Posts Tagged ‘certified women’s life coach’

Discover your unique ‘nutritional truth’.

Nutrition tecommendations for women are often based on scientific research conducted on middle aged men leading to a ‘one size fits all’ nutrition prescription.

Ancient traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurvedic Medicine acknowledge metabolic or body differences as well as incorporate the concept of ‘food as medicine’.

Many women feel best when they have determined their own ‘nutritional truth’ and eat accordingly. You can find this for yourself by experimenting, one food or beverage at a time, with withdrawing that food for 3-7 days and be very aware of your body symptoms and energy levels. If you feel better without the food, you know it’s one to avoid. You can do this in reverse when trying a new food and thus construct a list of ‘foods that act as medicine’, neutral foods and foods to avoid. This is your unique ‘nutritional truth.’

This process works best when you have had a stable and healthy food intake to start. Also, be very gentle with this process and yourself if you have a history of disordered eating, ‘food addictions’ or yo yo dieting.

Engaging in a regular yoga, tai chi or other body centered program can help you become more attuned to your body messages and mind-body connection which helps with the process.

You can also work with a professional trained in holistic nutrition, such as a Naturopath or a Holistic Nutritionist/Dietitian to discover your nutritional truth.

Dr. Christiane Northrup has an excellent chapter on nutrition & unique needs in her book ‘Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom’. I highly recommend all her books!

You will know that you are successful in discovering your ‘truth’ when you love eating and ‘overflow’ with life force, a feeling of optimal health and energy.L

in peace & mindfulness

namaste

Zoey

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire & soothe your soul

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all
Even if they are a cloud of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each guest has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~~~

This is one of my favorite poems! I have found that the more I welcome every visitor, the lighter and airier my ‘house’ becomes, there is a freshness and newness with each day and it is easier to greet each visitor with laughter!  This is not to say that it has been easy!  I have found it really hard to ‘welcome’ emotional pain, or perceived wrong doings by someone close to me.  While ithasnotbeen easy, I have found a deepening sense of enrichment coming to my life.

Enjoy your day and as a guest to my blog, lets share a laugh together with this adorable child and camel! This picture I found on facebook, I don’t know who took it, however I would love to acknowledge the photographer.

in peace and mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your soul

Wishing you all a fabulous Friday and weekend!

Heres a wonderful thought for the day / weekend from ‘Daily Inspiring Quotes’

‘To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.”

Namaste

Zoey

coaching for your heart & soul

 

I’m starting my work day off with some meditation, what about you?

 

I find that if I spend a few moments at my desk, in quietness and meditation, my day flows forward in a smoother way.

Here are some tips:

- start with some grounding exercises, feeling your feet solidly on the floor.

- take 3 cleansing breaths

- clear your mind

- focus on your breath, in out, in out.

- notice the space between your thoughts, what does it feel like.

- finish with 3 deep breaths

- come back to your day.

 

Envision your day flowing smoothly with joy and ease!

 

namaste,

 

Zoey

 

coaching for your heart and soul

Living a Life With Heart: Values and Needs

During the next few weeks, the theme for posting will be ‘the heart’ in honour of Valentines Day and the spirit of love!

From my perspective as a life, leadership & executive coach, living a life with heart includes living a life anchored in clear and deeply held values and understanding how unmet needs might get in the way of this.

I want to share my process in this area of values and needs.  Prior to completing my coach training, I had a vague idea of all of this stuff.  I figured I was pretty clear on my values, sort of knew the meaning and difference between a value and a need and I have to say was pretty darn smug.  Through my coach training, which included a lot of introspection and journaling, what I learned about myself was actually shocking to me.  I learned that for basically my entire life, I had been operating my life from a place of unmet needs rather than from a place of clearly known and held values.  I had thought I was so clear on who I was and where I was going, that learning new information about myself was unsettling.  Now, from the perspective of time, I see that this was very important “unsettling”, it was like stirring up the bottom of a clear mountain lake and dislodging bits of garbage that had been caught on sunken tree branches.  Self-reflection and introspection, allowed the garbage to float to the surface to be skimmed off and thrown away.  Developing clarity around my crystal and rubber values and about my needs has allowed me to take control of my life and create my future to be in alignment with my deeply held crystal values.

