coachjoelle.com

It has been 3 weeks since I completed my integrity experiment and having found a quiet moment I thought I would take this opportunity to close the loop on my journey.

It has been a great ride, much was learned and even more was created.

Hmmm. Let’s see….

1) Happy animals: 

One area of major triumph was my integrity around only eating animals that came from free roaming farms and to not contribute to the factory farming industry.  I have been acting on this for some time now but rarely with such consistency and vigilance. 

With free range eggs as a staple and the occasional serving of grass fed beef I have found my way to a much more vegetable centered existence and there is no experience of hardship.  When I go to a restaurant I look for the black bean soup and applaud the restaurant if they have gone to the care of having free range chicken on the menu. 

By taking this on in my integrity experiment it has truly helped me turn the corner to a primarily vegetarian diet as a joyful choice without the experience of hardship or sacrifice.

2) 97.5 Degrees:

raising my body temperature was another triumph.  I had been taking my temperature in an attempt to track body temperature for fertility and all that good stuff.  My temperature hanging out in the 96’s along with an unusually low metabolism drew me to conclude that thyroid may be an issue.   I dug in, asked more questions, read more and explored and with the help of my faithful chiropractor and B12 supplements my body is living in the 97’s with regularity. YAY!

The intention and action it took to take charge of this issue and make this change came directly from my experiment and I am grateful to have this small piece of my physical puzzle in place.

3) Guess Who’s Allergic To Gluten and Casin?

Out of my increased attention to health and my quest for unanswered physical questions, my doctor encouraged me to get blood tests to determine a possible gluten or casein allergy (wheat or milk) and low and behold I am positive for both of them.  I am so excited to learn this!  While milk had been pretty much dropped because of the afore mentioned ethical issues, Wasa crackers and Ezekiel sprouted grain bread have been a staple for some time. 

As I think back I can remember countless people asking if I have a cold to which I reply “no” and shrug it off as a bad phone connection. Could it be that my body has been fighting off the affects of my food all this time? Who knows, but as I turn in my whole wheat and oatmeal for Quinoa and buckwheat I am truly excited for this step towards greater health, one that I actually saw as an ultimate goal but had not yet had the motivation to act on.  Funny how life works that way.

4) Pondering Wine and Other “Goodies”: 

You may recall that part of this process was to experiment around the place of alcohol and sugar in my life and the findings are conclusive.

They don’t fit.  Not forever, but certainly not for now.  

Right after my crash and burn post I made a new arrangement with myself, no alcohol and no sweets until I hit 139 lbs. Why this number you ask? Well, it’s the number I have in my head and it’s not far away and historically I have demonstrated that when I play with sweets and wine it just gets in the way of this health goal so I just don’t want it in my life right now. Again, I’m not saying never, but none of it has a place as a daily installment for me.

The cool thing is that again, I feel no hardship.  Instead of wine I drink 100% cranberry juice with a little stevia. It looks like the real thing and it has a depth that is actually quite satisfying. As for the sweets, I have found that 1 tbsp of coconut, 1 tsp of raw organic cocoa powder and 1 packet of stevia with a little cinnamon is totally satisfying and I rarely ever have the need to do more than one serving. It gives me the chocolaty goodness without any of the drama.

5) Happy news on the decaf front:

Ok, one more thing about health. Since I drew a line around decaf coffee (the decaffeination process can be toxic and I cannot do strong caffeine because it makes me freaky) I have revealed some helpful information in my quest for a happy cup of coffee. 

First off, the good people at www.swisswater.com responded to one of my blog posts and shared that their process which uses water for the decaffeination process instead of solvents.  After looking into it I realized that many of my favorite coffee providers were already ahead of the curve on this one, using swiss water processed coffee in their establishments allowing me to have my “coffee without compromise.” 

Before I had discovered this decaf solution I had also made a trip to whole foods for coffee alternatives and I am quite happy to report that my new favorite drink is French roast Teeccino with unsweetened almond milk.  No caffeine, alkalizing (instead of acidic – coffee is acidic) cozy comfort in cup.

6) Meditation Shmeditation:  

Spiritually, a lot has happened due to my experiment.  I set out to meditate daily which I did for the experiment but it has not stuck afterward which is interesting.  I think I would be well served by a spiritual practice guided by someone else to get this to make this process more purposeful and meaningful.

