Is there a new habit you would like to create? 

Then you’re in for a treat. My FREE 30 Day Challenge is the perfect tool to help you get started and stay motivated.  

Why join us?

• you’ll get a daily tip to keep you on track
• you’ll have the support of a community that wants you to succeed
• you’ll watch me as I work on my own new habit
• you’ll be able to ask questions each and every day by posting comments on the blog   

Want to take part in this FREE 30 Day Challenge?  

Here’s what you need to do:  

1.  Decide what one new habit you would like to create in the next 30 days.  Consider this question:  

What one habit, if you added it consistently into your life, would make a difference to your happiness or health?

2.  Download your 30 Day Challenge calendar by clicking here.

3.  Sign up to receive the email updates from the blog. You will see a signup box on the right side of the main blog page: “Get Email Updates”

Put your email address in the box and click subscribe - this is a double opt in system so you will need to confirm the email message you receive in your inbox.  

Each day during October I’ll post a new 30 Day Challenge tip to keep you on track. You’ll also get to see my progress on my own 30 Day Challenge habit. Once you have subscribed for Email Updates these tips will be delivered right to your email inbox.

4.  Post a comment on the blog and tell us what new habit you are working on during the challenge. You don’t have to use your full name.   Then feel free during the month to post additional comments about how it’s going - what’s working and where you are stuck.  I’ll respond to each of the blog comments you post.   No, you don’t have to participate in the on-line discussion - but you will find greater accountability and success if you do. The 30 Day Challenge will take place entirely here on my blog under the category “30 Day Challenge”.   

Tune in tomorrow…

as I share what new habit I’ll be working on - and give you some tips about making your habit specifc.

Ask Laurel…

I know what I should be doing but I just can’t seem to get my act together. How can I get unstuck?

For many people knowing what to do or even how to do it is not what keeps them from achieving their goals. It’s getting started doing something different. People like to collect up all kinds of books and information on a topic - like healthy eating or fitness or finding balance. But somehow they never seem to translate that great information into action.

Do something

If you want to get unstuck, just start by doing something - anything at all. Inertia - a lack of movement - is a big obstacle to creating change. Often we think that we need to have all our ducks in a row before we begin.  Or sometimes the magnitude of a change we’re considering seems overwhelming and so we put it off. Taking the first step, no matter how small, is the way to get some forward momentum. Once you’re moving in the right direction, then you can begin to add in other behaviours and choices.

Start small

Choose something that is easy to do so the commitment doesn’t feel so big. You could take the stairs, or substitute a low fat option or take five minutes of me-time. Commit just for today and then re-commit tomorrow.

Never underestimate the power of one small step. That’s how all great changes started.

What life coaching question would you like to ask Laurel?

Well it’s finally happened.

Life coaching has made it into the mainstream. How do I know? I was in my local bookstore today and came across Life Coaching for Dummies.

Now I’ve never really been a big fan of that series of books. Not that they don’t have some great basic information on a wide variety of topics. It’s just the name that turns me off.

What I know for certain is that life coaching is not for dummies. Far from it. Life coaching is for people who have made a decision that they want something to change in their lives and they’re willing to put in the effort to make it happen. They’ve figured out that life is one very short ride and they want to make the most of it.

My clients are often in search of one or more of these things:

• They are looking for ways to balance work and family without going insane.
• No matter what age they are, they’re not sure what they want to be when they grow up.
• They want to make a difference in the world and feel like their lives count for something.
• Lots of times they just want to learn how to say no.
• They’re feeling stuck and they want to get unstuck and moving forward.
• They are certainly tired of making the same old excuses.

Nothing dumb about any of those desires.

Life Coaching for Dummies suggests that you can become your own life coach. Not a bad idea…and during the past several years as a life coach who’s helped hundreds of people create change here’s what I’ve learned:

If people are able to make changes on their own, they go ahead and do it.

