Life Coaches: Motivational Speakers - Life Coaches
Life Coaches: Motivational Speakers - Life Coaches: A motivational speaker is one who speaks or lectures in a way so as to motivate or inspire the audience. There are many motivatio...
Life Coaches: Life Coach Technique: Using Metaphors
Life Coaches: Life Coach Technique: Using Metaphors: As a life coach you have probably heard, from your clients, their barriers described in a metaphorical way. A metaphor is our ins...
Life Coaches: Natural Approaches For Beating Anxiety and Panic A...
Life Coaches: Natural Approaches For Beating Anxiety and Panic A...: If panic attacks and anxiety are affecting your quality of life, help is at hand. These can cause so much distress that sufferer...
Life Coaches: Six Things Your Life Coach Doesn't Want You To Kno...
Life Coaches: Six Things Your Life Coach Doesn't Want You To Kno...: It's important to start with the fact that the field of coaching is unregulated. This means that anyone, without any formal t...
Six Things Your Life Coach Doesn't Want You To Know
It's important to start with the fact that the field of coaching
is unregulated. This means that anyone, without any formal training, can
call themselves a life coach. And they can coach any way they please.
So caveat emptor! The onus of choosing the coach who will serve you best
is on you.
In my research, I've found that there are basically 2 kinds of life coaches, and the contrast is stark. There are coaches who say they'll hold you accountable and help you stay motivated until you achieve your goals. They tout their excellent listening and questioning skills as their core talents. In my admittedly unscientific survey, about 99% of the coaches I have met in person and online fall into this category.
In the other camp are coaches with excellent listening and questioning skills who say they'll help you develop new ways of thinking and behaving. These coaches have studied and developed specific techniques that you can learn, then apply to any issue for the rest of your life. The goal of this type of coaching is for you to master the skills, using them independently to attain your desires faster, more efficiently and more enjoyably.
In my opinion, coaching that goes on indefinitely, with you relying on the support of your coach to achieve goals (but not learning new skills) is codependency, not coaching. Intentionally or not, anyone who does this isn't a coach, they're a parasite. True life coaches have a set of strategies you can use to evolve yourself for the rest of your life. Beyond merely achieving goals, coaching is about your growth as a human being.
With that said, I do believe that all coaches have a genuine desire to assist. However, most coaches' training (if they have any) is, well, the nicest words I can think of are...incomplete and, in some instances, inappropriate.
With that background in place, let's peek behind the curtain at the biggest secrets in coaching.
Secret #1: Promising You Instant Results is Impossible
The Industrial and Information Ages have proliferated a plethora of gadgets, pills, books and videos that promise instant results. Not surprisingly, you've been programmed to expect that coaching will immediately make your life better.
Accordingly, many coaches feel strong pressure to fulfill this expectation by producing some kind of dramatic "breakthrough" in every coaching session. The idea is that if the coach asks you the right deep questions, you'll have a brilliant flash of insight. There are two fallacies here. The first is in thinking that coaches "do" something to their clients. In fact, it's up to the client to take the actions that will produce the results they're looking for.
Second, coaching is a process, not an event. While you may see some improvement in one session, life-altering, permanent improvements take time, repeated focus, and learning new ways to do things differently. Of course, major shifts can happen, but both you and your coach will put unnecessary pressure on yourselves by trying to force you to make a huge change you don't need or aren't ready for.
Sure, questioning is a major part of coaching. But the role of questions isn't to sledge hammer you into a dramatic breakthrough. Questions are one tool used to guide you in your process of gaining incrementally deeper self-knowledge. The goal of coaching isn't to rush to get it done, it's to help you learn as much as you can.
The processes of learning and making internal shifts in thinking is as unique as fingerprints and as unknowable as the depths of the ocean. It takes whatever time you need. Even with the biggest crystal ball in the world, no coach can promise a specific result by a certain date.
Any coach who tells you that you'll achieve a certain level in 1,3, or 10 coaching sessions is ignoring your individuality and your responsibility for your own growth. This is inconsistent with the basic philosophy of coaching.
Secret #2: Personality Tests are Worthless for Choosing Your Career
The widely accepted myth of personality is that, by adulthood, it's set in stone. But in 100 years of intense study, psychologists can't even agree on the definition of personality, much less the limits of its development.
Two popular personality tests that life and career coaches use are the Myers-Briggs and the DISC. Their thinking is that you should choose a career that matches your personality (shaky ground indeed).
The purported benefit of this strategy is to narrow the overwhelming field of career choices. To alleviate your suffering, the coach squeezes you into one of a handful of boxes, then hands you a relatively short list of careers that some undefined percentage of those with your personality type could be "successful" in.
Never mind that these tests have no scientific validity. Meaning, you could take the same test on two different days and get two very different results. On top of that, these tests compare you to arbitrary norms (which are gender, ethnicity and culturally biased), ignoring your individuality and your context.
The icing on the cake is that since studies have shown that the Myers-Briggs does not predict job success well, using it for this purpose is expressly discouraged in its manual. But inexplicably, lots of coaches make gobs of money doing just that. That just seems unethical, or at least antithetical to the spirit of coaching.
The DISC is based on the faulty logic that you possess one of four personality types, which can be teased out by forcing you to choose one of four options for each question on the test. What if you don't agree with any of the choices? If you choose enough options that don't reflect what you truly think, the results are less than worthless. They can be destructively misguiding.
The best coaches will tell you that your personality traits are simply patterns of behavior you've developed (and gotten comfortable with) over your lifetime. As a pattern of behavior, any trait can be consciously changed any time you like, if you have the tools. Accordingly, their conversation about your career won't use the strategy of matching a job in Column A to a trait in Column B.
Secret #3: Taking Action For The Sake Of Action Undermines Your Real Power
To achieve the results they tout, coaches preach action. Lots of it. They think that if you do more, you'll get more, faster. They'll sell you fancy spreadsheets and planners to track your actions, too.
But in all of this act-act-act, you can lose sight of your motivation: why you want what you want. It's by staying focused on why you want something-the benefits of having it-that you'll find the juice to keep pursuing it until you get it.
As I stated in my previous post, most coaches describe their role as holding you accountable to take big actions before the next coaching call. Their strategy is that you'll be motivated by the desires to avoid the humiliation of having nothing to report, and this scheme does work.
Avoiding humiliation is a strong motivator, but it pulls you away from your greatest source of power: your passion. So accountability is the default strategy for coaches who don't have any tools to address the real issue: how to deal with the negative thoughts that block you from freely pursuing your passion.
The best coaches don't rely on your human drive to avoid pain (humiliation, guilt, etc). Instead, they fan the flames of your motivation to seek whatever you're passionate about.
Secret #4: Success Isn't A Destination, And You Can't Possess It
Coaches talk a lot about achieving success, as if success were a thing you could possess. Well, if it were, then success would also be a destination. Once you achieve it, you'll be able to sit back and coast for the rest of your life.
When you're driven to succeed, you allow yourself to feel good only after you've completely achieved that desire. But in this scenario, the good feeling eventually fades, which prompts you to go after another goal so you can feel good again.
However, there's a huge difference between being successful and having a fulfilling life. Success is a distant external goal you might achieve someday. Every day until then is about work, effort, sacrifice and pain. Deferred gratification.
On the other hand, when you choose a fulfilling life, every step you take in the direction of every desire becomes an act of fulfillment. You experience fulfillment as an internal choice that creates a perpetual state of being: you feel fulfilled every day.
Secret #5: Success Doesn't Require Discipline. Even If You Think You Need It, You Have Plenty Of It
Coaches insist that it takes discipline and commitment to be successful. But you already possess all the discipline, commitment and courage you need to get anything you want. You just don't know it, you certainly can't feel it and you don't need it, anyway. In their defense, most coaches are unaware of this, too.
Here's the proof: If you've ever worked a job you didn't like for more than 10 minutes, you have discipline. My bet is that you've worked for years at jobs you found boring or otherwise uninspiring, did favors for others you didn't want to do, and performed admirable household chores to boot. That takes HUGE discipline!
So give yourself some credit. Just because you struggle to lose 10 pounds doesn't mean you're a wimpy, undisciplined loser. It just means you don't know how to focus yet.
After coaching 600 people, I've seen that you don't need to develop strong skills of commitment, courage or discipline to enjoy a fulfilling life. All you need is passion.
You see, passion isn't just a feeling, it's a tour de force. When you engage your passion, tons of energy, discipline, courage and commitment (more on this next) come along for the ride. What's true is that it's your nature to think about, talk about and pursue the object of your passion until you get it. When you think about it, discipline and commitment are just synonyms for the desire to stay focused on what you want until you get it.
But discipline is a heavy word. Baggage-laden with guilt, frustration, disappointment and failure. Coaches are useful for easing the weight of that baggage only if they emphasize the pursuit of passion as the basis and driver of every goal.
Secret #6: Commitment Doesn't Create Limitations You "Just Have To Live With"
There's a pervasive belief in our culture that making a commitment creates limitations. When you choose one career or one mate, you're essentially un-choosing every other possibility. You're stuck with your choice, forever sacrificing other attractive options.
This perspective misses an important point. Ultimately, a commitment is an expression of your freedom to choose. Once you choose, you're free to express yourself fully in the context of that career, relationship, hobby, whatever. And as long as you live, you're always free to choose again, and again, and again...
When you order the fish, you've excluded the steak or the chicken from that meal. But from herbs to cooking methods to side dishes, there are innumerable variations on any food you choose. Don't forget that every meal also includes a salad and a dessert-more ways to satisfy your palate. The point is, there are infinite ways to spice up your career, your relationships, and every other part of your life so that you'll feel full (fulfilled) every day. The only limitation is your imagination.
You can't earn a living without choosing a career path. You can't have a fulfilling romantic life without a beloved. So choose the steak career or mate. Or the chicken or fish career or mate. Just choose, live and learn. You can always choose again if you discover you need to do that.
In my research, I've found that there are basically 2 kinds of life coaches, and the contrast is stark. There are coaches who say they'll hold you accountable and help you stay motivated until you achieve your goals. They tout their excellent listening and questioning skills as their core talents. In my admittedly unscientific survey, about 99% of the coaches I have met in person and online fall into this category.
In the other camp are coaches with excellent listening and questioning skills who say they'll help you develop new ways of thinking and behaving. These coaches have studied and developed specific techniques that you can learn, then apply to any issue for the rest of your life. The goal of this type of coaching is for you to master the skills, using them independently to attain your desires faster, more efficiently and more enjoyably.
In my opinion, coaching that goes on indefinitely, with you relying on the support of your coach to achieve goals (but not learning new skills) is codependency, not coaching. Intentionally or not, anyone who does this isn't a coach, they're a parasite. True life coaches have a set of strategies you can use to evolve yourself for the rest of your life. Beyond merely achieving goals, coaching is about your growth as a human being.
With that said, I do believe that all coaches have a genuine desire to assist. However, most coaches' training (if they have any) is, well, the nicest words I can think of are...incomplete and, in some instances, inappropriate.
With that background in place, let's peek behind the curtain at the biggest secrets in coaching.
Secret #1: Promising You Instant Results is Impossible
The Industrial and Information Ages have proliferated a plethora of gadgets, pills, books and videos that promise instant results. Not surprisingly, you've been programmed to expect that coaching will immediately make your life better.
Accordingly, many coaches feel strong pressure to fulfill this expectation by producing some kind of dramatic "breakthrough" in every coaching session. The idea is that if the coach asks you the right deep questions, you'll have a brilliant flash of insight. There are two fallacies here. The first is in thinking that coaches "do" something to their clients. In fact, it's up to the client to take the actions that will produce the results they're looking for.
Second, coaching is a process, not an event. While you may see some improvement in one session, life-altering, permanent improvements take time, repeated focus, and learning new ways to do things differently. Of course, major shifts can happen, but both you and your coach will put unnecessary pressure on yourselves by trying to force you to make a huge change you don't need or aren't ready for.
Sure, questioning is a major part of coaching. But the role of questions isn't to sledge hammer you into a dramatic breakthrough. Questions are one tool used to guide you in your process of gaining incrementally deeper self-knowledge. The goal of coaching isn't to rush to get it done, it's to help you learn as much as you can.
The processes of learning and making internal shifts in thinking is as unique as fingerprints and as unknowable as the depths of the ocean. It takes whatever time you need. Even with the biggest crystal ball in the world, no coach can promise a specific result by a certain date.
Any coach who tells you that you'll achieve a certain level in 1,3, or 10 coaching sessions is ignoring your individuality and your responsibility for your own growth. This is inconsistent with the basic philosophy of coaching.
Secret #2: Personality Tests are Worthless for Choosing Your Career
The widely accepted myth of personality is that, by adulthood, it's set in stone. But in 100 years of intense study, psychologists can't even agree on the definition of personality, much less the limits of its development.
Two popular personality tests that life and career coaches use are the Myers-Briggs and the DISC. Their thinking is that you should choose a career that matches your personality (shaky ground indeed).
The purported benefit of this strategy is to narrow the overwhelming field of career choices. To alleviate your suffering, the coach squeezes you into one of a handful of boxes, then hands you a relatively short list of careers that some undefined percentage of those with your personality type could be "successful" in.
Never mind that these tests have no scientific validity. Meaning, you could take the same test on two different days and get two very different results. On top of that, these tests compare you to arbitrary norms (which are gender, ethnicity and culturally biased), ignoring your individuality and your context.
The icing on the cake is that since studies have shown that the Myers-Briggs does not predict job success well, using it for this purpose is expressly discouraged in its manual. But inexplicably, lots of coaches make gobs of money doing just that. That just seems unethical, or at least antithetical to the spirit of coaching.
The DISC is based on the faulty logic that you possess one of four personality types, which can be teased out by forcing you to choose one of four options for each question on the test. What if you don't agree with any of the choices? If you choose enough options that don't reflect what you truly think, the results are less than worthless. They can be destructively misguiding.
