How Are You Finding Your Bliss?

Finding Your Bliss

You wake up, you go to work, you come home, then you repeat.

Question is, does this cycle make you happy?

If you are spending hours every day doing something that is only mildly satisfying or barely tolerable, then you need to make a change.  Follow the steps below and you’ll be on the way to finding your bliss asap!

1. Define what bliss means to you

fnding your blissAccording to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Bliss is defined as complete happiness; paradise; heaven.  That’s a pretty heady definition for a word!  Who wouldn’t want to experience that in their everyday lives?! This is something that we should all be aiming for. Not to sound morbid, but think of it this way, none of us are getting out of this thing called life alive, so we should live it to the fullest.  Make everyday count.  Be actively, happily and fully engaged in every part of your life.

Make every day count and be actively, happily and fully engaged in every part of your life! Share on X

Take a moment to define what finding your bliss means to you.  What does complete happiness in every area of your life actually mean?  If you find yourself struggling to define what bliss looks like to you, working with a professional life coach will help you alot.  Some books that I’ve found useful on this topic include:

2. Evaluate the level of bliss in every area of your life

fnding your blissTake a look. I mean seriously take a good hard look at where you’re at in life and assess the level of bliss every component of your life is currently scoring.  To make this exercise easy, let’s use a scale from 1 to 10.  1 being you have absolutely no bliss/satisfaction/happiness in a certain area and 10 being you have total bliss/satisfaction/happiness in that area.  Think of areas such as:

  • Work
  • Health and fitness
  • Family
  • Familial relationships
  • Romantic relationships
  • Friendships
  • Hobbies and passions

Once you’ve completed the scoring for those areas (and any others you might have come up with), look at any areas that scored between an 8 to 10.  What are those areas?  Come up with three words for each of those high scoring areas to describe why they cause you bliss or happiness in your life.  Finding your bliss means identifying the factors that make a particular area in your life so blissful.

Finding your bliss means identifying the factors that make a particular area in your life so blissful. Share on X

Now, we are going to look at the not so high scoring areas.  Look at any areas scoring between a 1 to 4.  What are those areas?  Come up with three words for each of those low scoring areas that describe why they cause you a lack of bliss.  Finding your bliss is also about identifying the areas in your life that are draining you of joy.

For this exercise, I’ve steered clear of the areas that are scoring in the middle.  Since that’s a very grey area, it may be harder to come up with words in this quick exercise.  When working with a professional life coach, you would be working with some more advanced tools that would allow you to better articulate this area.

Finding your bliss is also about identifying the areas in your life that are draining you of joy. Share on X

3. Take Action!

fnding your blissNow you have identified the areas and you have identified the reasons for the areas of your life that allow you to exist in bliss and cause you lack of joy.  So what are you going to do next?  What are you learning from this exercise?

Write that down.

Next, write down at least one action you can take immediately to improve the level of bliss in a certain area of your life.  Finding your bliss is also about maintaining that blissful state.  Get happy, stay happy, and address the areas of your life that are currently causing you to experience emotions other than happiness.  Take your time with this.  In areas where you’re already experiencing a high level of bliss or happiness, identifying next steps will be simple.

Get happy, stay happy, and address the areas of your life that are currently causing you to experience emotions other than happiness. Share on X

However, in areas of your life where you’re experiencing a lack of joy, you might not know how you are going to improve it.  Remember, Rome was not built in a day!  Think of small steps.  Preferably small steps that revolve around improving yourself in some way.

For example, say in the area of familial relationships, you scored it at a 4.  You have a particularly negative or non-existent relationship with a particular family member because of some past event.  Start with working to let go of your anger, pain, or negativity when you think back on that event and that relative.  You can only change yourself, you cannot change other people.  What would the perfect conversation with that relative look like?  What would you need to have that conversation?  What feelings come up for you when you think about having that conversation with that relative? You get the picture.

Now the ball is in your court.  Start finding your bliss now!  Comment, like, share, and subscribe.  If you want to dig deeper around this topic, schedule a coaching session with me today!

