LIVING OUT YOUR DREAMS Welcome to the March edition of Living Out Your Dreams. We happily welcome our new subscribers - 55 in all - and hope you enjoy our newsletter. This month Stacey offers a new article on self-confidence and Deb has written stories about three women who are in fact making their dreams come true. We hope you find these articles and stories both helpful and inspiring. As always, we encourage your ongoing feedback and invite you to submit articles for possible inclusion in the newsletter. Please forward this on to anyone who you think will enjoy it. We ask that you forward it in its entirety. If this has been forwarded to you and you want to subscribe, mail to delkin@mindspring.com with the word "subscribe" as the subject. To remove yourself from the mailing list, type "unsubscribe" as the subject. With love and respect,
Deb and Stacey ************************************************************* IN THIS ISSUE: - CONFIDENCE IN LIVING OUT YOUR DREAMS
UPCOMING EVENTS
HOW TO CREATE A CAREER YOU LOVE
Unity North (new location), Monday, March 27th, 7:30pm, $25.00
Imagine what it would be like to have a career that fits you perfectly.
Envision yourself excited and enthusiastic about each day, not just the
weekends. Think about the peace you would feel in knowing you are using
your talents fully. Imagine attaining success doing something you care
about; something you truly enjoy. If you have thought about any of the above, you may wish to attend this interactive workshop to learn more about the components of a fulfilling career, what the obstacles and personal beliefs are that may be in the way of your achieving fulfillment, and how to commit to working through these obstacles to create a career you love. For more info, contact Stacey at 770.643.0886
CONFIDENT WOMEN - Coaching group
As seen on CBS Atlanta evening news! Most women, even those who are quite accomplished, lack confidence in certain areas of their life. This group will provide them the tools, support and encouragement to have more confidence to do more and have more of what they truly want in life. We will take on real life projects you've been wanting to do in addition to exercises to help build the confidence muscle. New group starts May 24th. Meets every bi-monthly. Contact Stacey for more information at 770-643-0886 or request an email brochure from coach@balancedliving.com. Type brochure in the header, and your name and phone number in the body. HEALTHY COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING - Getting heard in this everyday world can be quite a challenge. And listening to what others have to say to us can be just as big of a challenge. Deb is offering a series of 5 classes designed to help you improve your communication skills, your listening skills, and help you get more of the results that you want in your every day life. Saturdays, April 1 - May 6 from 10:30 to 12:00 at the Wellness Center of DeKalb Medical Center. For more information, call Deb at 404-320-9548. To register, call DeKalb Medical Center at 404-501-2222. SUPPORT GROUP FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD AND WEIGHT ISSUES -
This group is being formed to help and support you with your eating and weight issues. It is designed to give you a place where you can talk about what's going on with you around food and weight, and get support from others who are going through the same thing. We will look at issues such as; our eating habits, how we feel about our bodies, our femininity or masculinity, eating to avoid feelings, and difficulty connecting with others. We will also look at new ways to manage stress, deal with feelings and learn new and better ways to self-care. Led by Deb Elkin, Licensed Professional Counselor and Brodie Haddock, Licensed Dietician. Meets for 12 weeks, Wednesday evenings, 5:30 to 7:00, starting April 19. For more information, call Deb at 404-320-9548. To register, call the DeKalb Wellness Center at 404-501-2222. LIMITED TO 12. PROCESS GROUP FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD AND WEIGHT ISSUES -
This group is designed for those who are ready to process some of the underlying issues and feelings that are associated with their eating issues. We can educate ourselves about diet, exercise, and nutrition, but unless we address the underlying emotions and issues that lead to our abusing food, our recovery process is not complete. By sharing your stories and hearing other people's stories and through the support that this type of group offers, we will create a safe environment to begin to work through the underlying causes of your food and eating issues. Led by Deb Elkin, Licensed Professional Counselor; 12 weekly meetings, starting Wednesday, April 19. For more information, call Deb at 404-320-9548. You must have an initial meeting with Deb prior to start of the group. LIMITED TO 8. ************************************************************* Confidence in Living Out Your Dreams
