lungs? No.

If you are a person with a soul, you would do all you could to offer words, prayers and intentions for—you guessed it— COMFORT. So, when you are in the middle of a storm and have just pulled yourself out of the wreckage, this IS a case where seek ing comfort is a GOOD thing: If you want to walk—and ultimately run—you first need to be able to stand, and finding some kind of comfort and stable ground beneath your feet is a critical first step to moving forward to more.

REACH OUT

Being a Life Coach and highly independent woman, who was raised by another highly independent woman and stubborn RN, has shown me that often the “helpers” of the world can be

the WORST when it comes to asking for help. We talk about how important it is to have support, we encourage others to reach out to us, and we feel an immense sense of satisfaction when we know we’ve made a positive difference in someone’s life, yet so many of us don’t take our own advice.

If you, too, have resisted reaching out, think of it this way: If you saw a child or baby animal in need, would you ignore it, or tell it to “suck it up!”? No way, Jose’! You—being the kind, fabulous human you are—would surely help in whatever way you could. If you have been through a mother-of-a-storm or encoun tered something unprecedented in your life, extending the same level of kindness and compassion to yourself by reaching out for help will not only accelerate your recovery, but also give another helper an opportunity to feel the joy of giving. A balanced life involves giving AND receiving, friends, so here’s your chance to complete the circle and keep life moving forward for ALL.

REST & RESET

Now that you’ve made it through the rain, give your body and mind a break by letting yourself rest in some way (sleep, meditate, watch a movie, read/listen to a book about “stuff and nonsense,” etc.), as forging ahead when you’re physically, men tally, and/or emotionally exhausted can actually create MORE downtime, mistakes, problems, physical injuries, or result in snap decisions that will shift you further into reverse rather than for ward. Please rest and reset, as it can and will benefit your work, clients, family, finances, and health.

MOVE YOUR BODY & MIND

What CAN you do right now? Write some things down then pick something and DO it. Even if you don’t know the answer to that question, you are FAR more likely to discover the next right thing by doing SOMETHING and getting your body into motion if at all possible. Unless you would incur an injury, get up and go for a walk, a bike ride, or even simply take a shower. Changing your location and physically moving forward is not only a power ful, symbolic act, it literally gets a chemical reaction started in your body that can help you discover a new idea or solution that was completely out of reach only moments earlier*!

Author’s Note: *BTW, some great data about movement can be found here: https://www.orthology.com/move-more-livebetter-how-moving-your-body-changes-your-brain/ ACTIVATE YOUR VISIONARY MIND-SET

While it is important to address what is needed for today and now, do remember that what is happening at this moment is only the starting line, not the finish line. When you feel ready, consider these steps: 1) Answer this question: “What Do You Want?” By doing this, you plug a destination into your internal GPS and, hence,

After tough times, it is up to each of us to choose what we do next.

open yourself up to thoughts, people, ideas and actions that can actually start leading you in the direction you want to go!

2) Use “What if?” to your advantage by asking this rhe torical (yet powerful) question, “What if this COULD be possible for you?”

3) Rather than look for why it can’t happen, collect evidence that supports why it COULD happen.

• Review your own history and write down a few key phrases that activate memories of times when you wanted some thing, had no idea how it could happen, but then saw life come through for you.

• Watch documentaries, shows, movies, listen to/read books, and meet people who were able to move forward in inspir ing ways and realize things that once seemed “impossible.”

• Use the power of your mind to see, hear and experience what your “finish line” could feel like.

THE BOTTOM LINE: FALLING FORWARD AFTER THE STORM

Though we have all danced with our share of storms, es pecially in the recent past, I do know one thing for sure: It is, was, and always will be up to each of us to choose what we do next.

Here’s to falling FORWARD into greater health, well-be ing, abundance—and the NEW that is calling the powerful, beau tiful, resilient, amazing, upgraded version of YOU.

