Joy Junket

I love my coaching tools.  Many of them are based on simply asking powerful questions.  The other day I tried out a tool on my 5 year old son because I wanted to give him a little special attention (and his 7 year old sister had wanted to try out being “coached” earlier- so he wanted to try too!).

So I asked him to tell me about something that he felt like he HAD to do but did not really enjoy doing (this is a great tool to try on yourself……)  So he picked brushing his teeth.

ME:  So Charlie- what would be so bad- or what would happen if you did not brush your teeth?

CHARLIE:   Lots of germs would grow in my mouth and it would make me sick.

ME:  So you have been sick before- what would be so bad about that?

CHARLIE:  I would throw up all over the place.

ME:  Ok – so you have thrown up before- why would that be so bad?

CHARLIE:  Because I would have to wash all the sheets and bedding….and put it back on again….

ME:  Why would that be so bad?

CHARLIE:  Because I would get bored…..and really tired and then *****I would have to move to another family, a different family….

*****The ZINGER

What I did not say is that Charlie is adopted (as are 3 of our 4 kids) and so by doing this simple inquiry-  we got to a painful thought-  that Charlie wondered if he might someday have to go to another family (I wondered too- if this was tied to him not being able to do a certain task or him being too tired to do it)…..so we had a great conversation and I re-assured him about the fact that he was our son FOREVER- and nothing could change that.  We also talked about his birth family and the fact that they would always be the ones who had created him.  We talk often about adoption in our family and are open about it- but clearly Charlie still needed to be reassured. A simple series of questions (inquiry)  led to a “juicy” belief-  that Charlie worried if he was unable to perform or fail that his family membership would be at risk.   POWERFUL.

Such a simple process of inquiry that uncovers quickly

Thoughts we may not even have known existed…..that is what coaching is all about.  Then we can go about the process of looking at the painful thoughts and bringing the light of truth in.   The truth is what sets us all free.

In the world of design I have experienced many highs and lows… (but I think that’s another blog!)…. but no hi/low is as satisfying as mixing unexpected and inexpensive treasures into the interiors we do.  I live by the mantra “collected, layered, lived in and loved”.  … More

Belief is powerful.  I have seen it in my own life many times.   I just had a powerful example show up lately.   Last spring we’re landscaped our whole yard.   It started out as a water drainage problem- then pretty soon the project was big- all new gardens- and it looked wonderful.   Then in the spring, an odd weed began to appear- it wasn’t just a few—it was hundreds and they were everywhere.    I tried not to be but frankly, I was upset- why was this happening?  I kind of had a mini-freak out.  They landscape guy came out right away and sprayed the weeds.  I waited.  I waited.  The weeds sort of partially died back- and it took about 9 days- a very slow process.  Then they began to come back with a vengeance.  I really freaked out.  Then I said,  “WHOA…….Sarah-  you are really letting this whole idea of WEEDS ruin your day”-  the thoughts were bad …we will never be able to control them….the gardens will be wrecked etc….  SO I decided that I needed to better the situation somehow.    Bettering a task that you don’t enjoy is one technique I use with coaching clients- it was time to coach myself.   That night when I went out to spray the weeds (using the exact same weed killer that the landscaper had used) I put on my iPod and listened to the most uplifting music I could think of- … More

“She needed wide open spaces….. room to make a big mistake”

—Dixie Chicks

Last week I talked about my to do list for my home, this week, I am working on the to do list for my LIFE.  I started a “bucket list” a few weeks ago, listing some of the things I wanted to accomplish before how shall we say it????  Nature takes it’s course.. … More

The other day we had a little get together.  I always believe it’s good to host a party now and then in order to get all the annoying little jobs around the house (the ones I can avoid to the point I don’t even SEE them anymore!) completed and checked off the “to DO” list.  … More

Welcome to our very first Joy Junket Style Tour-  we plan to profile the fashion and Interior Design Sensibilities of fabulous humans seeking JOY!  We were so fortunate to stumble into Amy,  who generously shared her home with us-  and her thoughts.   We LOVE Amy’s obviously sensual and comfort based  approach to living in her space-  candles, using her couch as an “office”, enjoying the proximity to the sea.   After reading it all -  it makes us want to move right in!  Her ability to find items on Craigslist and combine them with gifted pieces and EDITING … More