7) One Inspired Community Coming up!:

In week 3 of my experiment I had a sudden burst of inspiration that has completely enriched my life and in a very real way created structure for me to continue to live very intentionally beyond the experiment. 

Last year a coach friend of mine suggested I do Julia Cameron’s the Artist’s Way  based on some of the things I shared with her about where my head was and what I was looking for.  I wanted to explore this but when I was cast in Beachwood Community Theaters production of the princess Snow White earlier this year I realized that rehearsal would conflict with any regularly occurring evening commitment so I put off starting the group. 

Well the idea came back to me during my experiment and it caused me to act rapidly.  I sent out an email to 10 gentle souls who I thought would like share the 12 week journey with me.  I had the email crafted and sent within the day.  I had 8 yes’s and we began the following Wednesday.

Little did I know that with this email I had managed to pull together the soulful community I had been longing for since I moved to Cleveland. In this group I am “student” not “teacher” and it is an opportunity to create, to explore, to be messy and to share love.

Who knows where we will take it after the 12 weeks of the program are complete, it doesn’t matter, all I know is that a deep need has just been filled and it happened in an instant and I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Gentle Hands: 

Early on in my experiment I was called to get into action to find holistic/energetic nourishment, education and reprieve.  I started on a quest to find a spiritual mentor or a home for the next phase of my development.

I explored energy practitioners, and naturopathic resources and while I am still looking for a guide to support the elevation of my understanding of the world, I find it intriguing that a major piece of my puzzle was here all along.  

I am happy to announce that I have found a gentle place for the replenishment of my soul in the loving hands of Debbie Craven Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, Reflexologist and wise woman extraordinaire.  The first time I met Debbie she gave Jeff and I reflexology treatments at a wellness fair.  I loved her energy and have returned to her little peaceful studio for birthdays and special occasions. 

The 30 minute drive to her studio through Ohio’s beautiful countryside was a true delight for my senses and the moment I was on her table every care in the world drifted out of my head, I found blissful Zenned-out happiness, she has a real talent.

While she did her work we discussed resources, methodology and connections for me to continue my quest for spiritual deepening and physical healing.

This wonderful experience lead me to the obvious question.  “Why on earth would I save such a gift just for birthdays and special occasions?”  Debbie and I now have a standing 90 minute monthly appointment. And I look forward to our insightful conversations, and her gentle care of my body and soul.

9) I could go on but….:

I am realizing I could write much more than I am sure anyone wants to read on all of this so I am going to wrap it up by saying that my life is rising. I can feel it.  I feel light, creative, peaceful, healthy, excited, alert and alive.

I smile as I realize that my integrity experiment has really just been an exercise in Life-Making. Sometimes I do not put enough value on the work I do in the world – I don’t take myself seriously.  The truth is that being a conscious creator in life is the key to a joyful today and a beautiful tomorrow and through my experiment I essentially put every lesson in the Make Your Life Program into high gear in my life with awesome results.

I think I will ride this wave for awhile. My head open to possibility, my heart open to god, dancing with the magic of life.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

With love,

Joelle

If it is your time to reclaim the joy in your life and start taking yourself and your dreams seriously, join me for the Make Your Life Program October 13-December 8, 2010.

HIYA! Coach Joelle here to report that last week I totally crashed and burned in my integrity experiment.

How could such a thing happen?  You ask… And to a coach?!!!
 

Well,
 

I could explain how after a glass of wine, one scoop of gelato is just not sufficient and how when your mother in law makes blueberry cobbler for brunch you eat it, lots of it.
 

I could justify how work has been so busy and exciting that there was just no time to take 15 minutes to meditate (3 days in a row.) 
 

I could tell you that when your spouse’s alarm wakes you up 2 hours early 2 days in a row it’s no wonder everything else goes to pot!
 

I could tell you that but it is all just excuses and nonsense.
 

Don’t get me wrong, I am not beating myself up or being all mean.   My 30 days of living to my highest ideals was a gift to myself after all, not a punishment.   I even called this undertaking an “experiment” with the intention that I would be learning about what it takes to be in integrity with myself. And so after finding several fascinating ways NOT to live up to my highest ideals, it is time to recommit.
 

An often quoted speech from the “Maliwada Human Development Training School”  defines integrity as:
 

“the singularity of thrust of a life committed and ordering every dimension of the self towards that commitment.”
 

