strong /strongI started the New Year with a Bang, facilitating my first workshop for 2010 with Partners Georgina Terry and Kaffi Phillips.  It is the first in a series of workshops we intend to host this year.  Coaching seems to be now catching on in my country and people are becoming more aware of the benefits of having a coach or partaking in a coaching workshop.  As the New Year rolls in, and with the global economic crisis vivid in our memories, many people are finding themselves in transition or at a crossroads in their life.  The world as we know it is shifting, getting smaller, more accessible, more fast paced, while our beliefs and values are also shifting and changing.  We need new tools and life skills to support us on our journey.

What many participants discovered during the workshop is, the way in which we limit ourselves by focusing on only three of four areas in our lives, and so feel as though something is missing in our life.  We feel unfulfilled, dissatisfied, overwhelmed, confused.  Many times if there is a loss in one of these areas to which we have devoted most of our time, energy and resources, it can feel like our entire world is falling apart, or that we have lost everything.

So what is the secret to thriving vs surviving: - Living a more balanced life, a life filled with joy and passion and the things that truly make your heart sing. Becoming the interior designer of your own life in an integral way - body,mind, heart, spirit.  Living a life by design versus a life by default.  Living a life in the present, not in the future …. Someday when… or in the past If only…… Your point of power is in the present, it is only in the present moment that you can take an inspired action that can change your past or future.
ul
liemstrongHow balanced is your life?/strong/em/li
liemstrongWhere do you dedicate your time, energy and resources?/strong/em/li
liemstrongWhere do you feel a gap in what you currently have and what you truly desire?/strong/em/li
/ul
Finances:- Income, investments, retirement
Work:- Career, business
Family:- married life, single life, children
Health and Recreation:-Everything you do to take care of yourself
Community:-Friends, social life, community involvement
Living environment:- Your setting, your space, your home, office
Personal Growth:- What you  do or learn to improve yourself
Spirituality:- Your spiritual life.

Rate each area of your life and if you are absolutely satisfied in this area of your life then you are thriving and give yourself a 10.  A 1 in this area of your life would mean that you are absolutely not satisfied with this area of your life and may be surviving or even suffering.
ul
liemstrongHow do you rate yourself between 1-10 in each area?/strong/em/li
liemstrongWhat would a 10 look like in the area in which you scored the lowest mark?/strong/em/li
liemstrongHow can you begin to create this?/strong/em/li
liemstrongWhat steps can you take to close in the gaps?/strong/em/li
liemstrongWhat gets in your way?/strong/em/lifont style=position: absolute;overflow: hidden;height: 0;width: 0a href=http://www.videnov.com/#1082;#1091;#1093;#1085;#1080;/a/font
liemstrongHow do your habits, beliefs and behaviors need to be altered in order to close those gaps?/strong/em/li
/ul
Start designing your New Year, invest in yourself and your happiness. Take this opportunity to put your hands on the wheel of your life and turn it at a speed that returns you to happiness more quickly.  Learn to navigate these times as smoothly as possible, so you emerge more resilient, less drained, more energized and more inspired in your life.

strongemWhat first steps will you take to get you out of the passenger’s seat and put you back in the driver’s seat?
/em/strong

If you are interested in attending one of our strongThrive vs Survive Interactive Workshops/strong send and email to info@bpdassociates.com.   If you are interested in a professional coach who can assist you through the life design process, please send me an email through the form on my contact page.

strongStop delaying your happiness./strong

There is a purpose at work in everyone’s life. You may be very aware of it or it may be hidden to you. Your purpose is your reason for being - who you feel called to be and what you feel called to do. It is your vision for the world, your core value, what others can count on you for, your gift and a guiding principle that encompasses your life. A life purpose is more about who you are than what you do.  It is like the sword of clarity, it cuts though everything that is false and lets you see what is true about your life. It becomes a measure for every decision, choice and action.

Step into an Empowering Space with my guest, Georgina Terry as we discuss the Power of Living a Purposeful Life. Join us Thursday 17th, 2009 at 8:00pm EST- 9:00pm local Trini Time

If your life is always being shaped by something, and you are unclear what your purpose is, what’s shaping your life right now?

Well as the story goes Georgina only found out two days before she was supposed to facilitate that the workshop was not one hour but rather one day and she could bring along other facilitators.  So she called up her Associates Kaffi Phillips and myself to see if we would be able to help at this eleventh hour. Georgina redesigned the entire workshop and here I was off to facilitate a presentation which I had not yet seen. Because coaching is my passion, I rearranged my day so that I could attend this workshop.

