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What About 2017 Are You Most Grateful?

What a year! Where did the time go? It would be so easy for us as women to look back and think of all of the things we didn't get done, consider all of the work that still lies ahead, and to forget how blessed and awesome we and all of our sisters are. Instead, why not acknowledge exactly how much ground we covered in 2017?!

Join us on Monday, December 18th as we begin to wrap up 2017 with the last New Moon Circle of the year! Let's gather to praise our growth, our journeys, our ups and downs. Let's give thanks for how much we’ve accomplished, how much we’ve learned, and how much beauty and transformation we have witnessed -- in ourselves and others.

Don't Go It Alone in 2018

Starting Within is scary -- especially on the dark New Moon, because it brings you face to face with your inner shadows. Through authentic connection and support of other women, it is possible to overcome challenges and temporary setbacks. That's exactly what you'll get when you become a MEMBER of the Start Within New Moon Circle. Annual promo discount ends December 18th!

Flip Your Script: Reset Your Mindset w/Gratitude [Radio Interview]

It's been said that your mindset is like the steering wheel of your life. In which direction is your mindset taking you? Is it where you want to go? You can learn how to be more mindful and take on an Attitude of Gratitude to be more resilient in response to life’s ups and downs.

During today's interview by Bernadette Boas with Shedding the B**ch Radio, I presented my top strategies to help you:

• Bounce back after a breakdown and get your mindset back on track so you are open to pursue new opportunities
• Apply gratitude principles to lessen your negative “self-talk”
• Use mindfulness techniques to counteract your limiting beliefs

I also shared my thoughts on how giving back / paying it forward can help you create an abundance mindset. 

Listen to the podcast and let me know how YOU will adopt an Attitude of Gratitude in November -- this month of Thanksgiving.

Flip Your Script: Reset Your Mindset w/ Gratitude w/ Colette Ellis 11/03 by Bernadette Boas | Self Help Podcasts

5 Unexpected Tips to Beat Your Holiday Stress

'Tis the season to be jolly. If you're seeking ideas on how to ease into the holiday season and lessen your stress, read on for 5 Unexpected Tips to Beat Your Holiday Stress!

1. Recognize your holiday stress triggers: A stress trigger is an incident that causes either a negative physical (e.g., headache, cold, or pain) or emotional response (e.g., anxiety, insomnia, or sadness). The holiday challenge is that stress triggers can be associated with family and personal relationships, or finances. What are your holiday triggers? A dreaded encounter or perhaps the absence of a loved one? Concerns about your holiday shopping list or travel? Becoming aware is your first step to lessening your stress.
2. Be willing to let go of past resentments: Once you've identified your triggers, consider viewing them from a NEW perspective. If you're already dreading an encounter, try imagining that your experience will NOT be negative.  Set an intention to approach the person with a positive outlook, and not allow their comments or behaviors to affect your stress level. 
3. Seek out lower-cost holiday options (e.g., "grab bags," "Secret Santa’s," or “potluck” dinners): If your trigger is your finances, be honest with yourself and your family about what you can and cannot take on this year. Focus your attention on how great it will feel to spend time with those whom you love. Infuse yourself with the true holiday spirit of loving and sharing!
4. Tune in to your holiday self-talk: We all have a running script of "self-talk." These are unconscious thoughts about finances, relationships, or goals that occur when you're stressed or overwhelmed. Coach yourself to flip your script for a more positive outlook. When you notice a negative thought, tell yourself to STOP! Take a deep breath, think of a positive statement, and reflect. Think of as many positive ideas that show the negative perspective is NOT true. 
5. Give yourself holiday ME-TIME: With the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget your needs. Build time into your holiday schedule just for you. Take on a new physical activity; or social activity, like volunteering to help others in need. Sharpen your mental abilities with a new book; unplug from your devices. Create more space in your mind for holiday joy!

This year has been a year of many changes for me, some of which I've not yet shared with you. Looking back, I'm thankful for all of the expected AND unexpected blessings that 2014 has brought me. For example, I literally have a new looking-glass through which to view the world, my new living space! Now, I'm looking forward to spending time with my parents and extended family over the holiday season.

What are YOU most thankful for? How will YOU beat your holiday stress? Comment here or tweet me on Twitter. Happy Thanksgiving!!

What I'm Thankful For This Year

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd share some things for which I'm grateful that have happened in 2013. It's been an interesting year of wonderful surprises and unexpected challenges. Here are just a few that come to mind:

I'm thankful for ...