The best coaches will tell you that your personality traits are simply patterns of behavior you've developed (and gotten comfortable with) over your lifetime. As a pattern of behavior, any trait can be consciously changed any time you like, if you have the tools. Accordingly, their conversation about your career won't use the strategy of matching a job in Column A to a trait in Column B.
Secret #3: Taking Action For The Sake Of Action Undermines Your Real Power
To achieve the results they tout, coaches preach action. Lots of it. They think that if you do more, you'll get more, faster. They'll sell you fancy spreadsheets and planners to track your actions, too.
But in all of this act-act-act, you can lose sight of your motivation: why you want what you want. It's by staying focused on why you want something-the benefits of having it-that you'll find the juice to keep pursuing it until you get it.
As I stated in my previous post, most coaches describe their role as holding you accountable to take big actions before the next coaching call. Their strategy is that you'll be motivated by the desires to avoid the humiliation of having nothing to report, and this scheme does work.
Avoiding humiliation is a strong motivator, but it pulls you away from your greatest source of power: your passion. So accountability is the default strategy for coaches who don't have any tools to address the real issue: how to deal with the negative thoughts that block you from freely pursuing your passion.
The best coaches don't rely on your human drive to avoid pain (humiliation, guilt, etc). Instead, they fan the flames of your motivation to seek whatever you're passionate about.
Secret #4: Success Isn't A Destination, And You Can't Possess It
Coaches talk a lot about achieving success, as if success were a thing you could possess. Well, if it were, then success would also be a destination. Once you achieve it, you'll be able to sit back and coast for the rest of your life.
When you're driven to succeed, you allow yourself to feel good only after you've completely achieved that desire. But in this scenario, the good feeling eventually fades, which prompts you to go after another goal so you can feel good again.
However, there's a huge difference between being successful and having a fulfilling life. Success is a distant external goal you might achieve someday. Every day until then is about work, effort, sacrifice and pain. Deferred gratification.
On the other hand, when you choose a fulfilling life, every step you take in the direction of every desire becomes an act of fulfillment. You experience fulfillment as an internal choice that creates a perpetual state of being: you feel fulfilled every day.
Secret #5: Success Doesn't Require Discipline. Even If You Think You Need It, You Have Plenty Of It
Coaches insist that it takes discipline and commitment to be successful. But you already possess all the discipline, commitment and courage you need to get anything you want. You just don't know it, you certainly can't feel it and you don't need it, anyway. In their defense, most coaches are unaware of this, too.
Here's the proof: If you've ever worked a job you didn't like for more than 10 minutes, you have discipline. My bet is that you've worked for years at jobs you found boring or otherwise uninspiring, did favors for others you didn't want to do, and performed admirable household chores to boot. That takes HUGE discipline!
So give yourself some credit. Just because you struggle to lose 10 pounds doesn't mean you're a wimpy, undisciplined loser. It just means you don't know how to focus yet.
After coaching 600 people, I've seen that you don't need to develop strong skills of commitment, courage or discipline to enjoy a fulfilling life. All you need is passion.
You see, passion isn't just a feeling, it's a tour de force. When you engage your passion, tons of energy, discipline, courage and commitment (more on this next) come along for the ride. What's true is that it's your nature to think about, talk about and pursue the object of your passion until you get it. When you think about it, discipline and commitment are just synonyms for the desire to stay focused on what you want until you get it.
But discipline is a heavy word. Baggage-laden with guilt, frustration, disappointment and failure. Coaches are useful for easing the weight of that baggage only if they emphasize the pursuit of passion as the basis and driver of every goal.
Secret #6: Commitment Doesn't Create Limitations You "Just Have To Live With"
There's a pervasive belief in our culture that making a commitment creates limitations. When you choose one career or one mate, you're essentially un-choosing every other possibility. You're stuck with your choice, forever sacrificing other attractive options.
This perspective misses an important point. Ultimately, a commitment is an expression of your freedom to choose. Once you choose, you're free to express yourself fully in the context of that career, relationship, hobby, whatever. And as long as you live, you're always free to choose again, and again, and again...
When you order the fish, you've excluded the steak or the chicken from that meal. But from herbs to cooking methods to side dishes, there are innumerable variations on any food you choose. Don't forget that every meal also includes a salad and a dessert-more ways to satisfy your palate. The point is, there are infinite ways to spice up your career, your relationships, and every other part of your life so that you'll feel full (fulfilled) every day. The only limitation is your imagination.
You can't earn a living without choosing a career path. You can't have a fulfilling romantic life without a beloved. So choose the steak career or mate. Or the chicken or fish career or mate. Just choose, live and learn. You can always choose again if you discover you need to do that.
Please visit my Author Bio Page for information about my book and website, [http://www.myinnerfrontiers.com].
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Widener
Panic Attacks - Their Causes and Top Treatments
Anyone who has had a panic attack knows what a scary experience
it can be. Worse yet, panic attacks can get more debilitating if left
untreated.
In this article we'll share the major signs of panic attacks, what triggers them, and some treatment options. The good news is that panic attacks do respond well to proper treatment.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack falls into the broader category of anxiety disorders, but are more acute and disabling than general anxiety.
Dr. Claire Weekes, noted expert, states that a panic attack is "an anxious thought about change in the rhythm of the body that can send the body into a tailspin of anxiety". This tailspin brings about a variety of physical symptoms:
Before an attack occurs, the stage is usually set by long term general anxiety, which exhausts the emotions, mind or body. This anxiety creates a situation of hyper-sensitivity to potential triggers, which can put you into an emotional tailspin. These triggers can be either external or internal.
For example, one person may suffer from general anxiety because of long-term exposure to a stressful office environment. An external event, such as hearing rumors of a massive upcoming layoff, can cause fear that serves as a trigger for a panic attack.
Alternatively, a person that suffers from general anxiety may be exposed to the same stressful environment. Hearing the layoff rumor, they may actually be relieved.
However, while jogging at lunch time their heart starts to beat too rapidly. This rapid heartbeat is likely a symptom that's been going on for some time due to the stressful office environment, but the jogger may interpret their symptoms as a heart condition.
The fear for their health can serve as an internal trigger and cause a panic attack.
Whether caused by an internal or external trigger, there are a number of treatment options available that treat panic attacks and general anxiety.
Treatment options for panic attacks and anxiety:
In this article we'll share the major signs of panic attacks, what triggers them, and some treatment options. The good news is that panic attacks do respond well to proper treatment.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack falls into the broader category of anxiety disorders, but are more acute and disabling than general anxiety.
Dr. Claire Weekes, noted expert, states that a panic attack is "an anxious thought about change in the rhythm of the body that can send the body into a tailspin of anxiety". This tailspin brings about a variety of physical symptoms:
- Cardiovascular Symptoms: such as increased heartbeat and palpitations
- Respiratory Symptoms: A feeling of suffocation, smothering, tightness of the chest, and irregular breathing
- Problems with Vision: Blurred vision, seeing stars
- Problems with Digestion: Nausea, constipation
- General Symptoms: Dry mouth, trembling, numbness and tingling in the fingers and hands, physical exhaustion, tired and drained
Before an attack occurs, the stage is usually set by long term general anxiety, which exhausts the emotions, mind or body. This anxiety creates a situation of hyper-sensitivity to potential triggers, which can put you into an emotional tailspin. These triggers can be either external or internal.
For example, one person may suffer from general anxiety because of long-term exposure to a stressful office environment. An external event, such as hearing rumors of a massive upcoming layoff, can cause fear that serves as a trigger for a panic attack.
Alternatively, a person that suffers from general anxiety may be exposed to the same stressful environment. Hearing the layoff rumor, they may actually be relieved.
However, while jogging at lunch time their heart starts to beat too rapidly. This rapid heartbeat is likely a symptom that's been going on for some time due to the stressful office environment, but the jogger may interpret their symptoms as a heart condition.
The fear for their health can serve as an internal trigger and cause a panic attack.
Whether caused by an internal or external trigger, there are a number of treatment options available that treat panic attacks and general anxiety.
Treatment options for panic attacks and anxiety:
- Medication: Tranquilizers such as Xanax or Valium, as well as anti-depressants such as Prozac or Zoloft
- Therapy: Traditional talk therapy, hypnosis
- Relaxation, Spiritual healing, Yoga: These therapies teach clients techniques to calm the mind and/or body
- Holistic programs that combine education, visualization, physical and relaxation techniques
This is especially true as
most experts say that some disorders, such as manic-depression, are
best treated with the incorporation of medication. Once the body
chemistry is stabilized, other therapies may compliment or replace the
medication and ensure long-term success.
For the majority of cases, however, medication may be unnecessary. Non-medical therapies such as relaxation, biofeedback, talk therapy, and holistic programs can provide a good, holistic solution.
We are particularly impressed with the Panic Away holistic program, which stands above other products on the market. The reason for this is twofold.
First, Panic Away treats panic attacks and general anxiety all within one program. Second, it also takes a holistic approach to healing the whole person - mind, body and spirit.
This multi-pronged treatment is laid out in simple steps that are easy to remember and effective.
Kate Walker has a Holistic Life Coach Certificate, and has over
10 years in researching and writing on health and wellness topics.
She focuses on health topics such as weight management, anxiety, and holistic or homeopathic remedies. She has also been featured on the cover of industry magazines and is an Ezine Expert Author.
Kate has researched a variety of eBooks in the market that deal with anxiety, and has found many of them to be missing key ingredients.
She looks for a book that takes a holistic, or 'whole' approach to healing or treating anxiety - including, mind body and spirit. After reviewing the many products available, Kate has selected panic away [http://www.bestpanicawayreview.com/] the most comprehensive and informative product she has found.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_E._Walker
She focuses on health topics such as weight management, anxiety, and holistic or homeopathic remedies. She has also been featured on the cover of industry magazines and is an Ezine Expert Author.
Kate has researched a variety of eBooks in the market that deal with anxiety, and has found many of them to be missing key ingredients.
She looks for a book that takes a holistic, or 'whole' approach to healing or treating anxiety - including, mind body and spirit. After reviewing the many products available, Kate has selected panic away [http://www.bestpanicawayreview.com/] the most comprehensive and informative product she has found.
Natural Approaches For Beating Anxiety and Panic Attacks
If panic attacks and anxiety are affecting your quality of life, help is at hand.
These can cause so much distress that sufferers cannot live a normal life.
Of course there are many drugs and prescription medications that your doctor will be able to provide, but many people prefer natural methods of coping with anxiety attacks.
Here are some top tips for coping with panic and anxiety attacks:
* Take slow deep breaths through your nose, not through the mouth. It is no longer thought safe to suggest re-breathing into a paper bag; this could cause oxygen starvation.
* Try this exercise: stand near to a wall, put your hand on it and hold your breath, then push as hard a possible, keeping your breath held for as long as possible. This tightens your muscles and can reduce anxiety.
* Most people feel less anxious in the outdoors. Listening to the birds, watching the sea, a river, or even just a pond or a tropical fish tank can be very soothing.
A walk in a park or garden smelling the flowers can help relaxation and fight stress. When was the last time you walked bar-foot? See how it feels to connect directly to nature.
* If getting outside is impossible, for instance when you are at work, you may find that a screen-saver using a natural scene is helpful.
* Make a list of your problems, then crumple the paper into a ball and either stand on it, or burn it.
* Regular yoga is something anyone can learn to reduce stress and panic attacks. It will improve mental and physical ability, and boost self-confidence.
But you need to go to a class for maximum benefit and to learn the correct techniques.
* Is a poor diet contributing to your anxiety attacks? Caffeine, sugar and diet sodas all contribute to raised blood sugar. Also, those who are overweight are more prone to anxiety attacks, so reduce your intake of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates.
* Find a hobby you enjoy. If it's creative that's even better. The concerns of day-to-day life can melt away when you throw your heart and soul into a hobby you enjoy. Spend time alone and at peace.
* Relax with a good film or a good book. Either can transport you away from the stresses of the world.
* Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils, or in some cases applying them direct to the skin. You can also add essential oils to the bath and enjoy inhaling them while you have a relaxing bath. Lavender is highly recommended for relaxation and is one of the only essential oils that it's safe to apply to the skin without diluting.
While aromatherapy can be practiced as a self-help therapy, you would be wise to consult a qualified practitioner in the first instance to produce a blend specifically for you.
* Acupuncture targets specific points in the body to promote healing, and has been proven beneficial for anxiety disorders. Unlike aromatherapy this isn't a self-help technique as you will need to consult a licensed practitioner. Be sure this person is registered with a reputable professional body and will observe good hygiene practices.
* Talking things over with someone trustworthy may bring closure to unresolved worries and resentments. But be careful who you talk to - ideally a completely disinterested third-party, or at least someone completely divorced from the situation that's causing you anxiety.
Counselors or Cognitive Behavioral Therapists are highly recommended to help reduce the occurrence of panic attacks. There are even on-line life-coaches if time is pressing.
* Many herbal products have benefits for panic and anxiety symptoms. Consult a qualified herbalist - this is not an area where self-help is advised.
Before implementing any change in physical activity or diet, check it out with your medical doctor. If he or she is unsympathetic to anything other than medication, consider getting a second opinion preferably from an integrative medicine physician.
These can cause so much distress that sufferers cannot live a normal life.
Of course there are many drugs and prescription medications that your doctor will be able to provide, but many people prefer natural methods of coping with anxiety attacks.
Here are some top tips for coping with panic and anxiety attacks:
* Take slow deep breaths through your nose, not through the mouth. It is no longer thought safe to suggest re-breathing into a paper bag; this could cause oxygen starvation.
* Try this exercise: stand near to a wall, put your hand on it and hold your breath, then push as hard a possible, keeping your breath held for as long as possible. This tightens your muscles and can reduce anxiety.
* Most people feel less anxious in the outdoors. Listening to the birds, watching the sea, a river, or even just a pond or a tropical fish tank can be very soothing.