Other blog posts of interest:

3 Steps to Getting Unstuck
Secret Reasons Why Professional Coaches Are NOT Calling You Back
Overcoming Self-Sabotage: 3 Steps to Take Today
The Secret To Creating A Lasting Morning Workout Routine
5 Ways Self-Sabotage Is Stopping You From Reaching Your Goals

3 Lifestyle Changes That Will Have A Profound Impact on Your Life

impact on your life

Yesterday, I was working with my life coach (yes, even professional coaches have their own life coaches!) and I brought up the fact that I’ve been feeling a little burnt out someday. As she explored my thoughts on the meaning behind wanting to address the feelings of burn out, the words “consistency”, “daily routine”, and “schedulekept coming up for me.

As she asked the questions to explore this in more detail, I realized I wanted to leave our session with 2 or 3 action steps that I could consistently implement in my daily routine so I could be more energized, experience less burn out, and have a positive impact on my life. By the close of our session, I came up with three doable action steps that I actually implemented that evening.  I realized I needed to manage my time as well as my energy.  Below are three lifestyle changes that I’ve made that are having a positive impact on my life.

1. Establish a regular bedtime

impact on your life - regular routineA necessary part of a successful day is getting the proper rest the night before. Right now I’m trying to implement a habit where it’s lights out by 10p.m. no excuses. This has been so hard (but so worth it) for me to implement. I need about 5-6 hours a sleep a night to function properly and being in bed by 10 allows that to happen.

A necessary part of a successful day is getting the proper rest the night before. Share on X

Another perk to establishing a regular bedtime is that it makes me plan my evenings. During the week, I rarely go out which makes this easier. I have gotten clearer about:

  • decompressing after work
  • scheduling clients during the week
  • spending time on creating valuable content for this blog
  • spending at least 30 minutes each evening doing something fun

2. Practice A Regular Mind-Body-Spirit Morning Ritual

impact on your life - mind body spirit ritualsThe second lifestyle change that will have a profound impact on your life is to implement regular mind-body-spirit rituals in your daily routine. I’ve found this especially useful to engage in first thing in the morning. Some practices I’ve implemented included:

  • physical exercise – weight training followed by a bit of cardio,
  • yoga – a great way to end my workouts,
  • meditation – love to do this after yoga,
  • Bible study & prayer – after showering to get my focus and emotions right,
  • Reiki – a clearing video from YouTube on any area of my life where I feel blocked.

3. Disconnect from all screens

impact on your life - disconnect from screensWe all spend a lot of time each day connected to screens. Computer screens and phone screens are at the top of that list.  All of that ‘screen time’ is hard on your eyes and body.  With all of my work online writing for this blog, brainstorming on a book, and working with clients via online coaching sessions, I spend alot of time online.

My eyes are usually tired and dry by the end of the day.  And this is with minimal break.  So one thing that seems to be helping me out is to disconnect from all screens for a set amount of time a day.  After a few days of trying this, I have found my personal sweet spot with disconnecting from all screens for an hour when I am transitioning between working on different things.

BONUS: Get rid of dairy & caffeine in your diet

Since diet has an impact on everything we do, it’s very important that we pay attention to what put in our bodies.  The newest thing that I’m trying and I think will have a positive impact on your life as well is ridding your diet of caffeine and dairy.  Dairy causes inflammation in the body and can make it hard to lose weight for many people.

Caffeine, though useful in the short term, has a lot of drawbacks in the long term. It dehydrates your skin (contributing to premature aging) and system, can cause you to have energy spikes and crashes throughout the day and can interfere with having a good night’s sleep.

To make these changes permanent, they should be done gradually. For example, if you like to have a cup of coffee in the morning every day, for the first week maybe switch out a cup of coffee for one day with a cup of strong herbal tea.  Peppermint, lemon, and ginseng are just a few powerful herbs that can perk you up.

Here are some great books about routines and habits that can have a positive impact on your life:

Other blog posts of interest:

5 Ways Self-Sabotage Is Stopping You From Reaching Your Goals

The Secret To Creating A Lasting Morning Workout Routine

Overcoming Self-Sabotage: 3 Steps to Take Today

Secret Reasons Why Professional Coaches Are NOT Calling You Back

3 Steps to Getting Unstuck

Do you have some habits that have had a positive impact on your life?  If so, let me know in the comments below!  Also don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!

5 Tips for Successful Online Dating

successful online datingDo you find dating complicated?

Is it becoming harder and harder to find Ms. or Mr. Right?

