Posts Tagged ‘spiritual life coaching for women’

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

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

 

 

 

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

A beautiful thought for the day !

namaste

Our world is changing, of that there is no doubt!  With hope, in the future, our children and grandchildren will be living in a world of peace, where a ‘partnership model’ rather than a ‘dominator model’ is in place.

Most women I know want to live a healthy lifestyle with purpose and passion.  From a place of  ’life in balance’,  they are the major decision makers in family health and kids health.  I know that as a working mother, I think often about what the future holds for myself, my family, my friends and my community.

We are seeing increasing numbers of women leaders in all areas.  Rather than replicate the mistakes of the past by using a dominator model, I urge all women, especially women in leadership to use a partnership model!

In considering these models and the future, it helps to review the key  ’organizing principles’ below:

• • command and control– think “military”.
• • competition – think “I win, you lose”.
• • cooperation – think “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”.
• • collaboration – think “win-win”.
• • co-creation – think “the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts”.

A ‘Dominator  Model’ utilizes the first two and sometimes the third and a ‘Partnership Model’ utilizes primarily the last two.

Consider all the systems in the world today, ie political, military, corporate, business, educational, health care, religion.  Most of these systems are based on a ‘command and control’ model where there is a leader (most often male) and a triangle of power and control flowing down from the leadership level.  It is the dismantling of this model and the shift to new, healthier organizing principles that the ‘Occupy Movement” is all about for example.

Traditionally women naturally  draw on their heart and soul wisdom and use co-creation, collaboration and cooperation in their lives. For centuries, women have sat in a circle around a fire, over a cup of tea, around the children playing, chatting and throwing out ideas for simplifying and improving their lives and the lives of their families.  These models tremendously help to improve women health, family health, emotional intelligence and mental health.  This is indicated with current scientific research and not just with feminists!

As the world allows women of all ages and particularly elder women to play a more prominent role in all areas, ‘Women Power’ will increase for the good of us all.  Will we actually live in a “femocracy” or in more of a ‘collective partnership’?  We don’t know yet, however, it is important to teach our children the beauty of sitting in circle together, of ‘win-win-win’ and collective co-creative thinking.

Women leaders, base your leadership style of the last two principles and use the partnership model!  This will lend creativity, inspiration, innovation to your organization!

I call this all ‘matrixed heart and soul’ wisdom!  Enjoy your wonderful day!

In peace and mindfulness.

namaste,

Zoey

When I am coaching, a question I often ask is, “what is the one thing, that if you did it consistently, would have the greatest positive impact on your life”?  I hear answers like exercise more, drink less coffee, lose weight.  While all of these activities no doubt will be positive, I’m reminded, as women how we are so busy, “doing”, feeling like we need to change ourselves and seldom stop to just be more of who we are.

I recently had occasion to ponder “the question” and my “year in review”.  I sank into the stillness of my home and began listing what I was thankful for.  What I realized was that it is the very small, simple things in life that bring me the greatest joy and sense of fulfillment, not tasks and certainly not “self-improvement projects.  I get a sense of fulfillment from things like hearing my children laughing, the mist over the water, the depth and comfort of a longstanding friendship.

As I sat that early morning, I was reminded that the positive impact was a result, not of doing but of being, of allowing myself reflective time to sink into the “beingness” of me and open to the power of thanksgiving, gratitude and blessings. For me, using gratitude and blessing brings a feeling of putting on the “rose coloured glasses”, a feeling of objectivity, a sense of expansiveness and is a valuable part of personal development and life balance.

I was challenged recently in my commitment to this belief when faced with an unexpected and painful loss.  I found myself slipping into a place of hurt, blame and criticism.  The word “blessing” popped into my mind and I quickly said a blessing for the situation.  It went something like this; “blessings on this situation as I know that it is all for the best and that through the pain and sadness, a greater good will come.”  By saying those words I was able to set aside the “righteous victim voice” of “poor me” and had the sense of an easing and softening of my emotions.

