Zen Matrix

Can “Comfort Television” Ease Your Stress?

BLMillett — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:34:30 +0000

With stres levels skyrocketing in response to a bevy of “take your pick” stressors, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and inflation, to name a few, many people are turning to television to tune out for a while.

Of course, binging shows will only help if you make the right entertainment choice. And to help you along, Thrillist recently published a list of the top “comfort television options,” to stream on Netflix.

The criteria?

“We’re after something [close] to the zeitgeisty Danish word, hygge, which describes an overall feeling of well-being, coziness, and comfort, all rolled into one,” Thrillist wrote. “The shows below may not share a genre, subject matter, or much of anything besides a place on Netflix’s streaming platform, but they all help create a sense of hygge; you can curl up on the couch under a warm blanket, steep some tea, and drop into any of the following comfort TV shows on Netflix.”

Not to get all “click-baity” on you, but the first show on the list is one of our personal favorites for a little small-screen escapism.

Check out the list here.

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10 Spiritual Hotspots to Rejuvenate Your Soul

BLMillett — Mon, 30 May 2022 20:24:54 +0000

While Vegas and Disneyland are certainly worthy escapes, pandemic-weary travelers are increasingly opting for a more spiritual brand of rejuvenation. If you are looking for more chill than thrill in your next excursion, consider these ten spiritual hotspots.

1. Es Vedra, Spain

Just off the southwest coast of Spain lies a limestone island named Es Vedra, the gorgeous offspring of a seismic shift in a near-by mountain some 155 million years ago.

Es Vedra is rich with mysticism and mythology. The island is said to be home to the sirens and sea nymphs who tried to summon Odysseus to jump ship in Homer’s Odyssey. And legend has it, two brothers, with the help of some enterprising little sea urchins, were able to mine a healing stone called rock samphire from Es Vedra to save their ailing father, evading a huge giant living in one of the island’s many caves.

While Es Vedra hosts no full-time human inhabitants, it does allow for access by boat from the nearby sister island of Ibiza. And for any spiritual seeker it is well worth the trip.

2. Lourdes, France

Tucked in the foothills of the French Pyrenees you will find the charming market town of Lourdes. Marked by château fort de Lourdes, a fortified castle once conquered by the legendary King Charlemagne, and now home to the Pyrenean Museum, Lourdes rose to international prominence in the mid-1880s, owing to the legend of a local peasant girl who claimed to witness the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary while fetching firewood.

Today, Lourdes remains a popular spiritual destination for people of many faiths. How popular? While the town is home to just 15,000 French citizens, it welcomes over 5,000,000 tourists from all over the world each year.

3. Snæfellsjökull Glacier, Iceland

Snæfellsjökull, or “snow-fell glacier,” for those who need to brush up on their Icelandic, is a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano in western Iceland, representing one of the country’s most famous tourist destinations.

Fans of author Jules Vernes will recognize Snæfellsjökull as the entrance to the center of the earth from his well-known novel. However, mystics and spiritual seekers will be interested to know the 1,466-meter-high glacier/volcano is also recognized as one of earth’s seven chakras (energy centers), standing on the same ley-line as Mt. Shasta and the Keops Pyramid in Egypt.

4. Auroville, India

On February 28, 1968, delegates from 124 nations came together near the southern tip of India to celebrate the founding of a new society called, Auroville, also known as “The City of Dawn.”

Inspired by the philosophies of yogi and poet, Sri Aurobindo, this “experimental township,” was designed to be a utopian community free of conflict and dedicated to the transformation of human consciousness. Towards that end, at the center of Auroville, sits a golden-domed spiritual center, the Matrimandir, a popular destination for people seeking peace and tranquility.

Today, over 2,800 call Auroville home. Visitors are welcome. Places to stay are “pay what you think it’s worth,” but there is no money in Auroville. The economy works via something called an Aurocard. Although, unofficially, some places do accept cash.

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

Located in the Amazon rain forest, Macchu Pichu, also known as “the lost city” was home to the ancient Inca civilization. Recognized as one of the “7 wonders of the world,” this archeological marvel is also a spiritualist’s dream.

