The Power of Signs

I am a big believer in signs. Whenever I have something on my mind or I need to make a decision, I know there will be signs to help me. But the trick is knowing what to look for and then knowing what to do once you find them.

The thing about signs is they can come from anywhere. They can be small and subtle or very dramatic! It can be as simple as a song on the radio, a comment from a friend or an event that you witness.

Recently I was having an interaction with my 14 year old son. I wanted him to use his time over the long MLK weekend one way and he had a totally different agenda. He had some homework that was due on Tuesday and I wanted him to get it done early on and then have the rest of the weekend free. He wanted to plan out his whole time, decide how much time he needed to do the assignments and then work them in during blocks of time when there was no football on TV and/or no other friends to hang out with.

Needless to say, our different ideas about how he should spend his time created some very charged interactions. So early on in the weekend I was thinking about our relationship and wondering if my approach of wanting to micro-manage him was in fact the correct choice. It made me feel better but was it really the correct thing for him?

So I put it out to the Universe to help me understand which way to go with this situation and that I needed a sign to give me clarity. Not too long after that I did what I usally do when I need clarity and went for a walk. As I was walking through some wooded areas in my neighborhood I spotted a hawk at the top of a very tall tree. I noticed the hawk and went on, thinking nothing about it.

About 30 minutes later I looked up from my desk and saw that the hawk was right outside my back door, perched on my deck railing. There sat this big, beautiful bird right outside my window just looking at me. Once it had my attention it jumped down to the ground and allowed me to get within a few feet from it and then it soared away. It didn’t even hardly flap its powerful wings. It just glided away almost effortlessly.

Well, I was pretty sure that was the sign I’d asked for since I have never in my life seen a hawk up close and personal. And of course it did come right up to my back door just so I wouldn’t miss that the sign was meant for me.

So the question became, now what? What does this all mean for my dilemma? Well, the first thing I did was go to my signs book and look up the meaning of a hawk. Hawks are messengers, symbolizing the ability to take a big picture view. So, I had to ask myself, I am really serving us both with my decision to micro-manage my son’s time? If I take a big picture view what would that look like in this situation? If I step back and allow him the freedom to manage his own time, what’s the worst that could happen?

This self-reflection helped me take a different, more empowering tact for both of us. I gave him the list of what needed to be accomplished, the deadline it all had to be done by and the consequences of not meeting the deadline. Beyond that I told him he had complete control over how he spent his time and that I trusted in his success.

He rose to the occasion and had everything completed with 2 hours to spare. He worked out what he needed to do and what he wanted to do and figured out how to balance the two. My new stance took the pressure off me because I was using my mental energy to keep him on task and then when we were together I was directing his activities instead of enjoying his company.

Thanks to my hawk friend I know we both learned some valuable lessons. My son learned that I am able to trust him to be responsible and I learned that I need to be watchful for more opportunities that allow him to spread his wings and soar.

So look for signs in your life. They are there to help you find your way. The Universe is always lining everything up in your favor, you just need to be open to the messages.

Blessings,
Donna

Technorati Tags: greensboro, law of attraction, parenting, personal life coaching, signs, symbols, teenagers, Whole Life Coaching

New Year New You

New Year New You

5 Easy Ways to Make Lasting Change

With the New Year upon us it is time again to make those resolutions. However, why don’t you do it differently in 2012? Instead of resolutions, just decide on some SHIFTS you’d like to make in your life.

Here is an easy 5 step process for creating SHIFTS that move you toward what you are wanting.

S – Start small. Create baby steps toward you ultimate goal. Smaller bites are easier to chew and with small successes, you are more likely to keep these changes in place. Reward yourself for the actions you take rather than using progress as your barometer.

H – Help is not a bad thing. No one said you need to do it all by yourself for it to count. Seek out a support system, enlist a coach or grab a buddy. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself in alignment with what you want.

I – Intention is a powerful motivator. Uncover the powerful reason why you are making these changes. Keep a daily journal of your “Why’s” to help keep you motivated.

F – Forget your “shoulds”. It should be happening faster, you should be doing it better, etc. If you stumble or stray from your new path, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on track. No judgment, just keep going forward.

T – Think in terms of what you’d like to add to your life rather than what you’d like to take away. Focusing on your positive outcomes is a much more powerful motivator.

S – Self-Celebrate. The reason you want to make changes is because you want your life to be better. However, enjoy your life as it is today while working forward to a new you. This way the journey is pleasurable and you aren’t just waiting for the destination.

If you’d like some additional information about making new lifestyle changes this year, please see my article in the Natural Triad online magazine, 12 Lifestyle Changes for 2012.

