Fiscal Responsibility

When I talk to people, there's very little certainty about the nation's economy. We've seen major financial institutions on Wall Street and in the banking sector disappear for risky investment decisions, to be bought and paid for by more solvent and solid companies, with some of these companies getting incredible deals, and looking toward their future expansion.

What I am noticing, when I view the current economic situation is fear. But what I understand in my education is the fear has been there all the time. At the time of crisis, people become "more" of what they are. 

FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real

I've talked to people who are considering extracting tens of thousands of dollars from their 401K savings to put in the bank. I don't think they've taken a look at what's really happening with our country and the economic woes. They base their information solely on the media. Their choices are to operate out of emotions. Emotions can tell a lot of things about what's going on inside you. Sometimes our emotions revert us back to our wounded child. I don't think I would want my 7 year-old wound self making decisions that could impact my future opportunities. So I don't operate from my emotions, unless I've done my emotional "sit-ups". I ask the hard questions. I research. I tune in and don't numb out. And I definitely don't follow the herd.

Yes, I've seen my retirement savings lose about 11% in the past several months. If I were to "cash out" my savings, I would be losing a whole lot more than that, (more like giving the tax structure a great big present) and I would be operating under fear. I'm not in denial. I invested for the long term, not the short term (short term, risky returns is the reason this mess got started anyway). I actually know there's some big opportunities to be had in the current market, and my optimism isn't misplaced.

If fear or any other emotion drives your decisions, whether you are in a crisis, or moving through life with with no parachute needed, you are not in control. Your emotions are running the show. When you trust information from outside yourself, you are letting the environment you live in dictate your choices. I'm not saying to live in denial. I'm saying, conduct your life with due diligence, investigate, research, know how you emotionally operate, and why you do what you do. A life coach can help you see the big picture of yourself and your best life.

Look at how you respond to life and crisis. It's important to train yourself to be emotionally fit. Discover your emotional patterns, and when the news isn't what you'd rather hear, have the tools to handle life with creativity and live life on your own sensible terms, not living life by operating on how other people and the current environment look and feel.



Before I left for the last coaching intensive, we were asked to look at one area of our life, where we needed to improve. I chose my finances. We were asked to come up with an action step that was measurable, that we could take, to radically improve our life in that specific area. I chose to create a budget for myself, and a plan to pay my current debt down. I also challenged myself to spend money only where I felt it was important to, and although I would love to go to workshops where I can learn and grow, I decided to put my present and future first, stick with a payment plan so I could have stability to do the things I know I want to do later. Since much of my income was from freelancing, one of the other things I knew I needed to take action on was to find a reliable work position that paid me on a regular basis. I couldn't produce a budget if I didn't know what my income looked like.

It took some time, but I found the perfect work opportunity, and really am enjoying the work I'm doing. I threw a lot of fishing lines out to find the position I currently have, and was willing to do most anything in my field, but I also allowed myself to think bigger, and out of the box, and my work life is better than I could have imagined since I chose to be open-minded and look at unlimited possibilities, and not see myself doing something specific, and pigeon-hole myself and my skills.

It's important to build certainty in my own life, and make plans to succeed. That's why I am being trained as an integrative coach. I know I will be able to help others get what they want with my excellent training.

The best part about building certainty, is creating fun along the way, and knowing that life can be better than I ever imagined!

Everyday Small Steps

It’s amazing how the body heals. It’s a week since my foot surgery. There’s still pain, but a lot less. Now, I can (slowly) get up and down the stairs without my crutches. I really have to pay attention to my steps, and I know the message that everything I do right now is a prayerful meditation of my body, mind, and spirit. I respect my body and my current abilities. Aside from driving, I can do pretty much what I need to do, I just do things much more slowly. I’ve become more mindful of my journey and my present moment.

At this time, I still think about my mother through this healing process, and I have to believe that the Universe has me connecting with my mother in this way for a deep purpose. I am reminded how I move right now, and how my mother moved to accommodate her abilities after a stroke. She had to back up her body (sort of putting herself in reverse) to sit down, feeling the seat or couch behind her. I remember her movements as she surrendered her balance to an object that would bear her weight, and the relief she felt as she slid into her sitting position. It’s almost as if I remember her through my own body cellular memory, as I make the steps forward and backward, negotiating up and down stairs, and moving slowly and thoughtfully through my day (good foot up the stairs first). It’s an amazing recollection, and I really see how my mother (and my avoidance for many years of “being like her”) was my “shadow”*. My mother transitioned out of this physical world in 2006, so all of these “cellular” memories have been a surprise to me, but welcome and comforting.

I realize how remarkable the human body is, how amazing our minds are and how our beliefs can expand or limit us. I know I will relish the time I can return to my dance practice and working out. I also honor that this time of stillness has moved me through some real breakthroughs. I realize how much I will enjoy simple things like climbing effortlessly into my bathtub to take a shower. My vision map of what I want to bring into my life is laminated and taped to my shower, and I really miss seeing and absorbing the images that I see and take into my consciousness without effort when I shower.

I remember when I went to the local grocery store to rent my crutches before my surgery. I am reminded of hearing a little girl about 14 shopping with her father, seeing me try out my crutches for size, and hearing her laughter and remarks about crutches. It was good to just observe, not be self-conscious or into a “story”. I got to think about people who live daily with physical and mental challenges, and realize I am so fortunate, and grateful for my life.

I’m getting to look how I judge myself, and how I judge others. I get to see how I judged my mother, and maybe other people. We tend to do things to get our needs met, whether those things are in our highest state of being or our lowest state of vibration. I get to look at those beliefs behind those actions, and set those beliefs aside or surrender to what feelings are behind those beliefs. When our routine is disrupted for any reason, sometimes we can go totally into our stories. The stories are only beliefs. Most of those beliefs aren’t even true. Those beliefs keep us from our real feelings. Those uncomfortable or even painful feelings we would rather “numb” away, through addictions like overeating, avoidance, drinking, overworking, shopping, drugs or about a thousand other ways are actually our gateway to our own personal power.

Are you happy with yourself? Do you hold the roadmap that will be the catalyst to expand your view of yourself? If you were “there” what does “there” even look like? Do you know? The Universe supports clarity. Today is the day to get clear. If you love your life, you are going to move in a world that reflects that back to you. If you are angry with yourself or other people, or not loving yourself, or beating yourself up all the time, you are going to find people to reflect that same thing back to you. I’m not “there” yet, but I am in the process, I have my “vision map” and my commitment is to live each day with a new discovery and appreciation of myself and what is reflected back to me. Each day offers something new to learn and love about myself and the world.

When we take 100% responsibility, and connect with ourselves on a deep, profound level, connect with our global family, and change our feelings of being “different” or “wounded”, we take down the barriers that separate us from others and separates us from the Divine spirit that lives within, around and through each of us. All is sacred. There is nothing that isn't sacred. What’s available to you when you take down those barriers? You can have a new perspective, enter the process to transform your life, and live the live beyond anything you could have ever imagined.


*I will write more about “the shadow”, the Breakthrough Process, and the programs I am currently immersed in through the Ford Institute for Integrative Coaching.