Life Coach and Life Coaching Articles

Sleep allows your brain to have a much-needed break from all the stresses of your day. When you sleep, your mind is rejuvenated so it could process information. But the biggest question is how much sleep you actually need. While everyone's needs vary, research shows that adults who get to sleep for 8 hours a day tend to be healthier, and have lower mortality rates compared to those who sleep more or less than 8 hours.

Life is change. Our lives ceaselessly change every second we live within it. When a species that walks this planet encounters a significant change species-wide, we call that change evolution. As human beings, we have gone through several such evolutions. Some of those changes were physical as we look at our progression from the men and women of “cave man” times. Other changes were mental, as we formed complex social structures, began to rely on agriculture and farming, our progression to the Industrial Age, and our solid hold on the Information Age.

ASKING FOR HELP We roll into a new week, and I look forward to it! Interesting things happened last week, one in particular that reminded me that I have no control over people in my life, particularly my adult children. While I can’t control them, I am amazed, with all the work I have done on myself, how much their actions can still hurt! But with the help of a power greater than me and a little time we do move on. The space in my head has value, and there’s no point in letting things that don’t pay rent to occupy that space.r

I was recently asked how I define greatness and for me it has always been a feeling or a sense of empowerment and peace. But to put it into words, to me greatness is being who you need to be for you, getting clear on what you want and being willing to take action in order to bring the things you ...

Many of us have a dream of working abroad, but in most cases, this turns into reality when they are in their 30s or 40s already. The idea of working abroad in your early 20s may not sound interesting for you now, but it should be. There are many things you can get from this experience that can benefit both your personal and professional growth. Working abroad can help build your character.

THE WINNING GENERATION MEANS SMART CAREER CHANGERS If you were born between 1946 and 1964 or are of the generation after World War II, you belong to the Baby Boomers generation, so they say. You have passed over the Consciousness Revolution of 1964-84 and the MTV Generation of 1975-85 and the Culture Wars of 1984-2005, as well as endured the Internet Generation of the last few decades. Now we are in the Google generation, whether we like it or not. You are now the parent or grandparent and teacher or mentor of Generation Y.

Overeating and difficulties maintaining healthy routines are common pitfalls for high achieving busy women with a lot going on.Stress, the multiple activities we juggle, the standards we set for ourselves, even our hardworking independent attitudes can sometimes get in our way. Do strong emotions or stress impact your eating? Do you reach for a snack when you are stressed or bored, tired, or anxious? Do you nibble mindlessly at your desk? If so, it’s a signal that emotional eating is a part of your weight battle.

Here are 7 questions to help you and your partner determine if you are ready for a lifetime commitment together. Some of these questions are about you as an individual. Others are about you as a couple. All of them can give you a clue towards your readiness for a decision that will absolutely ...

n“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Franklin D. Roosevelt First Inaugural Address March 4, 1933 What are ...

"The time will come/ when, with elation,/ you will greet yourself arriving/ at your own front door, in your own mirror,/ and each will smile at the other's welcome , and say, sit here. Eat./ You will love again the stranger who was your self./ Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart/ to itself, to the stranger who has loved you/ all your life, whom you ignored/ for another, who knows you by heart. /Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,/ the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror. Sit.

So many times my clients say to me, “Well, Matthew, you know, this is just a means to an end. I’m doing this business. I’m doing this project because where it’s going to get me is where I want to go.” You know what I say to that? Means to an end equals suffering. It means suffering today. And you don’t have to do that. You don’t have to get involved in a project or do an activity today because hopefully, someday, it will turn out better so that you can be happy.

Life coaching: When “Friend” meets “Teacher” Human life has been made ridiculously complicated, yet more exciting. We are in an age when we don’t have time to think about anyone- including ourselves. Let’s be honest. Most of us have made ambitious plans and dreamed of greater success in all spheres of life, but we struggle to sort out our priorities, goals and commitments. We often feel so lost and helpless, and wonder how nice it would be if someone could help us

No one is perfect. We’re all human. Each one of us has had a negative thought at some time or other in our lives. Negative thinking can be damaging to our self-esteem, and can begin a cycle of thought and behavior which leads us to set ourselves up for failure. For example: Perhaps you’ve been ...