• My parents -- for their continued support and encouragement, and for their sheer presence at this stage in our lives 

• My friends -- both my "golden oldies" who are always there for me, and my new-found acquaintances and colleagues

• My journey to becoming a runner -- both my Couch-to-5K training and my first race taught me so much about extending beyond my (perceived) physical limitations. I'll never forget the jitters I had while riding on the F train to Coney Island to run my first full "Turkey Trot" 5K in 20-degree weather, and how my fingers were freezing while waiting for the race to begin. Nor the doubts I overcame even while jumping up and down to stay warm waiting on the boardwalk! My finish time now gives me a goal to achieve in 2014 -- running under a 10-minute mile!

Pre-Race: Coney Island Sports Fdn Turkey Trot 5K

• My trip "down under" to Australia -- not only because of the miracle of traveling to the other side of the world (I will never forget the landing in Sydney, AU) but because of the internal/external work that was involved in me getting there. There was no guarantee that I'd be going on the trip -- I had to push beyond my (perceived) professional limitations to sell enough registrations and attract enough mentors, sponsors for the event to be viable, before my ticket was even purchased! 

Sydney Opera House: Sydney, AU

This year's "1-Word" for me to operate by was SURRENDER. I believe I'm still learning and internalizing the definition of that word: "trusting that God, the Universe, or a higher intelligence can accomplish anything, even when you can’t foresee the outcome of a situation." -- Deepak Chopra

At some of my lowest or scariest moments this year, I've been able to surrender to the higher intelligence even when I didn't know how things would turn out. Often, it's been that I've realized after my experience that my perseverance is in itself a form of surrender -- a sustained focus on my intentions, with trust that things will turn out for the best (on a larger, universal level). 

I'm learning to be grateful for ALL of my experiences because of the lessons they teach me. It really isn't about the destination, but about the journey. So, on this recognized day of Gratitude, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Would love to know what YOU are thankful/grateful for? Tweet me or share in the comments below.

Embrace Your Life With Love and Gratitude

One of my favorite quotes/affirmations comes from a guided meditation I often listen to called Love & Gratitude:

The more I embrace my life with LOVE and GRATITUDE, the more my life becomes a song of PEACE that I joyfully share with the world.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I'm once again inspired to reflect on the things and people for whom I'm most grateful. I'll make some connections to my 3 Words for 2011 as well.

I'm always grateful for my parents and for the time I get to spend with them. It doesn't escape me how lucky I am to still have them in my life. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to have helped them celebrate their milestone birthdays this year.

I'm grateful for my friends -- for those who are more like family, and for those who are new friends. I'm grateful for the possibility to attract the right people with the right energy into my life.

I'm grateful for my abilities that allow me to run my business and attract/retain clients. I'm grateful for the new projects as well as the opportunity to reconnect with old partners to help transform people's lives and organizations.

From my 3 Words, I'm grateful for the opportunity to RELEASE some old stories that were keeping me stuck in old paradigms and mindsets. It's been a year of self-discovery that has truly tested my ability to "walk my talk." And, as a coach, I know that transformation is an ongoing process. As one of my coaches indicated in a session: "Yesterday's transformation is today's ego trip."

Also from my 3 Words, I'm grateful for the opportunity to take some unreasonable ACTIONS in my personal sphere. While all of the outcomes may not have been what I intended, I'm grateful for the experiences as I know they will serve me in the long run.

And, I'm grateful for my ability to keep my heart open to LOVE in all its manifestations as I can continue on my journey.

I hope you'll take some time to reflect on those things and people for whom you're most grateful. Feel free to share them here, if you'd like. Be sure to share them with the special people in your life. Happy Thanksgiving!

A Brief Reflection on 2010



Sam Javanrouh, http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/

Today, my daily Enneagram message inspired me to take some time to reflect on 2010. The message had a compelling reflection prompt and a personal exploration question all wrapped into one! So, I thought I'd share them both with you:

• Reflection Prompt: Reflect on 2010 to see how you've grown and what issues still block your way to deeper transformation.
• Exploration Question: Has there been a theme during 2010, and do you see a pattern for your future challenges [and opportunities]?

For me, I believe that I have grown spiritually by committing to and completing the Chopra Center 21-Day Meditation Challenge. Since August, I've been meditating and/or reciting my gratitude list nearly every day. And, I use the mantras I've learned to "flip my script" and counteract any negative self-talk. I believe that this new perspective has continued to motivate me to explore new possibilities for my business and be open to attracting new potential partners.

You know that as a coach I believe in transparency; so I'm choosing to share my personal transformation challenge (of letting go) with you. I believe I'm blocked in allowing certain things to manifest in my personal life. It is a continual process for me to affirm my future vision, set my intentions and LET GO of the exact manner in which these things will manifest for me personally.

