I lost one of my best friends this week. She died in a car wreck. My friend Errin was a young woman with lots of goals many unrealized. Some of these goals we had in common i.e. to have retreats for people that were health focused and fun was one of them. I have had competing thoughts since I heard the news of her death; one she did not realize her full potential and the other she realized her full potential up to this point in her life. The later idea is winning out because Errin was a lifeaholic. Errin lived every moment of her life with passion and purpose. I am not sure we can ask for more than that. I am not saying she did not have more lessons to learn we all do until the day we die. I am saying that she continued to learn, grow and take risks until the moment she was gone. We may have lost an intelligent, compassionate, passionate, and beautiful person but we can learn from Errin to not miss out on a moment of our lives. She made many mistakes I know because we talked about them and she always learned from her mistakes and challenged her self to keep going, to improve.

At her funeral service it was more than evident that Errin had inspired hundreds of people and through them thousands will be inspired. What a life! Her father commented that Errin had lived as much in her short life as many ninety year olds. This is a good goal for all of us. Pursue your dreams even when you don’t know what they are yet. Question, probe and challenge yourself to become better, to become more of yourself, like Errin did. When you know what you want in life don’t stop, never stop until you have achieved your goal. There will be obstacles, road blocks and people blocks (i.e. your self). Get out of your own way, feel the fear and do it anyway.

Greta Jaeger is doing a seminar with Dr. Michael Duckett if you want more information about the Mental Codes Seminar please call (404) 259-1335. Tickets are selling fast so call now (404) 259-1335.

Please send any questions to:
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
Please put in the subject line “Question for Coach Greta” or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, LPC, PLC
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YouCanHaveItAll.WordPress.com

I know that is a bold statement and well it is true that I can’t say my blog will create happiness because it doesn’t and it won’t. So why make the statement you may ask, because I was inspired to. I was writing an entry about the importance of visualizing for creating what you want in life and it hit me. My whole journey in life so far has been about how to be happy. I know if you continue to work at your own personal growth you will learn how to be happy daily. You can not stop and never give up and you will learn what you need to know. This blog will teach you at least some of the techniques you need to overcome your blocks and confusion. My own personal growth continues to this day and will continue until I die.
Here is a little bit on how I came to my passion to help, I was a unhappy child and teenager. I had nothing to complain about, I was a top athlete in my home town, I made decent grades, and even if my parents did not get along I knew I was loved. You see I had it easy, I was unhappy because of how I looked at life and the decisions I made and where they took me. My journey to happiness started at the end of my college career. I won’t go into details here maybe in a later blog. Just know this I was tired of feeling miserable inside and I did not like myself very much. After college I had many different jobs and I had a lot to learn. I eventually went back to school to become a therapist during this time I learned many of the techniques that I now use daily. I still look for anything that will speed up the change process in fact recently I began working with Dr. Michael Duckett and we will be doing a training called the Mental Codes Seminar, the Power of Change. The Mental Codes is a technique that I have now incorporated as a technique to help me accelerate the change process and it has been working wonderfully.
The reason this blog can help you have a healthy life is because I will remind you again and again don’t give up, practice, and keep trying new techniques and skills until you find what works for you. I will feature mainly the techniques that work for me or my clients so experiment and go beyond reading this blog to find solutions. Personal growth is a must for a successful life and happy life. Let me repeat this PERSONAL GROWTH IS A MUST FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE AND HAPPY LIFE. However you define success whether it is to be a good; parent, spouse, business person, sister, brother, it all comes down to you how you act, think and love.
To be the best you, you must work hard on yourself. I am not saying be hard on your self, this is self defeating and actually deters personal growth. Working hard means continue to find those areas you want to work on and then improve them. Notice I did not say try to improve them, the way to approach changing anything is to actually do it. Put together a plan of action with simple steps and then follow them. Remember that successful people are courageous they tackle the situations and problems that scare them. With in all of us is a courageous person, wanting to get out. Don’t wait for tragedy or life to force you to be courageous, challenge your self step out of your box do the thing you are most afraid to do. I promise it is freeing to finally take on your fears.

Make a deal with yourself today to be courageous everyday, challenge your self to change and become the person you have always wanted to be. Happiness is well within reach don’t wait grab for it now.

Now if you are anything like me you need help either figuring out what you want to work on or how to work on it. That is why I have a mentor and I would encourage anyone reading this blog entry if you don’t have a mentor or coach to find one ASAP. Having a great coach will accelerate your growth and help you achieve your dreams much faster than you can do alone.