Every woman who wants to leave an abusive relationship should be able to without fear. Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy for most of them. Abusers have tormented their victims with threats of harm if they try to leave. You think about escaping, but you don’t follow through.

When things first happen, they don't always appear how they should be. They may seem daunting or scary. They may not be what you want or how you planned. Life may not be working the way you envisioned it would. I had a plan for my life. I have always been career driven. Even before I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to be someone... to do something spectacular. Who and what that was, I didn't know. I just knew I wanted it... almost desperately.

I have finally come to understand the true meaning of the phrase,“ Relationships come in over calm seas.” Life is very much about relationships. Furthermore, learning the language of relationship travel is very important if we are to enjoy and successfully leave our gift on the kitchen table of ...

We all get stuck in patterns, many of us are reliving something over and over that has been with us since childhood. Some patterns can feel as if we are in some kind of nightmarish prison and unable to leave. We'll watch ourselves getting up at 3AM and eating leftover cake or cookies night after night (wait - that's not JUST me, right?), ending up in the same relationships over and over - hoping each time will be different, ending up in the same kinds of jobs or money situations over and over, and not having a clue on how to break the pattern and step into a new (and better) one.

"Time heals all wounds." This aphoristic bit of common sense contains very little usable information about the relationship between time, healing, and woundedness – about how time heals. However, we all probably can recall situations where this apparent dynamic seemed to hold true. An old enemy now is a great friend; an old injustice we swear we'll never forget becomes a source of humor and wisdom. But was it just the passage of time that caused these changes to occur?

Have you ever sat down to watch TV with a bowl of popco on your lap, then suddenly realized twenty minutes later the bowl was empty? Have you ever driven somewhere and arrived safely, only to realize you didn’t really remember the trip? These kinds of experiences happen to everyone. Today, many of us refer to this mindless activity as “being on autopilot”. Many daily habits can be completed without our full attention. It seems our minds are constantly running ahead to the next activity to be completed, the next phone call, or meeting, or place we need to be.

THE POWER OF HERBSn n by Debbie Dodge, Ph.D., LPC, CHLCn n Since the beginning of time herbs have been used for medicinal, nutritional, and dietary supplementation. Many medications used in the pharmaceutical industry are derivatives of a secluded part of a plant. However, using a secluded part ...

Your life satisfaction can affect every aspect of your life – how you approach things, how you interact with others, how much you enjoy anything you do and so much more. When you are not satisfied with your life, research has shown that you are more susceptible to depression, an often debilitating disease whose tentacles can have far-reaching and detrimental effects on your well-being. The lower your life satisfaction, the higher risk you have of depression. Likewise, if you suffer from depression, you are more likely to feel dissatisfaction with your life.

For those planning to start their own business, getting into a joint business venture is an attractive option. In a joint venture, there are two or more companies or even individuals who join together in at least a temporary partnership. What these businessmen do is put their resources together to accomplish a common goal, which is to earn profit. Joint ventures are actually very common because of the benefits they come with. But there are some drawbacks to this type of business setup as well.

Success is not found somewhere out there-success resides inside, for each of us. You already have what it takes to succeed in life. You were born with all you need. Your birth certificate doesn't come with any guarantees of success, but when you were born you came fully equipped with talents, abilities, desires, and choices. As you grow and progress through every stage of life, you discover that there are things you really want-things you now have your heart set on. As you identify those things and make wise choices, your success is assured.

We live in a society which puts great emphasis on success and failure and the related concept of willpower. Often people tend to think they should be able to make changes easily - that it is only a question of willpower. The problem with this is that if you don't succeed as quickly as you'd like (and most don't) then you can feel that you are a failure.