Owing, in part, to its quartz-rich terrain, Machu Picchu is known as perhaps the most powerful energetic center for mental, physical and emotional healing in the world. It is said, simply by visiting, you can open all 7 chakras. But it gets even better. At the highest elevation within the Inca citadel, you will find the Saywa Stone, a pyramid-like structure with a small rock needle at the top. Legend says if you place your forehead on this stone, you will achieve enlightenment.

Not into headbutting ancient stones? Take a dip in the Machu Picchu hot springs for a more soothing renewal experience.

6. Haleakalā Volcano, Hawaii

On the Hawaiin Island of Maui you will find the largest dormant volcano in the world. Standing at over 10,000 feet high, Haleakalā, or “The House of the Sun,” is responsible for creating 75% of the land mass of Hawaii’s second largest island. As one might expect given the importance of the volcano to island life, mythologies are abundant.

According to legend, the goddess Hina lived in the crater at Haleakalā’s summit. One day, she complained to her son, the demigod Maui, that the days were too short for her dry her tapa cloth. Wanting to please his mother, the trickster Maui devised a plan. He lassoed the sun as it reached its apex in the sky and would only let it go if the sun promised to slow its path. The deal was done.

While in ancient times only kahuna, the island’s priests, and their students were allowed to summit Haleakalā. Today, visitors are welcome, so long as they demonstrate respect for the volcano’s delicate ecosystem. Those who do make the trek will receive a remarkable benefit. Haleakalā’s magnetic field resonates at the same frequency of the human heart, which yields a sense of peace and calm.

7. Manitou Lake, Canada

Known as Canada’s Dead Sea, Manitou Lake is one of 100,000 lakes in Saskatchewan, but possesses a quality unique in the Western Hemisphere. With salt levels three-times greater than the ocean, it is nearly impossible to drown.

But beyond the benefit of effortlessly floating on your back, there is another reason why people flock to a lake that quite honestly lacks visual appeal. Carved by glaciers, springs on the bottom of Lake Mantou’s bed constantly pump large volumes of minerals into the water. Among them: magnesium, potassium, silica, iron oxide, calcium and sulphate.

The net result is a body of water that has been credited with the miraculously healing a variety of skin conditions. First people’s who populated the area claimed the waters could heal smallpox. And over the years, many have traveled to the Lake to cure a variety of ailments from eczema to gangrene, or to simply take advantage of this “fountain of youth” for the skin.

8. Cape Reinga, New Zealand

Lying at the northern most point of New Zealand, Cape Reinga has been called the country’s most spiritual destination. And despite its modesty, marked only by an ancient pohutukawa tree and a 10-meter-high domed lighthouse, Cape Reinga remains a highly popular destination for spiritual enthusiasts.

For, according to Maori legend, this is the very point where the spirits of the deceased cross over to the world of their ancestors.

The lighthouse meanwhile, is one of New Zealand’s most iconic landmarks. It was the last “watched” lighthouse to be built in the country. And while it has been over 30 years since a lighthouse keeper last stood watch, the lighthouse still projects its warning signal 49 kilometers out to sea.

9. Byron Bay, Australia

About 1,000 miles northwest of Cape Reinga, New Zealand you will find the spiritual capital of Australia, Byron Bay, flush with natural beauty and rich in mythology. Aboriginal elders say Byron Bay, the place where the sun first kisses the Australian east coast, has been a place of spiritual renewal and healing for over 20,000 years.

And it has never been more popular. Unlike some of the other hotspots on the list, Byron Bay is an energy vortex well populated by an eclectic mix of spiritual seekers and bubbling with a wide variety of wellness activities. If you don’t mind the crowds, plan your trip around the Byron Bay spirit festival held each April.

With gorgeous beaches, tropical rainforests, and abundant wildlife on the land and in the sea, Byron Bay, or “The Shire,” as it is known, has become a destination for people craving a natural experience. But it is the spiritual magnetism that brings over 2,000,000 tourists to the Bay each year.

10. Marrakech, Morocco

Situated about 100 miles south of Morocco’s largest city, Casablanca, you will find the country’s spiritual jewel, Marrakech.

