The Coaching Journal

6 Days Until...

2009-12-27T13:05:00.002+01:00

The moment is soon arrivnig when you will launch your new life.

The creation of your Vision Board is a pwerful and decisive step in making your goals manifest into reailty.

Christmas Day is done and now people are getting bored with themselves and staying inside with their families. They are running out to malls, shopping centers and boutiques to shopi n an attempt to quiet their souls. They are flocking to movie theatres for some movies to fill their minds so they an focus on something other than their lives. Some people are planning for and traveling to the New Years party they want to attend or the fireworks they will light on New Year's Eve. Some people are also beginning to think about 2009 and what has taken place during it.

It has been a stressful and/or quickly changing year for many and not in a good way. Things got off-track for those who failed to plan for their 2009 -- those who had no vision for it.

But now 2010 is on the horizon, only 6 days away.

Have you got your gluestick? Have you started collecting photos and clipping things from magazines? Have you started ruminating on the words that are triggers (to you) for the goals you wish to see manifest in your life?

Tomorrow is Monday. Go to the store and get what you need. Pick up that gluestick adn a few magazines. Look on the Internet for some images, signs and words.

You only plan to fail when you fail to plan!

So let's get your richly successful 2010 life on a good foundation and start planning! The Law of Attraction holds that what you focus on will be attracted to (received by ) you. What will YOU choose to have (do, or be)?

To your success!

Barrett

9 Days Until...

2009-12-22T10:39:00.002+01:00

This past weekend, I was enjoying one of the small julehygge (Christmas coziness) parties I have blessed to participate in this year. They are joyous events where you have popcorn, candy. hot chocolate, homemade cakes and pies, glögg (a hot wine drink) and make julepynt (Christmas decoration) to hang on the tree. It is a good time for talking, laughing and sharing.

I was talking with my friend about New Year's Day and how I will be celebrating it by creating my 2010 Vision Board. She wants to create one too. But she expressed serious doubts about it. When I asked her why, she sad that, for example, she wants a good loving relationship and marriage with a man but she associates romance and marriage with being poor. I asked her why and she said that in Danish culture, Danish men do not romance a woman. it would be considered discriminatory. They expect her to pay for her meals, and they never pull out a chair, open a door or carry a heavy package/move something heavy for her. She sighed and said she longs for a man who would take her to dinner and pay for it.

We had quite a discussion about Danish relationship culture between Danish men and women and Danish men and Non-Danish woman (Danish men DO romance non-Danish women, put on nice clothing, pay for the woman's meals, buy them gifts, give them flowers, open doors, pull out chair, carry/move heavy items etc. because they know they won't get anywhere with a non-Danish if they do not treat her special and romance her).

But besides that, we talked about creating the Vision Board and realizing that is it about HER vision, not about the limitations of culture. Vision has no limits except the ones you put on it.

Romance does not need to mean being poor. It is like the false association people make between spirituality and poverty. One need not be poor and struggling because one has and uses spiritual gifts nor must one give away for free professional services such as readings, consultations coaching etc. Those are warped concepts coming form people with small minds and selfish greedy hearts who want something for nothing and in truth, do not value your service. Now, getting back to romance.....the fact is, romance can be deliciously sumptuous and luxurious.

RICH ROMANCE: That is the phrase we came up with for her and so now she is looking for images to represent rich romance. Luxurious beds, thick soft his and hers robes, a man feeding a woman as she lays back on silk sheets. Romance can be feeding each other whole strawberries dipped in hot melted chocolate, a couples cruise on the Mediterranean, skiing together in Aspen for the weekend, a picnic in the park, taking a year of tango lessons together, being given a bouquet of flowers.

Treating you like his football buddy and expecting you to "hang out" with him is lazy and unromantic. A man spends his money on the people and things he finds valuable. Ask any man. If he wants to see a live sports event, even though his team might lose, he does what he must to get a ticket. Are you less valuable than a football game?

Romance is not a cheap thing. Romance shows intention, focus and consideration. Romance is soft, velvet, warm to hot, exciting, delicious, passionate, adventurous, loving, playful, kind, considerate.

You see, you can have (do or be) whatever you desire. You just need to let your mind's eye see it. Create that vision and go with it.

So, if you want romance in your life, there are examples out there for your Vision Board and for you to use as a springboard for your imagination. Start clipping and printing.

9 days until......

To your success!

Barrett

P.S. I am making myself available for those who are willing to invest in themselves and their success for 2010. I am ready to coach you in creating a life for yourself that is happy, fulfilling and abundant in every sense of the word. When you are ready to do this, send me an email and let’s get started.

10 Days...

2009-12-21T12:50:00.001+01:00

In all the winter festivities we have an opportunity to enjoy ourselves, our families, and our friends. We have an opportunity to look back on the last 12 months and ee the progress we have made and to celebrate.

Focusing on the abundance that is present in your life keeps abundance on track in your life! It keeps it flowing. Continue to do that.

And start preparing for the vision that you will make materialize your your life in 2010.

I am challenging you:

On January 1, 2010, take a few hours of your day on the first day of teh year and make your Vision Board.

The first thing you need to do it start collecting magazines and downloading/printing photos you like from the Internet that represent your vision.

It is only 10 days until you make your intentions known to the Universe so they can manifest.

10 days......

To your success!

Barrett

Two Important Things for 2010

2009-12-16T14:30:00.000+01:00

The holidays are in full play and the days and nights are busy with preparations and festivities. The news is full of dramatic events and situations. The economic picture, as I have said many times, has not changed and will not make dramatic changes as we are living in the New Normal. The only difference is that now, people are beginning to accept it. There will be no dramatic turnaround. There is a slow stabilization. People must cope now with the consequences of the decisions they made and deeds they committed during the mid 1990’s to mid-2000s.

None of us has any legitimate ground to stand on when we try to focus on blameing presidents, governors, the banks, foreign leaders, our neighbors, our family members, etc for our situations. Some of us have undergone serious, sometimes painful and deeply transforming change over the last few years. Some of us prospered and some of us did not. We all can see the anxiety-producing news on the TV and computer and hear it on the radio and in our conversations with other people.

But what makes us all equal is the ability to change so that we can BE, DO or HAVE anything we desire – in short, to be successful and enjoy the journey in the meanwhile.

With this in mind, as we get ready to close the door on 2009 and leap into 2010, I have two questions for you:

Who is the most important person in your life?

What will be your most important day in 2010?

The answer to the first question is YOU.

The most important person in your life is not your wife or husband, mother or father, employer, neighbor or best friend. The most important person in your life is YOU.

Today, many people say they are overwhelmed and fearful about having a secure, safe and happy life for themselves and their families. They constantly feel suspicious, threatened and many times angry and jealous when they hear about someone who has something they desire but do not have.

This is why it is vital, now more than ever to take good care of yourself.

This is why the answer to the second question is YOUR VISION DAY in 2010.

Your Vision Day is the day you decide to stop living in the stress, anxiety, and insecurity and create a better life. This means your most important day is the day in 2010 when you choose to take control of your life and make it a success by choosing to

clarify your vision
align your goals with your purpose
develop a detailed plan to manifest your dream into visible reality

This is how you will take good care of the most important person in your life, YOU.

You must realize YOU are the most important person in your life. You must realize that your most important day is YOUR VISION DAY.

I have been focusing much of my life’s calling on intercultural work. I come into contact with expatriates almost every day. Expatriates are those living in countries other than their native one for work or school. One of the most significant things I have found in my research and my daily contact with expatriates from around the world is that it is crucial to be POSITIVE. Without a positive attitude and approach, it is not possible to thrive in your adopted culture. It is important to recognize that the most important person in your life is YOU and to take the time to give important to your expatriate life success in 2010 by giving yourself the space and time for that most important day, YOUR VISION DAY.

It sounds cliché, but I propose you make that important day New Years Day.

Start fresh.

On New Years Day I will be celebrating the new year with a tasty and filling breakfast, putting on freshly laundered clothes, then sitting down to spend the day crafting a Vision Board. I have been collecting words and pictures from many sources for this. My folder of items, my glue stick and poster board will be transformed into a portrait of the things I expect for my successful 2010. I will stop in the evening only to have an Abundance Dinner of several of my favorite and delicious foods.

I recommend you do the same.

To your success

Barrett

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2009-12-10T12:32:00.000+01:00

I really enjoy the holiday times of the year. The Advent/Christmas season, or Jul as they call it here in Denmark. is a particularly joyous time for me. It is for many. There are carols being played and sung, candles being lit, specials candies, cookies, pies and cakes being made, delicious foods are being prepared, wreaths (or kranses as they call them in Denmark) and trees are being made and decorated. The smell of pine and yummy foods....the parties and teas planned with friends and family are numerous. This year I am having Adventhygge ("Advent coziness") with some friends the last Sunday in Advent and it will be quite nice with hot glogg, frikadeller, nisserhuler (Christmas hats), Christmas music and more. I have two friends in California who throw the BEST Christmas party every December. The gift-giving, which is a big thing for many of us, is a smaller part for me, as I get the most pleasure from planing the celebrations with people and spending time together preparing food and decorations, sharing food and drink, laughing, hanging decorations, seeing familiar and unfamiliar faces, sending handwritten Christmas cards and making merry!