“Onward, upward and forward

ALLOWING YOUR SUCCESS

with Terez “Firewoman” Hartmann

Editor’s Note: For more tools to get moving now, in crease focus and productivity, start the new year or your next season out strong, build resilience, and move forward beyond trauma, grief, and major life challenges visit: https://www.store. transformationacademy.com/products/onward-upward-andforward?sca_ref=764549.rTXXrtA0hH

Terez “Firewoman” Hartmann is a Visionary Creative & top-rated instructor, Law of Attraction & Allowing YOUR Suc cess 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 al low 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

To the upgraded version of me

Instead of my fears, I will follow my dreams For I’d rather go where they lead…” ~from “Onward, Upward & Forward”

©TTRH 2021-22

Use this process to help overcome challenges in any difficult situation you may face.

By Noelle Sterne

Darcy came into the Bible study group looking radi ant, happier than I’d ever seen her. She couldn’t wait to tell us what had happened. The previous week, she had been worriedly repeating the details of the upcoming custody hearing for her daughter. After Darcy’s recent divorce, her husband was attempt ing to undermine her character to sway the judge for custody.

But now, Darcy was transformed. Maybe, more accu rately, triumphant. The hearing was very short, she said, and the judge saw through her husband’s tactics. Darcy was award ed custody and at the end, to her astonishment, her husband turned to her and said, “It’s probably for the best.”

The group members congratulated Darcy and shared her joy. Two of us commented on the astounding change in her. “What caused it?” we asked. She told us of a process she’d dis covered for meeting challenges like these that stemmed from her study of A Course in Miracles.

Darcy called it “Send Love Ahead.” She described how it works and, at the next group meeting, gave us all a typed summary of her meditative method. Here it is.

1) Sit quietly apart from everything.

2) Close your eyes and take some slow, deep breaths.

3) Visualize the event that fills you with apprehension. See the room or setting, where you’ll be appearing, working, sitting, talking. If you don’t know the specifics literally, imagine them.

4) If you’ve been resisting the situation (“I wish I didn’t have to do this!), admit it. Rage if you must.

5) If you’re afraid, admit that too. Darcy said that she was so fearful in the days before the hearing that she couldn’t eat. So at home, whenever the fear rose up, she shouted out loud, “I’m afraid!” Often when you fully admit hor rible feelings, they dissipate.

6) Do your homework. If it’s a presentation, speech, or call, write it out. If you need to, research the contents. If it’s a written or other creative project, list the steps necessary to complete it. If it’s a defense of something, make notes or write a script and practice your points. Darcy wrote out all the positive reasons she should be awarded custody (without maligning her ex-husband) and rehearsed them.

7) Mentally, or physically if you can, go to the place or situ ation, whether it’s an office, auditorium, meeting room, judge’s chambers, or your own study. Fill the physical space with love.

8) See the room shining in light.

9) Picture yourself and every other person involved smiling, extending hands to you, nodding “Yes.”

10) See and declare each of them as the Christ (Namaste).

11) Feel the light and peace envelop you and radiate out from you.

12) Gently think about how you want to emerge from the situation. See yourself afterwards in a favorite, comfort able and comforting environment, like a reward.

13) Think about how you want to feel after it’s over. What do you want to have accomplished or settled? What direction do you want to know you’re next going in?

14) Write down your answers to these questions. Writing them down is stating your affirmations. Record as many specifics as you can. Don’t be shy or modest. You deserve all the rewards and blessed outcomes.

15) See every other person involved leaving feeling satisfied, fulfilled, happy with the outcome, and ready to take the next constructive action.

16) Say to yourself: “I surrender all to God. I feel only Love here.” Repeat these words every time you feel anxious about the situation or tempted to visualize something less than perfect.

17) Sit quietly feeling this Love.

18) Practice these steps twice a day.

THE TEST

A week after Darcy told the group about this method, I had the opportunity to test it. In a few days, I had to attend a dif ficult meeting on behalf of a client. Using Darcy’s principles and steps, I prepared the materials necessary, practiced my opening statement aloud and in an increasingly firm voice. Then, several times a day, I visualized the office where the meeting would take place. I saw it and everyone in it filled with Love, illumined. I projected Love to each person I knew would be there.

I made a list of how I wanted to feel afterwards. My ad jectives included “knowledgeable,” “reasonable,” “professional,” “peaceful,” “strong,” “satisfied with the outcome,” “understood,” “respected,” “listened to,” “having accomplished the task,” “achieved the perfect administrative decision for my client,” and “knowing the next direction.” I visualized, too, relating the posi tive outcomes to my client, and congratulating each other. On the day of the meeting, as I drove I kept saying, “Love is here.”

