Blog
Dec 29 22
Growing in Grace
I awoke in curiosity, wondering how to “focus” on what needed to be done this day. I tapped in to what my whole body wanted being quite different leading me to a book my Mom had bought me years ago. I wish it had a date, but it was just signed
To Gina,
Love, Mom
I believe the universe sends us signals, guiding us to what we most need or want.
Today, the universe sent me a clear message and invitation.
My invitation to you, is to pause
Take a moment to take a slow, deep inhale (maybe lowering your shoulders), repeating as many times until you feel your whole-body. Open to see what wants to download or what Ah-ha’s are possible in this moment.
A buinocular view at my current reality; choosing to end an intimate relationship.
How do I leave someone I love?
How do I leave someone I see myself growing old with?
How do I do alone “again!”
Am I that “cat lady”
_______________ your story, fear or excuses that shift you out of Integrity
He was involved in a messy divorce for nearly five years when we met. I committed to be invisible wjile child custody was going on, to not affect his outcome. I did not take in to consideration how this would affect my outcome.
When I would tell him about my thoughts, he would say, “Can’t you make up better thoughts“, so I began to think maybe I was crazy. I was willing to devalue myself to have the chance of being loved by him.
I’ve learned that I am not willing to beg to be loved nor fight for someone’s attention.
I learned I can be in a relationship and not lose myself. I’m learning to trust myself, and today of all days the universe hands me a book titled, “Growing in Grace”
Much Love,
Gina
Photo Credit: @shotbycerqueira
For more affirmation, Genesis 2:8-25
Jan 12 21
Choosing Your Next Coach or Therapist
I read an article that lit me up and I wanted to share with all of you!
We ‘humans’ require active practicing to understand our full body Yes’s and No’s while navigating our awareness paths. Odds are what works for me won’t work for you AND tapping into our TRUEST core (Innerself) opens up space and yummy A-has!
When searching for your life’s purpose consider listening your body’s intelligence. What do you FEEL from your whole body knowing? not what you “think” you should do. I can honestly say that my job as a life coach is is not “talk therapy” you can go to your best friend for this.
Recently, we’ve all shared in a global pandemic, a threatened US democracy and personal losses (e.g. job, homes, social life). As she mentions in the article, as I quote
There are several routes that you can take toward self-improvement
At one time I was very vested on what degrees and certifications I hung on my wall, long before the International Coaching Federation became the buzz. What this article lacks on is the coaches Individual education and what her definition of “rigorous standards” are. This is your homework. I would say a good life coach will guide you by listening deeply and offering exquisite questions designed towards whole healing. Ultimately, I agree that a life coach is someone who can support you no matter what’s going on in your world.
We do not live in a world of “either / or” so if you find yourself between white and black with no gray, you may want to get curious and wonder what else? or hire a partner to support you in living and designing your best life!
If you genuinely care about the goal, you’ll focus on the system – James Clear
Aug 4 20
Are you present? How do you know?
Ask yourself, “Where are my feet”?
Invite them to move gently back and forth or side to side to HOW are they moving?
WHAT is the pressure like? Light, Heavy, easy or difficult?
WHERE is the pressure; all in your heels? toes?
Your feet are weighted properly when your standing like a camera on a tripod. Weight is on the front “pad” (fatty part) both big and little toe sides and the heel; you should be able to feel all three points. Maybe bend your knees and make sure you are breathing.
WHAT story am I telling myself right now? Is what is happening on my insides reflecting on my outsides? For example if my stomach hurts and I’m laughing with friends I may not be “matching” from the inside-out.
Are you still trying to “figure it out” or are you actually being with RIGHT NOW? What’s actually here now?
What’s here now if there are no problems to solve? AND again, How do you know?
Being present means fully enjoying the moment that you are in. It is the moment when you are calm and you know exactly what you want.
