LFC= Love, Forgive , and Create. A reflection on the gift of living at my fullest capacity.

I am always learning new things, and feel it’s a gift to stay “teachable”. Here’s what I learned from the students I tutored last semester; 1) Submit & forget - When creating any “content” work for my coaching, I sometimes procrastinate, and want to keep editing my work until I think that it’s perfect. This “delayed thinking” is deadly for me, because I will never be perfect , and to hold on to my work is counterproductive. I didn’t realize I was doing this, until I saw one of my students doing it while working together. After finishing her essay one day, she delayed turning it in. Her work was fine and done well, so after I inquired we discussed it. She said that she had been criticized before from the same teacher, and was afraid of “not being good enough”. After validating her fears ( as they had merit), I expressed the importance of turning in her completed work, no matter what anyone thought. In this way, she could focus on her other assignments, and have this paper o...

With almost every prayer I say, I ask for guidance and for God to help me become a better person. Will I ever achieve the goal of becoming my best, highest self? I think maybe not…personally life has been a series of two steps forward, and then a step back to the person I am slowly unbecoming. Sometimes that “step backwards” is huge. Becoming my best self has involved a process of “unlearning” old behavior that has been a part of my life, and no longer serves me. I hold no blame and I am grateful for the “lessons & opportunities” I have had. I chose this path before I was even born. My “best self” watches over me and waits patiently by my side, gently guiding me, and sometimes whispering in my ear. It never leaves me, continuing to move me forward even when I am not listening or seem to be lost in my own fog of doubt, fear, or shame. I know that if I am quiet enough, if I allow myself time & space, then my best self can take my hand and walk me onward and forw...

Driving into Griffith Park, I suddenly remembered the years ( over twenty) that I have been an avid hiker, and the amazing physical, mental, and social benefits of this low-impact form of "exercise”. I chose an easy basic trail, and parked near "The Merry-Go-Round". After the initial muscle stretching uphill pace, the trail settled into a slow and steady path that curved and climbed with amazing scenery throughout. One ofmany beautiful things about this park is that there are over 4,300 acres to explore. Taking a hike there can be slow and steady, or it can be a cardio blast at a fast uphill pace.It’s your choice. As I reached "Five-Points", a flat resting area where the trails go in five different directions. I headed for my right and choose a trail headed for the "Helicopter landing Pad". A rush of good feelings hit me, and I kept heading up, up, avoiding large rocks, and keeping my eyes open for snakes and lizards. Once ...

Values : Individual beliefs that motivate people to act one way or another. Values are important as they are a roadmap towards the direction we take when moving forward in our life, giving us direction & purpose. Values point the way back to our true selves, and clarify and provide reasoning for our behaviors. When we stick to our values, we are staying true to our beliefs, and this plants seeds towards our self worth every time. Honesty - within myself, doing my best everyday to look at the situations in my life with an honest eye. The more I practice honesty in my life, I trust myself and my decisions more. When we work together in a coaching partnership, you will value your own honesty as you get clearer & closer to your goals. When you can honestly evaluate your present situation, you can make the changes you need that will move you forward successfully. Accountability - Being accountable to myself and others has strengthened & straightened the course of ...

First thing to becoming your own “Superhero” is realizing that it’s all you, and that no one is coming to save you! You can learn to take positive actions that make you feel powerful, and those can lead to good things happening in every part of your life. How do we start? First, by adopting a “Super-hero” mind-set, and starting to take actions that empower you to make positive changes in your life. Believing that you can is powerful, and that starts with a small steps that can become everyday habits. 1) Have self-awareness: Learn about yourself in order to understand your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and values. Self -awareness is your beginning of personal growth & empowerment. What’s your super-power? 2) Define your goals: Take a look at your life, and make clear decisions about where you want to go, and what you want to do with it. Make a list of career, relationship, health, or personal development goals, and begin to take steps to achieve them. Prioritize...

Our feelings are primarily there to guide us, and learning to acknowledge, accept, and express them can be truly beneficial for everyone. When we Acknowledge that we are having “feelings”, it’s good, showing us that we are aware of them. Feelings are neither good or bad, they are simply part of who we are. Sometimes feelings can be very helpful, by showing us what’s important, and what makes us happy, sad, or angry. If we can Accept our feelings, feel them, sit with them, we can gain more understanding from them. We may have little power over feelings when they arise, but we can choose what to do about them. This is our responsibility & decision. Imagine our feelings as “visitors”, that come to stay with us for a little while, revealing things we may need to know. This is natural & can be helpful, it’s when the feelings decide they want to “stay in our system” for awhile, that can be harmful. It’s up to us to accept & acknowledge them, then let them go. This m...

One of the most loving things we can do for others & ourselves in this lifetime is to practice forgiveness. The term “practice forgiveness”, is to do it in the best way we know how. We may not do it “perfectly” hence the word practice. Yet to try brings value to not just the other person, but to ourselves, for it is a scrubbing of our spirit that washes us clean of negative emotions. When we feel injured or find fault with another persons actions or decisions, judgements can form, and resentments can grow. These can cloud our vision and quite literally take up space in both our minds and our bodies. The injury we feel can cause anger, and the negative emotions can make our jaw clench & tighten, and our blood boil. These negative emotions can move into the body, much like a person moves into a house, and not leave. They act up, behaving like the very worst tenants ever, wrecking havoc in the home that is our body. This can result in “dis-ease” of the body and soul, a...

“Wait, pause…don’t take any sudden actions or make decisions before you have given yourself a moment to think, or maybe even run that thought by a fellow or friend. This advice was so foreign to me, it was like watching a cow flying past me with a set of wings. I couldn’t digest the idea of “waiting” when I had learned that by taking fast action, my problem could be solved. Not only was the problem solved, but I didn’t have to sit and wonder what was happening. Sitting still and wondering made me feel so uncomfortable. In my past world, I was always in a reactive mode instead a responsive one. In the book “Don’t Worry, Make Money”, author Richard Carlson, Ph.D. states: “The reactive mode is one that feels stressful. In it, we feel pressured & are quick to judge. We lose perspective and take things personally.” Over time, the word pause became part of my vocabulary, and when broken down the word can mean: P- postpone A- action U- until S-serenity E-enter s ...

When we want positive change in our lives, but we aren’t sure what do, sometimes it can be helpful to start by how we think, speak, & feel. Think it- Think of those positive things that you want to happen, and realize that just by thinking about the good things you are creating a start. Create a mental picture of whatever your dream or goal may be, and hold it in your mind. Make this a practice that you can do each & every day. Keep the thought crystal clear. Hold that thought in your mind each day for at least 5 minutes & do this everyday at the same time. This is where you start. Speak it- Words can be very powerful & carry a vibratory force all their own. Take some time to notice what you say, how you say it, & to who. Once you hear yourself, try to change any negative words or phrases to positive. Even if you find it tricky to do, over time your words can reflect the life you want to live. Speak of all the good things that you have, and that can be...