Energy Coaching

Time and time again we find the need to reinvent ourselves.  Some of us take the plunge and do it.  Some of us delay it.  Whatever the case maybe, reinventing ourselves works wonders.  The fear can consume us at first but the elation of a new path ahead is way bigger than the fear.  At least that’s how I see it.

My business is being reshaped completely.  Blog site, name, logo, target market…  All will be new soon.  Maybe a partner will come on board, a new approach will take place and new products will emerge.  How cool is that?  Scary?  Well, not really.  Coming to Hong Kong was a decision that brought a lot of happiness to my husband and me, so why not reinvent the business to include more ideas and different goals?  It’s a normal process and one I am very excited about.

Looking at a new road is exciting.  Changing gears and forging ahead full force is a great example for our family, friends, children and clients.  Walking our talk with grace and firm steps only makes us stronger and more credible.  Acknowledging the curves in the path ahead and being willing to change gears while following our dreams is the best strategy to take on a process of reinvention.  Learning to reap the benefits of the new path is a process I am looking forward to experience!

Hope you all feel inspired to do the same when the time comes to reinvent yourselves!

Good luck to all of us!

With energy,

Ana

I notice that being genuinely commited to the growth of a profession, the betterment of the world, the development of the collective, brings us a sense of inner peace and humility. The focus becomes the “We” as opposed to the “Me”, and that’s when our ego naturally takes a back seat. The more commited we are with the growth of the collective, the less compelled we are to prove ourselves to others. That’s when it’s easier to feel peaceful inside.

It takes an enormous amount of energy to be focused on our ego, to be constantly pointing out our accomplishments, bragging, or trying to convince others of our worth. Ironically, the less we care about seeking approval, the more approval we seem to get. People are drawn to those with a quiet, inner confidence, people who don’t need to make themselves look good, be right all the time, or steal the glory. Most people love a person who shares from her heart and not from her ego.

The way to develop true humility is practice. The next time you have the opportunity to brag, resist the temptation. Give the floor to the other or better yet, to the collective. Invite others to talk about their lives and be willing to listen to their stories. Notice how many lessons you can learn from listening to what others have to say. Be truly curious just like a child. You will notice the immediate inner feedback in the way of calm, easy feelings.

Wishing you a peaceful week!

With energy,

Ana

Most ALL of us use procrastination at some time in our lives, do we not? It seems to me if a tool is so widely used, there must be something to it. As a coach, procrastination is almost always the first thing my clients want to eliminate from their lives. As you will read, I advise them not to eliminate the very tool that is there to help them navigate the rough spots in life and business.

I prefer to think of procrastination in the same category as a detour in the road. The purpose of a detour is to give us a warning, help us avoid something dangerous and provides a safer route. Detours usually take a little longer, they circumvent the problem, but in the end we arrive at our destination safe and sound. In most cases you will discover that properly employed procrastination, like a detour, will give you an alternate route to the solution of the problem at hand.

Talane Meidaner, in her book, Coach Yourself to Success poses this question: “What if procrastination was a good thing, and we stopped beating ourselves up about it and learned why we do it?” She describes several circumstances in which people find themselves procrastinating and offers solutions to the problem.

The Put Off: We Put off something we do not like doing. Sometimes if we procrastinate long enough it causes another person to do it for us, sometimes it becomes too late to do it and we end up not having to do it at all. What if instead, we looked at what it was we were putting off, determined it was something distasteful to us and immediately found a way to delegate it to another person? There may even be times when it makes sense to decline to do the task. In this instance it would be important to inform any people that may be depending upon us for the result or task, but in the end they are better served if we decide and inform them as soon as we know so they can get the job completed by someone that will probably do a more complete job anyway. And our reward is: the uncomfortable or distasteful task is off our plate and the energy drain caused by its presence is eliminated.

The Fear Factor: Sometimes we find ourselves procrastinating because we are frightened. We may believe we are not capable of completing the task. We may believe we do not have the knowledge or expertise to complete the project. We may believe we do not have anything of value to contribute. We may be frightened of rejection. The project may feel too big to us and we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with its scope and not able to move ahead with the process. Fear is a real emotion and one to be heeded. But the possibility exists, to examine the fears and discover the energy behind them.