Learn more about your FULL BODY YES’s and NO’s with a FREE 30-minute introductory session thru 12/31/2020
“Smile, breathe and go slowly” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Match your steps to your breath to pull yourself back in the present moment.
Feb 26 19
Seasonal Depression
Sometimes Chocolate isn’t enough…
Be Exactly who you are and Be Loved
The sky is encapsulating, gray dreary clouds, the silence after a storm and a bad cold can create a depressing story. During the winter months locating energy, emotions or even an interest to live can surface and often does.
Socializing seems daunting, hiding feelings of sadness, staying safe, choosing to hibernate drowning out feelings with food, television or sleep seems easier. How do we accept sad? Be with depressed? …. and Love I’m afraid. This dark place often brings dense head fog and thoughts of suicide
Some may suggest a trip to the gym increasing serotine levels, the “happy hormone”. Others may swear by light therapy or antidepressants. I’ve personally tried them all and found what sometimes appears to be the hardest is actually often the remedy.
In my latest spell of depression I witnessed myself falling to old patterns seeking exogenous emotional comfort avoiding being afraid, crying and being utterly sad. Wouldn’t somebody just hold me, love me or better yet know of an instant gratification type device, pill or formula?
Einstein said it best “Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again expeting different results”
Resistance and Acceptance cannot coexist, so what holds us back from making a “new choice”? FEAR is paralyzing and New Choice is unfamiliar and requires immense amounts of courage. I compare it to a whole new operating system with multiple software updates.
Avoiding Danger is no safer in the long run that outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. – Helen Keller
COURAGE is the ability to do something that frightens one; strength in the face of pain or grief.
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. We often fall victim choosing to be paralyzed in Fear, but what if we could take one small action step in choosing to face. In the Hendricks work Facing is a part of F.A.C.T (Facing, Accepting, Choosing and Taking Action). FACT is a gateway to building blocks of courage.
Depression is Real
Depression is strength. Depression is noticing the constant emptiness weighing down inside of you. Those that experience depression experience a state that affects their everyday lives. This is facing suffering with dignity or faith.
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore – Lord Chesterfield
I recommend and keep a journal getting what’s in our heads out. Below I’ve compiled a list of tools that I’ve found useful in bouts of Depression and I hope they will support you in your lives. There is no wrong or right, no external secret recipe, no pill to take it away. Follow your body intelligence with love and acceptance of what is happening and look inward kindly.
- Savoring Bubble Baths with Epson salt, essential oils or CBD
- Delicious Movies, Warm-Fuzzy Blanket Day
- Flavorful Hot Tea Moments throughout the day
- Support Group or Community
- Beating myself up with a soft feather
- Warmly Welcoming my emotions and all parts of me
- Loving gently and kindly what is
- Easeful Movement (exercise, fear melters, walking, etc.)
- Conscious Breathing
- Massage or massaging myself with fingertips or hands
- Phoning a good friend or being with myself as I would with a good friend
- Allowing myself to Feel Afraid
I invite you to post a resource or anything you’d be willing to share in the comments feed choosing enhancing our community while growing our Human Condition in LOVE.
Dec 11 18
Happiness Set Point
If you’re human, you’ve probably spent a lot of time in the realm of reason. There are numerous articles appearing now on the “Science of Happiness” recently Time Magazine did an entire issue on Happiness.
It’s never too late to be who you might have been – George Elliot
Positive Psychology emphasizes positive influences create positive change in a person’s life. There’s books going back to Budha that state changing your thoughts will change our life and reality. Could it be that easy? …and How long will it take before I see some proof.
Let’s disect the above sentence, “How long will it take before I see some proof”? this sentence is lodged in the primal brain returning us to the realm of reason (hunting for evidence; stuckness). If you’re anything like me you have a built-in Skeptic looking for evidence that usually lives in F.E.A.R (False Evidence Appearing Real) ready to protect me from a variety of projections. (i.e. being taken advantage of, hurt). However, I assure you beyond fear you can become a happier you!
