Posts Tagged ‘life balance’

From: the Unconditional Love Group on Facebook

To help you design & live your life like this, I would like to gift you with a free download of  the ‘Topaz Lotus Life Crafter 2012‘

In peace & mindfulness

namaste,

Zoey

wisdom coaching to set your heart on fire and soothe your 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

Gong Hey Fat Choy
LOVE
HEALTH
JOY
LUCK
WEALTH
WISDOM
HAPPINESS
PROSPERITY

From the ‘Peace Compassion Love’ Facebook Group

This Lunar New Year is the year of the dragon, also known as the water dragon.  The water elements cools the firery dragon and it is a time for family and community!

Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade is on Sunday, January 29th.

namaste,

Zoey

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
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1.888.556.3663

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

Women Health Life:  Words of Wisdom Heart of Wisdom – Integrity

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.”
—Janis Joplin
We tend, through life, to be confronted with many ethical dilemmas where we need to draw on our personal codes and guiding principles.  These dilemmas may feel small or large, depending on the circumstance.  Part of “life coaching” is helping women develop clarity about their personal guiding principles and values.  I often suggest that clients ask themselves the following question; “can you live with yourself, with your integrity intact, if you make that decision”?

I found the following definitions of the word “integrity” to be very interesting (from: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/integrity)

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

Most folks I talk with are familiar with then first definition, however, it is the third definition that I find fascinating, especially if one applies this to people not cell membranes! In ancient traditions one often hears about each person’s aura or “egg” of energy.  In psychological and mind/body terms, one talks about “containment” and the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.

What if we placed the emphasis on first “getting whole” and then making decisions; would that automatically mean we make integral decisions?

Now I know this discussion may seem ‘airy fairy’ to some, yet, it is a serious question.  If we design a practice and actions so that we have a “felt experience” of being whole, complete and contained, with all parts of us, mind, body, spirit and emotions connecting and integrated, then, I would say, we can’t help but function with integrity.

In our Western culture, we are encouraged to primarily use our mind in making decisions.  What if we also asked “what would my heart say about this”, or ”how does gut feel” with that decision?

In previous postings about being a sage or wise woman, I have discussed a variety of qualities from wisdom to power, from courage to gentleness; with incorporating the word “integrity” we add in both meanings of the word and draw on the concept of wholeness or completeness as well as a personal code of ethics.

So, you see, being a wise woman with integrity may encompass so much more than just being true to oneself.  Janis Joplin has half the equation!   Imagine a world where we all make decisions with both our head and our hearts for the purposes of deeper connection!

Luscious ladies, play around with the following questions
“Self-care Enchantments”:

1. 1. When have you experienced a challenge to your personal code of ethics?  How did you respond?
2. 2. Do you or how do you experience a sense of wholeness or containment?
3. 3. This week, when making a decision, run it through your head, your heart and your gut and see if the process feels different.

In peace & mindfulness,

namaste,

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

Sometimes just looking at a beautiful, relaxing image helps de-stress at the end of a busy day as a ‘working mother’.

Enjoy!

Namaste,

Zoey

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

Remembering and honoring our veterans and praying for peace & unity!

Namaste

Zoey

Life & Leadership Coaching Tip For Women Health

Embrace your day with joy and excitement!

Start your day by meditating quietly and then write down, in your own handwriting, your ‘intentions’ for the day.

Intentions are different than goals. Goal are something you strive towards and require effort. Intentions are attached to ‘good feeling emotions’ and can draw you forward effortlessly.

An example: ‘It is my intention that my day flows forward with joy and excitement.

Namaste,

Zoey

You have the choice every day to choose health or illness; struggle or peace; sharing or competition; balance or chaos; me or we; happiness or grumpiness; love or fear!

I say we choose peace, vitality, sharing, happiness and love.

Have a wonderful day.

Namaste.

In peace & mindfulness,

Zoey