If you want more information about the Mental Codes Seminar then please call me and I will tell you all about the training and Dr. Michael Duckett. Tickets are selling fast so call now (404) 259-1335.

Please send any questions to:
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
Please put in the subject line “Question for Coach Greta” or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, LPC, PLC
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YouCanHaveItAll.WordPress.com

I have written about this skill before in my blog and will write about it again. It is one of the most important skills we have to create a happy and mentally healthy life. One extra benefit is you can do it any time and anywhere, please not while driving.

It is starting to get cold here in Georgia and still almost every evening starting around 6:00pm M-Th dozens of kids and coaches show up to practice soccer across the street at the park. This evening I remember that soccer was my first introduction to the benefits of visualizing. I did not become motivated to use it daily until much later in life but at the time I used it to improve my scoring abilities. I was playing for the Northern California State Women’s Soccer team at the time. The glory days of soccer for me. Our coach instructed us on how to visualize and encouraged us to do this daily to improve our abilities. Now I won’t tell you I managed to do it daily. I will tell you that when I did it consistently I played better. At the time I did not know that he was teaching me one of the most powerful tools you can use to achieve your dreams.

Did you know that the brain does not know the difference between visualization and experiencing an actual event; crazy I know, but true. As an example take three groups and have each player in the three groups all do the same tests i.e. take ten shots on goal. After you gather the data on each player and group shots made and missed then you give each group a different task. Group one does nothing for two weeks, group two practice taking shots on the goal for two weeks and group three visualizes taking shots on goal. The outcome will amaze you group one will not change at all, group two will improve the most and group three will improve only slightly less than group two. Your brain really did practice the shots. Now please understand for visualizing to work you have to put your all into it. You must really visualize the event and how you want it to work out and I mean down to the smell and feel of the event not just what it will look like. Learning this skill will help you accomplish any goal you set faster and smoother. You are creating new nuero pathways and the more you practice the stronger the pathway.

If you are interested in learning more techniques for improving your life and achieving your dreams attend the Mental Codes Seminar in Alpharetta GA on December 12th 10am-1pm. This technique alone will accelerate whatever goals you have for your life or business. Give me a call at (404) 259-1335. I will give you all the details. Some of you will know the main presenter Dr. Michael Duckett and that just his name will sell the venue out quickly.

Please send any questions you want answered to greta@CoachingYourDreams.com please put in the subject line Question for Coach Greta or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, LPC, PLC
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
404-259-1335

It is a beautiful inspiring day here in Tucker, GA there is a light breeze, the sun is shining and the temperature is around 70 degrees. I am sitting on my recently built deck breathing and enjoying the day. My dog Lulu is sitting next to me growling at the neighbors as they work in the yard. I am three hours behind schedule. It is amazing how time goes by so quickly any woman with kids, a job or both knows. I am experimenting this month with scheduling to see if I can bend time (that is have time to do everything I want). My mentor Dr. Duckett says you must have a good schedule to bend time.

Here are the options:

1. Do the big stuff in the morning and then the little stuff in the afternoon
2. Schedule everything but no times attached
3. Schedule everything and have time frames for each event.

After picking which one you like do this:

The first Monday of the month take the whole day to work on your month’s schedule. Then every Monday after spend at least thirty minutes scheduling the week. This kind of scheduling is particularly important to entrepreneurs; it can also be helpful to mothers and anyone women employed who wants to start a business. You just spend a proportional amount of time scheduling i.e. if you only have ten hours a week to work on your business you may not take the whole day to schedule you may take two to three hours at the beginning of the month and then only fifteen minutes every week after that. No matter what you must schedule yourself otherwise you may get things done, but it will be inefficient and you will feel disorganized. As with everything I discuss it takes practice and we are not looking for perfection only permanence.

Right now option three is winning for me because I get a lot more done when I have times actually written down. I know of several people where option one works great as well. Option two seems to leave to much room for disorganization.

If you are tired of feeling disorganized and confused contact me at:

Greta Jaeger, CPLC, LPC
(404) 259-1335
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YourCanHaveItAll.wordpress.com

Finish this sentence for your self.

I have always wanted to ……. but haven’t because ………

Now look at the last part of the sentence that starts with “because” and I mean really look at it, observe it. Take several deep breaths and ask your self is this truly a good reason not to do what I want or is it just a fear? If it is a fear then it is time to tackle that fear head on There is no true way to bury a fear it will always come back and bite you in the butt later. We have to learn to let go of our fears and move forward.