Learn More about Fear – Hendricks Fear Melters™
Im in my full Mastery of appreciation, self-love and speaking in unarguable truths through practice over the last decade. In my opinion, changes take courage and commitment (and constant re-commitment). Imagine no one teaching you to brush your teeth? You’d need to set up a regimen to support this new habit – right? So, my question for you this day (and myself, since I won’t ask anything of you that I am not willing to do myself) is what small activity would you be willing to create this day for yourself? Would you be willing to be happier – not to mention healthier?
“Scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain – unless it is done with play, in which case, it takes between 10 and 20 repetitions!” – Dr. Karyn Purvis
I invite you all to enjoy a 2-minute self-aware, conscious break with intention of moving your body in a way that is pleasurable to you. Are you open to appreciate yourself or someone else this day? Could the glass be half full and not half empty?
When was the last time you used all 5 senses?
How can we remember and support each other to play? Did you realize people learn more when playing using our senses? Today my version of “play” is simply appreciating breathing air while enjoying sights and sounds. What’s your version of “Play”?
Would you be willing to do this as a practice this week? Intergrating practice while walking or simply with the windows down driving home? Creativity is innovation and uses the imagination, opening up possibilities. Happiness is not set in stone. We have the power to Reset our Hapiness Set point and if you’d like more information you can start here or work with a coach like me! The recipe is inside you and it will be as yummy as you want it to be!
Each Day, we choose how to spend our life’s energy. It is how we create our own reality —
In Love,
Gina
Jul 5 18
Choosing Something Different
In my most recent days appreciating and riding the bliss of an Andre Bocelli concert POW! a major ULP. In that nano-second I immediately shifted into my reptilian or primal brain and “Choosing Something Different” was not possible in my primal brain.
We humans have three brains (Right Brain, Left Brain and Old Brain). The primal brain holds our autonomic nervous system and it’s job is all about survival of our physical being. It’s constantly assessing if there’s anything threatening us.
The mammalian brain handles emotions, feelings, behaviors, and the social aspects of life. All you can do to change these “controls” is to notice your environment and triggers when these particular behavior(s) happen. This is where hiring a coach will assist offering rapid, advanced learning. There’s now scientific proof that we can re-wire our brains.
The prefrontal cortex (conscious brain) handles writing, thinking, decision-making, and setting goals. You know, the stuff that makes us human! Our pre-frontal lobe is responsible for about 20% of our decisions.
Your next Question may be, “What’s an U.L.P”?
It’s the Upper Limits Problem coined by Gay Hendricks.
If you want to start “Choosing Something Different” start by reading “The Big Leap” which can be sampled or purchased here
The story that I’m sharing is about “Blaming versus Claiming” not the actual ULP and inviting you to “Choosing Something Different”.
After a glorious enlivening concert, I FELL…BAM! on the concrete floor outside. Immediately after standing up nearly shouting “I’m alright” leaping in to “blaming” these damn shoes I’m wearing (there too high)!!! followed by “oh! it’s my ankle- too unstable”!!! The next one sounded something like “I sprained my ankle as a child and it’s weak” Do any of these stories sound familiar?
Over the next two days I unconsciously suffered, felt angry and wanted to cry. I couldn’t put my finger on it and struggled to wrap my head around it, unconsciously committed to blame. My vision now becomming very limited and quite cramped, I decided to choose something different. I decided to use breathing with a somatic approach and immediately my body revealed physical pain. At that moment I began experiencing an overwhelming sharp pain from my hip and, on top of that my knee and ankle felt universally bruised. Choosing to claim my fall, feeling my body and expressing many tears.
“Claiming” that I was 100% responsible for falling allowed me to FEEL my body. I’d been skipping over my feelings trying to fix it in my head. Looking back, seems silly. Opening up to a different approach created spaciousness. I’m deeply appreciating this reminder from the Universe and I Re-committ to CLAIMING.
