Last week I shared with you how a really challenging experience with my 18 year old daughter led me straight into the heart of God.  It was one of those pivotal moments where there was no way to be the same afterward.  And then something amazing happened…

The very next day my daughter came home from school upset.  She plopped down on her bed, put her head in her hands, and said, “I need some mommy therapy.”

Just the fact that my usually very private, I-can-do-everything-by-myself daughter was openly asking for my support grabbed my attention and I was immediately by her side.  She started talking and crying.  I asked her if I could give her a hug and she agreed.

And then the magic…

I simply held her as she poured her heart out.  It was a genuine moment where I got to be the nurturing mom I’ve always wanted to be.  I listened.  I soothed.  And I encouraged.  All while letting her have her feelings.  It was beautiful.  And what’s even better is that it didn’t end in a fight!

You see, in the past when we’ve tried to have these “mommy therapy” sessions I would inadvertently say the wrong thing, setting her off and we would both walk away hating each other and feeling worse than before.

But, that’s not what happened this time.  Nope.  This time we authentically connected.  I felt compassion and love for her.  I didn’t try to rush her out of her bad feelings.  Instead I just gave her space to express them.  Wow!  What a contrast from the past.  I feel like such a different mom.

It was like the moment I stopped beating myself up for not being nurturing enough, I became nurturing!  And allowing myself to be nurtured gave me the space to turn around and be nurturing.

Artwork Inspiration by KatHannah

Is there anything that you’re beating yourself up for?

Right now, in this moment, are you willing to give yourself a break?

It could be that when you stop pushing so hard against yourself, you just might find the you you’ve always wanted to be.

Tags: motherhood, nurturing, Parenting, Relationships, self esteem, teens

83. {12/13/09} Today fear said, ” You don’t deserve this gift.”  Even though I partially believed it, I didn’t let it stop me from receiving a complimentary jin shin jitsu treatment.

Tags: 100 Things I Fear, courage, fear, self esteem

In this short video {2:55} I share about Champagne Friday – a weekly ritual I use to celebrate all that I’ve done for the week and allow it to be enough. Grab a glass, watch, and toast with me!

p.s. I got a haircut today & I love it! What do you think?

Tags: celebrate, relax, self esteem, success, VLOG {Videos of me!}

If you keep focusing on that which stands in between you and your dreams you might not ever get there.

I realized this morning that I keep focusing on all the things I haven’t done or I’m not doing in my coaching practice.  There’s this underlying energy that I’m not good enough or doing enough.  And yet, I have more clients now than I’ve ever had before.

Why am I not celebrating?!

So this morning I decided that I am enough and it’s okay to stop believing that I’m not.

The first step really is choosing to be different.  There’s always going to be something else you could do, so it really does come down to making a choice to allowing yourself to be enough right now just as you are.  And truth be told, you really can accomplish more when you come from a loving place of acceptance.

What a great way to begin my weekend!  Now I give myself permission to go see a movie with the Hubs this morning – he needs to take some vacation days this month and my favorite theater is selling $6 tickets for all am shows on Fridays.  What a great way to celebrate!

Now what can you do to celebrate all that you’ve already accomplished?

Tags: attitude, celebrate, coaching, confidence, Life Coaching, negative self talk, productivity, self esteem, success

Today’s Simply Fearless Spotlight Tip is:

Allow yourself to shine in whatever you are doing, from washing the dishes to fulfilling your life’s purpose!

I hope it inspires you and please leave your own tip as a comment to share with us.

Tags: inspiration, life purpose, self esteem

It’s so easy to put yourself down, isn’t it?  You shouldn’t have said that. Or how could you have done that? Or what about, what were you thinking?

Any of this sound familiar?

Well, as a life coach it is my job to help people make their desired changes and achieve their goals.  And guess what? If you are beating up on yourself, then you are keeping yourself stuck.

Seriously.

If you want to move forward in your life, then begin by accepting yourself exactly how you are right now.  As soon as you let go of the need to change, you begin to change.

Sounds crazy right?! That’s why so many people stay the same!

Play with this idea for awhile and let me know how it works out for you.

Tags: change, negative self talk, self esteem, transformation