Bring your best self to light - June 2007
We grow by recommendation. If you have found this useful, please forward to others.
If this has been forwarded to you from someone else, you can sign up at www.annewalshcoach.com. You get a free 10 part e-course worth €39 when you do...
Bad boys, saints and decision making.
Last weekend I finished the first year of a course called Diploma in Spiritual Direction. It is run by Milltown Institute and is based on the spirituality of a 16th century saint called Ignatius Loyola (founder of the Jesuits). Ignatius was a seriously "bad boy" before his transformation. He had a reputation for gambling, chasing women and starting fights. He was so vain that he underwent an operation to straighten his leg after it was damaged in a battle (remember these were the days when men really did wear tights and anaesthetic was non-existent). There were rumours that he had a number of illegitimate children and he was also ferociously recklessly brave (He and 300 men tried to hold off the French army at Pamplona). He was sort of a Colin Farrell of his time (and he wasn't that tall either...)
So why has his influence lasted until today? While he was recovering he asked for something to read and got a pile of romances and some religious books. He used his imagination but found himself feeling better after imagining himself as a saint rather than a warrior...much to his surprise. From this he eventually developed his "Spiritual Exercises" which are still being used today. He developed some powerful tools to help make wise decisions...and I've written about them more in my blog. They include looking at how a decision makes you feel physically, reviewing this decision from your deathbed and generally tapping more into your own inner guidance system for direction. He suggests getting really clear about the question you want guidance on, then writing a list of the pros and cons of each option. I suggest to people to use a variation of this: over a couple of days, get everything down on paper..even what seems small or trivial for each option. Then try on each option for size...notice how you feel in your body as you "live" each option. Do you feel peaceful, expanded, serene or jumpy, squashed and anxious? It's probably worth your while to get really clear about the decision first of all e.g. should I take this job or not...avoid getting bogged down in too many what if scenarios...just take this one..
Speaking of inner guidance systems...I'm starting this week on the Consciousness Shifting Coach Mastery programme. I'm really looking forward to learning how to use this with clients as it's a remarkably effective way to clear blocks and move on...I was so impressed with the effect it's had on me that I'm planning to use it with clients when I've got to grips with it. I'll probably be looking for volunteers to play with as I get further into it. So be warned! I'll be looking for playmates!
Take Action!
Consider doing more of what you WANT to do, instead of what you think you SHOULD do...in the immortal words of Joe Jackson...remember "you can't get what you want, until you know what you want...". Do you want to live YOUR life or someone elses? Consider putting more of your choices through the "do I really really want this filter...and declining all those choices that don't meet those criteria". By the way, there will be people who won't like this..but guess what, THEY WILL GET OVER IT!!!
4 hour workweek...Tim Ferris
yes, you read that correctly...4 HOUR workweek. Well, who the hell is this dude?? I first heard of him via one of the newsletters I am subscribed to and curiosity prompted me to check out his websites: www.fourhourworkweek.com and www.timferris.com . He's definitely a high achiever (speaks several languages, lectures at Princeton etc) but what caught my eye is that he said he had played hurling...so I e-mailed him and it turns out he had stayed in Galway for a month and played hurling in the Claddagh. I've also suggested to him that he should learn Irish next! His recommendations for achieving the four hour work week are rather interesting: outsource what you don't do well, only check e-mail twice a day. I've ordered his book to find out more...but I'm intrigued already). You can check out an interview with him here
I've been getting a steady stream of clients for the Now What? programme but I still have some spaces left. Why not consider enrolling on the programme...register for the free introductory call to get an overview. The next one is to be held on June 20th at 8pm.
I really love doing this programme with clients. It's the most amazing thing to watch people begin to give themselves permission to ask what they really want and DO IT (despite the voice in their head howling with disapproval...<g>). It really helps get you clear about what you really want...what I like about it as well is that it focuses on the WHO, not just the WHAT. It's about your whole life, not just what you are good at.
Read more about the whole programme at www.nowwhatcoaching.com
Upcoming events.
The Work - Ireland
Byron Katie www.thework.com will be coming to Ireland in July (as will Eckhart Tolle (in September). YOu can book at:
http://www.seminars.ie/seminars/index.php
I'm going there...so if you are planning to attend...come up and introduce yourself!
Recommended - what I'm reading/listening to
Those of you who read this will know that I am a big fan of JC. He writes a great blog. (And another thing...). I think the plot of this book is the tightest and as always the humour, dialogue and writing are top class.
Feel happy now by Michael Neill.
The basic premise of this book is that happiness is about what we tell ourselves...and that's totally within our own control. He gives lots of practical techniques and tools to help "tell ourselves better stories" about what happens in our lives. He also has a great sense of humour...which I really love...
I've become a big fan of podcasts...although I did a purge on them recently...to make sure I only download the ones I really really love. I was using open source software called Juice but after many problems eventually began using Zencast...and that's rather cool...if you want an alternative to iTunes..check it out.
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
_______________________________
ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?
WITNESS: July 18th.
ATTORNEY: What year?
WITNESS: Every year.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?
WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?
WITNESS: Forty-five years.
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-one-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one.
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ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Would you repeat the question?