If you love your children, then take care of their mother.

I work with a number of Life Coach clients who all claim the same thing. How exhausted they are being a mom! The carpool, the dance classes, the laundry, the play dates, the bake sales, the chores, the budget, the sleep-overs can all be daunting as well as both physically and emotionally draining to a mom! They all say they don't have time for themselves, or feel it is selfish if they do take some "me" time. Let me tell you, you are no good to your kids if you are only showing up exhausted, drained and checked out.

Our children are always watching. Model for your kids behaviors that are an expression of self-love. Let them know you are going to the gym for YOU. Be sure when you take a bubble bath, that they know it is alone time for you to rejuvenate and revitalize yourself. Get a massage once a month, or once a week! Read a chapter in a book. Go for a walk, take a yoga class. Work out daily, make yourself a priority!  Do something that feeds your spirit, which allows you to show that nurturing yourself does not make you a selfish mom, it actually makes you a better mom! Self-nurturing is not self-ish! 

When you are a parent, you have a built-in audience. Be sure the show you are putting on shows your children that you are the star of the show, the star of your own life. If you aren't the star of your own life, then who is? There are no stand-ins. No one else can be the star in your life but YOU! You will be proud to see your children will grow up to be the stars in their own lives as well.

This post was inspired by Dr. Phil's latest book Life Code. I will be teaching and coaching around new methodologies from this book with my clients. I love working with stressed out moms and finding ways to help them put themselves back on the top of their own to-do list! We talk about delegating, letting go, accepting, sanity, priorities and many other topics. Nothing inspires me more than to inspire others and help them to re-discover their authentic self!

Do what you love - love what you do. www.awakenyourspirit.net 

res·o·lu·tion
noun:
resolution; plural noun: resolutions

 1. a firm decision to do or not to do something. "she kept her resolution not to see Anne anymore"   
  synonyms: intention, resolve, decision, intent, aim, plan, commitment, pledge, promise.
  "her resolution  not to smoke"   
   
more synonyms: determination, purpose, purposefulness, resolve, resoluteness, single-mindedness, firmness of purpose.
steadfastness, staunchness, perseverance, persistence, indefatigability, tenacity, tenaciousness, staying power, dedication, commitment.
2. the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.
 "the peaceful resolution of all disputes"
 
It's that time of year when people start to contemplate what their New Year's Resolutions are going to be as a new year lies just ahead. Out with the old, in with the new. Replace a bad habit with a good habit. It's about being a better version of yourself in 2014 than you were in 2013! It can be an empowering time of year! It's a fresh start, a clean slate, new beginnings! We can be motivated by others around us making the same decisions, so why not get the ball rolling? An object in motion tends to stay in motion. So why not get moving and set in motion some personal goals for yourself? It's time to turn your dreams into reality!

Is it your health you would like to improve? Find or create that new job you have been dreaming of? Learn to speak a second language? Take a cooking course? Learn to do Yoga? What if you dive into those financial matters once and for all and set up that savings or retirement plan? Maybe take a personal development course to increase self-esteem or work on self-limiting beliefs? Wouldn't the new year be a perfect time to work with that Life Coach you have been wanting to work with, but have been putting off? It's all about taking action on your intentions. To make a plan, to get things in motion. No matter how you define it, it all boils down to a few simple steps:

1. DECIDE what your resolutions are. This is the time to dream! Make a list of your top 3 goals. What is it you have once only hoped to achieve? Don't overwhelm yourself with too much at once, keep it simple. You can always add more later. Write down your WHY for each goal! It is crucial to focus on what value reaching this goal will bring to you. You will want to revisit your WHY often to keep yourself motivated.

2. COMMIT to those decisions. Do or do not, there is no try. Once you decide what your resolutions are, you must commit to them. If you are not committed, you don't really want it. Being committed means not breaking a promise to yourself. Write down a pledge to yourself or publically claim what it is you are committed to achieve or obtain. Remaining committed is the
difference between dreaming about your goal and actually reaching your goal.

3. MAKE A PLAN that includes 2 things: A) Tracking your progress and B) Consistent daily action steps. Tracking your progress gives a clear and concise record of what you are doing and if, when and where adjustments are needed. You
have to measure what you are doing in order to know what still needs to be done. One way is by making a timeline and working your way backwards. This helps to see all the steps that are needed to reach your goals. Be as detailed as
possible. Leave room for improvements or adjustments as needed. Mind mapping is another tool some people use. But consistency is KEY to reaching any goal. Be sure your plan includes some sort of action you need to take consistently, in
order to keep your goal in focus at all times.

4. COMMIT to the plan. This means taking daily, twice a day, hourly (if needed) ACTION steps towards your goals. Action steps will vary depending on what it is you resolve to do. Use an accountability partner, journal, use a checklist, use affirmations or vision boards or any other "tools" that will help you remain committed. Figure out what inspires you to take action. Listen to motivational speakers who have already achieved what it is you wish to achieve. (Success leaves clues!) If you happen to fall off the wagon, just re-commit. Go back to step 1 and start over if necessary. Re-evaluate what worked and where you went off course. Adjust and get back on track.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a peaceful resolution with yourself? These crucial steps are what is necessary to once and for all RESOLVE what it is you say you want to resolve. Bea doer, not just a dreamer.  A goal without a plan is called a daydream!  Make 2014 the year of being a goal achiever!


Want help with your fist step? To hire a Life Coach contact: www.awakenyourspirit.net For help with your New Year's Resolutions, visit the "Contact Us" tab and fill out the form. We will be in contact with you to work a plan that works for you and your goals!


Happy New Year from all of us at Awaken Your Spirit ~ You, Only Better! 

 

Get lost! I have had my Life Coaching clients come to me and say they've lost touch with the person they used to be and are trying to find themselves, or are just starting out in life and they have no idea who they are. They seem lost and I say "Good!" Let's keep getting lost. It sure beats sitting still in stagnate waters.

According to http://www.wordbypicture.com/definition/stagnate/ the definition of stagnate is: To cease motion, activity, or progress; to come to rest; to cease to advance or change; to become idle or cease to flow. I think that describes it perfectly. Sadly, that's not a delightful picture. You are never going to find yourself sitting still. Get moving! 

Start volunteering for things. Help out when you hear help is needed. Help people, help animals, help our environment. Try this, try that, try the other thing. But whatever you do, just start trying. Eventually you will discover something that really gets your juices flowing. When you immerse yourself into something the feelings that come over you are your spiritual barometer. A barometer is something that determines altitude, well your spiritual barometer can help determine your attitude.

What is your attitude when you are assisting the elderly? What is your disposition when you volunteer at the local animal shelter? What state of mind do you find yourself to be in when you rally your co-workers to "go green" at work? Pay attention to your spiritual barometer. It will clearly measure if you are in the sort of service that will Awaken Your Spirit. The feelings you get when you are involved in the service of others is one of the best ways of helping you find yourself. So don't just sit there, get lost!

We all have goals. We all face obstacles. Yes, problems may persist and people may not support you. Those are all outside forces. When faced with life's challenges, it's an inside job. It is your choice how you perceive those annoyances. You can let them win and give up on your dream, or you can use them as forms of motivation and push forward. It's the climb that counts - it's the climb that will make it all worthwhile. And it's the climb that will make you strong.

Your goals are your dreams and desires burning inside you to be brought to life. You were given the dream for a reason, because only you can fulfill it. Don't stop yourself, get out of your own way. It's the climb that counts, start climbing!