Happy New Year!

Many Blessings,
Donna

Technorati Tags: 2012, abundance, Coaching Personal Transition, holistic coaching, Life Changes, new year's, personal life coaching, Whole Life Coaching

Which of These Would You Choose?

I need your help. Autumn is here. In the Chinese Five element System of Healing Autumn is Lung/Large Intestines Energy. This means it is time to let go of grief and take in life fully.

In addition to my private practice, I have been asked to teach classes.

So, I would love your input on which of the following classes appeal to you, which style of class you like and what other topics you would love to see on the list.

Here is a list of topics I am considering:

Overcoming Your Personal Resistance

Ways to overcome those things that pop up in front of you and keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Daily Practices That Boost Your Future Well-Being

Daily things you can do that deposit health, happiness and well-being into your future bank.

Qigong Movements & Seated Meditation

The ancient Chinese modality of Qigong is designed to cultivate your wellness and vitality (Qi – Life Force Energy) through both movement and seated meditations.

Creating & Interpreting Your Vision Board

How to create a vision board that moves you forward, and how to interpret the messages your subconscious is revealing about you through your vision board.

Handling Holiday Stress

How to sail through the holidays with a smile.

What other topics interest you??

Also, would you rather in person classes or tele-seminars?

Are you looking for a 90 minute class, ½ day class or all day class?

Please leave me your feedback in the comments section, or feel free to email me @ donna[at]donnaburick.com or call me at 336-540-0088.

Thanks so much for helping out – I really appreciate your time.

Blessings,

Donna

Technorati Tags: BodyTalk System, Energy Therapy Healing, holistic coaching, life coach, personal life coaching, personal transition coaching, stress

Your Wish is Your Command: How to Uncork the Genie in the Bottle

If a Genie suddenly appeared and asked you, “What is it that you really want?” would you be able to answer? Really answer, not just with the list of things you always have at the ready – bigger house, new car, more money, etc. etc. – but the feelings and state of mind that you think these things will bring you if you somehow could possess them.

Maybe you do have a clear vision of what you really want; like a chronic pain you want to release. Or perhaps when faced with that question you only have a vague sense that there is something you want, but you just can’t bring it into clear focus.

What if that Genie really exists and it lives in your energy field that is the “Higher You”? Wouldn’t you love to be able to communicate with it? Well, the answers you seek are closer than you think.

Here is a fun way to “channel” your inner guidance:

1. Set aside 30-60 minutes of quiet time. Bring a notebook and a pen.
2. Write on the top of the paper your question. For example, “What is it I really want at this time in my life?”
3. Close your eyes and go inward for a few minutes. When you feel ready open your eyes and begin writing. If nothing comes flowing out immediately then begin writing by rephrasing the question. For example, “I want at this point in my life…”
4. Just write whatever comes – do not edit. Also know that it will feel made up at first – you are not “faking” it – that’s just how it feels until you move into place of more trust. Consider the information “imagined” instead of “faked” – it’s much more playful that way!
5. Keep asking additional questions that stem from the first one. Questions like, “What’s my first step in making that happen” or “Why do I want that right now” or “Who do I need to ask for help with this”.
6. Go until you run out of steam and then look over what you’ve written.

This exercise is a great way to tap into the guidance that is always with you. That’s what’s so great about Energy Therapy – it allows us to get guidance from your “Higher Self” so you are able to move forward.

As Summer becomes Fall and the energy shifts, it is time to re-focus on your questions. And as always I am here, ready to help you ask, answer and manifest your heart’s desire.

Technorati Tags: abundance, automatic writing, BodyTalk System, Energy Therapy Healing, holistic coaching, law of attraction, personal life coaching, personal transition coaching, transition, Whole Life Coaching

A 2.44 Minute Lesson on Compassion Guaranteed to Wow You

“Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.” Dalai Lama

The most exciting thing about each new day is the anticipation of what unexpected goodies might come your way.

We all get very busy with our lives. Lost in deep thought, wrapped up in our to do lists, in a hurry to get from point A to point B, yet there are so many gifts in every single day that we often overlook in our hustle and bustle.

My friend Beverly Johnston wrote this piece on how one day brought her a great gift on the topic of compassion. She recorded it for our local public radio station, WFDD.

Please take 2.44 minutes and listen to this wonderful story. It will open your heart and perhaps open your eyes to some gift your day has in store for you that you might otherwise have missed.

To listen from the WFDD website go here:

http://tinyurl.com/4pyglyg

To download and listen on your computer go here:

http://tinyurl.com/4zkre4t

Please leave me a comment with your reaction – I’m always interested in what you have to say.