A friend of mine told me a story about how she and her husband decided to buy a tandem bicycle so they could spend more time exercising together.  They were SO excited the first time they took off together on this joint, equal, cooperative adventure…. Until her husband realized that she, at the rear of the bike, had the only brake control.  As he fearlessly raced toward intersections, railroad crossings and crosswalks trying to beat cars, trains and pedestrians, she gently applied the pressure to her brake, forcing him to slow down and therefore keeping herself (and THEM) in her comfort zone.  After a few outings on their tandem adventure, they both decided to get their own bikes.  Now they can choose to ride side by side, by themselves, or with other biking friends, (and they are BOTH much happier)!  … More

We both have the intention daily to do some kind of morning ritual-  what do we mean by that?   Well-  it can look a lot of different ways-  so here on this video we share why we think its instrumental in rocking out our own days and a few resources we like!   “Dial it up”  is  fabulous Marth Beck trained  Life Coach Susan Hyatt’s  process.   Susan is writing her first book “Create your own Luck”  and can be found here

Download Susan Hyatt’s Dial It Up Process FREE here!

We named our website Joy Junket because we liked the definition, the idea, of “taking a short journey for pleasure”.. and we like to say that adventure can be around the world or around the corner.  … More

Well, this is Sarah,  its time for me to do a bit of Q and A about Life Coaching.   (No that is not me floating in the pool- but more on that later…)    Just to set the record straight and clarify what it is and what it is not.   I first hired a life coach when I was in my late 30’s and feeling like- “wow I thought I would do my one job and be a doctor for 40 years and then retire”-  and then one day , I realized I felt extremely trapped.  Now, I am a doctor … More

I was watching TV with my son the other day and as we were channel surfing he stopped on a soccer game and said “Ewew!  I cannot watch this game!”  Now, I have caught Daniel watching bowling, softball and if there were such a thing as underwater croquet, he’d be on that too.  So I asked him, “why can’t we watch this?”  He just looked at me and said, “because their jersey’s are yellow… and it … More

I love this sofa….  Did I mention I love this sofa?  Oh, and my dog loves it too (see picture below)…  Okay I know… you are questioning the wisdom of a designer who places an antique French (yep, it’s from France, I consider it EXTREME personal development progress that I did NOT try to buy it a seat on the plane the last time I was there) sofa in a house filled with antlers, fur … More

It’s Suzi here, talking about one of our favorite books,  Style Statement…living by your own design.  We’ve  quoted it often,  have given it to countless clients, sold it at our vintage store and each done the questions ourselves.  We’ve come up with style statements for clients…Modern Organic for one of our favorite couples, and Enduring Legacy for a law firm we are working on.  … More

I just finished reading the new Oprah magazine, the topic of which is “Say Yes To Life!”.. and of course as usual, Ops delivers and every article is worth purusing!  The point of all of it is to get yourself out of your comfort zone, get unstuck and make your dreams come true. 

Even as a creative person, I tend to get stuck on certain things and create my own design comfort zone!  A paint color that I know is always a home run, a specific side table that is a true workhorse, practical yet beautiful in every way… a favorite lighting company.  I like to call myself a One Trick Pony when I get in this mode… and as Sarah pointed out to me one day.. my knowledge … More

Are you being expressed fully in your own home?   What woud happen if you claimed a room-  or even a corner that was just for YOU?    Sarah created a space to delight herself in her closet….is there a place in your home that is just for your own delight?   Grab a few thing you love,  a cozy chair,  some photos, books- whatever feeds your soul and create it today!   A great book to explore the  connection betwee living spaces and your spirit and your life is Sarah Susanka’s ” The Not so Big Life” …..this book is amazingly rich and chock full of wisdom!

A xylophone is my new best friend.    A  limiting belief that once tortured me became a playful colorful musical instrument on that day.   Ok this is an obscure one-  I will get to the xylophone in a bit.   I am a Life Coach (and part time interior designer, part time MD-  I know it might seem odd but its perfect for me) – and to me there is absolutely nothing better than working with my coaching clients!  They are some of the most amazing, courageous, smart and … More

 Hey-  its Sarah here.  Many of you may already  know that I was coached for several years and then myself got trained and certified as a Life Coach.   Being coached MYSELF helped me to transform my own life and look at myself in a whole new light.   I began to feel a huge new world of possibility.    The transformation began to take place WITHIN me-  I began … More