This means there is a lot of detailed planning, coordination and organization It takes a lot of time. In fact I start in July and simply turn up the speed in November. Never mind the fact that I usually do not take down my Christmas tree until sometime between April and June...and begin waiting to hear my first Christmas son, which has been as early as July. Many people are as attentive to detail and well-organized as I am for the winter holidays.

I was baking cookies for the Adventhygge and thinking today, with all this detailed planing we do for Christmas (and not to mention, Hannukah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and New Years), what if we put this energy into planning our life?

So, I ask you.....

1. How much time have you spent planning the winter holidays?

2. How much time have you spent planning your success in 2010?

As many of my client know, I am quite intuitive, but that has no bearing on my ability to know that many can answer the first question with responses such as "months, days weeks"or "many hours"......and at the same time I know the answer the to the second question is "nothing" or "I can't think about that now" or "I'll get to it next year".

If you spend as much time planning, organizing and committing to the success your 2010 as you spend planning, organizing and committing to the success of your Advent/Christmas celebrations, what do you think would happen?

Your holiday parties, meals and celebrations turn out to be exciting, emotion-filled, satisfying and joyous successes because of the time and energy you put into them. What would happen if you did the same with your time and energy regarding your life, and more specifically, your life in 2010.

I know this is hard. I know several Danes who are under the hypnotic and depressive spell of a phenomenon here called Janteloven. It is a cultural and tribal philosophy which quietly demands that people not use their special gifts, talents, or their desires and energy, to be anything outstanding. It is not a well-liked philosophy, but nevertheless, is followed by many out of fear of being excluded from the tribe, so to speak. People hide the best of who they are and many are depressed because of it. They sacrifice their success before it can begin to bud. But they, like you, can change that, here and now. You can be positively different in 2010, and that is a GOOD thing!

Success will be yours in 2010 if you decide now to achieve it and begin planning for it, organizing it, putting the pieces together, coordinating, and in general putting your energy into it so that your life changes.

I hope you will take the time to contact me today to begin working with me in a coaching relationship to achieve your 2010 goals and make 2010 a fantastic celebration for you! I am clearing space in my calendar to coach 50 people -- to empower 50 people to change their life in 2010.

Will you be one of the successful people? Will you choose to do what it takes to be, do or have what your desire?

I hope so!

Write me and let's get started, and make this the most wonderful time of year, truly, as you intentionally plan to be successful in 2010.

I wish you the most spirit-filled Advent, the merriest of Christmases and a powerful New Years Day that is the start of a successful 2010!

To your success!

Living in the Present, Attracting the Future, Pt II

2009-12-06T13:05:00.001+01:00

In this second part of a two-part article on living in the present and attracting the future, I spoke about being emotionally detached from the details and the outcome when you set goals for yourself. It is not an easy task, but even harder if you do not know who to do it. Some of us are more naturally gifted at it and others of us need more information and assistance. In the first part I gave you four tips and now here are another four.

5. Speak in the present tense.
Living in a conditional state of “if” leads to depression, loss of hope, and negative emotions. Do not focus on what you will do “if” or “when” your dreams come true. Speak in positive sentences about your present situation and do that as each moment comes. In this way you are not making your happiness dependent on another person or event. You are focused on the joy in the present moment and each moment moves you to the next and the future becomes the present.

6. Be a planner AND a doer.
Planning your goals and preparing for the future IS important. Set YOUR goals, make your Vision Board and know what you want 5 years from now. However you cannot simply do nothing and expect it to happen. You must put energy into achieving your outcome. Sometimes there will be times when you must wait without seeing visible changes, but trust that things will manifest. If you spend the majority of your time planning and making lists, you are not leaving time to live in the present moment. Life moves quickly.

7. See the present possibilities.
If you see the possibilities of the present, you will see the keys to making your future manifest completely. Manifestation occurs many times invisibly, many times in ways we do not expect, and many times in small moments of time. Keep your eyes open to the present possibilities and you will be an attractive, magnetic person.

8. Take a temporary break.
If you're living in desperate hope that someone will change or something will happen or improve, you are negatively avoiding the present moment. When you realize you are feeling that desperation, chill out! Take a break in fantasyland to refresh yourself when you have been living with too much pressure, but return to the present before you forget fantasyland is not real. You will have renewed energy after your break to see the present possibilities, and that is positive energy!

Using these eight tips, you should be able to get a handle on your emotions and your actions so that you make positive progress while enjoying your current daily life. All this makes you attractive to positive energy and the manifestation of your goals. You do not have the feeling of lack when you employ these techniques, and in fact will realize the abundance of your present moment.

Living in the Present, Attracting the Future, Pt I

2009-12-05T12:12:00.001+01:00

So what do you do when you have decided what goals you want to achieve and the life you want to create for yourself?

You must make yourself attractive to those goals. Remember, we are talking about the principle of the Law of Attraction.

But now I am going to tell you something about making yourself attractive that is not so easy to do and many of us do not have the natural ability to do this. Some people do…for example, in astrology it is those people with strong Air sign energy (Aquarius, Libra, Gemini) who are [generalization here] naturally less emotionally and spiritually gifted and more intellectually gifted. They more These are the folks who have you wondering why it always appears as though you want them and they couldn’t care any less about your existence.

They have a strong sense of DETACHMENT.

Why is detachment necessary?

It is necessary because you want to achieve something in the future, but you must live in the now and not have a sense of lack. Having the energy of lack within you draws lack of abundance to you and you will not achieve your goals.

So how do you keep your eye on the prize of the future but live in the present?

1. Be passionate about the Present.
Yes, you want your life to change, but you need to look at what you have now and find the things for which you can be grateful. Change your present in little and large ways. Put energy into make TODAY the best it can be. DO not spend your day wishing you had what your neighbour or anyone else has. Know your future goals but focus on today.

2. Stop being seduced by the media.
Most television is absolute trash today. Turn off the idiot-box. Those fake competitions, unfunny comedies, violent crime dramas, and worst of all, those “reality shows” about someone else’s contrived reality lived out before a camera crew are absurd and create more lack within you. The commercials are seductive and you find reasons to waste your time and money on things you do not need (and cannot afford in most cases). You are depriving yourself of a good quality of life by the garbage on the television, radio and tabloids. These fake and crazy lifestyles are what it means to have a real life. Get a life – not a reality show!

3. Accept yourself as you are now.
Who you are, right now, is fine. If you want to change something about yourself for yourself, do it. But be happy with yourself and stop demanding perfection. If you were perfect you would be (God). Allow yourself make mistakes, forgive yourself, and move forward. Instead of asking yourself “What are my weaknesses?” make statements such as “I can improve (BLANK)”. Let your imperfections teach you. Right now do the best you can and as you learn more do better. The Universe is quite patient with you and will give you time to change. Live in the present with your imperfect self and love yourself. It makes you much more attractive. The future needs you to evolve, not improve. Evolution only emanates from a starting point. Grow from where you are by being in the present, not hungering for the future and torturing yourself because you do not have it.

4. Associate with other Present People.
It is great to be with motivated people who have positive goals in life, rather than with negative complainers – but it is self-defeating to hang with people who always remind you only of a future that is not yet manifested in the visible. They keep you off the present and you find nothing for which to be grateful. When you lose that attitude of gratitude you start surrounding yourself with negative energy and you feel yourself dissatisfied with life. Then you draw more dissatisfying circumstances and negative people to you. The best situation is to be with other people who, like you, have goals, but are using their gratitude and creativity in the present, while the future is manifesting. Be with others who also put physical, emotional and spiritual energy into the NOW and let the future success be attracted to you.

Keeping your sense of detachment from the future while keeping the future healthily in mind is a challenging balance but you CAN do it. And there are some other things you can do to maintain this detachment. More tips are coming in the second part of this article!

A Done Deal

2009-12-05T11:28:00.000+01:00

It’s a done deal.

This year is done, complete, and finished in less than 30 days.

The goals you set for 2009 – whether it was more money, to get a job, to get a good relationship, to find more time for relaxation, to change careers – you either accomplished them or you did not.

Now it is time to assess 2009 and begin to think about what you want to accomplish in 2010.
But if you did not reach your goals in 2009, this time I want you to take a different, more effective approach. I will tell you how, but first, let's concentrate on assessing 2009.

You CAN create your life as you would like it to be, but you must do certain things.

You CAN create your future, but you must both do and not do certain things.

