Climbing a Mountain without a Cause

By Luis Rosario | Published December 31, 2010

As I climbed this majestic red rock mountain, I realized that the rock wall had no cracks or crevasse where I could gain a firm footing in order to climb, yet every time I reached up there was one there. Once I finally reached the top I came across a house awkwardly located at the summit of this mountain in the middle of no where. It had a front lawn, a fence, and a driveway, everything you would find in a standard home. My curiosity drew me towards knocking on the door until I was met by an elder woman who enthusiastically greeted me with the response “he’s here!”, as if she had been anxiously waiting for me. I walked into the house and that’s when I woke up.

I whole heartily believe that everything has a reason, even though you may never know what that reason may be. In this case I felt that my climb up that red rock mountain represented the faith that we must have on this treacherous journey called life. We must understand that in order to have faith one must go within and tap into that soulful essence that we truly are. I believe that this true faith will eventually lead us back home, as they say “home is where the heart is!”

Luis Rosario
Director of Communications/Event Relations
Morningcoach.com

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What Would You Do if You Knew You Couldn’t Fail?

By Tanya Mundo | Published December 29, 2010

This is one of my favorite questions and one that I would like to address further in this post, which is #4 in my series on financial abundance. In my last three posts I asked you to evaluate what “vehicle” you are in, where you are receiving your financial education, and your financial goals in order to create your financial “road map”. Many people who I sit down with to complete these evaluations find that their dreams are much bigger than their current situations permit. If this is you, it is okay! The good news is that it is never too late to adjust and change course. After all, if it weren’t possible, you wouldn’t be able to dream it!

Mary Kay Ash coined one of my favorite quotes:

“There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

Sometimes we wonder, “What happened?” There are numerous answers to that question, but a some common ones are fear, conditioning, ignorance (lack of knowledge/education), limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, and lack of desire/ambition. This, of course, is not an all-inclusive list, but most of us fall into one or more of these categories. If you sit down with almost any small child and ask them what they want to be, do, or have, they will most certainly tell you whatever it is without any qualms. The fun part is that small children truly believe in their ability and capacity to achieve whatever it is that they want. They have not yet been subject to all of the things I listed above.

Kids Chasing Bubble Small

How does all of this tie into financial abundance? About 95% of your life is run by your subconscious mind. Your past, current, and future financial situations are all a result of your own thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Your subconscious mind will often tell you that you should just “make it through”. When you shift your beliefs, you literally change the cell structure in your mind, and therefore, your biology. Simply “wanting” to change your situation is not enough. “Wanting” is in the future and is not a belief. “Wanting” to be more financially abundant is counterproductive.

So how can you shift from being someone who wondered what happened, to someone who makes things happen? I will continue to address this question in future posts, but to get started, ask yourself the following (and write down your answers!):

What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?

What do I want to be, do, and have?

What would I like “more of” in my life?

What is important to me and why?

What are my limiting beliefs?

Remember that all abundance starts from within!

Tanya Mundo is a Personal and Professional Development Coach who helps others to achieve financial freedom through entrepreneurship and lifestyle design through her private coaching practice, Efflorescence Coaching & Consulting.

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A smarter 2011

By Paul Bond | Published December 28, 2010

2011As I write this, it’s the last week of 2010. This is the time of year that many people will begin to think about making New Year’s resolutions. And, as JB said on the Monday Coachcast, some people will stick to them and some will have them fall by the wayside within a short period of time.

It seems we all find the beginning of a new year is a great time to rethink things in our lives and decide what we want to change. While this is usually done with the best of intentions, many people don’t put in either the foresight to set realistic goals, or choose goals they want, but don’t perform the necessary follow-through. We tend to make resolutions like “I’m going to get in shape again” or “I’m going to lose weight”. Both of these goals are great initially, but we need to take a few other steps to make them more “meaningful”!

In reality, a resolution is nothing more than a goal. It’s just made at a specific time of the year. So, for 2011, I would like to challenge everyone reading this to not just make a few New Year’s Resolutions, but instead begin making some SMARTER goals! The SMARTER system is something that makes goal setting, tracking, and achievement much more possible than simply stating a resolution. The acronym “SMARTER” stands for:

S – Specific

M – Measurable

A _ Achievable

R – Realistic

T – Timely

E – Evaluated

R – Reviewed

The last two (E and R) form the basis of the PDCA method I spoke of in my podcast a couple of weeks back.

And, to make it a more positive experience, set a goal that is not necessarily all-encompassing or that requires life-changing attitudes of adjustments. Start with something like committing to waking up 30 minutes early to listen to Morning Coach and work through the Compass before you start your day. Or, if you’re like many in the world today who feel pushed for time, set a goal of arriving for work or meetings at least 15 minutes early (as opposed to just in time or even late). By choosing a goal that requires an adjustment and/or a stretch in your life, but doesn’t cause a total upheaval of it, you set yourself up for success. And in doing so, you give yourself positive feedback and reinforcement for continuing with the rest of your goals.

Starting the New Year by making your resolutions goals as opposed to just statements and committing to a system like Morning Coach will increase your chances to reach and achieve them. This coming year, commit to yourself and to making yourself better and happier!

Here’s to starting the New Year in a SMARTER way and making 2011 the BEST year of your life yet!

