"I came to Shelley in the middle of a life crisis of my own creation. I was
desperate to understand how I'd come to this place and how to find my way
through. Six months later, as a result of Shelley's intensive coaching and
unfailing support, I have developed the tools and insight to live, for the first
time ever, a conscious, intentional life.
The most valuable aspects of our training together were Shelley's ability to
guide me through discovering what my needs, desires and values were; her
persistence in holding me accountable to these; her practical advice, such
as the need for daily spiritual practices as well as organization and structure
in all areas of life; and, perhaps most of all, her boundless compassion,
which helped me begin to learn how to be compassionate with myself.
The three most significant improvements I've made in my life are:
1. I have made daily spiritual practice a routine part of my life, and this more
than anything has helped me continue the path I began with Shelley.
2. I have begun to develop a much more objective perspective of my own life,
thoughts, feelings -- before I was usually either hyper-critical or
hyper-congratulatory of what I thought and did. I was either superhero or
villain in my own mind. Now I'm moving toward a much more balanced view
of myself, a much more human and humane view. I think it's making me a
much more pleasant person to be with (both for myself and others!).
3. I am moving away from a habit of magical thinking -- the habit of thinking
that success in any area of my life will come from my just thinking about it,
rather than also planning and working toward it, as well as the secret hope
that in a spectacular deux ex machina some miraculous person or situation
will swoop into my life and solve all my problems. It was hard to accept that
this was how I lived much of my life - waiting for that miracle - and it's a habit
I am still working to get rid of, but I would have never started without Shelley's
coaching.
I am enjoying these benefits and results of our work together:
1. I have learned how to face fear rather than run away from it or try to mask it.
2. I have begun to learn how to read and to trust my intuition.
3. I am, for the first time in my life, conscious of what I value.
4. I am, for the first time in my life, working to align every aspect of my life with
my values. I have realized that my time and energy are resources that can be
harnessed or squandered just like any other resource, and that is having a
profound impact on how I live my life.
Here's how I know our work together was successful: Even though
everything in my life isn't perfect, even though there are problems and
difficulties, I am grateful (and usually even excited :) to get up every morning
and see what the day brings."
Joan Hughes
Business Consultant, Technical Writer
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