coachjoelle.com

 Hello citizens of America!

I have been thinking a lot recently.  I have been thinking about the times we are in and the current affairs.  The world waits as America fights for its future in an intense election and navigates an economic situation that is arguably the most challenging of the modern age.  And here I am, someone who tends not to pay attention to such things, paying very close attention to such things and recognizing that it would be inappropriate to let this period pass without comment.

My job, my commitment in life is for all people to experience the magic of a life lived on purpose.  I stand for love, peace, courage and people just being happy.   While I am an imperfect person and I do not always hit the mark, these are the things to which I aspire and what I want to create in my own life and in the world.

 So in the face of the world at this moment (and the US in particular) I will put aside my usual bright eyes and happy, empowerment-centered message to share a reflection of this moment in history.

I have thought for weeks now.  What do I write about all of this? How do I share without hurting offending or alienating some part or other of the population during these heated times?   It has left me relating to a line by Canadian singing group, Moxi Fruvous, a satirical often political group of buskers that became a staple in the mainstream Canadian pop scene in the 90’s.

The line in question opens a song entitled “The Gulf War Song” written about the first gulf war.

“We got a call to write a song about the war in the gulf,
but we shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
So we tried….. then gave up…. Because there was no such song.
But the trying was very revealing.”

I understand how they felt.

Over the past months I have been forwarded many emails (as I am sure you all have) that have come from people I have respected and admired speaking very specifically and passionately about the election and the candidates. It takes courage to share such strong views and I will not be following their lead.  

The truth is that after the primaries I would have voted for either candidate happily, I was actually quite content because what I saw in that brief shining moment was a better world either way and two men who shared my views and would take us to a brighter future.  But today, I do not feel that. In this race I have seen things that trouble and disappoint me, things that make me question what we are doing, what are we becoming as a nation and what values we are fostering.

I stand here, watching an increasingly heated struggle for power between two parties and the echoing response from the public; angry chanting, booing, defacement of property, violence and even someone carving up their own body to fuel the fire of divisiveness and fear.

While some of this activity is certainly the behavior of a few unstable people, how much of this is actually created by the negative campaigning, antagonistic speaches and that “anything goes” mentality of the modern election?

Read the entire article

Sometimes a coach just has to take a stand.  Read away, comment at will and please, please VOTE!

COACH JOELLE

Hi Gang, 

I am finishing up a week of sunshine, hot tubs and afternoon naps as my husband and I engage in a week of Arizona living (we have taken it as a warm-up for our future plans – a month long winter hiatus in coming years.)  I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts on the economy in these interesting times.

This email was sent from one of the life-makers participating in the Make Your Life Program and she shared something that is on many of our minds.  She asked…

“Any tips for those of us who are living in "Fear Central" with this whole economic situation?  I am finding that I am working full-time to protect my mind from the gloom-doom mindset that so many people are talking – and I am succeeding some of the time, but not all of the time.  Would love your suggestions.”

So here is what I have to say on the economy.

I have often wondered, over the previous weeks, if no one had television or access to radio, how many of us would be aware of the economic downturn we are experiencing. And even more importantly, I wonder how much of what is happening is being caused real-time by people reacting to the idea that we are in an economic down-turn/ recession/depression etc.

Personally, I am not experiencing an economic downturn and I have no intention of experiencing one.  This is not arrogance, this is just my intention and I take steps everyday with the full expectation that this intention be fulfilled.  Oh sure, my net worth is about ½ of what it was a month ago but that just means it is a great time to invest!!! I know by the time that I need to retire all my happy little stocks and funds will have reached new heights, so whatever they are doing right now is really none of my concern.

So, I ask you, if you forgot about the news and you just looked at your life, what evidence would you have that there was a problem right now?

For those of you who see none, bravo.  For you the next question is, what do you need to think and what action do you need to take to continue creating the life that you want?

For those of you who are seeing the signs ie.  your are living off your investments that have just lost 40% of their value, you have 5 rental properties that are not worth what you bought them for and you have run out of renters, or you work for a bank or maybe a mortgage company, then now, more than ever is the time to guard your thoughts and look for solutions instead of focusing on the problems.

The economy is a duck my friends. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with the duck story – take a moment to listen to this 5 minute recording and you can learn all about the ducks.)  What I mean by this is, the economy is doing what it is doing and if you are open to seeing it as not good or bad, not disastrous, but instead approach it with interest and inquisitiveness, then you will likely see that even inside of this particular set of circumstances there is opportunity, hope and a bright future.

So the questions to ask at this particular time in history are:

1)    What do you want?

2)    What way of thinking will best support what you want?

3)    What way of “being” is going to give you the most joy in your day and the most power in creating your future?

4)    What action can you take right now?

If you are willing to ask these questions and be open to their answers there is opportunity, hope and excitement available.

As an example: I have a client that is in the investment business.

And not just any investments.  He cannot take a client with less than $1,000,000 to invest.  It would be easy for him to throw in the towel and close the doors until brighter times.  But In our last conversation I asked him to think about who needs him right now, even with everything that is going on.  He was able to quickly rattle off the people who not only could use someone of his caliber working on their team, but who might be actively seeking someone just like him at this very moment!