You must do that thing you think you can not do – Eleanor Roosevelt

It is easy as women to think “my priority is my family” and I agree whole heartedly. Here is where I get confused exactly when did your family become minus you? Are you not a part of your own family? If your family is a priority then logically so are you. They don’t make comments like “the family is only happy if mom is happy” for no reason at all. It is true.

To be happy you must pursue your passions and dreams as well as encourage, inspire and support your family in their pursuits. To confront your fear and do what you want is as simple as moving into action. If your want to start your own business take one small step i.e. go to the library and get books on how start a business. Your want to go back to school go on line and check out some schools maybe an hour a week nothing big just small steps. I know of a woman who was so busy she could only take one class a semester. Slowly over about four years she went in to talk with her advisor and he told her she had one more class to go and she would have her masters. It may seem like a long time but she could of not gone at all and would still not have her masters. Small steps are the easiest and as long as you stay focused on our goal you will get there.

If you want more information on how to move through your fear contact me at:

Greta Jaeger, CPLC, LPC
(404) 259-1335
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YourCanHaveItAll.wordpress.com

Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. ~Thomas Dekker

I was fortunate enough to take a stress management class in my thirties. I know amazing a class on how to manage your stress; we should all get a class like this in high school. My class project was to learn how to sleep, at this point in my life I slept around 2-4 hours a night. I was in graduate school at the time and studying with limited sleep can be a challenge. I often fell asleep on my books. I could not turn my brain off at night and get a restful sleep.

Insomnia is a gross feeder. It will nourish itself on any kind of thinking, including thinking about not thinking. ~Clifton Fadiman

The ability to quite our thinking and sleep is incredibly important and helps us stay mentally healthy. I took my project seriously and put together a plan and committed to it for eight weeks. If you have sleep problems because you can not quite your thoughts this plan will help tremendously. Here it is:

1. Remember your bed is for sleeping or sex nothing else.
2. No watching T.V. in bed
3. No reading in bed
4. Avoid caffeine after 10:00am or 11:00am
5. Do some light anaerobic exercise about thirty minutes to an hour before bed i.e. sit ups, push ups or stretching
6. When you lay down to sleep take three to four slow deep breaths
7. If you don’t fall asleep within ten to fifteen minutes of laying down then get out of bed and do something relaxing ten to fifteen minutes (meditate, stretch or sit quietly) don’t read.
8. After the ten to fifteen minutes get back into bed and take three to four deep breathes.
9. If you don’t fall asleep again in ten to fifteen minutes then repeat number 6 and 7 until you do fall asleep. (most people when first learning this only have to repeat the cycle three to four times and then they fall asleep).

The point of a plan like the one above is to retrain your brain and body to think of the bed as a place to sleep. This plan will help all but the worst insomniacs; you will learn to quite your mind and fall asleep naturally. Unless you have a medical reason keeping you awake (i.e. sleep apnea) if this is a possibility please seek medical attention right away. I have helped many clients learn to sleep again with this plan.

Please send any questions to:
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
Please put in the subject line “Question for Coach Greta” or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, PLC, LPC
404-259-1335
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YouCanHaveItAll.com

I occasionally struggle getting to sleep and the other night was an example of this I fell asleep around 3:00am or 3:30am. All together I slept about two hours that night. I had a meeting that morning at 7:30am. I also gave up caffeine three weeks prior, I did give in and decide to have some caffeinated coffee but before the coffee could kick in I was already driving to my life coaching appointment. I was merging onto on freeway to another and my blinker stayed on I attempted several times to turn off the blinker only managing to turn on and off the windshield wipers multiply times. I stared at the wipers dumbfounded “how could this be happening I am trying to turn off the blinker”, I said to myself. I took a deep breath and thought if the control is not on the right of my steering wheel where could it be and inspiration hit “ahha, on the left” and magically I could turn the blinker was off. I felt so silly all I could do was laugh. In case you were wondering the coffee did kick in eventually but by then I was already at the meeting with all my neurons firing. It is possible at times like this to choose to judge our selves harshly and I am suggesting strongly don’t. Allow your self a good laugh at your own expense and chalk it up to just one of those moments. If you only get one thing from reading this blog learn to take your self lightly. A guide to follow is one learn not to be easily offended, two learn to laugh and enjoy yourself when your silly don’t consider it a character flaw. You will have a much more relaxed life when you practice these ideas.

Thecoaching group (conference call) for women in their mid life crisis starts the week of November 16th. I am starting the group in November because the holidays have begun and this can be a stressful time for women. I only have eight spots left. If you are interested call me right away so I can hold your spot. Please keep in mind when you call I will do a brief interview to see if you are a good fit for the group. You get two individual sessions and eight weeks of groups sessions at an incredible discount call now and reserve your spot.

