House and life purpose
I really like the tv show House. I like it for many reasons but tonight I really liked watching it. From my perspective as a lifestyle leadership coach the discussions amongst the staff and the patients was very interesting. All of House's staff were at some point in their career where they were trying to figure out what was, or was not, making them happy. Some were struggling, others not so much. At one point one of the doctors discusses with a patient he knows about how sad he is over the passing of his girlfriend and how stuck he feels. "I can't move on. I live in her apartment, I haven't moved any of her stuff since she died. I don't know what to do" to which the patient replies "the only thing not to do is to do nothing." Brilliant!!
There is another scene where the same patient is having a discussion with another doctor who is wondering what he'd regret on his death bed. The patient, a very wise woman, says to him, "You are on your death bed for one night. You have 25000 others to live. Go to bed happy."
Great words of fulfillment, life purpose and vision quests.
Thanks House and staff.....I couldn't have said it better....well maybe I could have but the point is well taken.
Living la vida fearless, Jan
www.tobeyourbest.net
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Did you know even Woody Harrelson has fears?

It's true, according to the story by Gayle MacDonald. It starts this way, "Much as he enjoys visiting Canada, Woody Harrelson can't figure out why anyone would want to live here. At least, in winter." "I hate cold so bad I fear it." says the Maui-based actor, his words coming out in a giant puff of frosted breath on the Hamilton set."
There's more to the story and I encourage you to read it in Saturday's copy of the Globe and Mail. What I thought was cool about this was the fact that, although he admittedly hates the cold, Mr. Harrelson loves his work enough to face that fear and follow his passion. He goes on to say, about the cold, " I mean this isn't just any kind of cold. Canada is a consistent brand of cold. It's downright nasty." Gee how does he really feel? Keep in mind this is a guy who prefers Bermuda shorts over snowpants any day of the week.
So, why do this movie? "It's pure magic and originality" he says of the film. "I never wanted to go to work for a living, it's just play" he continues as he explains the work he does. Wow, talk about following your passions....
The thing about following your dreams is that, sometimes, like in this story, there is a big thing that can stand in your way of success. It can feel so big that some people choose not to follow through. They don't know how to find their way around, over or through the big fear, the elephant in the room.
I sure am glad that Mr. Harrelson chose to face his elephants and come to Hamilton in the dead of winter! He's a superb actor and I'm looking forward to seeing the film when it hits the movie theatres.
Clients who have worked with me in the past have experienced great success and I am honoured to have been a small part of their growth. Coaching truly is, for me, my heart work, my joy and my personal call to integrity for my soul.
Fears can become elephants, big things in our lives, that stand in our way of achieving the dream.
That's what elephant coaching is all about. Facing that big thing in your life, the obstacle that stands in the way of your success. Learn how to face your elephants with Jan, certified professional co-active coach.
Ready to face a fear?
Call now to ask about your own elephant program.
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Can a cougar be an elephant?
Is it possible for a cougar to be an elephant? Well, from my perspective, the answer is a resounding yes. I am a lifestyle leadership coach and I call the fears, the big things in your life, your elephants. Fears can stop you from doing a lot of things in your life because you believe them to be true. Here's the thing, fear is only true to you...an elephant is only in your way because you have allowed it to be in your way.
Now, I'm not saying there's not a lot of stuff that isn't scary. Believe me I know the difference. What I am saying is that it's common to buy into that fear until it becomes true that you can't do what you truly desire.
Here's an example.
I have a friend, who is also a reader of my weekly ezine. She's really cool. She's single, has adult children and is looking for a relationship. She's also travelling, having fun, studying yoga, leasing out her house for four months while she goes to Great Britain this summer. Hmmm, I wonder if there's another version of that great book, Eat, Pray, Love somewhere in there. Anyway, I asked for stories from my readers this week and my friend sent this one over to me. I have her permission to share it with you now.My friend went to the west coast to an island where both our children live. She loves to camp so she decided to pitch her tent on the front yard of the property and sleep there with only a screen open at each end of the tent. The second night of the trip she zipped herself into her tent and stared up at the stars until she fell asleep. Early, in the wee hours of the dawn, she was awakened by the sound of crackling outside her tent, right beside where she was sleeping. She jumped up and, after getting a close look from inside her tent, decided she was not 15 feet away from a cougar, on her own. "I ducked, crouched down, made myself as small as possible insde the seeping bag and waited. I was waiting for the cat to pounce on me, sweating profusely and wondering what it would feel like to be clawed and shredded apart by it's paws and teeth." Ouch..."I immediately decided that there was really no point in hiding. If it was going to pounce it would just do it, there was nothing I could do. So, I sat up and faced towards the foot end of the tent and called for my son who was close by..." Eventually my friend sorted this out and, it should be told, this was not a cougar but probably a bobcat. Here's what she said in closing..." So there it is Jan. As far as fear is concerned, I am stil afraid of bobacts, but now know that, instead of making myself small and crouched down, I should make myself as big as possible when confronted by a cougar....I also felt proud and strong to have reacted the way I did..."Oh how cool is that? She was terrified, she knew she was terrified and she faced her fear, imagining the worst. Surprise, she came through this with not a scratch on her and a bigger awareness of herSELF...Now that's one big elephant to confront. (or in this case cougar.) I am so proud of her.
So, a cougar can become an elephant! And then it can disappear.
Living la vida fearless, Jan

Well, it would appear that I did actually reach my goal of 1000 km in the time I wanted to do it. Between the spring equinox and the fall equinox, which is today, I have actually walked more than 1000 km...Wahoo! I had to take a break when the puppies arrived but, after a week or so, they decided they needed to be walked ALOT, everyday. After I tallied it all up I've more than passed my goal! Wahoo. Time to celebrate. Happy walking folks, Jan

Well, sadly, I have decided to postpone the walk due to the arrival of two new puppies. Sisters Kiera and Kieva, husky pups from the litter my daughter's dog had, have arrived from the west coast of BC via my husband. I feel like I've had twins arrive on my doorstep after many years of being an "empty nester." Puppies being puppies they don't walk much and, quite frankly, I just don't have the time to set aside right now to do 90 minutes of walking every day. I'll get back at it when I can. Jan