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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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