The Aspiring Writer (A Coaching Story)

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I know this woman, who is wonderfully talented in many ways: Always striving to learn, to better herself, to live up to her values of freedom, peace, and equality. She deeply believed in sustainability, in flourishing both inside and out without destroying our resources.

She had been writing a book. For a long time, she had been planning, conceptualizing, writing and not writing, contemplating and motivating (herself), without making much progress. She consistently moved all kinds of other areas of her life forward: she learned, she worked, she raised her child, but her book had not been thriving.

One day, she spoke about this with her coach. She realized that she had a conflict within herself: She believed that we (as humans) do not have to destroy the world we live in, and we do not have to grab more and more (of everything) to be happy. She also believed that by staying small and content, she did her part in protecting the world.

That day, with her coach asking her the right questions, she realized that she could be true to both of those strong values: sustainability AND growing herself. She also understood that by holding herself back, she would deprive the world of the gifts she had to share. She also deprived herself of the pleasure of being true to herself, of shining her light into the world, and of seeing what would come after this adventure, of seeing what lay behind this next, long incubated, long procrastinated over achievement.

She walked away from the coaching session that day, and started writing. She finished her book. And she discovered what adventure awaited her next.

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What calling are you not (quite) following yet? – Call me today, and let’s see what your next step in your wonderful adventure is! (And what lies beyond that!)

Why waste time procrastinating when I offer exactly what you need?

Contact me, or secure your …

Manuela Zeitlhofer, Transformative Coach (October 16, 2024)

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(photo: Ben White, Unsplash, 2021)
ladder

Powerful Speaking leads to Freedom

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From „I have to“ to “I will”
Have to > Can > Prefer to > Want to > Intend to > Will

When was the last time you said “I have to [verb]”. And what was the feeling that accompanied that statement? The thought I am inviting you to think with me today is about the connection between how we speak, how we feel and how much power and freedom we give ourselves:

Step 1: Obligation | “I have to” / “I must”
When we say “I have to” or “I must”, we are expressing that there is an obligation, or an external locus of control. We do not have much choice, and our freedom is at best very small.

My example sentence is “I have to do the dishes!”. Because I have been there.

So, as we look at this “ladder of powerful speaking”*, or the modal verbs in our language, we tweak what we say and see what happens.

A step up towards more autonomy would be “possibility”.

Step 2: Possibility | “I can” / “I might”
Instead of “must”, I now choose “can”, or “might”: “I might do the dishes” or “I can do the dishes”. Do you feel the difference? The dishes are still dirty, but I give myself a bit of room around the chore.

Step 3: Preference | “I prefer to”
We can step up a bit more, and gain a slightly different perspective (metaphorically speaking), by expressing a preference: “I prefer to do the dishes” (sometimes, after convincing myself that there is even more freedom when the dishes are done, REALLY prefer to do the dishes over procrastinating before hand).

Step 4: Passion | “I want to”
That’s not all though, we can also get up another step to a passionate statement like, “I want to do the dishes”. Can you feel the excitement? And we are not even at the top yet!

Step 5: Plan | “I intend to” / “I am planning to”
The second to last step is taking us very close to action. By saying “I intend to doing the dishes”, I can almost feel the warm water and smell the dish soap. Can you as well?

Step 6: Promise | “I promise” / “I will”
The last step, with the best view and the most potential is the “promise step”. When I tell myself, “I promise to do the dishes”, I feel the obligation dripping away, and the freedom my choice offers me energize me.

What are your thoughts about this model?

I am looking forward to your message!

My name is Manuela Zeitlhofer. |
As a transformation coach, I am assisting people in changing their perspective, one step at a time.

*Source: “Human Being”, by Dave Ellis & Stan Lankowitz, 1995 (p.62-64)

Walk 4 Change

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Walk for 20 minutes | In a natural setting | Without technological distractions
Experience the Changes in your body and mind

WHERE
To start with, think about a place near you that is or represents “nature” for you:

  • A place that is easy to access, is quiet and untouched if possible
  • Where you can be undisturbed by other people (if other people are present, don’t worry; be prepared to tune them out though)

HOW … to prepare mentally:

  • All technological devices have to be turned off, muted or not brought along, so you are free to experience the sensation of “unplugging” and “reconnecting”

Walks 4 Change always do something for me: Sometimes, as I find myself taking a deep relaxing breath, I realized that I had not even been aware of the tension in my body until it falls off me! – Manuela Zeitlhofer (25.9.2024)

Now, it is time to get your feet wet (figuratively speaking, if you prefer). Once you sign up, you will receive the package that opens your mind to this experience. I am looking forward to seeing you!

Click here for more information and to sign up:

Curious about Nature Coaching? – Grab your free Sit-Spot Exercise

Unplug 2 Reconnect (INTRODUCTION)

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  • Do you experience stress that has a negative impact you can feel it in your body?
  • Do you feel like you are on a hamster wheel without the opportunity to follow your heart and do – or even think – what you long for?
  • Have you had experiences in nature that have deeply moved you and that you still remember?

This coaching series is all about unplugging from stress & living your vision: focusing on the future you long for, and sustainably tapping into positive feelings by focusing your attention on emotionally relevant events in the past, present and future. And that works!

You have probably heard quotes like “We are what we think.” You may have already told yourself, “I can’t do that” (and consequently, you have proven to yourself that you can’t). Have you ever had situations in which you said to yourself, “I’ll do this now” or “I can do it today” – and to our own surprise, the process seemed effortless? Yes?

All of these examples are self-fulfilling prophecies:
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” ― Henry Ford

(Photo by Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash 2024)

This series includes four offers that you can take advantage of individually or one after the other:

  1. Positive Change Walks: Hikes or walks in a natural environment of your choice. Coaching prepares you for this and guides you in synthesizing your experiences.
  2. Bring Nature Home Exercise: Very simple – you bring nature into your home in the form of a plant. You then look after and watch it. That’s how you build a relationship with your friend. You know, plants love CO2, which we breathe out. So we can do the plant and ourselves a favor (because the CO2 is converted into oxygen) by spending time with plants and maybe even talking to them. – There are of course coaching questions and discussions accompanying this exercise.
  3. Positive Vision Day: You spend a whole day in nature with your coach. The vision begins long before this actual day, with power questions, self-reflections and a values test.
  4. Nature Connected Living Quest: Every week, you explore another area of your inner nature, until it all comes together and leaves you refreshed, with a new sense of purpose and direction.

You can find more information about these offers in the links or by writing to me. I am looking forward to embarking on this adventure with you!

3 Steps to Better Mental Fitness

Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Self-Reliance, ,

Mental fitness is a measure of your ability to handle life’s challenges.

When you’re mentally fit, you use your mental abilities to the fullest extent. Mental fitness enhances your creativity, ability to manage stress and anxiety, and ability to cope with mental health challenges.

Take the first steps to improve your mental fitness today.

👉 Step 1: Discover your Inner Saboteurs

Saboteurs are the voices in your head that generate negative emotions in the way you handle life’s everyday challenges. The first step to conquering your Saboteurs is to identify them and expose their lies and limiting beliefs.

Take the free Saboteur Assessment to discover the Saboteurs that are holding you back: Saboteur Assessment

👉 Step 2: Track your Mental Fitness Score

PQ (Positive Intelligence Quotient) is the measure of your mental fitness. It’s the best predictor of how happy you are and how well you perform relative to your potential. With practice, you can build powerful new muscles in your brain and boost your PQ.

Take the PQ Score Assessment to get a measure of your mental fitness and identify the areas where you want to improve: PQ Score Assessment

👉 Step 3: Explore the PQ Program & Sign up

Sustained change towards a more positive mind requires laying down neural pathways to form new habits through consistent daily practice. And that’s what the PQ Program empowers you to do.

Visit Meet Life’s Challenges without Negative Emotions to learn more about how the PQ Program can improve wellness in your life.

(reposted from Positive Intelligence, 2023)

(photo credit: Fuu J, Unsplash, 2023)

Challenging Compassionately & Directly

Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Uncategorized,

Coaching is pointing out what I sense, hear and see to benefit the client.* The magic of coaching is in the set up and in the intentions. And it works.

My superpower is that I am very empathetic and I listen exceptionally well, which creates an open and safe environment that bubbles with prospects. Another potential lies in the way coaching challenges a person’s thinking and beliefs compassionately and directly.

Here is an example: Imagine someone who keeps putting off making arrangements regarding the succession of their business. Said person is in their 70s and their health has become a bit fragile. Asked in the right context with a compassionate intention, a direct challenge would be: “What if you were not able to attend to your business, starting tomorrow and for the foreseeable future?” – That would really make you think, right?

__________

What are you curious to explore with compassion, curiosity and the right amount of challenge?

(photo by Frames for your Heart, Unsplash, 2024)

__________

*The client is fully empowered to direct where the coaching conversation is going. Any possible ideas and biases of my own are left outside the coaching space.

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Resilience Coach

Think in Positive Terms & Increase Your Potential

Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Nature, Problem Solving, ,

You have probably heard that our subconscious brain cannot process a negative command. In simple terms, when you are told, “Don’t think of a pink cat!”, you cannot help but think of a pink cat (mine had blue whiskers).

And this brings me to my topic for today: Everything we create starts with a thought, then comes language, and communication, and slowly the world is created and recreated.

Here is a thought to practice with: Imagine peace

More: If you want to dive in deeper, think of a recent challenge and formulate it in positive instead of negative terms. An example: Instead of telling myself, “I want to spend less time sitting” (negative term), I say, “I spend more time walking” (positive term). See how one’s focus shifts?

Walk more today (March 1, 2024)

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach
https://creeksideinspirations.ca/

Gratitude Changes Life As We Know It

Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Personal Development, ,

Are you a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty person? Whichever one you are, you are right, and this perspective likely shapes how you see the world in general.

Another metaphor is that every object casts a shadow in the daylight, and depending on your perspective, you might stand in the shadow or see the shadow that something is casting as dominating the whole picture.

Gratitude compares to stepping into the sunshine and seeing the “other side” of things.

It is just a matter of perspectives. Every position is subjective. We are free to change our perspective.

What are you grateful for today?

Photo by Mayur Gala, Unsplash 2024

________________________________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

Stewardship & Serenity

Connecting with Nature, , , ,

So often we find ourselves in despair
because there is too much to worry about.
Picking apart what can and cannot be changed
can be a great way to empower ourselves
and the ones in our care.

Recently, my daughter expressed her frustration about worldwide pollution. It seemed that along with the sharing of facts, the school does little to catch those young minds as they battle the implications of what was shared with them. Tangled up in her questions, her frustration and her eagerness to make the world a better place, she asked me with some exasperation, what she can actually do.

I pointed out that we are conscious of the packaging we buy, and we are purposeful with the way we use our car and the fuel (both fossil and renewable) in and around the house. We also carry a garbage bag whenever we go for walks, and we collect whatever we find.

She was not convinced, and she told me about initiatives of people cleaning beaches, doing wonderfully creative things with the garbage. It seemed that our little interventions that she has been growing up with needed a bit of perspective. So I pointed out that even little initiatives like ours, that don’t have a lobby behind them or considerable funds to draw from can be a step into the right direction. Then we discussed the meaning of the serenity prayer.

I find that little things like that give the power of self-determination back to us. Furthermore, the thought of stewardship might gain wings, with people becoming conscious about where they dispose of their garbage when they are out and about.

  • What are your thoughts about this topic?
  • What do you do when you see garbage around?
Lived Serenity: Junko (25.9.2023)

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

An Invasive Species?

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development, , , ,

A few years back I was asked to raise three newly hatched starlings that had been found at the foot of a big tree by an old lady.

Reluctantly, I took on those birds, and lo and behold I was able to raise and release them successfully. Whenever I see or hear starlings since then, I like telling my daughter that those are our three starlings saying thank you. Today, a extraordinarily big flock of starlings landed around the house and well beyond the creek. They were so loud it was both amazing and a little bit intimidating. Afterwards I thought about writing about this, as in “I had rescued the starlings and they came back with all their friends to thank me”, when I remembered that European starlings are considered an invasive species in North America. That made me think about invasive species and the similarities to what humans do all over the world. So, this is what I want to write about today.

Starlings (May 28, 2020)

Starlings were moved from Europe, their ancestral habitat, to North America in the late 19th century, where they are now one of the most abundant birds.

Starlings are said to be very adaptable, eating a wide variety of foods and nesting in many different locations. Bottom line is that European starlings infringe on native species’ habitat. That affects the balance of the web of life, and so starlings end up with a bad reputation (Forgive me for bottom lining this so bluntly).

Stepping out of the problem zone and onto a meta-level, I am thinking that those birds do just do what birds do. They simply happen to be at the wrong place (human judgement).

