The value of continuous personal change…

November 5, 2011 By 4 Comments

“One key to successful leadership is continuous personal change. Personal change is a reflection of our inner growth and empowerment.” — Robert E. Quinn

 

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I came across this quote by Robert Quinn and it reminded me of a personal change that I’ve experienced over the last few years as a result of being coached and then becoming a coach.  I’m sharing this story as it may help you too.  This change came from a combination of focused effort and conscious choice.  It relates to the contrast between ruminating and letting go.  It is all about the power of freedom and finding inner peace.    

Like many of us I suspect, I used to spend time ruminating…also known as the worry gene.  Rather than looking back as part of the learning process, I would look back and worry about all sorts of things that I could not change no matter how much energy I put into it.  Then one day a few years ago through my coach training, I did a values exercise that changed my view and opened my eyes to a few things.  For one, I realized that I value freedom.  Freedom has different meaning for each of us but for me it means having inner peace.  Yet, I was worrying.  About what I said, what I did, what I didn’t do or say.  What happens in this situation is that you end up living in the past in many respects.  And when we live in the past, we miss out on such awesome things about the present.  Through coaching, I learned to live and breathe in the present.  This has created space in my life and in my head.  What a true gift. 

Now, I’m not saying that I never worry about anything anymore.  I do.  And I do because I care.  I care deeply about people.  I don’t however, give as much energy to worrying than it deserves.  You see, I think worrying is overrated.  I give my energy to where I live and breathe which is in the present.  I have learned that I can still care about what truly matters and live in the present.  My husband and I have put into practice a new way to think and to live and it’s really working for us.  We have truly learned to “let go” and it is wonderful.  It is absolutely empowering in fact.  The past is used to learn from and that is all.  You want to talk about freedom?  This is freedom.  Not only is it freedom but it is living according to our values and with personal integrity.

This is just one example of how we can change and grow while remaining true to ourselves.  Sometimes we need someone on the outside to help us look inside.  This is the value of great coaching.  Coaching provides us with the support to define and achieve our goals of personal change.

Wishing you a peaceful day.  Glo

(C) 2011 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

Filed Under: Leadership, Life Tagged With: , , , , ,

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…

July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Meet Sandi, our 12 year old maltese shih-tzu. Part dog, part human…lives the good life!!!

I have a cute summertime story for you.  This afternoon my door bell rang and standing there was a young guy.  My guess is that he was about 12 or so.  I could see over his shoulder into the driveway.  A lawn mower, weed wacker and two young children on bicycles (a boy and a girl).  He politely handed me a few of his “business cards” and asked if he could cut my lawn.  Without missing a beat he said “$15 for the front and back and I do all the weed wacking too.”  I hesitated for about 10 seconds and thought sure, why not! 

When I asked him about his sidekicks he said “Oh that’s my little brother and sister.  I pay them 25¢ for each weed they pull out.”  With that, off he went to start up his mower and cut my lawn, front and back.  I don’t know about you but when I think of the things I spend $15 on, this was a good deal.  In fact, this was awesome.  Marc was busy building a deck, the timing was perfect.  I was supporting a budding entrepreneur and his young helpers.  I was going to have a freshly cut lawn in exchange for $15 and a few gatorades for the crew.  

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This reminded me of my summer jobs.  I started out babysitting in the neighbourhood and even got a job with a friend walking someones dogs.  My first “real” job was working at K Mart in the toy department.  I was 15.  What a serious nightmare!  The place was a zoo.  After 6 weeks I was “promoted” to cash.  The only problem was that I was too short for the cash so I had to stand on a stool.  Yes, I am serious.  Too funny, looking back…childhood memories. 

I truly love summer.  I love everything about it.  The warmth of the sun on my skin.  The freedom to wear sandals and leave the house without a coat.  The long days and long nights.  The way our dog sticks her head out the car window to soak in the breeze.  Somehow, it seems like everything is easier in the summer.   Life is so good! 

I would love to hear from you!  Please leave me a comment.  What was your first summer job?  What is your favorite thing about summer?   

Wishing you an amazing summer!

