Who Moved The Cheese?

Being able to adjust to change is one of the leading factors in the survival of humans, or any species for that matter. We often get so comfortable with our routines that even the very thought of things going differently sends us into bouts of anxiety.

Who Moved The Cheese? by Spencer Johnson is a perfect wake up call for anyone who is refusing to deal with change, even when the necessity to do so is staring them right in the face. The story follows four characters, two of them mice and two of them mini people as they struggle to navigate a tiny maze and discover the cheese hidden within.

Change is hard, we as a collective whole have been taught from a very young age. We are programmed to hold onto the familiar and shy away from going out and experiencing all the different things life has to offer. I say that change is a must; it is what keeps us alive and thriving!

Perhaps one of the leading causes of an apathetic population and an overwhelming sense of boredom can be attributed to this lack of change. People need to start embracing adventure! Change can be and is good. We don't need to fear the unknown. As it stands right now we even collectively get upset when FaceBook changes our profile page!

Change, it does the body good.

Certification

Life coaching is still a new enough profession that the questions surrounding certification outnumber the answers. Whereas there are no doubt about the education needed to become a doctor or lawyer, the schooling needed to become a life coach is still quite gray.

If you ask some of the most established coaches what schools are the best for certification, they invariably have differing opinions, and often take the opportunity to promote their own life coaching academies they set up themselves. Some of the more famous coaches don't even have official certification, having began their careers before coaching schools even existed.

Who has the power to certify a life coach and who does not? Who decided which governing bodies are qualified to determine what certification is legitimate and which is not, and what is required of an individual to call himself a life coach? Ultimately these questions will all be answered, but until then, it will have to be those seeking out coaches who determine who is out and who is in.

Eating Yourself Invisible

Obesity has really gotten to the point where it could be considered a health crisis. Whereas previous generations often had to contend with disease from an external source, the children of the 21st Century are faced with serious threats from within. Obesity is the cause for a whole host of disorders, from heart disease to diabetes to various forms of cancer.

Anyone who has ever struggled with obesity would say that it is something that creeps up on you gradually. Initially clothes don't fit the way they used to, and physical activities that used to be performed easily become increasingly more difficult, and then people start to look at you differently or in some cases not at all.

Discrimination against overweight people is no surprise, but the degree in which it can affect a person's self-esteem or ability to succeed is far outreaching what people believe. Studies show that people are more likely to stop and talk to a stranger who is slim than one who is overweight. Overweight children are also more likely to be discriminated at school by not only their peers, but teachers and staff.

I struggled with obesity through my entire childhood. By the time I was fifteen years old, I was wearing size 47 pants and was tipping the scales at 330 pounds. I knew discrimination first-hand. I struggled with self-esteem issues throughout my entire life, even after I had lost all the weight.

Through controlling the way I think, I have put an end, not only to the yo-yo effect of weight loss and gain, but the scars that go along with it. Addressing the cause of over-eating is the first step in preventing a health care disaster for countless overweight adults and children worldwide.

Neural Linguistic Programming

Neural Linguistic Programming or NLP for short is most likely still a mystery to most people, but it is quickly becoming the it topic around the water cooler. Perhaps its new found popularity can be attributed to the advertisements on Facebook, or the videos on Youtube, or perhaps it is because of the power NPL proposes to offer.

One of the techniques often used by life coaches is NLP. With the tools given a NLP practitioner, he can help his clients overcome phobias or fears that have long plagued them, or give them new found confidence in situations that previously would have triggered a stress response.

Anthony Robbins can be considered one of the leading figures in the NLP industry, but there are many others who are starting to gain a degree of notoriety. Whereas some will use these techniques in life coaching sessions, others use it for entertainment purposes. It is certainly entertaining to watch YouTube videos that show the power NLP.

NLP As Entertainment

Write It Down

How are you supposed to achieve a degree of success in your life if you can`t even define what it is to succeed? There was a time when if you had a house,  a steady job and family you were deemed highly successful, but times they are achangin', and people are hard pressed to redefine what they want as far as personal and professional achievements are concerned.

It is extremely rare for an individual to stay with any company for a significant amount of time, and romantic relationships are similarly seen as a temporary arrangement. Houses are now seen as either investments or liabilities, and are rarely passed on from one generation to the next.

In this age of changing values, it is no surprise people are seeking out life coaches, who can help them with difficult decision making. The role of the responsible life coach is not to direct, but to ask the right questions and allow his clients to lead.

There is one certainty when it comes to achieving success. Goals must be clear before they can be reached. If long term goals are unclear, than aim for daily targets that can be met; soon the path into the future will become far clearer and mountains will turn into mole hills.

Memory Management

We all see the world through our own perceptions, likes, dislikes and prejudices. The old question whether you are a glass half full or half empty person truly does speak volumes about a person's personality, and it seems their potential for success and happiness.

