Easter Time and Finding Your Inner Hidden Easter Eggs*

How about that….for many, it is Easter today. Some people will be visiting family, coloring hard-boiled eggs with bright and vibrant colors, and receiving a beautiful basket filled with candy, jelly beans, and of course a big old chocolate bunny. Many kids, young and old, will be hiding Easter eggs and searching for them. I remember as a young girl looking for Easter eggs at my grandmother’s house. I felt so excited when I saw a hint of a bright yellow, or vibrant blue egg, nestled in the grass or a couch cushion. Some of the eggs were hard and delicious to eat. While others were made of plastic and when popped open, revealed a yummy treat.

As a coach, I realized that finding bright Easter eggs filled with surprises was much like finding a new passion. Coming across a new idea or thought that seemed exciting and fun, made me feel all giddy inside, much like when I opened a plastic Easter egg. And some of those ideas and thoughts have blossomed into new, wonderful, and even life- long hobbies and passions….*

In the spirit of Easter today, I would like to ask all of you to take a moment to search for some new hidden passions to explore and invite into your life. Take some small pieces of paper and write down a couple (preferably more) ideas or passions you have thought up, or come across. Write each down on a small sheet and fold them up. Place each in a colorful plastic Easter egg. Have someone hide them for you, or if you live alone, place them in creative locations you will come across them. The following day, look for and find the eggs. Open each and see what idea or passion you reveal.

Next, take one small step to reaching, or researching that idea. Pay close attention to your body’s response to this step. In most cases, you will experience some excitement and that will lead to another step. Now, some people may find that their body is not enthusiastically responding to the idea or passion. In those cases, the road to that idea or passion may be done, and the next idea or passion can be pursued….*

However, in most cases, these little and fun steps can lead to a new life-long and fulfilling hobby or passion.

* Please note, these are highlights from an entire article in Higher-Self Living Paychecks. For more information, please visit our website at www.higherselflifecoaching.com.

”Been There, Done That, Yah Hoo”…the Importance of Accomplishment. *

This is it people….this newsletter is about to start in motion a journey for you that may delight you, encourage you, or scare you to death…..or at least make you pee in your pants. I am going to ask you to get up, get out there, and accomplish an old raggedy and dusted goal you have put off for years.

Come on, you can do it. We all have heard that old cliche, “There is no time like the present”. Don’t wait for one of those moments where you hear the passing of a loved one, or a devastating illness to remind you of the importance of the present moment and accomplishing your goals and dreams. The reality of life is that none of us know when or where we will move on to another way of living. For example, recently I accomplished a goal and dream that I had set years ago. When I was a little girl and watched my first Oscar award show, I had dreamt of being an actress. Yet years would pass, and a mountain of dust would accumulate, before I would actually take action.

So this year I decided to go for it. As a life coach, I have the mentality of “living it to give it”. I heard from a friend that I could sign up for a local acting workshop with an experienced actress. The workshop met once a week and ran for four fun weeks. You didn’t need experience, which worked particularly well for me since I had absolutely no experience at all. The only experience I had was the occasional daydream of starring in a role opposite an admired actor I cherished….or one I just thought was really hot….*

I eagerly signed up, got butterflies in my tummy and waited for the first class to start. To make a great story short….I LOVED IT. During one of the classes, our teacher said “all of you actors will experience….”. OK…at that moment I was actually called an actor. I looked around to see who she was referring too and realized that she meant all of us, including me. I also realized then that I didn’t need to have a starring role in an Oscar nominated movie, or be a regular in some sitcom, to be considered an actor. What a cool realization!!

I also experienced a sense of accomplishment. Some of the other students had not completed the class, but a handful of us had….*

I would like to ask each of you to think of an old dream or goal you had years ago as a child, that you didn’t act on. Then take a simple step, or two, and accomplish that goal. You can do it…finish it and enjoy that sense of accomplishment that results.

* Please note, these are highlights from an entire article in Higher-Self Living Paychecks. For more information, please visit our website at www.higherselflifecoaching.com.

"Spring" into Spring with a Vision Board*

Finally it is that wonderful time of year that, for many of us, several things begin to blossom and grow. Eager buds start to form on robust tree branches, flowers begin to flourish, geese begin to head back north, and countless winter blue moods start to dissolve with warm smiles. Many people are finally able to step outside and take in a breath of fresh air without risking hypothermia. Ah yes….Spring is in the air.