A walk in a park or garden smelling the flowers can help relaxation and fight stress. When was the last time you walked bar-foot? See how it feels to connect directly to nature.
* If getting outside is impossible, for instance when you are at work, you may find that a screen-saver using a natural scene is helpful.
* Make a list of your problems, then crumple the paper into a ball and either stand on it, or burn it.
* Regular yoga is something anyone can learn to reduce stress and panic attacks. It will improve mental and physical ability, and boost self-confidence.
But you need to go to a class for maximum benefit and to learn the correct techniques.
* Is a poor diet contributing to your anxiety attacks? Caffeine, sugar and diet sodas all contribute to raised blood sugar. Also, those who are overweight are more prone to anxiety attacks, so reduce your intake of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates.
* Find a hobby you enjoy. If it's creative that's even better. The concerns of day-to-day life can melt away when you throw your heart and soul into a hobby you enjoy. Spend time alone and at peace.
* Relax with a good film or a good book. Either can transport you away from the stresses of the world.
* Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils, or in some cases applying them direct to the skin. You can also add essential oils to the bath and enjoy inhaling them while you have a relaxing bath. Lavender is highly recommended for relaxation and is one of the only essential oils that it's safe to apply to the skin without diluting.
While aromatherapy can be practiced as a self-help therapy, you would be wise to consult a qualified practitioner in the first instance to produce a blend specifically for you.
* Acupuncture targets specific points in the body to promote healing, and has been proven beneficial for anxiety disorders. Unlike aromatherapy this isn't a self-help technique as you will need to consult a licensed practitioner. Be sure this person is registered with a reputable professional body and will observe good hygiene practices.
* Talking things over with someone trustworthy may bring closure to unresolved worries and resentments. But be careful who you talk to - ideally a completely disinterested third-party, or at least someone completely divorced from the situation that's causing you anxiety.
Counselors or Cognitive Behavioral Therapists are highly recommended to help reduce the occurrence of panic attacks. There are even on-line life-coaches if time is pressing.
* Many herbal products have benefits for panic and anxiety symptoms. Consult a qualified herbalist - this is not an area where self-help is advised.
Before implementing any change in physical activity or diet, check it out with your medical doctor. If he or she is unsympathetic to anything other than medication, consider getting a second opinion preferably from an integrative medicine physician.
Joy Healey is a qualified complementary therapist, specializing in nutrition and stress.
For more free tips on relieving anxiety, stress and depression without resorting to medication, subscribe to her free weekly newsletter "Reclaim Your Life" on the website: Anxiety Relief Naturally
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_Healey
For more free tips on relieving anxiety, stress and depression without resorting to medication, subscribe to her free weekly newsletter "Reclaim Your Life" on the website: Anxiety Relief Naturally
Life Coach Technique: Using Metaphors
As a life coach you have probably heard, from your clients, their
barriers described in a metaphorical way. A metaphor is our insight to a
person's subconscious mind - a picture paints a thousand words, as does
a metaphor.
Metaphors are often less untouched by life coaches, but using a metaphor to relate to the clients, not only increases rapport but makes faster and long lasting change.
A metaphor helps a client explain a complex process of communication into a more simplified answer that most people can understand
"I feel stuck"
By exploring the client's metaphor, you will find new metaphorical options, the clients subconscious will help them find the answers they need to move forward. Often as a coach, you may not fully understand their real life situation, as you explore the metaphor.
But what is more important, is that often something falls into place, a new learning from the clients, which allows them to overcome their barrier.
As the client explores the metaphor, they will find their own solutions, sometime subconsciously. All the elements of the metaphor could potentially be a resource to help the client unlock their problem or barrier.
As a coach you need to explore the client's metaphor through questioning.
Questions to explore Metaphors
Gain details of the clients metaphor - don't think about what they say, use 'clean language' when exploring, and don't be tempted to add your own details/images this is the clients metaphor not yours.
The example is a real metaphor that a client of mine used and is there to give you a guide.
1- What kind of "client's words" is that?
Example question: is the floor made of quick sand, or is it a floor that feels like quick sand?
Example answer: Erm.. yep the floor looks like quick sand and I'm sinking into it.
2- Whereabouts are you/is "the clients words"
Example question: where are you and where is the quick sand floor?
Example answer: I'm at work, in the office and the quick sand floor is in the middle of the room.
3- Is there anything else?
Example answer: No, just my colleagues pointing and laughing
4- Where did "client's words" come from
Example Question: where did the quick sand come from?
Example answer: It's mine, I bring it to work.
5- Are there any connections between "client's words" and "clients words"?
Example Question: are there any connections between you sinking and your colleague's laughter?
Example answer: Yes, if I wasn't sinking they wouldn't be laughing, they'd just get on with there work and I could get on with mine.
Metaphors are often less untouched by life coaches, but using a metaphor to relate to the clients, not only increases rapport but makes faster and long lasting change.
A metaphor helps a client explain a complex process of communication into a more simplified answer that most people can understand
"I feel stuck"
By exploring the client's metaphor, you will find new metaphorical options, the clients subconscious will help them find the answers they need to move forward. Often as a coach, you may not fully understand their real life situation, as you explore the metaphor.
But what is more important, is that often something falls into place, a new learning from the clients, which allows them to overcome their barrier.
As the client explores the metaphor, they will find their own solutions, sometime subconsciously. All the elements of the metaphor could potentially be a resource to help the client unlock their problem or barrier.
As a coach you need to explore the client's metaphor through questioning.
Questions to explore Metaphors
Gain details of the clients metaphor - don't think about what they say, use 'clean language' when exploring, and don't be tempted to add your own details/images this is the clients metaphor not yours.
The example is a real metaphor that a client of mine used and is there to give you a guide.
1- What kind of "client's words" is that?
Example question: is the floor made of quick sand, or is it a floor that feels like quick sand?
Example answer: Erm.. yep the floor looks like quick sand and I'm sinking into it.
2- Whereabouts are you/is "the clients words"
Example question: where are you and where is the quick sand floor?
Example answer: I'm at work, in the office and the quick sand floor is in the middle of the room.
3- Is there anything else?
Example answer: No, just my colleagues pointing and laughing
4- Where did "client's words" come from
Example Question: where did the quick sand come from?
Example answer: It's mine, I bring it to work.
5- Are there any connections between "client's words" and "clients words"?
Example Question: are there any connections between you sinking and your colleague's laughter?
Example answer: Yes, if I wasn't sinking they wouldn't be laughing, they'd just get on with there work and I could get on with mine.
6- What would happen if you changed "client's words"
Example Question: What would happen if left the quicksand at home?
Example answer: I would feel good-everything would be OK
7- What would happen if you "did something different"?
Example Question: what would happen if you could make the floor solid?
Example answer: that would be good, I can see some strong cement in the corner of the room I could use that to stop the quick sand.
8- What needs to happen for you to achieve your goal?
Example answer: Its funny but the company name on the cement is called "go for-it cement" I think I need to just be me when I go into work and not to worry about what people will think-this will make me more confident.
Check reality
9- How would you feel if you made this change/"client's words"?
Example Question: How would you feel if you went into work being you?
Example answer: I think people would like me-I'm easy to talk to
10- Is there anything else you need to think about/look at?
Example answer: No, I just need to take a deep breath on Monday morning and "go for-it" I think people will really like me.
11- What are the consequences of you achieving your outcome?
Example answer: I would feel more confident, people would like me and I would enjoy going to work every day.
With the metaphor technique, you need to listen to what the client is telling you and ask clean language questions, as it is their subconscious that will give them the answers they need.
Example Question: What would happen if left the quicksand at home?
Example answer: I would feel good-everything would be OK
7- What would happen if you "did something different"?
Example Question: what would happen if you could make the floor solid?
Example answer: that would be good, I can see some strong cement in the corner of the room I could use that to stop the quick sand.
8- What needs to happen for you to achieve your goal?
Example answer: Its funny but the company name on the cement is called "go for-it cement" I think I need to just be me when I go into work and not to worry about what people will think-this will make me more confident.
Check reality
9- How would you feel if you made this change/"client's words"?
Example Question: How would you feel if you went into work being you?
Example answer: I think people would like me-I'm easy to talk to
10- Is there anything else you need to think about/look at?
Example answer: No, I just need to take a deep breath on Monday morning and "go for-it" I think people will really like me.
11- What are the consequences of you achieving your outcome?
Example answer: I would feel more confident, people would like me and I would enjoy going to work every day.
With the metaphor technique, you need to listen to what the client is telling you and ask clean language questions, as it is their subconscious that will give them the answers they need.
You can start your own Life Coaching Business today; http://www.employmentking.co.uk/coaching/how-to-set-up-a-life-coaching-business/
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Delaney
Motivational Speakers - Life Coaches
A motivational speaker is one who speaks or lectures in a way so
as to motivate or inspire the audience. There are many motivational
speakers and they introduce themselves through various methods such as
books, interviews, seminars or audio programs.
One of the major negative feedbacks they face is that they make people feel good and positive just for the time being - that is - the motivation they provide does not last for a longer life time. There are many others who feel that they feel positive and set goals only when they listen to this speaker, and after a short time they go back to their regular routine.
What matters most in this aspect is, that if a person wants to become successful in life, he/she has to apply and implement the teaching and concepts in his/her life which might prove difficult in the beginning, but with regular help and their own will power, they can shed their inhibitions and start over a new leaf.
Some of the popular motivational books written by well-known motivational speakers are Anthony Robbins - "Unlimited Power", and "Awaken The Giant Within"; John Maxwell - "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"; Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" as well as "The One Minute Millionaire", and Zig Ziglar's "See You at the Top".
The audio programs that are popular - Brian Tracy's "The Psychology of Achievement"; Mark Victor Hansen's "Thinking Big;" and Les Brown's "You Deserve."
In recent days, even multinational companies are making use of these speakers to help their employees develop positive mental attitude, clarity in life, set their goals and team-building activity. Team building activity is one of the important factors in multi-national companies which help to highlight the importance of an individual in a team as one of the most valuable asset the Company has.
Inspirational speakers are different from motivational speakers in the way that their speeches can be based on stories of great men who achieved their goals amidst obstacles, with modulations in their way of speaking.
On the other hand, motivational speakers deliver their presentation that inspire and has more energy which propel their listeners to action.
Most motivational speakers do not see themselves as a teacher who motivates others, but they see themselves as a "life coach." Many of them have come from poverty and it is through the methods they teach they have become millionaires.
Les Brown was a garbage collector who became a successful speaker and a millionaire. Most of the speakers are entrepreneurs; They teach leadership, efficiency, increase productivity and are experts in time management.
They also host TV shows and travel regularly all over the globe. They have to keep themselves updated in terms of recent events around the world and constantly learning new things.
Their speech should be able to connect with the audience, ignite a spark in every listener or attendee so that they can be inspired to find a lost goal or birth of a new one in order to achieve what they desire.
The methods, techniques which they teach to their clients (persons attending their workshops or listeners) should be simple, time-tested, recent, grounded, effective and they should have imbibed them in to their own personal life.
The motivational speaker's job is to make the listeners understand how their minds work, prioritize their work to deliver their best, to help them change their life style if needed, and develop effective habits that can move them towards their goals and dreams.
In short, a motivational speaker's main goal should be to arouse the bundle of positive energy that exists in all of us through which we can reach our goals in the shortest possible time.
One of the major negative feedbacks they face is that they make people feel good and positive just for the time being - that is - the motivation they provide does not last for a longer life time. There are many others who feel that they feel positive and set goals only when they listen to this speaker, and after a short time they go back to their regular routine.
What matters most in this aspect is, that if a person wants to become successful in life, he/she has to apply and implement the teaching and concepts in his/her life which might prove difficult in the beginning, but with regular help and their own will power, they can shed their inhibitions and start over a new leaf.
Some of the popular motivational books written by well-known motivational speakers are Anthony Robbins - "Unlimited Power", and "Awaken The Giant Within"; John Maxwell - "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"; Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" as well as "The One Minute Millionaire", and Zig Ziglar's "See You at the Top".
The audio programs that are popular - Brian Tracy's "The Psychology of Achievement"; Mark Victor Hansen's "Thinking Big;" and Les Brown's "You Deserve."
In recent days, even multinational companies are making use of these speakers to help their employees develop positive mental attitude, clarity in life, set their goals and team-building activity. Team building activity is one of the important factors in multi-national companies which help to highlight the importance of an individual in a team as one of the most valuable asset the Company has.
Inspirational speakers are different from motivational speakers in the way that their speeches can be based on stories of great men who achieved their goals amidst obstacles, with modulations in their way of speaking.
On the other hand, motivational speakers deliver their presentation that inspire and has more energy which propel their listeners to action.
Most motivational speakers do not see themselves as a teacher who motivates others, but they see themselves as a "life coach." Many of them have come from poverty and it is through the methods they teach they have become millionaires.
Les Brown was a garbage collector who became a successful speaker and a millionaire. Most of the speakers are entrepreneurs; They teach leadership, efficiency, increase productivity and are experts in time management.
They also host TV shows and travel regularly all over the globe. They have to keep themselves updated in terms of recent events around the world and constantly learning new things.
Their speech should be able to connect with the audience, ignite a spark in every listener or attendee so that they can be inspired to find a lost goal or birth of a new one in order to achieve what they desire.
The methods, techniques which they teach to their clients (persons attending their workshops or listeners) should be simple, time-tested, recent, grounded, effective and they should have imbibed them in to their own personal life.
The motivational speaker's job is to make the listeners understand how their minds work, prioritize their work to deliver their best, to help them change their life style if needed, and develop effective habits that can move them towards their goals and dreams.
In short, a motivational speaker's main goal should be to arouse the bundle of positive energy that exists in all of us through which we can reach our goals in the shortest possible time.