DO YOU THINK THINGS OUT? So, you want to transform your life from where it is today to something much different, something you know inside that life should be for you. If that be the case, do you truly think things out? I am not a follower of any religion but have read many “great” books including the Bible. There is an interesting passage in Romans 12:2 where St. Paul says “They are transformed by the renewing of their minds”. It is the concept of renewal and transformation that really interests me. Want a better life then there are some things that must happen.r

Much has been said already about how we could keep the balance between our personal life and work life. However, not all of the advice you get can actually match with your personality and lifestyle. While it is true that focusing too much on work and having very little time for your personal life is not good for your well being and even for your performance at work, not everyone is willing to change a routine they’ve long been used to. What’s worse, forcing yourself to work less and play more can leave you more uncertain and stressed out in the long run.

“The reality is…” Years ago, when I was first engaged in my training to be a professional life coach, I learned in a pretty dramatic way how the use of this simple and fairly pervasive statement was a sure-fire way to keep me from creating life as I actually want it. The phrase itself is brilliantly seductive; I mean, who wants to argue with reality? Well, in the interest of serving what I believe to be my purpose, I’m going to give it a valiant effort. How often do you find yourself using the phrase, “The reality is…”? And what’s it generally in reference to?

At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, the leader of The Energy Project, Tony Schwartz asked some of the world's leading Nobel Laureates during dinner what are the biggest challenges humanity is facing. Each of the Laureates called out challenges that we’ve been familiar with for the past few decades – the ever worsening problem of pollution, the increasing numbers of the unemployed, the ever widening gap and inequality between classes, and of course the constant increase of overpopulation.

Negative thoughts “We live who we believe we are” Tony Robbins I have recently enrolled in the part-time Psychotherapy program at Transformational Arts College here in Toronto (Thanks for the recommendatio GY!). Part of the reaso I enrolled was the realization that throughout my career I have encountered many people from diverse backgrounds who needed more help tha I was able to provide as a trainer, employment consultant or as a frontline worker. Helping people to lose we

The bottom-line is not necessarily limited to finances or even business.nn◘ Why are you doing what you're doing?n◘ Is your work and life as effective as you would like it to be? Why are you here? No, I don't mean, "why are you here on the planet?" That is a valid question, ...

This past weekend, I was sitting in the bleachers at our local park watching my children play little league baseball when I heard the weekly mantra from their coach as each child took their position at bat: “Wait for the one that’s right for you!” “Don’t swing at every pitch!” “Good Eye!” This got me thinking about how smart women choose opportunities that are “right” for the mission and growth of their business. As your business begins to grow and you develop a following in your industry, opportunities will come your way.

Did you know that your values are an integral part of who you are? If you didn’t have the values that you have, your entire attitude toward life would be different. However, your most important values, maybe your top two or three, should be absolutely non-negotiable. I call these your core values. At all times, but especially when the floor is rocking in your life, your core values will be your anchor in the storm. When you are crystal clear on what your core values are, yo

There are a lot of unknowns right now in society and it is difficult not to feel the fear and uncertainty. No matter what your situation is, you are likely to feel a sense of camaraderie with others. The universe will sometimes provide circumstances to push you to take a step back from your life ...

Did you know that there is a Hidden Gift in Trauma? I have discovered this as I recover from the after-effects of trauma which resulted in a type of PTSD called Compassion Fatigue or what I like to call bu out. This happens when one tries to fix their pain and/or anxiety on their own and the result is complete exhaust

I loved my community in Columbine - Littleton, Colorado. I moved there in 1985 to work, live and raise my children. I picked this place because it is beautiful, has nice homes and is a down to earth suburb with grounded family values.

Making a career change over 40 isn’t any easier than it was in your 20s or 30s. Whether your decision is based on your desire to finally pursue your dreams or a need to find a new career path due to an ever-shrinking market or faltering industry, making a career change in mid-life can leave even the most confident job seekers asking themselves, “How do I find a new career?”

Often in my life I have been guilty of taking the inventory of others! In my journey of recovery, I was asked to take an inventory of myself. That was different. I had found myself at 46 with no idea of who I was or how I became the sad person that I was. As I got into a program of recovery for ...

