Do you believe in miracles?

November 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

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One could say that miracles are like magic. Some believe, some don’t, so what.  Well, the so what factor happens to be very telling. It is telling of who we are as individuals. What our personal values are. What brings meaning to our lives. It is telling of how we make decisions.

Life today is complex yet simple. Business today is chaotic yet inspiring. Tiny miracles pop up out of nowhere it seems and surprise us. These miracles create small change and massive change in both individuals and in organizations. These tiny miracles create insights often leading to wisdom.

The laws of nature … describe the ways in which the world—including, of course, human beings—works when left to itself, when not interfered with. A miracle occurs when the world is not left to itself, when something distinct from the natural order as a whole intrudes into it. (Mackie 1982: 19–20)

But alas, you must believe. You must believe in what is possible. You must accept that it’s ok not to know the how part of the equasion. A difficult task no doubt. You must get comfortable with not being right. Easier for some than for others. Not everything in this world is a result of cause and effect. For instance, you must believe that what you say and do truly matter. And it matters because at the heart of what we say and do is our personal integrity. But to believe that anything is possible, that miracles do occur and often when we least expect them, because a butterfly flapped it’s wings in another part of the world, this is to believe in miracles.

“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein

Miracles are all around us. We just need to open our eyes and hearts in order to see and feel them.

Note: Many of the ideas from this post were generated through the work of Margaret J. Wheatley’s, Leadership and the New Science.

Cheers, Glo

C (2011) - True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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Frost on the pumpkin

October 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

First frost, brrrrr!  Need to bundle up to take the dog for a walk in the morning.  It’s no secret that summer is my favorite season but there is much to be said for curling up by the fire, wearing cozy fleece, that first blush of cool air as it hits your face when you open the door, crock pot dinners, and pumpkins.  Yes, that’s right, I said pumpkins.  Can anything make you feel like a kid again faster than Halloween and a pumpkin patch?  Is this picture of my neice Jenna (many moons ago) not the cutest thing ever?

Halloween is kind of a cool time of year because wearing a costume allows us to become someone else, to try it out, try it on, and to see if we like it.  Maybe we will like it more.  Maybe others will notice too.  Maybe this is when we believe we are at our best because we are open to growing, learning. changing behaviours, attitudes and actions to create better and more positive outcomes.  This is the true value of coaching.  It allows us to design our futures and to try things on for size. 

When you think of all of the pumpkins in a pumpkin patch, what do you notice?  I notice that they are all different sizes, shapes, colors and although there are a ton of them we seem to be able to pick out the one that is just perfect (for us).  Well, just like picking out your pumpkin you have the inner wisdom to make choices that are perfect (for you) in all aspects of your life, personal and professional.  It’s true that some choices are made for us but we also have choices to make about  who we become as a result of those choices.  Are we victims?  Are we assigning blame or are we active participants in our own lives (thanks, Katie!) trying on different costumes while remaining true to ourselves and living with personal integrity?  I vote for the latter.  What about you?  Looking to make a change?  If so, remember that you have choices.  Get inspired by your inner wisdom! 

 

Cheers, Glo

(C) 2011 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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Bullseye!

March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are different aspects of our lives that bring true meaning.  They provide us with happiness, a sense of fulfillment and an ability to experience pure joy.  Depending on what is going on both professionally and personally, where we sit in terms of these aspects can vary greatly.  Let’s say for example that you were to think of your life successes as accomplishments and achievements.  In order to obtain those, you may need to make changes in your life which causes a need and desire to create and innovate.   Then there are those relationships in our lives which bring us joy.  The smallest little jesture or connection from someone that causes you to stop and think about what is truly important.  As we reflect on who we are and who we want to be known for, we search for deeper meaning and our lifes purpose.  Some people look and find it, others don’t. 

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Sometimes we’ve got a bullseye in a few key areas of our life and yet we’ve missed the dart board altogether in others.  A piece of the puzzle isn’t fitting, we aren’t as fulfilled as we want to be.  Often we can put our finger right on it and say with conviction “I want to be more creative.  I want to learn to think outside the box.  To challenge the status quo and come up with meaningful solutions to some of the issues I’m faced with on a daily basis.” OR “I want to focus more on the relationships in my life and how valuable they are to me.” OR ”I want to not only set goals but I want to find the way that works for me so that I am achieving and celebrating them.” OR “I want my life to have true meaning so that I can look back with pride at who I have become and how I have contributed to the lives of others.  I want to look ahead with passion knowing that I am fulfilled and excited by the possibilities of a new day.”

Sometimes it’s a bit more of a challenge to put our finger on what, if anything, is missing.  Our vision isn’t clear.  Something is amiss…we struggle, we feel stuck, we take a new course, join a new gym, paint the living room a new color and still we drag ourselves out of bed dreading the day.    

Whichever aspect of your life is the dart that missed the board, you’ve got everything  needed to figure it out and change what is within your control.  We tend to underestimate how powerful change can be and instead we focus on the obstacles.  At times we may need support to help us think in a new and empowering way.  Through the power of solution focused Coaching you will experience these insights firsthand.  You will be amazed at how all of your darts not only make it on the board, but they get a bullseye! 