This is also an excellent time of year to create an exciting Vision Board, inviting in your ultimate dreams and desires. However, BEWARE! When you do create a vision board, please realize that whatever you place on your board will in fact come true for you….*

Vision Boards have been around for years, and the concept was popularized when a book called, The Secret, was published. Vision Boards are very simple, yet extremely powerful. Now, normally I usually explain to all of you my experiences with certain challenges and then I share how I was able to deal with them. However, in this case, I have not yet done a vision board, so I will be creating one at the very same time as all of you…..in the next couple of weeks.…*

The most popular and easy way to create a vision board is to do the following steps:
1) Get a poster board (or a piece of construction paper to go on your fridge).
2) Get a few magazines (walk through a bookstore or pharmacy and see which magazines you are drawn to most-see if you are drawn to different types).
3) Get glue (or tape if you prefer).
4) Sit for a moment and clear your mind so that your dreams and desires can surface.
5) Go through the magazines and cut out pictures and phrases that just feel wonderful and right to you. It can be something you love or wish for.
6) Glue each picture/phrase onto your board and put it up in a place you will see often.
Please feel free to also list or write anything you want on your board. That’s it.

So, let’s do this together! Please take the next couple of weeks and create your vision board, as will I. Then, get this, I plan to write an updated article in the next couple of months to share how my life has been going in relation to my vision board. I would also LOVE for any of you to share any experiences or stories you have happen as a result of your vision board. Just shoot me an email as I would love to hear from you.

* Please note, these are highlights from an entire article in Higher-Self Living Paychecks. For more information, please visit our website at www.higherselflifecoaching.com.

Dance Your Way to a Happier Mood*

That is right folks, you can now dance your way to a happier mood. Shocker? Maybe for some of you, but others may not be as surprised. I will admit that up until a couple months ago, I had not danced in years, except for the occasional wedding reception, when a relative or friend of mine walked down the aisle and changed their name. And every time I was dancing, I always wondered why I had waited so long to do so.

When is the last time you took time to dance? And I don’t mean taking a dance class or even dancing at a wedding. While those occasions are fantastic opportunities, they also happen probably much less frequent then a solar eclipse. I am talking about just dancing alone at home. When is the last time you just put on a song and just let your body go? The last time you felt the music and just wiggled and jiggled, or waltzed across the room with that imaginary attractive partner? ….*

If you have not done this in days, months, or even years, please take the time in the next few days to do so. Find a song you love and just feel the music and let your body go. Even if you don’t hear or sense the rhythm of the song, you can still just let your body guide you by trusting it completely. Dancing is a form of exercise and the super duper thing about that is the release of endorphins. Endorphins are released in the brain and cause a reduction in pain and an increase in euphoria. And who couldn’t use some endorphins at this time of year, when many are dealing with winter blues….*

Now, if you are in need of a song, or would like to learn some dance steps, then I encourage you to venture to You Tube. There you can find a plethora of songs and dance moves that will help you to get into the groove and improve your mood. And heck, for those of you who would like to shed a pound, or two, or thirty, you may do just that in the process.

So I challenge each of you to find a couple minutes tomorrow and get up and dance to a favorite tune. Your body will be grateful that you allowed it to express itself, and in return will release those handy dandy endorphins that will brighten your day.

* Please note, these are highlights from an entire article in Higher-Self Living Paychecks. For more information, please visit our website at www.higherselflifecoaching.com.

Hollywood's Biggest Night...the Oscars...and Many Viewers Confronted With Unfulfilled Dreams

Hello everyone,

Well, tonight is Hollywood's biggest night....the Oscars. Several celebrities will spend their day primping, preparing, and of course dressing for a night of glitz, glamour, and celebration. Some people will wake up wondering...will Kate Winslet win the gold or two golds....and will Angelina Jolie wear Oscar de la Renta or Versace?

This night will also bring millions of viewers worldwide to witness Hollywood's mirage moment of 2008 film accomplishments. Many of these viewers will watch with eager anticipation to see if their favorite actors and films will take the gold. Others viewers will watch with a deep sense of yearning, or even disappointment, as the award shows act as a reminder that they have not yet fulfilled a deep seated dream or desire they hold within their soul.

Once again, I can relate....can you? While you watch the Oscars, do you find yourself wishing it were you on the red carpet being interviewed by Entertainment Tonight's Rep regarding your academy nomination? Do you daydream that you are nominated for your work in front of the camera (e.g. actor), or perhaps behind the camera (e.g. directing, screenplay, art direction)?

Regardless of what kind of viewer you are, I want to point out a priceless fact that will help you to keep this night in a realistic, and more enjoyable perspective. I also want to challenge those of you who feel a sense of yearning, to entertain (no pun intended) a simple course of action that just may put you smack dab in the middle of the red carpet some day.