So, to further set context and share  common language, I offer the following definitions and in doing this I have drawn from these resources: Webster’s dictionary, “The Portable Coach” by Thomas Leonard, “Co-Active Coaching” by Whitworth, Kimsey and House and the “Professional Foundations for Masterful Coaches” program by Jeanine Sandstrom and Lee Smith.

A Value: something intrinsically valuable or desirable, human rather than material.  Values are the essence of who you are.  Values are principles that you hold to be of worth in your life and are the activities, preferences or behaviours that you are naturally drawn to and that attract you.  Values are those things considered right, worthwhile and desirable-the basis for guiding principles and standards.  Values fulfill you.

A Need: implies a lack of something requisite, desirable or useful.  Needs are resources, people, feelings, situations, or environments you must have in order to be your best.  Meeting needs gives a sense of satisfaction and there is often a sense of urgency around needs.

Now, a couple more definitions in the area of values and I want to thank Betty Healey, a fellow coach with the Strategic Attraction Community for sharing this.

A crystal value: is a value that is so important to you that if it is not incorporated into your life, causes your life to shatter.  Think of what happens if you drop a crystal ball.  Taking the crystal ball imagery further, a crystal value calls you forward into your future.

A rubber value: is a value that is important but that can bounce away, out of your life and then back again, like a rubber ball with out you feeling dissonance.

What do you think your values and needs are?  If you would like some help with this, let me know!  That’s what a coach is for.

In peace & mindfulness,

namaste,

Zoey

coaching for your heart & soul

inspirational catalyst for personal development and leadership skills & development

Nutritional Boosters to Help You Weather the Flu Season

Whether or not you decide to get the flu shot this year, it makes sense to protect your self and your family with a fine-tuned nutrition plan.  This is not the time for extra sugars and fast foods.

The immune system is a complex collection of tissues and cells that protect the body from allergens, bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms.  Skin and the membranes that line entrances to the body — nasal passages, eyes, and respiratory and digestive tracts — are the first line of defense, providing a physical barrier against invaders.    You can keep your skin healthy with a balanced diet and extra essential fatty acids.  Make sure you work up a sweat daily (from exercise and/or saunas) as it is a great detoxifier.  Shower with a natural soap and loofah brush to keep skin and circulation healthy.

Internally, specialized white blood cells fight antigens that make it past the skin: T-lymphocytes continuously patrol the body in search of antigens; B-lymphocytes manufacture antibodies, special blood proteins that neutralize or destroy germs; and neutrophils and macrophages scavenge antigens from the blood for delivery to the lymphatic system, which disposes of them.  To work smoothly, these cells depend on you keeping your body in top shape. Nutrients critical for the production and maintenance of key germ-fighting cells in the immune system.  A balanced diet has a strong effect on vascular function.  The immune system is dependent on blood flow.  The bloodstream is the route along which infection-fighting cells travel throughout the body to where they’re needed.

Vitamins and phytochemicals in colored fruits and vegetables are great at promoting immune function. These nutrients help ensure that lymphocytes can divide and reproduce properly in response to a virus and that the neutrophils and macrophages that engulf and kill invading bacteria can do their job. Eat five to nine servings of different colored organic, locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables per day..

Amino acids found in protein are the building blocks of all the body’s cells — including the cells that power your immune system. If your diet is low in protein, you won’t manufacture enough white blood cells to combat antigens.  Consume about a gram of protein per kilogram (kg) of your body weight.  Eat plant protein like lentils, peas and beans every day for at least one meal.  Keep animal protein choices to 100 gm portions of lean protein.  Add a protein shake for breakfast or before workouts if you are often on the run.

By Guest Blogger:

Victoria Pawlowski, R.D., R.C.C., M.Ed.

Counselling & Nutrition Therapy
info@victoriapawlowski.com
________________________

1.888.556.3663

Vancouver: 1000-355 Burrard Street
Nanaimo:  170 Wallace Street, 2nd floor
tele-counselling. skype. email counselling

Women & Self-Care Tips and Life Enchantments

“Embrace Chaos & Unexpected Turmoil”!