One major thing you must do is to make yourself attractive by not only setting goals, but by detaching from the outcome.

This means you cannot tell the God/The Universe how it must deliver your goals to you. It will not work. Of course, if you decide that you must have a certain “John Smith” or “Jane Smith” as your spouse, then you will run into trouble. You are setting up yourself for failure.

Your goal should be something like “I want to be happily married to a wonderful and loving man/woman”.

Remember, when your goal involves other human beings, you are dealing with people’s free will. If the other person does not want to be with you, you cannot force her/him nor manipulate him/her and have a happy and wonderful relationship. If you want a wonderful and loving person, be a wonderful and loving person. Then, and this is hard, be patient and let the Universe work its magic.

If you want more money or a job, remember, it will not happen if you never talk to anyone about the job you desire (network!), never take a jobsearching course, never apply for a job, never work on your jobsearching materials (applications and CV). Once you have put out all the energy you are responsible for putting out there, be patient and know that the right job, the best job, one you love, is on its way to you.

And hear this clearly, because many of you are wasting time and money doing this: Calling an intuitive to ask if some mysterious sum of money is coming, or if you will win the lottery or if you can be told the winning lottery numbers, will not make you financially solvent. Stop this ridiculous behavior.

Getting back to setting goals for 2010...there is another step in this process, but for now, focus on assessing the goals you set a year ago and what you have and have not achieved. Look at the path you travelled in achieving it over the last 12 months and think about what you DID and DID NOT DO, as well as what you, in 2010, need to DO and NOT DO. Have no regrets, simply make an honest assessment.

This assessment process will help prepare you as you put together the goals you want to achieve and the successful life you want to create in 2010.

Be sure to celebrate yourself, your family and your friends over the holidays in the coming weeks, and let’s get ready to ROCK the year 2010!!

Be Expectant

2009-11-29T12:10:00.000+01:00

For many of this weekend began the winter holiday season. Where I live in Europe, people are lighting their first Advent candle of the year, with three more Sundays to go after this. Advent is a time of preparation, a time of active waiting and excitement. At the end of Advent is the beginning of the Christmastide (12 days of Christmas, ending with Epiphany on January 6).

It can be helpful, in these dark days of winter, to look at life like that -- this period you are in, this time when things do not seem to be happening -- it is really a period of active waiting, a time of preparation. You say you want more money, a job, a better job, a relationship or a better relationship, the oportunity to travel, some friends, a baby...whatever it is that is important to you.

What are you doing in this period of time to prepare and actively wait for it? What are energy are you putting in place?

If you have put energy in place, can you stop and take an hoent look at see the small signs of the energy at work? Most of all, are you GRATEFUL for this time period and the small signs?

If you want more money -- are you being honest and ethical in your dealings with oterhs or trying to steal from them (expecting them to give you something for nothing, trying to underpay people, undervaluing people's services or talents, cheating when you think no one is loking, not forgoing luxuries and saving the money etc).

If you want a good relationship -- what kind of person are you to be in relationship with? Are you taking good care of yourself, presenting yourself well, putting on a smile and dressing nicely? Are you making the effort to be social? Are you learning new things so you will have something to talk about? Are you thinking and speaking positively?

If you want a job -- are you doing everything possible to get it? Have you joined jobsearching courses/classes? Have you had a professional review your CV/resume and application letters? Are you applying for unsoliciated as well as advertised positions?

For any thing that you have set as your goal, for any good thing that you desire to have come to you -- prepare now and actively wait by making sure you put in all the effort you can. Be grateful, not resentful. Be positive, not negative.

Do not give up. If you get tired: tell a friend, a counselor, a coach. Get some sleep. Take some vitamins. Eat a good well-balanced meal (No fast-food!). Get some fresh air and a little exercise. Replenish your resources.

And finally.......be expectant.

The good thing IS materializing, You simply cannot see it....yet.

To your success!

The Wonderful Thing about Tiggers

2009-07-25T09:55:00.000+02:00

One of my favorite books on my bookshelf is The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh. The lovely stories, poems and songs in it kept me enchanted as a child when my parents read them to me and when I was able to later read them to myself. They gave me much insight about life. One favorite character of mine is Tigger, who has much to teach us about being unique, special, a person of integrity and positively following our calling in this world.

There is a story from the book The House at Pooh Corner titled "In Which Tigger is Unbounced". In this story Rabbit, who we come to know through the Pooh books is nervous and rather controlling, crafts a plan to take the bounce out of Tigger. Rabbit is infuriated at how Tigger is so full of bounce and joy. You see, Tigger is quite a joyful Tigger, bouncing around and enjoying life, friends and anything which comes his way. He makes the best of situations and does not spend time pouting or looking at the negative. Tigger makes great progress in life and life is very good.

One day Rabbit says to Pooh and Piglet that he has devised a plan to take Tigger into the woods where he has never been, lose him there and then go back to get him the next day. He says it will change Tigger and Pooh asks "Why?", to which Rabbit replies:

"Because he'll be a Humble Tigger. Because he'll be a Sad Tigger, a Melancholy Tigger, a Small and Sorry Tigger..."

He goes on to say that it would be a good thing to bring Tigger down and "make Tigger feel Small and Sad for just five minutes".

Pooh and Piglet are convinced by Rabbit's logic and they go about it. Roo is picked up along the way. But what happens is that Pooh, Piglet and Rabbit get lost. Tigger explains to Roo that there's a funny things about Tiggers -- they never get lost! Eventually Tigger sets off to find his three lost friends. Pooh and Piglet find their way home through Pooh listening to his 12 pots of honey at home on his shelf. But Rabbit, insistent on his own way, get even more lost. Eventually, Tigger finds Rabbit....a very changed Rabbit:

"And the Small and Sorry Rabbit rushed through the mist at the noise,and it suddenly turned into Tigger; a Friendly Tigger, a Grand Tigger, a Large and Helpful Tigger, a Tigger who bounced, if he bounced at all, in just the beautiful way a Tigger ought to bounce"

I have always remembered this incident at Pooh Corner because it taught me early in life to be myself, to treasure my uniqueness and to not allow others to bring me down because they feel insecure.

The same applies to us as adults. Look around you. Who around you tries to control you and your success? Who around you tries to stop you from bouncing? Who tries to throw negative energy, statements and actions your way? Those people feel dark, "small and sorry" inside and want you to join them.

I have been there. Over my lifetime I have encountered people who could not bear it that I always found something to smile about, something to be positive about -- and that even if things went horribly wrong, they soon went wonderfully right because that was the kind of energy I put out.

Once, I traveled by airplane to participate in a spirituality exhibition. I was supposed to be picked up at he airport, but there was a very spiritually dark woman there who I had once tried to befriend. We lived in the same city and could have become great friends but she was a Rabbit, wanting to be in control and she would do dark competitive things to others, then wonder why she had no actual friends who KNEW her. I wished her well in my head and realized we would never be on the same upward path. I was heading more intensely into my coaching career and I needed to keep my focus there.

For this particular event, she was also going and had arrived earlier than me but did not want me to participate because she felt I outshone her. To try to "jab" me she convinced my host not to pick me up at the airport. I was told when I got to the airport, to take find and take the subway system out to the suburbs. The next morning before the exhibition we would then go do some activities. I had a number of bags and ended up not only missing my stop, when I did get off, I left a crucial bag on the subway car. Wonderfully my bag was almost immediately turned into lost and found! But then the next day, things got wild. Instead of being able to go have the fun morning that was planned, we (including my Pooh host and the Rabbit person who connived to prevent me from being picked up at the airport), were forced to spend 3-4 hours retrieving my bag from the transportation company. I was in good spirits and so very pleased at getting my bag returned immediately and intact. But as I reflected after getting home, the others around me were desperately sad, frustrated, and one person was roiling with dark anger over being unable to control everyone. Over the course of that weekend she not only tried to have me abandoned at the airport, she slapped another woman in the face, bashed into me at a restaurant hoping to knock me over, made racist remarks, and behaved darkly all weekend. I noticed the shift in energy when I got in the car at the airport for my drive to my next destination.

I was Tigger that entire weekend and never got lost. I kept my integrity, my ethics, my intentions and my focus on success and a positive path even when my Rabbit convinced Pooh to try to lose me in the woods. I knew then, as I know now, that in order to be successful I did not need to take anything from anyone -- and I was right.

I have gone on to achieve my goals of becoming a coach, and spiritual advisor, of living in two different countries, of (working towards) a Ph.D. in Psychology, and some other things. Like Tigger, I kept bouncing and never let her or anyone else pull me down.

If you are to keep to YOUR calling, and stay on YOUR path, you must remember that like Tigger, even if someone deviously plots to take you into dangerous woods and lose you there, you will never get lost. Why? Because you will remember your calling and get back on your path and notice lovely things in the woods along the way....as you bounce your way on your journey!