For those who love to be transported back in time, Marrakech has done a beautiful job maintaining its old-world charm, while offering high-end healing experiences. Whether it’s a soak in one of the city’s Romanesque Hammams (bathhouses), a massage, or a steam, there are plenty of options for physical renewal.

But if it is a spiritual experience you seek, consider a camel trek and overnight stay in a Berber tent underneath the skies of the Saharan desert. Bask in the stillness of the desert by day and marvel at the clearest night sky you have ever seen before drifting off to a dream-filled sleep.

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Transformational Focus During Uncertainty

Blakely Smith — Sat, 28 May 2022 23:00:00 +0000

It is natural to do our best to make sense out of everything happening in our world both at the micro and macro levels (even when it is business as usual) so we can make it to where we would like be through transformation. As we transition through ambiguous and somewhat uncertain times setting our sights on goals and outcomes can be useful…to an extent.

Focus On The Transformational Journey

In fluid times, it may be more useful to ourselves and others when we focus on the transformational journey and how we walk through it, rather than the attainment of an end state, especially when we are navigating the collective ocean during a time when possibilities are shifting. When we are looking to bring about an outcome, we are often searching for a desired feeling in addition to the actual thing we are outwardly seeking. Our desired outcomes motivate us, yet operating from an awareness of what we value and want to feel, is what takes us closer to what we want, especially in a storm. The inner experience is always available if we are willing to be curious about how to create it.

Knowing the core energy behind our thoughts allows us to show up in a way that matches our integrity and meets others where they are. Each moment describes who we are, and gives us the opportunity to decide if that’s who we want to be*

How can we transform our focus?

Control the sail, not the wind. *
In what ways can you align within yourself so that you better serve others?

As I watched the suit shop that I have walked by for the past decade two blocks from my home go up in flames several months ago during a time of rioting in the city, I searched for answers to the whys of the startling and tragic events that have gone on in the past months. While I cannot begin to know the pain of our fellow citizens who have lost loved ones, within myself I have been searching for meaning in it. After hours of not finding any, I became confused and distressed especially when I tried to consider what would happen next.

Then I got quiet and remembered that if I want peace….it starts with me. What’s my action here? Am I to be lethargic, cooperative, or wise? What do I want to feel?

The mind’s default is to find what’s next through problem solving and fact finding. This type of activity can actually create more anxiety. (click here to learn more). Anxiety makes absolute sense when any goal we create becomes a moving target amid a rapidly changing environment, so what do we do?

1. We identify the feelings that show up for us day to day. (Click here for more information).

2. We identify what we can and can not influence in our worlds.

For the things we can influence, identify the type of influence we would like to have.

Strategy Begins with Transformational Focus. So Make a plan.

Question our assumptions (about ourselves and others).

Meet others where they are.

Take care and take it easy.

Blakely Smith

Blakely is a Certified Professional Personal Growth Coach for Excellence at Zen Matrix

Transformational Journey

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Is Love the Key to Happiness?

Jenna Ponaman — Fri, 13 May 2022 00:10:00 +0000

Is love the key to happiness? Well isn’t that the question of the Century?! The fact of the matter is that there is no simple answer. However, what you’re about to read I hope will help you find your answer.

So here’s the lowdown on love and happiness—everyone has their own version of how they experience them. That goes with saying that the definition of love and happiness are fluid. For me, love is when I feel unconditional warmth and tenderness toward myself and/or another person, and in some cases, yes that brings me happiness. Happiness can show up in ways where love is never even a factor—it can be waking up to a sunny day (particularly where the weather is clear skies with a consistent 73 degrees), or it can be eating a large veggie pizza (add pepperoni and pineapple) from my favorite Italian spot absolutely guilt-free. Happiness can really mean anything you choose, whether it involves love or not.

Now if I were to ask one of my friends how they define love, they’d likely say, “Love is when a person loves me for who I am, provides me with endless amounts of intimacy and support, gives me gifts, listens to me, is my best cheerleader, etc.” I would probably get a huge laundry list over the next two hours about what their partner, or parent, or someone else needs to provide in order to know they are loved. Once they have that, then they will be happy.