So, ask yourself, the earlier question, “what is the one thing if integrated into your life regularly, would have the greatest positive impact”?  Experiment with using blessings, gratitude and thanksgiving and feel yourself open into a deeper sense of your “beingness”.  Start by making a list of at least 20 things that you are thankful for.  Every day, give yourself time to sink into your “beingness” and feel gratitude.  Send out blessings to your friends, family, all people and situations and imagine the world taking on a rosy glow!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

- Melody Beattie,  Author

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

In peace & mindufulness,

Zoey

powerful wisdom coaching for your heart & soul

Zoey Ryan BSc., PCC

Professional Certified Coach with the ICF

Topaz Lotus Coaching

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

inspiration | innovation | wisdom

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

In my personal & professional life, working and raising three daughters I have benefitted, as have many of my clients from these three simple, yet powerful, work life balance tips.

1. Delegate domestic duties!

This might mean hiring someone to do your cleaning; engaging kids to shop, cook, clean; having important discussions with life partners ie husbands about roles and responsibilities.

2. Start and or finish your day with ‘you time’ and remember to ‘breathe’!

Some women start their day with meditation, others with exercise, others with quiet spiritual reading, still others with organization activities. Even 10 minutes at the end of the day mindfully reflecting and re-engaging with your body can do wonders for both your mind and your body! You deserve time and self-care and you will be a better leader for it!

3. Work with a certified professional coach.

And no, this is not shameless self-promotion. The research overwhelming indicates that the best thing executives and women leaders can do for themselves and their organizations is to work with a coach. Let’s face it, it can be ‘lonely at the top’ and women leaders often feel they have no one to talk to! I have been there! Professional coaches, who act as ‘partners and champions of you’ can help with topics like: work life balance, time management, leadership development, leadership skills development, personal life balance and decision making. If working with a coach interests you, check out the International Coach Federation for more information or contact me.

peace & namaste,

Zoey

coaching for your heart & soul

Zoey Ryan BSc., PCC

Professional Certified Coach

Life ~ Leadership ~ Executive Coaching for Women Leaders

inspiration | innovation | wisdom

Even though I have been a certified coach and member of the International Coach Federation for many years, I have never attended the annual North American conference!  This year will be different!

I am very excited to be travelling to Las Vegas for the uncoming ICF Conference, Sept 24 – 27th.  The theme is “Playing to the Edge”.

Lynn Meinke, Chair of the conference steering committee says “What does Playing to the Edge mean to you? We know it’s different for each person and yet, isn’t that what coaching is about? Don’t you want your clients to think big and go for what they really want? So, how do you, as a person and coach, play to your edge in your personal life and professional life? How would you like to stretch yourself so that you can be a model that supports your clients to play to their edge?

In planning the educational programming for this year’s conference, the Committee looked for keynote presenters and breakout sessions that would stretch us, get us to think in different ways, offer alternative perspectives, get our “creative juices” flowing, and perhaps bring a sense of playfulness and fun. We also identified four guiding principles or “pillars” that supported and anchored our work as we selected presenters. These pillars are: Inspiration, Innovation, Community, and Diversity with Balance.”

I’m excited about meeting new coaches and exploring my edge.  I also hear that there is a wonderful spa at Mandalay Bay, where attendees will be staying, so I plan to soak and soothe with luscious spa treatments.

Let me know if you plan to attend or would like to hear more about the conference.

Information is available on the International Coach Federation website: http://coachfederation.org

peace & namaste,

Zoey

coaching for your heart & soul

Zoey Ryan BSc., PCC

Professional Certified Coach

Life ~ Leadership ~ Executive Coaching for Women

inspiration | innovation | wisdom

After a prolonged absence for personal refreshment and introspection, I am back to my blog and look forward to sharing more thoughts with you soon!

namaste,

Zoey

Zoey Ryan PCC

Professional Certified Coach for Women

Specializing in life ~ leadership ~ executive & team coaching

inspiration * wisdom *  clarity