The music and dance of Latin America absolutely captivate me. I love the rhythm, the voices, the passion, the warmth and the joyful feelings they exude. As I learn Spanish, I am starting to understand the lyrics of these upbeat songs. To my surprise, they often speak of heartbreak, loved ones lost, brutal living conditions, loneliness and poverty. I am amazed that Latin American people are able to embrace and transform [...]
Have you ever heard yourself saying, “That vacation was fun, but I’m exhausted! I think I need a vacation from my vacation…”? In the mad rush to go play, we often fill our precious free time with too many activities. With summer fast approaching and trip planning in full swing, let’s take a moment to explore how to make the most of your vacation time. It’s important to start with the [...]
Emotions are one way the body tells us “all is well” or “pay attention, there’s a problem here.” So all feelings serve a function – they keep us on track. However, people tend to desire the “good” feelings and avoid the “bad” feelings. We all want more love, joy, enthusiasm, happiness and relaxation. But sadness, anger, anxiety, fear and jealousy… well, we avoid them at all [...]
Why is it that most of us are our own worst critic? It seems we each have an automated self-nagging habit. “You should work harder, earn more, lose weight… you’re not good enough, you’ll never get there….” No wonder we doubt ourselves! Negative mind chatter can really compromise one’s self esteem and quality of life. How can you ever feel good or perform at your best if your internal dialogue is [...]
CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS: Take a Bite of Joy, Happiness and Pride by Julia James, Certified Life Coach Do you ever accomplish something and just move on to the next project, not even taking a moment to catch your breath? After all, there’s so much to be done, right? You are not alone! Most people plug away at those eternal to-do lists and don’t allow time to celebrate hard work and success. [...]
BEGINNER’S MIND: Experience Beauty and Power in the Present Moment by Julia James, Certified Life Coach Have you ever watched a child who is just learning to walk? Their sheer joy is contagious! The sense of amazement and accomplishment in their eyes reflects a special state of mind. In martial arts and many Eastern traditions, this is known as “beginner’s mind” – being fully engaged in the experience, fully present in [...]
CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND COME ALIVE! by Julia James, Certified Life Coach I recently completed a 30km cross-country skiing marathon – a real stretch for a girl who lacked confidence and skill in high school athletics. But this journey wasn’t about competing; it was about completing… and contributing. My efforts were inspired by a desire to raise funds for my favourite charities. After four skiing lessons, I [...]
NEW YEAR”S RESOLUTIONS: From Dread to Joy by Julia James, Certified Life Coach Do you dread making New Year’s Resolutions? Even with the best of intentions to resolve to quit smoking, work out regularly, and make more money, we already know how it’s going to turn out before we begin. Come January 5th, we won’t feel like it anymore. When we make New Year’s Resolutions, we create an expectation to live [...]
REKINDLE YOUR JOY OF ANTICIPATION by Julia James, Certified Life Coach As a child growing up, one of my favourite times of year was just before Christmas. There was a feeling of sparkling, charged, joyful anticipation in the air. I was looking forward to the great gifts on my wish list, the first whiff of fresh baked Christmas cookies, the pine-scented Christmas tree, the colourful lights and, of course, the wonderful [...]
Who likes conflict and dealing with difficult situations? I don’t know anybody who does! That’s why it’s called difficult and why most people spend a lot of time and energy avoiding them, often without realizing it. What would be possible if you could reclaim all of that time and energy, and funnel it productively? Unless you try it, you will never know. […]