There can be an infinite amount of ways in which we may define love, but the biggest distinction to make is whether we view love as something we can tap into within ourselves, or whether we have to obtain it from something or someone externally. No matter which definition resonates with us, we have the opportunity to find love and happiness. However, love found outside one’s self is often short lived, and therefore so is the happiness associated with it.

Why does this happen? Usually when someone is searching for anything outside of themself it usually means they don’t believe they are capable of obtaining it on their own. Ultimately, this may stem from thoughts such as, “ I am not good enough, I’m not pretty enough, I’m not lovable, etc.”

In romantic relationships, people experience this with the Honeymoon Phase. When a couple first enters a relationship everything feels so exciting—they get warm fuzzy feelings when they’re around one another, they think about each other non-stop, lust is at its all-time high, they maybe even fantasize about taking trips with each other, and envision their happily ever after without a single fight or flaw. This phase can last a week, a month, one year, or perhaps even two. Nevertheless, the excitement will die down, and then the true test begins of whether or not they are experiencing lasting love with their partner. If each partner recognizes that they are the sole creators of love for themselves, the relationship becomes a true partnership, in which love is merely being reflected from one person to another. Those who are unable to recognize their self-love are usually left feeling unfulfilled in the relationship, ultimately leading to its downfall.

So back to the question at hand—Is love the key to happiness? To truly answer this question, I have to rephrase it, because the more I think about it, the more I’ve realized our focus has been in the wrong place in our pursuit of overall life fulfillment: Will I embrace myself as I am, knowing I am the embodiment of love AND happiness? We have the full potential to create a thriving life full of love and happiness, no matter how we choose to view our world. The key to it all is to understand how we want to view that world, so that we may continue to move forward making the choices that best serve who we are and how we want to live our lives. For those who may need a little more clarity on just how to do that, consider the following questions:

What does love mean to me? (What does it look like? Feel like?”)
What does happiness mean to me? (What does it look like? Feel like?”)
How do I create my own love and happiness, completely detached from another person? Make a list of all the ways you love yourself, and another where you create your happiness.
Of all of the things I expect my partner to provide for me, if any, which can I just as easily provide for myself?
How do I gift my love and happiness to others so that they may thrive too?
How do I sacrifice my love and happiness so that others will approve of me?
How do I hold myself back from receiving love and happiness?
How might I be doing a disservice to myself, and to others, by not allowing myself to love and be happy in my own, authentic way?

Jenna Ponaman

Jenna is an expert Relationship coach at Zen Matrix

Relationship Coaching

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Self Compassion Tips in Tough Times

Patricia Sarnataro — Fri, 06 May 2022 15:52:00 +0000

Understanding Self–Compassion

As a coach and meditation teacher I talk about self compassion a lot. Why? Because it is at the root of much of our discomfort. We can be horribly mean to ourselves. Often, in ways we may not always be consciously aware of. Think about it for a moment. In any given day, can you even count the amount of times that some negative thought about yourself passed through your mind? Could be a judgement, an unrealistic expectation, some self limiting thinking? Think about how much energy that can drain from your daily life. If your mind is kept busy in a self negative state you probably won’t have the vitality and joy to fully embrace your daily life. I am right there with you!

How we are with the world is a mirror for how we are with ourselves. Judgements, expectations, rules, and regulations, etc, etc, etc…

So, the question is, are you practicing self compassion? Chances are , not always. Are you practicing self compassion consciously? Maybe , maybe not. But if you have landed on this page , chances are , that you are on a path of spiritual development. If that’s the case, what would be the first stop on this path? Self compassion.

Let’s talk about what it really means to be self compassionate . Seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it? Well, often people confuse it with self centeredness, or being selfish even narcissism. And… not to be confused with self esteem- which can come in to play if you feel that you don’t deserve to be self compassionate. For a further definition check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-compassion

Ok – So, How do we improve and practice daily conscious compassion for self?

Why We Need to Practice Self-Compassion

Well for one, it’s starts with awareness.

You will find that in almost every blog I write , I will mention awareness as the starting point. Why? Because it is always the first step in creating self transformation.

We first must become aware of how we are thinking , feeling, doing, before we can make any changes.