By filtering out the bad or more accurately the trying events of your life and focusing on the silver lining, you are guaranteed immediate happiness. If you approach each obstacle as a chance to excel, and truly shine, there is no doubt you will succeed and move forward in every avenue of your choosing.

This type of positive approach to living does not only work with future events, it also applies to the past. If you lament your station in life because of your childhood, or because of certain decisions you made in university, you are going to continue to find excuses instead of finding opportunities. Your perceptions are only that, perceptions of reality. Choose what you focus on, and change your world forever.

Mirror The World

I recently started working on this technique called Mirroring. Basically it allows you to copy the body language of someone and create connections between the two of you that you might not otherwise have. Mirroring is supposed to put you in the other person's shoes so that you can get a better idea of how they're feeling.

Have you ever paid attention to how you and a lot of your closer friends walk and talk and probably dress the same? You are all mirroring each other without even totally realizing it. How do you think you would feel if one of your friends stopped walking and talking and dressing the same as you? You would probably think that not much would change, but studies show that you would feel almost as though your friendship is suffering and you have somehow lost that special connection.

Mirroring seems to be an excellent tool to bridge distances. By creating this initial connection with people, you can really get an idea about who they are and what areas of their lives they may need to work on. Body language is a powerful tool that has been neglected in the world of communication for far too long.

Thought Vs. Action

 It is often said that actions speak louder than words. It is true that what people say and what they actually do are not always the same things, and sometimes they are completely different. It is not uncommon for someone to sit and think about all the changes he will make in his life only to settle back into his routine for another day, month or even year.

Thought or ``positive thinking,`` to be more accurate is only one part of an equation that will yield results. One has to have motivation, and desire and a willingness to do whatever it takes to reach that final target. So, in the end the first step to achieving one`s goals is having a target. Once a target is taken sight of, then a little positive thinking never hurt in helping produce results.

Everyone has goals. If you stop having goals than you are a sleepwalker through your own life. By setting goals and acknowledging your wants, you help not only yourself, but those people around you who's goals and aspirations hinge on your own. Don't give up on wanting; it's a big part of the equation that ends with getting.

Anthony Robbins

Why is it that whenever you mention the name Anthony Robbins to people they cringe and roll their eyes? You would think that someone as skilled as Robbins in reading people and promoting himself he'd have a better image than he does. It isn't that he is hated by people; it's more they find him too sweet, akin to sugar pie or John Tesh. He has crossed the invisible line from helpful to ho-hum and it's difficult for him to get back.

I recently read Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins, and I have to admit that it is full of useful information and techniques for those of us who are interested in helping ourselves and/or others. At first even I was reluctant to read a book written by the king of cheese himself, but I set aside the stereotypes and I am extremely happy I did.

I am happy to say that after reading Unlimited Power I feel more prepared than ever to face whatever challenges come my way. I would encourage anyone who comes across a copy to give it a read. I enjoyed it so much, I`d suggest you read it twice!

Life Coaching

At one time life coaching was seen as a fad, or something reserved for the extremely wealthy or famous. This perception is fast changing as the benefits of having a life coach become increasingly apparent. Now regular folks who are tired of living the same dull existence are looking into hiring someone.

The real question for most people is still the same as it has always been; what exactly is a life coach? The answer is quite simple, and not that difficult to even imagine. A life coach listens to his clients, and helps them make the decisions most suitable for achieving their goals. If a person wants to change their career, but isn't sure what steps to take or even what new career to pursue, a life coach will ask the right questions and suggest various avenues to help his clients make those decisions.

Life coaching is not therapy. Therapists focus on their patients' pasts and work to resolve issues they need to work through. They may use a variety of techniques and even suggest prescription drugs to deal with psychological issues. A life coach focuses on the present, and works with his patients to achieve a desired future. They do not delve into the past, and they do not tell their clients what to do. They ask questions and give their clients the tools needed to move forward.

Hiring a life coach is almost like hiring a personalized cheerleader who is there for you when you most need him. He listens to your issues and helps in whatever ways you are both comfortable with. It's no surprise more people are considering hiring a coach in a day and age where the answers may not be as easily found as they once were.

Today Is The Day

There is a famous quote by Mother Theresa that says, "Life is an adventure, dare it."

Today is the best day of your life. If you are willing to believe that, than you can change the world. Everything that has come before cannot be changed, and therefore focusing on the now is the most responsible thing to do. The future is unwritten and we have the power to change tomorrow in anyway we see fit.

Set your goals and work to make them come true. That is the primary secret that separates the have and the have-nots. I used to think that dreaming was so very important and the Universe would find a way to make my life fantastic. Now I realize the Universe will align things for my benefit, but I have to be willing to go out there and change my reality for the better.

There is nothing wrong with being a dreamer. The world needs people who are willing to think outside of the box. What we need more of however are doers. Now is the time for action to be taken; to decide on what you want, and move towards it. Astronauts were not made by sitting on the couch watching Dancing with the Stars; they were made through setting an out of this world goal and working towards it.

Matthew Soule