“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle” – Christian D. Larson

Celebrating you and all that you are and all that you can be!

Cheers,  Glo

Note: Several of the ideas from this post are adapted from an article written by Harvard Business School Professor Clayton M. Christensen “How Will You Measure Your Life?”  To purchase a copy of this very inspiring article please visit http://hbr.org/

(C) 2011 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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Resistance to Change

November 2, 2010 By 2 Comments

In my M.A. Leadership program we are learning all about resistance to change this week.  There are two types of resistance, active and passive.  In active resistance we may find fault in the change and therefore be critical of it and we may experience fear of the unknown or have a low tolerance for uncertainty.  In passive resistance we may say that we’re going to change so we agree verbally however we don’t follow through with the steps required.  Instead we may drag our feet or procrastinate.  In order to accept change, we must be truly motivated to learn and grow.  Even more simplistically, we must really want it.

“Resistance may stem from a single fact, belief, feeling or value.  But that is the exception.  Facts, beliefs, feelings and values are usually linked together in sequences or patterns.  The most effective way to find missing pieces in a pattern is to ask nonthreatening questions relevant to the specific situation” (K. Hultman, Scaling The Wall of Resistance)

Coaching is a creative process or dance whereby the coach and client respectively seek to ask and answer these underlying questions.  Supporting the value and principles of mutual respect and trust is of paramount importance in this relationship.  This dance stimulates the cerebral cortex allowing capacity for future visioning and the bigger picture.  This in turn allows us to mentally experience or try on the desired change, to see ourselves in it and yet be disassociated from it at the same time thus reducing resistance to change.     

Whatever your resistance may be initially, you have the ultimate power to believe in yourself and to experience the magnificent kaleidoscope of color that comes with desired change.

Cheers,  Glo

(C) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

Filed Under: Goals, Making Changes, Professional Coaching Services Tagged With: , , , , , ,

As The Seasons Change, Do You Change With Them?

August 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wait a minute…this is starting to sound like the name of a soap opera! 

As I was walking the dog this morning I could feel the air was crisper and that Fall was just around the corner.  I must confess, I’m not a big fan of winter.  Although, I’m a sincere lover of summer with full on sunshine and blue sky, I don’t dread the thought of cooler nights or the leaves turning.  There is something about September (at least where I live) that brings to mind comfort food and warm and fuzzy fleece.   Having the fireplace on to take the chill out of the air.  Watching movies.  Entertaining.  Reading.  Whatever memories you have of Fall, they are likely quite different than that of summer.  How many times have you said to yourself or someone else “Let’s plan to do it after Labour Day” or “I’m going to start after Labour Day” or “Once the kids go back to school” or “Once I go back to school”?   Could it be that a change of seasons also brings with it a change of mindset and focus with new goals and possibly new obstacles?

Leaving a place of comfort to venture out into something new regardless of how big or small that change is, can be exciting and yet scary at the same time.  Work or life, it makes no difference.  Change is change.  Breaking things down into bite size pieces can help to minimize feelings of overwhelm and create change that is more sustainable over time.  Set goals for yourself that are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.  If you need help defining and or achieving them, look for a support system.  As with all goals, it is easier to achieve them when someone is there supporting you.  Someone who believes in your inner power and wisdom.   Someone like a Professional Coach. 

Be inspired, feel empowered and set the world on fire with your passion!    ♥ hope and courage are a powerful force ♥

Labour Day is just around the corner…time to put your thinking cap on and embrace change.  What will it take to light your fire this Fall?     

Cheers,

Glo

(c)  2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

Filed Under: Goals, Life, Making Changes, Professional Coaching Services Tagged With: , , , ,

You Wanna Do WHAT??

March 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Have there been times in your life where you thought it’s time for a change and all you hear is “You wanna do WHAT??”  A career change, a new business idea you want to implement or a life change that may seem so radical to your friends and family that you have a hard time “selling” your idea or your vision of what could be.  Have you been deterred from doing something that truly excites you and ignites your passion?  Is it those nasty gremlins that keep creeping up?  Does it seem impossible or perhaps not worth the effort involved?  Have your excuses ever become a way of living?  Are you truly living at this point or are you settling?

Many of you have other people to consider when contemplating major change.  You want to ensure that you take their perspective into consideration especially if they will be affected by “your” change.  At the same time you don’t want to lose momentum for reaching your desired outcome. Unless you are a lotto winner, it’s likely that you have some financial responsibilities to consider when making important career or life changes.  Maybe you need to take out a loan to go back to school or to buy a cottage or move to the promise land.  You may also have specific fears or gremlins and they may have nothing to do with money.  There is no shortage of questions and various scenarios running through your mind.  Sounds like quite the balancing act and one that many people are faced with whenever major change is involved.  

The next time you are facing one of these hurdles, try working with a Coach.  Through use of different tools and techniques, an effective Coach will help you to first identify and then conquer those fears.  Your Coach will ensure that your core values are properly aligned to your goals through value identification.   Using a series of thought provoking questions, they will challenge you and help you to determine through clarification where the right balance is for you so that you can find peace in your decisions and in your actions.  Unlike your friends and family who want to offer you advice, your Coach (when in Coach position) is going to work with you to ensure that the answers and the path forward comes from within. 

