Friday, January 19, 2007

Reclaiming Energy

I've mentioned the other two things you can do to create more life balance in my past BLOGs. I wrote about gaining self awareness and making choices based on knowing who you are and what you want. This third thing is just as simple. It doesn't require you to trek off into a distant land, search for some big guru somewhere, or take any more time out of your already Super Busy life!

The more you become aware and the more you make choices based on your awareness of your self, the more energy and power you naturally create and experience in your life. It's that simple!

You can reclaim your energy when you start making decisions based on what's really most important to you in your life. I said it was simple, but I didn't say it was easy. Making choices often requires sacrifice or commitment. It also requires dedication to making things work.

When I left my career in the corporate world 10 years ago I made a very tough choice. I knew at that time that I really wanted to be the primary person raising my two kids. I chose to leave a job with high earnings and some potential. I chose to take a risk. My husband and I chose to simplify our life, especially our spending, so that we could make things work. It wasn't easy. Fact is, it was very scary, especially at first when I signed the paper for my voluntary package. I didn't have a plan, I just knew in my heart that the opportunity to leave happened for a reason and I felt compelled to make the choice to take in and see where the road would leave me.

I'm glad I made that choice back then. It created the change that energized me to use my strengths and passions to start my business. I don't think I would have otherwise chosen to be a coach, a speaker, or a writer but I am so glad I did!

Making the right choices for you and for your life can energize you, too! Coaching can help and I'd love to be your coach to help you discover your self, make choices, and bring new energy and power into your life. Let me know when you're ready!

Best regards,

Coach Natalie

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The Power of Choice

So many people limit their choices because they feel they have none. They are stuck by "golden handcuffs" (high salary, benefits, stock options, etc.) that keep them in a position they are very unsatisfied with. I believe people always have choices but that every choice comes with consequences, both good and bad. Sometimes it's the consequences that we fear that keep us stuck, but we do have choices!

One of my former clients, Barbara, felt slightly dissatisfied with her career opportunities at her job. At about the same time, she was getting calls from headhunters about other possibilities. She didn't consider any of them because she had a number of years vested in her current company. As we talked about her situation, she decided that there was no harm in exploring her options. So, she spoke with a potential employer and decided to interview with them. She flew from North Carolina to Dallas to meet with the other company. She found that they were willing to offer her more money and career growth than what she had. As she reviewed the offer and evaluated it, we discussed her options and concerns. We found that although it seemed like a lucrative offer, relocating her family and starting over wasn't something she really wanted to do....not even for the large sum of money they were offering to her.

Barbara chose to stay with her employer, but after the experience and gaining more self awareness about what was really important to her, she chose to meet with her management to propose changes in her job. They accepted her proposal and she was glad she chose to stay...even 7 years later when I touched base with her to see how she was doing!

We all have the power of choice in our own lives. When we don't make choices, we're not really in control of our own life.

We can choose to release what drains us and embrace what nourishes us. Realizing your life is the consequences of your choices becomes very empowering. If what you're doing isn't working for you, choose to change it!

Coach Natalie can help you make choices by being a sounding board and helping you explore your possiblities, brainstorming options, and empowering you to take control of your life.

Want to explore your options....take this assessment and see if you're ready for coaching!

Here's to you and the choices you make in your life!!

Yours truly,

Coach Natalie

Monday, January 15, 2007

Gaining Self Awareness

Gaining awareness is an important key to living a full and balanced life.

Self awareness includes knowing what's important to you, what brings you stress, and what you enjoy. Knowing your values, needs, preferences, strengths, limitations, beliefs, habits, and priorities will help you make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and boost your satisfaction, performance and effectiveness. Self awareness is the first step toward maximizing your skills, leveraging your strengths, and boosting your performance so that you can really "have it all".

You can deepen your self awareness through deeper listening. Begin noticing what throws you off balance and what brings you calm and fulfillment. Awareness is about being mindful, present in your life. Listen to your inner voice, to the people around you who care about you, and listen to your environment. When many things 'break down' around you, something probably isn't working right. Notice what you're attracting in your life.

I had a client, I'll call her Dawn. She was attractive, intelligent, and a successful business sales executive at 46 years old. She was the mother of 3. When I asked her how long she's felt out of balance, she replied, "just recently, maybe a month or so". After we talked a bit longer, I found that 3 years earlier she divorced her husband after he abused her. The situation was so bad, that he ended up in jail. She immersed herself in her work, had few friends, drank diet soda for lunch, didn't exercise, rarely slept.

Dawn had stopped listening to her life that was whirling out-of-control because it seemed easier to micro-focus on her work. She didn't deal with her emotions because it was too hard. When work began failing, she called me. Once Dawn started listening to her life, she redefined success on her own terms, began trusting more, and delegating at work and home. She was reclaiming a sense of balance, energy and fulfillment.

Once Dawn began listening to her inner voice she made changes to her life and began living from the inside out. Self awareness is essential to living a balanced and fulfilling life! Both my workbook, and my coaching can help you gain self awareness. Althoug this is something you can certainly do on your own, have a partner who is unbiased objective and can hold things confidential, can help accelerate the process or bring it deeper.

I love being a resource for people who are exploring who they are and getting to know themselves newly. Let me know how I can help you!

Best regards,

Coach Natalie