He made his list and then we went to work looking at where he could find these people.  He left the call with a clear objective and inspired action to take.  I look forward to hearing the stories about how he created the best earning months of his career while his competitors hid their heads in the sand.

If we just take a moment and apply the SEE BE DO GET model to the situation you can quickly see how essential it is to focus on what you want instead of getting mired in the muck.

If your point of view (SEE) is that – “All is lost and there are no jobs, no business and no hope…..”

You are likely to BE…. Sad, depressed, anxious, angry (insert your favorite doom and gloom emotion here__________)

Then you will DO whatever is natural from that place and my guess is that it will not be the most powerful and inspired action you could take to accomplish what you want.

And then you will GET the total affirmation that life is not going to work out and we are all going to H – E – double hockey sticks in a hand-basket (where the heck did that expression ever come from anyway?)

So, clearly, focusing on the problems will not get you anywhere.

Now I am not saying ignore what is going on.  It is totally valid to take a look at your own reality and ask yourself, “What would responsible action look like?” Are you living within your means? Are you honoring the money you have? Do you know what it takes to sustain your current lifestyle?

Knowing the facts can be a powerful starting point for dealing with what is so, alleviating anxiety and just taking the action that is necessary.

The coach’s advice for weathering our current economic situation…

1)    Get in touch with the “facts” (the ducks) of your life.

2)    Get clear on the future you want to create.

3)    Proceed and take action accordingly, regardless of what the news is saying or your friends sit around and talk about. 

The life you want is available right now if you believe it!  If you focus on what you want, if you believe in the power of your dreams and your own ability to create your life, if you take inspired action, today can be a day of great beginnings and the future can be very bright.

Believe it and you will see it.

With love and optimism,

Coach Joelle

Hi gang!

Fun times are at hand!

I have been successfully living my beautiful  new life schedule and the Make Your Life Program participants are nothing less than inspiring! 

What a group! Within the first week people were dumping boyfriends, quitting jobs, buying plane tickets and moving accross the country!  It almost makes a coach wonder if she needs to step it up a little!  But then I remember that at this time, I am not creating My "ADVENTUROUS" Life or My "MOVE OUT OF CLEVELAND" Life, I am making My PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS Life ,so for now, to have my husband and I marching off to bed at 9pm for an hour of reading (or a happy pre-bed soak in the tub ahhhh) or participating in my new morning rituals of meditating and writing and then taking that precious 1/2 hour before the day starts to clean up a little and get my desk strait, has been exactly what a peaceful prosperous life would call for!

Along with my zen schedule, another piece life-making that I have been embracing is a little something I like to call the Life Limiter’s List. This is a list of that stuff that nags at you and drags you down, those piles that need straitening and that return item that you have been driving around with since spring time.

I am very pleased to say that I have been systematically taking my Limiters off the list and it is a breath of fresh fresh air.  I have included some of my greatest limiters and accomplishments to give you a taste for what is Life Limiter list-worthy:

1) Brought 7 pairs of shoes in to be repaired – SUCCESS! (I moved the shoes to my car during the last program but this time I actually found the address and brought them to the shop!!! Now, I just have to stay committed so I actually pick them up ;-))
 

2) Learn more about my investments ( This one is still on the list but I am excited to take it on.  I have been investing since I was a wee Canadian lass but since my dad taught me well I know that I won’t be touching my money for another 25- 30 years, and so, to this point I have been pretty much taking my monthly reports and filing them without a first or second glance. I figure it is time that I at least know what my money is contributing to.)

3) Proliferation of cat hair (Due to the recent departure of our dear  Bandito we are down to three cats but I am still on the hunt for some kind of miracle brush so I do not feel like a walking lint ball!)

4) Moths – yep – I got moths and I am ready to end their reign of terror. (hmmm, I may not be painting a very pretty picture here – hair and months! Oh well, I guess when we get down to the nitty gritty, it is not always that pretty)

 
5) Kitchen cupboards repainted!! SUCCESS -   I am pleased to say I got in a mood two Sundays ago and painted my cupboards! And while I was at it, I painted the front door as well (note to self: just because it looks like the door is the same color paint as the cupboards at 10 pm does not mean it will look like the same color at 10 am – opps. That is what I get for being a little overzelouos) . It was delightful to get this done.  I feel accomplished and I even spent an hour of my project, painting while checking in and hanging with my mom in Canada over the phone.

6) Ebay stuff – I have a bunch of stuff, that I keep thinking I could sell on ebay, but it keeps sitting on my counter looking at me. Time to send this stuff out to the world and find it a new home!

This should give you the gist of what the Life Limiter’s List looks like. For some it means taking out the figurative garbage (removing harmful relationships and arduous committments) while for others the list includes quite literally, taking out the garbage!

If you have something in particular that you would like to put on your list so that you can put a GREAT BIG CHECK MARK next to it, go ahead and share it with us. I would love to hear about what you are cleaning, organizing, moving or removing as you are making your life!

With Love,

Joelle

P.S. more to come about my adventures as a moth mercenary coming soon!