Are you just a hot mess to date?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, know that you’re not alone!  Many of my clients decide to work with a professional life coach because their love lives are not going the way they want them to.  So they decided to go online.  Below are the top five tips that I’ve learned from the trials & errors of coaching clients.  Follow these tips to get what it takes for successful online dating to occur.  The goal is for you to avoid many of the pitfalls and mishaps they have experienced.

1. Be honest

successful online dating1We all know that honesty is the best policy. That applies to online dating as well. When you set up your profile on a dating website or app:

  • be honest about who you are,
  • show real pictures of yourself in realistic situations,
  • show a couple of pictures of yourself doing activities you enjoy (i.e. spending time with friends, cooking, running, traveling, etc.)

Yes, you need to be cautious not to put anything on your dating profile that can be perceived as negative or too provocative, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be authentic and honest about who you are.

Are you struggling with trusting yourself?  Then working with a professional life coach can have a positive impact!  Book a session with me today to learn more.

2. Set boundaries

successful online dating2A huge part of successful online dating is making sure you set and stick to personal boundaries.  From the first message that’s sent, start interacting in a way that makes you comfortable.  Set the tone.  If that’s formal, then start off that way; if that’s casual, start off that way. If health and fitness is very important to you, start off with a discussion around that topic.

A word of caution about starting off too sexual.  That can lead to uncomfortable situations and unrealistic expectations.  Remember, you want to use successful online dating techniques not successful hookup techniques.

Is setting boundaries something you’ve struggled with in past relationships?  Then book a session with me today to gain insight and courage on how boundaries encourage respect and collaboration.

3. Trust your gut

successful online dating 3We all have instincts.  You know that feeling when something just isn’t ‘right’?  It usually happens in the pit of your stomach, in your chest, or tension in your neck and shoulders.  Everyone is a little different in where they physically feel the feelings when something isn’t quite right, but we all experience those feelings.  Those are your instincts and they are meant to keep you safe.

Trust those instincts!

If you’re talking to someone online and something just feels ‘not right’, trust your gut!  That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop talking to that person, but successful online dating means you know when to possibly limit communication.  Taking a break for a few days to process things the other person has said is also a successful online dating technique in order to truly get perspective on that person and where they’re coming from.

Is trusting your gut something you have trouble doing?  Then working with a professional life coach will help you gain insight and confidence to trust yourself more!  Book a session with me today so you can begin living in your confidence.

4. Be open (but cautious)

successful online dating 4Successful online dating differs very little from successful in-person dating.  You have to be open and you have to be yourself. That being said you also have to use good judgment about what you choose to share about yourself on the initial stages of dating.

For example, if you are an outdoor enthusiast, it totally makes sense to share some great stories about your experiences doing outdoor activities and exotic places you’ve traveled to for such activities.  However, there’s no need for you to share intimate details about your personal, financial, or other information.

Is opening up something you find hard to do?  Then book a session with me today so we can begin to uncover internal roadblocks in your way.

5. Make it worth your time

successful online dating 5Your time is precious so don’t waste it.  In the world of successful online dating, this means that don’t spend your time with frogs when you are seeking your prince.  Yes, you need to be open to different personalities and experiences.  However, this does not mean that you need to waste your time communicating with someone whose values, goals, current circumstance, mentality, or attitude is not in alignment with where you’re at or where you’re trying to get to.

Remember you can, at most, inspire a person to change but you can’t actually change that person.  Any lasting change comes from within and is a very personal journey.

Remember you can, at most, inspire a person to change but you can't actually change that person. Share on X

So what are your thoughts on successful online dating?  Have you had any success online dating? Like, comment, share, and subscribe!

Other posts of interests:

7 Reasons Women Are NOT Calling You Back (For Men Only)
Dating Around: Controversial Reasons Why He is NOT Calling You Back! (For Women Only)
7 Signs That Intimate Relationships Aren’t Your Cup Of Tea
Are You A Hot Mess At Dating?!
Bold First Date Questions That NEED To Be Asked

Dating After Divorce {Volume 2}

dating after divorce

As you’ve heard me say many times before, intimate relationships can be hard and may not be for everybody.  Dating after divorce is a sensitive subject that I often coach clients around.  They are challenged to come up with answers to questions like:

  • what to do,
  • what  not to do,
  • defining what they want, and
  • getting clear on what they’ve learned about themselves from their marriage.

