Master Gardening

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. - Goethe

The easiest way to identify what our heart wants is to examine the feelings that surface when we relate to that subject. Do you find solace when picking up your journal to write a daily reflection? Does time spent with your family thrill you to tears? What feelings arise when you chase down the things that make your heart flutter? True happiness comes when we routinely engage in positive activities that we love. Take a look at your life as a whole. Pursue the things that make you feel alive and fill you with joy and healthy balance." sparkpeople.com

How do I get that you ask? Sometimes we feel like one chapter of life has closed suddenly and unpleasantly. Loss of a relationship, death of a loved one, or the kids flew the coop. These circumstances in life often leave us feeling flat, worn out, and joyless. We have forgotten what brings us joy and who we really are inside. Change can happen when you're ready to let go of feeling that you have no control over life. If you can't change what's going on in life right now, can you change how you view it? Pick up that journal and start a list of what gives you joy. State in positive terms what you want as if it's already happened (I live a life of joy and harmony, I walk daily to maintain my healthy weight, I have many positive friends who support my life's dreams). Start cutting pictures out of magazines that make your mind say ahhh...and your heart glow. Make a vision board that shows pictures of what you'd like to see in your life and start your inner journey toward making that come true. Some very focused people make this happen by themselves. Many of us try and try, but keep slipping back into old ways (old thoughts and habits die hard). It's OK to treat yourself as well as you would your best friend. It's even OK to ask for help. Life Coaches help us learn to help ourselves.

I've been working on ways to talk about coaching and what I do for YOU - the client (This extends a past post "Cultivating Your Inner Garden"). I was trying to come up with a memorable way to introduce myself that will stick in your mind long after that brief 10 minute conversation at the party or networking event. Try this on for size. I'd love your feedback.

Hi I'm Jude Eastman, Master Gardener & Life Coach. Coaching is a bit like gardening. When you haven't been able to get the flowers to bloom by yourself, sometimes you hire a gardener. Think of your life in similar terms. I help you:

Prepare the soil by turning over the earth or examining your life circumstances.

Pull the weeds by up rooting & getting rid of limiting beliefs.

Plan the new garden by envisioning the life you WANT to live.

Plant seeds for change by clarifying your values &
aligning your life with them through focused action.

Fertilize by giving you tools to accelerate your growth.

Add sun by bringing out your strengths and validating your efforts.

Watering to create the momentum that keeps the dream alive.

If you'd like to know how I can help you grow your ideal life--I'd love to discuss my gardening tips with you. E-mail jude@stirringthespiritwithin.com

Thrive where you're planted and grow towards the light (Your inner light)
Jude Eastman~Master Gardener & Life Coach
How does your garden grow?

How Thankful Are You?

Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold. - Maurice Setter

"Appreciation of the Good Things in Life--How many times are we blind to the good in front of us because we're looking past it for something better? It's like watching the railroad track your entire life, waiting for a train to come in and never realizing that you're sitting smack in the middle of the splendid Grand Central Station. Take a second look at your goals. Are they building on the good already in your life? Are you taking full advantage of the strengths you already have? Is it worth giving up what you have for what you might have? In many cases, the answer is yes. To that we say "Go for it!" with all the enthusiasm we can muster. Those are the meaningful goals. If the answer is no, try reworking your goals to include ones that complement your present life rather than substitute for it. Whatever the answer is for you, we could all use a little more appreciation for the pieces of silver in our lives. " sparkpeople.com

By the end of a recent call on Attraction and Gratitude I was literally glowing with warm fuzzy feelings! All of the us expressed gratitude for pieces of our lives that brought us to our present circumstances. The more each of us opened up, the more others thought to be grateful for. It was contagious! There was no way to be unhappy with whatever circumstances, because we each embraced the gold nuggets of learning and growth that came with it.

My thoughts ran from gratitude for parents who were had high expectations, to having an education and job that support me, to being grateful that I walked through the fires of hell in 2005 and came out the other side a better person (the dross turn into gold). I sustained multiple loses (read more at my website), and underwent a powerful transformation. I literally "stirred the spirit within." by being grateful for all that I had and what I could become

Do you need big things in order to be grateful? Of course not! Do you have at least one good friend who is always there for you? How about a dog or cat you gives you unconditional love and acceptance on a daily basis? Did you see a beautiful sunset, a rainbow, or the most perfect flower in passing? Do you have a family who nurtures you? What about a spiritual family that uplifts and supports you?

What would be possible to create in your life next if you aligned your goals with the values strengths that are uniquely YOURS? Find little ways to pull more of that into your life. Visualize yourself being thankful that these goals are already true and in your life now. You just have to accept them. Stop looking down the track at what what you don't have and get on the train.

What are you grateful for today?