Men Occasionally Stumble Over the Truth, But They Pick Themselves Up and Hurry Off"
​- Winston Churchill

How often have you had to face the truth, but would rather look the other way?  Or, have you ever wanted to share something with someone who might be ignoring their own truth?

As a life and career coach, my job can be summed up as connecting people with their truth.  It can be so rewarding. But sometimes, facing the truth or having someone face their own truth isn't very fun (at least in the moment).

I recently shared a difficult truth with a client. I was so impressed with her ability to hear it, accept it, and take action to address it. But, it can be scary to get really honest and tell someone or admit to ourselves the truth about our lives.

Two Tenets for Sharing the Truth

Before I shared the truth with her, I made sure to take 2 simple steps I keep in mind whenever speaking with my clients.

• Confirm I have established trust in our relationship
• Set up the client for what I am about to share in a gentle (even playful) way

These steps may seem obvious. But, I know I've not always used them in the past when speaking to people I care about in my life.

A Simple Process for "Being" with the Truth

In fact, those tenets reminded me of 3 questions you can ask yourself before sharing a truth with someone:

• Is it true?
• Is it kind?
• Is it necessary?

Let's break these questions down:

Is it true?
Is what you're about to share a definite fact?  The truth can be slippery.  Which version of the truth are you thinking about now? There is your truth, someone else's truth, and somewhere in the middle.

Is it kind?
Is what you're about to share genuinely kind or helpful? And, I don't mean kind as in "I'm going to teach someone a lesson so this is helping them out." :-) It's more like would you feel good if you received this truth?

Is it necessary?
Are you sure you're not sharing to just prove you're right?  If not, what do you hope to accomplish by sharing? And, do you really have to be the one who shares it?

If your comment doesn't fulfill all 3 questions, ask yourself what is your genuine intention. And, is there another way to meet it?

What hit me the other day is that you can even apply these 3 questions to yourself.  If you're dwelling on something that has happened or realized a truth about yourself that you've been avoiding, are you being gentle with yourself about it? And, is it something you really need to consider or just release it?  If you need to consider taking action, then do it. But, don't dwell on it.

Good luck! As my client embodied, with trust and gentility, you can handle any truth, too.  Just know that you'll be ok and, always, be gentle with yourself.  Are you ready to face your truth?

If you want support in facing your truth and getting results in life, work, or love, reach out [email protected] or learn more here.

Having trouble sticking to your goals for 2017?

Well, you're obviously not alone. We often talk about “not having enough time” or "feeling too tired" to get things done, but it can be our limited or unfocused energy that inhibits us.  So, the most important thing you can do is stay energized. Your energy levels can impact whether or not you take action and ultimately get what you want in life.

Here are a few of my favorite tips that can help you keep the momentum going toward achieving your goals in a natural and motivating way.  These tips make it feel "easier" to pursue your goals because they help you take action and lead to creating positive habits for the long-term:

Start Small

Take one small step at a time toward your goal. If you want to eat healthier, just buy the spinach and see what happens after it’s in your fridge. Or, go for a ten-minute walk, and maybe it’ll turn into twenty minutes while you’re out there.

Don't try to overdo it in the beginning.  Taking small steps "tricks" your brain into thinking you're not making a big change and you'll make up fewer excuses to avoid action.

Be Consistent

Perform the new action or habit consistently. Make a commitment to a small step daily.  To feel healthier, I started drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning - no excuses.  That small step became a habit and eventually led to healthier food choices all day.

Just think, you brush your teeth every day. It’s a habit now, but it wasn’t always that way.

Increase Over

Time Increase your good habits over time, slowly outweighing negative habits. For example, do you like sweets? It’s okay to have dessert, but make sure you eat a lot of leafy greens that week as well.

You’ll see a change in your health and then you can deal with your sweet tooth after you’ve built up your healthy habits. Your body will likely start craving those colorful vegetables anyway.

Track Your Progress

Log your fitness and nutrition activity. Establishing accountability throughout your program allows you to see the small victories over time. And, today’s technology (e.g., websites and apps) makes it easier than ever to track your activities.

When you feel accountable and can see tangible results, you’re more likely to make progress toward your goals.

Challenge Yourself

Do an extra push-up next time you’re exercising. Your body will assume it has to work harder, and it will learn to compensate for that extra push-up. Next time, you can do more push-ups!

Make It Fun

Make your action steps as much fun as possible. For example, ask a friend to join you for your workouts.

You’re more likely to continue the behavior and be motivated to make it a positive habit.

​Your focus on action and progress each day by using these approaches creates daily positive habits that will consistently revitalize your spirit to ultimately impact your success.  Let me know how it goes and which is your favorite tip to get results?

If you want support in getting results in life, work, or love, reach out [email protected] or learn more here.