In my zest for knowledge and greater insight on the perspectives of others about dating after divorce, I’ve found some great blog post.

  1. Therapist Gives Tips to Make Dating After Divorce Easier for Men {Divorce Guy Grinning}
  2. 15 Tips You Need To Know About Dating After Divorce {Riebesehl Family Law Offices}
  3. Dating After Divorce – Are You Making These Four Mistakes? {Rebuilding Your Life After Divorce}
  4. Dating After Divorce: Advice, Tips, and Why This Is An Exciting Time! {Divorced Girl Smiling}
  5. A Few Stunning Dating Tips For After a Divorce {The Good Men Project}
  6. Dating After Divorce: 3 Dos and 3 Don’ts {Black Love Advice}
  7. 17 Essential Rules For Dating After Divorce {Your Tango}
  8. Dating After Divorce {Woman’s Divorce}
  9. 9 Tips for Dating After Divorce (That Are Actually Useful) {Silver Singles}
  10. Dating after Divorce: The Basics {Divorce Help for Parents}

Other blog posts of interest:

Cool Posts – Volume 1 (Dating After Divorce)
  Dating After 30
  Are You A Hot Mess At Dating?!
  7 Signs That Intimate Relationships Aren’t Your Cup Of Tea
  Dating Around: Controversial Reasons Why He is NOT Calling You Back! (For Women Only)

Great books for those dating and dating after divorce:

Are you trying to figure the whole ‘dating after divorce’ thing out?

Know someone who is?

Then like, comment, share, and subscribe!

What to Expect: When Working With A Professional Life Coach

professional life coach

Understand the role of a life coach

professional life coach - expectationOn the home page of my website, I try to give any prospective clients a clear picture of what a life coach does. We aren’t counselors, therapists, psychologists, or teachers. The goal is to be clear upfront so there aren’t any unrealistic expectations. Human nature dictates that when we go to a professional for help, that they are going to give us the answers.

That is not how coaching works.

A professional life coach doesn’t give you the answer.  What we do is partner with you to come up with the best solutions for you.  You know yourself better than anyone else, a professional life coach helps you to uncover those best solutions by asking powerful questions.

Ready to partner with someone who will help to make lasting changes in your life? Then schedule a Discovery Session with one of our professional life coaches today!

Expect to be held accountable

professional life coach - accountabilityYourdictionary.com defines accountability (noun) as “taking or being assigned responsibility for something that you have done or something you are supposed to do”.

A professional life coach is not your parent, your boss, or your warden. What we are is an accountability partner who will help you stay on track with your goals. Accountability is one of the main reasons that I’ve seen for why clients don’t reach their goals. Getting unstuck is a very common goal of many clients when they first work with a professional coach.  Once they get past being stuck, then it’s time to move toward their actual goals.

A professional life coach is not your parent, your boss, or your warden. Share on X

Expect to be challenged

professional life coach - challengedDon’t let the word “challenge” scare you. The way in which a professional life coach challenges you is always three things:

  • positive,
  • approachable, and
  • respectful.

What we do is challenge any current negative or non-productive beliefs that you have.  These beliefs can be about yourself or a particular situation. The goal is to stretch your current beliefs or energy past your current situation and perceived limitations.

Don’t believe you can get a better job? What about that belief is contributing to your current situation? Or Don’t believe you have any self-control when it comes to food? How has that belief contributed to your current habits?  Getting to the core of those thoughts and beliefs is an important part of your success. You live your life from a point of those thoughts and beliefs.

You live your life from a point of your thoughts and beliefs so make sure they are positive. Share on X

Conclusion

If you want to experience change, a professional life coach has the job of partnering with you to effectively challenge and confront limiting or self-sabotaging thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors.  They aren’t propelling you towards your success. Making changes and progress can be hard and won’t happen overnight. However, you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready and sincere, start working with a professional life coach today!

So what are your feelings about working with a professional life coach?  Do you think it’s a good fit for you and your situation?  Let me know!

Like, comment, share and subscribe!

Some other blog posts of interest:

Accountability & Working With A Professional Life Coach

 Am I Uncoachable?!

3 Steps to Getting Unstuck

Secret Reasons Why Professional Coaches Are NOT Calling You Back

Overcoming Self-Sabotage: 3 Steps to Take Today