For those of you interested in looking within for answers as to how we can do more to help change situations such as the effect of the current immigration policy on children and families, I would like to offer the following writing activity developed by Martha Beck. This is a reflective activity called “Be The Change” that teaches how to take a negative situation and turn it around to take action on a personal level.

I recently discovered this gem of a book on sale and knew it was perfect for my students and clients.

For those of you who are surrounded by naysayers and are feeling discouraged from pursuing your dream job — as a writer, artist, poet, musician, actor, puppeteer, or whatever that might be, you’ll find daily doses of encouragement in Regina Brett’s book, God is Always Hiring: 50 Lessons for Finding Fulfilling Work.

You can preview the book online at Google Books.

Whether you are seeking your first job, are unemployed or underemployed, the number one motivating factor that will help you find fulfilling work is your own passion to do what you love.

Know Thyself

Employers will always be looking for passionate people to help them carry out their mission. Whether you want to create your own opportunities or join forces with others, know what you are passionate about:

• What is it that you want to do more than anything else?
• What have you been doing for 10,000 hours?
• What gift, talent, or expertise do you want to share with the world?
• What problem do you want to solve? (climate change? human trafficking?)

If you have your own mission and an entrepreneurial spirit, then channel that passion into creating your own organization. Find a mentor, network with people who are doing what you want to do, create a timeline for developing your business so you can measure progress towards your goals.

If you’d like some guidance along the way, contact me for a free coaching session!

I love this time of year! Not just because of the holidays, but because I can review my progress and set intentions for the new year.

Setting intentions are not the same as setting goals, and I’m not talking about New Year’s resolutions. Confused? I was too when I first discovered the concept of intention setting in the work of Dr. Wayne Dyer and other thought leaders such as Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

So what is the difference between setting an intention and setting a goal or New Year’s resolution? Well, it has to do with your intentions! The word “Intention” has multiple meanings, which hint at its being imbued with something more than just an idea, goal, or desire. For example, in Medicine, intention refers to “the healing process of a wound”. In earlier centuries, people would be asked to “declare their intentions” before a marriage (or a duel!) which hints at the importance of speaking an intention out loud.

By contrast, resolutions are built on your resolve, determination, and perseverance. These are feelings and emotions that help motivate people to take action towards a goal or intention. However, all too often, after setting New Year’s Resolutions, people run out of steam. Their resolve diminishes because they aren’t seeing or experiencing evidence that they are making progress.

On the other hand, goals have measurable results. They are the details and milestones used to measure progress. We can successfully set goals for our intentions and measure our progress as long as we keep them realistic, such as setting small, or short-term, achievable steps and actions that guarantee results.

If you’d like help setting intentions or goals for 2018, contact me for a free initial consultation. My intention this year is to help as many people as possible achieve their dreams!

Best wishes for a very happy holiday season — and may all your good dreams come true!

Rebecca