Life and Career Coaching for Authentic,
Empowered, and Inspired Living
Life and Career Coaching for Authentic,
Empowered, and Inspired Living
December 10, 2012
I just turned 50 and, while it’s difficult to wrap my mind around this chronological fact, I think it begs a celebration. I’m therefore inspired to list 50 things that I’ve learned in my five decades on the planet. It’s a gift to myself, really, to honor the wisdom that I’ve received from people and life, some of which I’ve passed on to my students and clients. We all learn from each other. 1) Believe in your worth. It pains…
October 15, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC I've had a rough couple of months as some major bummers have rattled my faith, dashed a few hopes and driven me to big, fat tears. However unique my circumstances, I know I'm not alone. A glance at the news reveals countless people grappling with crumbling economies, joblessness, violence and bullies of all kinds as we Americans head toward a pivotal presidential election. Lately, even our peanut butter and painkillers are tainted. Sometimes, it’s just all…
August 28, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC Food can be a reliable friend when we seek to comfort and nourish ourselves. But when we repeatedly eat types and quantities of food that leave us feeling miserable, food becomes a weapon that we use against ourselves in an agonizing cycle of self-sabotage and, ironically, self-denial. Because often it’s not that pint of ice cream or piece of cake that we really want. It’s more fulfilling work, deeper relationships, a break from care taking, a…
August 8, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC I lead workshops based on The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity to help people recover and express their passions and talents. We don't usually make art in the course, but we do spend a lot of time listening to each other as we explore what gets in the way of living our dreams and what to do about it. In the first session I offer a handout called "Could You Just Listen?" to…
June 13, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC As I approach my personal half-century mark, I find myself in strange territory. Having successfully climbed a few career ladders in my life, I am currently, apparently, without ambition. It doesn’t feel like a bad thing. I’ve lived in big cities and charming towns and traveled the world from Alaska to Zimbabwe. I’ve interviewed celebrities, been interviewed on TV, hosted radio shows, co-written books and hung out with politicos and hip hop pioneers in New York,…
May 15, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC Heard the one about the Chinese farmer? According to the Taoists, he had a horse that ran away. A neighbor said, "Oh, that's bad news,” and the farmer replied, "Good news, bad news, who can say?" The horse soon returned with another horse, which many labeled good news. The farmer again withheld judgment and gave the second horse to his son, who broke his leg when the animal threw him off. "That’s bad news," clucked a…
April 19, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC “Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.” –Herman Hesse Last year I interviewed a man who leads personal development programs with the help of a horse. Specifically, Brian Reid puts people who are stuck and struggling on top of his horse, Brenda Lee, to get them out of their heads and into their hearts. When Brian’s clients climb on the horse, relax and release tension all the way…
February 14, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC I teach creativity workshops based on The Artist’s Way that are ostensibly about artistic pursuits but mostly about giving ourselves permission to love what we love and do what we love. A big chunk of the journey involves learning to value ourselves enough to believe that we deserve self-designed and even self-indulgent lives. About midway through the course and book, there’s a list of fill-in-the blank questions to assess where we are in this process. One…
January 24, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC Oprah Winfrey and I celebrate our birthdays just a few days apart. She has zillions in the bank and can spend her special day anywhere on the planet with 200 of her favorite people in tow. I have, well, less money in the bank and often spend my birthdays with a handful of friends in or around my neighborhood. But Oprah's incredible wealth, access and adventures are not what make me jealous of her. Nope, it’s…
January 3, 2012
by Kim Childs, CPPC I’ve heard that nearly 90 percent of New Year’s resolutions are broken by February, and my acupuncturist says that spring is actually a more fruitful time to make significant life changes. But the start of a new year offers itself up like a landscape of fresh snow, unmarked by footprints and tire tracks, and begs the question: Can we make better use of the next 365 days? For several years I’ve participated in Burning Bowl ceremonies…