“a destinal resolve – a resolve that chooses and sets your destiny and out of which your whole life is ordered.”

If I look honestly, my “destinal resolve” the last few days has been towards being caught up in the world, being a victim to my cravings, making myself sick on blueberry cobbler and living my life confused, wishy washy and a little grumpy.  Nice.
 

Good to know.  

And so, without further whining, excuses or self flagellation, I will reference my original integrity experiment commitment, for there I have written what I chose as my “singularity of thrust” for my life (or at least for these 30 days.)

Clarity

Connection to source

Health

Fearlessness

Love

Oh yah,  I like that much better.

Today I take notice and I readjust myself back on course to engage these final seven days with new clarity and renewed commitment. 

Deep breath….. own your stuff….. recommit…… do what it takes.
 

With love and renewed integrity.
 

Joelle

Well hello!

It is almost bedtime Sunday night but I needed to touch base to let you know that I will be giving a full update of my Integrity Experiment tomorrow.

It has been quite a ride, complete with a colossal crash and burn Friday that I look forward to sharing with you.

Each day I find myself a little more. 

Each day I get a little clearer about what Integrity is and what it means to live in it. 

Each day, the totally stellar ones and the really rough ones, bring with them lessons and illumination (particularly the rough ones.)

My bed calls to me longingly but I will fill you in tomorrow.

Much love and gentle compassion to you in your own walk with integrity.

Joelle

Hi guys!

I didn’t want to close out the week without an update and a little inspiration to keep you going or gently nudge you into getting started on your integrity experiment.
 

Already, worlds are changing for the better as people take on living as their highest selves.

• In Canada, a single mom followed her heart, declined a late night bootie call and learned something meaningful about her own value.

• In LA, the roads are a little safer through one woman’s commitment to only use her cell phone hands free.

• In Australia, a coach is living louder, raising his spiritual connection and walking his talk.

• And in Atlanta, a child is getting daily quality time with her mom.
 

AWESOME and wow!
 

As for me, this new level of intentional living has resulted in:

1 lb lost (never to be found again)
 

56$ saved in Starbucks decaf-soy cappuccino’s that I did not drink,
 

Mediation for more days strait than I can remember,
 

New learning that dark subject-matter in entertainment leads to darkness in the subconscious (violent movie = violent dreams. No thanks!)
 

Discovery of the importance of having 1 night a week responsibility-free (including free from making dinner or conversation) and a system to make it happen,
 

Reclamation of 2-3 extra hours of sleep nightly and progress towards being a well-rested woman,
 

Consultation with an applied kinesiology chiropractor and an energy worker to move my health forward and raised my body temperature from 96.5 to 97.5 degrees (WOO to the HOO!),
 

Compassionate, cathartic and intuitive conversation with my dear friend Jennifer which has already proved transformative,
 

Reaping the rewards in my marriage in more ways than I can count….
 

And it is only day 14!
 

With 16 more to go, will you join me? Learn more.

Whether you choose to live to your highest ideals for 1 day or all 16, the resultant intention, focus and thoughtful action will propel you forward, provide insight and guide you toward living the life you have imagined.
 

Jump on in! Read how you can get started here and be sure to keep me posted.
 

To your life!
 

Joelle

Hello!

I’ll tell you, my integrity experiment has provided some interesting insights so far. 
 

This weekend I discovered that to be my "best self" I need to sleep more, take time to do nothing, plan for alone time and probably get a second TV.

With my husband on a sailing adventure, swimming with wild dolphins in the Bahamas, it has been a perfect time for me to get in touch with what will best serve my experience of life.
 

Left to myself with all the time in the world, I flowed through my days satisfying the needs that presented themselves; from working out, eating and sleeping to movie-watching and shopping.
 

Thursday evening marked the first hours of total “Joelle Time”. I was called to 6:30 core training at the gym and then hit the mall until they kicked me out. Uninspired by the prospect of cooking, it was off to the patio at Chipotle for a delicious black bean salad and a twilight phone-chat with Jeff as he excitedly shared the events of the first day of his trip. Perfection.
 

After a couple of full days that included work, a wedding and a rocking "Bucket List" facilitation, Sunday was my next totally free day.  I started with an invigorating morning run and then retired to the couch, giddy with the prospect of total television domination! There would be no “Meet the Press” this Sunday, oh no! It was going to be all chick flicks all the time!
 

