Thoughts about Change. Do you CREATE change or simply react to it?

Welcome to KristinCoach.com NEWS - Magnetic Living
October 26, 2004
Written by life and career coach: http://www.KristinCoach.com
To view this copy online or review past issues, go to:
http://zines.webvalence.com/sites/magneticliving/

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This FREE Newsletter is intended to inspire you.
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The Juicy Topics In This Issue Are......

1. Welcome!
2. Quotes
3. Feature - What I Know About Change.
4. Coaching offer

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1. Welcome
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Hello! Welcome back! I missed you...it's been a long time since my last newsletter. As you'll see from my feature article, I've been very busy. Jason and I recently moved to Hawaii and our wedding is in December. Very exciting times for us. What's new with you? Feel free to let me know. I'd also love to see you take my ecourse in November. Here's the link:

http://www.KristinCoach.com/ecourses.html

On the horizon for next year is a new coaching program! I'm developing it now. For now, please enjoy this feature article about change.

Warmly,

KristinCoach.

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2. Quotes I completely AGREE with:
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"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better". King Whitney Jr.

"Nothing is easy to the unwilling." Thomas Fuller

"They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. " Confucius

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3. Feature Article: What I Know About Change
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"Be willing to be awkward." These words have been ringing in my ears over the past few months. It's the bit of advice I offer my clients in the midst of change. Recently, I've been giving this advice to myself as well. "Be willing to be awkward." Now you know my personal mantra for coping with change. What's yours?

For the past 2 months, I've been living in Hawaii. Jason and I moved here after he accepted a position with a company on Oahu. It was his dream to live here and it's been my dream to live closer to nature. So, here we are! And, lucky for me, my business is portable so I can work from anywhere. In fact, when I started my business, I frequently joked about moving to Hawaii someday since I had so much freedom. It's a great feeling to finally do so. We love it here. In fact, as I write this, I'm looking out at my beautiful view of NATURE. It's stunning. Stay tuned for my new personal website on the topic with pics and tales of life in Hawaii.

These past few months have taught me a lot about CHANGE, though. I truly feel that the ability to CREATE and ADAPT to major changes in life is the key to success. As you've heard a million times, "change is unavoidable". It happens all the time. However, how many changes are you deliberately CREATING? Or, are you simply trying to manage the changes that are bestowed upon you such as a new boss, losing your job or changes in health?

Let me share with you some of the key points I believe about CHANGE.

1. Change is uncomfortable.
It pushes us outside of our comfort zones, brings up our fears, and makes us feel totally awkward at times. Sounds like a picnic in the park, eh? Well, not really. This is why many people are so resistant to creating change. It doesn't always feel great! It's VERY uncomfortable at times. Learn to love it.

2. Be willing to be awkward.
Sound familiar? It's my personal mantra for change I mentioned above. You've also heard me say it if you're a client. Successfully navigating your way through major changes requires you to BE inside of the change. In other words be the new, goofy kid in school....be the new un-limber guy in an all female yoga class.....be lost driving around a new town or on the wrong side of the road in another country. It's all new to you, so be willing to go through the uncomfortable initial stage of awkwardness. Sure, you have no idea what you're doing...You're the new guy. That's OK. Don't expect too much from yourself. Just BE awkward. It's totally charming.

3. A change is a DECISION.
I notice how many people avoid making big decisions. They don't want to plant their flag in the ground and say to the world. "I am here." Perhaps they feel this strategy keeps them safe or free to make other choices. However, it truly keeps them stuck in a rut. A big CHANGE can feel scary to people. I see this all the time in my coaching practice. Clients are scared to leave *horrific* jobs since the grass may not be greener on the other side. Or, so they think. The truth is that you will never know what the grass looks like on the other side until you GO and LOOK for yourself. So, make a DECISION, plant your flag in the ground and GO. If you discover you've made a mistake, you can always create another change. **Nothing is forever*** Follow your whims and see where they lead.

4. A MAJOR CHANGE forces you to prioritize.
This is perhaps my favorite by-product of change. When you make a big decision (such as moving, changing jobs, cutting your fabulously long hair, or ending a relationship), all other aspects of your life tend to become really clear. With a big change in front of you, you're a woman on a mission. You have steps to take to move through the change. All of the rif raf in your life tends to fade away, since you don't have time for it. A big change is INSPIRING. It's focusing. For example, while I packed for my move to Hawaii, I simplified all of my stuff. Due to the limited space we had with the movers across the ocean, I was forced to sort, purge and donate a lot of belongings. (such as my entire Winter wardrobe!) I'm almost always in a state of simplification, but the big move allowed me to toss even more useless things. It inspired me to travel light, so to speak. Just what I needed! Now, as I look around my home, I feel each item has a purpose and very little clutter exists.

5. Change makes you stronger.
Facing your fears and going forward into a virtually unknown and new territory of your life will really bring out the warrior inside of you. You'll FEEL stronger as you master all of the newness of the change. Haven't you felt this after making a major change? Think back on that time and remember. So, if you want to become even stronger, create another change NOW. Standing still for too long will eventually make you weak, not "safe". Shake things up and change now.

When's the last time you CREATED a big change in your life? If it was over 2 years ago, that's toooo long. To stay fresh and vibrant, follow through on ONE major change you've been thinking about for a while. Just do it! I can say from personal experience that every major change I've ever gone through in my life has allowed me to grow exponentially. Now, I look for change. I create it. I love it. We'll see what's next.....

What's your big change going to be?

KristinCoach.

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4. Coaching Offers!
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November 15th Start - (space open)
12 Weeks E Course - Create an amazing life with focused lessons and personal support from moi. I love this course. If you have not taken it, you're missing out. Sign up for $79-$99/mo
http://www.KristinCoach.com/ecourses.html

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November 1st Start - (space open)
GOALS program. Set nearly 100 CLEAR goals in 8 areas of your life and
tackle them week by week. Clients currently in the program are eradicating debt, changing jobs, finding balance... What would you like to accomplish? Sign up for $99/mo
http://www.kristincoach.com/goals2004_ecourse.html

Phone Coaching-
My practice is full. I'm ready to refer you to an awesome coach, though. Let me know if you're ready for phone coaching or if you want to go on my waiting list for Jan. 2005.

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Ready to BECOME the highest version of yourself?

Kristin is a life and career coach who THRIVES on seeing people get exactly what they want out of life. She is the resident expert for iVillage.com's Work channel, an online community of over 11 million people. BE WILLING to reinvent yourself. BE OPEN to becoming the highest version of yourself. If you aren't living your ideal life, you have work to do. Get started with Kristin's help and attention.

http://www.KristinCoach.com
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