SPRINGBOARD CONNECTIONS

Wow, now that’s a win!

Did you watch the German speedskater Anni Friesinger-Postman take that spill during the women’s team pursuit semifinal?

According to the news from Toronto, Anna continued the race even after her skate broke in the final lap. As her skate wobbled beneath her she stumbled then fell headfirst onto the ice. Then she slid over the finish line on her stomach in the women’s team pursuit semifinal.

“ Banging the ice in fury and lying face down on the surface of the Richmond Olympic Oval, Friesinger-Postma eventually glanced up at the scoreboard and realized her misfortune did not matter — with the Germans having squeezed home by six-hundredths of a second.”

It was reported that Anni was smart enough to swing her skate around and get it over the line just in time.

Her teammates said Anni’s fall and her courage to keep focused on the finish line gave them all courage to go on – eventually winning a gold medal

That kind of courage and commitment takes my breath away. How about you?

Change and Transition: The Powerful Work of Grieving

Grieving your loss is the most powerful work you can do, supporting the physical, mental and spiritual healing necessary after losing someone you love. And it’s tough work, tougher still because there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Each person moves through the process   differently, and at their own speed.  

Our losses and how we go through them are all unique. You may have lost a mate, child or friend. You may be experiencing the loss of a divorce or perhaps you have had a sequence of losses. Or, it could be a past lost that you never grieved that is troubling you now. Each journey of grief is unique.

Whatever and however you are grieving, doing this work will lead you to a place where you can embrace your life once again and be open to the gifts yet to come your way.

 Here are four key areas of work that will support you on this journey of grieving.

1.   Reach out

Reach out to a family member, a friend, a counselor or a grieving group. This is not the time for you to be stoic. You were not meant to be alone during such times. Connecting with others brings gifts of healing that are hard to find in any other way.

2.   Take care of yourself

This is the best gift you can give to yourself, and no one can do it for you. Get adequate rest, eat healthy food, enjoy short walks, meditate in the sunlight or just sit and bask in the glow. It gives you strength and will help you be healthier when the grieving process is over. Be gentle with yourself and support your body’s natural healing processes. You are programmed to self-repair and self-improve. Support your body in doing the work it was meant to do.

3.   Tame the memory

Don’t resist the memories; rather be with them and honor them. You might find it helpful to share your memories with someone. You can write some of your best memories down and store them in a special box with some of your favorite photos. You will find as time goes by, your memories are less painful. Eventually you will look back with gratitude for the time and experiences you had with your dear one.

4.   Do the work

Grieving work comes in many forms. Some find that journaling is helpful; others find that expressing their feelings through painting or other creative work is helpful in processing their grief. Having a safe place to feel the sadness and letting yourself cry helps heal the pain of losing someone dear to you. Walking and just being in nature is healing for many.

Life is moving forward even if you don’t want it to. Doing the work of grieving helps you deal with the pain of loss and the many feelings you experience during such a time, and restores your energy for the next phase of your life.

If you are open and willing to grieve your loss, eventually you will feel more like your old self again. Completely the same? No, loss does change us. As we move through the experience of loss and transition we find amazing gifts like new wisdom, increased compassion and gratitude. These gifts expand us and we move forward in life with more grace and understanding. 

Important - time & enrollment limited -

Hello Everyone,

 

I want to connect with you today to make sure you are aware of our upcoming teleclass series that begins Wed. March 10, 2010.  Because our class size is limited to 15 participants it's important to act now if you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity.

 

We just finished a class this week. Ulrika Brattemark, my co-coach for this series, and I were so pleased with the reviews the participants gave us during our last call. They commented on things like: increased self-esteem, accomplishments in work organization and accountability, heighten spiritual awareness, feeling supported through loss and grieving and closer to finding that much needed job.

 

People come seeking support and wanting to experience more satisfaction in a variety of areas in their life. We are always thrilled to see the shifts, growth and camaraderie that builds during our time together in our Circle of Life/Power of Focus Teleclass Series.    Register here  http://www.marlenelockwood.com/circleoflife.html

 

So let me ask you . . .

 

Is your life unfolding with a sense of purpose and meaning? Are you truly delighted by your path? This holistic series can make the difference. With the support of two skilled life coaches, the power of the group and clear tools, you can truly make powerful decisions about where your life is headed and how you intend to live it. By focusing on what actually matters to you, you can prioritize meaningful changes and ensure that you are taking care of yourself along the way. You truly can have the life you want to be living.

 

Who is this retreat for? Anyone ready to make a commitment to living a more purposeful, fulfuilled and balanced life. Join us, enjoy the camaraderie and take the action now to make this your best year yet. I don't want you to read this email in 2011 in the same place you are today. 

 

I've included a recording of my interview with Bill, a previous participant, so you can listen to his experience. Just click on the following link.

Download Bill's testimony MP3 2-16-10-120

 

For more information about the course

To Register for our next course beginning on March 10 click below. http://www.marlenelockwood.com/circleoflife.html

or email me at coach@marlenelockwood.com

 

This is your invitation to join us. We would be thrilled to have you a part of our next group. Come, and find the support and camaraderie to reach your heartfelt goals. Remember, if you are interested sign up now. Our class size is limited to 15.

 

 

How to Deal with Life, Loss and Transition at the Big High School Reunion

I think someone has made a drastic mistake. It just can’t be ++ that many years since I graduated from high school. It's got to be impossible. However, since someone has planned a big shindig (they must have lost their cookies), I think I will go. It would be great to see some of those “old” friends. J 

For some, high school reunions can be particularly unnerving. Why is that? It goes beyond the fact that we have put on a little weight, that the sun has had too much fun on our face, or wondering what there will be to talk about?