The awareness of an injury is the first step in creating change then “Choosing Something Different” #StopTheBlame
The injury may not always be physical, but the body intelligence is a great somatic place to start your investigation.
Cheers to healing injuries and being OK with conflict with yourself or others.
Blessings,
Gina
When we hear “Ground Zero” the mind vividly recalls the world center trade bombing of 1993, but “Ground Zero” began long before 911. The Napa, California Fires; The Puerto Rico and Texas Flooding and major world crisis can all fall under this same category. Learning Gratitude from Ground Zero.
“Ground Zero” in 1946 described atomic attacks in Japan; in 1977 becoming an act of non-violence. Ground Zero is described as the personal point of the most severe damage or destruction. Ground Zero brings us to places where we see how little is in our control
Become Ground Zero in this movement — David Orr
Hmmmm, I wonder why it requires a catastrophic event (the point of the most severe damage or destruction) to generate the surreal stillness that leads to community, love and healing?
In the absence of love and belonging, there is always suffering. Always — Brene Brown
My theory and personal experience is that we won’t escape hardship, disappointment and tragedies. It’s true that “Persistence is resistance”, so there’s no use trying to detour, bypass or avoid these necessary feelings and emotions sometimes judged as inappropriate, wrong or worse sub-human behavior. I’ve found gems through distress. Life’s Journey is not a perpetuating smile cruising alongside joy with uninterrupted happiness and sexual delights.
History does not need to teach us every lesson. Wisdom, Education and Maturation can open up delightful, easeful ways to cultivate, arouse and awaken our conscious listening ears and open mind loosening Ego’s grip prior to the Godsmack or “Surface Zero” We choose how long to stay in the meandering. We can choose succession, flow and adjust course.
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. — haruki murakami
Human civilization is around 6,000 years. I see myself in every human. How long must “we” examine and research before we find our Ground Zero? This surreal, humbling corner that brings up full-on gratitude. Today, (this moment) I invite you to your personal “surface zero” in gratitudes, like indoor plumbing, flooring, appliances, walls, roofs and the almighty health.
The greatest Wealth is Health – Sarchar Leone
I pray for a world full of close community, connection and nuturing love bringing people up in humanizing versus the dehumanizing that strips human qualities’ away (i.e. racism, categorizing or verbal abuse). I believe each of us has our own unique connection to our God (purpose) and we are all shining our heart lights together creating magic in wonderment!
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31
It is a time to Brave the Wilderness as so eloquently written by Brene Brown. You can find more about her book on her blog
Be kind to one another, everbody has their own struggles, stay humble
Sep 18 17
Sweat the Small Stuff!
I came across an article this morning yet again saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff” and this just feels like belly fire for me. I feel angst with raised shoulders and anger pouring through the keyboard saying, STOP! CHOOSE to sweat the small stuff especially in relationships (i.e. self, intimate, best friend, co-worker, etc.).
I’m a speaker and survivor of Scleroderma and all those (so called) “little” things piled up on an internal shelf until it broke and auto-immunity became my God smack!
Choosing NOT to speak has a price
The price increases when we aren’t listening… sometimes including your own health!
What previously happened when “something small happened”, internally I could “feel” yet almost immediately chose to overrode the body’s wisdom with this OLD saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff”.
Today, I strongly suggest and choose and address every bit of the small stuff; because in my experience it piles up! There is a way to be angry, sad, happy, despondent or irritated (etc.) with yourself or in relation to others without causing permanent damage to yourself or others by honoring and listening to yourself. The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them.
Ask yourself, How Do I forget about me? When Do I forget about me? AND the most important question is what am I willing to create something different instead? I want to share my visionary gifts and learn about your creative intuitive genius.
Check out Rory Sutherland’s Ted Talk and Sweat the Small Stuff
TEDSalon London 2010
Rory Sutherland
Another Great Little Book on Why “The Little Things” needs our attention by Andy Andrews
Are you ready to begin creating a life beyond your imagination?
