III. Coach's Top Picks

IV. News

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I. Topic: The Greatness of Gratitude

The first experiences that I had with the idea of focusing on "gratitude" was about eight years ago, when I read Sarah Ban Breathnach's book, "Simple Abundance." It spurred ideas about how to appreciate the basic aspects of life, and it became popular very quickly.  Between the gravity of her message, and okay, a promotion on Oprah, the ideas about simplicity and gratitude caught on in a bit of a mini-movement back then.  I personally just enjoyed the fresh perspectives, and then put gratitude journaling to work for me.   I can't say that I have been writing my gratitudes daily since then, but I can say that I have definitely filled a couple of journals along the way. I can also enthusiastically express the benefits I have experienced and those I've observed with my clients who agreed to give it a try.

Among many, some of the major benefits of focusing on gratitude are:

1.) It forces you to slow down your pace.

2.) It moves you out of your head and into your heart.

3.) It puts your attention more to the present.

4.) It causes a shift from in energy, from negative to positive, and from closed to open.

5.) It can improve your relationship to others.

6.) It can enhance your self-esteem and self-image.

7.) It can foster a kinder, gentler perspective toward your self, others and life.

8.) It will attract abundance and more things to you that you will be grateful for!

Gratitude, along with acceptance and surrender, is crucial to making incredible transformations in your life.  Without truly accepting and appreciating your current reality, you will have a much more difficult time identifying and then moving into the next positive experience for you.  We see this time and time again, with the person that is negative, combative or complaining about a current situation, as a way of trying to move from it.  What do they attract?  You got it: more of the same. That is where their energy is, and that is what they end up getting.  Conversely, the openness and positiveness in the gratitude perspective, will enable you to see clearly and attract the right next positive experience.

On a more basic level, I have told others that I especially like gratitude journaling to shift energy of a mood when I find myself down or frustrated.  It is in those moments that when I go for broke and list every possible thing I can think of big and small that I have to be thankful for...by the end of that long list, I have transmuted my mood to a more positive and peaceful one.

Recently, I read about another spin on gratitude, that has similar benefits.  This is the Japanese art of self-reflection, called Naikan.  It was developed in the 1940's by Ishin Toshimoto, a devout buddhist, and it is the art of looking inward, and appreciating others, by making 3 separate lists each day.  The lists answer three respective questions:  What have I received from others?  What have I given to others?  What difficulties and troubles have I caused others? 

What I really like about taking this type of look at things, is that it is well-rounded, and asks us to go in places I don't think we naturally go.  Even if you take stock in what you have been given, do you take notice of what you give to others, to nature, to the world? And how often do we look at the trouble or angst we might affect on others? We all have responsibility in this one.  As much as we can easily name the people in our lives that cause us grief, we rarely put attention to the fact that each of us, at various times, is causing some kind of grief to others. It could be accidentally, unintentionally or just by having a personality clash, but we are also certainly on this side of the equation as well.  In addition to pure gratitude journaling, listing the big, small, obvious or obscure things that answer these three questions, can provide incredible insight, and help you shift key areas of your life. 

Take Action!  >  If you haven't yet, or have not recently put some focus on gratitude, give it a go. Pick a method, and try it for a week to begin.  At the close of each day, journal the things you are grateful for, or try the Naikan approach, with the 3 lists.  See what you find.  And remember, besides journaling, there is incredible power in sharing your feelings with others directly when you appreciate them.  The spoken word, from the heart, is really the ultimate gift you can give.

" The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common."

--  Ralph Waldo Emerson

" We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.  They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of cirmcumstances. "

-- Victor Frankl

" Beginning to tune into the minutest feelings if gratitude softens us.....If we begin to acknowledge these moments and cherish them, then no matter how fleeting and tiny this good heart may seem, it will gradually, at its own speed, expand. "

-- Pema Chodron

" If your everyday life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself. Admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator three is no poverty and no poor indifferent place. "

-- Rainer Maria Rilke

III. Coach's Top Picks

The Power of Full Engagement, Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal -- By Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

This book explains a philosophy and program that originated with an approach these two men used for years with athletes. From this, they developed a Corporate Athlete Training System(R), that helps professionals maximize their whole life energy for greater performance, as well as health, happiness and life balance.  Some really good gems here and some compelling cases many will relate to. Thank you Sean, for the gift of this book! You somehow knew it was on my list!

Sacred Contracts, Awakening Your Divine Potential -- By Carolyn Myss

Carolyn Myss, a New York Times best-selling author, and renown medical intuitive, through a process of research and work with numerous clients, concludes that a unique combination of no less than twelve archetypes works within each of us to support our personal development. They are patterns we bring to this life that can lead us to our greatest power, if we can identify them and learn their lessons.  Ultimately they also can lead us to our mission in life, as well as give us a higher level tool for understanding and dealing with key people in our lives.  Read this one when you are ready to work with it and figure out your own patterns, and strengths, in a very specific and insightful way.

IV. News

The next Coaches and Trainers Collaborative Incredible Coaches Circle will be held at Panera's of Glastonbury on Monday, August 25, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  All are welcome to join this gathering for conversation, community, resource-sharing and fun.  The only requirement is a passion for coaching.  For more information or to RSVP, please contact Jill at 860.659.5829 or jill@ct-collaborative.com.