Our lives have been full since those many years ago. We are really no longer that person who graduated at seventeen or eighteen. Life has happened – the good and the bad. There have been jobs, lost jobs, crazy jobs. There have been marriage, divorce and new marriages. We’ve had children. Perhaps changed churches or quit going – you name it. Some have lost their mates or even children in death. How do you even begin to tell, or even want to tell, people what’s been happening in your life?

When you haven't seen someone for 25 years (or more), they're bound to want to catch up. There will be questions about the turns your life has taken. We don’t want to be braggers – or worse – whiners. How do you really show up at a reunion and in a few hours communicate any of this? Many of us don’t even want to. As a result the event often feels superficial and full of small talk. Or we feel like we are front and center, under a microscope.

What I’ve experienced is that we all have similar feelings in these kinds of situations. Your painful transitions – even if you don't delve into details – can actually be inspiring and feel supportive to others. We often feel like we are the only ones with such stories, but we’re not. Life has happened to us all. When we come to these occasions with a soft and open heart, sharing only what we feel comfortable to share, and with a strong and accepting listening ear for the stories of others, we come away feeling like it has been a wonderful time.

You know, in many ways I loved my high school years. Yes, there was all the pain of being a teenager, and I wouldn’t want to do it again for love or money. But when you consider that I graduated from the eighth grade with the same fella I started the first grade with – and, there was only two of us in the class, well, things had to go up from there! Going to a high school with many students and with boys taller than me was new and exciting – I do have good memories of my high school years.

But I still have some angst about the reunion, and I do want to look my best. So here’s my plan. I’m going to lose 10 lbs. by the end of April. (I know, not very original.) So, why am I sharing this? Because I need someone to hold me accountable, and writing in my blog does just that for me. I’ll keep you posted along the way . . . no gruesome details, I promise – just the fun progress!

Anyone want to join me? (. . . on the diet, that is.)

Here are a few good high school quotes from the movies. If you have others please share. Or write and tell me your experience at your last high school reunion.

 

“It's not the years honey, it's the mileage.”
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)

“High school, those are your prime suffering years. You don't get better suffering than that.”
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – Uncle Frank (Steve Carell)

“The old dreams were good dreams. They didn't work out, but I’m glad I had them.”
The Bridges of Madison County (1995) – Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood

Six Ways to Handle the Stress of Job Uncertainty

There is a lot of talk about the job market in the news these days, from general woes about the broken economy, to state-wide crises involving job cuts, furloughs, pay cuts, etc.

If we put them side by side, our lists of top news items would probably differ some, but chances are we all are feeling the uncertainty of the time we live in.

When people are let go at work, others must pick up the work. Work once done at home but now sent out of the country leaves people in the lurch. Furloughs, reduced work hours, reorganization downsizing, it's a tough time in the work market!  

A lower paycheck is where we feel it the most. That reduced income can leave you feeling anxious, stress rises; temper flares and all of a sudden your job just may not feel as great as it once did. In fact, at time you may wish you could just quit!   Have you had those feelings?

What’s the best way to cope? How can we take care of ourselves in times of uncertainty?

Let me assure you, there is action you can take. Basic self-care is crucial now – you may need to take a break, time off, a sick day or just that vacation that you have been putting off. However, besides the importance of self-care there are other ways to lessen your stress, ease the panic and prepare yourself for the future.

It’s easy to feel worn out and stress can slow us down and we want to do nothing. But it’s better to be proactive instead of just reactive. Instead of giving up, it’s the time to get busy. Getting busy will re-energize your mind, spirit and body.

Here are six ways to handle the stress of job uncertainty.

1.   Observe. Begin to observe the opportunities around you. Be aware of what is happening in your organization as well as in other organizations. Pay less attention to gossip and inform yourself of the facts.

2.   Network. Connect with other people. Let others know what you are up to.

3.     Prepare. Get your resume updated. Be sure it looks professional, crisp and succinct.

It’s better to be prepared than to wait for the worse to happen.

4.   Explore. Sit down and write out a list of all the jobs you might be interested in. Explore what is happening in your field by going on the Internet. Branch out into related fields. What jobs really interest you?

5.   Ignite. Get back in touch with that earlier passion you had. What was it that once excited you, intrigued you, fascinated you? It’s not too late to find that job you always wanted.

6.   Wait. If you've taken the other five steps, you are prepared to advantage of opportunities that may come your way. The energy is working in your favor. Things will begin to happen. Be patient.

 

Remember – you are at choice. And that’s a great place to be. It’s up to you to help yourself, by not giving up hope, being good to yourself and being practical about the future. Trust your instincts.

 

My story of job loss

 

I remember going through a period of high stress after losing a job as a result of reorganization. It was my first job after my divorce, I had moved to a new city to take it and then, all too soon it was over. It felt like a personal disaster. I was scared and feeling pretty low. I had no idea what I would do next. But I started networking, took an inventory of my education and skills, and made a decision to look openly at any job offer that came my way, even if I had to move again to take it.

 

After about nine months I received a job offer from a company I knew very little about at the time - Habitat for Humanity International.  The offer was a direct result of the networking I had done, a referral from someone I had spoken to. It was over 2,500 miles away, connected with my passion and I took it. I traveled worldwide working with great leaders and teams in the process of collabortively building and implementing a 5 year strategic plan. I contributed a lot and I gained a lot. It was exactly the job I needed at that time. The job loss opened up possibilities that I otherwise would not have even considered. And that can happen for you as well.

 

Whatever you do, the goal is to re-empower your mind, to feel better and to get energized. Give yourself time and patience. A better day will come, and taking the steps above will help you be prepared. You’re strong and you will get through this.