Assertiveness & Self Esteem
Six Fridays starting April 10 - May 15, 2009 6:00 - 8:30 PM, Kaiser Permanente San Jose. $95 includes textbook and all materials. Call 408-972-3340 to register.

Announcing: Positive Affirmations & Prayers to Lift Your Spirits Audio Program. Email me if you would like to receive a brief MP3 Demo.

I'm still looking for input: Food, Mood and Energy Survey. For your participation in the survey, I will send you an MP3 of one of the tracks from my new audio program: Positive Affirmations & Prayers to Lift Your Spirits Just complete the survey and look for it in your email within the next 24 hours. Thank you!

Would you participate in a survey on Food, Mood and Energy? Yes Use this link if the form above doesn't work

Affirmation: I boldly step into the center of my life and own my choices. I am responsible for me.

Quote: "When we feel how loved and cared for we are, problems in the world start to diminish and hope flourishes." Jaqui Duvall

So many clients I work with talk about taking care of other people in their lives at their own expense. Whether it's children, spouses or bosses, there's always someone who needs something and we often allow ourselves to move to the bottom of the list of priorities. When this happens we tend to suffer for it. Not only our health and self-care, but also our mood, our relationships with these people and our self-esteem. How can you bring yourself back to the center of your own life?

First and foremost, we can do this by "owning" the center of our lives, by stepping into it boldly, affirming that we are worthy and deserving to be there. This is a day-to-day choice. Sometimes a moment-to-moment choice. Louise Hay said, "When we love ourselves everything in our lives works." This is the ultimate in self love. Making you a priority and realizing that your self-care is the greatest gift you can give to your family.

Second, by staying grounded in the present moment. This moment is the only one we can do anything about, so having a regular practice of deep breathing can help to keep us grounded here, now. Not ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. Carolyn Myss said, "The greatest point of power is the present moment."

Third, by being very conscious of what we are doing for others. It's very important that we don't do for others what they can and should be doing for themselves, especially our children. It is in allowing people to work through their own challenges that builds their resilience and courage muscles. It doesn't mean we can't be supportive, but we need to let others work through their own stuff.

On that note, I hope you'll consider joining me on Friday nights starting April 10 for the Assertiveness & Self Esteem program at Kaiser San Jose. It's a great way to strengthen your view of yourself and practice setting boundaries.

Newsletter Archives:
January 2009 - Blues for the Holidays/Book Review: The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Plan by Kathleen DesMaisons
February 2009 - What's My Purpose?/Movie Review: Groundhog Day
December 2009 - Are You Afraid?/Book Review: Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers

Did you know that during times of turmoil and uncertainty, attendance at churches goes up? This was very apparent after 911 and it appears to be happening again at least at the church I attend. Fear and insecurity are issues that many people have dealt with all along, but when it happens on a pandemic scale people start looking around for solutions and church seems to be a popular answer.

As human beings we actually have limited resources. Each of us has special gifts, things that we're good at and where we excel, but no one is good at everything. Yet, so many people talk about how hard it is to ask for help. The truth is there are very few people in the world who can successfully exist in the world without other people.

When the problem we face is bigger than we are, when the pain of not being where we want to be and have what we need is great enough, we find the courage to ask for help. To reach outside ourselves.

Reaching out for help from others could potentially help us resolve a lot of our problems, but the other greatly under utilized source of help is already within us. It is past the ego, the intellect and the limitations of the physical body. The ultimate in solutions to any problem is in spirit, where we connect with that part of us that is greater than any one of us. The Higher Self that connects with universal truth, where infinite love and joy reside. When we feel how loved and cared for we are, problems in the world start to diminish and hope flourishes.

I am working on a Master's degree in Consciousness Studies and therefore much of my coaching work is taking a spiritual turn. If you are interested in exploring what you can accomplish in your life by connecting with your inner spirit, and reducing fear, I would love to work with you. Email me to set up a 30 minute consultation at no charge.