Archive for July, 2010
What can your least favorite room in your home tell you about your life?
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Posted in Design Recovery, Rarified Inspiration | 3 Comments »
Coaching Tools- Powerful Questions….Not wanting to brush your teeth?
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
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.
Tags: adoption, children, coaching, inquiry, life coach, self-discovery
Posted in Musings, Musings: Authentic Style | 2 Comments »
Design Hi Low
Monday, July 19th, 2010
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…)
Tags: accessories, art, authenticity, home, insipiration, interior design
Posted in Musings: Authentic Style | 2 Comments »
Belief is POWERFUL: Weed killing and the Soweto Gospel Choir ~Sarah
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
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…)
Tags: belief, coaching, soweto choir
Posted in Musings, Musings: Authentic Style | 2 Comments »
Bucket List…part one
Monday, July 12th, 2010
“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…)
Tags: authenticity, insipiration, joy, life, self care, self-discovery
Posted in Musings, Musings: Adventures and Soirees | 4 Comments »
Guest in my own home….
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
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…)
Tags: authenticity, creativity, design, interior design, life, self care, self-discovery
Posted in Musings, Musings: Design Recovery | No Comments »
