Dear One, There Is Nothing Wrong with You

In the last week, three clients shared with me that they thought there was something wrong with them.

One woman thought she was depressed when she had simply lost sight of her purpose and mission. Another thought she was greedy for receiving a loan for her business. In fact, she was simply taking care of herself and her business. And, yet another kept getting upset with herself for not making more money in the past few months. She’s now developing a lower priced product that fits better for this new economy.

I want you to know that there is nothing wrong with them and there is nothing wrong with you. We are living in a radical new normal. And we still have the power to choose where we put our focus.

If you notice your thoughts tending toward, “There must be something wrong with me,” then close your eyes and take a deep breath. Now take another deep breath.

What can you focus on now that would be more life-affirming for you? Who can you connect with to bring some brightness to both your days? What can you do to take better care of yourself?

And please know that regardless of what you think about yourself, there is nothing wrong with you. You’re human. As a human, you are allowed to think less than helpful thoughts without believing the thoughts.

Dear One, There Is Nothing Wrong with You

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you witness those thoughts that you’re thinking, you might also notice that there are two of you. The human you who is thinking the thoughts and the Divine you who is holding you and witnessing the thoughts.

There truly is nothing wrong with you.

How Can We Know and Share Our Abundant Resourcefulness?

I’m in the process of deeply examining both my own beliefs and our cultural beliefs around money in an online course, True Prosperity, with Lynne Twist and Tammy White. Part of the foundation of the course is Lynne’s book, The Soul of Money. I read the book in 2003 when it came out.

A couple of years ago, I cleared out maybe two thirds of the books I had at that time. I kept only the ones that I could remember how I had shifted because of reading them. The Soul of Money made the cut because I remembered it helped me stay conscious about how our society tends to value money over people.

In this course now, I’m sitting with what Lynne calls 3 Toxic Beliefs:

  1. There’s not enough.
  2. More is better.
  3. That’s just the way it is.

One of the ways I’m focusing on shifting those beliefs for me involves a daily practice of finding and creating evidence that contradicts them. I’m noticing how quickly, “there’s not enough” turns into “I’m not enough” and “I’m not doing enough.”

When I hear inside me “I’m not enough” or “I’m not doing enough,” I use that as an opportunity to contemplate how I might like to know that I’m enough or what I might I like to share of my resources or resourcefulness. And, how can I do that from a place of loving myself rather than proving myself?

Sometimes I read a paragraph from Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now and become present in this moment. Sometimes I send money to my spiritual home, Agape, Michael Beckwith’s ministry, or to Black Lives Matter. Sometimes I give away stuff I no longer need. And today, I realized I wanted to share this idea of our abundant resourcefulness with you . . .

Agape Live – Streaming Archive

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what about you? How might you know and share your abundant resourcefulness today?

What Cannot Be Cancelled

Love is not cancelled.
Sunshine is plentiful.
Kindness is available anywhere.
Prayer is not cancelled.
Opportunities to help those in need are plentiful.
Singing can be done anywhere.
Playtime is not cancelled.
Laughter is plentiful.
Reasons to laugh are everywhere.
Self-care is not cancelled.
Kitty and doggie love is plentiful.
Smiling can be done anywhere, even through a mask.
Eating healthy is not cancelled.
Upbeat music is plentiful.
Outdoor projects can be done anywhere.
Appreciation is not cancelled.
Delicious coffee is plentiful.
Inspiration can be found anywhere.
Dancing is not cancelled.
Naps can be plentiful.
Love is everywhere.
Love is not cancelled.
– Ann Strong

Free Uplifting Coaching, No Strings Attached

Last week, with the help of Spirit and my mentor, Derek, I got my head straightened out. I once again remembered that I am a creator and the source of my experience. Right after that, my brother-in-law called and I spontaneously helped him feel more empowered. Then a client asked if I would talk with a friend of hers.

If you’d like coaching around remembering that you are a powerful creator, then I’d love to help you too. Let’s spend 30 or 40 minutes focused on what you’d love to create right now. My gift to you.

Here’s a link to my calendar.

How Do You See Yourself? That Is How You Are.

One of the challenging opportunities for me of this nesting at home time has been noticing how I perceive myself. Several times recently, I’ve found myself regressing to an image of a small, limited version of me.

Thank goodness my profession requires me to focus on the strengths and infinite capacity of the person in front of me. And it starts with me. If I don’t see myself as the creator of my life, if I don’t see my strength and miraculous capacity, I won’t see it in my clients either.

When I noticed that my self-perception had drifted toward feeling like a victim of this world crisis, I gave myself some tough-love self-coaching.

I am the source of my world. And, every day, I have the honor and privilege of calling forth my clients to recognize and own that they are the source of their worlds and their businesses. It’s not always easy or comfortable work. Especially in the middle of a world crisis.

And, it’s the work that needs to be done right now. Our world is crying out for courageous leaders.

Some of them are cashiers at my grocery store. They’re kind and loving on the front lines. Some of them are ministers delivering powerful messages into cyberspace. Some of them are doctors and nurses tirelessly working toward healing.

Transformation | Spiritual Coach Denver, Santa Fe

What are you called to right now? Would you like a champion for seeing yourself as the Powerful Light that you are? If so, let’s have a coaching conversation – my gift – about me coaching you during this transformational time.

Click here to access my calendar to schedule.

What if Where You Focus Determines the Quality of Your Life?

Perception | Spiritual Business Coach Denver, Santa Fe

What do you see? The light, fluffy, hopeful clouds in the middle? The sunshine way off in the distance? The ominous, dark clouds at the top?

