Regaining Enthusiasm

How I Regained My Enthusiasm & How You Can Too3ddec2a4-3d0d-4742-98db-b639d2618a83

When I stopped writing my newsletter a year and a half ago, I needed a break! I had new things on my plate and rather than trying to do it all, I decided to back off on a few things. Besides that, I’d lost my enthusiasm for writing.

When our enthusiasm is gone, we feel stuck. I sure did! I spent some time down in the rut, but then, I took my first step. Being a coach, I knew that to move out of stuck, I needed to reassess where I was (overwhelmed) and then get clear about where I wanted to be. Since I was feeling overwhelmed, I backed off on things that were draining my energy. 

Taking a break is essential to being able to think clearly. Humans were designed to need rest and relaxation. Our brains need time think outside the confines of our daily grind. We also need to time to think about nothing!

Sometimes we only need a short break. Just a day away to REthink, REfocus and REmember why we are doing what we are doing.

      

I needed a longer break. Taking a break gave me time to refocus and get clarity. During my break I began working with Stronger Families as a Master Level Trainer. I was traveling all over the US doing presentations at military installations. Learning the ropes of traveling for work from making all the arrangements to being away from home, sometimes 10 days in a month – I was on over-load. Even though it was a great experience. It was too much to try to keep up with all I had been doing. I needed, and wanted to give up something. 

It sounds easy, ‘just take a break,’ but that first step can be really hard. Just knowing what to take a break from can be difficult! We get so bogged down with life and what we ‘have’ to do, that we have no brain space for what we ‘could’ do – or what we could ‘not’ do. We may have no idea why we’ve lost our enthusiasm, but it is gone – and we feel depleted. 

What I learned during my break from writing was that I needed to develop a team of  coaches to work with if I wanted to re-engage with writing and consider taking on more clients. I have done that and I have been inspired to write again! My colleagues are great! I will have (or will) introduce you to Kim Kompel and Ted Hackney in blog posts.

Though we may feel like we have no choice, isn’t being stuck just the result of making the same choice over and over again? I thought I “had” to write my newsletter. If I didn’t, I’d be throwing away everything I’d worked for. When we get stuck in a rut we begin to believe it’s the only way. We’re no longer going where we want to go but can’t see any other way.

Simply reframing our choices and realizing we are NOT stuck. We have chosen this path today. We must consciously recognize our freedom to make different decisions, whenever we are ready. Facing the reality of this freedom helps us feel much better! It can REnew our enthusiasm and bring life back our endeavors. 

Inspiration, Motivation, Discipline, Great Habits – repeat process

InspirationWhen we are motivated, disciplined and develop good habits around an idea that inspired us, we do great things. Why is it that, very often, we get an idea and feel SO inspired, but nothing ever comes of ‘it’? Maybe you’re like me and you manage to make something of it, but after a while you get bored, decide it’s too much work or it just doesn’t bring much satisfaction.

If you look at steps 1-4 as building blocks, where is it that you habitually fall off the wagon?

1. Inspiration gets us thinking.  2. Motivation gets us moving.  3. Discipline keeps us moving. 4. Great habits keep us inspired.

Of course, we do not have the time, resources or manpower to act on every good idea we have, but when we are truly inspired we contemplate and scheme about how to make ‘it’ happen. We think about ‘it’ a lot, and though we are not conscious of this, even as we sleep our brain organizes our thoughts and ideas (according to world renowned brain researcher, Dr. Caroline Leaf). Our brain literally begins acting on our inspiration. It’s only then that we have the motivation to get our ‘it’ off the ground.

I habitually fall off the wagon just after I’ve reached step #3.  I get motivated and get the ball rolling. Sometimes, if I’m enjoying the process, I’ll develop the discipline to keep the ball rolling. As we all well know, there are pieces of everything we do that don’t bring us a ton of joy. We just want the end result!! It’s when I forget about how good the end result be, and allow my focus to get locked in on the duty of discipline, that I lose heart. I begin to feel like the duty IS the result of my inspiration. How silly!!

On the other hand, when I push through the dutiful, sometimes painful part of discipline, I slowly begin to enjoy the new habit because I can see ‘it’ coming to fruition.

Becoming aware of what gets me off track has helped me persevere and enjoy the benefit of inspiration that comes through a good habit. What does that look like?

