Nicola Walker Coaching

Transform Your Mindset: Reignite Joy, Live Your Dream

Inner Wisdom

How to Unwind When The Stress Gets Too Much

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Still lake image for self care at work“Give yourself the time to move through the initial awkwardness, even a sense of fear or guilt that arises with open-ended time you can sink into, rather than more busyness disguised as unwinding.”

It has been a hectic week. Lots of driving, meetings, rushing out the door feeling so pressed for time that my jacket falls from my full arms into the flower bed. I run towards my car, keys clanging as I throw bags in the trunk, slam doors shut, roar out of the driveway; an oddity on what is really just another peaceful blue sky day in the Santa Cruz mountains with birds chirping from the branches of tall, bright green needled pine trees.

Today is Saturday. I planned the day to be blank, to unwind.  “What do I want to do?” my mind wonders, almost slightly anxious about making the right decision. “Walk on the beach? Go to a café?” It seems like I feel the need to do something to make the day special in order to unwind, yet my body is fatigued. I’m processing from all the events of the week. I don’t actually really know what I want to do.

Keep it simple and don’t let trying to unwind actually make you busy.

I remember how much nicer it is to let the way I spend my day happen naturally and spontaneously, without making a conscious choice. At first I feel the awkwardness of letting myself not “do anything of consequence”. I look out at the sunny tree tops feeling a little lost because I don’t have plans or anyone to share at least part of my day with. Yet I know I’m doing the right thing. [Read more…] about How to Unwind When The Stress Gets Too Much

Want to Feel More Joy in Your Life?

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mountain springThis summer I received some wonderful guidance from the wisdom in my heart. It all began when I was driving one day and I heard whisper #1: “Go to Mount Shasta.” Mount Shasta is a beautiful sacred mountain in Northern California, which I’ve visited before, the last time six years ago. This unexpected idea felt so right. I really felt like being in the mountains and I particularly love this area. Miraculously, once I got clear about what I really wanted in terms of accommodation, a friend suddenly told me that she knew someone up there who could offer me a room at a very reasonable price. This sounded perfect, and from then on my plans all fell into place, just like they do when you’re really meant to do something.

I had a mission for my trip. I wanted to receive guidance on my coaching business. There was something I knew I needed to realize, a special focus for me to articulate. So one day, hiking up on the mountain I stopped for lunch under the shade of some old fir trees and my inner voice spontaneously started to speak, very softly. I seized the moment and asked, what is the one the most important thing for me to achieve in the rest of my life? Then I received whisper #2 as the word Joy formed itself in front of my eyes. Then the words floated up in my consciousness, “Find your joy, then help others to find theirs.” I smiled. This was my purpose. I felt an affirmative glow of warmth that filled my being.

Finding your joy is not a one-shot deal. The ability to feel joy in your life, no matter what your circumstances, is a choice. It’s a commitment to your soul, to shining your light, because then you can love your life without having to get somewhere first. When you focus more on the getting there, whatever dreams you’re chasing, and less on the being here you start to lose your center of peace, joy and inner wisdom.

Once you’re aware of what it takes for you to find balance, then you can keep adjusting the steps you are taking to live your dream life and create cool new changes with whatever it takes for you to feel the joy of being alive, of being you, of having the rich, ever-unfolding life you have.

Joy for me is enjoying simple pleasures, catching myself when I start complaining or feel irritable to find out what I really want, and doing what I love even if I can only do it some of the time. Honor your dreams and take steps towards them, yet loosen the intensity of your desire when it stops you from loving life as it is right this moment.

For you to reflect on: How frequently do you feel joyful? What do you do to find your joy when you lose it? Do you have any beliefs that limit the amount of joy you think you can experience in your life?

Feel free to share the results of your reflections either by commenting to this post on my blog or sending me an email – Nicola[at]nicolawalkercoaching.com.

Fast Track to Happiness – Engage Your Inner Wisdom Daily

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When fear is operating in you whether you realize it or not, it’s hard for your inner wisdom to communicate with you. That’s partly because the last place you look when you’re gripped with fear is to your inner wisdom.