Please send any questions to:
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
Please put in the subject line “Question for Coach Greta” or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, LPC, PLC
(404) 259-1335
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YouCanHaveItAll.wordpress.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTasT5h0LEg

I like to jump on youtube occasionally to get a quick laugh.

Yesterday looking to be inspired I walked by the pond near my house and the fall colors are just touching the trees it is beautiful. I live in the south so unlike my home town of Napa California we actually have seasons. I was thinking as a walked past the park what could I write about next in my blog there are so many exciting topic I was having trouble deciding. I could write another blog about taking care of yourself or maybe something new. As I looked around at the beautiful day I decided that talking about how to use visualization to attain the goals you set for yourself.
Visualizing can help us accelerate our re-framing practice from my early blog in controlling you mind part I, it can help you have a better attitude about your co workers and the list can go on and on. This particular skill is seriously under used. I will give you an example of how visualizing can help. I gave a couple a visualizing homework assignment, they were to visualize the marriage they wanted with each and have strong happy emotions when they were visualizing. Until this point they were struggling with communicating and the husband was having trouble expressing his feelings. After only four days of practice we had another session. They told me we don’t know what’s changed but things have been a lot better and the husband was sharing emotions. I will tell you what has changed their focus they are in the middle of re-training their brains to have a good relationship with each other and brain is more than happy to help.

When we use visualizing it is best to become completely involved in what your are imagining down to small details what are the smells that go along with the goal, what are the emotions, what does it look like, are their other people involved and make the emotions as strong and positive as you can. Being very clear with your visualizing literally builds new neuropaths. Your brain does not know the difference between real life and the imagination as far as your brain is concerned you accomplished your goal and it makes success pathways in your brain and with repetition these become natural more natural than the pathways that recently told you that you couldn’t do it. Are you beginning to see how this can benefit you in re-training your brain. I am going to tell you a SECRET now so write this down the stronger the positive feelings you have while visualizing the quicker you will develop new neuropaths ways in the brain and this will help you achieve your goals faster. Please remember practice, I would suggest at least two to three times a day.

I am going to start a coaching group (conference call) for women in their mid life crisis in two weeks if you are interested give me a call. I am starting the group in November because the holidays have begun and this can be a stressful time for women. I am sending this to my list and space is limited I will only allow 15 women in the group. If you are interested call me right away so I can hold your spot. Please keep in mind when you call I will do a brief interview to see if you are a good fit for the group.

Please send any questions to:
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
Please put in the subject line “Question for Coach Greta” or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, PLC, LPC
404-259-1335
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YouCanHaveItAll.com

I decided to get up this beautiful morning and begin writing my next book. The sun is shining and I am listening to Nora Jones. I am writing about all the tips I know and have been taught to help get anyone who is stressed about the recession back on track. In these times it is important to stay focused and inspired. It is good to remember that books, music and inspirational people can all help us stay psychologically healthy in hard times. Women are so sensitive to the ebb and flow of our, families, cities and cultures; that we become stressed and overwhelmed at our inability to help, we lose focus on what we need to do.

Keep it simple, we can’t solve everything for everybody. We can listen and support and love but often these are the only gifts we can afford to give or are able to give. We must stay healthy and grounded to help the other people in our lives. We can’t do this if we take on every pain and frustration and make it our own. When you feel yourself getting really caught up in your family or friends pain take a deep breath in and when you blow the breath out imagine letting go of all the pain and frustration that is building in you, so you can just listen.

Remind yourself that if you can help you will. Often you will find your friends only need you to listen. Do the little things you do for yourself in the good times so you feel good. If you love to get your nails done but having been putting it off go get them done. Taking care of yourself will help you have the strength and ability to help the other people in your life. Make sure you have friends you can talk with as well about any challenges that you are facing, and I encourage you to have friends that are good listeners and positive about life. We are a community just keeping a positive attitude can help those around us and our selves.

I am going to start a coaching group (conference call) for women in their mid life crisis in two weeks if you are interested give me a call. I am starting the group in November because the holidays have begun and this can be a stressful time for women. I am sending this to my list and space is limited I will only allow 15 women in the group. If you are interested call me right away so I can hold your spot. Please keep in mind when you call I will do a brief interview to see if you are a good fit for the group.

Please send any questions to:
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
Please put in the subject line “Question for Coach Greta” or leave a comment on my blog and I will get back to you.

Greta Jaeger, PLC, LPC
404-259-1335
www.CoachingYourDreams.com
greta@CoachingYourDreams.com
www.YouCanHaveItAll.wordpress.com