By Stacey Mayo Having supported hundreds of clients in living out their dreams over the past four years, I have noticed that one of the main things that stops people from bringing their dreams to fruition is a lack of confidence. When you are confident you know you will handle whatever comes up in the best way you can and move on. Regardless of what happens, you will still be whole and complete unto yourself. Confidence is also knowing that we were all born with the same inherent worth and that doesn't change based on income, status, or what others might say. Some people were instilled with a healthy sense of confidence when they were very young; some were not. For some, a healthy sense of confidence endures through the years. For many, it comes and goes depending on the situation. Often times we project a sense of confidence on the outside, but inside our gremlins are roaring, telling us how much more we have to do to prove we are worthy. So what can we do to truly feel more confident? Regardless of your upbringing and what has happened to affect your self-esteem along the way, there are things that you can do to increase and enhance your self-confidence in various areas of your life. Here are ten steps. If you would like to build more confidence, you might want to review them all and choose one to work on this month. Top Ten Steps to Becoming More Confident 1) Take extremely good care of yourself first. Choose one new self-care habit and put it in place this month. Make it doable. Keep this promise to yourself at least as well as you keep promises to others. This sends a message to your inner self that you are important. 2) Say "Next!" after each disappointment rather than making the setback mean something about you. Acknowledge and allow yourself to feel the disappointment and then be open for what's next. Ask yourself "what is there for me to learn from this?" Then intend that something even better is on the way. Rather than holding on to the way things were in past, be cognizant of what is so in the present and open yourself to all the opportunities around you. Doing this will put you in the flow and have you attract more of what you want in life. And when you are in the flow, you can't help but feel confident!
3) Ask co-workers and friends for feedback on what you are brilliant at. Write up a commercial about yourself for yourself, emphasizing what is so great about you. Read it to yourself in the mirror every day and silently several times/day. Own your greatness! Visualize yourself being that person in your infomercial. See what you look like and feel what it feels like deep inside. Then step into that visualization. This is especially helpful before important meetings or events.
4) Become masterful at something. Pick something you are naturally good at and enjoy doing, and learn all you can to become even better at it.
5) Choose relationships wisely. Foster relationships with those who support who you naturally are and what you want out of life - - no pretending necessary. Make sure they are mutually supportive relationships. Create a community of at least five people with whom you feel safe and mutually supported.
6) Others will treat you the way you allow them to treat you. Set high standards for the way you treat yourself, the way you want others to treat you and the way you treat others. You will be amazed at how differently people will respond to you when you do this.
7) Decide what you want in life and go for it. Don't settle for less than you really want. Say no to what you don't want and yes to those things/people who are in alignment with you and your values.
8) Accept your body the way it is. When you look in the mirror, focus on those aspects of your appearance that you like. Smile back at your reflection! Nurture your body with healthy food, exercise and rest.
9) Take calculated risks as often as possible. When you are afraid to do something, say "what the heck" and do it anyway. Let the success be in taking the risk rather than attachment to the outcome. If you fall down, pick yourself back up and move on. The more risks you take, the more courage you build and the more confident you become. Life is abundant. There is no shortage of opportunities.