I grabbed some Teavanna “spice of life” tea with frothed almond milk, put on my sweats, hunkered down with a pillow, blanket, and a cat in my lap and went on to watch no less than 3 movies! 
 

As the hours passed one pure thought kept rising to the surface.  I was repeatedly struck by how completely and blissfully happy I was curled up on the couch, with no commitments, being entertained without a thought of productivity in my head.
 

By 6:00, replete with my movie marathon, I was moved to tidy up and make dinner (free range turkey burgers and a fresh vegetable salad made up of produce from our organic CSA.)
 

At 9:00 I went out to the deck to meditate, candles lit, aromatherapy on hand, another cat in my lap, wind in the trees and a red sky in the west. 
 

As I sat there in the flickering light I felt more connected, more happy and more grateful than I had felt in a very long time. 
 

I realized anew that the path to enlightenment or inner peace or whatever you want to call it is not necessarily found through activity, intense thought or spiritual reading.
 

This weekend illuminated for me that, much like Maslow’s Hierarchy, I need freedom of time, space to explore, and mental and physical rest to be able to fully get present, connect and engage. 
 

As you take on your Integrity Experiment, give yourself permission and space to get in touch with what will feed and nourish you, what will make you happy and what needs are begging to be met.
 

With love,

Joelle 

Well hello!

As you’ll recall, last week I defined the parameters of my highest ideals and began zealously embodying them in “The Integrity Experiment” (read all about it -you are very welcome to play along.)

As I put the finishing touches on my 30 day plan for exceptional living and got ready to execute, I wondered what joyous activity I would be inspired to undertake first?!

Would I be called to express my creativity with paint and canvas?

Was I in for a quiet afternoon with the enlightening works of Eckhart Tolle and Ken Wilbur?

Perhaps it would be meditation in the park!

In a flash of illumination I saw the path! I knew exactly what I needed to do.

Shockingly, the work to be done was not in any way related to philosophizing or pondering the wonders of the universe. (Whah?!)

Nope. My “highest-self” had much more humble plans for my first day on the job.

Get Your "Order" On

The message came loud and clear … “Don’t even think of getting all up in your “highest-self” without cleaning up your mess! “

And so, the first brilliant shining actions I took inside of my Integrity Experiment included sweeping up the cat-hair tumbleweeds that had formed on the hardwood floor (I can just hear the collective gasp!), folding and putting away the laundry, tidying the kitchen and unpacking the suitcase that had remained on the floor after my Canadian adventures.

I organized my desk, fluffed the pillows, and watched as a clean visual picture replaced the previous disorder. 

With the taming of our space, calm came over me and my mind found new focus.

More than “house work”, these tasks were sacred and necessary, clearing room for what lay ahead.

The Invitation:

Whether you subscribe to the principles of Feng Shui or think of it more as an internal checklist that will not fully relinquish your mind until the papers are filed and the plants watered; the need for order is paramount for those who are out to consciously create their lives.

No doubt as you read this, the places of disarray in your life are rearing their messy heads, poking at you and demanding your attention. 

Whether they are…

Files waiting to be purged,

Papers ready to be filed,

Carpets longing for the caress of the vacuum,

Desks to be cleared,

Closets to be organized,  

Shelves to be dusted,

Socks seeking their perfect match,

Or crowded rooms asking to be transformed into spaces for creativity, play or rest;

Whether it’s as simple as a 15 minute “tidy”,

Or as robust as a 20-DAY DE-CLUTTERING EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

You alone know what it will take to get you grounded, clear-headed, satisfied and freed-up to create.

So do your life a favor and get to it!

XO

Joelle

Sleeeep!!! I need Sleep!!

Ok that’s it.  My 7 hours of sleep are non-negotiable.  Well, actually the whole list is non-negotiable for the next 30 days but somehow I figured that losing sleep to get up for meditation was somehow a noble cause. It’s not.

I recouped today by grabbing an hour after the gym in the AM and then slept from 5-8 pm before I helped Jeff pack for his big sailing adventure with ocean conservationist Hardy Jones where they will swim with wild dolphins in the caribbean.
 

With Jeff away on a ship, while I will miss him, it will give me the freedom to 100% choose my schedule without having to consider anyone else.  I figure a week of experimenting on my own will then prepare me to have practice keeping this commitment when my sweet husband returns.
 

