March 31, 2010

TOUCH IS ESSENTIAL In HUMAN COMMUNICATION

The expressive action of touch is essential in human communication. It becomes a powerful tool when used appropriately. Touch can fill the void that words can not. The gentle touch of a mothers hand will sooth the fears of a child, the warm embrace of a husband can console the wounds of his loving wife.
Yet touch can be destructive and harmful as well, when abused for selfish agendas. The best way to determine healthy touch is to understand the intention behind the touch. Touch is a binding force when used appropriately.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 25, 2010

FEELINGS ARE A POWERFUL SOURCE

At times we can feel very lost and hopeless, these feelings can translate into actions that create pain and hurt. Often when asked "How do I combat these depressing feelings?" I respond with, "Seeing the bigger picture." It is difficult to stay anchored when we have lost our vision of what we are moving towards. I remember as a young boy my Grandpa Noall telling me how to put a straight furrow in a field when planting Potatoes. As we passed a newly furrowed field one day, my grandfather asked "Do you know how they keep the lines so straight?" I responded, "No" and he then explained that the first line is the most important "It will determine where the rest of the lines will go." As he went on he told me how he would pick a fence post across the field, and without taking his eyes off of it he would slowly make his way towards his destination. It is as important to us to find a point of reference to move toward and keep us on a path of peace as it is for a farmer planting his future crops. Our future has been fixed on moments and we say "When" as a point of reference. But these things move and are dependent on trends, other people, and their humanity. They become fragile and brittle with no give or to much, leaving us frustrated and disillusioned. We can find a more permanent point of reference, one that takes discipline and focus. It is simply deciding, How do I want to feel? "How" instead of "When." Feelings are a powerful source. We can choose how the future will feel by picking the feeling we want now, then keep it in front of us. All we have to do is pick a post.

Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 23, 2010

THE POWER OF SELF-CONTROL


To truly be the master of our own lives we must first learn to master ourselves. The power of Self-control as an ally in the quest for peace and is essential for understanding truth. It provides discipline and limits the self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. It is easier to surrender to the bondage of blame, not only blaming others but our situations through which we find justification for a lack of self-control. Self-mastery is first, the control of thought, second the disciplining of emotions, and finally choosing how we act. To many times through the years I have sat a listened to lost and hurting souls express how a lack of self-mastery has cost them dearly, I as well have felt that pain. The power of self-control is what sets us apart from being lost and subject to the worlds definition of which we will never measure up, and the true freedom of accountability.

Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 19, 2010

OUR THOUGHTS

A simple thought is like the rising sun, it illuminates
The day and gives it sight. There are times that the days are cloudy and the overcast sky limits the view, we become depressed and sad without realizing what is happening. Our attitude for the future becomes dark and hope is lost, we react to those around us in kind, snapping and responding in anger. The need to control the way we think starts by setting boundaries with in ourselves, we choose the way we think and how we see the world. We program our minds each day by how we discipline our imagination, this is where we allow thoughts to linger, giving into obsessive patterns. The day can start with thoughts that bring peace or storm clouds, we can choose.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 12, 2010

WHAT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN NEED MOST TODAY


I was recently asked by the leader of a youth group what I thought young men and women needed the most in these days. My response was "Hope." Hope is vision, it gives us direction the ability to see beyond the trials and pain that overwhelms us. We need hope as humans and it can be a very effective tool in lifting the depressed and motivating the immobilized. It is common for young people to lose hope, in fact it is easy to do. Our world has become extremely fear based and blame when it comes to motivation, thinking we are helping to define or assign who did or didn't do something of worth. When in reality we are limiting the vision of our youth, who are looking for roles that will give them value without being wrong. Hope is dashed by the judgmental world we choose to live in, and desire to insert our views and opinions. When a parent criticizes a spouse or a child's friend, hope is lost, a role is defined and limits are placed. Hope is a gift and necessity for a healthy child to grow.

Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 11, 2010

AWARENESS Is the TURE FEAST in PERSONAL GROWTH

 I was pondering Awareness this morning and was taken back to a memory of when I was a younger man. I was on a two year "vacation" when I met a man who had diabetes, he was in a wheelchair at this point in his life and had lost the ability to walk. As we visited he told us stories both amazing and sad, some were whimsical to others, down right rough, then he shared a story that struck me as profound. As the diabetes slowly set in as it will, he began to have pain in his feet and soon lost the feeling. While he was telling this story he bent down and began to remove his shoe and then his sock reveling his toe less foot. He explained how not having an awareness of sensations in his feet had cost him his toes. I have held onto that memory for obvious reasons and have learned so much from it, the lessons have been both profound and simple. Now I see the lesson through the eyes of many who have become numb, unaware of the pain they are in as well as to the pain they cause. Awareness is a foundation principal, in order for us to move forward we must become aware of where we are lacking, how we want things to be different, and belief that we have the ability to become who we are striving to be. Awareness is the true feast in personal growth and will fill the soul with hope and vision.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 10, 2010

KINDNESS

The act of kindness is an out stretched hand to a fallen soul. Kindness is one of the most powerful actions we can take each day and it is free and most often returned in kind.

Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 9, 2010

TWO SUBTLE TRAIGHTS Of SUCCESS


As I was out raking my lawn today when I found myself in a zen state (like when I am vacuuming) and I started to ponder how the healthy grass withstood the rugged abuse of the rake. I began to see the dead and loose grass become swept away by the constant attack, finally a pile began accumulating at the end of each stroke and was then dumped in the trash. I was reminded of the principal of deep roots set in good soil. Then I saw another lesson present its self. Resiliency and Tenacity, two subtle traits of success, not foundation pieces as much as an attitude and mind set. The constant pull of the rake is a formidable convincing drive that says "let go" or "give up" and be swept aside with so many, firm roots and all. Adversity has claimed many well grounded educated and spiritual people, the constant pull and aggressive quality of adversity has taken many of our loved ones to dark places. It's not always the roots and soil that keep the drive alive, it requires more than just the "right tools." It's the ability to hang on and use the tools that make the difference. It is tenacity that gives a mother with breast cancer the ability to see her children raise children, and father who has lost his job the ability to invent a product that becomes a household name. It is resiliency that helps rebuild a community after it is rocked by a flood or earthquake, a child scared by a tragic event, or disability to repair his/her life and then help others to see their world differently. Not always spoken of but still powerful, these simple and most often quiet traits are the difference makers that tip the scales in favor of those who use them.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 8, 2010

The LIBERATING ENERGY Of FORGIVENESS

The way we see ourselves can be limited by our inability to forgive and/or receive forgiveness. Our world is made up by reference points and this is how we determine where we are and where we're going. These cues are everywhere and are helpful unless the points are affected by a lack of vision. Our vision is often blocked by hurt and anger. It causes us to miss healthy cues and fixate on our past as well as the fear of the future. The temptation is to react and claim our apology or avoid as to not have to feel the guilt. We shift to blame as a way to justify the fixation or to deflect the opinions of others, all of which causes us to focus on the offense and thus loose sight of truth. The liberating energy of forgiveness moves us from a state of victim to the freedom of accountability.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 7, 2010

TO INSPIRE OTHERS

 Lifting someone else up and supporting them in a tough time is a gift we can give. When we have the ability to lift and inspire others we become champions for truth. The inspiring force is a life spring of motivation and it helps us move forward. At times we loose our vision and can no longer see the way or feel a sense of well being, it is at these times that a lift or words of encouragement are potent and powerful. When we can see beyond our own interests and truly want the best for others, we can be the boost that can change the momentum of a stuck struggling loved one.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 6, 2010

The SAFETY Of BOUNDARIES

Our safety is our responsibility, we have the ability to set boundaries and to enforce them to keep ourselves and others safe. Relationships are a major part of humanity, we are built to be social and to find fulfillment through interaction with others. These relationships help us to create a sense of well being and purpose, bringing value to living. We often find ourselves hurt in relationships or causing hurt and are left feeling confused as to how to respond or react to the hurt. When we understand the relationship and the roles we play in them as well as the purpose of the relationship we then can put in place boundaries and enforce them. In order to have powerful long lasting relationships we must begin to apply boundaries.


Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 4, 2010

FORGIVENESS CREATES FREEDOM


The way we see ourselves can be limited by our inability to forgive and/or receive forgiveness. Our world is made up by reference points and this is how we determine where we are and where we're going. These cues are everywhere and are helpful unless the points are affected by a lack of vision. Our vision is often blocked by hurt and anger. It causes us to miss healthy cues and fixate on our past as well as the fear of the future. The temptation is to react and claim our apology or avoid as to not have to feel the guilt. We shift to blame as a way to justify the fixation or to deflect the opinions of others, all of which causes us to focus on the offense and thus loose sight of truth. The liberating energy of forgiveness moves us from a state of victim to the freedom of accountability.

Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center

March 1, 2010

COMMITTED TO THE PATH

When drawn to a path we must then become committed to walking it. Discouragement is a product of fear. It is a partner to doubt. Both are present when there is a premature quitting of anything worthwhile. Commitment to something requires that we have an understanding of why we are doing what we are doing. If we do not truly value the task, activity, person etc., we will surely abandon the path. The committed soul gives meaning to all things. We have an understanding of the value and importance of who we are and what we do. The path to peace is walked with committed feet not detoured by the thoughts of fear or guilt, but rather walk to a constant pace. Knowledge gained through introspection, meditation, and trials firm up the self acceptance, giving the follower confidence to keep walking.
 

Dean N Nixon
Seminar Director, Life Coach

TurningLeaf Wellness Center