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” F. Nietzsche

My pattern has been to run away, deny, numb out, stuff down and ignore, chaos or unpleasant emotions.  This was the pattern in my family of origin and I have been well trained.

I notice that this pattern is not unusual.  Folks use food, booze, work, shopping, TV, adrenalin highs, drugs and sex, to name a few, to stuff down the reality of their lives.  We have been taught to “be nice”, “not rock the boat”, “be polite”.

Through my spiritual practice, life long learning and coach training; I have been exposed to an alternate view point; that of welcoming chaos and using this time of emotional upheaval as a gateway for deeper spiritual connection and meaning.

Joseph Campbell is “an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience. His philosophy is often summarized by his phrase: “Follow your bliss.”[1] In his book “A Hero with a Thousand Faces”, he outlines a “hero’s journey” which is an archetypal myth found in many “narratives around the world”.  A hero’s/heroines journey is one where “ A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” (from Wikipedia)

Alexandra Amor, in her book “Cult: A Love Story” talks about her painful experiences in a cult and her recovery have ultimately brought her deeper relationships with her family and re-connected her with her “voice” and personal power.

Many ancient traditions as summarized in the 13 moon natural time calendar hold the view that dissonance  or chaos is a powerful and highly positive dynamic or ‘the necessary forces of liberation evoking a release from rigid structure and format.  As we release which no longer serves, we make way for new opportunities and understandings to emerge.

With the coaching process and certainly I notice this with my coaching clients (if they are courageous enough to stay present in their process) there is usually  a phase in the coaching where they  feel like there life is actually starting to fall apart rather than get better.  I reassure them that this is a profoundly important phase, the phase that I call getting into the slimy, smelly, chaotic slippery, mucky mess of life.

If they can work through this phase, if we can acknowledge in a very light-hearted and gently respectful way, that our lives are a “full catastrophe”, if we can live in the moment  and simply accept this phase, there is  freedom, joy and a deep sense of well-being that emerges.  Upon reflection, folks often see this chaos or crisis as an initiation into a life of deep meaning and fulfillment.  It is the chaos within ourselves that allow stars to be born!

My friends, this week play around with the following recommendations from the 13 moon Natural time Calendar:
“Self-care Tips and Life Enchantments”:

1. Let go, let yourself be absorbed by life itself.

2. Welcome spontaneity, seeming disruptions and unexpected detours. Release allegiance to limitations, reliance upon format, or fixation upon control.  Un-do, break-down, mix it up!”

3. Do something totally spontaneous and uncharacteristic this week!

Namaste,

In peace & mindfulness,

Zoey

Women Health Words of Wisdom: Natural Health Tip of the Day!

In Northern climates, during the Fall and Winter, we don’t get as much sun and this can really affect female health!  Many women suffers from “SADS”: seasonal affective disorder due to lack of sunlight.  The symptoms are reduced energy, feeling ‘blah’ and feeling sad.

In addition to your regular ‘foundational self-care’ and healthy lifestyle program, ask your Holistic Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, Doctor or Naturopath about supplementing your diet with extra Vitamin D3, the ‘sunshine vitamin’.  Extra supplementation can help to reduce the symptoms of SADS!

Make it an awesome day!

In peace & mindfulness

Namaste,

Zoey

I love thinking, reading and surfing ideas about the future and admit that I have been imprinted and influenced by Faith Popcorn.  Although this may sound outdated, I also love and recommend “Megatrends 2010:  The Rise Of Conscious Capitalism – Seven Trends That Will Transform How You Work, Live and Invest” by Patricia Aburdene and absolutely any thing by or with Barbara Marx Hubbard (www.evolve.org ).  It is not my intention to “channel” these authors, rather I wish to acknowledge their original ideas and words and build on these concepts.  While the majority of the ideas presented are focused on trends in North America, some can be applied more widely.

Here is my compilation of 13 important trends and new ideas that will transform your work and life!

