Energy Coaching

Like most of you, I also got a new journal for 2009.  My new journal has inspiring sayings and great pictures and it really makes me want to write on it.  On the first page there is a quote by Matsuo Basho that says:  “Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”  Needless to say I loved it!  It’s all about the process of growing, the beauty of discovering oneself and being firmly grounded in the present. 

When we see life as a process, we take the time to smell the roses, we learn to enjoy the time we spend with our friends and family, we become less anxious and we breath deeper.  We develop empathy and we learn to listen and to be of service to others.  We begin to see the beauty in the moonlight, the magnitude of our words and the effects they have on people and on ourselves.  We begin to treat nature with kindness and respect and appreciate the little things.  It’s all about understanding, way deep in our core, that life happens every day and not only when we get to the finish line.     

Here’s an invitation:  Set your intention for this coming year using the following thought – “My life grows more expansive every day.  I am open to anything – and anyone.  I am viewing the familiar with fresh eyes.  My life is happening now and that’s all I have.” 

Go on — let your intentions out and enjoy the clarity they will bring you!  Set your sights on the distance and enjoy the journey!

With energy,

Ana

The state where I live in Brazil, Santa Catarina, has been affected by a major flood.  For months it rained non-stop and entire families found themselves homeless or with loved ones missing or dead.  The outpouring of compassion and help from Brazilians has been immense and touching.  The area has been rebuilding and its people are encouraged to start again with the help of its fellow Brazilians. 

Everyone naturally wants to give, everyone wants to serve.  It is a natural law of the universe and of many spiritual traditions that receiving is inherent in giving.  We don’t need to wait to major catastrophic events to be compassionate and giving.  All we need to do is to be aware of situations that would allow for us to give, serve and be compassionate.

Compassion can be practiced anywhere: At airports, on beaches or in shops, and most importantly, in our own homes toward the ones we love the most.  Basically, whenever we are together with other people we can bring compassion to action.  Try this five-step exercise around friends and strangers.  Do it discreetly and try to do all the steps with the same person.

With your attention geared to the other person, tell yourself:

• Step 1 – “Just like me, this person is seeking happiness in his/her life”
• Step 2 – “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life”
• Step 3 – “Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair”
• Step 4 – “Just like me, this person is seeking to fill his/her needs”
• Step 5 – “Just like me, this person is learning about life”

(Source for this exercise: Resurfacing:  Techiniques for Exploring Consciousness by Harry Palmer.)

The idea is to make compassion a habit.  The other idea behind this is that the more you become compassionate toward others, the more you will also become compassionate toward yourself.  You can also begin by having compassion toward yourself and that will extend toward others as well. 

Make it a compassion driven year!

With energy,

Ana

Recently my husband pointed out a shortcoming of mine – in the most loving way possible I might add – that I know I have and that I’ve been avoiding dealing with.  He was right and I knew I was wrong.  He had every right to be upset and I agreed with him.

I found myself in a very peaceful place when I agreed with him wholeheartedly.  I had met my nemesis and I knew I wanted out.  I had broken a promise I made to my husband and I understood at that moment that the only person I wasn’t being honest with was my own self.  That was shocking!  I ask my clients to be honest with themselves and here I am doing exactly the opposite!

Right at that moment, I commited to be true to myself and alligned with my integrity in regards to this issue I had been avoiding.  It dawned on me that, unless I made that commitment and put my integrity on the line, I wasn’t going to change.  I chose to no longer lie to myself and to face my shortcoming head on knowing that I can overcome it if I am commited to do it.

The power that came forth from this experience was extraordinary.  It was as if I was breaking this wall I had built beetween me and the Light.  All of a sudden, this wall was shattered to pieces and I was able to see the root of my behavior.  Once I knew where everything was coming from I could begin to heal and to grow.

My husband was a vehicle for the Light that wanted to come in and extinguish the destructive behavior I had.  Once I was open to hear his words I could welcome the Light inside.  I know he loves me and wants the best for me so the messanger could not have been a better one!  I am now commited to change my ways and I asked him to hold me accountable.

This week listen to what the people that loves you the most have to say to you.  Even if the message is not the most pleasant one to hear, try not to react and ask yourself how you can grow from it.  Break the walls you built to protect yourself and let the Light come inside.  After such sublime experience, you will not want to live any other way!

Light it up all over!

With Energy and Light,

Ana

I know, I know…  The Olympics again? 

I am sorry but I can’t help but talk about it!  I was a highly competitive athlete and during these Olympic months I get the Olympic fever.  Besides, sports are great examples for my life coaching.  That’s where most of my analogies and metaphors come from.  Having said that, get ready for another one!  It has to do with PASSION!  

You can’t help but notice the passion all over an athlete’s life.  How else would they endure countless hours of training?  They know that the hard work will pay off.  This way of thinking gets them thru the hardest of practices; to a point where they even enjoy it.  Why is that?  How is it that challenging your body to the max will give you a sense of pleasure and accomplishment?  It has to do with CLARITY. 

Clarity about what you want will bring out the passion inside of you.  The passion will make you endure and even enjoy the hard work in order to get your dreams and goals realized.  Hard to believe?  Watch the Olympics then.  Emulate the athlete’s spirit and match your actions with your dreams and goals.  Then, let it go!  The process looks like this:

1. The athletes are very clear about what they want:  Get to the Olympics.

2. Then, they put their attention and actions toward making it happen.  They practice hard and focus on the final objective at all times.

3. The final part is the actual performance.  They let go and put all the hard work into action.      

I invite you to inquire about what would bring your passion out in the open.  Nothing is too crazy or impossible.  You have all the resources inside your heart and imagination.  You can go there and think about what brings you joy, happiness, a smile to your face and a good feeling in your heart.  Write it down and look for areas in your life where you can make your passion flourish. 

Every successful athlete, entrepreneur, philanthropist, writer, singer, had only a dream to begin with.  They identified their passion and went for it.  That’s the spirit I want you to emulate!  Get inspired while watching the Games this summer!

With energy (and passion),

Ana

A good friend of mine called me the other day and mentioned she had just had a wonderful experience this past weekend.  She took a walk on the beach by herself.  For a good hour, she marveled at the wonderful serenity of being alone for a while.  All of sudden, her roles were “suspended” in time; she wasn’t the mother, the teacher, the wife, the friend, etc.  “It felt awesome to just be myself for a while!”; she told me.

I pondered on our conversation for a while and thought that I wish more people would do just that; spend more time with their own selves!  “Suspend” the roles they all play in life and just enjoy their own company…  It’s almost like stopping time! 

Ultimately we are all alone in life.  We nurture relationships with our family, our partners, our friends, our colleagues and we develop a community.  People come and go in and out of our lives and we are left with the lessons and memories – the most precious gifts they can give us.  However, the person we must face at the end of the day and at the end of our lives, is ourselves.  So, the natural question is:  Are you developing a relationship with yourself?  Another good one is:  Do you feel in peace in your own company? 

Taking the time to be alone is crucial to develop a good relationship with our own selves. Enjoying the silence of our own company, or talking to ourselves are great ways to become comfortable in our own skins.  What we will find is that deep inside ourselves something incredible is waiting to be known.

Take yourself out on a date this weekend and enjoy it!

With energy,

Ana