Sleep is going to happen.  All 7 hours of it every night.

You are welcome to ask me my sleep number anytime between July 16th and August 8th and the answer will be 7 or more.
 

Taking it on!
 

Joelle

You are welcome to join me!  Create your own integrity experiment and join me as we live to our highest ideals!
 

Hey there!

It's day four of my Integrity experiment and I’m liking what I’m seeing. 

I can already tell that my workouts are more intense and I even feel stronger and thinner (could be a head thing but I really feel it!)
 

My daily meditation, which is one of the most essential aspects of my experiment is already proving fruitful.  I have been consistent, even getting up before our already very early trips to the gym, and low and behold I am actually receiving guidance in the form of inspired action!

One of those inspired actions is to find an energy practice (spiritual practice.)  This is not the first time I have had this idea but as part of my experiment I am committing to finding a mentor in this area in the next 26 days (ohhhh, the pressure is on now!)

Below I have also included parameters around some of the more obvious pieces of my experiment.  I figured I would get them out into the world as it will support me in being accountable. If you happen to see me out and about blatantly violating any of the below in the next 30 days, you are welcome to call me on it.

So far, I haven’t been perfect, and that’s ok.

I am realizing that getting my 7 hours of sleep with a 5 am wakeup is going to take some extra figuring. And the lovely 0 calorie, no aspartame sparkling green tea from Whole Foods that Jeff discovered, while it meets my requirements,  invariably causes me to want to take a nap. That’s not going to cut it.

There are many moments of integrity to govern that are not related to any of the items listed below.  In those moments I have been checking my thinking and behavior to my original vision or asking the simple question “Is this in alignment with my highest self?”  Based on the answer I make the next choice.

One foot in front of the other I am climbing a ladder to my highest self.  It’s not all sparkle and wonder but it feels solid and true.
 

With love,

Joelle

Practices

1) SLEEP -7 hours  (usually means bed by 9 or 9:30)

2) Meditate Daily 15 – 30 minutes

3) Journal Daily (about the process)

4) Write 5 days a week (priority)

Body/Food

5) No soy (messes with hormones, GMO, bad for thyroid.

6) No caffeine (green tea ok)
 

7) No Soda/ no aspartame
 

8) Decaf – no more than once a week.   Process toxic. Not real food.
 

9) Alcohol -  Wine or hearty beer – max 3 per week max 2 per night never to experiencing physical effects.
 

10) 2 -80 cal servings sweets a week – has to be worth it – good stuff not junk – still in alignment with highest self
 

11) Only happy meat and dairy
 

12) 3 fruit min
 

13) 4 serv green veg min

Movement

1.  Cario 5X
 

2.  Core X2
 

3.  Weights X3
 
 

Hmmmm,

As I walk through the moments of my Integrity Experiment I have come upon an interesting thought.
 

I am taking on operating in a heightened state of integrity with the intention of living as my highest-self.
 

Only a few days in I am up against an interesting distinction; the difference  between "not violating my integrity" and "living to my highest-self".
 

For instance;

I have chosen not to drink decaf coffee as part of my experiment because I have read that the decaffeination process is toxic. As a result I made some new beverage choices. Yesterday I made frothed almond milk and Teeccino (a coffee substitute made or roasted nuts and grains.)  It was tasty and satisfying but was it a choice my “highest self” would make? 

I think my highest self would have had water and skipped the tasty cup of comfort.  So while it was not out of integrity (it did not violate the agreements I made to myself and was a healthy choice) it was also not what my highest self would do or at least my idea of my highest self.

An interesting insight on my path.  Not sure what to do with it. For now, I will drink my happy drink when I am moved to and continue to live the questions.

Any thoughts? Comments? Insights?  Would love to hear from you.

XO

Joelle
 

Good morning,

As I reflect on the events of the weekend It has been an interesting start to my experiment.
 

When I think of living as my highest self, in many ways it has an ethereal element, vibrating with clean, high energy food, meditating, taking action from a pure flow state to cause in life.  The thing is, that on a weekend, it’s not all sitting around staring at my navel and contemplating my higher self. 

On a weekend, my husband is home and we go to the gym together which usually takes 3-4 hours each day.  We run errands and have social commitments.   Hence, I was challenged to live my bliss during “core training” class, cleaning the house and attending a beer-tasting birthday gathering. 