Yes, I was nervous, hands clammy, stomach hollow, but I knew I’d prepared, practically and spiritually. My hands gradually warmed and my stomach stabilized as I repeated, “Love is here.”

The meeting started on time and went smoothly. I said what I had to, listened attentively to the others, and re sponded in even tones. Afterwards, driving home, I glanced at my list. To what shouldn’t have been my amazement, every one of those positive outcomes had been fulfilled! And more—the

individuals on the other side assured me of their complete coop eration to resolve the matter speedily. I felt great gratitude—to Darcy, to the Course in Miracles, and to the Creator.

When I related my experience at the next group meet ing, one of the members referred us to Lesson 349 in the Course in Miracles Workbook, and I recommend it for similar situations:

Today I let Christ’s vision look upon All things for me and judge them not, but give Each one a miracle of love instead.

In any difficult situation you may face, especially one you want to run and hide from, think about this lesson and Darcy’s steps. Use them before a thorny phone call, a meeting you dread, an exam you’re scared of, a project you don’t know how to start, a presentation that terrifies you, or a creative session you cringe at plunging into.

Sit quietly, take a few deep breaths, do your homework, and visualize the absolute best outcomes. You deserve all of them—as you send love ahead.

Trust Your Life Now

with Noelle Sterne, Ph.D.

Noelle Sterne, author, editor, writing coach, workshop leader, and academic mentor, has published over 700 sto ries, essays, writing craft articles, spiritual pieces, and occasional poems in literary and academic print and online venues. Publications have appeared in Author Magazine, Bookends Review, Chicken Soup for the Soul (six volumes), Florida Writers Association Blog, Inspire Me Today, LiveWriteThrive, MindBodySpirit, Journal of Expressive Writing, Life and Everything After, Mused, Pen and Prosper, Romance Writers Report, Ruminate, Sasee, Spiritual Media Blog, Textbook and Academic Authors Association blog (monthly), Thesis Whisperer, Transformation Coaching, Two Drops of Ink (monthly), Unity Daily Word, Unity Magazine, WE Magazine for Women, Women in Higher Education, Women on Writing, Writing and Wellness, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. Eons ago, she published a children’s book of original dinosaur riddles (HarperCollins), in print for 18 years. With a Ph.D. from Columbia University, for 30 years Noelle has assisted doctoral candidates in completing their dissertations (finally). Her published handbook to as sist doctoral candidates is based on her professional academic practice: Challenges in Writing Your Dissertation: Coping with the Emotional, Interpersonal, and Psychological Struggles (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2015). In Noelle’s spiritual self-help book, Trust Your Life: Forgive Yourself and Go After Your Dreams (Unity Books, 2011), she draws examples from her academic consulting and other aspects of life to support readers in reaching their lifelong yearnings. Continuing with her own, she is draft-deep in her third novel. Her webinar about Trust Your Life can be seen on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95EeqllONIQ&feature=youtu.be. Visit Noelle at her website: http://www.trustyourlifenow.com.

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We are each here to experience life as we see it from our individual, unique viewpoints.

By Owen Waters

Stories and myths of creation from around the world share a common thread. Most of them start with a division, a splitting of the original One into two complementary parts so that creation could be achieved.

In ancient Egypt, more than 5,000 years ago, Creation was said to have occurred when the power of thought made light arise above the abyss. Here the two components before the creation of light were 1) thought and 2) an already-created abyss of empty space.

In ancient Greece, the universe was said to have been a place without light until Eros (Love) arose, bringing light and order. Here we have intent and feeling bringing light into being.

