The Coaching Toys Blog

Roller Derby, Sky Diving & Skinny Dipping - Getting out of the box

When was the last time you challenged a client or yourself to really step outside of your comfort zone? Not just a tiny stretch but a really big, out of the box leap - something you have never done before, something that scares the bejebees out of you?

A recent Oprah show did when they led a group of women whose confidence had been under seige on an out of the box journey. The women participated in three daring activities: skating in a roller derby (fishnet stockings included), sky diving (attached to a trainer) and skinny dipping in the ocean (with Oprah's camera team shooting). check out the YouTube clip

What was truly exciting was the impact taking these risks had on the women. It was visible and even profound for some of them. Without a doubt, each woman felt more confident and powerful. Each woman was given a charm bracelet with a charm to remind them of each risk/stretch/leap they participated in.

What big out of the box leap is on the horizon for you?

I would love to hear about your of the box leaps (or your clients). What did you do and what was the impact?

Remembering your own intentions

Do you ever set an intention and then conveniently forget it? Maybe the next day around noon you think – oh yah, I was going to only look at email only twice a day or I was going to drink 8 glasses of water today.  New habits, shifts in thinking or behavior take focus and frankly – reminding, to break the default grove. There are a lot of fun ways to remind yourself; wear a wrist band with a message, put up post it notes, add a reminder to your screen saver.  If you are like me – any given structure lasts about 2-3 weeks and then I don’t notice it any more – I’m always on the lookout for new ways to remind and inspire myself.

 Here is a brand new way that is fun and colorful – it’s a product called Thought Spots. These 'spots' are made out of that clinging vinyl material so you can use them over and over and they stick on glass, metal, plastic – any shiny surface.

The messages come in themed thought packs like self love and acceptance and motivation. Imagine having a message on our computer or white board that says “I am enough” or “live with passion” or “try something that scares you”

It’s a great concept and it’s now available in the Coaching Toys Store. 

 

Shift limiting beliefs effortlessly

The One Command is a deep and simple meditation technique to help shift limiting beliefs and allow manifestation. It’s actually a pretty cool process and I have been using it myself with success. The "One Command" refers to a statement you make when in a deeply relaxed state called theta. It begins “I don’t know how I (fill in the blank) I only know I am and I am fulfilled. It’s simple and yet saying those words, “I don’t know how” seems to immediately quiet the critical part of the mind and allow the statement in.

I’ve posted an interview I conducted with coach and theta healer Michele Bergh who explains it all clearly and even guides you through an experience of it. The audio is posted on the Coaching Toys site.  Michele has created a CD on The One Command – stay tuned as we will have it available in the Coaching Toys Store  soon. In the meantime – check out the podcast page  for an experience of The One Command 

A New Year Exercise to pave the way for galloping synchronicities

The  New Year is a great time to reflect and I found an execise that I can't wait to try from one of my heroine's, the amazing visionary, Dr Jean Houston. She described it on a podcast entitled Activators of Creativity. If you do this exercise be prepared to experience what Jean describes as "galloping synchronicities"

Here are the steps

Divide a piece of paper in three columns

1. At the top of the first column write, What do I want from the universe? Allow yourself to write whatever comes.

2. At the top of the second column, What does the universe want from me? Allow yourself to write whatever comes.

3. At the top of the third column, What do we want together? What do the universe and I want? Allow yourself to write whatever comes.

Once you have completed the exercise, set it aside. Come back to it in a few hours with this adaptation to the previous questions; the 1st column, deeper still, what do I want from the universe?, the 2nd column, deeper still, what does the universe want from me?, and the 3rd column, deeper still, what do we (myself and the universe) want together?

Now let questions and your responses gestate for a few days. Come back to it when you are feeling in a particularly receptive or spiritual mindset. Return to the three questions with this adaptation; deepest yet, what do I want from the universe?, deepest yet, what does the universe want from me?, and deepest yet, what do we want together?

The next step is to ask yourself; What talents are available? What are the support and resources available? What needs to be added? What is this looking like? What do we need to work together?

The final step is to go back to the universe and say – okay universe – this is what we need. Write down everything that is needed.

This exercise sets a powerful and clear intention and allows your creative and 'deep mind' to begin working on it. Be prepared for what Jean describes as “galloping synchronicities”

I'd love to hear about your experience with this exercise and especially about the galloping synchronicities that come your way!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

 

Sustenance - planning a retreat

I am coming off a very busy stretch and have decided to give myself a retreat to re-group, re-energize and re-commit. I have a little winding down time today with the Thanksgiving holiday get together with family and then for the next 4 days I will be in retreat. I'm not going anywhere, I am creating it at home. This intrigued a client of mine who wanted to know more about how I was structuring it.

The biggest challenge for a worker bee like myself, besides staying out of my office, is to not over structure the retreat and leave plenty of room to follow natural urges. What I am most conscious of as I approach this time is the need to clarify my overall intention, ask for help from spirit and create just enough structure to contain the experience and take me out of my ordinary routines.

I have to admit, I'm still designing. Here is what I have decided on so far. I will do a prayer ceremony with my husband this evening to name my intention and invite in spiritual help and guidance.
I have named the focus of each day in the form of an inquiry. Day one is What Is?, day two is What Matters?, day three is What's Possible? and day four is What is the Commitment? I will start each day with a ritual - it might be the same and it might vary. Most of retreat time will take place in a special room in our home that we use for journaling and reading and I am giving myself full permission to leave the house - there is a labyrinth in town I just might visit. I also plan to talk with my coach Friday morning and again at the end of the retreat.

As for what to DO while in retreat? Hmm - I will be grappling with that  - I like to "do" and the challenge will be about slowing down and simply listening. I have lots of coaching toys to play with, lots of great books available, I even cleaned up my art studio in case I feel an urge to make art. The doing needs to serve the "being"

I'll let you know how it goes and would love to hear about your retreat experiences.

Happy thanksgiving to you all!