I’ve been having difficulty finding the time to blog. My coach challenged me that it might not be something I’m truly committed to. That got me to really evaluate the “blogging blocks” I’ve encountered and, yes, imposed on myself.

I had the notion that I could only make the time if I had the luxury of time – I didn’t see smaller chunks of time as valuable. The old perfectionist UAC rearing her head. Funny thing is as we were discussing this, it occurred to me that I had just had the very same conversation with my external client a couple of days earlier.

She was experiencing resistance allowing herself to relax and recharge if she didn’t have a full two days in a row to do so. I challenged her that it was more the “quality” of her down time rather than the “quantity”.

As I find is often the case with this coaching thing, I heard my own words resonating back to me – “it’s the quality of your time, not the quantity”. I can blog just as easily, probably more concisely, in a half-hour at lunchtime than if I had an entire afternoon dedicated to it.

So, I committed to giving it a try. I’m working it out here on my ICA blog before I take it public on The Balance Blog. I intend to use my public blog as a e-newsletter of sorts and the other UAC that came up was that, perhaps I didn’t have anything of interest to say. Now, honestly I always have something to say (just ask Ray)! And yes, it is usually interesting or thought-provoking, or even sometimes profound. So I will work through the writer’s block here as well.

To answer my coach’s challenge – yes blogging is something I am committed to doing on a regular basis as part of my practice building toolbox. The thing is, I can visualize myself sitting in my favorite internet cafe, clicking away on my keyboard as I reach out on my blog (kinda like I’m doing right now, huh!). And I have always manifested what I have so clearly envisioned.

Catch ya in the blogsphere,
Lynn

I’m learning that the easiest way to achieve my goals is to simply allow them to come to me and live in a state of gratitude for the blessings I receive.

A couple of weeks ago, seemingly out of the blue, I received an email inquiry from a potential client – a “real world” paying client. We met, got along great and she agreed to the 12-week commitment to be one of my external clients. Oh, and by the way – pay me as well!!!

This prompted me to put my welcome packet together and get a PayPal account so I can process credit card payments – things I have been telling myself I needed to do to show up in the world as a professional who is ready to do business, rather than a student hoping to get enough practice to graduate.

This is huge for me. It finally really clicked that I AM a professional and I AM ready to see paying clients!

Since then, I have shifted my perspeective from longing for what I might someday have to acknowledging that I have it all right now, I simply need to recognize it and claim it as my own.

For this, and because of it, I am making the concious choice to live my life in gratitude. I am experiencing a sense of happiness and contentment that I don’t recall feeling before.

I even joyfully spent 14 hours Saturday downloading, doing and e-filing my taxes! And because my business operated at a loss last year, I’m getting a boatload of money back. You betcha I’m grateful for that!

Gratefully Youurs,
Lynn

Wow, last week was full of new opportunities. No sooner had I quite loudly declaired that my committment was to growing MY business from MY home (OK, it was a cold and slushy day and I was bemoaning the fact that I had to leave my warm cozy bed to go to work), than I was invited to join the SelfGrowth.com community of experts and create a page on their website. It is a free networking and internet marketing community of experts in a variety of fields including Life Coaching. Everyone on the site has the opportunity to invite others on the site to become a “friend” thereby linking the sites together and increasing the networking and marketing exposure. The link to my experts page is http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/lynn_browne.html

 Closer to home, I was invited to speak at the Saratoga Kennel Club’s March meeting. They are interested in learning more about Reiki and animals, dogs in particular.

Its interesting that I’m observing myself not being nervous about a public speaking engagement. Last year I took an adult ed class in public speaking because I had never been comfortable with it in the past and wanted to be able to more comfortably talk with people about what I do. I figured if I didn’t appear confident in what I had to offer, I couldn’t expect anyone else to have the confidence to hire me.

Of course, I had life coaching in mind at the time not Reiki. What I believe is this: Universe is giving me the opportunity to dip a toe into the public speaking waters with a topic I can speak comfortably and confidently about. All I need to do is use the information in the Reiki training manuals I wrote, information I’m already comfortable speaking about with my students. What a blessing!

So thank you Universe, for listening and for giving me these opportunites to grow my business and my confidence. I know this is the path I should be on and I appreciate the encouragement along the way.

In gratitude,

Lynn

I wrapped up the last of 12 amazing peer coaching sessions with one of my clients last night and it was truly bittersweet. She has helped me grow so much as a coach and as the woman I strive to be, that I feel a bit lost today.

From the beginning our relationship had an energy about it that gave the sense that our sessions existed outside of linear time and space, as though we were cocooned in a sphere of pure white light. I’ve only had that experience a couple of other times with Reiki clients and it’s magical.

I was blessed to bare witness to her transformation from a woman unaware of her inner strength to a Woman who willingly stepped into her power.

And so I will learn from her to find my inner strength and become a Powerful Woman in my own right.

Gracias my friend,

Lynn

Wow, its been forever since I’ve been here. So much has happened I don’t know where to begin.

I completed my peer coaching requirement with two amazing women – much thanks goes out to both of them. With their guidance and encouragement I really moved my business from concept to creation.

I finally got the confidence to become a peer coach and have both loved and dreaded it. I was so excited to get my very first peer client, that I completely ignored my inner voice telling me the session weren’t going well. Eight weeks into our commitment she emailed me that she didn’t feel she was getting anything out of it and couldn’t continue. That really devastated me. I questioned myself, my ability and my choices. Thankfully, I had begun coaching another peer a few weeks earlier and our sessions are so amazing for both of us, that I found the inspiration to continue.

I’ve taken on two more peer clients since then, and sessions with them are really wonderful and path-affirming. I even had a trial session with an external (possibly paying!) client the other day.