This weekend illuminated the opportunity (a.k.a. room to grow) for me to find spirit in the mundane and to find connection at cocktail parties.  I noticed myself wanting to get through what I was doing so I could get to being my highest self! But that’s not the game I set out to play.

It is easy to feel zen-like on a yoga mat in a candle lit room, it is another to be that shopping for paper towels.

I have a knowing that all of life can be a conscious and spiritual practice, I have had times where I have lived it. That is what these 30 days are about, renewing my connection to that way of life and finding what it takes to operate there.

By taking on the practice of reading my Integrity experiment commitment at the beginning of each day I am setting myself up to be able to hold the intention and act accordingly.  By reviewing and journaling about my commitment as I prepare for bed I am able to notice where there is an opportunity to live into my intention more fully in the days to come.

As you are taking on your own Integrity Experiment (if you are not yet and want to join me you can read all about it here) remember that this is a process.  If you ate more than you said you would, make a note of it, write about what was going on with you that you made that choice, set up systems that will support you in eating in alignment next time(food journal, measure portions etc.)  and get back on that horse!  That’s how you make a real and lasting difference in your life. And believe me, YOU CAN, no matter what it is that you want to create or change.

Despite my myriad weekend commitments, I lived well.  I got inspired by my Philosophers Notes on the treadmill, I grabbed 15 minutes in a quiet studio to meditate while Jeff finished up his workout, I made salads, washed veggies for juicing and boiled eggs to prepare for the week, made a trip to Teavanna for a yummy, wholesome alternative to my decaf coffee, I journaled every day, did yoga by candlelight and made out with my husband in the car like a teenager.

All in all, a pretty darn good start.  As the work week begins I am excited to see what my experiment will bring.

Love to you!
 

Joelle

The Integrity Experiment: Day 1

What a huge day.  Jeff and I got up, spent 3 hours at the gym, ran errands and were off to a gathering. It’s 10:30 PM and it is the first time to myself I have had since I woke up.  It just goes to show that when it comes to living your ideals you need to put aside the time to get in touch with what those ideals are or you life will just sweep you away.  Good thing I put a chunk of time aside yesterday so that I could get a head start on my process.

As the document below revealed itself I got very clear that I need to read it at the start of every day, likely multiple times a day to keep my eye on the ball.

It feels good. As I wrote and as I read what I wrote it makes me sit a little taller, my head clears and a gentle smile comes to my face.  This is the template for a peaceful, powerful, balanced, healthy, spiritually-connected me.

Here we go.

I am writing to determine the parameters of My integrity experiment.  As I write I can feel the tension building.  It is the tension that is pulling me into my greatest self.  I feel a little nervous and excited all at the same time.  I am also really glad that I am sharing this with you as it ups the ante and makes me accountable (see step 3 from the Highest Ideals article.) 
 

In addition I will be documenting my experience daily and commit to blogging about it at least once a week (though I anticipate it will be more.)

So here is what living as my highest self looks like:

I am grounded, passionate and energized, operating from a highly present state.  Whether I am writing, coaching, hanging with friends, or sharing a meal with my husband I attend to the moment with a combination of energy, interest, and readiness or a solid and peaceful centeredness depending on what the occasion calls for.

I am interested and engaged in life.

When I do something – I do it all the way – full out.  No going to the gym and going through the motions.  If I am there I am intentional and focused. When my husband speaks I stop and listen intently.  When I write, I relish the writing and do not get called away by the siren song of “You’ve got mail”.

I live each moment in the full knowing that “I can” and I can BRILLIANTLY at that, even and especially the things that have been barriers in the past. Now is the time to move through those old beliefs with pure thought, passion, knowing and committed action.

I feel love. Love and appreciation for the people in my day whether they are friends, family, clients or strangers.  I see things to appreciate and things of interest all around me.

(As I write there is a static-y pressure around my head and a heighted feeling of alertness – I think I am onto something.)

Emotionally, I am calm. When pressure is on or I feel annoyance or frustration I notice it and dissipate it as it is not my optimal state and does not support me being who I choose to be.

Regarding my food, I choose to consume what is in alignment with clarity, connection to source and overall health. I choose at this time for there to be a place for the occasional glass of wine or a solid hearty beer.  I am not yet ready to believe that my best self would never have a glass of wine.  Exploring this will be a part of my experiment.

