Pressure of the positive

I’ve been studying the Law of Attraction for quite some time, but there are always new resources, new thoughts and new perspectives on the subject. One of my biggest challenges with attraction is keeping it up! How do you stay positive all the time? How do you keep your thoughts focused forward and not unintentionally sabotage them with the language you’re using? How do you keep all the ‘laws’ straight in your memory?

Over the years, I’ve neglected a very foundational source of this information. They’ve been teaching this material for years. I’m referring to Jerry and Esther Hicks. Their book, ‘The Law of Attraction‘ recently snagged my attention. I’d heard of them many times and for whatever reason just hadn’t studied them. I’d like to share a few key elements that I’ve taken away so far.

1. Your Inner Being
I know this sounds funky, but bear with me. Imagine you have two components that make up who you are. One is an always positive, always whole, always content and all-knowing self. The other is the part of yourself that experiences everyday emotion….ups, downs and in betweens. Now think of a time when these two were not in alignment. Maybe your rational self was saying that a dream you had was too big and yet your inner voice held the ‘why not?’ perspective. I’ve had this feeling many, many times and it doesn’t feel good!

One of my sources of confusion studying The Laws of Attraction was how to keep my thought language on the right tracks. There are so many ways to unintentionally sabotage our thoughts by focusing on what we actually don’t want. If you say to yourself, ‘I don’t want to get sick.’ You’re actually focusing on the possibly of getting sick! I FELT sick just trying to keep all of this straight in a mind that flutters a new thought about every millisecond.

Jerry, Esther (and Abraham) do a great job identifying how to know if you’re in a productive or counter-productive mindset. They say you simply must identify if the thought makes you feel good or bad. That’s ALL! Let the thought happen, then gauge how you feel. Are you tingly with excitement or filled with dread? If you’re filled with dread, try a different thought. It’ll take a little while to get yourself in a positive thought pattern, but that’s okay! Every time you shift is getting you closer to attracting abundance.

2. What do you WANT?
“Get your eyes, words and thoughts off of what-is, and put them purely on what you now want. The more you think and speak of what you want, the faster what you want will be yours.” pg. 100, The Law of Attraction

Okay, take a long, hard look at that underlined part. Think of ALL of those thoughts that come into your consciousness when you’re trying to focus on what you want:
- It’s not here yet
- It’s not happening fast enough
- It’s too big a dream/leap/hope
- I shouldn’t have that
- I don’t know if I can handle it
- Where will the money come from?
- What will I do if it doesn’t work out…

Sound familiar? Is that TRULY focusing on what you want? NO! You’re still focused on what-is. Jerry and Esther recommend taking a pure 10-20 minutes a day to focus solely on what you want. Meditate, take a walk, do what you need to do to get in a clear frame of mind and devote that time to what you want…no holds barred. All your energy. Straight into this vision. Don’t even let your mind tiptoe into what is currently. Your goal is based in the future and you must believe, feel and think that it can happen. Even if it’s only for 20 minutes a day. Try it out!

I’ll raise my glass to high hopes, big goals and delicious dreams,

Coach Katie
Momentum Coaching

The dreaded four letter F-word: FEAR

It’s a human reaction. It’s completely normal. It’s true – EVERYONE experiences it. So, why does it throw us so far out of whack sometimes? Fear can be a really debilitating state of mind. Would it help if I told you fear was man-made? By definition, fear it only supposed to elicit a response from us if we’re in physical danger. As a society though, we’ve really zeroed in on how to hold on to our fear and the different areas of life that bring us anxiety.

- Relationships
- Public speaking
- Social interaction
- Cold calling
- ‘What-ifs’
- New experiences
- Change

Just to name a few.

So, how do WE take control of our fear instead of letting it control us? First of all, you have to figure out how you respond to fear. You might be avoiding it unconsciously. For instance, I just had a client who started a fight with her husband every time she was getting ready to go out into a new social situation. She was an introvert and she started noticing the pattern after years of doing this! Sometimes we get quiet, sometimes we get loud, sometimes we have a physical response such as a beating heart or sweaty palms. Whatever your reaction is, it’s a SYMPTOM that fear is showing up. It’s up to you to respond to it.

Fear literally makes us freeze sometimes. We all know that in order to move toward anything, we have to do just that…move. So, if we’re frozen by fear, we’re really doing much good are we? Fellow life coach Laura Neff and myself just discussed in an hour long class last night how amazing fear is as a tool to awareness and what we can do to leverage it instead of letting it paralyze us. Listen in by clicking here.

Make it a fear-less day!
Coach Katie Mattson

Balance

Is there a difference between work/life and life/inner peace balance? What makes one person seem balanced while someone else seems to reeling out of control? Are any of us EVER truly balanced?

Last night I taught a teleclass on Balance as part of my THRIVE audio coaching series with co-leader Laura Neff. It’s always been a fascinating topic to me because we’re always struggling with this ambiguous term. When we sit, we feel like we should be doing something. When we’re busy doing something, we wish we could have some time to sit down.