10) Accept your humanity. Expect less than perfection from yourself and others. Get that we all do the best we can in any given moment. Understand that your confidence will be stronger at different times and in different areas of your life than others. Accept this as part of the journey. ************************************************************* DREAMS IN THE MAKING
by Deb Elkin Today I bring you the stories of three women who are making their dreams come true. All three participated in Stacey's and my original "Create a Career You Love" workshop and we are delighted to see them really beginning to live out their dreams. These three women have all tapped into their passion to create and are manifesting careers and workshops that they are thrilled with. It's important to note that for all of them, this was a process. It took time to get clarity on what it was that they wanted to do. And then it took time for it to all come together. as you will see. But they were patient (mostly!), persevered, and are in fact making their dreams come true. Kathryn Walker's story is certainly one of perseverance. She had decided to stay at home with her children so she could take care of them as they grew up, and she fed her artistic nature by making pottery and jewelry on the side. In February of 1997 she decided she wanted to branch out and try something new, so she started designing cards. She submitted them to several stores and card companies without much response or feedback. She got very discouraged at times, but really believed in her work and persevered. Two years later, in May of 1999, she attended the National Stationary Show in New York and landed a contract with Great Arrow Graphics! As Kathryn says, "It hasn't been quick and they've only printed three of my designs (so far), but it's a contract with a reputable company that produces good quality cards, and that's what I wanted!" She hung in and it paid off. You can look for Kathryn's cards locally at Seventeen Steps, Metropolitan Deluxe, Outwrite, Common Pond, Papyrus and Paper Affair. Meg Boendier is starting her own clothing design company geared toward small women with fuller figures. Meg had been designing and making her own clothes since she was a teenager and she loved it. But as she grew older and moved into the adult world of career and family, her artistic endeavors took a back seat. A few years ago, with both children pretty much grown and almost out of the house, the desire to create got strong, too strong for her to ignore. She started taking painting classes. That opened the door. She once again tapped into her excitement and passion to create. She began sewing for herself, and the ideas started flowing. She realized that with her business experience, her talent, and her passion, she had what it took to make her life long dream come true. She attended a design show recently where she met some other designers. They were intrigued with her ideas and really encouraged her to pursue them. So the ideas are flying and Meg is very excitedly on her way! Patty Okeefe-Hutton is also an artist who has been teaching art to children in private school for several years. About three years ago she began journalling about her desire to work with "movement, meditation, and making." She didn't know exactly what that meant or what it would look like at the time. It was just an idea. About a year later she participated in our workshop. It was there that she came up with her "intention statement" which was "to express the voice of spirit within by creating beauty as a source of hope and inspiration for all." This was very powerful and inspiring for Patty and set the wheels in motion. She was teaching a summer art camp for children last summer and the parents starting telling her that she should do one for adults too! The idea intrigued her. Looking back on it, Patty says it feels a bit mysterious how it all came together, but she decided that if she was going to do it, it would be in the year 2000. So she made up a flyer for a 10 session workshop on "Movement, Meditation and Making," (the exact title she had decided on three years earlier!) and subtitled it
"Art Camp for Adults." Participants would create a variety of art objects for use in their spiritual practice and tap into their inner resources through guided meditations, movement and dance. It came together very quickly, and she filled up not one but two sessions right off the bat. She is thrilled, is loving what she is doing, and says it is filled with surprises. And she says, with delight and awe in her voice, "And I just facilitate it! It's my dream! And I am having so much fun!" Heartfelt congratulations go out to all three of these courageous women who held onto their dreams and are making them really come true. I hope they can serve as inspiration to those of you who doubt, get discouraged, and sometimes lose faith. These three women did it. So can you! ************************************************************
RESOURCES YOU CAN USE:
Phil Humbert is a personal and professional coach who write an online newsletter, "Resources for Success" that you might want to check out. He also has a free ebook, "Making Money, Creating Wealth." Both can be found at his website, www.philiphumbert.com ************************************************************ If something in this newsletter resonates with you and you would like
support moving forward with it, Deb and Stacey are available for consultation. As your success coach, Stacey will partner with you to help you
clarify and make your dreams a reality. To schedule a free phone
consultation and find out if coaching is right for you, contact Stacey at
mailto:coach@balancedliving.com or call 770-643-0886. Phone and in-person coaching as well as career testing is available.
http://www.balancedliving.com
Deb is available for private counseling sessions to help work through the unresolved issues of your life and brings a spiritual perspective to this healing process. For a free 30 minute consultation or for an appointment (by phone or in person), you can reach her at 404-320-9548 or email her at
delkin@mindspring.com
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Copyright 1999, Center for Balanced Living Inc., and Winged Spirit, Inc.
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