Most of the time though, people need a little help…an objective sounding board, a brainstorming partner, someone who will hold them accountable to have what it is that they want. I like to think of it as life coaching for really smart cookies.

Are you a smart cookie?

If you are, contact me and let’s get started creating want you want.

Minus 35 Celsius with a wind-chill.  Yikes!

 Here in beautiful Alberta, Canada we are experiencing one of the nastiest cold snaps in years.  And what seems to come along with the frigid air is people’s tendency to get down right cranky.  Most people are crabby, complaining and frustrated as if somehow the weather forecast was a personal attack.  The only thing that makes this kind of cold seem worse is people whining about it.

Last night, in spite of the bitterly cold weather, a large group of people gathered at the University of Alberta to hear Dr. Paul Farmer speak about community based global health care.  This talk was part of International Week - a series of events focusing on global citizenship.

Message of hope 

Dr. Farmer is one of the founding members of Partners in Health, an organization that partners with poor communities to combat disease and poverty.  Check out the really cool resource he used to illustrate some of the inequity that exists in the world.  He also shared the dramatic impact that people can have when they tackle global issues from a perspective of collaboration and possibility.  His message was one of hope even in the face of some of the most depressing situations. 

During his talk no one was thinking about wind-chill or car batteries.  No one was muttering about shoveling snow or frostbite.  Everyone was considering what their contribution might be locally or globally to address issues that belong to all of us no matter where we live.  Everyone was experiencing a global warming of the heart.

Out of your control 

When you become focused on things that are out of your control - things like the weather - you can easily become stuck.  Shifting your perspective to something that is more positive, more proactive, more empowering is a great way to come in out of the cold.

What are you focusing on?

The problem with getting out of the box is that you have to know you’re in one first.

I was interviewed for an on-line article on “burnout at age 25” and never imagined that it would cause a little stir.  According to the journalist this article generated more responses than anything she had written before. 

What were people reacting to? 

The idea that following your passion and doing what you enjoy are actually options in today’s work world.  Burnout is really just a mismatch between what you expect to happen and what you are experiencing.  Seems like there are a lot of people out there who are hugely unhappy in their work, and feel trapped in their little cubicles.  They sound downright miserable.  They’re stuck on the idea that there’s no way out.

Stay or go - it doesn’t matter

The sad part is, whether they decide to stay at their jobs, or move on to something more fulfilling, what they don’t seem to realize is that happiness is simply a choice you make.  It’s not dependent on circumstances.  Period.

I meet people all the time who seemingly have it all - except they are not very happy.  And I also meet people who have more than their share of challenges - and yet they are contented and live with a spirit of gratitude.  When it comes right down to it, you get what you go looking for.  Happiness is always at your fingertips. Figuring out that you are always at choice - particularly about your attitude - is one of those magic little keys to life.

So if you’re stuck in a box - or a cubicle - thinking “that’s just the way it is”, let me reassure you there is another perspective.

How happy are you?

Ever feel like you’ve got your head stuck somewhere? 

Had a moment when you say, “What was I thinking?”  That happened to a kitty named Wild Oats who had his head stuck in a peanut butter jar for 19 days before he was finally caught and rescued from his glass prison.

You have to imagine that Wild Oats must have had what seemed like a good reason to shove his head into a jar.  Maybe peanut butter was an appealing treat.  Maybe he’s just one wild and crazy cat always up for a challenge.  Whatever the reason, I bet as soon as his head was in the jar he had one big oh-oh moment.

So here’s the thing…

before you go sticking your head into something that might not be such a great idea, STOP and weigh the pros and cons.  One of the reasons why life feels out of balance is because you make unconscious choices.  You jump into something without really asking whether you have the time, energy or desire for it.  And then once you’ve said yes, you feel stuck in the commitment.

And if you go ahead and end up getting stuck, often the best thing you can do is get some help rather than running around trying to avoid it. 

Life is meant to have a few risks.  If you feel like sowing some wild oats, go ahead.  Just be sure you have a plan for getting your head out of the jar.