One of the best tools for balance that Laura and I have come across is something called the Wheel of Life. You pick 8-10 areas of your life that are important to you such as: exercise, spirituality, work, family, etc. Then you rate your satisfaction (yes, satisfaction, not success) in each area from 1-10 with 10 being the highest level of satisfaction. The goal here is NEVER to have all areas at a 10. What? How can that be you ask?

Well, think about it. If you have the perfect family dynamic, the perfect career, the perfect working hours, a great ability to cook a meal, perfect body measurements, a three times a day meditation practice…you’d be exhausted. Fulfillment is about balancing all the areas of your life. The key is to measure that balance. Do you have fulfillment in all areas – but have some that are through the roof enjoyable? While others need a bit of TLC? GREAT.

It’s never been about being perfect. It’s about perfecting the moments you’re in. When you’re with your children, are you able to function as a parent with the intention and attention that you should? When you’re at work, are you able to focus and be clear about what you’re doing and what you need in terms of support? Find a way to be present in all areas – even if they seem out of balance.

Like what you’re hearing? Want some more tricks/tips/coaching tools? Head on over to THRIVE for an hour of coaching from two sassy ladies who are exciting to share their coaching knowledge. Click here for more information.

In the strive for balance,
Coach Katie Mattson • Momentum Coaching

Katie in the news!

My apologies for not writing much here lately. I have a little bit of fun news today. I’ve been quoted in an article! Thought I’d share. More to come on the fun hustle and bustle of the New Year, I promise!

http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2009m1d7-Job-shadowing-The-benefits-and-how-its-done
Life Coach Katie Mattson

Momentum Coaching

Fighting with Fear

So the term fear has been revealing itself lately. Both within myself and with those around me (go figure!). How do we deal with fear effectively? We all know it’s imperative to face it and then blast through it, but how do you keep the excitement and MOMENTUM moving in the direction you want it to without fear becoming a stopping point?

First. Remember that fear is man-made. You were not born with fear. You create it. It’s not real. It is something that your mind and your physical self have created. It’s simply the unknown. A new adventure. Perhaps your passion or your calling.

Second. Remember that anxiety and excitement actually carry the same vibration. This means that what you think is fear, might actually be excitement chemically. Your brain is just filtering it into the fear category. It’s very difficult to know the difference.

Third. Study how you feel. Does the thought of moving forward in the way that you are excite you even though the fear exists? Or, are you dreading the outcome and hoping that you won’t have to step into it? It’s important to get into this place of feeling so you can truly begin your forward movement with the right intentions.

Now that you have a better handle on whether it’s anxiety or excitement that you’re feeling, it’s time to assess what you’re really afraid of. It’s not the task at hand. Truly. It goes deeper than that. So where is the fear coming from? That you’ll fail? That you’ll disappoint? That you’ll lose perspective? That you’ll be alone? Take a hard look at what is really underneath it all. If you have to, play the “why” game. It goes a little something like this:

“I’m scared of quitting my job.”
Why?
“Because I’m not sure what else I’d do.”
Why?
“Because I’ve never really taken a good, hard look at my strengths and talents.”
Why?
“Because that seems egotistical and what I’m doing now works.”
Why?
“Because I was always told not to brag. And I guess what I’m doing now doesn’t really work.”
Why?
“Because that’s what my parents told me and it’s what they were told. What I’m doing now doesn’t work because I’m miserable and hate going into work every day.”
Why?
“Because it’s mundane and I’m not challenged. But I have to do it.”
WHY?
“Because I’m afraid I can’t make as much money somewhere else.”

Ohhhh…..you get the point. Fear of stability. Continue this game down the rabbit hole until you reach an answer that makes sense to you. It might take a while, but be patient as you journal or verbally answer a friend playing the part of ‘why.’

Once you pinpoint the source of your fear, you can begin to strengthen that doubt from the foundation up. Mantras, action steps and building support are all super powerful tools. Stand firm, face your fear and then wipe it out. It’ll never be a fear again!

Happy hunting,
Coach Katie Mattson

Momentum Coaching

For more information about how to identify and bust through fear, consider purchasing Momentum Coaching’s, “Breaking Barriers” Fear E-Course. Click here for more information.

Reconnecting to Spirit

I take a deep breath as I write this. I just spent two days backpacking right outside of Asheville, NC. It’s a beautiful area with lush green forests, rolling mountain views, rushing creeks and private wooded sites. I took the opportunity to play in the creek a little bit, meditating on the water rushing by me. I cooked some delicious meals by the campfire. I watched the stars appear as the sun went down and smiled as they blanketed the sky. I wandered in the woods, exploring the area around me. I took deep breaths to savor the air that was unpolluted, untainted and clean. I read as the mountain breezes riffled through the pages of my book. I wrote a large chunk of my newsletter for this month. I napped in the cool air. I slept with a slight chill against my skin. It was beautiful. It was necessary.

My experiences in the mountains are only effectively described as meditative. I reconnect to my spirit there. It’s so easy to catch ourselves living the “busy life.” As soon as we take that one deep breath, life slows down for us. I think this is why so many people find such huge benefits in yoga. What better source of energy than the breath?