Start practicing being a Tigger - unique, special, directed, positive and progressively moving forward! Abundance comes easily and effortlessly to Tiggers. Positive thinking comes easily to Tiggers and has a visible effect. Great success comes to Tiggers.

You have so much to offer the world -- it will take all your Tiggerness to achieve it. If you know the tune, here is a great song to sing to keep your Tiggerness in mind:

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is Tiggers are wonderful things.
Their tops are made of rubbers
The bottoms are made of springs.
They're
Bouncy,
Flouncy,
Trouncy,
Pouncy,
Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!!!

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is I'm the only one

I'm the only one !

If you want to work with me on empowering and improving your life through coaching -- bringing out your unique and wonderful Tiggerness -- contact me.

To your success!

Barrett

How to Visualize

2009-07-19T17:00:00.000+02:00

Today I want to offer you a great article by Debbie Simon on visualization. It will be a great help to you!

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How to Visualize

The question that people most often ask me is, "how do I visualize?". It's my belief that those who say they don't, really do, just as people who say they don't dream, really do but don't remember. Dreaming and visualizations are in the same family. Both take you to "inner worlds". If you let go of concepts that you havelearned in the past, such as "the mind creates a dreams", and imagine for a moment, that the dreams we have take us to other levels of existence, you will understand how visualizations work.

Visualizations are not just making pictures in your mind. There is an energy attached to your thoughts and pictures that you conjure up or that appear in your mind. Separate your concept of the mind and the brain. Think of the brain as simply an organ, like the heart is. Now imagine that your mind has no form and does not house itself in the brain. Just as the feeling of love does not comedirectly from the heart organ. These are earth shattering concepts for some, but nothing new for others. If you are having trouble following this, just let it go and don't even try to understand it. Close your eyes and what happens?

The reason we do breathing and relaxation exercises before going into visualizations is to get in the most receptive state. These steps take us to our inner existence. We have an outer world and an inner world and we participate in both worlds. That's a lot to digest right there. To understand visualizations you need to begin to accept the existence of the inner and the outer worlds. Think of a building. Think of a particular building like "the Empire State Building" or something similar. Now think of a yellow flower. Think of a red flower. What are the different images or sensations that come to "mind"? We all have concepts of these things and ways of forming images that make sense to us. When you are trying to make changes in your life, I find the most effective visualizations involve images of "breaking through" something.

To overcome obstacles, you can literally see yourself knocking downwalls, or crossing over a bridge and reaching the other side as you fight off each challenge. I will call these kinds of visualizations "indirect visualizations". Indirect visualizations are more powerful than visualizing the house that you want or the car youdream of. Direct visualizations are material and will get you material results. This is where people make a wrong turn in the road. Indirect visualizations will get to the very core of a longstanding issue. There is a much deeper meaning to life than manifesting houses and cars. We are looking for one thing and we think that by achieving certain levels of success we will find it, but that is not where it is at all. We seek understanding. We wantto know why things happen to us. We want to have more control over our lives.

Visualizations can lead us to the answers we seek. They can guide us to our next step. They can help us find clarity in an otherwise fuzzy world. So where does one start? Start exactly where you are and see what happens as you put the slightest effort into this.

Debbie Simon, LCSW is a NY State Licensed Psychotherapist and LifeCoach. She uses visualization as a tool to accelerate the processtoward manifestation and success. In her 20 years of practice shehas helped hundreds of people change their lives in significant ways.
http://www.visualprosperity.comhttp://www.visualprosperity.blogspot.com

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I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something useful about visualization! Have a great day!

To your success!

Barrett

Law of Attraction - 10 Common Mistakes

2009-07-17T17:00:00.000+02:00

Here is a great article by Pete Koerner!

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Law of Attraction - 10-Common "Attraction-Mistakes"People Make

If you don't think the Law of Attraction is working for you, thentry and understand that the Law works the same for everybody - wejust don't all put the same kinds of thoughts and feelings into our desires. Everyone uses their thought processes in different ways;different thoughts generate different results. People who are successful at creating and manifesting their dreams and desires are people who think about their plans and desires in a certain way. But people who don't seem to be getting what they want in life also think about the things they want in a certain way - and each kind of thinking bears its own kind of fruit.

People who are successful and creative typically think in terms of possibilities, opportunities, and success; they think of theworst-possible outcome, for any given situation, only long enough to make decisions about the future - never dwelling on "worst-case scenarios" after a decision has been made. People who complain that prayers aren't answered, and the Law of Attraction doesn't work, on the other hand, have a tendency to dwell on the worst thing imaginable - shooting themselves in the foot, where the Law of Attraction is concerned, by maintaining a more negative emotional state.

If you can identify negative or limiting thought-patterns andbehaviors within yourself that are holding you back, you can takesteps to eliminate them using prayer, meditation, or an EnergyPsychology technique like Gary Craig's Emotional Freedom Techniques(EFT), or Grant Connolly's Z-Point Process. The first step in eliminating negative thoughts and behaviors is to recognize negative thoughts and actions when they arise.

Here's a list of 10-common Law of Attraction mistakes that can keep your dreams at bay:

1. Thinking about what you don't want rather than what you do want

2. Spending more time thinking negative thoughts than you dothinking "positively"

3. Being impatient

4. Not thinking about what you want

5. Not doing what you love - not maintaining a positivemental/emotional state

6. Declaring that the Law of Attraction doesn't work, or prayers aren't answered

7. Not being specific about what you want

8. Trying to control outcomes and change physical conditions with force

9. Thinking, or worrying, too much about what you might be doing wrong

10. Being Judgmental, Unforgiving, Ungrateful, and/or Unappreciative

Any of these things will put you in a negative state rather than apositive one; and your "vibration" will be one of stress ratherthan joy, relaxation, and healing. If you find yourself thinking ordoing any of the things from this list, you may be able to receivethe experience you have been trying to attract by simply letting-goof the "negative" behavior, or replacing it with the "positive"version - for example, spending more time thinking positively thannegatively, or being very specific about your desire. When you haveremoved these self-limiting behaviors, and are clear about yourheart's desire, there will be nothing between you and your dreams.

*To download your FREE, Illustrated Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Manual, go to: http://www.ExploreExpandEvolve.com/free_download (It only takes about 10-seconds to get your Free EFT manual and start erasingfears and limiting beliefs!)

Pete Koerner is the author of The Belief Formula: The Secret toUnlocking the Power of Prayer. The Belief Formula is a look at how you can use ancient wisdom and modern scientific awareness to learn how to use your mind to reclaim your health and create the life ofyour dreams. For a Free Report on Making The Belief Formula Work for You, visit:http://www.TheBeliefFormula.com

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I hope you got something great out of this article by Pete Koerner! Have a wonderful day!

To your success!

Barrett

How is Your Money Mojo?

2009-07-15T17:00:00.000+02:00

Here is an excellent article on money, by Zoë Routh!

(Zoë Routh is a coach at Inner Compass where she helps personal development enthusiasts create their own best life using the law of attraction. Zoë is the author of ebook Absolute Productivity – a handbook for your personal and professional life.)
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How is Your Money Mojo?

Money is just like anything else - it is made of energy, it behaves as all energy does. All energy vibrates and is attracted to other energy of similar vibration.

The magic, or 'mojo', of attracting money is all about making sure your energy matches the energy of abundant money.

If you feel bad about money, then chances are you are repelling money and attracting more circumstances that perpetuate feeling bad about money, or feeling bad in general.

How can you start changing your money mojo?

First of all, you need to get in tune with what kind of thoughts, feelings, and vibrations you are currently experiencing around money. Take an inventory of your current thoughts and beliefs and emotions around money. Think about what you learned from your family about money.

What kinds of behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs were reflected there for you to learn and absorb as a young person?

As you write your inventory, notice how these thoughts and beliefs make you feel. Do they feel good (exhilirated, excited, joyful, abundant) or do they make you feel bad (worried, troubled, resentful, frustrated)?

This is your gauge - if you feel bad more often than good about money, then you are attracting people, things, and circumstances that reflect that vibration.

Once you have an awareness about what is happening with your Money Mojo, you can then deliberately choose new beliefs, new feelings, and new thoughts around money that reflect more of what you truly desire (wealth, abundance, freedom).

Here is one simple way to boost your money mojo immediately:

Identify as many examples every day where money absolutely serves you well each day. Maybe it is that you have enough coins to put in the parking meter, or you have enough to buy a cup of coffee, or that you have enough to have clothes on your back (there is money in clothes, even if you did not buy them yourself), or maybe you find a spare coin in the couch (real evidence of the magic of money!)

When you tune in to how money is already working well and magically for you in your life, and you feel genuine appreciation for that, then you are changing your money calibration to 'abundance'. You are generating positive vibrations, you are feeling good, and therefore it follows you will attract people, things, and circumstances that also make you feel good. This is how you start a positive tailspin into feeling good all the time (instead of a negative tailspin of doubt, stress, and worry).