With my clients, I often talk about ‘flash card thoughts’ – They are the negative thoughts that come up so quickly, we may not even realize it and then BOOM! What happens? WE stop, we doubt, we get blocked , feel fatigue . Any of those sound familiar? Then what happens? We may feel fear, anxiety, maybe even hopelessness. The outcome: reduced energy, vitality and joy.

An Easy Self-Compassion Practice

How about keeping track of all the ways that you are hard on your self? A suggestion would be to spend a week really focusing on this. Perhaps keep a log, or small notebook, a counter… you decide what works best for you. You may be amazed how often a negative thought pops up. Write down the ones that seem to be the most repetitive.

Those little voices that tell you, ‘you are not good enough’, attractive enough, talented enough, smart enough, not creative…. etc, etc, etc…. Although those thoughts may sometimes feels very true or very real, they are not!

Once you have developed a deeper awareness of your thoughts, YOU have the power to change them.

Finding tools that can support you is really helpful. Ie: meditation, vis-ualizations, writing. To truly transform ourselves is not magic. It takes discipline and de-termination.

Think about what qualities you have or would want in a best friend. Maybe write them down. Some examples; kindness, generosity, warmth, love, loyalty, trust, sense of humor etc…. Whatever is important to you. NOW, ask yourself if you practice those qualities with yourself???

Imagine that ideal best friend is a mirror image of you, always there to support and love you unconditionally. How does that feel? Pretty good I bet…

Be your own best friend. Be kind to yourself. Love yourself and you will find that love extending outward to the world… We need that more than ever…

Patricia Sarnataro

Patricia Sarnataro is a certified coach at Zen Matrix and a member of the ICF who specializes in trans-formations, transitions, mindfulness and wellbeing. She also is a certified meditation teacher. MCC, MP-ELI

SELF COMPASSION PRACTICE

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How To Believe In Yourself

Brooke Giguere — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 03:02:00 +0000

Hanging up the phone with my Mom and I can feel my face is flushed and red as hell. I’m angry. Actually, scratch that. I’m pissed. I can hear her words echoing in my head and they are so fatalistic, worst case scenario shit I don’t buy into. Haven’t bought into it in years and been doing my own inner work to notice that pattern of thought sooner than later so I can shift it to a more optimistic view, believing in myself. I grew up fearing the worst would happen and was taught to prepare for the absolute worst possible thing that could happen so I wouldn’t be caught off guard. Seems like a pretty sound way to approach life and mitigate pain and suffering however I figured out after many trials and attempts that the worst case scenario rarely ever happened. Actually what did happen was either I felt worried and pain over nothing and the end result was actually good or I worried so much about bad shit happening that something wrong always occurred. I might have gotten into the school I wanted but worrying about it had manifested getting the acceptance letter late, not being able to buy my books in time for the first day of class and generally feeling like I was starting behind the eight ball.

I began to question, why worry about shit you have no control over? What purpose does it serve? What if my focusing on the bad possible outcomes was actually creating them?

These patterns of thought were modeled to me from family and specifically my Mom. Her intentions were definitely from a good place. Any parent wants to prevent their child from suffering and experiencing anything bad especially if the parent has already been there and had a bad experience, you want to shield your kid from the same. I get that. Makes total sense and it’s a truly lovely idea but in reality, it can create unnecessary pain and suffering. Why suffer now by worrying now AND suffer later when the bad thing occurs? I personally don’t feel that serves a productive purpose and is a misuse of our infinite power and energy.

Build Your Belief In Yourself

As a business coach and business owner, I continue to have my fair share of unknowns. That can be scary or empowering depending on your viewpoint and vibe. As I’ve grown in my skills as a coach, I came up against this mindset to go to the worst case scenario when faced with a problem and I could clearly see it was causing more harm than good for me. I began to shift my thoughts to what’s possible, thinking to myself “what could go right here?”… What’s the best possible outcome? Immediately I noticed I felt lighter with these questions. I felt better and I don’t know about you but when I feel good as I’m making decisions, those decisions usually end up being damn good ones and my outcomes are way better. Hence beyond anything else, believe in yourself