Paul Bond is a Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator who produces a twice monthly podcast called Emergency 8DFS0002_sm

Nursing Today. His company, Paul Bond & Associates Consulting, also offers courses for continuing education credit throughPhoenixCE. The podcast can be found on iTunes, and PhoenixCE offers complementary  “podcast extras” for more in-depth coverage of the podcast material.

Paul is also the President of the Morning Coach advisory board and currently pursuing his coaching certification through Morning Coach.

Follow Paul on his journey and learn more by visiting his website at http://www.paulbond.com. Paul can be reached through his email at paul@paulbond.com

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Essentials for Traveling Light: #1 Faith

By Lori Elgin | Published December 27, 2010

As I started thinking of the rapidly approaching new year, I wondered what journeyis really essential for this journey we call life? Essentials vary from person to person.  For me, they are, not necessarily in this order:  faith, love, companionship, music, a sense of humor, a direction, and of course, shelter, clothing, food, water, and oxygen.

For me faith is bedrock, as essential as oxygen. My definition and expression of faith in God has grown exponentially throughout my life.  I remember being a little girl praying for God to love me and like me so I would not be afraid or alone.  Although I never saw God, I learned to trust the eternal one.  I have seen the goodness and mercy that flow into my life. I have experienced more grace than anyone has a right to even ask for. The relationship has grown and blossomed until it is the pure deep core within me.

You may not believe in God. What do you believe in?  Where is your due north? What is your deep bedrock?

Faith in me has been a difficult struggle.  It has been fraught with pitfalls, drama, twists, turns, huge drops with subterranean lows, and mountain top experiences.  It is only by looking back and reflecting that I can truly see my own faithfulness to me. Writing this I realize I am gifted with awesome strength, perseverance, love, joy, and fortitude.

Faith in others in my life has equally fraught with danger and joy.  I have learned that some people cannot be trusted. Some people require, as the Navy says, a wide berth. I give them plenty of room and allow them their own journey.  They need time, patience, and opportunity to grow and develop.  My job is to give them space and grace to do so.

Although I am wary of dangerous situations, I do not let fear paralyze me for long.   Many folks are more than trustworthy.  I have learned to really listen, to look beyond the surface, and trust my intuition.   The people in my life deserve and are extended the benefit of the doubt.  I accept them for who they are. I do not try and change them into who I want them to be, even when it hurts me.

I am surrounded with amazing family and friends.  We remind each other who we really are.  We do not let the other hide or play small.  We look for the good, and overlook the flaws.  We believe in with absolute faith, despite all the odds, even when we fall or go the wrong way.  We are living reminders and mirrors for each other.  To love unconditionally and believe without a doubt is a a pure gift.  Unconditional love

As we start the new year: what is the #1 essential in your journey??  I’d love to hear.

Blessed new year!

Lori

Lori Elgin is a nurse practitioner currently expanding her practice to include  coaching certification with Morning Coach. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Zev the wonder Scottie, and Charlie the old gray Persian gentleman.  A mother and grandmother. She enjoys holistic health and nutrition, traveling, running, pilates, reading, and music.

http://lorielgin.com/ website like Lori, herself, is a work in progress so for now, please follow her on:  

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Lost Control!

By Debra Moser | Published December 27, 2010

iStock_000006087970XSmall[1]These last few weeks I’ve been literally laid up due to a tear and herniation in two discs in my back.  Normally in our house we work as a team when hosting, so naturally I worried that since I couldn’t contribute in my normal way that maybe we should think about cancelling our holiday hosting commitments.  My husband fervently disagreed and declared “no worries my love, I’ll take care of it”! 

“Ok”, I hesitantly replied.  The truth of the matter is I’ve always found that asking for help and receiving help difficult.  I tend to fall back to my “take charge” military attitude.  This attitude is ingrained into my psyche and has been quite the chore to break the cycle of control and let others be; especially when it comes to my kitchen.  So Christmas Eve day as I lay on the living room couch observing my husband efficiently getting dinner ready I marvelled at how organized he was in the kitchen.  All was well until he started peeling the potatoes.  It was driving me nuts because of course I didn’t have control and he wasn’t peeling them the way I usually do.  Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe in the “my way or the highway” approach to life.  A lost moment of clarity, I became fixated and felt the need to supervise.  I couldn’t believe such a little task would drive me round the bend.   After a few minutes my husband patiently uttered “Debra, you have your way and this is my way of doing things, go back and lay down!”  God love him for that! He snapped me back to reality.

This little incident was a valuable lesson.  It was a gentle reminder to stop my incessant need to control all things in my life and surrender.  I stepped back into the present moment, shifted my mind set and retreated to the couch until our guests arrived.  As a leader, I intellectually and intuitively know that people feel appreciated and respected when they are allowed to make a contribution rather than be nit-picked and controlled.  To quote one of Stephen R. Covey’s seven habits: “Synergize. “Look for the third alternative – not my way, not your way, but a third way that is better than either of us would come up with individually.  It’s the fruit of respecting and celebrating one another’s differences.” 

I became aware and broke free of the worry and mindless negative chatter in my head.  I let go of Ego.  It was the first holiday dinner in years that I was relaxed and stress-free.  I accepted what was, surrendered control and opened to receive the loving help that has always been there.  Dinner was a resounding success!

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