B Sathyanarayana is a well-known writer in the areas of medicine, biographies and management exams.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sathya_Narayana
Natural Remedies To Combat Panic Attacks In Children
A panic attack is a sudden intense fear, hesitation, malaise,
dread or terror, worry, and numerous other negative signs such as
shortness of breath, etc.
The physical symptoms that accompany such an attack include, jitters, sweating, insomnia, a cranked up heart beat, chest pains, nausea, and/ or diarrhea.
This happens due to the stimulation of the adrenal hormone by the adrenal glands.
This secreted adrenaline gets your body in a pumped up state, which is usually good yet sometimes causes worry.
A frequent occurrence of such attacks could get difficult to manage. At a more chronic level and over exposure to these acute panic attacks can lead to anxiety attacks.
Alternate panic attack remedies for children:
o Kava: Making use of natural herbs such as Kava works perfectly well as a treatment alternative to those compared to the chemically oriented drugs.
Kava is well known for its calming effects and holds truly healing properties. It is recommended to start on the consumption of Kava on catching the first symptom an attack.
o Valerian Root: Traditionally, Valerian has been prescribed as a natural sedative to help relax the central nervous system in moderate doses. It has been clinically proven to promote relaxation and emotional balance.
o Passion Flower: The flower holds medicinal compounds often used to relax the nervous system. A healthy and positive power of the passion flower helps tackle, nervousness, anxiety, a depressed state of mind, restlessness, etc.
o Rhodiola Rosea/ Arctic Root: The Arctic Root plant has been reported to have adaptogenic properties. An adaptogen is an agent that is known to naturally increase the body's resistance to physical/ emotional stress. A good antidote to a panic attack.
o Winter Cherry Monograph: The strengthening part of this plant is its root. The root of this small shrub is recognized for its medicinal qualities of naturally increasing the body's resistance. It is also known to be a healthy option to develop one's immunity.
The above stated remedies are also applicable for adults coping with panic attacks/ anxiety. Yet, it is always appropriate to resort to natural remedies for children tackling these disorders.
Besides the use of these Alternate Natural Remedies, it is essential for the parents to include, breathing regimes, meditation, a change in atmosphere, ensuring adequate sleep, bringing about a significant change in diet, seeking herbal medical advice, etc.
The child must be well- taken care of and must feel secured around the members he/ she spends most of their time with.
The physical symptoms that accompany such an attack include, jitters, sweating, insomnia, a cranked up heart beat, chest pains, nausea, and/ or diarrhea.
This happens due to the stimulation of the adrenal hormone by the adrenal glands.
This secreted adrenaline gets your body in a pumped up state, which is usually good yet sometimes causes worry.
A frequent occurrence of such attacks could get difficult to manage. At a more chronic level and over exposure to these acute panic attacks can lead to anxiety attacks.
Alternate panic attack remedies for children:
o Kava: Making use of natural herbs such as Kava works perfectly well as a treatment alternative to those compared to the chemically oriented drugs.
Kava is well known for its calming effects and holds truly healing properties. It is recommended to start on the consumption of Kava on catching the first symptom an attack.
o Valerian Root: Traditionally, Valerian has been prescribed as a natural sedative to help relax the central nervous system in moderate doses. It has been clinically proven to promote relaxation and emotional balance.
o Passion Flower: The flower holds medicinal compounds often used to relax the nervous system. A healthy and positive power of the passion flower helps tackle, nervousness, anxiety, a depressed state of mind, restlessness, etc.
o Rhodiola Rosea/ Arctic Root: The Arctic Root plant has been reported to have adaptogenic properties. An adaptogen is an agent that is known to naturally increase the body's resistance to physical/ emotional stress. A good antidote to a panic attack.
o Winter Cherry Monograph: The strengthening part of this plant is its root. The root of this small shrub is recognized for its medicinal qualities of naturally increasing the body's resistance. It is also known to be a healthy option to develop one's immunity.
The above stated remedies are also applicable for adults coping with panic attacks/ anxiety. Yet, it is always appropriate to resort to natural remedies for children tackling these disorders.
Besides the use of these Alternate Natural Remedies, it is essential for the parents to include, breathing regimes, meditation, a change in atmosphere, ensuring adequate sleep, bringing about a significant change in diet, seeking herbal medical advice, etc.
The child must be well- taken care of and must feel secured around the members he/ she spends most of their time with.
Ankur Sharma is a Content writer. He writes on Health related Topics like Panic Attack Remedies and Fear Remedy.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ankur_Gajanan_Sharma
Who Are The Most Famous Life Coaches In The World?
Being a Life Coach is a bit weird at times. Even though there are
tens of thousands of Life Coaches all over the United States, not many
people actually know what we do.
That is largely to do with the fact that Life Coaching isn't regulated in the US and as such anybody can call themselves a Life Coach without fear of reprisal or having to actually learn any coaching skills.
Having said that I regularly get asked who I think is the best Coach in the world. Of course that's a ridiculous question because it's entirely subjective and I would have had to work with every Life to even offer an opinion.
I think what people mean when they ask this question is "Who is the most well know Life trainer in the world?" and it's usually asked from a position of wanting to know what Life actually do.
If you have an interest in hiring a Life trainer, but you're not sure what one does and you call me to ask.
I may well ask you if you know Tony Robbins? Most people do as Robbins has been on the Coaching and NLP scene since the mid 80's and has worked with some very high-profile people, not least of whom was Bill Clinton.
Even though Robbins does a lot of intervention work using hypnotherapy and NLP, skills that are often, although by no means always, the preserve of therapists. He also is a high-profile Coach and regularly appears on TV when not touring the globe.
There is a huge drop off from Tony Robbins when talking about visible well know Life Coaches. There are a lot of coaches like Michael Neill who command very high fees ($50k and upwards are not that unusual) but are not very well know outside the coaching and self-development industry.
There are also key-note speakers and best-selling authors like Steven Covey and Wayne Dyer who are well know and used to do one-on-one work, but rarely if ever do now. And that is the issue, Life isn't usually very well paid and as such those that become very successful branch out in other areas such as speaking, writing and seminars.
Steven Covey can reputably command $250,000 for a key-note speech. He would have to see a lot of clients or be hired by a handful of super wealthy clients to procure that kind of income. and the speech may only last a couple of hours whereas client work takes a lot longer, sometimes spanning many months.
So the answer to the question is I really don't know. I guess it could be Robbins and he has definitely earned that spot with his relentless hard work, but whether he is a Life Coach per se is another matter altogether.
That is largely to do with the fact that Life Coaching isn't regulated in the US and as such anybody can call themselves a Life Coach without fear of reprisal or having to actually learn any coaching skills.
Having said that I regularly get asked who I think is the best Coach in the world. Of course that's a ridiculous question because it's entirely subjective and I would have had to work with every Life to even offer an opinion.
I think what people mean when they ask this question is "Who is the most well know Life trainer in the world?" and it's usually asked from a position of wanting to know what Life actually do.
If you have an interest in hiring a Life trainer, but you're not sure what one does and you call me to ask.
I may well ask you if you know Tony Robbins? Most people do as Robbins has been on the Coaching and NLP scene since the mid 80's and has worked with some very high-profile people, not least of whom was Bill Clinton.
Even though Robbins does a lot of intervention work using hypnotherapy and NLP, skills that are often, although by no means always, the preserve of therapists. He also is a high-profile Coach and regularly appears on TV when not touring the globe.
There is a huge drop off from Tony Robbins when talking about visible well know Life Coaches. There are a lot of coaches like Michael Neill who command very high fees ($50k and upwards are not that unusual) but are not very well know outside the coaching and self-development industry.
There are also key-note speakers and best-selling authors like Steven Covey and Wayne Dyer who are well know and used to do one-on-one work, but rarely if ever do now. And that is the issue, Life isn't usually very well paid and as such those that become very successful branch out in other areas such as speaking, writing and seminars.
Steven Covey can reputably command $250,000 for a key-note speech. He would have to see a lot of clients or be hired by a handful of super wealthy clients to procure that kind of income. and the speech may only last a couple of hours whereas client work takes a lot longer, sometimes spanning many months.
So the answer to the question is I really don't know. I guess it could be Robbins and he has definitely earned that spot with his relentless hard work, but whether he is a Life Coach per se is another matter altogether.
Are you looking for a life coach to help you get clear about the life you really want? Be sure to visit my site tolearn more about life coaching.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T_Brownson
Finding the Right Alzheimer's Care for Your Parents
If you have parents who need Alzheimer's care, then you probably
have three main choices. You could take charge of them completely on
your own, you could hire an at-home nurse, or you could have them
admitted to long-term help.
None of these options will be easy on you. As you look at your options, take into consideration the cost, comfort, reputation, and customer service of your choice.
Taking charge of your parents on your own when they are more advanced in this disease may not be a good idea. Many problems can arise that you might not be able to handle, and they could cause more problems.
Aspirating food is an issue because sometimes people forget how to swallow. Your parents might lose their hearing because the body is forgetting, and this could also put them in danger. In the initial stages of it, it might be okay to be the caregivers. At this point, they still remember you, and that is the time that you will want to remember.
In the later stages of this disease, you will probably want to consider Alzheimer's care in the form of home nursing or long-term help. Either one will be expensive unless you have insurance or government help, so that is definitely a consideration.
The cost of nursing help and long-term help is high. Even if the government is helping with costs, you still need to take the cost into consideration. Down the road when your parents pass away, you might have to pay the government back using estate money. This is definitely something to check on.
Another consideration is the comfort of the situation. Your parent's comfort is an important consideration. Make sure that whether at home or in a facility, they feel at home and are cared for as you would for them. It is not easy in facilities because the aids have a schedule, and they often have so many patients. If you choose long-term help, then you might consider a small assisted living home where there are fewer patients and more personal attention.
The reputation of your choice is also something to consider. Make sure that the place or company that you choose is known for how well they treat patients. Take a look back on their record to be sure there are no reports of abuse or anything like this.
Customer service is another major area. Whether you have a nurse at home or your parents are in Alzheimer's care at an institution, your parents and you should come first. That means, employees should not be taking smoke breaks rather than bathing your parents. This means that when a call bell is sounded, someone should come in seconds.
Your parents should always have fresh clothing. They should never feel embarrassed or degraded for any reason. You as the power of attorney, should never feel belittled. You are your parent's advocate, and you should be treated with respect just like they should be treated in this way.
None of these options will be easy on you. As you look at your options, take into consideration the cost, comfort, reputation, and customer service of your choice.
Taking charge of your parents on your own when they are more advanced in this disease may not be a good idea. Many problems can arise that you might not be able to handle, and they could cause more problems.
Aspirating food is an issue because sometimes people forget how to swallow. Your parents might lose their hearing because the body is forgetting, and this could also put them in danger. In the initial stages of it, it might be okay to be the caregivers. At this point, they still remember you, and that is the time that you will want to remember.
In the later stages of this disease, you will probably want to consider Alzheimer's care in the form of home nursing or long-term help. Either one will be expensive unless you have insurance or government help, so that is definitely a consideration.
The cost of nursing help and long-term help is high. Even if the government is helping with costs, you still need to take the cost into consideration. Down the road when your parents pass away, you might have to pay the government back using estate money. This is definitely something to check on.
Another consideration is the comfort of the situation. Your parent's comfort is an important consideration. Make sure that whether at home or in a facility, they feel at home and are cared for as you would for them. It is not easy in facilities because the aids have a schedule, and they often have so many patients. If you choose long-term help, then you might consider a small assisted living home where there are fewer patients and more personal attention.
The reputation of your choice is also something to consider. Make sure that the place or company that you choose is known for how well they treat patients. Take a look back on their record to be sure there are no reports of abuse or anything like this.
Customer service is another major area. Whether you have a nurse at home or your parents are in Alzheimer's care at an institution, your parents and you should come first. That means, employees should not be taking smoke breaks rather than bathing your parents. This means that when a call bell is sounded, someone should come in seconds.
Your parents should always have fresh clothing. They should never feel embarrassed or degraded for any reason. You as the power of attorney, should never feel belittled. You are your parent's advocate, and you should be treated with respect just like they should be treated in this way.
For competent Alzheimer's care, Hillsborough, NJ, residents turn
to the professional facilities at Bridgeway Senior Healthcare. To learn
more about their qualifications, please visit http://www.bridgewayseniorcare.com/long_term_care/memory_care.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Woodward
How to Avoid Alzheimer's Disease
In 1906 Dr. Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915) a German psychiatrist and
neuropathologist described the first case of the form of dementia
during a lecture at the German Psychiatrists conference in Tubingen,
which is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg,
Germany.
He was describing one of his patients, whose symptoms were memory loss, language problems and unpredictable behavior. After her death, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in her brain tissue, abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. Since then, this disease is one of the most common dementia in the aging population, bearing Alzheimer's name.
Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder which shows progressive dementia and it is the fourth most common cause of death. There are clear pathological hallmarks of the disease, mainly in the form of plaques and tangles. Plaques are abnormal clusters and fragments of protein, which build up between nerve cells. Dying nerve cells contain tangles, which are made up of another protein. These plaques and tangles might be the reason for cell death and tissue loss in the Alzheimer's brain.
Our brain has three major parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brain stem. The cerebrum is the major content of our skull. Its main function is in the areas of remembering, problem solving, thinking, feeling and controlling our movement. The cerebellum located at the back of our head, under the cerebrum and it controls our coordination and balance. The brain stem is located beneath the cerebrum in front of the cerebellum. It connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls functions which are automatic, such as breathing, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure.
The brain is nourished by networks of blood vessels comprised of arteries, veins and capillaries. The arteries carry blood to fuel our brain with each heartbeat.
The unique outer layer of our brain is called the cortex, which is quite clearly mapped according to specific functions. Among the major functions we can notice our sight, sound and smell, thoughts, problem solving, memory storing and retrieving and controlling certain movements.
Our brain is divided into two hemispheres; the left half controls the right body's side and the right half controls the left side. The speech-language area is on the left side in most people.
The brain contains over 100 billion neurons or nerve cells, which branches and generates connections at more than 100 trillion connection points. Brain signals are traveling via the network of neurons involving our memories, thoughts, and feelings. Nerve cells are connected to one another at synapses. A burst of chemicals called neurotransmitters are released at the synapses when triggered by the appropriate electric charge and so the 'message' is carried to other cells.
Alzheimer's disease is responsible for the destructions of those neurons and to the disruption of the activity of the neurotransmitters. We also know that Alzheimer's disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions. Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, which is an area of the cortex that plays a major role in formation of new memories.
Early symptoms are in the area of learning and memory, thinking and planning, which may interfere with work or social life. At this stage people may get confused and have problems expressing themselves, organizing and handling money.
As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may experience changes in personality and behavior and have trouble recognizing friends and family members. People with Alzheimer may live an average of eight years. In certain cases it maybe more depends on other health conditions and other factors like genetics.
What causes Alzheimer?
It is assumed that the cause is a complex sequence of events comprising of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. We do not understand the exact cause or the contributions of those factors and it varies from case to case.
What diagnostic tools are available?
Until today, there are no effective therapies to cure, to halt or to slow down the progression of Alzheimer disease. At the same time there are many diagnostic tools to identify the disease, such as non-invasive imaging techniques to assess the aspects of neuro-anatomy, chemistry, physiology, and pathology of the disease and its evolutionary status.
One of the popular examinations is using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), mainly because it enables the visualization of the brain structures in three dimensions. Computed Tomography (CT) is another visualization tool used for the diagnosis and evaluation of dementia, especially for cases at early stages. The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan shows brain activity in real-time associated with functions such as: reading, hearing, thinking and saying words.
High activity areas are marked with red and they decrease in colors as activity level decreased. PET scan is also used to detect alterations in regional brain metabolism. This metabolic over activity is reflected as "red-hot-spots" on PET images, enabling doctors to confirm the status of suspected tumor area and assess whether they have spread. Recently, new devices combining multi-modalities are being developed such as MRI/PET. This is a hybrid imaging technology that utilizes MRI soft tissue morphological capabilities with PET functional imaging, which is effective for tumor detection.
What parts of the brain are affected?
Alzheimer eventually affects most parts of the brain. However, each person is affected differently as the disease progresses. The main brain regions affected by Alzheimer are the frontal, temporal and the parietal lobes.
The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and controls a range of functions such as intelligence, making decisions, solving problems and other mental and social functions.
Damage to this area causes decrease in quality of life and generates severe problems for patients to take care of themselves.
The temporal lobe is located at both temples and ears and they are responsible for the long and the short term memories. Episodic memory helps us to remember events such as where we parked our car or where are our house keys. Remembering such events requires the storing and retrieving processes located at our temporal lobe. The Ability to learn is located in these regions, so damage to these areas may lead to memory loss. This loss causes the inability to register new information and retrieve it later when needed.
Speech ability is located behind the temporal lobe at the parietal lobe. This region is also responsible for the visual system and enables visual analysis and stimuli. Damage to this area may cause abnormal speech and visual problems.
Alzheimer first affects the hippocampus which is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. It is the area of the brain in which new memories are formed. It then moves to other areas affecting different functions such as reasoning or emotions. The cerebellum and the brain stem are the last areas of the brain to be affected. This is when we lose control of basic functions such as breathing, heart-rate and blood pressure. This is Alzheimer's final stage leading to death.
What medications are available to treat Alzheimer?
There are four FDA approved medications to treat Alzheimer. Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine are used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer and moderate to severe Alzheimer is treated by memantine and also donepezil. These drugs are regulating neurotransmitters. They may assist in memory improvement, speaking and help with certain behavioral problems. The problem with these drugs is that their efficacy is limited to certain group of patients and for a limited period.
What do we know about the statistics of Alzheimer's disease?
There are uncontrollable risk factors such as genetics and aging and risk factors that we may control such as our life habits.
The known and established risk factors for Alzheimer's disease are genetics and aging; both uncontrollable. Alzheimer in our close family in most cases will increase our risk probability for Alzheimer's disease. However, even in those cases we still may not get the disease. So currently we don't have solutions, but it is assumed that adopting healthy brain life habits might delay or even prevent the appearance of Alzheimer's disease in certain cases.
What can we do to reduce the risk?
Healthy brain life habits are not only keeping fit from the neck down, but in addition to perform certain daily exercises. Recent emerging evidence suggests there are certain steps we can take to help keep our brain healthier as we age. Some of these steps might also reduce our risk of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
We acknowledge a strong mind-body connection. Recent studies associate spirituality with better brain health. Meditating, praying and religious practice may immunize against the damaging effects of stress. Our immune system is built to protect us from many external threats; however it fails when emotion and stress are involved.
If we permit 'bad energy' to enter our brain, we are flooded by bad emotions that can affect our physical body. This is the negative power of belief.
The link of mind-spirit and body is obvious. We should realize that the power of belief can also work against us and may be a destructive force.Therefore, we should avoid negativism and seek positivism. Above all, we have to believe in ourselves.
Willpower is one of the significant human driving forces. We know that there is a power in our will, as in the saying: 'Where there is a will, there is a way'.
This willpower helps us to overcome the many difficulties and obstacles in our life. It is one of the major components needed for success.
A healthy soul requires a healthy body, as the Latin has it: anima sanain corpore sano, and in Hebrew: "Nefesh bria beguf bari".
We know that mind and body are connected. Our health is strongly dependent on how we deal emotionally and physically with various situations and conditions. Our immune system is affected when we suffer continuous stress. General illnesses can be largely stress-related.
Stress is not always negative, however. Stress is a predictable, normal and sometimes desirable human response. Stress is activated in various circumstances, such as feelings of danger or urgency. In such cases stress protects us by alerting us to danger and keeping us focused.
When stress is continuous and unrelenting, this is the point at which it starts to be harmful. It can have a negative effect in both physical and psychological terms. There is a link between stress and life expectancy. Most researchers believe that stress is a major factor in reducing life expectancy.
The author, however, believes that a certain amount of stress in reaction to certain activities can have the opposite effect. Both ends of the spectrum, namely, no stress at all and extensive stress, are negative factors which influence our way and quality of life. Some stress in a multi-tasking environment, however, can have a positive effect on our life expectancy.
Being active in multi-disciplinary areas not only gives us positive emotions and satisfaction but could also extend our life expectancy.
This assumption is partly supported by the fact that diverse activities mean we activate different brain areas.
Research has shown that negative emotions such as anger and unhappiness have a significant impact on our nervous and immune systems and are probably the cause of certain diseases. On the other hand, positive emotions such as happiness and harmony are elements which have a positive influence on our health.
In neurobiology, the material functions of the mind could be a representation of certain mechanistic properties of the brain. The brain essentially shuts down the area which generates conscious thought during deep sleep and reactivates it on dreaming or waking.
The relationship of the brain with the mind is similar to that of computer hardware with software. This analogy of the mind as software is debated by scientists, who claim correctly that the human mind has powers beyond any artificial software.
Future proposed studies and methodologies
Accumulations of new databases (NDB) of Alzheimer patients are required. NDB should also contain genetic independent cases, above 50 years old, with their detailed history of activity or inactivity, during their last decade prior being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, a correlation imaging database using MRI/PET should be created.
We should concentrate in detecting the specific location where Alzheimer's disease may begin. This is probably a specific vulnerable area of the brain, from where the damage is spread to other areas of the brain.
We already know that Alzheimer first affects the hippocampus, which is the area where new memories are formed. We also know that the memory cells or circuit which is essential for generating and storing new memories is in the entorhinal cortex. The entorhinal cortex is an area of the brain located in the medial temporal lobe. It is functioning as a hub in a network for memory and navigation.
The entorhinal cortex is one of the first areas to be affected in Alzheimer's disease. It would be interesting to follow the assumption that people with less or no physical activities especially after the age of 50, tend statistically to be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease than those who are active physically and mentally. Accordingly, studies focusing in this area of the brain may lead to better understanding our brain system for enhancing memory.
Future gene research may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of the disease, which hopefully will lead to the appropriate preventing treatment.
A promising research area is using stem cells for treating Alzheimer. There are many ways to approach this option. Among the various possibilities we may suggest to re-grow diseased parts, to heal rather than replace neurons or to use stem cells as drug delivery agents.
Adult stem cells have a positive effect on those who already have Alzheimer's disease. In future they may even prevent the disease.
Conclusion
I believe that mentally stimulating activities in conjunction with enhancing our mind-body connections, could lead not only to improvement in our way of life, but also to significantly reduce the risk involved with Alzheimer's disease.
He was describing one of his patients, whose symptoms were memory loss, language problems and unpredictable behavior. After her death, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in her brain tissue, abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. Since then, this disease is one of the most common dementia in the aging population, bearing Alzheimer's name.
Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder which shows progressive dementia and it is the fourth most common cause of death. There are clear pathological hallmarks of the disease, mainly in the form of plaques and tangles. Plaques are abnormal clusters and fragments of protein, which build up between nerve cells. Dying nerve cells contain tangles, which are made up of another protein. These plaques and tangles might be the reason for cell death and tissue loss in the Alzheimer's brain.
Our brain has three major parts: the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brain stem. The cerebrum is the major content of our skull. Its main function is in the areas of remembering, problem solving, thinking, feeling and controlling our movement. The cerebellum located at the back of our head, under the cerebrum and it controls our coordination and balance. The brain stem is located beneath the cerebrum in front of the cerebellum. It connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls functions which are automatic, such as breathing, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure.
The brain is nourished by networks of blood vessels comprised of arteries, veins and capillaries. The arteries carry blood to fuel our brain with each heartbeat.
The unique outer layer of our brain is called the cortex, which is quite clearly mapped according to specific functions. Among the major functions we can notice our sight, sound and smell, thoughts, problem solving, memory storing and retrieving and controlling certain movements.
Our brain is divided into two hemispheres; the left half controls the right body's side and the right half controls the left side. The speech-language area is on the left side in most people.
The brain contains over 100 billion neurons or nerve cells, which branches and generates connections at more than 100 trillion connection points. Brain signals are traveling via the network of neurons involving our memories, thoughts, and feelings. Nerve cells are connected to one another at synapses. A burst of chemicals called neurotransmitters are released at the synapses when triggered by the appropriate electric charge and so the 'message' is carried to other cells.
Alzheimer's disease is responsible for the destructions of those neurons and to the disruption of the activity of the neurotransmitters. We also know that Alzheimer's disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions. Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, which is an area of the cortex that plays a major role in formation of new memories.
Early symptoms are in the area of learning and memory, thinking and planning, which may interfere with work or social life. At this stage people may get confused and have problems expressing themselves, organizing and handling money.
As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may experience changes in personality and behavior and have trouble recognizing friends and family members. People with Alzheimer may live an average of eight years. In certain cases it maybe more depends on other health conditions and other factors like genetics.
What causes Alzheimer?
It is assumed that the cause is a complex sequence of events comprising of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. We do not understand the exact cause or the contributions of those factors and it varies from case to case.
What diagnostic tools are available?
Until today, there are no effective therapies to cure, to halt or to slow down the progression of Alzheimer disease. At the same time there are many diagnostic tools to identify the disease, such as non-invasive imaging techniques to assess the aspects of neuro-anatomy, chemistry, physiology, and pathology of the disease and its evolutionary status.
One of the popular examinations is using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), mainly because it enables the visualization of the brain structures in three dimensions. Computed Tomography (CT) is another visualization tool used for the diagnosis and evaluation of dementia, especially for cases at early stages. The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan shows brain activity in real-time associated with functions such as: reading, hearing, thinking and saying words.
High activity areas are marked with red and they decrease in colors as activity level decreased. PET scan is also used to detect alterations in regional brain metabolism. This metabolic over activity is reflected as "red-hot-spots" on PET images, enabling doctors to confirm the status of suspected tumor area and assess whether they have spread. Recently, new devices combining multi-modalities are being developed such as MRI/PET. This is a hybrid imaging technology that utilizes MRI soft tissue morphological capabilities with PET functional imaging, which is effective for tumor detection.
What parts of the brain are affected?
Alzheimer eventually affects most parts of the brain. However, each person is affected differently as the disease progresses. The main brain regions affected by Alzheimer are the frontal, temporal and the parietal lobes.
The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and controls a range of functions such as intelligence, making decisions, solving problems and other mental and social functions.
Damage to this area causes decrease in quality of life and generates severe problems for patients to take care of themselves.
The temporal lobe is located at both temples and ears and they are responsible for the long and the short term memories. Episodic memory helps us to remember events such as where we parked our car or where are our house keys. Remembering such events requires the storing and retrieving processes located at our temporal lobe. The Ability to learn is located in these regions, so damage to these areas may lead to memory loss. This loss causes the inability to register new information and retrieve it later when needed.
Speech ability is located behind the temporal lobe at the parietal lobe. This region is also responsible for the visual system and enables visual analysis and stimuli. Damage to this area may cause abnormal speech and visual problems.
Alzheimer first affects the hippocampus which is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. It is the area of the brain in which new memories are formed. It then moves to other areas affecting different functions such as reasoning or emotions. The cerebellum and the brain stem are the last areas of the brain to be affected. This is when we lose control of basic functions such as breathing, heart-rate and blood pressure. This is Alzheimer's final stage leading to death.
What medications are available to treat Alzheimer?
There are four FDA approved medications to treat Alzheimer. Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine are used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer and moderate to severe Alzheimer is treated by memantine and also donepezil. These drugs are regulating neurotransmitters. They may assist in memory improvement, speaking and help with certain behavioral problems. The problem with these drugs is that their efficacy is limited to certain group of patients and for a limited period.
What do we know about the statistics of Alzheimer's disease?
- More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer.
- The number of Alzheimer's cases doubles every five years after age 65 and the risk is about 50 percent after age 85. About 10 percent of all Alzheimer cases are at age around 30.
- More women than men develop Alzheimer's disease.
- Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
- Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012. It is estimated that the total cost of Alzheimer's is $604 billion worldwide.
- High glucose levels can double our lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer's.
- Stroke and Alzheimer's share many risk factors and the likelihood of dementia is doubled after a stroke.
There are uncontrollable risk factors such as genetics and aging and risk factors that we may control such as our life habits.
The known and established risk factors for Alzheimer's disease are genetics and aging; both uncontrollable. Alzheimer in our close family in most cases will increase our risk probability for Alzheimer's disease. However, even in those cases we still may not get the disease. So currently we don't have solutions, but it is assumed that adopting healthy brain life habits might delay or even prevent the appearance of Alzheimer's disease in certain cases.
What can we do to reduce the risk?
Healthy brain life habits are not only keeping fit from the neck down, but in addition to perform certain daily exercises. Recent emerging evidence suggests there are certain steps we can take to help keep our brain healthier as we age. Some of these steps might also reduce our risk of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
- Maintaining good blood flow - Physical exercise is essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain. This is critical also for the generation of new brain cells. It also can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. According to the Alzheimer's Research & Prevention Foundation, this step may reduce the risk by 50 percent.
- Low cholesterol diet - Low fat, low cholesterol diet with dark vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, may help protect brain cells. We know that high cholesterol may contribute to stroke and brain cell damage.
- Reducing stress - Social activity not only makes physical and mental activity more enjoyable, it can reduce stress levels, which helps maintain healthy connections among brain cells. Studies show that the more connected we are, the better are our memory and cognition.
- Sleeping well - Nightly sleep deprivation may slow our thinking and affecting our mood. We may be at greater risk of developing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Sleep apnea has long been recognized as a cause of decreased daytime alertness, but recent studies suggest it may also increase the risk of dementia.
- Stop smoking - Smoking will increase the risk factor and may reduce the age of Alzheimer's onset by seven years. Smoking has an extremely harmful effect on the heart, lungs and vascular system, including the blood vessels in the brain. There is a significant improvement in blood circulation when smoking habits are abandoned.
- Stop drinking alcohol - Brain changes from alcohol abuse can only be reversed in their early stages. Drinking above recommended levels of alcohol significantly increases the risk of developing dementias such as Alzheimer's, vascular and other alcohol-related dementias.
- Brain cells stimulation- "Use it or lose it" - Mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles, reading, learning and interactive computer games may create new nerve cells and at the same time strengthen brain cells and the connections between them. It is believed that mentally active brain can better cope with the disease and may enable the delay of the dementia symptoms. Moreover, people who continue learning new things are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The best way to reduce the risk is to be involved in activities requiring interaction, communication and new learning skills.
We acknowledge a strong mind-body connection. Recent studies associate spirituality with better brain health. Meditating, praying and religious practice may immunize against the damaging effects of stress. Our immune system is built to protect us from many external threats; however it fails when emotion and stress are involved.
If we permit 'bad energy' to enter our brain, we are flooded by bad emotions that can affect our physical body. This is the negative power of belief.
The link of mind-spirit and body is obvious. We should realize that the power of belief can also work against us and may be a destructive force.Therefore, we should avoid negativism and seek positivism. Above all, we have to believe in ourselves.
Willpower is one of the significant human driving forces. We know that there is a power in our will, as in the saying: 'Where there is a will, there is a way'.
This willpower helps us to overcome the many difficulties and obstacles in our life. It is one of the major components needed for success.
A healthy soul requires a healthy body, as the Latin has it: anima sanain corpore sano, and in Hebrew: "Nefesh bria beguf bari".
We know that mind and body are connected. Our health is strongly dependent on how we deal emotionally and physically with various situations and conditions. Our immune system is affected when we suffer continuous stress. General illnesses can be largely stress-related.
Stress is not always negative, however. Stress is a predictable, normal and sometimes desirable human response. Stress is activated in various circumstances, such as feelings of danger or urgency. In such cases stress protects us by alerting us to danger and keeping us focused.
When stress is continuous and unrelenting, this is the point at which it starts to be harmful. It can have a negative effect in both physical and psychological terms. There is a link between stress and life expectancy. Most researchers believe that stress is a major factor in reducing life expectancy.
The author, however, believes that a certain amount of stress in reaction to certain activities can have the opposite effect. Both ends of the spectrum, namely, no stress at all and extensive stress, are negative factors which influence our way and quality of life. Some stress in a multi-tasking environment, however, can have a positive effect on our life expectancy.
Being active in multi-disciplinary areas not only gives us positive emotions and satisfaction but could also extend our life expectancy.
This assumption is partly supported by the fact that diverse activities mean we activate different brain areas.
Research has shown that negative emotions such as anger and unhappiness have a significant impact on our nervous and immune systems and are probably the cause of certain diseases. On the other hand, positive emotions such as happiness and harmony are elements which have a positive influence on our health.
In neurobiology, the material functions of the mind could be a representation of certain mechanistic properties of the brain. The brain essentially shuts down the area which generates conscious thought during deep sleep and reactivates it on dreaming or waking.
The relationship of the brain with the mind is similar to that of computer hardware with software. This analogy of the mind as software is debated by scientists, who claim correctly that the human mind has powers beyond any artificial software.
Future proposed studies and methodologies
Accumulations of new databases (NDB) of Alzheimer patients are required. NDB should also contain genetic independent cases, above 50 years old, with their detailed history of activity or inactivity, during their last decade prior being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, a correlation imaging database using MRI/PET should be created.
We should concentrate in detecting the specific location where Alzheimer's disease may begin. This is probably a specific vulnerable area of the brain, from where the damage is spread to other areas of the brain.
We already know that Alzheimer first affects the hippocampus, which is the area where new memories are formed. We also know that the memory cells or circuit which is essential for generating and storing new memories is in the entorhinal cortex. The entorhinal cortex is an area of the brain located in the medial temporal lobe. It is functioning as a hub in a network for memory and navigation.
The entorhinal cortex is one of the first areas to be affected in Alzheimer's disease. It would be interesting to follow the assumption that people with less or no physical activities especially after the age of 50, tend statistically to be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease than those who are active physically and mentally. Accordingly, studies focusing in this area of the brain may lead to better understanding our brain system for enhancing memory.
Future gene research may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of the disease, which hopefully will lead to the appropriate preventing treatment.
A promising research area is using stem cells for treating Alzheimer. There are many ways to approach this option. Among the various possibilities we may suggest to re-grow diseased parts, to heal rather than replace neurons or to use stem cells as drug delivery agents.
Adult stem cells have a positive effect on those who already have Alzheimer's disease. In future they may even prevent the disease.
Conclusion
I believe that mentally stimulating activities in conjunction with enhancing our mind-body connections, could lead not only to improvement in our way of life, but also to significantly reduce the risk involved with Alzheimer's disease.
About the author: Dr. Giora Ram is an interdisciplinary scientist
in physics, mathematics, computer science, and medicine. He is a
graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Weizmann Institute
of Science, and the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith
London.
Dr. Giora Ram has published many scientific and philosophical articles and he is the author of six books:
In Hebrew (3): "ADHD - Children of Tomorrow", a co-production with his son about unique treatments for ADHD. "The House on the Hill", poems and love letters. "My Love, My Wife, My Divorcee", mating and dating.
In English (3): "The Hungarian Connection", an autobiographical novel and "Sex and Scientific Philosophy", scientific and philosophical insights observed, analysed and researched by the author and "Hunting for Antiques and Collectables", Adventures of an Antique Collector.
http://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Giora-Ram/e/B004FIUS0U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Giora_Ram
Dr. Giora Ram has published many scientific and philosophical articles and he is the author of six books:
In Hebrew (3): "ADHD - Children of Tomorrow", a co-production with his son about unique treatments for ADHD. "The House on the Hill", poems and love letters. "My Love, My Wife, My Divorcee", mating and dating.
In English (3): "The Hungarian Connection", an autobiographical novel and "Sex and Scientific Philosophy", scientific and philosophical insights observed, analysed and researched by the author and "Hunting for Antiques and Collectables", Adventures of an Antique Collector.
http://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Giora-Ram/e/B004FIUS0U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
10 Warning Signs to Identify the Early Onset of Alzheimer's
1. Memory Loss: The most common sign of Alzheimer's is memory
loss. The patient forgets the information s/he recently learned. The
patient may forget important dates and events and may ask for the same
information again and again. The person may be increasingly dependent on
memory devices to remember daily tasks like post-it-notes or to-do
lists.
2. Challenges in Following Simple Plans or Solving Problems: Some people may forget simple recipes that they have made for years or may find it difficult to keep track of their monthly bills. To complete a simple task, they may need much more time than they used to take earlier.
3. Difficulty in Completing Daily Tasks: Some people find it difficult to drive along a familiar route. They may forget how to get home or how to get to the grocery store.
The person with Alzheimer's may be overwhelmed with managing the monthly budget at home or forgetting to switch off the lights when they go out of their home. In addition to driving, one of the major dangers for Alzheimer's patients is forgetting to turn the oven or burner off. Another concern is forgetting to take medications.
4. Confusion with Time or Place: People with Alzheimer's may find it difficult to understand where they are or how they got there. They may also forget dates and seasons of the year.
5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images: Some people may have problems reading, determining color or judging distance. Thus they find it difficult to drive.
6. Problems in Speaking or Writing: Some people may develop problems in speaking or writing. They may have problems with their vocabulary or they may struggle to complete a conversation, suddenly stopping in middle of the conversation and may not have any idea how to continue.
7. Misplacing Commonly Used Items: People with Alzheimer's may often put their commonly used items at an unusual place and forgetting where they kept it. They might even accuse other family members, friends or helpers of stealing items.
8. Poor Judgement: Some people may have problems with their judgement. For example, they may hand over a lot of cash to fraudsters, including home health care agency workers that may be caring for them. They may not be keeping themselves as clean as they used to or they may be failing in keeping themselves groomed. Keeping up hygiene may be a major issue and not easily addressed or changed.
9. Withdrawal Symptoms: A person with Alzheimer's may withdraw themselves from their usual social activities, work or hobbies. Some people may have problems in completing a favorite hobby or keeping track of the favorite team they used to be enthusiastic about.
10. Changes in Personality and Mood: The personality and mood of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become cantankerous, suspicious, anxious, fearful or depressed. The person with Alzheimer's may be easily upset if they feel they are out of their comfort zone at home or at work.
If you see one or more of the above signs in someone you know, it could be early signs of Alzheimer's. You should consult your doctor to seek help.
The purpose for this article is to help you identify the early warning signs of Alzheimer's that your loved one may be experiencing. I hope you have found these tips helpful. For more info and helpful tips, please visit http://www.TheFriendsAgency.com.
2. Challenges in Following Simple Plans or Solving Problems: Some people may forget simple recipes that they have made for years or may find it difficult to keep track of their monthly bills. To complete a simple task, they may need much more time than they used to take earlier.
3. Difficulty in Completing Daily Tasks: Some people find it difficult to drive along a familiar route. They may forget how to get home or how to get to the grocery store.
The person with Alzheimer's may be overwhelmed with managing the monthly budget at home or forgetting to switch off the lights when they go out of their home. In addition to driving, one of the major dangers for Alzheimer's patients is forgetting to turn the oven or burner off. Another concern is forgetting to take medications.
4. Confusion with Time or Place: People with Alzheimer's may find it difficult to understand where they are or how they got there. They may also forget dates and seasons of the year.
5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images: Some people may have problems reading, determining color or judging distance. Thus they find it difficult to drive.
6. Problems in Speaking or Writing: Some people may develop problems in speaking or writing. They may have problems with their vocabulary or they may struggle to complete a conversation, suddenly stopping in middle of the conversation and may not have any idea how to continue.
7. Misplacing Commonly Used Items: People with Alzheimer's may often put their commonly used items at an unusual place and forgetting where they kept it. They might even accuse other family members, friends or helpers of stealing items.
8. Poor Judgement: Some people may have problems with their judgement. For example, they may hand over a lot of cash to fraudsters, including home health care agency workers that may be caring for them. They may not be keeping themselves as clean as they used to or they may be failing in keeping themselves groomed. Keeping up hygiene may be a major issue and not easily addressed or changed.
9. Withdrawal Symptoms: A person with Alzheimer's may withdraw themselves from their usual social activities, work or hobbies. Some people may have problems in completing a favorite hobby or keeping track of the favorite team they used to be enthusiastic about.
10. Changes in Personality and Mood: The personality and mood of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become cantankerous, suspicious, anxious, fearful or depressed. The person with Alzheimer's may be easily upset if they feel they are out of their comfort zone at home or at work.
If you see one or more of the above signs in someone you know, it could be early signs of Alzheimer's. You should consult your doctor to seek help.
The purpose for this article is to help you identify the early warning signs of Alzheimer's that your loved one may be experiencing. I hope you have found these tips helpful. For more info and helpful tips, please visit http://www.TheFriendsAgency.com.
Some of our services include providing transportation, meal
preparation, errands for or with the client, helping with bathing,
dressing and other essential needs. We also pay as much attention to the
emotional needs and mental stimulation of our clients as to the
physical needs.
The Friends Agency's desire is to keep someone living independent and stimulated in their home as long as they choose to be there. We also desire to supplement the primary caregiver to relieve them of some of their time and responsibility.
The main difference between The Friends Agency philosophy and other home health care agencies is that we are not just elder sitters or nurses assistants-we truly become Friends with our clients.
The Friends Agency companions are also available to travel with those who are able and desirous.
