27. March 2010 by Patricia.

Which one are you?

There was a time when it meant a lot to me to be able to say I was a “small.” Somehow “small” had a more feminine connotation. It is fascinating to see that I wear right now items in my wardrobe that are labeled small, medium, large and extra large. The size seems to depend on the style, make and how I want it to look once I am wearing it.

If I become concerned about wearing an item of clothing that is labeled large or extra large, the problem is an internal one which needs to be addressed. Questions I have asked myself are: What does being a “small” or a “size 6” mean? What does wearing a blouse with an “extra large” tag mean? How do I feel about myself inside? Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large? And does it truly matter?

Posted in Peaceful Mind | No Comments »

20. March 2010 by Patricia.

Have you ever had moments when you felt as though you could burst with sheer happiness? Is an overwhelming positive emotion scary? While it seems counterintuitive, sometimes handling happy emotions can be as problematic as dealing with unhappy or negative ones. Finding an outlet for intense emotions can be very grounding. Listening to Andrea Bocelli when I am feeling intensely happy helps to ground me. What works for you?

Posted in Vibrant Spirit | No Comments »

13. March 2010 by Patricia.

In coaching circles we are often taught to respond to a client with a series of “Why” questions until she finds resolution. I’m not overly keen on the “Why” question because it is too often used as a form of manipulation: explain yourself! Instead I do like the “Are you willing to explore …..” question. Here’s how it goes:

“I don’t know if I’m hungry but I just want to eat” – Are you willing to explore that?

“I don’t want to … I just want to eat” – Are you willing to explore that?

“I don’t have the time right now” – Are you willing to explore that?

Asking this type of question can be very illuminating.

Posted in Healthy Body | No Comments »

6. March 2010 by Patricia.

A client went home [her parents’ house] for a long weekend and the exercise program which she had followed faithfully went up in smoke. While she was there she did something she had not done before. She stood up to a controlling parent and refused to be manipulated into seeing a film she considered too violent. In our session she criticized herself for not continuing her exercise program [body/physical quadrant] and only briefly acknowledged the power of standing up to her parent [mind/spirit quadrant]. We do this, don’t we?

Here’s the thing: If being happy and living a healthy lifestyle are not limited to eating right and exercising but incorporates body, mind, spirit and emotions - then anytime you grow in one area, you are surely growing and moving toward your goals. Can that be enough?

Posted in Body Mind Spirit & Emotions | No Comments »