Fear sabotages your dreams, your passion and your creativity. Procrastination, perfectionism, self-doubt, overwhelm and low self-worth are all forms of self-sabotage. You know those times when you go rigid inside or start hitting those hugely frustrating inner walls. There you are again, despite your best intentions.

I’ve met all these forms of self-sabotage intimately within my own self, especially in developing my business and with my creative projects. The greatest breakthrough I made was when I learned how to keep going deeper inside to connect with my inner wisdom for help.

We all have inner wisdom, the part of us that knows what to do, the steps to take to reach the destiny that’s deep down in our heart.

It actually is an enlightening and load-off-your-shoulders practice to turn to your inner wisdom for guidance throughout your day.

For example, if you find yourself facing a wall, your inner wisdom will show you the way through it.

When you face your own inner walls, the blocks you typically face that make you grit your teeth and growl, sending any chance of inner happiness hurtling to the other side of the planet, you’ll notice your mind wants to keep you spiraling to greater depths of hopelessness and despair.

It’s a great discipline to be able to say STOP!!!

Once you’ve achieved the stopping, you are all set for the relief you’ll get from some guidance from your inner wisdom.

The best place to look for your inner wisdom is in your heart. You can converse with your inner wisdom like you would a person.

All you have to do is listen for the whispers, trust and follow the guidance. But once you decide to trust you inner wisdom’s guidance, you have to take the leap!

Nicola Walker is an Inner Wisdom Coach and Self Expression Mentor. She works with creatively-minded people in big transitions to transform fears, low confidence and procrastination so they can go for their dreams. She coaches them to find their truth; to turn to their inner wisdom for help so they can live their passion and be happier in their lives.


 

May Peace Be With You – Your Heart Knows How

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Warmth of candle flame - self care during the holidaysI’m having a crazy, zany December, but what’s new? December is the most bizarre month of the whole year, and try as you might, it’s hard to make it any different. In this season of the light, I have been so busy I nearly lost my sense of light altogether. What with a sudden rush of work as well as early shopping to send gifts off to my family in England, making gifts, attending concerts, gatherings and parties, my need for quiet, reflective time flew right out the window.

Yet, feeling strung out is no way to live. In the end, something has to give. Last weekend, I had to cancel my plans to attend a couple of parties that were both a long drive from where I live and just rest! I struggled with the choice at first, because I really wanted to see this particular group of friends. Yet, on the morning I was to pack and get everything ready for going off to the parties, I found myself not packing. It seemed like my system couldn’t take any more stimulation, and the thought of a long drive just made me sit motionless in bed. I just wanted to stay close to home, sip tea and walk down to the beach. By slowing down, I found my heart, my light and gradually revitalized myself. I am continually amazed at the wisdom of the heart. Trust your heart’s wisdom and you find peace.

Are you listening to your heart, or resisting the knowing in your heart? What can you do to experience more light in your life? This is a good question to ask as you move towards the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

Follow Your Heart

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When a new year begins, it’s as though your slate has been wiped clean and you can begin again. Ask yourself, “what is deepest in my heart to create and experience?” Keep this question with you as you go about your day, especially when you go for walks, exercise or relax. The answer will float into your consciousness.

Ideas about what you want in life can change. That’s why it’s important to listen to what is true, to find out if it is still true for you. Remember that life can be perceived in many different ways. Keep going deeper to find the truth. You’ll know when you find your deepest truth, because you’ll resonate with it. Maybe you feel a rush of energy, a quickening or a deep sense of inner knowing.

It’s always most effective to act on what feels most alive for you. When you listen deeply in this way, you are flowing with your inner wisdom that is guiding you to your highest good. Maybe you hear that it is time to address an issue that has been bothering you with another person. Or it is time to stay at home and spend more time alone. Or now is the moment to look into that niggly feeling that you could be doing more with your life.

If you ever feel dull, irritable or dissatisfied, ask yourself, “what is true for me?” “Am I following my truth?” You’ll find your truth in your heart. Summon up the courage to follow your heart and you’ll feel full of life again. This is the path of inner happiness.