Diane Dutchin

Mental Pause can be a Game Changer

 in quote  tagged Diane Dutchin / meditation / mental health / pause / solution focus / thoughts / wellness

In this weeks guest post coach Diane Dutchin shares some of her experience and knowledge:

"Mental Pause can be a Game Changer" by Diane Dutchin

Mental Pause can be a Game Changer

By Diane Dutchin

Regardless of what part of the world you live in, mental health is becoming one of the most important topic of discussion equal to physical health. It has evolved as a growing concern not only in the health industry, but in our homes, schools and work place.

It’s about time, and long overdue! There’s shame in sharing about personal struggles with mental issues – fatigues, lows, struggles, stress or depression. Different types, depth, and occurred from various life experiences. We clam up because we don’t want to be judged, and looked at differently.

Listen, if our mental state is unwell, eventually the impact will be felt and seen in other areas of our lives. No one is immune to the effects of mental illness, no matter how brilliant, popular, loving, or successful you are, it can affect us, and yes, this applies to life coaches and counsellors too.

However, through honest conversation (sometimes hard conversations) exercise, and support, we can increase awareness, and help ourselves and others remove any stigma of shame and judgement associated with mental issues, and improve our mental state.

I consider myself a highly motivated, seeing the glass as half full person, however a year ago when I graduated college as a Life Coach and Counsellor, the transition back to work wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped, money ran out, and rejection from potential employers, found me at my all-time lowest…ever.

My first reaction was self-denial…not me, couldn’t be, I am in control! However, the energy needed to pretend was spent on crying at a drop of a hat, and thoughts going places I feared. I quickly learned that it was OK to express my fears, show my most scared fearful side, to a core group of people I completely trust.

Fortunately, my decline wasn’t as low as those who struggle with mental illness every day. My loving partner was there showing support to listen and ask questions about “how I felt”, why, affirmation and encouragement. A few close friends were there whenever I needed them. Realizing I could STOP pretending and BE honest, was the first step towards the mental nourishing I needed.

We’re masters at being busy doing, telling and pleasing, and fail miserably at mental-care, being present, sensitive, and honest with self. If we continue to expend more take in less, eventually like a car that needs fuel and oil to run effectively, we’ll have mental break-downs instead of break-through, easily agitated and deflated, instead of charged and elevated.

Why mental pause? Simply put, mental pause is meant to do just that – make us pause to give our minds a BREAK! Time to check in, filter and unload and sort through what the mind consumed during the day or week. Time ALONE allows us to stop DOING and practice BEING and make an intimate connect with self by tuning into the messages your body, mind, soul, intuition and senses are sending, and provides release space.

Let’s take a look at three exercises I use to elevate my mental state.

Mental Pause I – Practice meditation:

Connect to your spiritual side, nature, yoga, prayer, formal meditation, chanting, or mindfulness. Before your feet hit the floor express thankfulness or gratitude for at least one thing. Doing this helps sets the stage to centre your mind on starting your day off right.

Mental Pause II – Mind your Thoughts:

When, not if, but when your thoughts rise up to overwhelm and affect moods, pause and count your blessings (people, accomplishments and things you enjoy). The one thing we have control over is our thoughts, so bring awareness to what goes on between your ears, and the next time your mood shifts to anger, agitation, sad or anxious, pin point the thought and work it out, don’t let it sit and fester.

Mental Pause III – Solution focus:

When unexpected things happen in our lives it throws us off guard, and consumes our every thought. Stress, anxiety, anger, and fear interrupts the flow of finding a solution. By practicing meditation and minding our thoughts, we can use that time to figure out an answer. This might be a good time to reach out to another life coach to help you with that process.

Taking time to care for your mental state can be a game changer. It will put you more in control of your mental health, and empower you to be a better coach and person who practices what they preach.

To your health and enjoyment!