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I hope you have gotten something good from this article! Be sure to check out Inner Compass!

To your success

Barrett

Your Financial Thermostat

2009-07-11T17:00:00.000+02:00

Oprah Winfrey’s and Donald Trump’s is set to “Billionaire”

Where is yours?

What I am asking is “Where is your financial thermostat set?”

We all have one and it is set for “Poverty”, or “Struggle”, or “Striving” or “Not Enough” or “Millionaire” or “Billionaire” etc.

When it is cold in your home in winter you set the thermostat on high so that you get and stay warm.

In order to keep money flowing well through your life you must set your financial thermostat to “high”.

Wealth and abundance either are or are not in your life because of your financial thermostat.

Take a look at your life to see where your thermostat is set. Your beliefs and thoughts about money are evident in the life you live and your surrounds. You either struggle to pay bills or you easily write checks and do not have any concerns about “making ends meet”.

Your financial thermostat is hardwired into you like a master blueprint. You follow that blueprint every moment of your day, keeping yourself at the level you have decided you are “allowed” to live financially. You can have a poverty consciousness or a wealth consciousness.

When you have a poverty conscious it means that even if you receive an inheritance or win the lottery, you ultimately end up struggling to pay the rent or mortgage because your beliefs and thoughts about money are so low that you do things to remove the money from your life. You set your financial thermostat to “Not Enough” or “Poverty” or “Just Getting By”.

Resetting and Raising Your Financial Thermostat
This is not acceptable to people who want to be successful. What you want to do is reset your financial thermostat by changing your money blueprint. You want your financial thermostat to be set at “Midas Touch”.

Again, Donald Trump was more than $2 billion in debt at one point, but once again, as we have known him to do, he was back on top with an estimated net worth of $5 billion. That is because he has his financial thermostat set for “Billionaire”: he thinks and believes he deserves billions and he knows he will receive it. He does not give up when there are obstacles and he has no doubt about being a billionaire. It is the level of money what he desires to have in his life.

When you reset your financial thermostat for “Midas Touch” you may have financial setbacks but you will cruise through them and regain or surpass your high financial setting.

To reset and raise your financial thermostat you must examine the childhood beliefs you have about money – you financial blueprint.

We are taught some rather sick, weird and false things about money as children – things such as “money is the root of all evil”, rich people cannot go to heaven”, “rich people are greedy”, “being poor is holy and means you are closer to God”, “having a lot of money means you have done something bad”, “rich people are crooked”, “you can only have money is you work very hard”, “money doesn’t grow on trees” etc. Worse yet, we are taught these things by people we love, want to be friends with, or admire.

By believing these things you have set you financial thermostat to “Scarcity”, “Poverty”, “Not Enough” and other money-dissolving levels.

As an adult you can change your money blueprint and reset your financial thermostat by doing the following:

First, create a new blueprint in which you are the mastermind of your financial life. Name yourself as a Winner, Hero and see yourself as a positive and successful person.

Second, substitute old, tired, limiting beliefs with empowering, positive affirmations that you SAY ALOUD such as:**

I can be, do, and have anything I desire
Money works hard for me
I always have more than I need
I live in an abundant universe and I deserve all it offersI am an excellent money manager.

Money brings good things into my life

**Do this specially for the next 40 days

Third, commit yourself to being financially successful. State the level of prosperity you desire, the amount of money you want in your life on an annual basis decide that no matter what, you will achieve it. Know that you are a Money Magnet.

Fourth, keep a Prosperity Journal and write down every penny, nickel, dollar etc that comes to you in any form/ Then tell the Universe you are grateful for it, and feel that gratitude in your heart.

Fifth, associate with great, positive, successful people. Read books, attend seminars and spend time with like-minded people. Do not spend time with people who are negative about life and specifically negative about money. You must surround yourself with people who encourage you to believe in yourself, in being successful and in being rich. If you are around people who give you the silent treatment, or strange looks, or outright negative comments when you talk about your financial goals, get away from these people. You will notice they have financial struggles and a low financial thermostat setting of “Not Enough”. By being negative in these ways, they are attempting to make sure you stay right down there with them. Sometimes they have the audacity to laugh at you and question you as to why you would think you can have wealth in life when they have known you to be poor. They do not want you to be successful, even if they say they do.

Success is Yours
Now that you have decided to change your money blueprint, and both reset and raise your financial thermostat, you will see change. You are set for “Wealth”, “Millionaire”, “Billionaire”, and other high financial settings”

Be happy about this and keep moving upwards.

If you need assistance in working to rest and raise your financial thermostat, coach with me and get the partnering, support and empowerment you need to deal with your poverty consciousness, and transform it into a wealth consciousness.

To your success!

Barrett

Using the Law of Attraction To Get a Mate

2009-07-09T17:00:00.000+02:00

Human relationships are challenging. A mate relationship is especially challenging because it is two people growing and changing and journeying wit each other as they do it. Such a relationship gives us a taste of the divine feeling of knowing God, of being loved as an individual human being. Yes relationships can be heavenly!

The hardest part is actually making contact with the person who brings you into a state of bliss. What people commonly want to know is how they can attract a SPECIFIC person that they dream of as their mate.

Can you manifest a relationship with someone specific? The answer is yes and no.

On the "yes" side of the answer, there are two ways in which you could do this. One way is if the other oerson is ambivalent about what they wpnt and you employ your creative powers to specifically manifest this person. However you might not like what the relationships consists of when they arrive because you can manifest the person, but you cannot force them to be the type of person you want them to be. You get the person, "warts and all". Are SURE you want that person?

The second way you can attract a specific person is if that person also wants you and wants what you want. This can occur even if they are not conscious of it. But beyond this it would not be possible because you cannot manifest another person's reality without their will and participation.

On the "no" side of the answer, you cannot mgically force someone to fall in love with you and stay with you forever. Even if you could, that is not love, and love is utimately what you want. You want someone who actually WANTS you and WANTS to be with you because of who you are.

What you are actually desiring to expereince, as I stated earlier, is the presence of God in your life, through an intimate relationship. You want to manifest comfort, peace, love, and security into your life.

The key is to stay focused on the positive feelings that a loving relationship with "someone" will bring us, rather than staying focused on forcing a relationship with a specific person. The right person will then manifest into your life.

If you would like do do some relationship coaching to gain the tools necessary to manifest a good relationship, contact me!

To your relationship success!

Barrett

Outrageous Living -- Learning to Live on More

2009-07-06T14:36:00.000+02:00

When people are tightening their belts, home values have dropped, the stock market has plummeted and credit is nearly impossible to find you know it is necessary to make changes. However, just because we live in the New Normal era, your mind should not be focused on living in poverty. Your mind should be focused on living in abundance and outrageously so. You can make that your goal and make it happen by taking certain steps.

You may think this is impossible but that is because you are not accustomed to thinking in the Certain Way necessary to achieve success. How can you actually live abundantly when there is less? How can you enjoy the pleasures of life when there is a global financial crisis?

Here is how:

Make lists. You must make three lists. The first one is income and expenses. You need to know what is coming in and going out so write down your income and then list your major basic expenses in detail: food, shelter, loans, utilities and guess what percentage of your income goes to pay those. The second list should contain those same expenses and what percentage you desire to spend on those items. The third list must show exactly what actual percentage is being spent on those items. If the third list does not match up to the second, adjust your spending.

Use savings. If you have money put away, now is the time to take out some. To assist with monthly bills and a few small indulgences which are worth paying for even in a tight economy.

Eat well. Limit dining out to once a week and use the money you formerly spent on it to buy a basic cookbook, one of your favorite type of food, and ingredients for making fabulous dishes at home. Before you go shopping, eat well and make a list, so you do not make impulse purchases. You can eat the leftovers for lunch the next day or as starter for something else. In fact, pack delicious lunches for yourself.

Drink at home with friends. There are many discount beverage stores. Go to one and buy the sparkling water, teas, beers, specialty coffees and alcohol you like at much cheaper prices than at a regular store or bar. Invite friends over to make it a social event and put out some snacks.

Enjoy the Summer. Pack a tasty picnic lunch and go to the park. Do most of your cooking on the outside grill (fish, meats and vegetables) and serve cold vegetable and fruit salads. You can also make pasta and other things outside that require being heated in a heavy pot if you grill is big/strong enough.

Use the park’s natural running paths and soft grass for exercising. Yoga, tai chi and other martial arts can be done outdoors. Exercising on a mat on the grass gives is good cushioning and running on dirt is better for your knees than running on cement. It certainly is more scenic than a treadmill.

Make sure you go outside everyday for at least an hour and get some sunshine because it raises your serotonin levels and that makes you feel quite happy and able to see the possibilities of the day!