I move and work my body to a strong lean vessel that I am proud to wear.  I take action in my body to take it to a state of optimal health and freedom.

I take purposeful new action to raise my body temperature and metabolism for optimum health, energy, vitality and baby-making

I take bold and decisive action to bring the new iteration of the Coach Joelle Website into being through completing the copy writing, working harmoniously and purposefully with Jeff and the team and getting scintillating new pictures taken.

I meditate. Daily. I know this is key for alignment and flow. I choose it.

I am without fear. I self express lovingly and clearly.

I believe and allow.

I do it.

Life is electric. I live in and experience the energy of the world and source.

I live in the light and the love.

(Whoa! I can totally feel the power of what I have written. It rings true inside of me and I feel totally inspired.)

I’m ready.   It begins NOW.

Love it!
 

Now, it’s your turn.  What would living as your highest self look like?  Can you define it? If you define it do you dare to take it on? If you want to play go ahead and read about the Integrity Experiment and create your own 30 day journey to who you can be.  Be sure to let me know what you are up to and I will continue to keep you posted on my adventure.

Good stuff!  Good night.
 

Joelle

HI guys!

Last week was full of milestones.  Not only did I turn 38 but I also had the opportunity to complete two decades as a full-on contributing “adult” by attending my 20 year high school reunion. 

Facing the people from high school was in many ways a last frontier for me.  I think I turned out pretty well and at some point it seemed important that those people who knew me back then get to see who I had become.

How refreshing to find that when the moment of truth came I realized that I had nothing to prove.

I enjoyed people and we shared our stories but I did not feel the need to be witty, interesting, or the life of the party.

There were no airs to put on and no one to impress.  When I was tired I left early for bed (YUM!) and when I needed solitude I did not hesitate to leave the fray for the comfort of a book (DOUBLE YUM!)

The young woman who was once so desperate for attention and approval is no more.  In her place stands a person I could not have imagined back in 1990. 
With external standards no longer binding me, the only standard that matters is my own and of course those standards will determine the height, depth and quality of my life.

And so, for my 38th birthday I am giving myself 30 days of living to my highest ideals. I will live it, document it and at the end of 30 days see where it takes me. 

Will I feel more enlightened? Vibrant? Accomplished?

Will my marriage reach new levels of bliss?

Will I lose that last 5 lbs?

Who knows? But what I do know is that I am going hard core for 30 days and then and only then can I make a new choice.

Care to join me?

This week’s article guides you through the process of identifying, choosing, and sticking to your own highest ideals through something I am calling The Integrity Experiment.

Enjoy!

Joelle

“When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.” Leo Burnett

Living to your highest ideals: The Integrity Experiment

What would your life be like if you spent it living up to your highest ideals?

What would become possible?

What are those ideals?

Perhaps you aspire to living with compassion or acting courageously.  Maybe your best self would go heavy on the greens and give up the caffeine.  Do you aspire to becoming a non-smoker or making yourself available for quality time with your children?

When I think about living to my ideals it means living into and acting in accordance with the highest version of myself; physically, spiritually, mentally, relationally and professionally and reaping the rewards in my life. 

What’s not to love about that?!

Why would we do anything else?

Hmmmm … How about comfort, laziness, fear, discouragement, being too busy and lots of other really great reasons with which we are all too familiar.

Let’s face it, sometimes that chocolate bar looks so goooood and sometimes that extra couple hours of sleep is so much more appealing that heading off to the gym in the dark.  Can you relate?

Often our reasons for not being our best selves are disguised as the “noble option”.  We skip lunch to meet with that new client or stay up extra late to deal with things that seem pressing and urgent.

Whatever our excuses, no matter how valid, every time we consciously or unconsciously choose to violate our own standards we are making a statement to ourselves and the world about our priorities. 

Would it surprise you to recognize that you have made work a priority over your family or smoking a priority over your living a long healthy life? What if I pointed out that your desire for that fabulous new blouse or your daily $4 latte wins priority over financial stability or the ability to retire?

When we get down to it, every time we act out of alignment with our standards we are in effect telling ourselves it is ok to go half way. It is ok to not go after what I want fully. It is ok to wimp out on myself and follow my values only part of the time.

Every time we lie to ourselves and every time we bend our own rules we whittle down a little piece of our strength and our faith in our own ability. We weaken our word and in doing so we are creating a watered down version of what our life could be and pushing out the arrival date of our visions and dreams.