I love this photo as a metaphor for life. Or more accurately, how we think about and perceive life.

Do I want to focus on and worry about the possible storm? In this moment, will I choose the hope and joy of the light, bright fluffy clouds? Will I look for the radiant sun, even if off in the distance?

Or, if I can’t see the sun at all, will I remember that it is always shining? If I can see only a dark and stormy threat, can I give myself love and compassion in that moment? And, know that, “this too shall pass?”

What about you? How are you perceiving life right now?

Reflecting on Your 2019, Creating Your 2020

Happy Solstice (in 3 days)!

One of my favorite year-end rituals involves reflecting on the past year – the good, the beautiful, the challenging, and then consciously creating next year.

Ten or twelve years ago, I created a deeply meaningful worksheet for both reflecting and creating. I use it myself each year and have shared it with my coaching clients so they can use it.

This year it occurred to me to share it with anyone who would like it. That being said, it’s not for everyone. It requires deep thinking and feeling, and it’s best done in 2 or 3 quiet sessions, each maybe 30 or 45 minutes.

If you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll be richly rewarded. The Reflection points you toward what’s most meaningful for you. It helps you recognize your own joy around your specific purpose and fulfilling contributions. The Creating supports you in being creatively proactive around your purpose, meaning and contribution in the new year, and for the new decade.

If you’d like the worksheets, simply enter your name and email address here to access the worksheets.

I love celebrating the light in the darkness of Solstice, the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas, and the blank canvas that is the New Year! I wish for you whatever is most joyous and meaningful to you this holiday season.

In love and appreciation.
Ann

What Makes This a Good Life for You?

Recently, I noticed something that might seem obvious.

When we get to be ourselves, we tend to be happy.

This struck me after I coached two clients back-to-back. The first client is doing work she loves that really engage all of her strengths doing work she is passionate about. The second client is doing too much of the back office work in his business instead of the creative work he loves.

Both at work and at home, the more all of our strengths and interests are engaged, the more life feels good to us. When our strengths are frustrated, overused or underused, well, we just aren’t very happy.

What Makes this a Good Life for You?

The simple act of taking this photo makes my own top strengths super happy.  Maximizer loves the symmetry I captured.  Empathy feels the artist.  Connectedness feels the connection of art, artist, nature and art appreciator.  Activator just had to take the picture.  Individualization chose to photograph only two pieces and this was one of them.

What about you? If you know your StrengthsFinder strengths, please do share your ideas and insights below.

If you’d like more direction for your good life, take the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment. And, if you’d like some strengths coaching, I’d be happy to help!

Join the conversation – comment below.

Is It Time for Your Powerful Contribution?

I’m so excited about contribution right now. In a few months, I will finally be finished writing my second book, Strong from Within! I just completed mentoring a client to coach his clients more deeply. I’m also supporting two clients right now in employing more people locally.

More people living strong from within. More people receiving deeper coaching so they can make their contributions. More people doing work they love right in their own communities. I feel deeply honored to facilitate these contributions.

What about you? What do you know is your powerful contribution? Or next powerful contribution?

  • Would you love support in getting your book written?
  • Do you have a gift to give your community?
  • Might I help you coach more deeply?
  • Are you soul-searching to discern your next contribution?
  • How could coaching support you in making your powerful contribution?

With so many aspects of life seeming unstable right now, the world needs your specific gifts, your irreplaceable contribution.

Is It Time for Your Powerful Contribution?

If you’d like to talk with me about coaching you, let’s use the wonderful energy of the new season to plant your seeds and bring your contribution to reality!

Our coaching conversation would be my gift to you. If we both sense it would be a good fit, we can talk about how we could work together.

If we’re not a good fit, that’s okay too. At the very least, we’ll have had a great conversation about your important contribution!

I begin work with only 2 or 3 new clients each season. If you sense one of them might be you, schedule your coaching conversation and apply here.

To making the world a better place, one powerful contribution at a time!

Join the conversation ~ post your insights, feedback and experiences below.

How You Think About Life Quickly Becomes Your Life

“How you respond to life is your life.”
– Tama Kieves
From her new book, “Thriving Through Uncertainty: Moving Beyond Fear and Making Change Work for You”

Oh my goodness, take that in.

It’s so easy to imagine that if I change my circumstances, I’ll have a better life.

I did the research on this one when I moved from Denver to Lamy, New Mexico three years ago.  I do love living in a magical casita surrounded by open land and open sky.  And, I still have bad moods when things don’t go how I think they “should.”

When I’m able to respond by allowing things to be as they are, then my life feels great regardless of where I’m living or any other circumstances.

When I’m spending time in Denver and sitting in traffic, I can choose to respond by becoming present and Zen and flowing as traffic is or isn’t flowing.  When I rail against “idiot drivers,” I create a not-so-good life for myself.

Same circumstances: sitting in Denver traffic.  Two different lives by my response to life.

Is the answer to never go to Denver again?  Of course not.  Then I would simply have more time to focus on all the “idiot hikers” in the beautiful New Mexico open space who let their dogs run loose and jump on me.

Thriving Through Uncertainty: Moving Beyond Fear and Making Change Work for You by Tama Kieves

Tama has written a brilliant, inspiring, heart-warming book championing our oh-so-human experience and calling us to become more aware of how we can thrive anyway.

Love yourself – read her book.

Join the conversation ~ post your insights, feedback and experiences below.