Stay warm in Winter. Put on the thermal underwear, flannels and sweats to keep personally insulated, then turn down the thermostat. Keep up with your full rent or mortgage payment and communicate with the landlord or lender if you need to make an adjustment.

Take regular bubble baths. Relaxing the body reduces mental stress and expands your ability to better enjoy life. You can purchase cheap bubble bath gels, bath salts and oils. You can also use homemade bath salts that can be made inexpensively (1 cup Epsom salts, 1 cup sea salt, 1 tablespoon of essential oils or perfume, and if you like, some food coloring). You can even make a large batch of this in your kitchen and put it in jars to give as gifts to friends.

Be touched. We need our bodies to be touched in order to thrive. It slows down our blood pressure and brings us inner peace and relaxation. Look in local magazines for discount coupons on foot massages and reflexology or full body massages at massage training schools. Check around for inexpensive nail salons. I know salons where you can get both a manicure and a pedicure, in a clean shop, for $20.

Take an Asian vacation. Keeping your mind focused on peace and the positive is easy to do when you take an Eastern direction. Use a DVD or find a free class and learn yoga, tantra, or tai chi – or all of them. Practice them at least 3 days a wee. Listen to soothing oriental music (can you hear the woodflutes?).

Host movie night. If you are not already a member, join an inexpensive service like Netflix and or run to the local video store and get 2-3 DVDs. Make some homemade popcorn and invite friends and family to join you for movie night.

Use free pleasures. Speaking of movies, take advantage of the free DVDs, CDs and books at your public library. You pay for them with your taxes so why not indulge?

If you would like partnering and support in changing your mindset so that you can change your life (get financially free, enjoy life more, become more creative, be abundant and more) start coching with me today! Coaching is $1200 for 3 hours to use as you desire.

To your success!

Barrett

Do You Push Too Hard?

2009-07-04T16:00:00.000+02:00

This was the year you were going to manifest more money into your life, exercise more and lose weight, get a better social life, buy your dream house, find a job, get the money to attend your family reunion, get rid of your clutter, eat better, take a decent vacation, etc.

You decided what you wanted, visualized, acted as if had had already received what you wanted.

In the end the result was… NOTHING.

There has been no strong flow of money into your bank account, your closets are just as disorganized and cluttered, you cannot afford a ticket to your family reunion, you have gained 10 pounds, your dream house is nowhere in sight, you are unemployed and you do not have a good group of friends.

Everyday you try harder. You ask yourself why it is not working when you are trying so hard. You ask yourself why, if you are doing everything right, is it not working? Why do you not yet have what you desire?

But…could it be that the answer it you are trying too hard? Trying too hard reveals that you are impatient and in that impatient you want circumstances and people to be to be different. You are too attached to that demand. It is revealing you are resisting change by accepting things the way they are. At this point you start focusing on what you do not want. You are trying too hard to be perfect.

You then begin resisting these feelings and being frustrated because things are not perfect. This feeling of imperfection is energy that is blocking what you want to manifest because that that energy of perfection is RESISTANCE.

By resisting the natural flow of people and circumstances you are operating against the natural and universal Law of Allowing.

The Law of Allowing says that when you let energy flow on its natural course it will eventually be attracted to you and flow in your desired direction. In order to allow this natural flow you must not push against it.

Change feels different. Different can feel uncomfortable. It is like putting on new clothes from the store. Things are a little stiff at first but you quickly adjust and see how good the clothes look on you.

Change means we must stop resisting and start allowing.

STOP RESISTANCE. START ALLOWING

How do you put and end to RESISTANCE and start ALLOWING what you desire to come to you?
Surrender. Abandon the fight. Stop demanding that you know everything, have everything, and look picture perfect while doing everything “just right”. Stop telling yourself you are too busy and learn to appreciate what you have already done, sit down and relax!

When you open yourself to receiving instead of resisting your body and mind relax. You lose the fight or flight response of defensiveness. You stop being impatient with people and angry about the lack of visible appearance of your desire. You become aligned with the Universe and what you desire manifests easily because you are letting the Universe take care of it, instead of you trying to control it. In practical terms this means that you allow people the freedom to be who they are and circumstances to be what they are. You do not “wage a war” against them, fight or resist, even passively. To do so means you are trying to change them.

You are not here in this lifetime to change anyone. We are a diverse world. When you try to change others you create the opposite of what you desire. Accept others as they are; accept that others believe differently than you do. The only person you can successfully change is you. You can change how you relate to other people and how you relate to circumstances.

By changing yourself and the way you relate to people you modify the way they relate to you because you are transforming the energy flow between them and you. By changing the way you feel about and deal with circumstances you change the relationship between a situation and you, because you change the energy. In accepting others as they are, you allow them to grow and to learn for themselves. The Law of Allowing loves diversity!

Diversity is not perfection. Diversity allows people to be themselves.

When we feel resistance to not doing our best, that is, to not being perfect, we can decide to not do our best – and some of us will then do nothing, feel guilty about it and lose our passion.

When you put forth discouraged, depressed, passionless energy like a deflated balloon, you get back from the Universe that same vibration – uninspired, passionless results that you do not want.

When a situation is not what you want you can choose to maintain your joy and your peace or feel impatient, angry and frustrated. You cannot change the circumstances. You can only change how you feel about the situation. You can choose to feel positive about what you have and what you are able to do. You can choose to feel good about the lessons you are learning through the circumstances taking place. You may not have a plane ticket to get to your family reunion but you can transform the energy of the situation for yourself by visualizing how wonderful the reunion will be for everyone attending and feeling happy about that. You can visualize yourself 20 lbs thinner and wearing smaller clothing sizes. You can focus on the ways you can be the kind of person you would like to have in your expanded social circle.

You have the power to allow everything you want to come into your life.

To your success!

Barrett

(If you would like speed up the process of mastering your life and allowing what you desire to manifest, starting coachng with me. Spend 3 hours [$1200] and transform your life)

Coaching and Positive Psychology, Part III

2009-07-03T19:25:00.000+02:00

In this third and final installemnt of a series on coaching and positive psychology, I take a look at the future of the two professions. As mentioned in the first installment, I feel it is safe to say that in the New Normal era in which we are living, there will be an increasing amount of people seeking coaches as they pursue and navigate their changed worlds.

(The material in this post is copyrighted material excerpted from my academic work, with all rights reserved by me and there is no permission to reprint it in any form)

Barrett

Coaching and Positive Psychology, Part III: Future Perspectives

by L. Barrett Powell

There are several aspects of coaching and psychology that have future implications and aspects, including 1) the theoretical relationship between coaching and psychology, 2) the professional relationship between the fields of coaching and psychology and 3) the development of coaching as a profession

Although psychology, like coaching, was initially viewed with suspicion and considered to lack credibility in its first few decades of existence as a profession, it is now a recognized profession which has established itself through the establishment of academic credentials and rigorous training, internal ethical codes and barriers to entry, and in some cases has external government- sanctioned organizations which can “police” the profession.

Psychologists are not uniquely competent and qualified coaches. People without academic degrees in psychology are able to be competent and qualified coaches. Some of these coaches are nationally or internationally known, and have no academic qualifications in psychology – Anthony Robbins, Martha Beck, Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, and John Asaraf. The great majority of coaches, of course, are not “famous”. Over the last few decades people have become more attuned to a need and “right” to be pursue happiness and live happy, fulfilling lives. They are turning to coaches, rather than to psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists for this accomplishment. Psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists are viewed as professionals whose services you need if you are mentally ill or diseased and need to become healthy. In fact, the psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist is required to view the person as a patient, and diagnose them with a mental disorder in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in order in order to receive insurance payments and for record-keeping purposes. Coaches are viewed as professionals whose services you engage when you are already healthy but want to achieve more or certain goals in your life. In terms of a future trend, I think we will see an increasing number of people hire coaches to achieve their life goals, rather than going to a psychologist, because people recognize they are not mentally ill; rather they desire help in having a more satisfying life.

However, there is clearly likely to be an increased alignment between coaching and positive psychology as this subcategory of psychology addresses the purpose and process of coaching. Other branches of psychology such as cognitive are more likely to be used in terms of guiding how some coaches may conduct individual sessions. However, a psychology which has as its base the assumption that the client is mentally ill, unhealthy, diseased and/or in need of a cure, will not appeal to basically healthy individuals who want more life satisfaction.

Where is the profession of coaching heading in terms of certification? A certification organization is able to provide initial and ongoing professional training, as well as ethical codes, but is certification necessary or valid? Who will determine the validity? Individual coaches may make independent choices on whether or not to join a coaching organization and which one to join. Membership is not mandatory in order to be a competent and qualified coach. Membership is also questionable in credibility. Take the case of the American Medical Association (AMA). A medical doctor in the USA may join the American Medical Association (AMA) but it is considered natural for all doctors to do so, but is not a requirement in order to practice medicine nor is it proof of competency and qualification. This is exhibited by the fact that by the end of the 19th century, US physicians had formed two national associations: the National Medical Association (NMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). This peculiar duplication reflected a profession segregated by race. The AMA was almost entirely white and discriminated against qualified non-white physicians; the NMA was predominantly black and founded in reaction to the exclusion of black physicians by many state and local medical societies and the AMA's refusal to recognize several racially integrated societies. This professional segregation endured from 1846-1968, well into the civil rights era. Thus, how valid was the AMA while it was excluding qualified potential members based on the color of their skin? Such discrimination in some form could theoretically happen in the coaching profession if the psychology profession takes over certification of the coaching profession. Using this example, it is clear certification is not an automatic panacea for those in the psychology field who want to regulate coaches and coaching.

Coaching will be difficult to regulate in the next 5-10 years (I will not speculate much beyond that time frame). With very well-known individuals (such as those named herein) being recognized as coaches, in addition to thousands of lesser known individuals, it will take a significant effort to shrink the number of coaches and regulate the field. However the nature of the profession may accomplish adequate self-regulation as ineffective coaches will not be successful in the field because clients are clearly able to tell if they have achieved goals or not.

Coaching and Positive Psychology, Part II

2009-07-02T19:08:00.000+02:00

In the second part of this series on coaching and psychology, I continue to examine the connections between coaching and positive psychology.

(The material in this post is copyrighted material excerpted from my academic work, with all rights reserved by me and there is no permission to reprint it in any form)

Barrett

Coaching and Positive Psychology, Part II
by L. Barrett Powell

Coaching is clearly a method through which human beings learn, thus it is educational. Through learning, human beings self-actualize. Coaching has ties to both learning and psychology in that1) the human psyche is engaged in the learning process and 2) the goal of coaching is to assist people in both goal-setting and goal attainment which subsequently results in increased life satisfaction.

Positive psychology with its roots in humanistic psychology, appears to have an advantage over all other schools of psychology in terms of a theoretical background for coaching. The coaching process involves educational psychology (situated learning, for example) because of the collaborative effort to empower the client to learn new things in the pursuit of goal attainment. Analytical psychology can inform the coach as to the nature of the coaching relationship, particularly on a transcendent level. Cognitive psychology (and narrative psychology, for that matter, although not included in this research project for reasons of delimitation) can provide guidance in terms of procedural ways of conducting sessions. Positive psychology, with its roots in humanistic psychology, however is a psychological theoretical approach which most closely matches coaching’s belief that the client is basically healthy and whole but simply needs assistance in overcoming obstacle to fulfillment and satisfaction. Coaching is above all about human growth and change. Rogerian principles are therefore central to the success of a coaching program. Where most therapy is focused on resolving deficits and weaknesses in the direction of restoring a person to functioning, coaching is a process focused on working with a person’s needs, wants, goals, or vision for where they want to go, and then designing steps for getting there. What humanistic therapies and coaching share is the idea that positive change is a driving force for clients in either modality. It can be summarized that in relation to coaching, positive psychology, with its roots in humanistic psychology has three primary relevant and defining characteristics:

a relational emphasis as the fundamental source of change

a holistic view of the person as a unique being

a belief in the possibility of freedom choice with accompanying responsibility

There are valid connections between the practice of coaching and the field of psychology which lend a valid and relevant psychological theoretical framework to coaching as a method of human learning and self-actualization. Those connections are based in psychological processes which take place during learning, as learning is a byproduct which results when a person being coached seeks to attain the goals she/he has set in coaching. Those connections are also based on positive psychological processes which take place through the goal setting and attainment. Positive psychology as a subcategory of psychology has a clear applied and theoretical connection.

Coaching can be used as a psychological tool in manifesting human potential (self-actualization) through its process of goal-setting. When a person is happy, content and experiencing a high degree of life satisfaction, she or he is a stronger, healthier contributor to her or his relationships and to society at large.

Coaching and Positive Psychology, Part I

2009-07-01T18:48:00.000+02:00

As we progress into the 21st century, one of the predicted life trends of the New Normal era which IS occuring is a significant growth in the profession of coaching. The pre-existing profession of psychology has arisen in the dicussion about coaching, as people in the psychology profession have grappled with people's decision at times to undertake coaching instead of therapy. Questions have arisen about whether coaching is really therapy that should be regulated under various psychology professional laws or whether it is someting that cannot be categorized as psychology. It has also been suggested that there is a middle ground. I have written an published academic research on the subject of coaching and one particular new branch of psychology which is called positive psychology. In this three-part series I will share with you some of my academic work.

Barrett

Coaching and Positive Psychology: Roots and Connections
by L. Barrett Powell

The modern school of positive psychology is rooted in humanistic psychology. Humanistic psychological theory, as proposed by American psychologist Carl Rogers is a person-centered approach. The humanistic approach is founded on an optimistic view of the person. Psychologist Abraham Maslow posited the theory of in natural self-actualization in human beings, believing that all organisms have an underlying tendency to self-actualize. In this theory, when the context allows, people will choose what is good for them because they can experience fulfillment or happiness, which culminates in enduring efforts to evolve and grow. (Stober. 2006: 19-20) A defining characteristic of the humanistic perspective is the holistic approach -- the emphasis on viewing people holistically (range of human experience): Individuals must value the full range of human experience: our physical, cognitive and affective or emotional, realities. (Stober 2006: 24-25) A humanistic approach takes into account individuality (uniqueness of the individual): If we accept that we construct reality from our perceptions and make sense of our perceptions in individual ways, then each person is a unique individual. If the client is a unique individual, then the relationship between practitioner and client must also be customized. There is no “one size fits all” approach in the humanistic approach. (Stober 2006: 25-26) The humanistic approach holds that there is a fundamental importance of the relationship between practitioner and client as a source of change (collaboration in the practitioner-client relationship): there must be active engagement of the practitioner in facilitating the client’s own awareness of how they experience themselves, their situation, what it means, and where they want to go with it. Stober 2006: 20-22) In the humanistic view, people independently have freedom of choice in how they respond to their environment. This independence is not a simplistic notion of complete autonomy; instead it is making choices within each individual’s particular context. Finally, humanistic psychology posits that human beings can make their own decisions (availability of choice): this view theorizes that we are unable to avoid making choices that influence our current and future selves. Choice implies a degree of freedom but is accompanied by the responsibility to be aware that in any given moment a choice is being made. Cultivation of this recognition is central to a humanistic approach. (Stober 2006: 26-27)

Positive psychology focuses on examining and comprehending how positive emotions work to improve normal life, rather than focusing on mental illness. Positive emotions are central to psychological thriving and have been found to have a significant impact on increasing intuition and creativity and widening scope of attention.

The heart of positive psychology lies in the practitioner’s choice to shift away attention away from pathology and pain and direct it toward a clear-eyed concentration on strength, vision, and dreams. (Stober. 2006: 220)

Research by psychologist Barbara Frederickson of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina shows that positive emotions boost other psychological functions; for example they empower individuals to open up their focus of attention and see the “big picture”.

The research on what does and does not lead to happiness has significant implications for coaching:

it suggests there is a role coaching can play to help people make upward shifts in their happiness set points

very small increases in positive emotion can tilt the overall balance and lead to significant differences in the extent to which people flourish or languish

it has implications for understanding the ephemeral impact of success and the so-called American Dream

Throughout the 20th century psychology was developed to measure and address human pathology. In the latter part of the 20th century and now in the 21st century there is a movement toward evolving and expanding psychology to include tools, interventions and research methods to address human strengths and virtues. Effectiveness studies of positive therapy is showing it to be very effective and with prolonged impact. (Stober. 2006: 221)

Stober, Diane R. (2006) Coaching from the humanistic. In D. Stober and A. Grant (eds) Evidence Based Coaching Handbook: Putting practices to work for your clients. Chichester, Wiley

Stober, Diane R. and Grant, Anthony M., .eds (2006) Evidence Based Coaching Handbook: Putting practices to work for your clients. Chichester, Wiley

Are You Committed?

2009-07-01T15:04:00.000+02:00

Hello!

Are you committed to your success?

I am!

I am committed to empowering you to be successful in life and content while doing it.

Let's partner together today as coach and client and transform your life

Sign up for 3 hours of coaching that will change your life! Use the time in 30, 60 or 90 minutes as you choose. We meet on the telephone at mutual convenience.

You get an improved life! Tell me how I can help you and then let's get doing it!

Coaching w/Barrett (3 Hours - $1200)

To your success!

Barrett

What To Pay Well For in the New Normal

2009-06-30T11:19:00.000+02:00

Here are six areas, especially during the New Normal era of financial crisis and recession, where it benefits you to lay out more money, not less. Following this will help you get on or stay on the path of success:

1. Expert Advice
Now is the time to hire a life coach and get your entire life on a successful track. Now is the time to hire an attorney, tax advisor or home-buyers agent. Now is the time to be realistic and admit you do not know how to get out of the rut you are in or that you do not know how to handle particular transactions. Now is the time to admit you do not know how to get the best deal in a home-buying situation. Now is the wrong time to skimp on expert advice for significant matters.