So back to this phone call with my Mom…we were disagreeing on some things as it relates to our views on abundance and money. I’m aware that I see things differently and I can hold space for others who view differently. I’m only ever asking my clients to see if their beliefs about something are serving them or hindering them. I can only know what’s best for me and me alone. During this conversation though, my Mom went to the worst case scenario as is her pattern. Now, I’m not blaming my Mom for her viewpoint, nor am I holding her responsible for how it made me feel (effin pissed off). I own my emotions and I own my choices. But let’s be honest, sometimes in life, even your biggest fans and loved ones won’t believe in you or your vision. That’s cool. It’s your vision anyway, it’s not theirs. But that day I was triggered because how I view money as a business owner has shifted dramatically since jumping into the world of entrepreneurship. That doesn’t mean it stops hurting when your loved ones or friends can’t see it and maybe even say things that are worst case scenarios. Not everyone has the stomach for entrepreneurship. Hell, I didn’t have it at first. But I do now and it feels incredible to know I’m in charge of how I see the world. I control how I react and respond to life. I have the power and ability to create the business I love and help others do the same. People in your life will love you the best ways they know how. Allow them grace and assume they mean well. But beyond everything, believe in yourself. You. Are. Worth. It.

Brooke Giguere

Brooke Giguere is a Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner and Infinite Possibilities Certified Trainer at Zen Matrix

Personal Development Coaching

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Shifting Your Emotions When Needed

Mindy Johnson — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 23:05:00 +0000

If you find yourself experiencing negative emotions when dealing with team members, as a leader, it is up to you to shift your emotions to improve the interaction. What you do in the moment makes a huge difference for what happens next.

Shift Your Emotions consciously

Step away from the situation and try the following:

Journal about what is bothering you. We’ve all done that little trick where we type out something we want to email and never send it. You can do the same with journaling. Getting the thoughts and feelings out of your head and down on paper can really improve your mood.

Smile/laugh. This seems simple, but another great mood booster. Watch a funny video or listen to a podcast, anything that will bring a smile to your face.

Speak with a colleague/teammate/coach. Find someone else, not in the situation, and just chat. It will take your mind off what is going on and help to center you. Talk about something positive or fun coming up, so you start to release the feelings of negativity.

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The Importance of Lessons Learned From Transformational Coaching

Christine Conte — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 20:42:00 +0000

Transformational coaching is a journey. It has its ups and downs and unexpected turns. Some coaching sessions are truly a break-through experience, and some just make you go “hmm”. It’s all part of the transformational journey. There is no prescribed procedure. Each journey is as unique as the person experiencing it.

Equally important to the journey are the lessons learned along the way. These lessons, if not observed, given their due consideration and learned from, are missed opportunities in the coaching process. Like a mystery novel, you won’t discover the lessons your journey reveals until they are upon you. These lessons like the journey itself are precious. They are the rare gems to be discovered through your personal self-development, your inner work, and sometimes through trials and tribulations. Your lessons will certainly be worth every bit of effort it takes to discover them.

It’s About Lessons Learned

Here’s a practical ‘lessons learned’ example. At 5 AM our little Yorkie starting whining and I knew what that meant. I rushed her to the front door, hooked her to the tie-out lead and opened the door. She bolted out and went, traveled five feet and went again, and then another ten feet and went again. We had recently made a sudden change in her diet as a knee-jerk reaction to a frightful diagnosis from her vet, and the result of our panicked decision was now all over the front lawn. Life really is about choices.

The particular lesson learned from this morning: change the diet slowly – ease into it. We already knew that, but in a panic we had disregarded it. How many lessons have you already learned, but for whatever reason you’ve discounted their importance? Like that new special someone that your gut tells you is not right for you, but you let yourself fall in love anyway. Or that parental gut feeling you had about your child that you ignored because of another person’s opinion. Some of these oversights can cause hurt and some can create a real mess.

Continuing the Transformational process

Change – like a change in diet, a relationship change, a career change, or the change you’ll experience in transformational coaching – is a process. ‘Process’ seems like such a daunting word, does it not? Effort. Time. Energy. Ugh! That’s how it can feel sometimes – overwhelming; and who needs more overwhelm? We want to push a button, take a pill, or “click here” and have the entire thing over and done with. What if you didn’t think about the effort, time, and energy, and instead just let it unfold? See what comes. Trust it. Allow it. Whatever “it” is.

