Present
Moments
Thoughts from Susie Ascott - on living your Perfect Life
Welcome to May 2010 Issue of Present Moments!
Present Moments includes tips for living your perfect life, an update on what I’ve been up to and news of upcoming events.
You are receiving this because you have partnered with me in a coach-client relationship, you have attended my yoga classes or expressed an interest in coaching. If you would prefer not to receive these (infrequent!) newsletters, then please let me know, susie_coach@bigpond.com
Special Offer:
Be one of the first 5 to email me with your answer to the question below and the price of a “Live the Life You Really Want” 6 week e-course reduces by over 30% to $60
Question: Name one of the Principles for Vitality recommended by Anat Baniel and tell me what you do to increase your vitality?
In this issue:
Feature – Dispatch from the Field – 7 life lessons
What’s been happening?
April seemed to be all about de-cluttering “stuff,” shifting furniture and cleaning. I sold Mum’s house, with almost immediate settlement. In just 2 weeks I bought a house for my son to move into and found a rental for him, as the house I have bought has tenants until August.
My main “goal” for this year is to “grow
younger.” When I first set this goal I wasn’t too sure exactly what
I meant by this. As the year progresses I am getting more clarity. Growing
younger is about my body, mind and spirit.
For the body I am practicing and teaching more yoga, listening to my body more, eg knowing when I am tired and need rest, knowing when I am being lethargic and need exercise. With the help of Food Coach, Marion Egger I am taking more care of the food I eat. Daily shots of wheatgrass, lemon and garlic; Fresh clean water with cell food and goji berries, see aqua flow for where (in Oz) you can refill your 15 ltr bottle with good quality water for just $4; morning muesli with Acai berries, LSA, colloidal minerals, chia seeds and bee pollen; lots of home grown sprouts and veggies and even the occasional green smoothie. For well priced on-line shopping see Raw power if you are in Oz or Sun food or Raw Food World if you are in the US or Europe.
For the mind, I am practicing awareness and curiosity, and, for the spirit, meditation, enthusiasm, playfulness and gratitude.
People tell me I look younger, but that may be because my daughter dyed my hair, covering up the grey! I feel younger, and that has nothing to do with the colour of my hair.
I have been given another yoga class to teach on a Friday evening, and this term I am teaching yoga to the drama students at a local school. My youngest students are in their early teens, the oldest in their 70s. So wonderful to practice with such a diverse range of individuals and be so aware of our one-ness rather than our differences.
I am on the planning committee for a local “Friends of” group, and we have been awarded a grant which is providing 10,000 plants for our local conservation wetland. Be careful what you ask for! Now we just need some rain and LOTS of willing volunteers to get the plants in so that they can get established before the summer comes.
Feature – Dispatch from the Field – 7 life lessons
At the end of each coaching session I ask my clients
1. What did your coach do or say that had the biggest impact?
2. What was your greatest insight during our session?
On first glance they might seem like the same question, and when I first started coaching I was a little confused myself as to why I wanted to ask both these questions. Over the years, however, I found that they are truly two separate questions. As a coach, I make suggestions and offer up what might be called Life Lessons. However, by far the most powerful and productive lessons and insights come from my clients themselves, in response to my questions and our conversation.
Robin and I began our coach-client relationship about 10 years ago. He recently sent me the following email and I am sharing this with you with his permission. Thank you Robin!
Coaching Lessons
(1) - developing a disinterest in judging people. It's
harder than you think but it's very rewarding. So much unpleasantness
comes from your own judgment against others. Anger is judging. Road rage is
judging. The odds are pretty solidly in favour of the probability that
the person who cut you off is either selfish, or ignorant, or stupid or a
combination of the three, deserving of removal from the human gene pool.
There is however an insignificantly small possibility that they're rushing to
be by the side of their terminally ill mother. The point is that you
don't know, and to assume is to judge.
(2) - great serenity comes from the practical realization that life is
perfect, especially when it is not. I've been telling myself this for
years but making it a practical part of my daily thinking has been truly
liberating. We live in the lap of the gods. We are responsible for
journey decisions but not the destination. There are so many other
elements to fate than our own contribution. We make the best decisions we
can then we accept what happens. We don't always get what we want, but
it's always what we need.
(3) - maintain the rage. Angry? Challenge yourself to
maintain your level of rage for 2 minutes or drop it immediately.
(4) - you are a child of the universe and a reflection of all that there
is in it. Each wrong you see in the world has a seed in you. If you
want to rid the world of a wrong, find its seed in you and remove it. You
will find that it's gone from the outer world too.
(5) - Some things like relationships and success cannot be acquired or
even actively sought. They are things you attract. The principles
of attraction are about enlightenment and self development. It is the
practical guide to making positive thinking pay off. "You reap
what you sow." "What goes around..." "Karma."
"You are attracted to your fears as well as your goals". It is
a sentiment reflected in every philosophy and religion. Understand that it is
"attraction" and not "acquisition," and it becomes powerful
magic.
(6)- The universe does talk to you, but not in English, Dutch or even in
"signs". You have to develop the "ear" to
listen. It's about instincts, first impressions and feelings.
Messages are often obscured by our
desire to justify our feelings and decisions with science and logic. We
forget that "science and logic" are our observations of the universe
and not a rule framework in which the universe operates. The human
consciousness can see so much more than we can explain with formulae.
Sometimes we get it wrong but that means we have to tune our listening, not
stop listening.
(7) - Details are sexy. Big picture is not. It's part of the
principles of attraction. Big picture is for planning. Details are
for living.
Extrapolation - stuff I'm thinking about as a result of coaching:
(1) romancing myself. Creating, planning, holidaying seem so much
more purposeful when you're doing it with someone else, but it's unhealthy to
depend on or wait for someone else to validate your good mood, thus I'm
learning to romance myself.
And WHAT IS DIFFERENT in my life, as a result of these “Lessons learnt”?
I am now a happier person than I was. I've always been
a little intense, but now that just seems to be OK. I'm better able to
manage highs and lows and I seem to be unaffected by things going wrong.
I've always handled the rough patches well. The difference is that now I don't
feel like a martyr.
I feel less stressed and less angry. Things that used to enrage me now
pass me by as casual observations.
Making decisions is much easier and seems to come naturally, sometimes with no
logical support what so ever, and with no regrets.
I'm more confident in dealing with relationships. I understand the
relationships I have with the people around me better, in fact my relationship
with the universe in general has become much less
confrontational.
I find that a lot of cliches like "live in the moment" are starting
to take on tangible forms. To finish on another cliche, my life really
did begin at 40, soon after I engaged my life coach. Perhaps most
significantly, I do not feel "changed. I am still me, but greatly
enhanced.
Robin scooterist@iinet.net.au
Recommended Reading
Books I have enjoyed reading over the last few months:
“Move Into Life – The Nine essentials for Lifelong Vitality”– Anat Baniel
My major intention for 2010 is to “grow younger.” I guess this is what drew me to Move Into Life, which provides subtle physical exercises and reminds us of ways to remain vibrant and fully engaged in life. I wonder whether my Mum might have been able to delay or prevent the debilitating effects of dementia through following Anat Baniel’s advice. I’m certainly willing to give it a try myself!
To watch a 10 min marketing/intro video click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LObdTPWVjDY
“Based on the work of her mentor, mind-body pioneer Moshe Feldenkrais, dancer and clinical psychologist Baniel developed a program she has used with clients, including professional musicians, athletes and learning-disabled children. Articulating and amplifying Feldenkrais's system, Baniel's method consists of nine ways to overcome dysfunctional mind-body connections that prevent people of all ages from feeling life-enhancing vitality and optimal health: moving with attention; turning on the “learning switch”; experiencing subtlety; breaking harmful habits through variation; living more slowly; setting flexible goals; firing enthusiasm; using the imagination; and cultivating awareness. Citing research into neurogenesis, Baniel contends that brain growth can be stimulated with such simple yet paradoxical shifts as making gains without pain, reducing force to increase power and solving problems by daydreaming.” Editorial Review - Publishers Weekly vol. 256 iss. 9 p. 56 (c) 03/02/2009
“The Ancient Future”– Tracy Harding
Thankyou Stacy for lending me this book in response to my last newsletter where I was expressing my interest in all things Celtic.
Easy reading Celtic fantasy by an Australian author, best read in bed to encourage amazing dreams, but make sure you go to bed early so you have plenty of time to read and get your 8 hours sleep!!!
If you are not following your dreams, but feel that maybe it is time to start, check out the author’s profile on http://www.voyageronline.com.au/traciharding/books/ancient.htm
Late one evening, en route to visit a relative, an accident leaves Tory – the attractive, twenty-something daughter of a prominent history professor – stranded near a ring of stones in Britain. Tory resolves to spend the night at the stone circle and seek help in the morning . . .But across the vortex of time and space, she is taken back to the Dark Age. There she meets Prince Maelgwn of Gwynedd and his band of warriors. Initially her 'strange' appearance frightens them and they believe she is the notorious witch fabled to frequent the site. But she overcomes their fear and soon the tales of her adventures, brave deeds and beauty spread across the land. http://www.voyageronline.com.au/traciharding/books/ancient.htm
Websites I’ve enjoyed:
http://www.fredalanwolf.com Fred Alan Wolf is a physicist, writer, and lecturer who earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics at UCLA in 1963. He continues to write, lecture throughout the world, and conduct research on the relationship of quantum physics to consciousness. I don’t pretend to understand all that he writes about on his website, but he certainly stretches my mind and keeps the brain active!
Yoga Classes
I’m loving teaching yoga. THANK YOU to all my dedicated students.
See my blog for latest timetable (note new evening and weekend classes added) and home practices
Vision Board Workshop
In
this ½ day workshop you will create a visual picture of your hearts
desire using paint, texters, collage
Cost $40 for a ½ day of Fun and Inspiration Materials supplied
Dates: 2-5pm Sunday August 1st 
Oil Painting for Fun
Have fun discovering or rediscovering that painting is fun. No experience is necessary.
Cost: $30 to include paints, canvas and use of easel
Bring your own materials and the cost is $15
Dates: Sat afternoons or Sunday afternoons 2pm -5pm (1pm -4pm during the winter) held every 4 to 6 weeks. See my blog for latest timetable
Live the Life You Really Want – E-Course
A simple, step by step process to take you closer to living the life you really want. All you need is access to email and about 1 hour per week.
Cost: $90 for 6 week class.
Dates: start whenever you want to
“All my benefits keep on growing from this course. If I haven’t said it yet – thank you.”
“I really like your course, thank you for providing me with the materials. They are very simple, clear and easy to follow.”
“light bulb moments go off constantly in my head, so much that I could light the city with it!”
“I definitely would like to tackle one, but in a while, when I’m a bit more defined and sure of what it is I want. “Ah.... but that will help me be defined won’t it”... yes I can hear you through the computer!”
Thanks for Reading!
Smiles, Susie