At 8:00am after we had breakfast I sat with Georgina and looked through the slides as the workshop was begining at 9:00am.  Slowly people started walking into the room one by one. Young people between the ages of 19 and 29. We greeted and had introductory conversations with different people as they found their ideal spot and made themselves comfortable in the room.

I do not believe that any of us in that room were prepared for the transformations that were about to take place.  Being a transformational coach, those AHA! Moments (a higher awareness)  when we stand in a truth and things can never be the same are some of the most meaningful moments in coaching.

Georgina began the introductions and began the facilitation, with everyone sharing their expectations and the ground rules- rules of engagement.  The group got very involved setting out the guidelines of how they wanted to show up in this space.

As the presentation continued the youth realized that this was going to be an extremely interactive and engaging workshop and no one would be falling asleep or have time for boredom.

We worked with them around creating a vision and reconnecting with their passion in order to develop their compelling story for their presentations. Some people got to work immediately and there was a buzz in the room but others could not remember or find something that they were passionate about. So we walked around the room and supported those who needed a little help by using empowering questions.

I noticed one person in particular who had a blank page and was staring ahead of her in thought.  I asked her if she needed some help reconnecting and she said yes.  So we sat together and I began asking her some questions helping her reconnect to the things that bring her joy in her life. She started jotting down all these ideas and then I asked her to see if she could find or make a connection between them. I asked her not to think if it was possible, but to just open up to the image and create a space for the possibility. I asked her if I could share a possible perspective and option with her.   As soon as the words came out my mouth there was a twinkle in her eye and her body shifter. She wanted to be able to write and share stories of different cultures and travel around the world doing so, and had never ever thought of that as a possibility for herself. Now she had a vision.  It was as though a light went on inside her.  I could see the energy of excitement, possibility, and passion pulsing inside her. I told her this was just one possibility and when looking at the words on her page see how she could connect them with the word and versus or and create something new and exciting.

After we had finished the exercise while Georgina was speaking two gentlemen came over to me to say that they were reporters with the BBC.  They had visited the different workshops and wanted to interview five from our workshop as this seemed like the place where people were passionate about their views. So I asked them to wait till the session was nearing and end and then I would let them speak and introduce themselves so they could choose the volunteers.

In the end everyone was connecting with their “joy juice” the energy in the room changed, people were excited to share and participate and were eager to share and receive feedback. One person shared her story and had touched on a truth of why what she was saying was so important for the youth and shared a personal story, she became very emotional and continued as Georgina and myself stood at her side.  She told a compelling story and it touched everyone in the room.   She thought she had done a terrible job, because she had gotten emotional.  I shared with the group that many of us think that power is a strength, a force, being in control of our emotions, not showing our weakness, but true inner strength comes from being able to stand in your truth no matter how difficult and share your vulnerabilities with others from the deepest places in our hearts.

At the end of the first session The BBC broadcasters stepped in and asked for people who were willing to share their stories, both the shy girl who I helped and the one who thought she had done a horrible job, were two of the volunteers that stepped into an empowering space.   I realized that as the shy girl had allowed herself the opportunity to believe in the possibility, her energy shifted and BBC reporters arrived to receive her very first story.  Validating the saying by Napolean Hill -What the mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve.

It was such a joy and privilege for me to be standing on the brink of an empowering space, witnessing these youth rediscover the passion in their hearts and their untold stories.

I was not present for the evening session as I had my radio show that evening the Power of storytelling and Kaffie Phillips took that session with Georgina.  Georgina shared with me that the stories in the end were all beautiful and inspiring.  Everyone had stepped into the empowering space of sharing their vulnerability, a truly powerful place where they stood in their truth, and were transformed as speakers, and presenters.

It was a wonderful journey from the head to their hearts.

We are all born story tellers.  We tell stories about our life, our families, our careers, our present, past and future, where we came from and where we are going.  We learn, socialize and communicate by sharing stories, funny stories, sad stories, angry stories, happy stories. Our stories are how we creatively convert our lives into more powerful and meaningful experiences.  However if we tell our selves the same small limiting story, then we will live a small limiting life.

What are some of the stories we tell ourselves?

• I have no choice.
• It’s just the way things are
• Why does this always happen to me?
• I am just not lucky enough.
• I just keep attracting the same type of partner in my relationships.