You simply need to pay their fee and get about changing your life.

Sadly, I have had people (usually people with plenty of money but bad financial management skills) try to negotiate lowered coaching fees. Some tried negotiating low payment plans hoping they could get everything they "needed" in one or two sessions and so they could renege on the remainder of the payment agreement. They never got the positive results they needed from the expert service of life coaching and are today in the same rut.

Now is also the wrong time to think you can get free Internet information in order to make decisions on things that are complex and/or will take a significant amount of time. When you act cheap, you get cheap (you get what you pay for!). If you think reading some articles online will replace hiring a coach, attorney, tax advisor etc, you are sadly mistaken.

Not too long afterwards you will realize you are in the same, if not worse situation than you were because you would not make the investment in yourself.

2. Investments in You
You think things cannot get worse but they could. The way to prepare for that without over-stressing is to put away some savings every time you get paid.

In fact, pay yourself first before you pay bills.

If you can set up a payment plan at work do it. If you can set up direct deposit of your paycheck and automatic purchase of bonds or payments into savings accounts, do it. Then you live off the remainder of the money.

3. Getting Financially Free
The experts tell us that it is vital to get financially free by monitoring your bills, and paying down your debt.

This is vital in so many ways because money has an effect on all areas of your life.

Staying on top of your bills means that if you are having trouble making payment, communicate with the lender and try to work out a new payment plan. You must make them aware of your situation.

4. The Best Price
Start learning to clip coupons and look for sales. A boon of these global economic times is that stores are constantly lowering their prices and having sales.

Do not try to negotiate individual businesses and businesspersons (see #1) to lower their prices for their services. That is trying to cheat them and it will leave you without the service you need or backfire in some other area of your life. Remember, you do not need to cheat others of drive a sharp and unfair bargain in order to have something in life.

The place where you look for the bargains are the large stores that are now offering prices that still leave them profit but which no longer have the 4x-5x profit on top of the basic costs.

Here is where Internet surfing can save you money. Spending 30 minutes on line and save $50-$80, depending on what you buying – and you should only buy what you need!. You not only get your goods less expensively, you “get paid” for your coupon shopping.

5. Small Indulgences
If you deprive yourself all day everyday, you are going to grow resentful and overspend out of your emotions. You can prevent that by leaving a little room in your budget for a small pleasure such as a $5 café mocha, or a $12 manicure.

Doing this pampers your soul and empowers you to feel hopeful about things getting better.

6. Self-Services
Think about how your time is best spent. Should you spend 6 hours cleaning your apartment or home or pay someone to do it while you do something else that you need to do?

Is it better to pay someone to shovel the snow from the driveway or risk falling down and harming yourself?

Decide which services enrich your life and make room for them in your budget, as with the small indulgences.

To your success!

Barrett

Eight Qualities of Successful People

2009-06-29T16:31:00.000+02:00

#1: Balance
When you are imbalanced you feel tense, uncomfortable, and lack peace. Because of this you cannot find inner harmony and make decisions from a calm state of being. You consequently regret decisions you make while imbalanced. To exist in a state of balance is to be calm, stable and in a centered place where you can apply the right amount of emotion and rationality to make sound decisions and judgments.

#2: Harmony
Harmony is an inner agreement integrating understanding, emotion and conduct. It is evident in an obvious congruity between what you think, feel, say, and do.

#3 Joy

Joy is a constant state of well-being and contentment.
Joy is not happiness. Happiness comes and goes with circumstances. Joy is a constant and results from being in balance and harmony with yourself. Joy exists internally even when external situations are not what is desired. Joy results in being an approachable person. It results in being open to new situations and remaining optimistic when there are challenges. Joy sees possibilities and alternative solutions. Joy results in the courage to face the future.

#4: Courage
Courage is the capacity to face uncertainty, challenges, pain or danger and deciding to continue with your chosen course of action. Courage empowers you to speak your truth in the face of opposition.

#5: Generosity
Generosity is about giving people more than they give you in exchange and knowing when to do it so it benefits both you and the other person. It is not about giving of you time, emotions and money and getting nothing in return. It is about having the power to understand that what you are giving is coming from a source beyond yourself and you are the human vessel through which it is being given. You do not give what you do not have. You give out of your abundance, time, talent and money through your heart. You give out of love, not guilt, embarrassment or obligation. You feel enriched through the giving, not depleted.

#6: Organization
The universe needs a clear path into your life to bring in abundance and wealth. Organization is the ability to keep things in such an orderly sate that you know how to retrieve anything and everything you need. This means you have a filing system for your important documents, your money is organized within your walled and you know exactly how much money you have in it at any given time, your books are organized and stored on shelves, your car is clean and not being used as a storage bin or garbage can, your closets are organized and neat, you have all the resources you need to keep your home, car, and business clean, and you take responsibility to put things back in their place when you are done with them. You also clean out your closets and shelves on a regular bass to make room for new things. Wealth eludes those who do not care enough to stay organized. The organized person both starts a task (book, project, assignment etc), and finishes it. Organization includes cleanliness and order and is a powerful character marker.

#7: Wisdom
Wisdom is a combination of self-knowledge, intuition, education and experience. The wise person is able to make sound judgments because self-knowledge gained has been gained from the other six qualities -- balance, harmony, joy, courage, generosity, and organization. You tap into your self-knowledge and your core beliefs, and draw upon your intuition, education and experience. You choose to what is right and best rather than what is easy.

#8: Excellence
Excellence is the cumulative portrait of a confident and accomplished person who has incorporated the other seven qualities into her/his life. This is a portrait of a person who is in control of her/his destiny. This is a person who is going places – a some great places they will be!

If this is the kind of person you would like to be, coach with me to gain the skills and get the support you need. Coaching is $1200 for 3 hours to use as you desire.

To your success!

Make the Most of Each Day

2009-06-28T18:44:00.000+02:00

"I wish I had been kinder"

"I wish I could tell her I love her one more time"

"Why didn't I give him a hug when we last saw each other?"

Statements like these are so common after tragedy strikes. We think about how we could have made a little more effort and shown a little more love, compassion, care etc. if we had only taken an extra moment or two.

Life gets so very busy and we find ourselves wrapped up in the tiny details of life.We become concerned about the little things in life. In some sense they are important -- we want our spouse to not leave his dirty underwear on the bathroom floor, our children to wipe their feet before they come intothe house and our roommate to not eat our leftover Chinese food.

It is also true that it is important that our spouse realize he needs to not live like a filthy frat boy who expects a maid to clean up once a week, our children need to slow down at times and remember to be easy on the carpets, and our roommate need to be respectful and not eat food she didn't buy.

These small things can lead to BIG arguments and those heated exchanges can involves words and actions we may regret.

We may refuse to hug our child, kiss our spouse or we may think about throttling our roommate.
But what is the extraordinary and unusual happens and while separated that day, that other person is seriously injured or killed. Or if that does not happen, we take the negative vibe of that conversation and let it affect the remiander of our day. Our day and/or night goes downhill.
I urge you, to put things in perspective. Say something about the issue and try to work out a plan to live together and not drive each other crazy -- then drop it. Do not take the negativity into the next moment. Intentionally search for something good to say and/or think about the person and focus on it. Tell that person you love her, give him that hug and gently and jointly decide how to handle the communication between the kids and you.

Focus on something good in that day and take it with you. Make the most of every day you have because you never know how many days you or the people in your life have. Your next moment could be your last memory, so make it a good one. And when you awaken the next day and all is still secure in your world, be thankful.

To your success!

Barrett

Looking to improve your relationship life?

2009-06-25T17:07:00.000+02:00

Sometimes we need help making our relationship life better. If you would like help with this, I can recommend someone who is a master in the field of relationship coaching, Audrey Valeriani. Here is a brief message from her:

Barrett

Audrey Valeriani - Relationship Coaching

As Someone Who's Been There, I Can Help You Change Your Life!If you are someone who is not happy with your life because of failed relationships, or who doesn't have any direction, or who feels lost for whatever reason, my innovative tips and advice will help you take steps to overcome your current situation and change your life. They key is to learn how to examine and improve your self-esteem -- which directs our choices in life and affects all areas of our lives -- which will improve all of your relationships, and also allow you to set and achieve goals! Check me out now! http://www.bootcampforthebrokenhearted.com/

Are you resolved to making your life better? Filling it with joy? Savoring every moment? Improving your relationships?

WELL THEN JOIN THE R.E.A.L. WOMEN’S CLUB (for women who respect, encourage, appreciate, and love themselves).

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Check out my website for more: The Accidental Expert