Blessings,

Donna

Technorati Tags: Coaching Personal Transition, compassion, Energy Therapy Healing, holistic coaching, life coach, personal life coaching

Lose 10 Pounds of Emotional Baggage Fast

Life Coaching with Energy Therapy Breaks Your Past Chains

Would you like to feel 10 pounds lighter? Do you want a quick, easy way to stop carrying around all that past baggage that has built up in your life?

If so then here’s your answer.

By fusing Energy Therapy modalities with Life Coaching techniques a reaction is created that clears away past subconscious programing and baggage so you can move forward with ease.

We are all a product of our past experiences, thoughts and actions. But if you are looking to improve your outcomes then Life Coaching with Energy Therapy is your best bet.

Life Coaching is very different than regular talk therapy because it is focused on where you are and where you want to go rather than on past events. But, what if past events are affecting where you are and where you want to go? That’s why adding Energy Therapy is the answer.

Life Coaching boosted with Energy Therapy modalities can access your subconscious blocks and move aside those things that are holding you back. The real gift is these are things that you can not access in regular conscious therapy or coaching.

So if you’ve ever felt like you’ve hashed and rehashed your past and yet you still have not moved forward to the extent that you’d like then this is your answer.

A good analogy of how your subconscious mind works is the studies done on babies and the visual cliff. Babies who are just crawling are placed on a plexiglass table where one side looks shallow and the other seems to drop off. The parent is on the “deep” side coaxing the baby across.

Psychologists have found out two very important things from this test.

One, that the expressions of the trusted parent directly affects the babies performance. If the parent shows a fear face as the baby starts toward the deep end the baby stops crawling. In like manner, if the parent is smiling and nodding yes, the baby scampers across.

Secondly, psychologists have found that babies who are first crawling do not seem to show an inherent fear of the deep side because they have very little experience with falling. However, babies a few months older, and who have experienced falling, have a much stronger avoidance reaction to the deep end, even when their parent is coaxing them to cross.

This is how your subconscious mind develops. There are negative events that have happened to you that have encoded in your subconscious. These patterns or messages run in your subconscious background in an effort to protect you from harm.

Perhaps they served you when they were formed, but they are no longer the patterns you want running twenty years later. Energy Therapy enables us to go in and turn off those messages and re-encode new messages that are more productive.

So, if you’ve ever felt like that you bump in to an invisible wall when you try to move forward, see what a powerful difference Life Coaching infused with Energy Therapy can do for you.

Here are some of my Life Coaching success stories from other clients. You can also get more information about the power of Energy Therapy at my Life Coaching website.

Here are two videos on the Visual Cliff experiment:

Here is some additonal information for you:

What is BodyTalk?

What is Complementary or Alternative Medicine?

How Do We Heal Past Emotional Experiences?

Energy Healing

Technorati Tags: alternative healing system, BodyTalk System, Energy Therapy Healing, greensboro, holistic coaching, life coach, life coaching, nc, personal life coaching, personal transition coaching, stress, weight loss, Whole Life Coaching, winston

What’s Your Dream?

There’s an old Nick Nolte movie in which a homeless man goes around asking people “What’s your dream?” Finding your life’s passion is sometimes harder than it would seem. One way I have my clients assess passion level is by the way tasks and ideas make them feel.

Does thinking about taking on a new career path fill you with energy or dread? Do you feel better or worse after spending the weekend with that new person in your life??

Listening to your own body is the quickest way to tap into your intuition. Your senses are full of information that is reliable -- you just need to know what you’re listening for and make sure it’s coming from the right place. Often the voice in our head is not our own and the things that seem to be draining us are not even real.

I came across this great blog called Life in Pencil. Anne, one of the blog’s writer’s, wrote an excellent post about this topic. It’s called “Where’s Your Energy?”

Please let me know what some of your experiences are with making decisions and finding your passion.

I look forward to hearing about your journey.

Blessings,

Donna

Here’s a great video by Dr. Wayne Dyer about finding your passion:

Here are some other blog posts about Finding your passion:

5 Simple Ways to Find Your Passion and Take Your Blog from Zero to Hero

How to Find Your Passion for Anything

How to Find Your Passion

100 Useful Web Tools to Help You Find Your Passion, Calling or Career

How to Find Your Passion (And What You Should be Blogging About)

55 Seconds to…Finding Your Passion

Technorati Tags: abundance, coaching, depression, finding your dream, greensboro, growth, holistic coaching, law of attraction, Life Changes, life coach, nc, passion, personal life coaching, stress, transition, Whole Life Coaching, winston

Be Kind: Wisdom From A Child

I had a very nice interaction with a bank customer service representative yesterday. She really went out of her way to help me solve a problem I was having and I walked away really feeling taken care of. So because of that I was focused on kindness and ways we can be kind to one another and I came across this video.

