Snow Day

I am having a snow day.  What a gift to have all of my classes and appointments cancelled today as we experience our first snowstorm of the season here in Denver.  I breathe a sigh of relief knowing I don’t have to go anywhere and have been given the unexpected space and time in what would normally have been a very full day. 

It reminds me how important metaphorical snow days really are in our lives.  Although we have no control over the weather, we can schedule “snow days” to give us a chance to take a breath and exhale.  What if you blocked out an entire day with no classes, appointments, commitments, or errands?  What if you didn’t “plan” anything until you woke up and truly honored yourself by listening to your own heart’s desire? 

We all need a snow day every now and again; To catch up on all those things we never seem to get around to doing – and not just doing your books or cleaning out a closet, although if that is what you truly desire, then go for it.  I’m really talking about catching up on that important element of self-care we often let go of in our busyness to complete the  “to do” list, like taking a long, hot bath, calling an old friend, reading for pure pleasure, or watching an old favorite movie. 

On a snow day, you get to stop everything today and pick up where you left off tomorrow.  Enjoy and stay warm!

It’s Not About the Pose

Having just come back from the Yoga Journal Conference in Estes Park, I am amazed at what I forget in my yoga practice, and once again have the beautiful opportunity to remember.  A big one for me this year is:  Yoga is not about the pose, it’s about the principles in the pose.

 It is sometimes easy to forget why I practice yoga.  Quite simply, I practice to feel good, to be strong and free, and to move both positive and negative energy through my body.  To be fully present and focusd on my breath, to be one with my mind, body, and spirit.  And to remember what I often forget – the principles of the pose.  The three A’s are the foundation of Anusara Yoga:

 Attitude-The power of the heart as the force behind every action or expression is an asana (pose)

Alignment-The mindful awareness of how various parts of ourselves are integrated and interconnected

Action-The natural flow of energy in the body, which provides stability and freedom 

We can take these 3 powerful  principles and transfer them off our yoga mats and into our lives.  Where in your life are you not opening your heart?  Are you in alignment in your relationship, work ethic, and taking care of your body temple?  Are you creating financial stability in your life so that you can be more free?  What action can you take right now?

Do You Need a Coach? 5 Ways a Coach Can Help You Create Change

I attended the Colorado Organization of Nurse Leaders Annual Fall Symposium in Keystone last week. The program focused on the all-important issues of quality and safety, and I was intrigued and encouraged by how much emphasis was placed on the importance of coaching and mentoring toward helping healthcare workers achieve a higher standard.

Especially in the area of healthcare, where we are trying to do more with less – and better and faster – these days, we can lose perspective and end up feeling like the lone ranger. An experienced coach can provide the new perspective, support, and inspiration that helps achieve goals. But the value of coaching and mentoring are far from limited to the healthcare field.

I enjoyed the movie, Julie and Julia last week as well, and was struck by how it exemplifies the power of coaching. Though Julie never actually meets Julia Child, she becomes almost obsessed with Julia’s French cooking and vows to cook every recipe in Julia’s book and blog about it daily for 365 days. Through the process she takes strength from the famous “French Chef,” drawing on Julia’s behavior in relationships, zest for life, and creativity toward her own personal growth. So Julie ends up being “coached” by Julia vicariously, through her French cookbook! A proof of how we can sometimes discover the support we need in the oddest of places.

I have used a number of coaches in both my personal and professional life over the years and continue to utilize their expertise, even though I have my own coaching practice. I find that coaches can be indispensable at times, particularly in helpng to:

Identify areas in your life where you have lost your voice.
Set up realistic goals and measurable outcomes.
Develop specific action plans unique to you and your goals.
Stay directed and accountable for your behavior.
Manage your time, your energy, and yourself – better.
You just need to connect with, trust, and feel like your coach really “gets” you to create any change or new direction you’re looking for. So as with any new and developing relationship, when considering a coach, interview and ask the questions that are most important to you to ensure a good match.

Top 10 Reasons You Need a Facilitator

Let’s face it, with all of the uncertainty in our world right now, organizations across the board are cutting back, tightening up, and slimming down.  With all that change and transition, now more than ever leadership teams need to be highly efficient and effective. 

But sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees, to know where you want to go, how to begin, and who can help you get there.   The role of the facilitator is to lead the team through an experience that will help assess the group dynamics, identify goals and objectives, and then make recommendations based on these goals and objectives.  

Still not sure you need help? 

If any of these 10 reasons strike a chord, you’d probably benefit from a professional facilitator’s services:

1. You need a strategic planning session to decide where your company, organization or department is going in the next 6, 12, 18 or 60 months            
2. You want effective meetings but don’t have the time or the talent to make them happen
3. You want to expand your services and would like to consider all possibilities before narrowing the list down
4. You need some critical decisions to be made in a timely manner
5. Your team or organization needs to stop talking about acting and just do it
6. You need to reach consensus on a major issue and also want buy-in for the decision
7. You have many agendas in the room that get in the way of making decisions for the team or the greater good
8. You wish you could get some totally new solution to a problem or could approach a challenge in a fresh and innovative way
9. You need to strengthen the team and their ability to work together
10. 10.  You need to have closure on an issue to move forward on another one

A professional facilitator who is familiar with your industry, your situation, and your goals can literally save you thousands of dollars and years of ramp-up time. 

---

Taking the Fall

I woke up this morning and suddenly, overnight, Fall has arrived here in Colorado.  Cool, crisp mornings with the leaves starting to fade and float to the ground.  How could this be?  It comes so soon!  I’m not ready to say good bye to summer.  Of course it really didn’t come overnight, as Fall has been working on getting here all summer.  It just feels like it.

 Our personal “falls” seem to come overnight, too, don’t they?  We gain 5 pounds, feel disconnected from our partner, get a little depressed–all seemingly overnight–and when we wake up we wonder what has happened.   Of course, change is always an accumulation of behaviors, experiences, and perceptions we practice over time; we just don’t always pay attention to it.

 The ease of such changes ‘slipping under the radar’ is why I aspire to a balanced life of ongoing self-care.   I know (and have tested it many times): when I don’t practice yoga, get 8-9 hours of sleep, eat in a healthy way, drink enough water and surround myself with loving and supportive people, I take a “fall” one way or another.    When I choose to work toward feeling and living my best physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually, I set myself up for  my greatest good, no matter what the season.

 What kind of “fall” are you working toward?

You Can’t Work Harder Than Your Clients

As I start my second month of Life Coaching at the Wellness Treatment Center, I am reminded of a very important concept: You can’t work any harder than your clients are willing to. 

As a life coach, my role is to help these clients set realistic weekly goals and identify specific action steps they need to follow through on to accomplish their goals. I offer ideas, skills, and tools for them to utilize in areas of their lives that are not currently working, but ultimately it is up to them to take action.

They get to decide how much they are really willing to change and how hard they are really willing to work. It is my job to provide information and support, and then let it go. This is sometimes easier said than done, as I can see all the potential and possibilities, if they would only follow through and…

Whether you are dealing with mental health clients or your spouse, in addiction or changing eating habits, it is valuable to remember that everyone is on their own path, and we can’t work any harder than they are willing to work. Because when we do, it only leads to more frustration and burnout on our end, and by the way, they don’t get any better either.

Setting Intentions

I have just been notified that I achieved my Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation by the National Speakers Association (NSA).  The CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of speaking experience and skill.  Fewer than 10 percent of professional speakers hold this designation, awarded only to accomplished professional speakers with a proven track record of continuing speaking experience and expertise as well as a commitment to ongoing education, outstanding client service and ethical behavior. 

 I am very excited to be honored during a ceremony on July 19th at the 2009 NSA Convention in Phoenix, and I am thrilled to join the elite group of CSP-designated Colorado speakers like LeAnn Thieman, CSP, CPAE, author of 10 Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and renowned leadership speaker Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE. 

 But what I am most proud of is following through on a goal I set for myself when I first entered the speaking business in 1996.  There is something both rewarding and powerful about setting a goal, or intention as I like to call it, and seeing it through to fulfillment.  The power of intention is a concept that’s been around for a long time, but it is easy for us to forget how empowering it really can be.  Just for today, try setting an intention and see the difference it can make. 

And let me know how it turns out!