Fortunately, the painful part of discipline doesn’t normally last forever because when we begin to see ‘it’ materializing we are inspired once again. Whether it’s playing an instrument, creating great relationships, writing a book, or reaching a career, political or humanitarian goal – to stay inspired, we must decide that it’s worth the effort. The skills of a great pianist slip if they do not play the piano regularly, but what once was a dutiful discipline is a creative outlet they now enjoy. Likewise, a relationship loses vitality when effort wanes but because it brings great joy it becomes easy to nurture.

Once we make these “great habits” part of our everyday life, we experience the joy of what they produce and that keeps us inspired!

Coaching Groups – Winter Summit 2015

Sm Coaching Groups

 The 2015 Winter Summit 

begins January 26th

Each Group Will Be a Deep-Diving, Unconventional,

Coaching Event giving you the Tools You Need to Reach YOUR Goals!

From the comfort of your home, you’ll get a weekly, 1-hour live session that includes teaching from an expert, coaching from me, Suzette Parker, a Board Certified Life and Relationship Coach, and the opportunity to engage in a small group discussion designed to move you toward your desires.

Without spending thousands of dollars, gain knowledge and insight, learn to create Action Steps that are right for you and be inspired to achieve the very thing your heart is longing for.

If your desire is to be a better parent, gain health, or land the job of your dreams, we have created a group for you!

Each Group will have a members only ‘secret’ Facebook group – This gives you another place to get your questions answered, interact with those in the group and gain inspiration throughout the week. By creating a ‘secret’ Facebook group and using it as our coaching portal, you’ll have all the information you need in one convenient and easy-to-access location.

Check Out The Groups

PARENT LIKE A PRO!
~Successful Strategies for Families to Thrive

Have you ever felt like a bad parent? We all have! Have you ever felt guilty because of how you feel about your children? We all have! Parenting will always have it’s ups and downs but you CAN enjoy your children! Kim’s 25 years of experience working with children, parents, couples and families through not-for-profit organizations and at the university level, combined with her vibrant personality give her the ability to connect and help people of all ages. Expect to laugh and cry as she relates her own personal experiences, shares wisdom and empowers you to recreate your family into the very one you’ve dreamed about.

For More Info on PARENT LIKE A PRO! and Kim Kompel

 

CATAPULT!  
~ How To Leverage Your Unique Wiring To Land Your Dream Job

If you’re going to soar over the competition, smash through personal barriers, and finally land your dream job, you’re going to need a catapult. Jesse Rice is an author, speaker, and personal development expert. For almost 20 years he’s been working to help people connect the dots between how they’re wired and their best-fit career. Known for his paradigm-shifting insight, hilarious personal stories, and captivating stage presence, Jesse is passionate about equipping and empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their greatest impact.

For More Info on CATAPULT! and Jessie Rice

 

BIOHACK Your Health Naturally!
So You Can Feel Younger And Do More In Less Time   

Take your current health practices (or lack there of) and elevate them to the next level by learning some of the leading best practices from experts in natural health, including ways to BIOHACK your: Diet, Lifestyle, Sleep, Exercise, Productivity, Understanding of HOW Your Body Works, and an Understanding of conventional and naturopathic medicine and how they can work together.
Join me and  Christopher Wakely Naturopathic Physician | candidate 2015   

For More Info on BIOHACK Your Health Naturally! or To see Christopher Wakely’s Bio

 

 

Joe & Carri #7 – Going Deeper

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Joe was an adventurer who loved life and enjoyed travelling  the world. He loved freedom, she loved the security of home. Carri had become bitter because she felt as though she always acquiesced to his desires.

By continuing to dream together they cast of vision of what they wanted their future to look like. In the process, Carri realized that she still admired Joe’s adventuresome spirit and would probably enjoy sharing in Joe’s dreams of  “living in a distant land for a greater cause” if they maintained a place they considered “home.”  Finding common ground was very helpful!

After establishing some good will toward one another, Carri took a big leap. She decided to share her journals with both Joe and me. They told the story of her resentment about moving out of the country, the depths of her depression while away, and the beginning of her growth journey -which began after she left Joe. She was very hesitant, but knew that if they were ever going to reconnect there would be risk involved. There were many things Joe could have taken offense at, but he didn’t. He wanted to talk through it and hear her heart. He wanted to get to know the woman he’d been  married to for 28 years, and was willing to listen and try to understand without being defensive.

There were still some huge obstacles. Joe was happy Carri was getting stronger, but didn’t know how to handle the time apart. He was terribly lonely and needed to find a way to cope. He said he was committed to the process but worried that he would fall into old patterns.