The Key Elements of Transformational Coaching

Like the change that comes about from transformational coaching, one must ease into it, and pay attention to the experience. An important practice for any coaching client: learn from the experience. Some clients don’t self-observe between coaching sessions. They pay attention to self-awareness during the session, but the sessions themselves are only part of the experience. Oftentimes the answers to personal self-development and the corresponding transformation that occurs emerge in the spaces between. What are you are thinking and feeling between sessions? Let your coach know about those thoughts and emotions. There could be juicy nuggets of learning packed into them. Expecting overnight change, rushing into it with unrealistic expectations, or not following a professionally guided coaching process could create, well, a mess. Remember that each experience will be different from one individual to another – making your transformational journey all the more extraordinary

Christine Conte

Christine is a Spiritual and Life Transition Empowerment Coach at Zen Matrix.

Life Caoching

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10 Tips On Building An Intentional Mindful Living

Patricia Sarnataro — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000

Imagine, for a moment, that you are the person sitting on that dock. What might that feel like ? What are the smells around you? Is it warm or cool? Do you have your shoes on or are your feet submerged in that beautifully calm water. If so, how does that feel? What are the sounds of nature around you? How do you feel in this place? Perhaps more peaceful, calmer, or maybe in the midst of this peacefulness you have become more aware of your inner thoughts or inner chatter.

What is Mindful Living

You just practiced a moment of mindfulness… but how do you sustain it throughout your day, your life? That is the challenge, or what I would say, the opportunity. Let’s take one day in your life and talk about what it truly means to live mindfully. What is mindful living? It is simply practicing awareness of yourself [ body, mind, heart] and the world around you.

Take a moment to think about what this means to you? Perhaps write down some keywords. The next question is, how do we accomplish this? For everyone there will be a different path. I can share with you what I do, but as a transformational coach, my role is to give you the guidance to discover your own path. So, let’s talk about some options and suggestions

Mindful Living In Every Day Life

1] Having a consistent meditation practice certainly is a great way to set the stage . As a meditation teacher , I could go on about the immense benefits of a daily sitting practice . Right now let’s just stick to some practicalities. We are all beautifully unique. We all are coming from different situations which may or may not lend itself to sitting and meditating even 10 minutes a day . If that is the case then what might be some other ways to develop your mindful life.

2] When you wake up in the morning, how about setting a committed intention to live mindfully throughout your day . Another way to look at it is living with compassionate awareness .The point is, discover your own way of setting the intention first thing in the morning.

3] What can you do to set the stage with a mindful body? After all, if you are on a path of self development and spiritual growth, transformation is a 360 degree process of body, mind, and spirit. My choice is yoga but you may find running, kickboxing, swimming etc… The point is not what you do, but that you do, and make it an intentional doing.

4] while you are doing whatever you are doing try practicing a little sensory awareness ie; really listen to the sounds around you, the smells, the colors and how your body feels.

5] check in with your thoughts. How are your thoughts in any moment? Focused, calm, energetic? Or perhaps you are having a day that you’re thinking process feels more scattered, less clear, maybe there is a lot of internal chatter? Again, the point is, to just observe without judgement , just notice…

6] When engaging with other people, check in, are you really, really listening to them and being present or are your thoughts taking you elsewhere?? Have you ever been sitting in a meeting or class and start thinking about what you will have for lunch or dinner? Hmmm, sound familiar. Just observe….

7] That brings me to when you are eating. How can you practice eating mindfully? Check in and see how you are eating , and again try practicing a little sensory awareness around whatever food you are taking in.

8] one of my favorites is to practice a little loving kindness with strangers throughout the day by simply wishing someone happiness, health, love, peace etc…. Living in NYC, I find myself doing this often when I am on a subway or walking on a crowded street. It is amazing how just giving someone the gift of a positive wish can lift your own spirits. PS; no need to be verbal about it – just think it….

9] Practice just observing yourself , your environment and others without judgement. Hmmm, I find this is a big one for most people as most of the time we don’t even realize how many negative judgement thoughts we have during the day.