The priceless fact that I love to recall during moments of heightened popularity, is a simple scientific one; WE ARE 99.90% THE SAME. Yep, that is right folks. Scientists will confirm that as human beings, we are actually 99.90% the same. It is the .01% that distinguishes us from one another. Oh, how our eyes deceive us of this simple yet profound fact. So, when you are watching Brad Pitt or Penelope Cruz walk down the red carpet, just take a quick moment (or a long one) and smile knowing that in reality, you share 99.9% the same make-up as they do. Even if your eyes tell you that you are from two different worlds.

The challenge that I want to present to many of you who feel a sense of yearning, is a simple one. Take a turtle step or two, tonight if possible while watching the Oscars, and list those awards that sound interesting to you. Whether that be best actor, director, or editing. Then take just a little time, in the next week or two, and research each of those career paths. If you are feeling really inspired, sign up for a nearby acting workshop or an Intro to Film course. Just taking simple steps can start to pave a road for you that just might lead you to a red carpet. For others it may confirm that a future in the entertainment industry is not their true path after all, which will then quite the yearning voice that haunts you every time you are faced with an award show that leaves you feeling a sense of "what if".

So, for those of you who will be tuning in to the Oscars tonight....enjoy the show from these new perspectives, and who knows....you just might be the one on the big screen some day being watched by millions of viewers, accepting a golden award, and forgetting to thank those you meant too.

Cyber hugs,

Shannon

Valentine’s Day and Being Your Own Greatest Valentine. *

Well, low and behold this weekend included a special day in which love is widely recognized and celebrated, with a plethora of poetic greeting cards, beautiful red and pink flowers, and heart-shaped boxes filled with delectable chocolates. Some people call this a “Hallmark Holiday”, however there is quite a history to this day we call Valentine’s Day.

For example, there were several Saints named Valentine, who were martyrs to many but none of which associated the day with love or romance. It is documented that during the middle ages, it became associated with romance during a time of courtly love and the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, among others.

Another example is the well known Greek mythological god, Cupid. The legend of Cupid is rather fascinating with a version that deems cupid as the son of Venus (the goddess of love) and Mars (the god of war). In any case, clearly Valentine’s Day for many is much more then a mere Hallmark Holiday. It is a day filled with rich past history.

Traditionally, in the west anyway, Valentine’s Day is celebrated and shared by couples and lovers in the forms of romantic dinners and gift exchanges. Many restaurants will be packing in tables mostly in even increments (i.e. couples), with a majority of the requests for “two”. While this can be an enjoyable and satisfying custom, I love to point out that you are your own best Valentine!

When we look forward too, or even expect, someone else to shower us with Valentine greetings, gifts, and plans, we are also setting ourselves up for disappointment, and dare I say a little heartache….*

I would like recommend that every Valentine’s Day, you give yourself a special Valentine gift. Whether that be in the form of sending yourself a Valentine greeting card or buying a yummy box of chocolates wedged in a heart-shaped box. That way, you will most certainly enjoy this special day filled with love. Regardless if you are in a relationship or not, regardless of whether someone else celebrates it with you….*

Self-love is one of the most beautiful gifts we can give to ourselves, and one in which can be expressed and celebrated on Valentine’s Day.

* Please note, these are highlights from an entire article in Higher-Self Living Paychecks. For more information, please visit our website at www.higherselflifecoaching.com.

The Super Bowl, Friends, and the Power of Eye Contact

This weekend was Super Bowl XLIII. Now, if you’re like me, you either missed school the day they taught Roman numerals or just can’t recall what the heck XLIII represents. So let me translate (and thank you Google)…..this weekend was Super Bowl 43.

Many people gather during the Super Bowl to visit and watch one of the most important night’s in football. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a friend’s home to visit, as well as root for my favorite underdog team.

Some of my friends I had not seen in years, and it was great to reconnect and catch up. I realized that during most of the game, many of us were not even paying much attention to the game and in fact were enjoying talking and sharing old time stories that still gave us a good laugh as if they happened yesterday.

One thing that I made a point to do was to make eye contact with nearly every friend, especially when they were talking to me. I looked into their eyes and really listened to what they were saying and sharing with me. As a result, I felt a special quality about our conversations and felt more of a connection then in the past. I also realized how similar we all really are in so many ways. We share similar ups and downs, and joys and challenges. Time had flown by and I was surprised when the clocks had reached an hour in which we had to logically leave. This was a pleasurable night that I would not forget….*

This gathering reminded me of how important something simple as having eye contact with another person you are conversing with really is. The quality of the conversation is heightened and a special connection is made. Common ground is found and a kinship is realized.…*

So the next time you are with family or friends, try to be aware of your eye contact when you are engaged with them. A simple conversation may just turn into a memorable connection.

* Please note, these are highlights from an entire article in Higher-Self Living Paychecks. For more information, please visit our website at www.higherselflifecoaching.com.