The primary theme for 2010 is based on one of my 3-Words for 2010 -- global. You've read about my global library project, plus new global partnerships I formed this year. I do intend to deepen and expand my global relationships in 2011, and do more traveling as well. I need to get out (of my office) to explore the world and continue to expand my horizons.

I'm sharing this small excerpt of my 2010 reflection and 2011 visioning, even as I've been aiming to unplug during my snowy "staycation" this week. I'm still pondering what will be my 3-Words for 2011; and have yet to create my 2011 vision slideshow. But, I didn't want the year to end without a quick message to you. Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts and insights with me this past year.

"Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose one knows not, though one senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people." -- Albert Einstein

Here's wishing you a Fantastic, Fun, Healthy, Happy New Year!

I look forward to interacting with you in 2011.

For What Are You Most Grateful This Year?

"Gratitude is heaven itself." ~ William Blake

Thanksgiving is often a day to reflect on and share the aspects of our lives for which we are most grateful / thankful. This year has been interesting -- sometimes exhilirating, sometimes challenging, sometimes unexpected.

I had an "A-HA!"moment last evening, reminding me to be grateful / thankful for all of my experiences. It can be helpful to remind ourselves that we are shaped by all of our experiences. It can be so easy to focus on the things that haven't worked, or didn't go the way we wished -- and lose sight of the lessons and insights we've gained. On a higher plane, things are the way they're "supposed" to be.

I am grateful / thankful for this opportunity to reflect on this, and ponder my other sources of gratitude. Here are a few:

I'm always so grateful / thankful for my parents, whose unconditional love is an unspoken source of support and comfort. And, I'm grateful / thankful for the ability to still spend time with them.

I'm grateful / thankful for my friends, whether near or far; many fun memories that can be a great pick-me-up on a challenging day.

I'm grateful / thankful for my clients, whose needs I always hope I am meeting.

I'm grateful / thankful for my global travel and encounters this year -- reinforcing my belief in affirmations and mantras ("global" was one of my 3 Words for 2010).

I'm grateful / thankful for my home and all of its comforts -- even if there are things I'd like to change or improve.

For whom / what things are you most grateful this year?

Feel free to share your thoughts here or tweet me on Twitter.

Words of Thanks from Coach Colette

I can't believe that another year has almost concluded. I'm sure I say this every year; but it really does seem like it hasn't been that long since I created my 2009 vision board. Now, it's Thanksgiving and nearly time to get my vision for 2010 in focus.

As I reflect upon this past year, here are a few of the things I'm most thankful/grateful for:

• I'm grateful for the opportunity to have spent much of this past year traveling the country and getting to meet so many wonderful people who are dedicated to improving their communities.
• I'm grateful for the chance to collaborate with some fantastic, talented people in the design and delivery of training programs for our mutual clients.
• I'm grateful for the clients who have included me into their worlds and allowed me to be a part of their future vision of a better world/work environment.
• I'm grateful for all of the people who participated in my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration - both in person and virtually. These include my friends who helped me, their friends who shared favorite memories and thoughts, our extended family, and the people who worked to make the event a success.
• I'm grateful for my parents, and for each celebration (large and small) we're able to share together.
• I'm grateful for my friends who continue to stick by me and cheer me on in my efforts (despite my mood or actions).
• I'm grateful for my own persistence and perseverance (ok, stubborness!) that enables me to continue even when I'm not sure of the outcome.

I'll close with the last part of the daily affirmation I've read to myself this year:
I give thanks for the immediate, complete, divine fulfillment of my desires. This or something better comes forth with perfect timing according to God's rich good for me.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your special ones!

Words of Thanks from Coach Colette

In honor of the season and Thanksgiving holiday, I thought I'd share my thoughts on people and things for which I'm thankful.

• I am thankful for my family - especially my parents who have given me love, encouragement and support throughout my life. The dinner I'm cooking only scratches the surface at my love at gratitude to you both.
• I am thankful for my friends - many of whom are not "local" to my area. But know that I'm glad for our connection.
• I am thankful for my health - I've felt a few more "creaks" in the joints; but overall, thanks to the body that enabled me to travel the country this year -- often on less sleep and nourishment than it deserved!
• I am thankful for my talents and abilities - touches on the core mission of my company to help others recognize their greatness -- I'm glad for my skills (including those I've not yet surfaced).
• I am thankful for my business - a vehicle to help fulfill my life purpose.
• I am thankful for my home - even when I'm stir crazy on those "in-office" days, I'm aware of how lucky I am to have a warm safe place to live.
• I am thankful for all the "right" people with the "right" energy I've met - along the way, on the journey ...

AND ...

I am grateful for the opportunity to express these thoughts and share positive energy with YOU!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours!