April Newsletter

In the Pursuit of . . .
April 2009
Frazier Coaching and Consulting
www.fraziercoaching.com

Signposts in Life
Look at my kitchen and you will know what kind of week I am having. If the dishwasher is full of clean dishes, the sink full of dirty dishes, and the countertops haven’t been wiped off in a meal or two- you will know my day has been busy and harried. My kitchen is the signpost of what I am feeling like inside. Cluttered and needing some TLC, or wiped clean, dishes put away, and good food in the refrigerator. For a lot of people their signpost will not be their kitchen- for some I know it is their laundry, others their quiet /devotional time, and for some it might be their diet. Your signpost might be one of these, or something completely different. But I bet that if you stop and think about it, you will discover your signpost - the outer thing that reflects your inner life- the red flag that waves when life is getting out of balance, when you are feeling pulled in too many directions, or when busyness and crisis takes over. Pay attention to these markers in your life. Evaluate what is causing the busyness, the unbalance, and then decide to face it head on. If needed, find someone who will help you get back on track.

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We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions.
We sow our actions, and we reap our habits.
We sow our habits, and we reap our characters;
We sow our characters, and we reap our destiny.
-- Anonymous
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Facing Financial Fears
Franklin Roosevelt famously said there is nothing to fear but fear itself. But when you get your investment report in the mail, like I did the other day, and see that it’s lost more value than what you contributed this quarter (yet again), it’s hard not to feel like you would be better off stuffing money under the mattress. The ongoing stories of financial woes on the radio and internet can even make the most financially secure wonder if they should worry. So what to do? The first thing is to realize there is not much you can do, as far as fixing the economy goes anyway. What you can do is take an honest look at your own situation: Are you depending on this week’s paycheck to pay bills that are due? Are you buying things on credit rather than cash? OR are you putting a little bit back each month (no matter how small) for emergencies? Are you remembering there are others worse off than you and giving? We may not be able to solve the world’s finances, but we can stop living in fear, and instead embrace where we are in life, the blessings God has given us, and start being wise with each financial decision we make. Be strong enough to admit if you need help in this area, and then ask for it.

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Challenge of the week: Celebrate something small in a big way. Pay attention to an everyday accomplishment (like cleaning the kitchen or an A on your child’s spelling test) and celebrate it over the top. Look for the joys in everyday life.

Emily Frazier is a life coach who specializes in working with people who are feeling overwhelmed, out of balance, or at a crossroads in life. She believes that we all have a God-given purpose, and loves helping others discover what their life’s purpose is. Contact Emily today for a free consultation: emily@fraziercoaching.com

If you want to subscribe, please visit our website at www.fraziercoaching.com and submit your email address.

May newsletter

In the Pursuit of . . .
May 2009
Frazier Coaching and Consulting
www.fraziercoaching.com

Spring Inspiration
When the weather warms up and the birds start singing, my husband and I generally get inspired to start a big project. Like clockwork, May and June we will start repainting a room, renovating a porch, building an outbuilding, something. I think almost all of our big home projects through the years have been started when the weather is warm and we feel full of new energy and enthusiasm. The only downside is after working on that new project for a while, it loses its excitement, and we lose our momentum. Whatever endeavor we were working on gets stalled- the new siding gets almost finished but not quite; the room gets painted but the last touch up coat never quite makes it on. Sometimes I pick on my husband about our unfinished projects. But somehow it’s harder to get excited about those finishing touches than it is about starting something new. Many areas in our life can be like those home improvement projects. We are full of enthusiasm and excitement when we start, but somewhere along the way we stall out and never quite finish. Maybe it’s an unfinished college degree; perhaps a business idea that floundered; or possibly a diet and exercise routine that somehow fell to the wayside. If you’ve lost your momentum, find your inspiration again. Go back and finish those life projects you started. If you need to, work with a life coach to make it happen and, this time, see it through to the end.

“I firmly believe we can do what we set our mind to. It takes time and commitment and faith, but God is in the business of miracles. Don’t give up. You have no idea what’s ahead for you.”

--- Luci Swindoll

The Rich Life
I have a three-year old and one on the way. I see other families with two or three school age children and each of them involved in t-ball, soccer, karate, or dance. And I think- don’t you feel like you meet yourself coming and going? Each day becomes full not only of school and work, but then practices, meetings, games, and commitments. Even those without children at home can still succumb to this constant busyness- working late, volunteering, leading groups at church. Not that any of these are bad by themselves, but in all things there is a need for balance. When my bathrooms get so dirty even I hate to use them, I know it is time to slow down and take care of some things. When my husband mentions I haven’t cooked a real meal in too long to remember, I know life’s busyness has crept into our home. No one can do it all, even if they look like they can. To do one activity means not doing another. To spend time with my daughter means not hanging out on Facebook; to clean the kitchen means not watching television. Each moment of our day is a choice. We choose how to spend it and what value we place on it. Choose wisely. If you feel like everyone else is in control of your schedule except you, maybe it is time to stop and evaluate. Seek assistance if you need it to get back in control of your day and bring balance back into your schedule.

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Challenge of the week: Imagine you can have three wishes granted. What would they be? Would you wish for money, a nicer house, a better marriage, more patience? Think deeply about it and write them down. Go back and look at your list often.
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Emily Frazier is a life coach who specializes in working with people who are feeling overwhelmed, out of balance, or at a crossroads in life. She believes that we all have a God-given purpose, and loves helping others discover what their life’s purpose is. If you would like to talk with Emily about how she can help you in these areas, contact her today for a free consultation: emily@fraziercoaching.com


If you want to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit our website at www.fraziercoaching.com and submit your email address.