Life and Career Coaching for Authentic,
Empowered, and Inspired Living
Life and Career Coaching for Authentic,
Empowered, and Inspired Living
September 10, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC Several years ago, I was invited to be a writer and facilitator on a wonderful project. On the morning it began, I found myself dawdling on my way out the door for the 9am meeting. Once in the car, I encountered rush hour traffic and arrived 15 minutes late. The other staff members, who’d traveled hundreds of miles to be there, were on time and waiting for me...the person who lived two miles away. It was…
August 25, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC It’s been a rough year on the planet, with headline news that’s alternately heartbreaking and horrifying. In addition, so many people I know are losing loved ones or facing serious health issues, and I’m hearing cries of overwhelm amid the relentless buzz of modern life. [caption id="attachment_927" align="alignright" width="167"] My rose ring of self-love[/caption] Whether or not you’re feeling the strain, I recommend that you be extra kind to yourself these days. In fact, I recommend…
July 23, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC One morning as this year’s interminable winter gave way to spring, I took myself out for a walk. Strolling though my favorite park, I was arrested by the sight of a shining silver birch that was beginning to sprout some green. An exuberant “Hi!” escaped my lips and I looked around, wondering if anyone had heard me talking to the tree. Not that I could have stopped myself. Because trees and I, well, we go way…
June 18, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC Twenty five years ago, I was driving along the highways of New Mexico with some books on tape to keep me company. The most memorable of these was Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, a self-help classic by the late Susan Jeffers. In addition to offering good ideas about overcoming fear, Jeffers suggests that we take time each night to write down 50 things for which we're grateful. “Did she say 50?!” I exclaimed, rewinding…
May 31, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC Last month as I watched my students in The Artist’s Way bonding with each other, I grew aware of some jealousy bubbling up in me. It made me realize that, since becoming a workshop facilitator, I’d spent more time creating support circles than cultivating my own. In the last year, I'd also let my social life get a bit too “virtual” as I single-mindedly focused on becoming a certified coach and building a new business. While…
May 30, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC Heard the one about the Chinese farmer? According to the Taoist story, he had a horse that ran away, prompting his neighbors to remark, “Oh, that’s bad news.” “Good news, bad news, who can say?” the farmer replied. Soon after, his horse returned with a second horse, which many labeled a stroke of luck. The farmer again withheld judgment and gave the second horse to his son—who broke his leg when the animal threw him off.…
April 28, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC While I’ve always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I rarely wake up with an appetite. What I do hunger for each morning is connection to what’s personally meaningful before I dive into my to do list. I wasn't always this intentional. Twenty years ago I started my day with resentment, a pot of coffee and National Public Radio before running out to catch the train to work. I was informed…
January 29, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC Once, when asked to name my religion in an online dating profile, I wrote “Kindness.” While it sounded kind of flirty at the time, it’s still what I truly believe in and practice as often as I can. Kindness touches the soul, transcends language, and connects people on a primal level. Growing up in a Catholic family, I heard a lot about the Golden Rule—treating others as we’d have them treat us. And who doesn’t want to…
January 16, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC Each spring and fall, I lead support groups designed to help people recover and express their passions and creativity via The Artist's Way. The process involves a fair amount of personal disclosure, as students identify their desires and explore what’s in the way of living them. In the first session, I distribute a handout called “Could You Just Listen?” to set the tone for our interactions. It begins, “When I ask you to listen to me…
January 7, 2014
by Kim Childs, CPPC It’s embarrassing to admit this, but I’m a yoga teacher who dislikes exercise. To be more precise, it’s the thought of exercise that turns me off, because I usually do feel better afterward. I’ve long considered exercise a chore that takes time away from other things that I need or want to be doing. What I’m starting to know in my bones, however, is that moving my body is essential to uplifting my mind. Dr. John…