To find more helpful info on Alzheimer's and Elderly Care in general, please visit TheFriendsAgency.com
Candy Eagle, M.A., the Director and Owner of The Friends Agency, has a background and experience in mental health counseling. The Friends Agency has served the greater St. Louis area for over 33 years. Our goal has been to address seniors' mental and emotional needs, not just physical, with loving and compassionate companionship.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Candy_Eagle
The Friends Agency's desire is to keep someone living independent and stimulated in their home as long as they choose to be there. We also desire to supplement the primary caregiver to relieve them of some of their time and responsibility.
The main difference between The Friends Agency philosophy and other home health care agencies is that we are not just elder sitters or nurses assistants-we truly become Friends with our clients.
The Friends Agency companions are also available to travel with those who are able and desirous.
To find more helpful info on Alzheimer's and Elderly Care in general, please visit TheFriendsAgency.com
Candy Eagle, M.A., the Director and Owner of The Friends Agency, has a background and experience in mental health counseling. The Friends Agency has served the greater St. Louis area for over 33 years. Our goal has been to address seniors' mental and emotional needs, not just physical, with loving and compassionate companionship.
5 Key Secrets to Become a Life Coach
If you are someone who is full of life and someone who wishes to
extend help to other people appreciate their lives, life coaching might
just be the perfect career choice for you. As a life coach, you will
offer your clients with in-depth knowledge, assistance, and motivation
so they'll be able to reach their full potentials.
Here's how you can become a life coach:
1. Specialize. The first thing that you need to do is to decide on which area of life coaching would you like to focus on. You may want to coach about relationships, time management, financial matters, career counseling, or finding happiness. Pick the arena that perfectly matches your skills, knowledge, and passion.
2. Take advantage of coach training programs. There are so many life coaches today but not all of them are very effective on what they do. If you want to increase your chances of succeeding in this field, I recommend that you get started on the right foot by taking advantage of relevant coach training programs.
These programs can prepare you for this endeavor. You'll learn those much-needed skills, you'll be able to obtain relevant resources, and you'll acquire confidence.
3. Learn from the experts. If possible, work together with renowned life coaches. Solicit for tips and advice that can help you succeed in this field.
Most of these people are running websites or maintaining a blog. Make sure that you pay them a visit to get fresh information that might bring huge difference to your coaching career.
4. Get certified. Depending on the things that you would like to coach about, you might need to get certified before you can practice. You will need to learn specific skills, you might need to increase your knowledge on certain areas, and you might need to have first-hand experience before you will be allowed to coach other people.
5. Sell yourself. Once you were able to finish your coach training programs and after you get certified, it's high time that you offer your life coaching services to your potential clients to start earning money. Right now, there is no better medium in getting the word out than using the internet. You can use several internet marketing tools that will allow you to connect with your prospects without necessarily burning your pockets.
You can use forum posting, blogging, article marketing, video marketing, ezine publishing, and email marketing. These are some of the best information based marketing tools that will allow you to showcase your specialized knowledge so you can easily earn the trust of your prospects.
Here's how you can become a life coach:
1. Specialize. The first thing that you need to do is to decide on which area of life coaching would you like to focus on. You may want to coach about relationships, time management, financial matters, career counseling, or finding happiness. Pick the arena that perfectly matches your skills, knowledge, and passion.
2. Take advantage of coach training programs. There are so many life coaches today but not all of them are very effective on what they do. If you want to increase your chances of succeeding in this field, I recommend that you get started on the right foot by taking advantage of relevant coach training programs.
These programs can prepare you for this endeavor. You'll learn those much-needed skills, you'll be able to obtain relevant resources, and you'll acquire confidence.
3. Learn from the experts. If possible, work together with renowned life coaches. Solicit for tips and advice that can help you succeed in this field.
Most of these people are running websites or maintaining a blog. Make sure that you pay them a visit to get fresh information that might bring huge difference to your coaching career.
4. Get certified. Depending on the things that you would like to coach about, you might need to get certified before you can practice. You will need to learn specific skills, you might need to increase your knowledge on certain areas, and you might need to have first-hand experience before you will be allowed to coach other people.
5. Sell yourself. Once you were able to finish your coach training programs and after you get certified, it's high time that you offer your life coaching services to your potential clients to start earning money. Right now, there is no better medium in getting the word out than using the internet. You can use several internet marketing tools that will allow you to connect with your prospects without necessarily burning your pockets.
You can use forum posting, blogging, article marketing, video marketing, ezine publishing, and email marketing. These are some of the best information based marketing tools that will allow you to showcase your specialized knowledge so you can easily earn the trust of your prospects.
By the way, do you want to add a coaching program to your business? If so, download my brand new free training here: coaching program training
Sean Mize is the author of Anyone Can Coach, the definitive guide to starting your own coaching program fast.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize
Sean Mize is the author of Anyone Can Coach, the definitive guide to starting your own coaching program fast.
3 Ways a Life Coach Can Help You Turn Your Life Around
So you want to turn your life around, but time is soaring by and
you're not soaring anywhere. This exact scenario is what leads most
people to life coaching.
There is a wealth of information available in self-help books and videos, on personal development blogs and web sites; as well as, through friends and associates. However, moving from "learning it" to "living it" is easier said that done.
When it comes to actually making the shift that's necessary to turn your life around, many people feel stuck. It's as if all the knowledge that's been absorbed just can't push past some invisible mass of resistance that's blocking the way forward.
Some people struggle their way through the arduous, time-consuming task of moving through this block and making big changes alone; while many others simply give up and accept defeat. Still, there are others who seek out a life coach as a way to get the maximum benefit in a much more reasonable time-and with their sanity still in-check.
If you're wondering what makes life coaching worthwhile, these 3 techniques that life coaches use to help you turn your life around will serve as a mini-preview of this amazing profession.
3 Ways a Life Coach Can Help You Turn Your Life Around
1) Asking the right questions.
Unlike therapists, consultants and mentors; life coaches do not specialize in giving you answers on how to fix your life. Instead, they help you change your life by asking powerful questions that open your eyes to the blind spots in your life.
You may be thinking, "I'm already self-aware. I don't have any blind spots. " Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Everyone has blind spots. Without them, you'd find yourself moving forward on every single dream that you've ever had. Nothing would stand in your way, life would be one phenomenal story after another, happiness would never elude you and you wouldn't be reading this article.
The blind spots uncovered through a coach's powerful questioning techniques may include information you've managed to hide from yourself, lies that you don't realize you're telling yourself, fears that keep you in your comfort zone and beliefs that make your life less manageable.
These questions, which don't have easy answers, will help you to tap into new truths that unveil what's been holding you back. The best part about this is the impact of what comes up. Because the answers come from within you (the client) rather than being given to you by the coach, are more likely to resonate with you in a way that feels both natural and transforming.
2) Challenging your assumptions.
Everyone sees the world according to their own unique map of it, but most people assume that this map is THE reality. For every person, there is something that feels absolutely true despite the fact that it's an assumption.
A life coach will listen attentively to you in order to find out what unhelpful assumptions you're holding as your reality. She or he will challenge these assumptions, opening the door for you to release those that are keeping you from moving in the direction of your dreams.
3) Values Based Goals
People who consider hiring a life coach generally have goals in place that they have been thinking about or working toward. But life coaching isn't just about working your butt off to achieve a goal.
It is about setting goals that align with your personal values and life purpose.
A good life coach knows that working against your value system, or working on goals that you only think you're doing for the right reasons, is often grueling and disappointing. As a part of the life coaching process you can expect to discover your personal values, set values-based goals, and celebrate successes on accomplishments that are in alignment with your Inner Self.
As you can see, a life coach can help you to close the gap between knowing how to change your life and actually making it happen. If you really want a way to turn your life around, this may be the answer you've been waiting for.
There is a wealth of information available in self-help books and videos, on personal development blogs and web sites; as well as, through friends and associates. However, moving from "learning it" to "living it" is easier said that done.
When it comes to actually making the shift that's necessary to turn your life around, many people feel stuck. It's as if all the knowledge that's been absorbed just can't push past some invisible mass of resistance that's blocking the way forward.
Some people struggle their way through the arduous, time-consuming task of moving through this block and making big changes alone; while many others simply give up and accept defeat. Still, there are others who seek out a life coach as a way to get the maximum benefit in a much more reasonable time-and with their sanity still in-check.
If you're wondering what makes life coaching worthwhile, these 3 techniques that life coaches use to help you turn your life around will serve as a mini-preview of this amazing profession.
3 Ways a Life Coach Can Help You Turn Your Life Around
1) Asking the right questions.
Unlike therapists, consultants and mentors; life coaches do not specialize in giving you answers on how to fix your life. Instead, they help you change your life by asking powerful questions that open your eyes to the blind spots in your life.
You may be thinking, "I'm already self-aware. I don't have any blind spots. " Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Everyone has blind spots. Without them, you'd find yourself moving forward on every single dream that you've ever had. Nothing would stand in your way, life would be one phenomenal story after another, happiness would never elude you and you wouldn't be reading this article.
The blind spots uncovered through a coach's powerful questioning techniques may include information you've managed to hide from yourself, lies that you don't realize you're telling yourself, fears that keep you in your comfort zone and beliefs that make your life less manageable.
These questions, which don't have easy answers, will help you to tap into new truths that unveil what's been holding you back. The best part about this is the impact of what comes up. Because the answers come from within you (the client) rather than being given to you by the coach, are more likely to resonate with you in a way that feels both natural and transforming.
2) Challenging your assumptions.
Everyone sees the world according to their own unique map of it, but most people assume that this map is THE reality. For every person, there is something that feels absolutely true despite the fact that it's an assumption.
A life coach will listen attentively to you in order to find out what unhelpful assumptions you're holding as your reality. She or he will challenge these assumptions, opening the door for you to release those that are keeping you from moving in the direction of your dreams.
3) Values Based Goals
People who consider hiring a life coach generally have goals in place that they have been thinking about or working toward. But life coaching isn't just about working your butt off to achieve a goal.
It is about setting goals that align with your personal values and life purpose.
A good life coach knows that working against your value system, or working on goals that you only think you're doing for the right reasons, is often grueling and disappointing. As a part of the life coaching process you can expect to discover your personal values, set values-based goals, and celebrate successes on accomplishments that are in alignment with your Inner Self.
As you can see, a life coach can help you to close the gap between knowing how to change your life and actually making it happen. If you really want a way to turn your life around, this may be the answer you've been waiting for.
Nea Joy Justice is a Transformational Life Coach and Personal
Development blogger whose life's work is to help you discover your
purpose, achieve your dreams, shift your reality and radiate pure joy.
Hire Nea as a coach at www.youturnlifecoaching.net, follow her on Twitter (@NeaLOA) or visit her blog at self-improvement-saga.com.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nea_Joy
How to Find a Life Coach
These days finding LOTS of Life Coaches is pretty easy. A simple
Google search will yield About 109,000,000 results in (0.25 seconds).
That is quite the testament to the fact that Life Coaching is one of the fastest growing segments of the personal development revolution. More and more business leaders, professional athletes, actors and other high achievers are reaping the benefits of retaining a Personal Development or "Life Coach".
But coaching isn't just for the 'elite'. Housewives, students, empty-nesters, small business owners and everyone in between are working with coaches!
Having said that, finding YOUR Life Coach, one that fits your specific needs and with whom you feel rapport is a great part of the process! This article was written to help you on your way.
Once upon a time, I too was seeking a coach. I didn't know anything about the profession or how to find one.
I can tell you that now, after working with many coaches and becoming one myself, there are some questions I might have answered in the beginning that would have helped my search.
1. What kind of Coach do I want to work with? Or what do I want to work on or change in my life?
As the profession has been growing, there are now tons of different types of coaches. They fall into two categories: General Life Coaches and Coaches with a very specific niche. Niche coaches often look to the successes they have had in their own lives, coupling that with coaching skills and then choose a niche in that area.
A Sales Coach for example most likely has a strong track record in successful sales. A Relationship Coach will most likely have a good record with communication and personal relationships. A Life Purpose Coach also will have walked their talk and will have identified and be living their Life Purpose. As Coaches, being authentic to who we truly are... is our sweet-spot.
So, understanding what kind of assistance you are seeking is a good place to start. If you don't know where to begin or if you would like coaching in many areas of your life, consider a general Life Coach first.
Also, some coaches offer structured programs or sessions for specific results. For example, each session may have a particular topic and by the end of the program, you will have learned, conquered or created a particular outcome, such as weight loss (I recommend Jen Barley, The Kickstart Coach), acquiring of a new job, creating a life strategy plan, or achieving emotional healing (I recommend Emily Eldredge's Drawing Out Process), etc.
Other coaches are more Client focused and less targeted, so each session will be centered around whatever is coming up for the client at the time.
If you're open to phone coaching, the entire country is your playground. There are many "find a coach sites" and sometimes it is hard to know where to start.
If you feel comfortable, ask your friends and family if any of them have worked with a coach. Next, I suggest using the ICF (International Coach Federation) Coach Referral Service. This is how I found my first two coaches. They have a detailed search system that allows you to write a bit about what you're seeking.
The request goes out to coaches who have identified themselves as a particular type of coach and then they can respond back to you and begin a dialogue. You put in a request and you will receive multiple responses. Another great search tool is the IPEC Coaches site.
I am partial to IPEC as it is the Coaching school I attended. The IPEC coaching model is one of the best out there! It's foundation is based on the 7 levels of Energy and helps people and organizations raise their awareness, energy and personal power through perception shifts.
If working with someone face to face feels better to you, do your search locally. If your city has Yelp listings, this is a good resource as local citizens review local services. You can also just Google the combination of your city, state and the type of coach you're looking for. For example: "Life Coach", New York, NY".
2. What is my budget for coaching?
Coaching packages can run anywhere from $200-$2000, depending. Some coaches have sliding scales and some do not. Most require a client commit to a monthly package, yet some do not. In the coaching world, we highly recommend packages which create structure, accountability and stability for the coaching relationship. Most coaches allow for clients to purchase a month at a time.