You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection — Buddha
Jul 24 17
Unplug to Recharge
More living OFFLINE! Increased Reflection and SELF-LOVE
Technology has improved lives in so many ways, however, it continues to lose its shimmer and appeal to me this Summer Season. Do you recall the last time you went to the beach? ocean? camping? lake? or favorite body of nature? When was the last time you prepared and executed an exquisite meal for yourself just to self-love and enjoy the unknown? What about a day trip of hiking or exploring? I’m curious did you tap in to your heart’s experience? How long could you savor the moment before posting to Facebook, Instagram or some other social media. I remember a simpler time when we informed another as to where we were going (and if I didn’t respond by xx then call in the troops or come looking for me).
Sharing my personal experience… For the most part, I find my essence being solo, but you may want to bring that special someone, children or animals, there is no “right” answer, just follow your heart. I generally locate my bliss in the beauty of spending time with myself and definitely OFFLINE. I then occupy the space to focus on my dreams in parallel notably enjoying the process (whatever wants to happen having no expectations, assumption or control agenda) I treasure trove that I have more time and that my mind is less “busy”. In this creative arena I develop into an intensely rooted presence while experiencing a lighter, calmer more balanced version of myself I name essence. Time away repeatedly provides reflection, a place to evaluate my results; where I’m making my “energy deposits” and if it remains a good investment of my energy.
Now, To be transparent, I am by no means a Technology Natzi, on the contrary; I actually love it!!! Without technology, I couldn’t have built my successful business(es) or connect with so many like-minded people. It’s such a gift! However, being a “virtual” gift means we need to create palpable ways to balance. Listening to the physical body is so critical to support this balance and inner wisdom.
My invitation is to investigate what local choices can you schedule (daily or weekly) to take time and savor the beauty of your own backyard. Are you willing to frame time to stop and smell the flowers… plan a long walk… re-connect with nature… turn on some great music… dance… read a book… cook… go for a bike ride… write a song or poem… draw… collage or craft… nap…. what is your heart’s true desire? What do you really want? These baby step will lead you to those answers. Start by establishing an impeccable agreement with yourself of when and how long your willing to unplug and recharge. Where will you make your bliss?
Much Love, Gina
Aug 31 16
Empower Yourself
Are you a Drill Sargent? Task Master? or maybe a Control Freak?
Are your old tired stories getting boring? maybe not giving you the same hit that they previously provided?
We tell ourselves all the time that we should “let it go.” We feel the cost of holding on so tightly. We know that it’s a good idea to let go of stories from the past that are dragging us down, but how do you do it? I’ll share six words with you… “Pay attention to your aliveness meter”
When you are in these characters, do you feel a drain of energy when you’re doing it? or does your aliveness meter get fed? Do you understand energy can cost your health, your presence, your happiness! Don’t give it away! Find out what feeds you cause this is the stuff I’m talking about!!! The juicy stuff!!! The times that life just seems too good, yes, I want to live there and not just part of the time, all of the time!
We cannot make people do things, we cannot get lost in a bunch of tasks nor are we able to try and control. The key word being “try”, as most things on the planet are outside of our control. In fact, about the only thing that is in your control is how you decide to respond to life. Everything else…whether people will like you, how people will feel when you tell them something, what other people think, whether someone keeps their agreements with you…ALL are outside of your control.
Devote yourself to your aliveness, stand up for it, listen for its voice. Notice when your aliveness is up and flowing and notice when it’s dropping. It is your true guide. Are you willing to let it go and choose your full on aliveness?
I wrote this article about a year ago today on Visions of Success Facebook; however today felt I myself needed a reminder. Awareness of what “your results are” is a big clue to what your committed to creating. Today, I will commit and appreciate in Visions of Success’ Facebook group “Life Changing Play”, I invite you to come join our creative “play”ground.
Much Love,
Gina
