Conscious Leaders Success Salon  

Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 8/19/2008 4:35 AM UTC

  What's on your iPod? (i-coaching ideas for FUN and balance in your day)
  

  I'm always looking for ways to counter stress, achieve life-work balance and have FUN!  I'm talking serious fun!  I truly believe in working hard and playing harder.  Succeeding at work as the means to creating life's celebrations.

  In addition to time with family and friends, yoga, Tai Chi, SCUBA or walks on our local greenways I look for tools which I call self-coaching tools.  For me, some of the best tools are books, audiobooks and music - which are easier when I enjoy them on my iPod, thus my name, i-coaching tools.

  At present I'm reading and coaching a group around Eckhart Tolle's, The Power of Now.  The collective energy and wisdom around this experience are transformational.  When I want the knowledge but just can't find the time or want to rest my eyes I listen to the iPod audio of this book.  Eckhart's voice is veerry soothing, so he may need a caution label that reads, "don't drive and listen."  :~)

  Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's Staying the Path is another i-coaching favorite.  I describe this one as, "book meets music."  After a valuable but intellectual intro referring to Jungian stages of maturation the words meet the soothing sound and I begin to feel as much as listen to his message.  At this point, being present with the message comes naturally, with fewer distractions.

  When I really want to escape into a world without talk and just float, I may listen to Todd Norian's Bija.  My fantastic yoga teacher, Debbie (a.k.a. yogamom) introduced me to Todd's music.  I'd describe it as "Om meets nature sounds."  The kind of music you can actively listen and feel or just put on in the background to create a peaceful environment.

  Then there are the days when the pursuit of peace and balance take on a more vibrant feel.  Actually, quiet is out the window and we are talking loud, body swaying sounds.  Days when the Latin sound of Gloria Estefan'Rhythm Is Gonna Get You becomes my daughter and my mantra and we are dancing until we are out of breath.  These are the times I've hooked up my iPod to the house speakers and we are jammin'.

  There are also the times when my i-coaching goes mobile and the Bose speakers in my car are the modem for FUN!  Not being big on commercial TV I did not know about Jordin Sparks until I heard her sing our National Anthem during Super Bowl XLII half-time. (Sorry Idol fans)  Then I heard, One Step at a Time and immediately loved it's i-coaching value.  Jordin's song reminds us that life is like learning to fly or falling in love... it's gonna' happen, supposed to happen ... and we find the reasons why one step at a time... we live and we learn .. it's the faith that makes you stronger.

  I'd love to know what's on your iPod to get you through your day? Share with us how you balance stress and add FUN to your day.  I invite you to use the comment section below to share your thoughts and feelings.

  Peace, presence and joy,

  Karen McMillan, ACC

  Conscious Leadership and Retreat Coach
  • Tags:
  • life coaching
  • life balance
  • music
  • balance
  • iPod
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