As Tommy Lasorda said “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a persons determination”

How determined are you to be excited and passionate about your life, what you’re doing and the choices you are making?  Want to take those great ideas and turn them into reality?  What steps are you prepared to take to create change in your life or business?

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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Follow Your Bliss And The Rest Will Follow

March 12, 2010 By 1 Comment

I’ve made some important decisions and changes in my life this week.  For one, I decided to take a hard look in the mirror.  Aside from my new found mid life wrinkles, I wanted to make sure that I liked what I saw.  Knowing fully and completely that I could live a life of bliss with what I saw and who I am.  Knowing that I would be passionate about what I’m learning and what I’m doing each and every day.  

Sounds easy enough right?  Ha, as if!  Although certainly not easy, I’ve never been one to settle.  For me, settling is not truly living.  It’s quite simply a state of existence.  Settling because you’re being realistic is one thing.  Settling because you’re scared to explore or to make a change is another.  So all this to say, I had a choice to make… 

So here I am, just a few days after that initial ah ha moment.  I’m 45 and following my dream of spending more time developing my Coaching business and going back to school.  I know I know….I must be crazy!  That’s okay, crazy is good.  I love crazy.  It gets me all jazzed up again.  Jazzed up is definitely who I am.

The important decisions and changes in my life that have had the most positive influence have come with no regrets. I know deep within that by following my bliss, the rest will follow.   Doors will open where there were only walls.  My life will unfold as it should.  It just will.  It is my passion, my bliss and my state of being. 

Have you given up on any dreams?  Are there times where you feel like you’ve just settled?

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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Values and Ethics – What Drives Yours?

March 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

What are the things that keep you up at night? What drives you? What are the values that if taken away from you as a person would completely change who you are? Could it be that we just live our lives and have no real need to think about what they are? We are all so different that what is important to me may not be to my neighbour, colleague or friend. Values and ethics are such a personal thing. They guide us. They keep us on the straight and narrow. They allow us to be true to ourselves. To find and use our voice, to take actions that reflect who we are and what we stand for. 

My personal values are integrity, caring, respect, family, learning, courage and perserverance. Caring about people is why I love Coaching so much. I love to help people help themselves. I love to see them happy and feeling good about who they are and what they are doing. I  respect and treat others with dignity recognizing that we all have unique gifts and talents. I value family tremendously. A family unit such as mine is a rare gift to be treasured. They are my support system and I am so grateful for them. I am a lifelong learner and love to continuously learn new things. As a stubborn Taurus (not something I’m always proud of) I believe that in order to persevere in the face of adversity you need to have courage. Courage and a positive attitude have helped me through some very challenging times both personally and professionally.

When we are considering making a change in our life or in a behavior our values are such an important factor for how we get to action. When was the last time you took a few minutes to think  about what your values are? What are they and why are they important to you? Please let me know. I really do care…it’s even one of my values!

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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Moving on → Moving forward

February 23, 2010 By 1 Comment

Why is it that moving on is so easy for some things in our life and so challenging for others?  For many of us, change is rarely easy.  Especially if where you are moving from is comfortable…oh I can so feel it.  It’s all toasty warm in here.  I know this place, these people, these smells (presumably only good ones), these memories…I like it here and I’m not moving.  I think I’m going to sit in it and just be…hey maybe I’ll even meditate in here.  That way it will feel like I’m in the present when secretly I’m in the past.  Shhhhh don’t tell anyone!  It will be our little secret ok?

If there is anything that is true about life, it is that change is happening in our lives each and every day so we might as well just embrace it.   Change has become my friend because I’m realizing more and more that moving on when it’s needed is so good for me.  It is so cleansing and so very necessary at times.  Moving on is what allows us to move forward.  Moving forward brings to mind positive and exciting images with new and unlimited possibilities.  Powerful stuff!  

Whether your goal is to be an Olympic athlete, change careers, change a behavior or eliminate sugar from your diet they all involve change.  I’ve made a decision that I want to be the one that is behind the wheel that is driving change in my life.  What have you decided about the changes you want to make?  Who is the driver and where is the map?  No GPS for this one.  This is your life!

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 - True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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My first blog post…ever

February 21, 2010 By 1 Comment

It is amazing how we can all learn new things and adapt to change if we really and truly want to.  I am sad to say that just a short time ago I was suffering from SMP (Social Media Phobia).  Now I’m tweeting on twitter, connecting on linkedin and looking for friends and fans on facebook.  I must confess that I am absolutely thrilled that I have created this WordPress blog with just a smidgen of help from my  husband Marc.  Now the question remains, where will it all end??? 

I think it’s all this Coaching that I am so fortunate to be the recipient of.  As a student Coach, I am continuously being Coached so I can say first hand that it really does work…you just have to trust the process and have trust in yourself. 

I’m signing off now but will be back again and before long to share some thoughts on life and people…my two favorite subjects!

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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