WHAT NOW? LIFE COACHING.
  • What Now? Life Coaching
  • Services/Contact Me
  • Mushroom to Sunflower Blog
  • What Does A Life Coach Do?
  • Finding Your What Now; Creating the Next Years of Your Life
  • Depression; Your Personal Message Workbook
  • Vision Board
  • Female Emotional Neglect Recovery
  • Buy the Program
  • Are You Emotionally Neglected?

Warmth Wins; Getting to You Under Your Protective Cover

27/6/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
There was an illustrated commercial that used to run on t.v. when I was a kid, of a woman walking outside. The story seemed to me that the elements, the weather, made some sort of bet with the winner being the one that could make the woman remove the coat she was wearing. At first the wind whipped around which just caused her to tighten the coats’ belt around her. Then the rain had a turn, which caused her to flip up the coats’ hood to cover her head. Snow followed causing the woman to huddle deeper into her coat. Finally, the sun appeared and eventually its’ continuous beam caused the woman to remove her coat.
 
We All Have Protective Covering
We’ve all learned to protect ourselves, especially emotionally. We all carry around our carefully constructed outward appearances so that others cannot see our wounds and therefore exploit them. If anyone or anything comes near and happens to trigger a painful feeling-an emotion we’re protecting, we react by contracting; we back away, we shrink, becoming smaller and we wrap our protective defences more tightly around us.
 
You’ve more than likely noticed that harshness, rigidity, criticism, etc. are not effective when positive change or growth is the goal. Educators and therapists have this figured out. We now understand that encouragement and positive focus work much better to help people blossom.
 
Apply This
This also applies to our inner voices. How often can you catch your critical thoughts? When I notice myself wanting to contract; to stay inside, to hide and remain small I often discover my inner dialogue at work. When I am seeing my cup half full or overflowing(!) and my thoughts are motivational instead of critical, I want to share who I am and what I know. I get curious about life and about others.
 
It applies to relationships as well. How do you instinctually behave with the people you hang out with? Are you open, generous, curious? Are you defensive, quiet, watchful? How do people respond to you? Do they feel seen, heard, accepted for who they are?

 
Fully You
You under your protective cover, is a diminished you, not fully you. You in the warmth of understanding and encouragement helps you to get to what you’re covering. Understanding it and healing it will lead you to not needing a protection, which leads you to fully expressing yourself in all situations.

I cannot remember what the ad with the lady and the weather was selling but I somehow understood, even at a young age, that warmth, kindness and understanding was the path to fullness and happiness.

​Questions? Comments? I love hearing from you.
​
Email:
 coachjenniferwashington@gmail.com
Picture
​Jennifer Washington Certified Martha Beck Life Coach 
What Now Life Coaching 
www.whatnowlifecoaching.com 

Facebook 
Twitter 
​Pinterest
 INSTAGRAM
0 Comments

Your Life Can Always Be Better

13/6/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
No matter how great your life is, it can always be better. That’s what we were told during coach training and why Life Coaching exists—to make life, where it is, right now, better. My first thought was, wow, this self-improvement is an endless job. But, I eventually learned, it’s not about self-improvement. It’s about creating and enjoying your life.
 
My clients, I have found, come in two categories; those that are open to trying new things and different ways of thinking and those who have a ready answer to why new and different things won’t work for them.
 
If you fall into the category of having really great excuses, do not despair! I have information for you.
 
Defense is a Protection
The reality is, that we control very little of what goes on in the world*, therefore, fear very often is in the drivers’ seat of our lives. And fear’s number one job is to keep you safe. So, by not altering or stepping out of an environment that you are already comfortable with (even if it’s not great! (So, Why Won’t You Leave a Terrible Situation?), fear is keeping you from potential harm. But, it is also keeping you from potential expansion and joy.
*(We do, however, control our thoughts and behaviours/responses)
 
Bumps and Bruises May Ensue
Yes, there are risks when you step out/embrace change;
When you’re vulnerable, you might get your feelings hurt.
When you attempt new skills, you might feel awkward and embarrassed.
When you reveal your true likes, dislikes and embrace your authentic nature, some people may reject you.

But guess what? Hurt feelings do not cause death.
Awkwardness and embarrassment go away when you master new tasks.
New people who really like YOU show up.
​
You’ve done this many times already. You expanded and discovered new things about yourself and the world.
 
Why Should I Risk it?
On the other side of trying new ways to enjoy life is discovering that vulnerability makes you feel more alive, that sucking at something you love is still better than being skilled at doing what you hate and being able to express your true self feels like delicious relief. Could being vulnerable, expanding further and expressing authentically be worth doing if it leads to a more enjoyable life?
 
‘Two types of clients; those who consider possibilities and those who dismiss possibilities. Guess which clients get better results, when the results are enjoying their life more?
​Questions? Comments? I love hearing from you.
​
Email:
 coachjenniferwashington@gmail.com
Picture
​Jennifer Washington Certified Martha Beck Life Coach 
What Now Life Coaching 
www.whatnowlifecoaching.com 

Facebook 
Twitter 
​Pinterest
 INSTAGRAM
1 Comment

    On my journey back to wholeness I have explored many modalities and can honestly say the What Now Life Coaching session was one of the most illuminating (yet non-invasive) interactions I've had.

    Jennifer used an interesting variety of tools to further guide me towards my "North Star" (soul's calling) and I walked away feeling grounded, comforted, validated and inspired.
    ​
    -Angela, Shaman.

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Are You Emotionally Suppressed?
    Picture
    Where's Your Wild Child? Awakening a Sleeping Dream Part Two
    Picture
    Understanding Human Emotions Part One
    Picture
    Free Worksheet!
    Picture






    ​Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from quinn.anya, Lemsipmatt, Feist, Michael - FunnyFence - catchthefuture, Jannie-Jan, alex.shultz, DJ-Dwayne [Away till 31st November], volantwish, Viajar24h.com, JUSU, nafmo, Cloned Milkmen, litratcher, frankieleon, amishsteve, shootthedoll, William Arthur Fine Stationery, kodomut, Carodean Road Designs, torbakhopper, jessicahtam, limevelyn, Kurdishstruggle, peterworsley, tara marie, Daniel Hathaway, Calgary Reviews, KLGreenNYC, Cecily Michelle, RaubDaub, cogdogblog, Jade♥, Maria Grazia Montagnari, CinCool, x1klima, bambe1964, David Sifry, @lattefarsan, miamism, Daniel E Lee, Jellaluna, emjahn, dracychan, Denis Dervisevic, Street matt, Paxson Woelber, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., _Fidelio_, Ann Frye, Prayitno / Thank you for (10 millions +) views, markyharky, Avenue G, glasseyes view, Infomastern, craigCloutier, frank-hl, andertoons, eioua, torbakhopper, Silly Eagle Books, dronepicr, mikie t, Sustainable sanitation, Eduardo Mueses, Chrysaora, D.o.M.e.N.i.C.o (memmo77), elidr, blondinrikard, Ben+Sam, striatic, __MaRiNa__, edenpictures, fruity monkey, Thomas Rousing, R'lyeh Imaging, FaceMePLS, casey.marshall, quinn.anya, Jim Trottier, Holger Zscheyge, Athena I. SaldaƱa