Making August All About Me

It's recently come to my attention that I've fallen back into the habit of putting everyone else's needs ahead of mine and have begun to pay a price for that oversight. Sometimes patterns keep occurring in our lives until we finally get the lesson from them.

As someone who preaches to my clients constantly about the importance of self care and looking after
oneself, recent events have come to light that I have not in fact been practicing that which I preach. So instead of beating myself up about it, I've decided that for the month of August, I am going to commit to getting myself back on track.

Back on track with exercise, eating better, taking time to meditate, taking time to write, taking time to really connect with my kids,  laughing, having fun, being spontaneous, taking a bath, walking on the beach, cooking and trying new recipes - all of the little things that cost next to nothing yet are so vital to my existence and quality of life.

In order to make sure I have time for these things, I am going to be taking a break from social media. I will pop in every now and then, but it won't sit open all day on my computer. I am going to invest this previously unproductive time into writing blog posts, as that's something I really love to do, yet always run out of time.

I am also going to wake up 20 - 30 minutes earlier in the morning to take some time to meditate and be grateful for all that I have and all I have been blessed with in this life.

Each day I will aim to do at least 1 thing just for me. It may only be for a few minutes, but at least I will have invested in my own wellbeing, fuelled up the tank and have the ability to get through the day.

There are also some things that I am going to let go of and stop doing.
* Stop striving and just be in the moment
* Stop worrying (it probably will never happen anyway)
* Stop trying to make everyone else happy at the expense of my own wellbeing

So here it is, my declaration of "doing". You can hold me to account and I will check in throughout the month to let you know how I'm going.

I'd love it if you'd like to join me  on this little venture. Comment below if you're in on this with me or feel free to email me at shanelle@connectioncoaching.com.au if you'd like to chat more about this.

Why You Need to Keep Going When You Feel Like Throwing in the Towel

How many times do you get back up after you've been pummeled and fallen to the ground yet again? How many times do you come back swinging after you've had your back to the wall?

How many times do you whisper to yourself "Just one more time. What if it works this time?

As many as it takes for you to get where you are going!

When your dream and your vision are strong enough, they are worth fighting for. They are worth getting back up and getting back in the ring. Although success is plastered in our faces everywhere as being so simple and easy to obtain, I'll give you the mail that it's not.

Good old fashioned success comes from a hell of a lot of blood sweat and tears, setbacks, challenges and more failed attempts than one can imagine.

When times are tough and you're feeling down on your luck, remember why you started, remember the fire in your belly, the passion that burns for your dreams and your desires. Remember what it is you're working towards and what it will mean for you to finally arrive at your destination.

Success doesn't always show up on your doorstep in the form of a singing telegram, quite often it's quiet, simple victories - an email, a comment, helping someone else achieve their dreams. It arrives unexpectedly and often not from the source you'd expected it to be from. Success whispers in the small tasks you achieve each day with daily, deliberate action.

So if you're feeling down on your luck today and ready to throw the towel in, I encourage  you to take a deep breath, remember why you started. Remember that tomorrow is a brand new day and a wonderful opportunity to begin again. Rest now if you need to. Wake up tomorrow with fresh eyes for a fresh start.

Getting Rid of the Box!

Those who know me well would know that for sometime I've had a real issue with how we are constantly being marketed to, pressured into buying things that we don't really need, and how ridiculously some programs and packages are priced. I also have an issue with the way these so-called professionals portray themselves on social media only to find out they're not like that at all in real life.

I am someone who loves what I do. I get a real kick out of helping people learn more about themselves and find that there is another way for them. To see them growing and achieving what they want in life - what kind of price do you put on that? I've come to the conclusion that I can't.

Yes I am going against everything any marketing guru has ever told me, yes this may be about my own deep-seated issues with money. I know my worth, I know how valuable my skills are and I know what I should be charging. Yet I can't sit back any longer and watch the very people who need help be denied it because there's not enough money left at the end of the week to afford such luxuries.

There are so many Mums out there who constantly put the needs of their children and family first, who have very little disposable income leftover to participate in the much-needed self care we are meant to be doing for ourselves.

A couple of months back I was sitting at my desk attempting to get some work done while my little boy pulled at my legs from underneath the desk to get my attention. I had a fleeting thought of "wouldn't it be nice to have someone take care of him for a couple of hours here and there".

As the universe would have it, a few days later there was a message in my inbox asking me if I would consider service swapping some coaching in exchange for some childcare. Of course my response was "hell yes!"

It's been a wonderful agreement. We each get something out of this partnership - and it has absolutely nothing to do with money. I believe that my friend is onto a wonderful idea and this is a concept that has the potential to change the way we do things. So I am doing things a little differently from here on in.

If you want to engage me as a coach and can afford to pay cash - cool. There's no need for you to read any further.

If you are someone who has thought of engaging me as a coach but thought that you can't afford to, then I encourage you to think about what you can bring to the table in exchange. What skills/services/qualities/attributes do you have that are "swappable"?

Personally, I'd love to engage the services of a cleaner, hairdresser, massage therapist, beautician, gardener, pool maintenance person, web designer, VA .... the list goes on and I am open to suggestions.

It's time to rid ourselves of the shackles created by our financial situations. Time to do things a little differently. As Mums, we have the power to make these changes. How good does it feel when you do something for someone else?

I'd love to hear from you if you would like to work together. Email me at shanelle@connectioncoaching.com.au or check out my Facebook page

NB. Since I wrote this article, my good friend has created a Facebook Group for those in our local area. Head on over to check it out and join us!

Inspiration Waits for No Woman

That moment when your creative muse comes to visit, is the moment you must embrace its presence. You will never have this moment of opportunity again and you may not recall your creative idea unless you let it flow when it's there to flow.

When your muse visits, it's time to stop what you're doing and let it unleash. Let it flow. Let it pulsate and make it's way from your brain to paper.

Engage it. Embrace it. Let the words spew and unfold as only they know how. This time may not come again.

It beckons for you to stop what you are doing at that precise moment and to focus on it. To welcome it with open arms. To allow the circle of creativity to spin as an idea germinates, sprouts and blossoms from within. There are no boundaries here. Let it out and watch as it unfolds.

Allow yourself to be lost in the moment as your muse visits. For the visit may be brief and momentary. Uncertainty surrounds when it will visit again. It doesn't make appointments, rather it shows up unannounced. Let it come in and show you its wares. Let it show you things and ideas you hadn't even thought of before. Let it open new pathways, doorways and highways you've not dared to explore. Allow the flow to flow.