It’s a really cute video from this little girl giving advice about being kind. I thought you might like it. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Kindness can not be overrated. The kinder you are to others the more you blossom. It’s as essential as rain is to a flower.

Here’s the video -- enjoy!

Here are some other articles on kindness from the web:

USA Today’s Kindness Stories

Kindness Happens

A Week of Kindness Blog

One Million Moments of Kindness

Generate Kindness

Technorati Tags: alternative healing system, child, greensboro, high point, holistic coaching, kindness, law of attraction, life coach, nc, personal life coaching, personal transition coaching, stress, transition, Whole Life Coaching, winston

How to Approach Your Work/Life Situations with B.A.L.A.N.C.E.

Your work/life situation is totally unique but one thing that’s universal is the fact that they often get out of balance. Here is a simple 7 step B.A.L.A.N.C.E. plan for gaining the work/life balance you’re looking for.

1. B – Begin. By deciding to self reflect and observe your life you open up the possibilities for change.

2. A – Asses where you are right now. Really look at where your time and energy goes and asses the priorities you have instituted. Make a note of which actions and priorities make you feel better and which make you feel worse. Also, note which ones are missing.

3. L- Love what is. Many people can not move forward because they are too stuck in judging their situation. They spend all their energy on struggling with it instead of accepting where they are right now and channeling their energy into making new choices.

4. A – Activate new patterns. Once you’ve looked over your activities and priorities and have stopped resisting where you are right now then you have the perfect opportunity to start some new patterns. Maybe you now have a clear idea what you want to say no to. Maybe you are ready to substitute a good feeling activity for one that has been draining you.

5. N – Notice your thoughts. Much of what throws us off balance is mental. Stress is like mud wrestling – there is no way to participate in it and come out clean. Negative thought patterns like worry, overwhelm, anxiety and judgments drain you of the peace and balance you are looking for. These negative thoughts are like stacks of junk mail that build up until they spill over and cover up the good thoughts that make us feel light, happy, and rejuvenated.

6. C – Course correct. As you begin new activities and new thought patterns you will naturally get “off course”. There are only two things you need to do to solve this: fix upon a destination and gently course correct as you go along. Use your emotions as guides to tell you when you are beginning to get off course and then gently correct until you are back into a more positive feeling place.

7. E – Enjoy. You’ve been told a thousand times that life is a journey, not a destination so just enjoy yourself along the way. Know you are going to get off course and that life will bring you unforeseeable detours, but make a conscious choice to enjoy the scenery along the way and then even the time you spend “lost” will be pleasurable.

Your work/life balancing act is unique to your situation. If you would like to create a specialized plan that incorporates a holistic approach please consider getting the assistance of a Whole Life Coach to speed up your progress.

Here are some other articles on this general topic you might like:

Here are some additional articles for you:

• Energy Therapy Healing:Does It Have Physical Benefits … – Few people think about it, but energy is everywhere. At all times energy is a part of us and is flowing all around us. Everything we see including our own bodies and the earth itself is full of energy.
• Wholelife Coaching: Lifestyle Entrepreneur Coaching – Whatever you are good at, whatever you enjoy, whatever you have an avid interest in, whatever you love therein lies your talent your Calling. If you are ready to enjoy the freedom of working for yourself, consider what it takes to succeed. It takes vision, planning and follow through, assessing risk and reality, developing relationships, and most importantly it’s a process that takes focus over time.
• Whole Life Coaching – Margie Gordillo – Something in you wants to step up bigger. Whatever the leap is the only fall is in the choice not to climb.
• Life Coaching For Your Whole Life — My Whole Life – Alignment : Live your life with integrity; honor your purpose, values, and beliefs. Balance : Create personalized strategies to balance your life and focus on what you define as important. Clarity :  Define success on your own terms.
• Good Life Coaching | Sharon Good | Career, Life Purpose … – “Life is the only art that we are required to practice without preparation. Whole Life Coaching addresses your life in a holistic way, in which each part affects the whole. T he program begins with a one-and-one-quarter-hour Discovery session, in which we explore and assess your level of satisfaction with each of these areas.
• Whole Life Coaching that creates a standard of Excellence at Work … – Your employees are the heart of your organization. When employees have personal problems making them unable to focus and be effective in their work. When there is a mutual lack of appreciation and communication between middle management and employees.
• Life Coaching, Whole Life Coaching By Liza Patchen Short … – If I try to be like you,
  who will be me. provides life coaching as a whole life coach, business coach, and as a life coach for people and families whose lives have been afflicted by cancer. Whole Life Coaching helps move you toward your goals by providing focus, accountability and support.
• Stephanie Yost Mentzell :: The Whole Life Coach – Put your ear down next to your soul and listen hard. Connect you, unselfishly, to your unique expression in life. Give you the tools to wake up each day excited about the life you have created.
• Spirituality, Inc. – We will send you an email with instructions on how to continue. … who “applies whole life-coaching techniques to her work with people and with businesses. …
• Whole Life Coaching – Your Number 1 Priority For Weight Loss … – I have put several programs on this site that have helped me create this online business. Have a look at the product and link pages. You may just find the items that will get your site up and running.
• Life Pro Coaching » Are You Living La Vida Healthy? – Especially those of you who were so diligently tapping away negative emotions in relationship matters, in matters of business and growth, in matters of pain and dealing with OCD, in many other matters such as weight loss and emotional eating, as well as feeling like you’re blocked on all levels. process and dealt with lots of hidden layers of energetic blockages. I know you have made real progress, and that’s commendable.
• Whole Life Coaching How to Finally Get What You Want | Engage Today – Whole Life Coaching might be a new term to you but the concept is 4000 years old. It’s a way of looking at your life in a holistic manner.
• Managing Change in Your Life – The only constant in life is change, how many time have you heard that? No longer do we live in a predictable society; just look at recent world events from a global perspective and you’ll know this to be true. …