In ancient Aztec culture an original “Lord” and “Lady” were said to have brought into existence all things. People throughout history have more easily understood the idea of fa ther and mother figures behind creation rather than the idea of original principles, or facets, of the one Creator. The Holy Trinity of Christianity includes both ideas—God the Father is the creative principle, while the Holy Spirit is the love that permeates all space. Hinduism, the origin of which predates recorded history, recognizes an original or Absolute state as the one ultimate state of being behind all things. Then, from the Absolute, sprang forth the principles of creation. These principles are portrayed as the personalities of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Brahma symbolizes the aspect of the Absolute that brings forth the works of creation. Vishnu represents the aspect that preserves and sustains the universe—an all-pervasive love, in other words. Shiva represents the aspect that brings motion into the universe, making possible the creation, and the decay of objects in the physical world.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam all share the same historic roots. In the Book of Genesis, it is said that creation began when God created the heavens and the earth and then said, “Let there be light.” Notice that this initial act of creation came before the cre ation of the stars and the creation of our Sun. Therefore, these ini tial instances of the words “heavens” and “earth” need to be taken metaphorically, not literally. The “earth” was said to be formless and empty, like a pre-creational void, as the Spirit of God hovered over the “waters” of the formless deep. So, here we have:

1) The intent of God the Creator, hovering over:

2) The formless deep of a universe-to-be. This “formless deep” referred to the universe, not to the Earth, because the stars (and therefore the Earth) had not yet been formed. Then, later, all possibilities began with:

3) “Let there be light.” This is where motion was applied to activate the hollow shell of the universe. This, then, made all of creation possible, including the stars, the planets, their biospheres, and all that they contain.

The common thread in all of the above stories of cre ation is this: Intent and love together created a universe in the form of a void, an abyss. Intent and love were then set into motion in order to bring light and life into the void.

All of these stories of creation are thousands of years old. Historically, they were told to people who believed that the Earth was all there was to the extent of the creation. In general, they had not yet gained an appreciation that the stars in the sky were actually other suns in the remote distance.

Today, we have a much better appreciation of the vast ness of creation. Our Milky Way galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars, each of them capable of supporting a number of planets.

In comparison, the size of the universe is staggering. As of 2021, astronomers announced that there are approximately 2 trillion galaxies in the universe and that gives an estimated 200 billion trillion stars.

That’s 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars in the universe!

It stands to reason that the Creator of all of this vast ness is an entity much larger than that which was created. Infinite Being is a consciousness so huge that the entire universe is held within its awareness and focus, within its conscious embrace.

Infinite Being is all things, it is all potential. As a state of being, it fundamentally does not “do,” it just is. Infinite Being is the ultimate state of being. However, at some point, Infinite Being decided to “become,” rather than just “be.” It decided to manifest its potential, and then to act out every part of that potential.

In order to achieve this original creation, Infinite Being divided its consciousness. In one direction, it focused intent. In another direction, it focused its love, or its feeling. Then, in a third direction it applied action, or motion, so that the two facets of itself—intent and feeling—could interact with each other as inter twined waves of consciousness in motion.

In this way, Infinite Being extended itself from just being into a state of action. This extension of itself had become what we call the original Creator. The One Creator has three facets, a triad of intent, feeling and motion. The existence of motion in this cre ative triad makes the One Creator an action-oriented projection of the original, non-moving, all-potential state of Infinite Being.

And yet, nothing specific had been created up to this point. There was, however, the potential for everything to be cre ated. For this, a stage needed to be set, upon which Infinite Be ing could express itself as an infinite variety of possibilities and witness itself from an infinite variety of viewpoints. In order to provide that stage, the universe was created.

First, the concept of space was intended within the con sciousness of Infinite Being. Next, this hollow, original shell of a potential universe was filled with love. Then, life was “breathed” into the void when motion was added to it.

With the setting of the universe into motion, the “light” had come. It filled all of space with infinite pathways of potential

primary energy and, later, the potential for matter and all that matter could become.

Today, we find ourselves living out the latest adventure in the infinite experiences of existence. As facets of Infinite Being, we are each here to experience life as we see it from our indi vidual, unique viewpoints.

You, as the soul within, are the observer of life. While you are busy with life in the physical world, it may seem difficult to connect with your spiritual aspect, your soul. But to do this means

that you are connecting directly with the observer within and see ing the purpose in all aspects of your life. That is why the most rewarding part of the day is the time that you set aside for regular meditation. With inner support and guidance, your path through life becomes clear and filled with purpose.

If you haven’t already done so, make the time to prac tice meditation at the start of each day. A habit very soon be comes a routine, and this is one that very soon becomes the highlight of each day.

Spiritual Dynamics

with Owen K. Waters

Owen Water is a cofounder of the Spiritual Dynamics Academy and InfiniteBeing.com, where a where a free spiri tual 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.