Ouch.

So that’s the downside of not living up to our ideals but the good news is, the upside of being our best self is nothing short of miraculous.

The world lines up at your door when you line yourself up with what is right and true for you.( Note, I said right and true for YOU, not for anyone else – the only standards to consider here are your own.)

In the coaching world we call this alignment “integrity”.

When you operate with integrity, life works, serendipities abound and you achieve a new level of freedom and flow.

For my birthday I am saying Sign Me Up for more of that!  And that is why I am giving myself the exceptional gift of consciously living to my highest ideals for the next 30 days, even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular and annoying.

I will be documenting my experiences, how it feels to live this life and whether it makes the difference I imagine or not.

I won’t kid you, this may not pretty.  In fact, I am already a little terrified of putting it all on the line for 30 days but I know that a great prize waits on the other side of my resistance.

I am calling it The Integrity Experiment and you can play too.

The invitation:

Join me in your own integrity experiment. 

1. Define Your Ideals

Set aside 30 minutes today to write about your highest ideals. 

What do you value? What would raise your quality of life? What are the things you know you need to make time for but have not?

What are the thoughts you want to nurture and practice on a daily basis?

What version of you do you want to be?

What are the things that you know you have been doing part way?  What would “all the way” look like?

What are the things that have been hanging around, dragging you down and limiting your life that you would like to clean up?

2. Make a commitment

It’s one thing to write it all down but another thing entirely to commit.

Take a look at what you wrote and see if you are ready to take on the whole enchilada or a part of it.

Give yourself a timeframe. Will your integrity experiment be for a day, a week, a month, six months?  Whatever you commit to, do it fully and honestly.

Don’t set yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations but be sure to take on the things that are really important for you, that are worthy of your time and that will raise you in your own estimation of yourself.

3. Create a system of accountability. 

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO THIS ALONE.  Seriously, left to ourselves it is way too easy to try it for a day or two and give up on ourselves. By sharing your commitment with someone else you are building in an essential support system for your integrity experiment.

If you have a spouse or partner, ask them to hold you accountable. If you have a blog, say you are going to blog about it and then blog about it. If you have a friend who will share your journey, invite them to make their own commitment and give each other permission to challenge and support.

4. Plan it out

Be sure to take the time to plan where necessary to support your success.

Some things you commit to may require a reshuffling of your schedule –  like daily meditation – you already have a full and busy life so where do you fit that extra 30 minutes?

Others may require a prolonged process  and would be served by an action plan -like a comprehensive smoking cessation plan or a plan to grow your capacity for optimism over time.

5. Record Your Experience

Every day, possibly multiple times a day, record what you are experiencing.

Celebrate where you have made choices in alignment with your ideals, notice where have you given in or gone half way or where you outright chose to break your commitment.  All is valuable in your process. 

Notice where your current life circumstances and present choices stand in the way of you operating in integrity with your commitment and then without making yourself wrong, or beating yourself up, ask how you can adjust, learn and move forward. 

6. Remember It’s a Process

If you think you are going to launch out the gate with a 3 page document detailing your highest self and never ever falter, you may be in for a harsh awakening. 

This is a process.  In making your commitment you will learn about what it really takes to live that commitment.  Sometimes what it takes is far more than we imagined. 

You will stumble, you will resist and sometimes your best will not be good enough.  Your setbacks are not a sign to quit – it is simply time grab on tightly to your commitment and seek out additional information, different resources or greater support. 

Whether you envision your best self as a non-smoker, a parent who is around to make a difference in the lives of your children, or someone who acts courageously in spite of fear, remember that if it is a worthy ideal for you then some way, somehow you can live it.

Use Your Coach

I encourage you to take on your own integrity experiment and if you do, let me know.  Send me an email or comment on the blog below and I will check in on you. 

Be sure to share what you are committing to, why it will matter for you, the length of your experiment (3 days, 1 week , a month?) and who in your life will be supporting you and providing accountability (besides me.)

Along the way, if you find yourself in a difficult spot or at an impasse, post a comment here and I’ll give you what I’ve got to get you back on that horse and moving forward.

You can read all about my personal 30 day declaration right here tomorrow.  (Eeek!) 

Alright! We are off to the races. 

Bring It!

Joelle