Stop the Advice!

I am reading a chapter a day of Wayne Dyer's book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. It's a mediation on the chinese philosopher/teacher Lao-Tzu's writings called the Tao Te Ching or The Great Way and at the end of each chapter Dr. Dyer presents a invitation to practice "the Tao Now."

This is what I read this morning:

Do The Tao Now Spend an hour, a day, a week, or a month practicing not giving unsolicited advice. Stop yourself for an instant and call upon your silent knowing. Ask a question, rather than giving advice or citing an example from your life, and then just listen to yourself and the other person. As Lao-tzu would like you to know, that's "the highest state of man."

Or woman ;-). As coaches we strive to do just that, every day. It's not easy. It's sometimes very tempting to just jump in while a client is talking and provide a quickie solution or a nugget of advice. But the best process for change and the best advice and wisdom comes from the client's own process of discovery and discernment. Coaches are simply the facilitators in this process. We ask the questions. You provide the answers.

Lessons from the Easter Bunny

As the U.S. President and First Lady host the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House today, I am reminded of a popular email that is shared this time of year that invites us all to learn from the Easter Bunny, no matter what belief system we subscribe to.

Here's an excerpt:
All I need to know
I learned from the Easter Bunny!
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There's no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.
Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.
To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

Flickr Photo by stevendepolo

Could You Give Away your Stuff and Go Homeless for a Month?

Te-Erika Patterson, editor of mysavvysisters.com is doing just that for an awareness and fundraising project she calls the Rebuild Your Life Project. After giving up her home and belongings she will spend a month on the street in her home state of Florida and her efforts will raise funds for The Homeless Voice Shelter in Hollywood, Florida.

Why is she doing this?

“While I am living in the streets I plan to teach strategic lessons for rebuilding your life and developing the attitude for success,” Patterson explained. “Although this time I am choosing to be homeless, many are homeless due to circumstances. Many women fear the thought of losing everything and never make a move toward their dreams because of this fear. I hope to teach women that the things they own do not define them and how their biggest fear of an extreme life transition, if it ever happens, could be a blessing that sets them free.”

Follow Te-Erikas Blog and follow her progress on this project. I am sure you will find it inspiring!