Everyone who has met a little child has seen it; the amazement of a little child. The child sees a bus, and gets all excited about it, it sees a dog, and can’t sit still in its pram. It sees things that we grown-ups are all too blind to notice; it expresses its enthusiasm with the whole body and is deeply disappointed when we cannot share its experience. We have long ago got used to dogs and buses and we weed out all the irrelevant details we pass by every day. We have forgotten how thrilled and amazed we once were about these things.

You did it! You impressed your future employer to the point where they called you in for a face-to-face job interview. This is your chance to go in there in person and shine. Now that you’ve been given this opportunity, it’s critical that you don’t waste it. Here are the top ten mistakes made in job interviews and how to avoid them. 1. Dressing Dreadfully: According to a Careerbuilder.com survey, the single most common mistake made by candidates in job interviews is inappropriate dress.

Nature has its many mysteries. When we look deeply there is always a gift. Not only does nature nurture us, it reminds us of the cyclical nature of life. It also reminds us how unpredictable life can be. After a flurry of fresh snow, we have a sense of awe and transcendence as the sun melts the snow that is clinging to the trees. We feel a lightness of being as we look around and breathe in the fresh air. But it's not always that way. Many of us have been in the midst of a violent storm that we thought would never end.

2011-POSITIVE CHANGES? May you LIVE all the days of your life-Johnathan Swiftr Another new year. Another year entered into with the best of intentions. Ever look back and really measure the changes you planned to make in 2010 and where you sit today? For most, their resolutions are but a fading dream about 2 weeks into a new year. My grandmother drilled it into my head- the road to hell is paved with good intentions.r

The majority of life coaching approaches just scratch the surface of our human existence. They try to change the way we think, and hope that this will alone produce lasting results. Experience proves, however, that in common with the other forms of brain-washing and self-hypnosis so prevalent ...

Commonly people think that their life purpose means ‘something they are here to do.’ This is often a very nebulous and frustrating proposition for people because they don’t ‘know where to find their purpose’ or ‘how to know they’ve their life purpose.’ What happens if you have a life purpose that is bigger than you are and dimensional in nature? Definition of What a ‘Life Purpose’ Is

Do you know that more than 90% of the fully operational businesses in the US are under the category of ‘small businesses’? This is a surprising fact, but an encouraging one for those of you who are considering becoming an entrepreneur. This figure only shows that the majority of the successful businesses you may see around you may have started really small. However, no matter how many small businesses are operating out there, this doesn't mean that success is guaranteed for anyone who is about to launch an enterprise.

Many business professionals consider contracts as something scary and a detail that often they don't need to conce themselves with. I have heard many clients mention that they don't want to offend the other party. Many people state they don't want the other party to assume they mistrust them, ...

Emotional eating is eating that is a response to our feelings and needs-eating that is not related to a physical need for fuel but to a hunger that we feel when we are feeling something else. It might be eating because we are bored, stressed, worried, angry or feeling helpless. Some of us even get hungry when we're really happy. Emotional eating can be a major problem and a huge barrier to maximizing your success with weight loss. The "M&Ms question" is one of the most common questions I hear.

Excellence – the path of constant and never ending improvement. Excellence is about being outstanding and about enjoying superior results. Excellence is about traveling the extra mile, leaving no stone untu ed, and never settling for what you currently have. Regardless of how amazing your life ...

One source of immeasurable misery in relationships is thinking that the past will repeat itself. Sorry… People have changed, life is different, and nothing is the same today as it was yesterday. WARNING! Listen to The Drunk Monkey in your head. Mine says “Matthew Ferry, you are insane! There are many things the same today as yesterday you noodle head!” Look again. Everything is slowly changing, eroding, degrading, evolving, emerging and transforming. Especially people.

Let’s say you’re ready to leave an uninspiring job that is not in line with your values. Part of you knows how to gather valuable information, helping you to responsibly make this decision. From here, you check out the job market and work on your resume. You begin talking to trusted friends and determine your financial resources. From this place, you know how long you can survive with what’s in your cash reserves, making calculated choices based on your information.

And Who Heals Me? Over a year ago, I went on a journey to look at some real fuzzy philosophical questions.