The situation with my first peer client has set me back on my original schedule of a planned June ‘08 graduation. After wrestling with the idea of this setback, I’m finally OK with it. That’s why I decided to take on more peer clients, I really want to get as much coaching experience as possible.

I’ve even started re-taking some classes. I notice that I’m getting so much more out of them – its kind of like re-reading a book and discovering insights that the first read-through couldn’t reveal.

We shall see what more transpires when the rain clears.

Namaste,

Lynn

Well, it has been a bit of time since I last posted. For various reasons I have a difficult time getting time to blog. I don’t have a convienient internet cconnection at home and it isn’t prudent to spend time blogging while at the job. I got a wireless keyboard for my PDA so I could post at my fwavorite internet cafe at lunchtime and couldn’t logon from the PDA. I’m very stubborn, however and FINALLY discovered how just now! (It required accessing the mobile version of WordPress – who knew!)
So, now I truly am a mobile blogging entrepreneur.
Anyway – on to the fun… I am finally going to begin doing peer coaching!!! We start tomorrow.
I’m so excited (and a little nervous). This is the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life. And, auspiciously, there is a Taurus full moon tomorrow which, I’m told is really going to shake things up.
I’ll let you all know how it goes.
Lynn

When last we met I was ready to pursue creating a whole new administrative “quazi-career” to see me through until the business was up and running.

The spa has not made further inquiry and I have decided to not move on it either.  The truth of the matter is that I hate the idea of putting any energy into anything other than my business.  I know me too well.  If I took on these new responsibilities, I’d be “in for a penny – in for a pound” as the saying goes.  And bottom line is nothing is more important to me at this juncture than growing MY business – not anyone else’s.

Am I back at square one?

I don’t think so. The “job-job” was in a very bad state when this possibility arose and I was in “fight-or-flight” mode to the max. Now with the luxury of time and distance I can look at the situation more objectively. It is a great comfort to know that if need be, I can manifest another income-generating situation and that I have the tools in place to move on it right then and there, rather than scrambling as I did a couple of months ago.

Instead of putting me back at square one, it frees me to concentrate on my classes and growing my career.

And hey, I haven’t been sitting in full-lotus contemplating my navel these past two months (and not only because I can’t get in or out of full lotus!)

This techno-dinasaur is building her own website! www.dragonflylifeinbalance.com

Oh yeah! That’s right! I’m doing it and I’m doing it my-SELF!

The launch date is scheduled for the Autumnal Equinox – a time of perfect balance in the wheel of the year. Also the second of three harvest festivals and a time of thanks-giving for all the blessings we have received.

I can’t think of a more fitting date to launch a site devoted to living a blessed, balanced life full of gratitude!

Until later,

Lynn

Well, it’s been a very busy couple of weeks for me.

I had this idea that I could work my way out of this stiffiling job I have by looking into expanding my Reiki practice to become affililiated with a local Spa.  My coach and I put together a great “Reiki Resume” that detailed my abilities and also listed my more mainstream business skills.  We joked about what I would do if they were really interested in me!

And they are.

Not simply for my Reiki abilities, oh no.  They are so impressed by my administrative skills that they have decided that it is time to create a position (part-time for now) for someone with those very skills – to do their bookkeeping, their advertising, their desktop publishing, their website design and maintenance, etc.

Have I mentioned that some of those things I haven’t done in over 15 years?  Some not at all?

After agonizing the decision all last weekend I decided that I would tell them it would just be too much for me to handle: a full time job, growing my own business, a full class schedule and their work too.

Then I was driving in to work Monday morning (running late, as usual) and I thought “What am I, nuts?  I’m all worked up over this job I hate and I’m ready to throw in the towel on a chance that I created!  That I said I wanted!“ 

So, I decided to write an emergency e-mail to my coach and figure out how to get over the panic of getting what I wanted.  I also got my two peer coaches involved in putting a workable plan together.

With the help of my “Dream Team” coaches I now have a quote for training the Spa staff in Reiki, a draft contract for working as an independent contractor on the administrative tasks, a draft presentation to educate their clients about Reiki, a draft press release to announce our new affilliation and most importantly, a true belief that I really can do this!

I’m so grateful to these three wonderful, talented and patient women for coaching me through this crisis of faith and knowing all along that I was ready to take this next step in my Adventure.

Namaste

Today in the northern hemisphere we celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, when the Sun is at it’s zenith.  This day is a celebration of fertility – the Earth is ripening with Her coming bounty and we focus on nurturing that new life growing from within Her.

I try to live my life in awareness of the seasonal ebb and flow and I notice that my life is paralleling this growing, this swelling of fruit on the vine.

I am growing my dream and it is taking  form as I nurture it within my own womb of creativity.  I feed it with the knowedge and skills of my ICA classes and new growth will be stimulated as tomorrow I begin peer coaching as a client.  I’ve been fortunate to have two wonderful and talented peers offer to help me grow this dream of mine.

May this Solstice bring you all blessings of the promise of the bountiful harvest to come.

Lynn

Hi,

I decided to start my blog today because it is my birthday and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate.  I’ve been a bit hesitant because although I love technology, I’m a bit of a dinasaur and wasn’t sure how to go about it.

I’m calling this blog “The Adventures of Living My Dream” because my coach had challenged me in the beginning of our collaboration to write out the vision of my perfect life.  I had no idea how to do this, however during an energy working session I went into a deep meditative state and was gifted with the most beautiful vision of what my perfect life would be.  I knew that this Dream Life was my true purpose and set about the adventure of living it.

I started my coach training with ICA a couple of months ago and it feels so right.  I’m learning so much from the instructors and my fellow students, and much about myself as well.

Thank you all for sharing this dream with me.

Bright Blessings,

Lynn