1.  Brain Dough aka brain plasticity:

Yes, you can “teach an old dog new tricks”, our brains are actually malleable or flexible.    This concept is referred to as brain plasticity.  What is brain plasticity? Does it mean that our brains are made of plastic? Of course not. Plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences. As we learn, we acquire new knowledge and skills through instruction or experience. In order to learn or memorize a fact or skill, there must be persistent functional changes in the brain that represent the new knowledge.  The ability of the brain to change with learning is what is know as neuroplasticity.

Source: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/plast.html

2.  Grandma Power:

Elder women are becoming an increasingly powerful and large group as the boomers age.  Think hip, happy, and hippie grandmas rather than blue rinses and fraility!

3.  Squeeze More In(n):

Community living takes on a new meaning as more extended families chose to remain living together.  This is a new idea for many North Americans and will require skilled and open communication and attention to compromise and consensus.

4. Values Redux:

Increasingly large numbers of consumers will make purchasing decisions based on their strongly held personal values.

5. Glass Houses:

With amazing technology and the internet, all we do and say will be visible, this is an opportunity to be uber transparent and ethical in life & work.  There will be no place to hide.

6. Big Hearts:

The emotions and qualities of love, loving-kindness and compassion from a big soft, warm melted open heart will be increasingly integrated into business practices through meditation, lovingkindness retreats and prayer.

7. C3 – Circles, Collaboration & Co-Creation:

All organizations, families and groups are moving towards and squishing down into wonderful, resonant, concentric circles around a big heart center.  The dominant forces will be: life, creativity, win/win and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

8. Saffron, Sage and Soul:

As India and China increasingly take over the global production of goods, our interest in and our reliance on these countries will increase.  We will continue to integrate both eastern and western spiritual traditions, adding in a dash of “conscious evolution”  producing a spicy, rich and deeply satisfying new meta-spiritual tradition.

9. Bugs R Us:

Everything will be about whole systems and models based on nature.

10.            Flowers In Your Hair and Everywhere:

Integrating the “big heart” concept, there will be growing appreciation of art & beauty and a laid back lifestyle as forces for social change and business re-vitalization.

11.            Re-Calibration Back to a Lunar Calendar:

It only makes sense for women!

12.            Science Fictionary:

Life expectancy will continue to increase and concepts that were only science fiction will be part of every day life.  More and more folks will choose to vacation at home through holograms and other multisensory innovations.

13.  The Concept of Paradox:

We will be challenged to live a life of increasing paradox and complexity and time will seem to speed up! Folks will be curious about the concept of “nothingness”.

Enjoy this “trendspotting” and let us know how you and your life & work are affected by these trends at by adding your comments to the blog!

In peace & mindfulness,

Zoey

coaching for your heart & soul

Zoey Ryan BSc., PCC

Professional Certified Coach with the ICF

Life ~ Leadership ~ Executive Coaching for Women Leaders and Mentor Coaching for Women Coaches

inspiration | innovation | wisdom

“What we have not known is how to begin from our own centre, how to begin from our own experience, how to make ourselves as women the subjects of the act of knowing”

-       Dorothy Smith (A Canadian Sociologist, known for her work with feminist theory and women’s studies)

This quote is a wonderful reminder that each of us women, has a center point, a still point, an internal place of equilibrium, of power and energy that can fuel us, feed us and inspire us.  Inspire us to get to know ourselves intimately and to get to know each other intimately.

I have long admired Anita Roddick.  I had the great pleasure of hearing Anita Roddick speak in Vancouver in the late 90’s.  She walked on stage, wearing a funky understated outfit and totally captivated the audience of over 2000 women.  She modeled her essence to me by standing fully in her powerful presence.  It was clear to me then as it has been in the ensuing years that she “wore her skin well”, that she knew who she was and what she stood for and that this “knowing” informed all of her actions.  She exuded  a powerful leadership style!

Personal Development Life Coaching Question:

How can you, as a woman leader become your own “subject of the act of knowing” and how can this personal reflection inform your leadership skills and effectiveness?

In peace & mindfulness,

Zoey

coaching for your heart & soul

Zoey Ryan BSc., PCC

Professional Certified Coach with the ICF

Life ~ Leadership ~ Executive Coaching for Women Leaders and Mentor Coaching for Women Coaches

inspiration | innovation | wisdom