It occurred to me to compare this scenario to human activity. Are we doing the same thing? If so, what makes us different? We do after all come with the ability to reflect on our own behavior and the effects of our actions on the world around us. This ties in with what I’m writing in my new book (“Freedom Within Reach” about living as part of nature and not trying to govern nature).

Some thoughts you might want to ponder over are:

  • In what way do we (as humans) behave like an invasive species?
  • In what ways do you behave, and affect the habitat and the species around?
  • In what way do you fit in with what’s around you?

That’s all for today thank you very much! Please drop me a note with your thoughts and answers.

____________________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach | https://creeksideinspirations.ca/blog

Finding Your Wild Self & Living A Full Life

Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, Personal Development, , ,
Manuela & Anya, 2022

The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.

― Clarissa Pinkola Estés

(Photo by Sandra Grünewald, Unsplash, 2023)

One of my doors is behind the pain and loneliness I experienced when I was a toddler, in a hospital, for several months, tied down so I would not fidget with my leg (it was in a cast), or stand up (which might have jeopardized the healing of the leg).

I have come to learn that the greatest scars can become our greatest strengths, because they soften us to the human-ness of the people around us.

What do you think?

I am so curious to hear about your doors. Have you found it yet? Do you dare look for it?

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

Connecting over Garbage

Connecting with Nature, Getting to know your Coach, Mindfulness, Nature, , , ,

At first, we saw some garbage, the usual, a few discarded food containers, a coffee cup lid, carelessly dropped or lost by the inattentive visitor. Nothing that could not easily be picked up and collected in a small garbage bag later (and I generally do, because it hurts my eye more to see the garbage than it is an effort to pick it up and dispose of it in a designated spot).

It was a hot Sunday. We decided to go for a swim at a place along a river, where the water cascading over sheet rock is easy to access and not too deep.

Walking on we came across an abandoned campsite, with bottles and aluminum foil in the fire pit. Right next to it was a good sized box full of discarded packing material and bottles – the leftovers of a party. It seemed that someone had just abandoned the site and walked away that very morning. I looked around, but aside from a lone person walking along the shore in some distance (we had parked right next to his car) we were the only ones around. I pointed out to my husband that I was going to bring the box of garbage back and dispose of it.

I anticipated the wind would scatter it soon, and the rain would soak it. Then it would be much harder to clean it up next time around. My heart was full of resentment, and a fun day felt suddenly spoiled. I was at odds with the world and definitely upset with the person(s) who had left their garbage behind. While I realized that emotion, it was hard to shake it.

Regardless, we did our thing and explored the river. Eventually, the lone walker came towards us and I spoke to him. He told me that he was not from around here, and that he was camping out. Oh, I said, is that box up on the bank yours by any chance? He said that it wasn’t, but that he wanted to come back with a garbage bag and clean it up. I responded that I was going to take the box, and that he could come back with the said garbage bag and clean up the rest. He said, bless you, and that was all it took to put my world back on its hinges.

Connecting with just one like-minded person can change our world.

__________

My intention:

Sustainability- How to live happily while leaving the earth in the same or a better state than before – is what I strive for and educate people about

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

__________

(Photo by Anastasia Nelen, Unsplash, 2023)

Minding the Little Things

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, Nature, , , , , ,

Leopard Frog

I just came across a very small (what I believe to be a) leopard frog. Why I saw it? – Because it moved. Once it stopped, I had a hard time finding it again. Can you spot it in the picture-insert?

Leopard Frog, June 28, 2023

When I held out my hand the frog jumped on it. It did not stop but kept moving, and I felt fortunate to get one shot with the little amphibian in focus.

I am sharing this experience, because I felt so passionate about this sighting, so amazed at how tiny, how perfect and how fragile this little frog is. That created a sense of responsibility and reverence in me.

What I learned from the encounter: Frogs are amazing. Life is precious. I am grateful.

What was the latest thing that created a sense of awe in you?

__________

Johnson Salamander

I almost stepped onto this little guy. At first, I thought somebody had dropped a piece of rubber in the grass.

Then I realized I had a visitor. A mysterious visitor.

Luckily he did not mind waiting there, in his spot in the grass, while I found out that the Jefferson Salamander is considered an endangered species in our area. I sat in a distance from him for a while, then let him be. He was there all evening, but gone the next morning.

Johnson Salamander, June 24, 2023

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

Saving One’s Face

Getting to know your Coach, Mental Fitness, Mindfulness

I generally like to present myself well composed and in control of my negative emotions. I don’t like to be seen when my saboteurs (my negative inner voices) get the better of me. Feelings of stress, anxiety, self-doubt, frustration, restlessness, and unhappiness can be very unsettling.