About Diane Dutchin

Diane Dutchin is a certified personal and development coach at www.makethemovecoaching.com

Follow Diane on twitter or connect on LinkedIn

Self-Confidence does play a role in your Success

 in Guest Post  tagged business / coaching / Diane Dutchin / self-confidence / success

In this week’s guest post coach Diane Dutchin shares some of her experience and knowledge:

"Self-Confidence does play a role in your Success" by Diane Dutchin

Self-Confidence does play a role in your Success

By Diane Dutchin

I believe to improve the effectiveness as a coach, it’s imperative to practice what we continually say to our clients.

There is a natural pull to admire and gravitate towards those who project self-confidence in how they show up in life, how they speak, what they do personal and professionally, and how they carry themselves. The opposite is also true for those who lacks confidence in themselves, and it works against you and the message you are hoping to convey.

A person who is successful in relationships, business, sports, life, is likely a person who has a level of self-confidence working for them. It is highly unlikely to meet someone who lacks confidence and is successful. Self-confidence is like a reliable partner, friend, parent or family member, like a muscle it is strengthened by use, intricately connected to our belief system, and accessible to everyone.  It is there to serve you if you would recognize its importance and value. It is a combination of heart, belief, attitude, thought and life experiences that feeds and nurtures its growth.

Self-confidence or a lack of it starts from childhood and carries into adult life and affects your life. It stems from your belief system about yourself, others, society and your life experience. It guides the shaping of how you feel, think, act, react to others and live your life.

Some areas that can have a positive or negative influence are:

  • Your upbringing impact your level of confidence
  • Life experiences shapes your confidence
  • Parent/role model affects your confidence
  • What you believe about yourself shows your confidence
  • Your self-worth affects your confidence
  • Finally your decisions mirrors your confidence.

Some people are more self-confident that others not because they are more special, had a better upbringing or more gifted. Like you they have had their struggles, faced the critics, ridiculed, bullied, questioned, lived with fear, and various forms of abuse, and had doors closed on their ideas, abilities and dreams. What caused those same individuals to be at their best today? A few things to consider – Their resilience and belief in themselves that they matter provides a stronger internal belief in themselves, a poise more powerful than the external forces that may have temporarily shaken them.  The external factors were used instead as fuel to boost their confidence.

Stories are told every day about people both famous and not so famous, privileged and not so privileged who despite the hand dealt to them, are displaying a level of self-confidence that matches the level of success in their lives. There are a number of things you can begin to do to take the level of your self-confidence to another level of success that will benefit your personal and professional life.

Here are a few points to consider:

  • Write down your past achievements and celebrate your wins
  • Reflect on your accomplishments, be proud and grateful
  • Move your body – the physical and physiological benefits of exercising is massive
  • Read a book that feeds your soul and spirit
  • Laugh/smile daily
  • Make it a habit to compliment yourself (we can be our worst enemy)
  • Do something that you have always wanted to do, but was afraid to – step into that moment and watch the fear disappear and your self-confidence rise.
  • Be honest with yourself and admit when you are wrong
  • Make self-improvement/learning a part of your life
  • Start focusing more on your strengths and less on your weaknesses
  • Stop comparing yourself to others and run your own race
  • Awake your expectancy and breathe into it what stimulates positive growth

As you use the suggestions to build your self-confidence you will begin to notice the positive changes in your personal and professional life. Being swayed by external force will minimize and the noticeable improvement coming from you internally will give you the edge to succeed.

Do not put off building your self-confidence! It is time you connect to it, begin to feed and nourish it and watch how it will begin to add a deeper level of richness to your personal and professional life. You will notice a positive shift in how you think about yourself, which will overflow into how you present yourself, how you speak, your steps will be purposeful, steady and your success within and without will materialize.

About Diane Dutchin

Diane Dutchin is a certified personal and career coach at www.makethemovecoaching.com Follow Diane on twitter or connect on LinkedIn

 

Awaking the Sleeping Giant Within

 in Guest Post  tagged challenge / clients / coach / coaching / Diane Dutchin / empower / impact / motivate / passion / purpose / questions / reflect / talent

In today’s guest post Coach Diane Dutchin shares her expertise and knowledge to benefit both you and your clients.

