Tag Archives: Personal Change

Our worlds, our reality!

hands-600497_960_720In every moment our worlds are colliding.  The world we long for (our dreams), our world that is (our real experience)  and the world that is  shaping up around us (global experience).

The world we long for is our potential based upon all our lives.

Our world that is a culmination of our education, culture and choices we have made in this life.

The world that is shaping up around us is the outcome of our contributions (our actions) to it.

To make any personal changes it requires letting your hopes and dreams become meaningful enough to  to break through your conditioning that of society, which you helped to create.   Understanding this enables you to create more focus and it becomes about how you do it!

  • How do you want to contribute to your future?
  • How do you want to contribute to the future of society in each action you take to full fill your objectives?

For example,  if you want to contribute to enriched life then you will engage in increased actions that are life-giving.  This includes standing up for your values and lifestyles.  If you want freedom, choice and peace, your actions will be peaceful and you will give others free choice through your behavior and relationships.   If you want to live a healthier lifestyle you will support yourself in personal change that will be supportive versus self-destructive.


  • Healthier Lifestyle – transformation

If you are wanting to make a physical body change, relationships change or environmental change, it begins with having a dream.  Once you have the dream then it needs to become reality through actions.   No one will admit that this is easy.  I consider it to be a form of  warrior-ship!  The personal question is what type of warrior do you want to be.

Do you want to effect change from fear and judgement or from peace and confidence?

  1. Are you one of those types that is ridged with fear, goes 100 miles an hour delving into your new system and justifies your new lifestyle choices with everyone you meet?  On this new plan do you judge others on their choices or body type and try to teach them based upon your own fear based beliefs?
  2. Are you one of those types that explores personal change and observes the outcomes without being too rigid and giving yourself empathy with any self-judgments that come up?

Of the two characters types listed above, which one do you think would have a greater success rate for long-lasting  and a broader range of change?

One cannot say creating personal change is easy.  You are changing a culture and creating new patterns.  You  can long for it and even make a statement of commitment, however, if you are not supported effectively, the change you want or need may not be the outcome!

Some of the ways to support change is to follow a system for setting personal goals that are fun and  encompass a life style, not just an attitude!  Other ways are to learn a new system of behavior in how we process information and hold our posture.  Read more on this below in relationships and healthier life.

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  • Relationships  – transforming habitual responses (thoughts as a result of emotions) to focused clarity on what is important in the moment, not the past or future

Some of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg’s messages in his book Nonviolent Communication are the benefits of being empathetic while holding ones own believes and needs as important as those been heard in others.  It is a fine practice to enjoy autonomy while still being able to listen to others.  This is experience that becomes co-creative and enriching to all involved that creates effective change!

As my practice ages I am discovering that there is not one opinion that matters and that there are no two people who have the same views.  To contribute in our global world experience to effect the outcomes we hope for, the best path to achieve this is go beyond what we think we know into being curious about it. When we are stuck in the experience of thinking we know what is right, and if we think we have all the right solutions, we are acting out from a closed attitude that is life draining.   It’s essence reflects scarcity, survival and loss versus an open attitude reflecting open-mindedness.  An open and curious mind  has an essence of space and time that evokes growth, connection and co-operation to investigate possible outcomes together.

Read more about Communication
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  • Healthier Life (transforming habitual responses in a fuller understanding of how ones body is ones environment of experience; mentally, emotionally and physically)

To effect change in your living experience, movement and functional awareness can support how you experience yourself, your surroundings and others.   Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais developed a  system of somatic Education that increased personal connection to ones functioning.  In this practice one has the opportunity to become more self-aware with a heightened sensibility.

Once again, as my practice ages, I am becoming familiar with how  ones body condition creates their emotional, mental and physical well-being which corresponds in how they think, feel and respond.   I have witnessed how when ones movement patterns become more flexible and less conditioned  it increases ones level of tolerance to life events.

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Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Jaw Release Program since 2007, Authored  Achieving your Goals  31 Day Program, Sleep Sweet Sleep, Kid’s Peace Bus Calendar of Values  Educational Program & InTouch with Your Values Self-Actualization Program.  Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Labyrinths of Victoria since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Grassroots Calendar Founder, Vice-Chair of World Children’s Summit on Peace & Nature in 2015

 

 

16 Reasons why to  explore Body, Mind & Heart Connection @ Inside Awareness?

INTEGRATION, LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

  1. Experience a deeper connection to self .
  2. Increase self-value and trust in yourself, knowing you are doing what’s right for you.
  3. Connect to your boundaries and learn how to voice them in a safe  way without conflict!  
  4. Stop compromising.  
  5. Learn how to have  choice.
  6. Improve your posture! Walk, sit, stand, sleep, breathe, think and feel better.
  7. Increase your understanding of your self image and how it is holding your back from success!
  8. Stop feeling alone & lonely?
  9. Turn abusive relationships into empowering experiences!
  10. Stop doubting yourself when it comes to decision making.  
  11. Learn how to transition from taking things personally by developing skills to translate difficult messages.
  12. Move through fear to build relationships and find love.
  13. Understand how to resolve differences.
  14. Improve your odds of finding partnerships where you are  valued.
  15. Ending your relationships with more ease, respect and  moving forward with less attachment!
  16. Becoming aware of the culture created  by your parenting style (or your parents and their’s before them).

Read more about Inside Awareness


Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

Shifting food focus – love your veggies!

In earlier postings I discussed my personal home food  landscape change that instigated a natural change in my diet and increased a growing awareness of the emotional eating outbreak in my own family.  However another change that began naturally was a deeper interest in connection to the growing cycle of the produce I was consuming!  .

It first began with the base stalks of celery!  Could I encourage it to re-grow?  With curiosity I plunked it in water and sure enough it starting growing.  I have it planted in a box now with two more started.  Then came carrots.  Could they be regrown?  Sure enough they too are easy to restart.  My next experiment is with sweet potatoes and yams.  Can they be as easy to start as regular potatoes and from the ends usually thrown away as scraps?

What I didn’t realize would happen is the growing connection, appreciation,  curiosity and recognition that is developing with food.   Having been on retreats with a focus on connection with all things in the late 80’s and early 90’s one difference is the deepened awareness of respecting the abilities of these vegetables to regrow and continue it’s life cycle.  In the retreats this was missing!  The veggies where either grown from seed in bulk or purchased.

The recognition is that if everyone slowed down and started the regrowth cycle of their produce, there may be less food shortage and more respect and connection to our food source that goes beyond garden to table!


Read more:

 

Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

‘Changing ones lifescape through their landscape’

As 2015 came to a close my last child made a change that left me without the responsibility of being a parent of a newly aged out teenager!  Prior to moving out we worked for  4 and one-half months to transition our relationship though many conversations.  Some heated, yet all meaningful and forgiving.

This turned out to be fortunate for me, as many of the hidden issues that did not find resolution with my first child, found completion and/or resolution with this one.  This is not to say I was happy with some of the strategies this child took to meet their need for freedom in making their own choices and mistakes.  However, they heard my discontent and I heard their need for autonomy. In these difficult dialogues both of us realized that the most important value for both of us was our relationship and love for each other.  Whew!  This meant I was ready and excited about my lifescape changing and for being kid-free for the first time in 23 years!

Having my last born move out of the nest has been a major environmental change for me, mom!  The first thing than organically changed was my diet.  No more breads, cookies, cakes, crackers and sweet treats from their job!  No more late night runs to fast food outlets to sedate their cravings born of emotional ups and downs.

Both my children’s *emotional eating ballooned with the separation and subsequent divorce of their parents and eventually they aged into supporting their habits through working part-time jobs!

Now, having my kitchen to myself  with no influences and the burden of others desires food and eating has taken on a new meaning and value to me.  Slowly the kitchen became friendly again and not an obstacle.   It had become an obstacle  over time with not having the freedom to enjoy buying food that appealed to me.  Each food choice and purchase was a debate with this child.  Food was no longer a friend and was simply endured and a source of cravings!  Food had become an enemy and an addiction.


One of the pillars in the programs with Inside Awareness is an environmental component.  How the landscape sets you up  and supports success or failure!  It is one of three primary focuses for consideration in any life change.  The landscape holds the lifestyle pattern and for success the pattern needs to be re-cut.  The three patterns to consider in any lifestyle change are:

  1. Landscape
  2. Emotional (Mind/Feelings)
  3. Physical (Body Health & Vigor)

In my food story the landscapes immediate change organically supported an integrated shift in my approach to eating.  Not having any unnecessary and unhealthy food close by it was easier to stop grazing on unhealthy food all day long and concentrate on healthy meals during the day at set times.  This meant that there was an opportunity to feel true hunger and not a craving which allowed more rest in my  physical digestive tract.  The outcome of this was more vigor and energy that organically resulted in being more active and getting things done with more ease.

From this perspective it is a balanced  approach with room for deepened connection to somatic changes and lifestyle integration versus pushing through change with effort.  It is a learning process that integrates un-learning (changing habits) without attaching to the moral judgments of others or one-self!   Making these changes myself I notice that I can be more honest in talking with students and clients about loosing weight.  There is a deeper natural empathy.


#emotional eating – never feeling full, drinking energy and sugar drinks, eating non-stop, diet of:  treats, fast food, carbs and chocolate


Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

 

 

Cycle of change

Recognizing need for change, 

Meaning grows:

  • Loss
  • Love
  • Birth

                                            Renee Lindstrom

Meaningful Change

Change takes root when the change is meaningful and the conscious awareness recognizes the differences of the two experiences.  (before and after the change) Conscious awareness is beyond  justifying your actions and reasoning, it is accepting it as it is and observing it.

_____________________________________

Renee Lindstrom
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Communication Coach since 2004, Art of Placement since 2000

Fall transition ideas for personal change and creating goals through your closet!

20131026_125510Today, Oct 26, and only now do I find myself transitioning my wardrobe from summer to fall!  Do you go through your bedroom seasonally?  If not, you should try it.  It is a great way to review your wardrobe and downsize to make room for something new to come into your life.  Perhaps a new relationship!

As most of us  are no longer on the farm and living the natural cycle of the seasons,  this is a nice ritual to engage in for connection and getting InTouch to the passing and upcoming seasons.

The advantages are that each season, or bi-seasonally, we are touching the insides of our closets and drawers and the tops of our dresser.  This allows us to engage in waking up to what isn’t working for us anymore in a positive light and as I said above, creating space for something new.

Recently, my focus has been on downsizing as the kids get ready to move on with their own lives independently of this parent.  Prior to the first one leaving,  I quietly began to let go of the things we no longer needed and that they have out grown.  Each time spending a few minutes on this I felt  both sad and excited!  Sad at the obvious ending of a cycle we shared together and excited about the space that it is creating for who I will become personally and for who we will become together,  in a different relationship as our roles change.

When the first one left, I had already processed enough sadness, in small  enough bits, that I could manage to be more present with the kid who hadn’t prepared themselves emotionally  ahead of time.  I was able to keep from making it about me.  No guilt, no shame and no control! Empathy and encouragement!

Imagine what you could create for yourself!  Skinny clothes from 10 years ago – get rid of them!  Relax and take the pressure off.  Fat clothes from last year, get rid of them and don’t keep them just in case or you will find yourself back in them for sure!  Take your time and have fun.  Learn to think about what you want to bring in and not what you are trying to hold on to!

Share back some of your transition and being the change ideas with us under comments!  .  For example:

  • Single and making room in your closet for a new relationships
  • Activist transitioning from outside to inside activities and needing a new image
  • Transitioning into a new job or retirement

Upcoming live November getting InTouch Goal Workshop 

Complaining

The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.

Lou Holtz