I work through strong emotions best by going outside. Walking and running have always worked well for me.

Mental fitness activities have added a new and unexpected effectivity for me. I still experience negative emotions, but more and more I feel AND see them for what they are, and that makes it possible for me to step aside and that really takes the edge off those emotions.

If you feel alone in and at the whim of negative emotions, I can assure you that you are not!

I have been working with people who are very successful in corporate businesses, governments, and military settings. They all experience negative inner voices. They all feel self-conscious at times, and very competent and in sage emotions at others. Just like you. Just like me.

In addition, I find that it does create a sense of connectedness when people talk about their emotions, and the empath in me walks hand in hand with my intuitive self.

How have you been dealing best with negative emotions?

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

Spirit Plants

Connecting with Nature, Mindfulness, ,

When I lived in the Yukon, I was given a handful of Haskap berries. I harvested the tiny seeds and started them. I planted the little plants in a raised bed. They survived winter after winter, and after a three years they produced their first fruit. When I left the Yukon, I took some seeds with me. The whole story repeated itself, and we had our first berries last summer. This summer, we have such an abundant harvest, which made me think that Haskap bushes are definitely my spirit plant:

They are easy going, produce fruit very early in the season and for an extended period, they are abundant, appreciative of what I can give them, they are decorative, and they are not of interest to little harvesters like chipmunks (strawberries don’t stand a chance against those neighbors).

What is your spirit plant? – Look around. What plants are doing well in your care or in your surroundings? Please contact me if you need more questions or a reference-guide.

__________

Manuela Zeitlhofer | Mental Fitness & Nature Coach

Your Body Has You Covered

Connecting with Nature, Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, , ,

When the fog is too thick for you to find your way around, your body knows where to go.

That might be a bit of a metaphorical exaggeration. Please bear with me as I unroll my thoughts:

Unfortunately, our area is currently experiencing dense smog from wildfires in this and other provinces of Canada. While we cannot really smell it (unlike yesterday, when the smell of a cold fire pit hung in the air), my chest felt heavy this morning, I felt reluctant to take a deep breath, and a headache was (and is) lingering. I pointed out to my daughter that there are people who spend their lives in conditions like this, where the air is polluted all the time. And how lucky we can be that this is only a temporary situation.

I also became aware how messages from my body – reluctant to take a deep breath – can be such a great guide, and how important it is consequently, to listen to somatic impressions.

____________________

As your coach with a strong affinity towards stewardship for our natural world I would ask you:

When do you feel your body telling you something you are not consciously aware of (yet)?

There is a very useful little exercise with which you can quickly gain (or regain) access to your somatic wisdom and your inner compass. Drop me a note if you are interested.

(Photo by Greg Rosenke, Unsplash 2023)

When Life Happens

Mindfulness, Personal Development, , ,

We live on the side of a beautiful creek. In the spring, the water level is fairly high and the current is fairly strong; strong enough so I can swim in it without moving in relation to the shore line. It is perfect: cool, refreshing, clean. The birds are singing, the mosquitoes cannot get to me, and all I see is nature.

I have a tendency to forget this beautiful setting, when the water level drops radically later in the season and the flow comes to a halt, until the creek is full of long algae. That is partially due to the fact that this creek drains from a lake that is dammed up so the people with cottages around it can enjoy the water all summer, when there is less water feeding the lake. I have a tendency to feel resentful about that. Gentrification of formerly pristine rural lands into cottage country for wealthy retirees is not something that I digest easily.

Today, however, when the temperature rose to 30 degrees, I hopped into the creek, and I was swimming against the current with my goggles on, exploring the underwater world (I tickled a mussel with my toe and it clammed up, I listened to some shore birds chirping, and I enjoyed the gentle flow of water against my front, when I stopped swimming and put my feet down), I realized how much I miss out on, when I am not living in the moment. So I did.

How have you lived in the moment today?

__________

CCO – Cool Coaching Offers

By the way, I am offering a few really cool things in my coaching services: A 6-week program to help people gain clarity about their life purpose (direct link coming soon!), and an 8-week program that builds serious mental muscles. Both have helped me and brave souls around me who jumped into the adventure with me. Feel free to schedule a nonbinding discovery call to talk about your journey.