Enneagram-based Coaching
Life coaching in general can sound a bit “woo-woo.” Life coaching using the Enneagram may sound even more “woo-woo” to you if you are not familiar with the framework and structure the Enneagram provides in understanding personality and behavior.
The Enneagram teams up well with life coaching by leading us to a deeper understanding of self, by showing us how we “see the world,” and how we can change the ways we respond to the world. Enneagram work is about finding balance. It helps us answer the questions, who am I? why am I here?” and why do I do what I do?”
Every Breath You Take
Breath is the foundation of life. When we are born, the first thing we do is inhale. And, exhaling is the last thing we do before death. Breathing crosses all cultural, language, and race barriers because we all breathe to live. It is a connection we have with each other, a mixing and intertwining between all living things.
Book Review: Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
A few years back, I would have scoffed at reading a book about the second half of life thinking it was about aging and dying. I’m making some progress because this book spoke to me about how rich and full the second half of life can be when we let go of all the things we built in the first half. “Falling Upward” is a strange concept, although I have fallen up stairs a few times. Falling up is much better than falling down, there is less force and momentum. In life, we are all falling, one way or another. Entering the second half of life by letting go of the first half helps us to be able “to fall into the good, the true, the beautiful — to fall into God.”
New Year. Same You. Same Me.
I love Brene Brown’s simple but profound words, “You are enough.” She goes on to say, “Believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic.” Maybe 2024 is the year of discovering or re-discovering your goodness and authenticity. Maybe this new year is about slowing down, breathing, and living in each moment — fully being, fully loving, and fully enough.
Tips to Conquering Holiday Overwhelm
We look forward to the holidays all year long. We love the magic of decorations, the joy of parties, the peace that comes when friends and family gather, the good food, the giving and receiving of gifts, and much more. But for many of us, even with our best intentions, we become overwhelmed during the holidays. Instead of peace and joy, we might experience exhaustion, frustration, and/or sadness. We have hustled and bustled, overspent, overindulged, had our feelings hurt, grieved missing loved ones, and are just tired. The holidays can be overwhelming!
Living Ourselves into Change
We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking. ~Richard Rohr
What is keeping you from making the changes you want in life?
Many things vie for the opportunity to keep us stuck. Overthinking and roller coaster thoughts are one way that prevent us from finding change. Rumination can keep us dwelling on experiences, relationships, unmet goals, failures, and more. When this happens, we often cannot find the off switch to our thoughts and we stay where we are, not moving forward, not progressing, and not becoming all we can be.
What is the Enneagram?
How the Enneagram can foster understanding of self and others.
The Enneagram of Personality Types is a framework of nine universal personalities that describe how people see and react to the world. It was first developed by the monastic Desert Fathers and Mothers during the 3rd century in Northern Africa and has been expanded on for centuries by spiritual leaders from many different backgrounds including Christian, Jewish, and Muslim.
Teaching our Kids Coping Skills
Since life is full of ups and downs, having healthy coping skills is a must. One of the best ways to instill healthy coping skills to our kids is by modeling them.
“DO WHAT I SAY, NOT WHAT I DO”
I can recall hearing these words as a child and having big feelings about the unfairness of the world. I also remember the (hopefully) unsaid words on the tip of my tongue, “Why should I have to do this if you don’t” in response.
STRESS & YOUR TEEN
Being a teenager in today's world is tough. They have to navigate the big world stuff going on along with the normal teen problems like relationships, dating, sexual identity, school pressures, extracurriculars, social media, and more. The stress can pile up whether it is good stress or bad stress. Good stress helps us meet deadlines, make good choices, and be on a growth path. Bad stress can be debilitating and affect our minds and our bodies.
My Name is Karen!
Once I was at a restaurant waiting to be seated. We were told there were no tables and we would have to wait. But, then several other parties came in and got seated- and this was not the reservation taking type of restaurant. After about 20 minutes I approached the hostess. She was not particularly helpful and asked me if I’d like to speak to the manager. She then innocently asked, “What’s your name?” I said, “Nevermind,” and quietly sulked back to my waiting spot.