• If lack of knowledge or expertise is the fear, we can find ways to gather the knowledge we need or find experts in the particular field to support our work. We may need to request more time for research, but we can move ahead and complete the project.

• If the fear is that of not adding value, or being rejected: we can review our strengths, research, brainstorm and discover a method of adding value that may also eliminate the potential for rejection.

Once we can name the fear, we can often find a solution to its source and eliminate it.

There are many reasons why we procrastinate. The above examples are just a few. Think about times when you get stuck or are overwhelmed and procrastinating. What are some of your reasons?

In most cases you will discover that properly employed procrastination, like a detour, will give you an alternate route to the solution of the problem at hand. You can shorten the detour or speed up the process if you treat your procrastination as a tool that can help you through life rather than beating yourself up and wasting time in self-chastisement.

You can learn to use the five steps to using procrastination as a tool for life.

• First: Recognize when you are in procrastination mode. Speak out loud and call it by name!

• Second: Congratulate yourself for using so valuable a life tool!

• Third: Take the time to stop, think and look at why you are procrastinating.

• Fourth: take each why and discover solutions to those issues. Once you discover the why, and there may be multiple whys, it is much easier to break the problem into smaller parts and approach each issue.

• Fifth: Create a strategy and timetable to carry it out.

Coach’s challenge:  This week begin to look at procrastination in this more positive light. You will discover that it immediately becomes a friend, not a foe and the energy around it relaxes. Go a step further and begin to employ the five steps to using procrastination as a tool for life.

With energy,

Ana

This is a very special time for me.  The High Holy Days is a time for us Jews to make a conscious decision to be in sync with G-d’s will for us.  We do that by regreting our transgressions in the past year, choosing to change our ways and committing ourselves to use our gifts to fulfill our mission in this planet.  We reflect on the year past and rethink our choices, decide what we want to keep in our lives and what we want to let go.

The beginning of the year is called Rosh HaShanah and after that there is a period of ten days filled with intensive soul searching until we get to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.  During this period we are called to repent, rethink and make different life choices.  We can do that during this time because there is a great deal of clarity coming to the world.  On Yom Kippur we confess to G-d all of our transgressions with the realization that they too can contribute to His plan for us.  We realize that even our transgressions are for our betterment and for us to learn crucial lessons that can propel us to a higher level of consciousness.  When we humble ourselves and recognize our mistakes, we use their darkness to inject light in our lives and learn from them. 

I look forward to Yom Kippur every year.  It is a day where we fast for 25 hours in order to connect to our spiritual side.  By doing that we are able to immerse ourselves in the all-embracing oneness of G-d and emerge pure.  On that day, the light of peace and possibility shines into the world, and we can see ourselves and our actions from G-d’s perspective.  In that light, even our transgressions of the past become blessings for the future, the darkness now serves to enhance the light, and the ugly conflicts now increase the splendor and beauty of the love and the conneciton we share with G-d. 

On Yom Kippur we celebrate forgiveness.  We are given an opportunity to start anew and to cherish the new found possibilities ahead of us.  It’s a time filled with potential and new beginnings.  Our call is to act on them and make them happen through our choices.  

The lesson for all of us, Jews and non-Jews alike, is that there is always a possibility for renewal and to start again once we commit ourselves to it.  May we all have a sweet and peaceful year ahead of us filled with blessings!

Shanah Tovah Umetukah!

With energy,

Ana

Recently I had the honor to be a witness in my best friend’s wedding in Australia.  While a big change was taking place in her life, the feeling of joy was the most present emotion.  They were both elated that they were taking this new step together.  It was refreshing to be there to see it.

A life change such as marriage, having a child or changing careers can be a difficult step to take.  However, most often than not, people are usually happier once they change something that no longer works for them or when they take a risk and experience a joyful return on their investment.

Enrich your life by taking on changes and challenges.  Like a surfer riding a wave, trust your sense of balance and open your awareness to the world around you.  Aim to be daring but not rash.  Marvel in the momentum of your journey, no matter what your final destination.  You will experience real growth if you take the leap.  Remember that a river is never still even and if it encounters rocks on its way, it circumvents them and looks for the path of least resistance.  Such model works for us humans as well.  Try it!

Embrace change!

With energy,

Ana

This post is dedicated to my friend’s Milena and Daniel.  May their life together be filled with joy and happiness!