3. What kind of person do I want to work with?
Almost every coach I've known offers a free consult or introduction call. This is your opportunity to interview your perspective coach and see, listen and feel whether it's a good fit for YOU. At the same time, the coach you are interviewing is also interviewing you because it is always in everyone's best interest for the fit/match to be mutual. Listen to your heart and gut. A clue into the coaching world: Coaches come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, personalities, backgrounds, genders, religions, etc. These aspects may be important to you, they may not. As for coaching styles of which there are many, you'll find coaches who are intuitive, practical, straight-forward, by-the-book, linear, spiritual etc. As in the general population, coaches come in all forms. Some will be like working with a friend and others like working with a sports coach - no nonsense. Understanding what type of style you'll respond to is good to know. Some people prefer a gentle style and others respond to a harder style. It's up to you... to choose which works best for you.
4. How often would I like to work with my coach?
This answer will be based on your schedule, budget and just how quickly you'd like to move things ahead in your life. If you're working with a business coach for example, you may want to meet often to really light that fire. If you're working on shifting/releasing some stubborn behaviors or limiting beliefs, you may want to space your sessions out a bit in order to focus on homework assignments and adjusting to new paradigms you set for yourself. Many coaching relationships range from 3-6 months but some clients work with their coach for years. It's all up to the client's wishes.
Life Coaching changed my life... so much so... I decided to become one! How will it change yours?
Shine your light,
Hope Tackaberry, Life Coach and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner
That is quite the testament to the fact that Life Coaching is one of the fastest growing segments of the personal development revolution. More and more business leaders, professional athletes, actors and other high achievers are reaping the benefits of retaining a Personal Development or "Life Coach".
But coaching isn't just for the 'elite'. Housewives, students, empty-nesters, small business owners and everyone in between are working with coaches!
Having said that, finding YOUR Life Coach, one that fits your specific needs and with whom you feel rapport is a great part of the process! This article was written to help you on your way.
Once upon a time, I too was seeking a coach. I didn't know anything about the profession or how to find one.
I can tell you that now, after working with many coaches and becoming one myself, there are some questions I might have answered in the beginning that would have helped my search.
1. What kind of Coach do I want to work with? Or what do I want to work on or change in my life?
As the profession has been growing, there are now tons of different types of coaches. They fall into two categories: General Life Coaches and Coaches with a very specific niche. Niche coaches often look to the successes they have had in their own lives, coupling that with coaching skills and then choose a niche in that area.
A Sales Coach for example most likely has a strong track record in successful sales. A Relationship Coach will most likely have a good record with communication and personal relationships. A Life Purpose Coach also will have walked their talk and will have identified and be living their Life Purpose. As Coaches, being authentic to who we truly are... is our sweet-spot.
So, understanding what kind of assistance you are seeking is a good place to start. If you don't know where to begin or if you would like coaching in many areas of your life, consider a general Life Coach first.
Also, some coaches offer structured programs or sessions for specific results. For example, each session may have a particular topic and by the end of the program, you will have learned, conquered or created a particular outcome, such as weight loss (I recommend Jen Barley, The Kickstart Coach), acquiring of a new job, creating a life strategy plan, or achieving emotional healing (I recommend Emily Eldredge's Drawing Out Process), etc.
Other coaches are more Client focused and less targeted, so each session will be centered around whatever is coming up for the client at the time.
If you're open to phone coaching, the entire country is your playground. There are many "find a coach sites" and sometimes it is hard to know where to start.
If you feel comfortable, ask your friends and family if any of them have worked with a coach. Next, I suggest using the ICF (International Coach Federation) Coach Referral Service. This is how I found my first two coaches. They have a detailed search system that allows you to write a bit about what you're seeking.
The request goes out to coaches who have identified themselves as a particular type of coach and then they can respond back to you and begin a dialogue. You put in a request and you will receive multiple responses. Another great search tool is the IPEC Coaches site.
I am partial to IPEC as it is the Coaching school I attended. The IPEC coaching model is one of the best out there! It's foundation is based on the 7 levels of Energy and helps people and organizations raise their awareness, energy and personal power through perception shifts.
If working with someone face to face feels better to you, do your search locally. If your city has Yelp listings, this is a good resource as local citizens review local services. You can also just Google the combination of your city, state and the type of coach you're looking for. For example: "Life Coach", New York, NY".
2. What is my budget for coaching?
Coaching packages can run anywhere from $200-$2000, depending. Some coaches have sliding scales and some do not. Most require a client commit to a monthly package, yet some do not. In the coaching world, we highly recommend packages which create structure, accountability and stability for the coaching relationship. Most coaches allow for clients to purchase a month at a time.
3. What kind of person do I want to work with?
Almost every coach I've known offers a free consult or introduction call. This is your opportunity to interview your perspective coach and see, listen and feel whether it's a good fit for YOU. At the same time, the coach you are interviewing is also interviewing you because it is always in everyone's best interest for the fit/match to be mutual. Listen to your heart and gut. A clue into the coaching world: Coaches come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, personalities, backgrounds, genders, religions, etc. These aspects may be important to you, they may not. As for coaching styles of which there are many, you'll find coaches who are intuitive, practical, straight-forward, by-the-book, linear, spiritual etc. As in the general population, coaches come in all forms. Some will be like working with a friend and others like working with a sports coach - no nonsense. Understanding what type of style you'll respond to is good to know. Some people prefer a gentle style and others respond to a harder style. It's up to you... to choose which works best for you.
4. How often would I like to work with my coach?
This answer will be based on your schedule, budget and just how quickly you'd like to move things ahead in your life. If you're working with a business coach for example, you may want to meet often to really light that fire. If you're working on shifting/releasing some stubborn behaviors or limiting beliefs, you may want to space your sessions out a bit in order to focus on homework assignments and adjusting to new paradigms you set for yourself. Many coaching relationships range from 3-6 months but some clients work with their coach for years. It's all up to the client's wishes.
Life Coaching changed my life... so much so... I decided to become one! How will it change yours?
Shine your light,
Hope Tackaberry, Life Coach and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner
Hope Tackaberry is a Life and Leadership Coach residing in
Austin, TX. She assists clients in getting their lives on track, break
through blocks, raising their consciousness and creating the life of
their dreams.
Contact her today to GET ON TRACK, your track!
hopetackaberry@gmail.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hope_Tackaberry
Contact her today to GET ON TRACK, your track!
hopetackaberry@gmail.com
Marketing For Life Coaches - Key Tips For Success
Life coaching has surged in popularity over the past few years,
as more people are seeing the value in hiring a coach to help them stay
more balanced, find more purpose, and take their lives to a higher level
of success. Many people pursue a career in life coaching because they
are eager to engage in a livelihood that feels meaningful and
fulfilling, one that is making a positive contribution to the world.
As a life coach, there is certainly an enormous opportunity to have the best of both worlds- rewarding work and financial prosperity. The truth of the matter, however, is that the vast majority of life coaches struggle to build a successful business. Most of the time, this is not because their coaching skills are deficient- it is almost entirely due to the fact that their marketing and entrepreneurial skills are deficient.
Most life coaches are solo entrepreneurs, which means they are 100% responsible for the amount of money they make. If you want to take on as many clients as you can handle and earn a great living, I encourage you to invest in your marketing education. In particular, life coaches have an amazing opportunity to attract clients from the internet since they are not bound to a geographic location (most life coaches can do coaching over the phone).
Here is a basic blueprint of the steps I recommend you take to market your life coaching business:
1. Invest in a highly professional, fully functional website or blog ~ My recommendation is that you use a WordPress blog as your main platform for educating and attracting new clients. Blogging is a very powerful way to connect with an enormous audience of people who are eager to partake in what you have to offer.
WordPress blogs have so many advantages over static HTML websites, especially for coaches. The first advantage is that your blog gives you the ability to interact with your audience in a way that you just can't on regular websites. People can comment on your blog and you can start some buzz just from having interesting conversations.
Secondly, your blog will integrate very well with social media sites like Twitter and Facebook (more on this in a bit). Third, you get 100% control over the content of your blog. This means that you can update your information anytime without having to use a web designer. The last main benefit of a WordPress blog is that it is largely considered more search-engine friendly than a regular website. This means that there is a much greater chance of getting your blog ranked high in Google and Yahoo than there is a static website.
I recommend blogging if you feel that you can commit to writing at least 1 blog post per week of 4-600 words. That is the minimal contribution you will need to make to maintain good rankings for your blog.
2. Learn how to use social media ~ The market for life coaches in really limitless on websites like Twitter and Facebook. You can use Twitter for pretty much endless lead generation. I recommend that you learn how to use Twellow and Tweetdeck. Twellow is great for finding a target market to follow on Twitter and Tweetdeck will keep your Twitter marketing organized and efficient.
I also recommend that you use a Bubble Tweet which is a short video you use to introduce yourself to new followers. If you are not following me on Twitter, you can do so here -> Follow Kevin on Twitter When you follow me, you'll get a bubble tweet from me and an automatic message pointing you to my Facebook Fan page. This is an excellent way to get your Twitter followers over to Facebook, which is where you can start developing some deeper relationships with leads and prospects.
I think of Twitter as a better resource for mass lead generation, whereas Facebook is more effective more building relationships. Your goal on these sites is to get people on the phone or on Skype for free consults.
If you master the Twitter/Facebook marketing system I have been using, you will find that you can easily talk with 5-10 people on the phone every day about your business and how you can help them. It is phenomenal! If you'd like me to teach my social media marketing strategy, I recommend that you sign up for a business breakthrough session where I can personally help you tap into an unlimited audience using Twitter and Facebook.
3. Do offline marketing as well ~ Now, I am not nearly as excited about offline marketing for life coaches because the ocean of prospects is so vast on the internet that you should not really have to do much offline. Plus, a lot of internet marketing is automated which means that your personal time/energy investment is much less than it is in typical networking environments.
With that said, if you are serious about building your business quickly, you should look into joining a referral group for at least a few months. I also recommend that you join the local Chamber of Commerce and attend all of their networking events. Be sure to give a lot of talks in your area as well.
This is just a taste of how you can market your life coaching business. It is obviously a big subject, but I hope this gives you a sense that you absolutely can succeed and enjoy a wonderful career IF you learn how to market effectively.
As a life coach, there is certainly an enormous opportunity to have the best of both worlds- rewarding work and financial prosperity. The truth of the matter, however, is that the vast majority of life coaches struggle to build a successful business. Most of the time, this is not because their coaching skills are deficient- it is almost entirely due to the fact that their marketing and entrepreneurial skills are deficient.
Most life coaches are solo entrepreneurs, which means they are 100% responsible for the amount of money they make. If you want to take on as many clients as you can handle and earn a great living, I encourage you to invest in your marketing education. In particular, life coaches have an amazing opportunity to attract clients from the internet since they are not bound to a geographic location (most life coaches can do coaching over the phone).
Here is a basic blueprint of the steps I recommend you take to market your life coaching business:
1. Invest in a highly professional, fully functional website or blog ~ My recommendation is that you use a WordPress blog as your main platform for educating and attracting new clients. Blogging is a very powerful way to connect with an enormous audience of people who are eager to partake in what you have to offer.
WordPress blogs have so many advantages over static HTML websites, especially for coaches. The first advantage is that your blog gives you the ability to interact with your audience in a way that you just can't on regular websites. People can comment on your blog and you can start some buzz just from having interesting conversations.
Secondly, your blog will integrate very well with social media sites like Twitter and Facebook (more on this in a bit). Third, you get 100% control over the content of your blog. This means that you can update your information anytime without having to use a web designer. The last main benefit of a WordPress blog is that it is largely considered more search-engine friendly than a regular website. This means that there is a much greater chance of getting your blog ranked high in Google and Yahoo than there is a static website.
I recommend blogging if you feel that you can commit to writing at least 1 blog post per week of 4-600 words. That is the minimal contribution you will need to make to maintain good rankings for your blog.
2. Learn how to use social media ~ The market for life coaches in really limitless on websites like Twitter and Facebook. You can use Twitter for pretty much endless lead generation. I recommend that you learn how to use Twellow and Tweetdeck. Twellow is great for finding a target market to follow on Twitter and Tweetdeck will keep your Twitter marketing organized and efficient.
I also recommend that you use a Bubble Tweet which is a short video you use to introduce yourself to new followers. If you are not following me on Twitter, you can do so here -> Follow Kevin on Twitter When you follow me, you'll get a bubble tweet from me and an automatic message pointing you to my Facebook Fan page. This is an excellent way to get your Twitter followers over to Facebook, which is where you can start developing some deeper relationships with leads and prospects.
I think of Twitter as a better resource for mass lead generation, whereas Facebook is more effective more building relationships. Your goal on these sites is to get people on the phone or on Skype for free consults.
If you master the Twitter/Facebook marketing system I have been using, you will find that you can easily talk with 5-10 people on the phone every day about your business and how you can help them. It is phenomenal! If you'd like me to teach my social media marketing strategy, I recommend that you sign up for a business breakthrough session where I can personally help you tap into an unlimited audience using Twitter and Facebook.
3. Do offline marketing as well ~ Now, I am not nearly as excited about offline marketing for life coaches because the ocean of prospects is so vast on the internet that you should not really have to do much offline. Plus, a lot of internet marketing is automated which means that your personal time/energy investment is much less than it is in typical networking environments.
With that said, if you are serious about building your business quickly, you should look into joining a referral group for at least a few months. I also recommend that you join the local Chamber of Commerce and attend all of their networking events. Be sure to give a lot of talks in your area as well.
This is just a taste of how you can market your life coaching business. It is obviously a big subject, but I hope this gives you a sense that you absolutely can succeed and enjoy a wonderful career IF you learn how to market effectively.
Marketing for life coaches
is the foundation of success. Follow this link to my blog for more free
marketing tips. You can also check out my membership program that will
give you tons of affordable life coach marketing tips. Kevin Doherty is a business coach for holistic practitioners and coaches around the world.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Doherty
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