Glo

(C) 2011 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , ,

A new phase and a blank canvas

May 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

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Truth be told if I had read this statement earlier in life it wouldn’t have meant much to me.  I never really gave much thought as to who I was, who I could be, why things did or did not happen in my life or how I had the power to grow and evolve as an individual.  I was too busy just living and enjoying life.  There were a few constants in my life however.  I’ve always cared about and connected with people.  I find people so interesting.  What they think, what they do, what they feel, what they say and even how and why they say it.  I also truly love life.  I find such tremendous joy in the smallest of things.  This sense of inner happiness and joy has made my life so rich.  It has helped me even during some difficult times.  This has not changed for me… 

What has changed for me over the years are my priorities, my view on how I can shape my life to be whatever I want it to be and my view of who I am in relation to everything and everyone around me.  I suppose I’ve entered a new phase in life.  I don’t tend to categorize it by age although I guess that is a factor.  It’s a life shift.  My life is like a blank canvas in many respects.  There are so many opportunities for adding color if and when I want.  Without question, the palette is more easily accessible at some times than others but it’s always there with a brush just waiting for a first stroke of color.  Although the canvas may be a different shape or size,  your canvas and palette are awaiting you too! 

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There is a wonderful energy that comes with this openness to possibility and change.  The passion and sheer excitement that fuels us to try new things, to be curious and to allow ourselves to evolve, brings with it a sense of freedom.  Freedom to find meaning.  Freedom to create.  Freedom to open the doors and see what is on the other side.

Wishing you love and light,

Glo

(c) 2011- True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

Filed Under: Life, Making Changes Tagged With: , ,

Relationships With Self and Others

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It is interesting to sit back sometimes and reflect on the important aspects of your life. It seems like it’s really just a series of relationships and events. Relationships that we have with our family members, friends, colleagues, partners, clients and the one you have with yourself. You might be wondering as you read this, relationship with myself? What on earth is she talking about now? What does that mean? I’m not in a relationship with myself! Oh yes you are…and it very well could be the most important one you ever have.

You feed yourself messages continuously. Whether you say it out loud or it’s just a mind game, it’s going on all the time. The thing is, only you have the ability to turn off the negative and focus on the positive messaging. I’m not suggesting it is easy but I am suggesting it is not only doable but it is necessary to live a full life filled with bliss. By moving from a mindset of focusing on the impossible to focusing on the possible, you will experience a shift. When you change the relationship you have with yourself, the events that happen as a result of it will change too. Try it and you will see for yourself!

Healthy relationships whether in our personal or professional lives have many elements but the foundation is often trust, respect and appreciation. When this foundation is not only laid but woven into the fabric of your existence, you and the people you have relationships with will be more open to possibilities. You will experience freedom from those negative thoughts and gremlins. You will have trust in your ideas, you will respect your decisions and you will appreciate your unique talents.

Freedom is truly empowering.     

There are some life changing events for which you have no control over. You do, however, have control over how you respond to them and the events that take place as a result of them. Feed yourself positive messages. Throw those negative messages out the window and slam it shut. Replace I can’t with I can and see what happens. These new messages will become your new reality. Your reality becomes your life. 

How are your relationships affecting the events in your life? What can you do to increase the frequency of positive messaging? And don’t say you can’t because I know you can!

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

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

Why Self-Discipline is the Key to Freedom

April 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Many people today are opting for being self employed.  They want to unleash that Entrepreneurial Spirit.  They want to be the GPS in their lives.  They want to have the freedom to work when they choose.  They want to know that the projects they are working on have meaning because they selected them.  They want to know that the sky is the limit when it comes to generating revenue and therefore income.  The question is do you have the self-discipline required to be successful at it?  Self-discipline is absolutely the key for freedom.

Fairly recently I completed an online test to determine if I had what it takes to be a successful Entrepreneur.  Pretty cool actually.  Not surprisingly one of the questions was a variation of  how many hours would you work if no one was watching?  Interesting question and perhaps the one that if answered honestly, tells the tale of the true Entrepreneur.

It’s easy for you to have a vision of what total freedom looks like.  When you work for yourself, no one is standing over you to make sure you meet your deadlines.  It takes self-discipline to be your own boss especially if you want to be successful.  Unless you are able to make that deep commitment to yourself, you will continue to flounder.   You will miss deadlines for key clients because you opted to say ”I’ll do it later” for days in a row.  Regardless of all the benefits, it’s hard work being an Entrepreneur.  It’s even more important to have a daily plan or schedule that you stick to when working for yourself.  It will keep you focused on your goals and ensure your GPS is taking the right turns in the road.  Without the self-discipline to stick to that plan it’s far too easy to get off track.  Fun as being off track is, it’s not necessarily going to help you get the freedom you want because it’s not sustainable over time.   If you want the resources to do the things you love to do or to grow your business further, remain focused. 

If you really and truly want freedom, stick to your plan and make things happen.  Strange as it sounds self-discipline can be completely liberating.  Do you have what it takes to be a successful Entrepreneur?

Cheers,

Glo

(c) 2010 – True Bliss Coach Gloria Higdon

Filed Under: Entrepreneurs Tagged With: , , ,
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