Awaking the Sleeping Giant Within

by Diane Dutchin

"Awaking the sleeping Giant within" by Diane Dutchin

“Sleeping never moves you forward, it’s the awakening process that stirs you to action”

(DianeD)

I know, the title to this topic is not the usual you come across in your mail box like “how to uncover and tap into your niche”, or “how to attract more clients”. However, stay with me, this is an appropriate fit because it’s about you the coach and your client.

My intent is to deliver a one two punch of relevant information to empower you to reflect, to reapply methods of being and doing in your journey as a coach, and hopefully lead to a revival, renewal/refreshing to both you and your clients.

Let’s start with you the coach:

Reflect: when you first started your practice what was your attitude like? Aside from the excitement of finally doing what I felt I was created to do, I was focused on uncovering what areas of life I was deeply passionate about and connected to.

Forget about what the experts are saying you should or shouldn’t do, and what the latest niche is. What fired you up and awakened your spirit? Is that fire still there or is it a dying ember? Or, are you more motivated by external realities than your internal convictions? Stay consistent to your internal convictions. Here are some steps I follow to help me awaken sleeping giants in my journey

Revisit/Reapply: your core values and your personal beliefs. Revisiting my values gives me the opportunity to assess my present state, and how much of my values/beliefs are still in line with my living, and make adjustments where needed. By doing that you sharpen:

  • Your talents – what you know you’re really good at
  • Your passions – what you deeply care about
  • Your purpose – what is it you want your life to count for
  • Your impact – what is the outcome you’re looking to achieve

By incorporating your basic style of coaching with fresh ideas, tips and tools you can strengthen your practice, and find yourself at the advantage of serving with excellence.

Revive: your truth, your internal realities, and your purpose – not someone else! It’s easy to place too much emphasis on what others are doing, and dismiss what convicts and motivates your particular style. Yes, it takes someone with courage to stay consistent, recognize opportunities, and accept the calling to be a coach of positive change. I am not saying to ignore growth, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water by neglecting the fundamentals you established your practice on.

Renew/Refresh: your life, your vision, your focus, your practice and your delivery. By taking the time to reflect, revisit/reapply and revive areas, thoughts, actions or saying about your life and practice, you could experience a welcomed renewal that can improve your delivery add deep refreshing to you and your practice.

All about the client:

Seeing that you’re in the coaching profession, I am going to automatically assume part of your focus when working with your client, is to:

  • Guide them towards the door of awareness
  • Empower them to open the door,
  • Challenge them to step into the journey
  • Motivate them to discover their answers, solutions, etc. in specific areas.

So, why is it some coaches overcomplicate this process? As a coach you want to remain mindful of lining up your words with your actions. I would rather have someone under promise with their words and over deliver with their actions, instead of over promising and under delivering.

Clients come to you because they have a need, and are drawn to you based on a number of factors:

  • What they’ve read on your site
  • What they heard through a referral
  • What your past clients said/testimonials
  • What was felt through the initial connection

In my experience I’ve found my most effective encounters and results came when I avoided the flashy and fancy approach. People aren’t looking necessarily for how much credentials are behind your name, or how many hundreds of clients you’ve served – all they care about is “can you help me with______?”

The basic foundational questions still works and can be extremely effective to get the journey of awareness, and empowerment to change started:

  • Why, when, where, what and how? (in whatever order)

You still have opportunity to ask other questions like:

  • What are your internal/external realities?
  • How important are values and beliefs to you?
  • On a scale ____? How do you feel about____?

My experience is that this way such questions will automatically fall into place!

There should be a natural flow when serving your clients. Be cautious of “trying” a new thing you read about, or what happens to be the “new style of coaching”. If not, it could show up during the session and mat be the last one with the client.

As a coach you can awaken and elevate areas of your personal and professional life to higher levels of fulfillment, and stir your clients forward to have a more impactful, and life transforming experience.

How do you know when an area in your life needs to be awaken, and what action do you take to revive it?

You are your Greatest Investment!

About Diane Dutchin

“Diane – life coach with a passion for living her best life and motivating others to do the same. I provide quality coaching and facilitating services to clients and coaches on a personal and professional level. I work with people to improve the quality of their lives on a personal and professional level.

Check out my site at www.makethemovecoaching.com and connect for a free 1 hour strategy session.”