Sunday, November 15, 2015

God, Let Me Know You Deeper

Ok, so how can I trust in something or someone I do not really know?  Do I really know You?  Are You a figment of my imagination?  Would I meet You along the way if I hadn't been indoctrinated by religion, parents, society to believe in You?

I want to know You in a more real sense.  Why don't you talk to me?  Why do I have to keep guessing what You mean, who I am, or
what this life is all about?

At some level, some "place" within my being I sense You.  But I want to know You, from soul to soul.  From a place of curiosity, of newness, freshness.

Don't hide from me God.  Show me the Way.  Reveal yourself to me in simple, clean ways.  The world is complex enough, too complex for my head.  I want You to meet me, I want to meet You at a simple place.

Hold my hand. sustain me as I stand in the Unknown.

I know You Are!  Let me know you deeper, more.

With a desire to be Love,

Savina

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Life Coaching and Truly Listening

One valuable gift a Life Coach can share with their clients is the gift of truly listening.

But.....not just listening to the words, it's more about listening to the tone of voice, the expressions of self-doubt, the "shoulds" expressed by the client during the coaching session.  If the session is face to face, be aware of the body language....feel intuitively the energy of your client, their mood.

This is what I call true listening and true connection.  Most of us humans are thirsty for connection, for someone to be present when we are sharing our feelings, fears and desires.  A Life Coach has the opportunity to be that to their clients.

Truly listening is about focus, presence, really hearing what is being communicated by our client (not necessarily "said"); this becomes a useful tool then:

  • to ask the appropriate questions 
  • to give the most needed support  
  • share/teach a healing tool
I hope this is inspiring for you.  

Monday, July 20, 2015

My Experience as a Prison Volunteer

Yesterday, for the first time, I volunteered at a prison for women.   I came in contact with Lawrence on Facebook a few months ago (he leads a group of volunteers at several Florida prisons teaching yoga, and other helpful tools to the inmates) .

I had no idea what I was going to experience, all I knew was that it sounded like something I wanted to do.  So I coordinated with Lawrence to try it out.

Yesterday we met in person for the first time at the women's prison parking lot around 9 am.  I had to leave all my "stuff" in the car (purse, notebook) and go through security.  Not a surprise at all.  Just standard procedure.  Lawrence brought along a cd player, and a whole lotta yoga mats which were inspected and counted before entering the premises.

I took some books to give away to the inmates....books I have already read and find uplifting.  They were so happy to receive these.

The inmates know the day and time of the group meeting; a small group was already outside the meeting room waiting eagerly for us.  After a few minutes more inmates joined us and we were a group of about 14.  I think the number of attendees is limited.

I was truly surprised and joyful at the welcome I received from all of them.  We sat in a circle, introduced ourselves, I briefly shared a bit of who I am, what I do, and why I was there.  I'm Dominican, a New Yorker, mom of three, a life coach and an ordained ministerial counselor.  Oh, I also shared I do Reiki.

Immediately I felt connected to all of them.  They were quite cheerful, open, and aware.  A diverse group, white American, Colombian, Mexican, African American, Indian.

Lawrence allowed me to guide the group in meditation....which I happily did.  Then we sat in peaceful silence for a few more minutes.  Just being, in stillness.  After that Lawrence and the group enjoyed an hour of hatha yoga to a really good dvd, while I, at the request of the inmates, did Reiki individually to 5 of them.....that took up the next hour for me.  But I was so happy!!!  I felt I was making a difference in these women's lives.  I prayed with some, listened intently to others share their stories after each Reiki session.  It was a wonderful and satisfying experience.

I'll be back for sure!!  This is a blessed opportunity to share, give, receive and touch lives.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Three Magic Secrets: #1 LIFE IS A SCHOOL

Secret #1: Life is a School

For years I used the tools I had learned to cope with life's challenges and difficulties; these were:
  • to complain, feel like a victim of circumstances, blame others for my "misery"
At the beginning of my life coach training program with YOU University Coaching, I learned three very wise or MAGIC secrets.

By practicing their application in my everyday life, my mood,  relationships and outlook on life itself changed to a much happier and healthier one.

The first secret, Life is a School, has helped me perceive life's events as lessons. The lessons are really more about myself, who I am, what am I thinking and feeling, what is a person or event appearing in my experience actually revealing to me about ME.

Now, whenever a challenge arises, I refrain from complaining or judging it as "bad", and I ask myself:

  • What can I learn from this? 
  • What is this situation mirroring back to me about myself? 
  • How did I participate in creating this?

As a result of this continued practice, I now complain less, appreciate much more and my life has taken on more meaning and purpose. I now know myself much better and make wiser choices.


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Self Trust

Learning to trust myself has been a real challenge for me. 
Time and again I get that gut feeling, the warning, the nudge, and I invalidate this built-in guidance system and instead listen to what others around me think and feel is the right way to go.
I am so much more aware of this now. It used to be that when faced with a decision, small or significant, I couldn't make up my mind. I'd be filled with anxiety and confusion. Oh my God, what should I do? What if I choose wrong? What if I make a mistake? What if? What if?
Underneath that feeling of confusion was and is the inability to trust myself. Fear and self doubt are underneath these reactions. It has been a loooong journey to come to this realization.
Trust myself. That sounds and feels so good. Empowering.
Three precise tools or systems have helped me embrace this new way of interacting within myself (does that make sense, interacting within myself?).
  • Human Design. This is a system of understanding your conditioning vs. your true and original design to help you get to know yourself better. More and more I am reminded from within what my true design is and it helps me to trust myself more.
  • You University. The program is not just a reading through; it has tangible assignments and deep inner work to get you very much in touch with your core beliefs and allows you to surface and look at them.  It then empowers you to choose differently.
  • My spiritual connection and relationship to God. Knowing I'm not alone and am loved unconditionally gives me courage to love and trust myself.
Trusting myself is a cornerstone in my coaching and ministerial practice. I certainly need to trust my instincts when connecting and listening to a client. Doubt has no place when dealing with something so precious and important as a life!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

CONSISTENT!

Two years ago (as part of my ministerial training) I was asked to choose 3 spiritual traits I felt I needed to practice and develop more in my own life.

I chose:  TRUSTING, DEFENSELESS AND CONSISTENT.

During these past two years, through my life journey, I can affirm that I've developed more trust in my Higher Self and Its Guidance, and have practiced being more defenseless (work in progress).

Towards the end of 2014 I realized that being consistent has taken much more time and practice.
I looked deeper within myself to identify which areas I am not consistent in, and why.

Self care came up like a neon sign, specifically in the areas of:

  • eating healthy, 
  • right and consistent exercising (especially for strengthening my knees), and 
  • being more aware of my thought patterns 

The why came up that I don't take myself too seriously and I make excuses easily.  I'll set the intention of eating less sweets but I don't follow through; I give in to cravings and I get lazy when it comes to exercising.

So, being CONSISTENT and more committed to ME has become my intention for the year 2015 starting right now.

I trust my Higher Self will support and strengthen me in this area!