Back to Basics Boot Camp: Week Four 09/29/2011
 I love Thursday nights. I spend them surrounded by fabulous and tremendously courageous women. Tonight, as I shared the journey with group of amazing women and former PRG participants, I was reminded of the power of intention setting. A simple concept...get still, listen, and usually it comes to you. A vision, a statement, a word that provides guidance on what and how to you want to be in the world. One of my first PRGers put it out there that she wanted to start a business and three years later quit her day job and is running a successful one. Another PRGer and client had the same dream and is launching one right now. A career client, I've worked with over the past six months dreamed of leaving the traditional corporate world for something more suited for his passions, style, and talents. He was hesitant about the reality. We worked through it and he just got his dream interview. And tonight one of the returning participants shared that when she first started her PRG journey two years ago she surprised herself by writing down that she wanted to write a book - and is now being pursued by an agent. So this week's challenge is too reflect on what is your intention. How do you want to be? What do you want life to look like? Get quiet and ask yourself. If you need some support Wayne Dyer's book The Power of Intention is a great resource. And as always have fun with it it! Add Comment Back to Basics Boot Camp: Week Three 09/22/2011
So I tried…I really did…sorta…I think in terms of discipline I will just have to keep practicing. I am so ready for this week’s challenge for Back to the Basics Boot Camp: Week Three. Adventure. Sigh. A little bit more comfortable for me. While last week was sorely needed this theme is so appropriate. In times of transition, one does need to play, mix it up, to try new things, and laugh a lot. I’ve written a lot over the years about adventure and “doing things different” and am always amazed but what can happen when people really embrace the idea. When we “do it different” we actually change brain chemistry and the end result is we change the way we see the world. When I talk about this concept with clients big ideas usually come up like: renting a convertible and driving up a coast, taking a solo trip, starting a business, or moving to a foreign country. While those things are of course important I often give a gentle nudge to think a little smaller too - a picnic with kids on the living room floor, a couple of hours alone in a resturant, driving home a different way, taking a class in something you’ve always wanted to but were scared to try (my disciplined sister is taking an African Dance Class). I’ve also had clients and a friend recently who started sleeping with their heads at the other end of the bed. It doesn’t have to be huge. Little adventures can bring about as much change and joy as big ones. Reflect on your day and what you could do to mix it up. While transition is unsettling sometimes doing things differently can help you gain clarity around the direction you need to head in or how you need to be in the world. Embracing the ideas of playing with the possibilities and having an attitude of adventure can bring clarity, focus, and intense joy. As I write this I am almost giddy…I am heading into a much-needed weekend away…sans kids. And the funny part is my girlfriend and I have no idea where we are going. Just heading north knowing it will involve running, vision boarding, fishing, eating good food, and laughing. Sometimes it is freeing to not know where one is heading. That is the spirit of doing it different - to delight in where you end up - as one usually ends up exactly where they are supposed to be. Back to Basics Boot Camp: Week Two 09/15/2011
My sister is doing this Back to Basics Boot Camp with me too and insists on this weeks challenge…DISCIPLINE. I resisted the idea. Discipline is one of those words that makes me cringe (probably because outside of training for physical training - I suck at it). Which is exactly why she is right - it does need to be the theme for this week. I know when I have a physical reaction to something (like scrunching up my nose at word or experiencing anxiety) it means something isn’t in alignment and I need to go to the place I don’t want to. In times of transition (change of seasons, returning to school, or another life shift) discipline is essential. However, I am going to cheat a little and use the word PRACTICE instead of discipline (just so I don’t think of a teacher with a ruler or soldiers lined up). It feels less harsh and more supportive. This past week I’ve allowed myself to just experience the moment. I practiced gratitude and noticed a change in how I approach life. I allowed myself to take the days slow, to observe, and to reflect. Doing so has given me the clarity to see where I need to make changes. Now, I have arrived at a place where I can respond instead of react. Being responsive means taking action, and I am facing a busy season professional and personally (travel four weeks out of seven – yikes). Clearly its is time for some good ole’ fashioned discipline (happy, sis!) and daily practice. My Autumn Practice:
“Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile…initially scared me to death.” Word of the Year 01/03/2011
 My New Year's ritual involves coming up with a word that will guide me through the new year. I was introduced to the idea in the last few years and love it (as the concept of resolutions never resonated with me). I pick a word that inspires, excites, and challenges me. One that symbolizes what I want and need and how I want to be in the coming months. I've been asked how do you come up with the word and the answer is the process of "finding" it is different for all of us...and can be different every year. This year was no exception..the word choose me. After arriving at my word I start to reflect on and play with the word to see what gift(s) it has for me. I also usually like to find or make visual reminders of my word so I can continue to led it be a guide on my journey. Check out Christine Kane blog for a great word discovery tool and Ali Edward site for some more fun stuff. If you'd like some more support it coming with the perfect word for you, contact me to set up an individual coaching session. I am offering a New Year's special - good through the end of January for new clients ($50 session). We'll have some fun playing with the possibilities and clarifying your intentions for 2011! Enjoy! Silence 11/17/2009