Top 10 Ways Nurses Can Reclaim Their Spirit

Spirit is courage, strength, character, fortitude, and soul. Do you think nursing requires any of these? Absolutely! With 22 million nurses in this country, we are the nation’s largest resource of healthcare providers and, dare I say it, probably one of the nation’s unhealthiest. We have thrived by taking on ever more responsibility with certifications and specialties, but somewhere along the way we have lost sight of taking care of our most important asset—ourselves.

As we celebrate nurses week next month (May 6-12), we can reclaim our spirit for nursing not only by taking responsibility for ourselves, but through supporting every other nurse in the process as well. The following list of action items isn’t complex or new. We all  know it in our hearts already, but we aren’t all doing it. Let’s take ownership and responsibilities for our units, our specialties, professional organizations and ourselves. Because you can’t give what you don’t have, the first person you have to take care of is yourself. Do it in these 10 ways:

1. Open to grace. Get up 15 ‘earlier and before you ever step onto your unit, deliberately set your intention for the day. Who do you want to be? How do you choose to show up? What is most important today?

2. Take a deep breath. Before you respond, react, or rake a patient, family member, physician, or other staff member over the coals, pause, listen, take a deep breath and really think about how you will choose to respond.

 3. Look them in the eye. Make direct eye contact with everyone you communicate with, both speaking and listening, from the dietary aide to the orthopedic resident.

4. Eat, drink, and be relieved. Schedule your breaks and meals with your team and make sure everyone gets theirs. Ask how you can help, not if you can help when someone has not gotten their break.

5. Refuse to participate. When you witness negative back-biting, gossiping, or resentment-building comments, do not engage, in fact ask, “Have you talked to (the person being beaten-up) about this?”

6. Smile and say please and thank you. You can’t imagine how powerful these three words are—and how underused they are.

7. Do not tolerate anything less from anyone on your team. You are the role model every single moment, for families, other departments, and other nurses.

8. Transition. When you leave your shift, be intentional about transitioning to home by reviewing your day and noting what you did really well. Play a special piece of music, visualize crossing a bridge between work and home, so you can be fully present when you reach your front door.

9.Be grateful.  For the most part, nursing positions are recession-proof and while other professionals are out of work, you could probably pick up an extra shift this week, if you really wanted to.

10. Choose carefully. Remember that you choose how you stand up, show up, and speak up every day—both at work and at home. You can choose to struggle and suffer, or you can choose to thrive and reclaim your spirit!

Going Out of Your Mind?

Deepak Chopra recently wrote 27 ways to go out of your mind but I think he missed one. He says out of the 60,000 thoughts we have everyday, 59,000 are the same unless we do something different.  Whenever we have an experience beyond words—Whenever we go out of our minds—we touch the unlimited dimension of our being and open ourselves to new and creative possibilities. 

A few of his ideas are:

• Invite someone new to lunch
• Watch good things that are happening in the world at www.darynkagan.com
• Take an improvisational acting class
• Read a magazine on a topic you’ve never explored
• Eat a meal in complete silence

One that isn’t mentioned is my favorite, practicing yoga!  Yoga always helps me go out of my mind because it connects me with my breath, my body, and a grace bigger than myself.  What do you do to go out of your mind?    

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are You Doing for Nurses Week?

In these uncertain times, it makes sense to want to get lean and mean and cut expenses by minimizing the frills and fluff.  An initial thought might be to totally forgo any celebrations for your staff.  Aren’t celebrations considered fluff?  I’m not so sure.  I think now, more than ever, we need to feel appreciated, celebrated, and important both at home and work.  An interesting article in last Tuesday’s New York Times “Science” section discussed the psychology of saving and spending (think Ants and Grasshoppers), and included this nugget: “Other experiments showed that people will work harder for luxuries than for more practical prizes — and the more effort that’s required, the more they feel entitled to a self-indulgent reward. That’s a motivation strategy for managers and marketers to keep in mind, Dr. Kivetz said.” 

 

Whether you offer free massages and yoga classes, celebration dinners, or give gifts, some kind of recognition is important.  I would love to hear how your facility is celebrating your nurses, and I welcome your ideas and comments about what would really make you feel celebrated.