Technorati Tags: balance, career, change, coach, coaching, Coaching Personal Transition, energy, greensboro, holistic coaching, law of attraction, life, Life Changes, life coach, nc, personal life coaching, personal transition coaching, stress, therapy, transition, Whole Life Coaching, work, work/life

What Is That Pain in Your Shoulder Trying to Tell You?

Physical pain is a signal of an imbalance in our body/mind complex. And these imbalances need to be handled holistically if you want to get rid of the root cause.

It’s much like weeding your garden. If you pull off the top part of the weed, the part you can see, the weed will either re-pop up right there again or pop up a little ways to the left because you left the root system intact.

As we are vibrational beings every aspect of our body, every organ, every joint, everything has a consciousness.

For example, the consciousness of the shoulder is support. The pathological side of it is burden. So if you are experiencing shoulder pain, your body could be trying to broadcast a subconscious state of being over burdened.

Your body will talk to you; you just have to know what to listen for.

It’s amazing to watch as people get happier with their jobs or families they no longer need surgery or medicines.

You are a vibrational being so as we work to balance out one part of your Self, then all of the others will also begin to shift back into place.

Technorati Tags: Alternative Healing Practices, alternative healing system, BodyTalk System, healing, pain relief, personal life coaching, stress, Whole Life Coaching

Take This 5 Minute Relationship Test

There are many ways to gauge a relationship. Some people study communication patterns, some study non-verbal body language, but if you want a quick easy way to take the temperature of your relationship try this 5 minute exercise.

For 5 full minutes engage in an extended stand-up embrace with someone. A 5 minute hug. Set a timer if need be.

That’s it. Too simple you say? Well try it, and see for yourself.

What happens is the embrace lasts longer than we are mentally conditioned for so our left brain fizzes out and the emotions are given a chance to come forward.

Notice how you feel, how you act and how the other person feels and acts.

Are you squirmy? Calm? Clingy? Tender? Stoic? Loving? Rigid? Secure? Suspicious? Bored?

Give it a go and see what it says about you and your relationship. This exercise might offer you some insight into what you want to fix and what you’re happy with.

If nothing else it’s an excuse for a 5 minute cuddle; all in the name of science of course.

Other info on this topic:

Some Blog Posts on this topic:

Technorati Tags: coaching, dating, love, marraige, personal life coaching, relationships, Whole Life Coaching

Don’t Fight Personal Transition

Major changes in life are neither good nor bad; they are simply the door to a personal transition.

These are not changes to cope with, but rather opportunities masked as change.

If you fight a personal transition, worry about it or bemoan it, you’ll miss the renewed life it brings.

If you’re unable to work creatively with life’s changes, you find yourself stuck with one foot in the past and dreading the future. This drains you of energy and creates emotional or physical distress.

Clearing away the past and moving on requires you to be aware of your inner fears and how to use the opportunities that lie ahead.

Notice what is making you so uncomfortable about the change you are facing and face it head on.

Change is inevitable, but struggle is optional.

Here are some other blog posts on similar topics:

Technorati Tags: Life Changes, mid-life changes, personal life coaching, personal transition coaching, struggle, Whole Life Coaching