I attended an amazing event this past Friday in support of Seane Corn's Off the Mat Into the World initiatives. Sarah Longacre was able to raise $22000 in one evening! The money will go toward building a birth center in Uganda. A magical night filled with wonderful people and inspiring speakers, Krista Tippett of Public Radio's Speaking of Faith and Matthew Sanford, author and my newest inspiration. I have heard of Matthew and his work off and on again over the last few years. I have encouraged my husband to take a yoga class with him but hadn't made a personal connection until this event. And I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have heard him speak. As the room quieted, he spoke of trauma and loss. In addition to the loss of movement from the chest down due to an automobile accident at the age of thirteen, like me, he has experienced the loss of a child (you can read more about my experience here). I was beyond moved by his willingness to share his story of healing and transcendence. I rushed out to get his book and within sentences was captivated. His description of silence captures a feeling I have never had words for... "Silence is the word I use to describe the empty presence we experience within our experience – between our thoughts, between each other, between ourselves and the world. We feel the silence when we daydream, when we appreciate the beauty of a sunset, or when the love of our life truly walks away. It is an inward sense, often experienced as a longing or an ache. It is a feeling of emptiness and fullness at the same time.The silence is the aspect of our consciousness that makes us feel slightly heavy. It is the source of the feeling of loss, but also of a sense of awe." Again so deeply appreciative my journey led me to this book and Matthew's work. If you find yourself at the bookstore or library I encourage you to take a moment and read a few pages. You'll be hooked. Working Out, Working In 02/18/2009
On an almost daily basis I prioritize scheduling time to move my body. A run, yoga, or sometimes just a walk around the block. I know I NEED this time to function, without it, my ability to be patient or cope with stress falls apart quickly. But at a yoga class recently the instructor talked of the importance of not only working out but of also "working in." When time is tight, I don't prioritize nurturing myself in this way. So I encourage you to join me in prioritizing "working in" this week. Schedule time to connect with yourself - read a book in your stack, take out a journal, meditate, address a question that has be troubling you, create some art, push yourself to try something new. Let's discover the benefits of "working in." Feeling strong in body, mind, and spirit 01/21/2009
I've recommitted to my yoga practice. A "practice" that has been sporadic at best for the last half a decade. On the mat I am reminded of the importance of balancing the attention we give to our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. Most of us have the tendency to place more attention on one aspect of our being...usually we stay where we feel most comfortable. Maybe paying attention to your physical needs comes easy or you find yourself in your head most of the time. I encourage you to explore finding balance in where you place your attention. Try focusing on all areas of your being...what do you need to feel strong in spirit, mind, and body? Giving Up, Giving In 05/28/2008
About a month ago I made the choice to run in the annual rite of spring 10k race, the temperature hovered around freezing with some bizarre mixture of rain/sleet/hail/snow falling, and the winds were gusting to 20 miles an hour. Needless to say my running partner and I spoke little during the run so I had plenty of time to think and my thoughts went something like this: The Connection 04/16/2008
 As a trained cognitive-behavioral therapist I’ve spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how our thoughts affect our feelings and behavior. I do believe that what we say to ourselves affects our experience of life. The negative conversations I have in my head leave me feeling tense and jumpy. This anxiety leaves me stranded and immobilized. On the other hand if I’m positive in my reflections I feel relaxed and confident in my ability to move forward. It has taken me longer than I care to admit that there is more to the puzzle than this. I’ve realized that if I’m not taking care of my body it doesn’t really matter how upbeat my self-talk is and I’m stuck. This became all the more obvious after a week of interrupted sleep, and too much sugar, coupled with a physically exhausting weekend that involved an intense strength training class Saturday and a Sunday morning run my body wasn’t ready for. I was a disaster. My husband tactfully pointed out my negativity after I snapped at the baby for being a baby. I was reminded of the interdependence of our body and minds. You’ve heard of the mind-body connection….simple our mind affects our body and vice versa. The two can’t be separated as easily as I once believed. We need to take care in how we think and approach life and in how we nurture our bodies. For me, slipping into sloppy eating patterns, sleep deprivation, and pushing my body too far all add up to a clouded mind. It is journey of subtle mental misteps and sometimes all out physical crashes that remind me to make some navigational adjustments to get me back on track. Lighten Up 04/13/2008
If you want to make your life a little lighter & brighter this week try a few of these... | AuthorSarina LaMarche  ArchivesJanuary 2012 CategoriesAll |
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