Are you sick and tired of hearing yourself repeat the same excuses and justifications all rolled up into a tiring storyline?
Don’t you wish you could just get rid of the old worn out script?
Are you ready to let go of the drama?

Well this week I have a wonderful and exciting guest on my radio program Empowering Space – Your Hour of Power. Lisa Bloom is an accomplished Storyteller, Professional Certified Coach (ICF) and experienced Training & Development Specialist with more than 20 years experience working in public and private sectors, high-tech and financial services environments with organizations and individuals. She is a talented and creative story coach who has proven ability in increasing Individual Motivation, Fulfilment and Happiness, Organizational Effectiveness, Employee Satisfaction and Management Development Skills. And she can spin a great yarn!  The real magic has been the combining of Lisa’s greatest passions, experience and skills to create Story Coach Inc.
If you are interested in rewriting a new story for your life or your coaching business then you need to take this time to come share an Empowering Space with us Thursday 26th November, 2009 at 8:00pm EST - 9:00pm local time

www.story-coach.com

http: www.story-coach.com/cinderella

This is a dynamic and powerful program, merging the arts of Storytelling and Coaching - it is exactly what you need to take the next step, to bring your business to greater success.

To empower is to call forth the power within.   Empowerment is not about giving people power, they already have it - their strengths, talents, skills, abilities, experiences, knowledge and their wisdom. Empowerment depends on strong beliefs, faith and trust in someone’s potential, holding a vision for them even when they can not see it for themselves.
Empowerment is the process of developing our personal power - responsible choice - so that we control our own life,  leading to personal freedom.  Responsible Choice is one of the essential skills you will need to create authentic power.

Join me on and Empowering Space - Your Hour of Power as my guest Sheila Radha Conrad of Life Mastery Skills and myself speak about power versus empowerment. Thursday 22nd October at 8:00pm EST www.blogtalkradio.com/empoweringspace

• What is empowerment?
• What is the meaning of power?
• what is true authentic power?
• How can I recognize when I am stuck in victim mode?
• How can our language rob us of our power?
• What competencies need to be developed to live an empowered life?
• Are you a Victim or Creator in your Life?

Empowerment Mastery Skills

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, ‘How was the trip?’

‘It was great, Dad.’

‘Did you see how poor people live?’ the father asked.

‘Oh yeah,’ said the son.

‘So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip‘ asked the father.

The son answered:

‘I saw that we have one dog and they had the four.’

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end..

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.’

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, ‘Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.’

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing?  Sometimes we need to step back and just look at things from a different point of view.  Shift our focus of attention. Change your thoughts and you can change your life.

Live life from an empowered perspective.
Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying  about what we don’t have..

Appreciate every single thing you have in your life.

What determines riches?

Where are the riches and abundance in your life?

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd

is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying.

To hope is to risk despair.

To try is to risk failure.

But risk must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life …

is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply

cannot learn, feel change, grow, love…live.

Chained by his certitude, he is a slave, he has forfeited

freedom.

Only a person who risks….is free.

Join my guest Sheila Radha Conrad M.A. and me, Lydia Mattison host of Empowering space - Your Hour of Power as we share an insightful and transformational conversation on the Power of Communication

at 8:00pm EST Thursday 17th September, 2009

Come join in our conversation and learn to express yourself genuinely as we discover how we hide behind our language.

Have you ever noticed that most human interaction is based on enrolling people in complaints?  Complaining is such a huge part of human interaction that we are not even aware to what extent we are doing it every moment of our lives. We are either complaining about something or a complaint waiting to happen.

• I am so busy, I don’t have time to breathe.
• I wish we could get together but I just don’t know where the time goes.
• Why don’t people do their job?
• Oh my back hurts?
• Why don’t you come visit more often?
• This sun is so hot.

We relate to our complaints as though they were the TRUTH.  A complaint is a projection.  A complaint is a request waiting to happen.  A complaint is an opportunity to look at yourself. An opportunity to give what you want to receive.

Looking at your complaints, consider how your life would be without those complaints?

Consider that you can have a life free of all those complaints, what would life be like?

How can you transform complaints into possibilities?

How does our communication block us from our compassionate nature?

How can we remain present and connected during our communication?

Meet us Thursday 17th September 2009, 8:00pmEST at www.blogtalkradio.com/empoweringspace

Call in number: 347 215 8414

“The Invitation“

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain!

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it’s not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

by
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
copyright © 1999 by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

What Empowering Step will you take today to live more fully?