Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Voices in our heads?

Do you ever feel like one side of you is thinking or feeling one thing, while another side of you thinks or feels another? Sometimes making decisions becomes difficult because the voices feel like they are at war with one another? If so, you are not alone! Part of our normal developmental process as we grow up is to sort through which aspects of ourselves get us love, attention, and safety. Those aspects tend to have different voices that guide us through life.

That is some of what I learned in a Voice Dialogue for Coaches class with Jan Berg and BJ Levy of inviteCHANGE last week. I became interested in the technique during my coach training and I have been looking forward to adding it to my toolbox to support clients.

I have also enjoyed several sessions with Jan and BJ and find the work incredibly powerful for sorting through the voices in my head so that I can make decisions more clearly and quickly.

What struck me most in the training was the concept of helping clients build a Central Consciousness that becomes the orchestra conductor for the different aspects of ourselves. This enables us to utilize the wisdom of each piece without having them at war with one another so that we can be more effective while having peace in my head! Fantastic! I have already began incorporating the concepts in with my clients with wonderful success!

I am grateful for this wonderful work that empowers people from the inside - out! For more information, please read more, or feel free to contact me.

What are your voices saying?

Until next week, be well!
Rachel

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Which wolf are you feeding?

Last week I had the priveledge of attending a Power Chicks event to hear a dear friend and colleague, Beth Buelow, of Intentional Talk, speak about "What's Love Got to Do With It?".

In honor of my rule of threes (hear something once, let it pass; hear something twice, take note; hear something three times, take action) it felt important to pass along a teaching I heard from her for the third time.

I cannot tell where I heard it first - it seemed to jump out of my bones when I heard a similar version from a powerful healer and gifted teacher, Jeni Dahn. It is a story that has been passed to her many times. Beth sited her source as Harold Kushner’s ‘Living a Life That Matters’. While the stories vary slightly, the essence remains the same.

The lesson comes from a Native American elder who talked about having two wolves inside him at all times - one white and one black. One wolf was "good", and the other, "mean". He described the mean one as fighting the good one all the time. When asked which wolf wins, he reflected and then replied, "The one I feed the most."

That story speaks to me on so many levels, and is such a powerful illustration of the profound impact stories offer as learning, or "medicine".

As focused and clear as I feel in any moment, not far away are the voices of doubt, fear, and lack. It seems so simple - which one do I feed? Which plant in my garden gets the most energy from compost in the soil, the sun in the sky, and the rain in its' roots? That plant will grow faster, stronger, and bare more fruit.

And, I know my life to be a vivid reflection of the fact that what I feed with my attention, my energy, and my time grows stronger. What I love about his beautiful short story, is that is also underscores the fact that we are at full choice as to what we feed, therefore, what we recieve. It is a piece of our limitless co-creation with the creative forces around us.

It also struck me that this is another way to view the previous story of the client feeding her "wanting" by looking off to the horses who had chosen not to join us in the arena. In so doing, she was also choosing not to feed her peace by engaging with the horses already in the arena, laying down around her.

I offer to you, which wolf are you feeding? What voices are you spending time indulging? What are you focused on? And, how's it working? Are you getting what you want?

For this moment, I choose deep gratitude for vibrant health, loving support, and joyful collaboration.

To the Creator in each of you,
Rachel

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Delight in the small things!

Hello, friends!

Spring is truly springing here at the farm! With it comes the chaotic energy of creation as everything unfolds to expand into the next bigger version of themselves for the summer.

I wanted to share a quick story that touched me, in the hopes you may also find something for yourself.

My husband and I were driving down a busy, 5 lane road and talking about some heavy topic. We passed by an assisted living community and I thought, "Wow. I don't ever want to live in one of those."

And, then, on the corner of the busy road we traveled and a small, quiet side street, was an elderly man bent over - almost to the ground. He caught my attention because I assumed something must be "wrong"!

As we passed, I realized he was cradling a camera in his hands, and he was leaning over, focusing on a dandalion blossom that was growing up through the crack in the pavement. He was angling to get just the right perspective on this vibrantly gold flower. He seemed so happy - so intent on that moment of perfection.

A flower that countless others have passed by without a thought. Others, with intent to kill or harm.

And, this man, in the middle of this busy world, saw perfection in the simplest, most common of sights. Not only did he notice, he was cherishing the beauty - capturing it to hold onto, perhaps during a rainy day inside.

I asked myself, "Where am I missing the beauty and perfection?" Where am I not noticing, taking it for granted, or not cherishing what I am blessed to behold.

Until next time,
Be well

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Joy or struggle?

One of my favorite things about my work is how much of a gift my clients are in my life. Specifically, how much I learn about myself by witnessing them work through their questions and struggles. And, how inspiring I find their courage, tenacity, and authenticity.

I was again reminded today by a wonderful client, of how amazing my life is - should I choose to see it, acknowledge it, and accept it.

When she arrived, she was talking very quickly, as though she were trying to get everything in her head out - almost as if there would be peace if she could accomplish that. Her voice sounded tinny and hollow.

When I asked her what she wanted out of our time together today, she explained that she felt out of step. I was feeling my shoulders drift up towards my ears and my feet go numb. So, I offered a deep breath, moving our attention to our feet, grounding into the earth, feeling that connection. She sat back in the chair and I felt my shoulders relax. Her face softened, her eyes cleared, and when she spoke, her voice was resonate and full.

From that place of grounded connection, we walked out to the horses. There were three horses laying down in the arena and the others had chosen not to participate by moving to another area. When she walked through the gate and into the arena, she completed a circle with the three horses. The energy was remarkable and beautiful.

I asked how her body felt and she reported being completely relaxed - totally at peace in the present moment. Then I noticed that she kept turning away from that peaceful scene and looking to the other area to see if she could see the rest of the herd. She would start wondering where they were and why they weren't interested in her today. Her brow would furrow, and her voice would change.

Each time she would turn back to the three beautiful horses laying down, she would talk about the truth and power she finds in the present moment with a resonate, almost melodic tone. Then, she would turn her back again and strain to find the other horses, struggling to figure out where they were.

I pointed out what I was seeing and asked her if that is what she was experiencing. She confirmed it was. I then inquired as to whether she felt that was a pattern in her life. Her face dropped as she realized the choice she was making and the impact it has on her.

There are many layers here, as there always are with people as well as with horses. The piece that struck home for me was the choice to turn away from the groundedness and peace of the present moment for the drama of my stories. What is more appealing about the drama and struggle of my stories than the peace? What stops me from fully embracing the peace and choosing to be there?

What is true, is that each moment unfolds as it will. My choice is whether I will miss this one by worrying about the next one or the last one, or distracting myself with old stories that no longer serve me.

Watching someone else make the choice clarified it for me - in this moment, I choose the peace of this moment. I deserve the peace. I embrace it. I recieve it. I choose it. I release the need for the drama of the stories that hold me back. I can feel my shoulders relax, my face soften, and space open in my chest. Ahh.