A friend of mine went to a seminar out West about a month ago and asked one of the energy healers there what to do about a problem she was having. She in continuously holding her breath. He looked at her and said, ‘do you want to live?’ She giggled and said, ‘of course.’ And he said…you cannot live without breath so why are you holding it in? Where aren’t you truly living in your life?

It doesn’t take much to reconnect to the center of yourself. Simply breathing. Feel what it’s like to be you. Listen to yourself. Go wherever you need to in order to feel more whole, quieter and where you are able to relax. Find your own meditative state there.

Namaste,
Coach Katie

Momentum Coaching

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall…

Who has the best scenery of all?

Environment is everything. I know I speak a lot about how your senses affect you, but I want you to keep them in mind when creating your environment. What colors spark your energy? What textures cause your fingers to constantly reach out to touch? Of all the environments that you’ve seen (designed or natural), what draws you in the most?

Keep something around you every day that makes you smile. Paint your rooms a color that makes you feel comfortable and at home. Love the space you are in. Here are some fun resources for you to use at work or at home to energize your environment:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/designers_portfolio_main/ for room ideas.

http://www.behr.com/behrx/inspiration/ for paint palette inspiration to spice up your office or home.

http://www.designpublic.com/ - a fun little shop of unusual home and office decor.

Have fun with what you surround yourself with! Enjoy walking into your office and adore being at home. Make it YOUR space. Fresh flowers, less clutter, more of your vision.

Energize your space,
Coach Katie

Coach Katie Mattson • Momentum Coaching

Spirit, Soul and Chi…oh my!

I began practicing a form of karate earlier this year. After taking two months off, I began practice again on Sunday. During the philosophy portion of practice, we began to discuss the difference of spirit, soul and chi. I was relatively clear on the difference between spirit and soul.

To me, your soul is what you were born with. It’s relatively unchanging and it holds that which you value, that which you desire and that which you were made for. Spirit on the other hand develops as you experience life. Your spirit is formed as you gather better understanding of who you are, what you have to share and how you wish to share it.

Chi was the stopper for me. I wasn’t clear on how to differentiate this term from spirit and soul. My instructor brought up the point that perhaps it’s not different except that it simply encompasses everyone else’s spirit and soul as well. It’s an open flow of energy in all that you do and all that surrounds you. My chi feeds and nourishes your chi, just as yours feeds and nourishes mine. It’s natural energy that flows from within and surrounds us.

If that is so
- What kind of soul were you born with? What deep desires come forth when you sit quietly with yourself? What do you know you were made for?
- How has your spirit grown? What type of spirit would you like to grow into? How are you challenging yourself to embody that?
- When you enter a room, how does your chi affect others? Are you dark and gloomy, or bright and effervescent? Do you receive well? What can you do to be more open to the chi around you and also more generous with your own chi?

What a journey we are on. Mindfulness is a sacred practice. Keep your attention on how you feel with all your senses each moment. Life will unveil a whole new perspective in no time. If you’re already good at doing this, go deeper with it. Life will still unveil a whole new perspective in no time. Our work is never done. Our learning never completer and our joy completely unending. Sometimes we just need to open up to it.

With an open heart,
Coach Katie

Coach Katie Mattson • Momentum Coaching

Listen up!

Phew, what a ride right now. Life, that is. Synchronicity. Life’s little whispers, nudges and full on kicks. I call the moments of coincidence and synchronicity “Life Signs.” When you’re calling people going, “you will never guess what just happened…” those are the times when your life is in alignment. Opportunity, people, adventure…falls into your lap. Life is a steady flow instead of a constant struggle.

When my dog wants to be pet, she snuggles up to me and nudges her nose under my hand. It’s hard to ignore her. Life plays this game sometimes. It drops money into your hands, introduces you to new sets of friends, a new lover, a business partner… Most of us hand it back, talk ourselves out of it or find something wrong with accepting it. Why?

You are listening.

To what? To your purpose. Subconsciously, you are listening to life’s little signs pointing you forward, cheering you on. Consciously, you are in disbelief that all these amazing coincidences are happening. Truth is, I don’t believe in coincidence. Only awareness. So, now that your awareness is raised to the flow that life can have…where is it whispering to you?

Recap of Feed Your Soul, Nourishment for Passionate Women

June 20-22 marked a very powerful weekend for Momentum Coaching and eight fearless women. It was the weekend of 2008’s FEED YOUR SOUL: Nourishment for Passionate Living women’s retreat. Our location was absolutely perfect for space, growth and discovery on the 7.5 acres of walking trails at the Garden Spirit Retreat Center. As facilitators, Laura Neff and I could not have been more touched by these eight women.

Their trust, honesty and strength absolutely saturated the weekend. We ate nourishing food, gave our spirits room to play and explored our higher selves for three days. What a playground! We were totally blown away with their open spirits to share their demons and angels. And totally touched to be so trusted right off the bat. It opened up the weekends for whole new levels of personal empowerment and we are so grateful for that!

Plans are already in the works for next year. If you missed it this year, we’re sorry, but keep us in mind for next summer!