10] at night, perhaps set an intention to sleep mindfully. What might that mean to you?

CONGRADULATIONS! You are a path to mindful living with more awareness, more mindful life..

Start small with all or any of these suggestions, just a simple daily intentional mindfulness practice.

You will be amazed how quickly this will turn into good habits and a way of life….

Patricia Sarnataro

Patricia Sarnataro is a certified coach and member of ICF, she is also certified in The Energy Leadership Index, 2 certifications in meditation, TTY-500 hr yoga, and is an artist, designer, creator. Patricia specializes in transition coaching and creative thinking.

Transormational Coaching

The post 10 Tips On Building An Intentional Mindful Living appeared first on Zen Matrix.

Life Coaching “MythUnderstandings”

Mindy Johnson — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 19:24:00 +0000

Life coaching is exploding. Is it any wonder why?

According to the International Coach Federation, the leading professional association for coaches worldwide, individuals who hire a coach can expect significant improvement in productivity, satisfaction with life and work, and the attainment of goals. Once limited to high-level executives, professional life coaching is now mainstream, enjoyed by people from all walks of life around the world.

But as with any growing profession, “mythunderstandings” about life coaching abound. Below, we debunk the top six professional life coaching mythunderstandings.

MythUnderstanding #1- Life Coaches are counselors

Putting life coaches and counselors on the same ground doesn’t make sense. A mythunderstanding exists in the mind of individuals. They consider life coaches as counselors which is certainly not true.

Counselors delve into the past of people and try to heal them. While life coaches concentrate on identifying obstacles and your take on the life that stops you from receiving the desired outcome.

MythUnderstanding # 2- Life Coaching is for people who cannot succeed on their own.

Years ago, many people viewed coaching as a tool to help correct underperformance or to “fix” people. However, things have shifted considerably since then.

Today, top producers and other successful people use coaching to help them achieve their greater goals and navigate toward a more compelling future. I believe coaching and mentoring can help anyone’s performance.

In sports, for example, athletes at all levels have a coach in their corner. The same is true in life. Even the most skilled, talented and successful people get—and benefit from—coaching.

MythUnderstanding # 3- Life coaches will tell you what to do to “fix your problems”

Parents, siblings, friends, and co-workers like to tell others what they should be doing. However, coaches don’t give advice or instructions; they focus on helping their clients change behavior. That is far more valuable than telling someone what to do.

Instead of listening to all the reasons their clients can’t do something, coaches help their clients dream, explore and stretch. Coaches encourage each client to come up with the best goals and choices for their vision of the future. And then they help the client adopt the behavior that will allow them to achieve their goals.

MythUnderstanding # 4- Having a life coach is like paying a friend to listen to me.

Your coach may be friendly, but they are not your friend. Your coach is your advocate. They want the best from you. They will work with you to help you reach your goals and to succeed. Your coach will hold you accountable and challenge you to grow and do more than you think you can do. They may push, pull, and stretch you in ways that may feel uncomfortable. And unlike a friendship, the coaching relationship is unilateral – it is exclusively focused on you and your goals, not the coach, his family, his golf handicap, or what she did over the weekend.

MythUnderstanding #5- Coaching takes too much time

Unlike some types of coaching, such as personal training, clients working with life coaches can achieve remarkable progress on their goals in just one or two hours a month.

In most cases, clients don’t even have to travel to meet with their coach. Instead, they meet over the telephone—it’s easier, more efficient and there are minimal distractions.

Good coaching relationships generally require between two and four sessions per month, each lasting anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes.

MythUnderstanding # 6- Coaching is too expensive

Coaching can cost a great deal of money. Most personal coaches charge a monthly retainer of $500 to $2,000 a month; however, some charge much more.

However, an ICF Global Coaching Client Study indicated that individual clients reported a median return of 3.44 times their investment in coaching.

So, while it’s not an inexpensive process, coaching is paying off for many people. If it weren’t, people wouldn’t continue to work with life coaches and the industry wouldn’t be generating $1 billion a year.

Mindy Johnson

Mindy Johnson is a leadership development coach at Zen Matrix who helps others achieve their professional goals and optimal performance as leaders.

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