Nov25
Posted on Nov 25 by Ruth Davis
It’s that time of year when it’s easy to remember to be thankful. All of the turkey and ham commercials on television remind us to be grateful for what we have, and for the people in our lives. But gratitude is an act for every day living, even without the festive meal. Click here for a great gratitude practice. Still, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to say thank you to YOU, my loyal reader, for your enthusiasm, your support, and your open heart. May this season bring you more ways to rest in your own heart and share your special gifts with those around you. Hand in hand with being grateful is the self-less act of giving, of doing something simply to better someone else’s situation. We can give our money, our time, our talents. We can donate our used items to an needy organization. We can also give with simple acts of kindness. Open the door for a stranger Let someone go in front of you in line at the supermarket Check on an elderly neighbor Smile...
Nov11
Posted on Nov 11 by Ruth Davis
For many months after my open heart surgery, I felt things in my heart. Sometimes it was a fluttery feeling, sometimes a buzzing. Sometimes it was just an awareness of some kind of physical sensation. The doctors explained that it was just the nerves healing and that it would subside over time. I especially noticed the sensations when I was feeling emotional or excited. It was like I had a special gauge in my body that physically reflected what was happening in my mind. It was odd, but kind of cool to actually FEEL my emotions right in my heart. Several months ago I was doing an exercise with a stranger in a life coaching class and we had to stand as close to each other as we felt comfortable. I felt that buzzing sensation in my heart at the exact moment that I knew I was close enough. My heart sent a signal to my mind and I felt it. I think everyone can tune in to this feeling in their heart. You may not feel an actual...
Nov11
Posted on Nov 11 by Ruth Davis
All around me people are rushing and hurrying, taking care of people and things and the heavy worlds on their shoulders. And they are tired and cranky and wondering why all of this giving and doing doesn’t feel very good. Maybe because they are tired. Sore. Overwhelmed. Maybe because they are forgetting to take care of themselves…. When did the word “selfish” get such a bad rap? When did it become a negative thing to take care of our own needs? Isn’t taking care of ourselves crucial to our well-being? Isn’t self-care the way we stay healthy and able to give and care for others? What if we embraced the idea that it’s OK to put our own needs first sometimes? Imagine how rejuvenated and recharged you might feel……. So many of my clients tell me that their biggest challenge is finding time for themselves. Not just finding time, but JUSTIFYING the NEED for time for themselves. They tell me that it is so easy to do for others, to take care of everyone else, but that, when it...
Nov03
Posted on Nov 3 by Ruth Davis
We’ve all heard the phrase “think outside the box”, but before you can begin to think or live outside the box, it helps to know what that means. For each of us the answer will be different. QUESTIONS: What does living inside the box mean to you? It could mean feeling stuck or bored. It might mean doing what is expected of you. Maybe inside the box is predictable, what you always do. Inside the box could be playing it safe, staying where it is easy, comfortable. What does living outside the box mean to you? Is it pushing your limits? Is it taking more risks, leaping into the unknown? Maybe it is doing the same thing, but differently. Maybe it’s eating at a new restaurant. Maybe it is moving your sofa to the other side of the room. Think about your own answers and write them down. Writing things down gives power to your thoughts. And writing requires effort, commitment, taking the time to find your pen and paper. Complete these sentences, being as descriptive and vivid as...
Oct28
Posted on Oct 28 by Ruth Davis
“Seeing Through the Heart” by Colorful Blac Recently, a coaching client was having trouble seeing the amazing shifts in her life. She could only see that she is still at the same job, her house is not remodeled, the yard is still not planted. I asked her to look with her heart, instead of her eyes. Suddenly she could see so many changes in herself, her environment, how she is showing up in the world. She realized that she is not reacting at work, that she is engaging more with her live-in father-in-law. She is so aware of how much more balance she feels in her moods and her body. Big changes happen INSIDE first. It’s as if we must rebuild from the ground up. Often, when we are ready for change, we first have to redefine our priorities, we need to get clear about our values. We must create space for ourselves in order for changes to grow. And of course, this takes time. And work. And faith. And it takes stepping back from what we see on...
Oct21
Posted on Oct 21 by Ruth Davis
I remember the first time I offered a free tele-seminar call, where I announced a new online Master Coaching program. My vision was clear and powerful: people would listen to the call, get as excited about the content as I am, feel incredibly inspired and deliriously motivated and the class would fill within the first week. But that didn’t happen. Sure, people listened to the call. But not a single person signed up for the program. And I was devastated. How could I put so much effort and love into a thing and not have it turn out the way I expected? I wallowed for a few days in the disappointment. I knew I did a good job. I knew I was offering an amazing program. (Fortunately, I never went down the self-deprecating path telling myself that the tele-seminar sucked, or that I wasn’t a good coach.) But I did wonder if I should just give up on the whole Spark the Heart thing and focus all of my efforts and attentions on my Mac training, since that’s where more...
