True Balance Life Coaching

Happy New Year!

This is the the time of year when life coaches and personal development bloggers have a field day sharing tips and ideas about how to strut your stuff and live your best life. With the new year comes a clean slate. A blank page.  The chance to begin again.

If you are ready to improve the quality of your life, chances are you will begin to make changes in January. With transition comes the comfortable pull of ‘the way things have always been’. This force is strong and can often overpower newly minted resolutions before they have a chance to germinate.

I choose to live in a resolution free zone.

I prefer to evolve and improve my life with incremental steps toward profound change. Reflecting on my successes and failures in 2011 helped define my personal intentions for the new year. While I have lofty intentions and enormous dreams, I expect occasional setbacks. I believe you can correct your course of action and begin again at any time. Falling off the wagon does not mean you’ve failed.

If you are ready to make some changes, check in with how you feel about the following areas of your life to determine which area needs the most attention.

• Relationships
• Health and Wellness
• Career and Business
• Finances
• Spirituality

When I look at each area of my life I see that improving my health and well being is most important. And while I improved my nutrition in 2011 with whole foods, super foods and healthy tonics, I let my active yoga practice and physical activity falter. This is not a new experience. I’ve played tug of war prioritizing regular exercise  for many years.

Currently, I am marveling at the increased size of my Buddha belly. When the waistband of my favorite yoga pants began rolling off my waist,  it was time to get moving again. Excuses,  self-sabotage and getting away from the ritual of moving my body each day lead me here. Can you relate?

Here’s what I know. When I regularly move my body,  I am a much happier and healthier version of me.  The rituals that lead me back to this place of out-of -shapeness must be altered. I know how great I feel after practicing yoga, taking a brisk walk or going a few rounds with my heavy bag. I plan to get my ass out of my comfy chair more often in 2012. I’ve created a new ritual that will support my success. And when I inevitably fall off the wagon, I will dust myself off and get back on again.

Self Improvement begins with clear and focused action.

• Identify what you wish to change
• Get real about where you are you right now
• Identify where you want to go from here
• Create a new daily ritual to get you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Another thought about Personal Intentions….

Brilliant entrepreneur and marketer, Chris Brogan recommends contemplating and claiming three meaningful words that represent your intentions for the new year. I love this approach. When you identify your three words they become guideposts to help you stay on course with your personal evolution.

My Three words are:  Simplify – Practice – Generosity

This year I plan to simplify my life by letting go of the past. I plan to practice what I preach and move my body. I intend to be extremely generous with everyone I have the good fortune of sharing my time with.

My young daughter proclaimed her three words (fun, surprises and dominance) while standing on top a giant mound of snow.  You know what they say about apples…

 

• What area of your life needs the most attention right now? What are you going to do about it?

• What three words will you choose to represent your personal evolution in 2012?

The Artist’s Way Workshop Series presented by True Balance International.

Are you seeking a way to energize your creativity, engage or re-engage your sense of artistry, and connect to all of the divine creative power you have within you? This 12 week series of workshops based on the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron will provide you with the focus, dialogue, coaching, accountability and connection that will support you on a spiritual path to higher creativity.

The Artist’s Way workshop series will be facilitated by transformation goddess, author and life coach, Shann Vander Leek of True Balance International at the beautiful Tribalive Studios in Traverse City, starting Thursday, January 12th through March 22nd, 2012 from 6:00-7:30pm.  Each weekly session includes an energizer, deep and detailed conversation about your progress as a creative artist, a review of your application of the exercises in the book, and support with staying true to your creative spirit. We will meet at Tribalive on Thursday evenings for a lively exchange with kindred spirits on a sacred path of discovering and recovering your creative self.

Please bring a copy of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, notebook and pen. Shann recommends reading the introduction and first chapter before the first meeting on January 12th.

Interested in more details?

Come to Tribalive on Thursday, January 5th at 6:00pm for a free taste of what’s to come in this supportive creative circle.

To Register Call: 231.668.9850 or email Shann 

Space is limited to the first 10 registrants.

The Tribalive Studio is located at 124 N. Maple Street, Traverse City, Michigan

I am considering a Virtual Offering for those of you who live outside the Traverse City area. If you read this blog and are interested in  participating in this workshop series online, please let me know.  Cheers.

Several weeks ago I experienced a few days of over-the-top fear-based thinking. It was time to face my self-limiting beliefs and have a conversation with my ‘Big S Self’. I created sacred space, got quiet and asked my higher power to help me get back on the path of blissful liberation. The divine download I received was loving and supportive.

I feel like this message was meant to share with light bearers and healers around the world.

Here goes …

Believe in yourself. You already know what to do.

You are poised for so much greatness.

You offer much needed support to those who are only beginning to wake up.

I see that you are suffering not knowing what will be. Yet, I trust you to be patient as everything unfolds before you. You will not suffer this dark night for much longer.

You must trust yourself and trust those who love you.

Your current lack of focus and fear-based thinking is partly due to the mind-blowing changes happening in the Universe. As a light bearer you feel the weight of transformative energy swirling around you.

You retreat to stay safe. There is no need to retreat. You are safe.

You must stay strong and have faith in yourself. You must keep moving in the direction of your dreams.

• When you are tired rest.
• When you are frazzled, smile.
• When you feel lost and out of sorts, pray.

You are here for a purpose. Your abundant light promises healing energy to all that are attracted to you.

Your family and friends support you. Your partners support you. Your professional path supports you.

Trust the process. Trust yourself.

You are exactly where you need to be in this moment. Breathe in this inner-knowing and surrender.

You are loved.