Click image to repin on Pinterest

Often when we say something “can’t be done” what

we believe is “I can’t do it, I am not enough”. ~Karen Zeigler

If there is one thing that I see most in my coaching of women and the one thing that raises the greatest level of emotions in me for people is – SELF-DOUBT!  I have not met a person yet that does not have a passion for their dreams, a purpose behind them, and for the most part the skills and talents necessary to start their dream journey. Yet many never go out and get after it because of the ever present worry of self-doubt.

Self-doubt is much like the top half of the image above – dark, being closed in on all sides by the vines of self-doubt which reach into every corner of our mind. These weeds of self doubt grow thicker and thicker choking out our dreams and aspirations with each day that we chose to listen to their daunting mantra.

• I can’t
• What if I fail
• What if no one likes what I have to offer
• What if I meet a challenge I’m not prepared or equipped for
• I’m too young, too old, too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall
• Who would listen to me

To that as a Coach I say

• YES YOU CAN! (Screaming I might add)
• Every individual that has obtained success in their endeavors has failed a time or two hundred. So what! You won’t succeed until you do it, and do it again and again.
• What if there are hundreds, perhaps thousands that are looking for exactly what you have to offer
• True faith says that you are not called for something that you are not equipped for and that where you are weak He is strong. And that He can and does send people and resources to work on your behalf when you obediently follow your purpose.
• You are not too young, old, fat, skinny short or tall. You are just who God designed you to be and that perfectly fits with the gifts, talents and dreams He has gently woven into your heart
• God has already chosen people who are eager to listen to you or buy from you. You just haven’t met them yet.

Truth is you know these things to be true but the voice of fear screams so loudly that you can’t hear them.  That’s why you hire a coach – to get out of the start gate past the wall of self-doubt, to leap over each hurdle, obstacle, challenge and reappearance of self-doubt and so that the cheers of your coach scream louder than the voices of fear.  But before any amount of research, reading, training or the hiring of a coach you must be willing to break free from the vines of self-doubt, step into the light and declare that  On this day I proclaim with GOD All things are possible for me!

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

Click image to add to Pinterest

Whether you call it fear, worry or anxiety – it all has basically the same definition - a distressing uneasiness of mind aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined.  And the bottom line is that it is the single greatest factor keeping each of us from the goals and dreams we were created to achieve. 

I know this fact first hand as it kept me stuck in a corporate career for 20+ years knowing that I was meant to speak and write. I certainly don’t regret those years and all the experience and wisdom I gained from being in the financial industry but when the market crashed again in 2007 I knew IT WAS TIME. 

Perhaps you are where I was.  You know NOW is the time, NOW – not tomorrow, next year.  It is for you that I wrote the book “Freedom from Worry” and it is for you that I teach a FREE class via telephone and live so that you can get the courage and support to move NOW into the purpose you were created for. 

To learn more about the class and start dates become a fan of Inspiration to Change on Facebook and look in the events section for the latest offering. 

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

My Dearly Loved,

Why my beautiful child is your soul so downcast?  Why do you feed the deep pain of your soul only your tears for food both day and night? Come with me, the Designer of the Universe and let me show you how I have knit your life together from start to finish.  Although your world may seem to be unraveling I assure you I have hemmed it in both before and behind and adorned it with jewels and sequins.  But do not fear but take my right hand and let me help you.  Steal away with me from your world which is filled with busyness, the demands of others and worry.

Let us walk together in that peaceful place where the snow has fallen. Sit with me a while and let me show you the fullness of my love for you.  Let me reveal again the measure of my love for you – how wide and long and high and deep it is.   Do not look back for the one who guided you before. She will continue with you on your journey, watching from a distance with a proud heart, praying for you each and every step of the way. Instead let me comfort you and guide you along the right path. For it is my goodness that will be with you now and forever.  And I will send helpers to guide, support and love you as you travel your journey.

But for now my beautiful child pour out your hearts pains, worries and desires to me and let me speak to them.  Still away long and often and let me cloth you with my love and comfort you with my peace.  For it is I who has loved you from before you were born and it is I whose love endures for you forever.

Love Always,

Designer of the Universe

To receive your very own Love Letter from God specifically to you or read the the other 15 Love Letters to beautiful women of God’s visit this posts on this blog from February 2011.

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

This piece was inspired from a health and fitness inspiration image that I found on Pinterest.  But whether you are talking health, marriage, finances, or another area of life it doesn’t matter the area, we each face difficulties, disappointments, discouragement and sometimes what seems like defeat.  There is no question, at times LIFE IS HARD. 

There is also no question that when we fight for the good, fight for what we know to be right, fight inspite of opposition or ill feelings that in time there is reward.  Here are just a few great quotes on the reward of our troubles.

Happiness is the reward we get for living to the highest right we know. -Richard Bach

Before the reward there must be labor. You plant before you harvest. You sow in tears before you reap joy. -Ralph Ransom

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit. -Napoleon Hill

What battle have you fought in marriage or in life? What has been the reward?

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

I’ve been thinking a lot about self-discipline lately…mainly because I seemed to have lost it all since leaving the corporate world.  Something about having an 8-5 commitment that gets you pretty disciplined about what you want to accomplish with the rest of your day.  It seems, for me at least – no commitments, no worries, no discipline. From writing, pursuing speaking engagements, diet, exercise, time with spouse -  you name it – seems to have coasted down hill to a rather boring stop…no less a stop short of where I long to be.   Throw in, it’s the time where everyone thinks and debates the effectiveness of New Year Resolutions and I find myself at this post.  So as I contemplate what my New Years Resolutions (Goals) will be I am thinking that ole’ Curly had it right.

If I could apply a theme (or as Curly puts it) that “ONE thing” to my life in 2012, what would that “ONE thing” be that would make it Great!  For me that one thing is self-discipline. Maybe because it’s missing right now.  For you it could be something totally different.  In fact I’ve already decided that my “ONE thing” for 2012 IS self-discipline.  I’ve made my home page when my browser opens to launch WordPress and WeightWatchers so that I am reminded of my two primary goals (writing and weight loss) as soon as I fire up my computer. I’ve added to my iPhone the app for listening to audio books.  I’ve already downloaded the audiobook No Excuses! by Brian Tracy. I will be listening to that when I’m taking my walk or while cleaning the house (another on the list of things that need a little self-discipline).  I understand that when I discipline my attitude to be where it needs to be my actions will follow.  So I’ve added to my Kindle Fire The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry to help reprogram my thoughts about myself and the goals I want to achieve.   I have signed up for Pilates again with my dear friend and workout buddy.  And I’ve picked up the Zumba and other class schedules for the gym because I know the accountability and fun of my friend and classmates will keep me  on track.  As I begin to plan out the goals and action items for the first 12 weeks of my year I am sure there will be many other ideas of how I can add self-discipline in big and small ways to my day.

So what about you. What “ONE thing” can you add to your 2012 that would make it great? What books can you read, class can you take, strategies can you create to keep you focused on the “ONE thing”?  What friends and support can you enlist that can help you achieve more (or less) of the “ONE thing” you desire?

Would love to hear about the “ONE thing” you’ve chosen to make your 2012 great in the comments to this blog.

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

There is an exercise that I often share when I speak that brings home the point in the quote.  You can do it there at your computer as well.  Find an object – like a pen, the cup you are drinking from or whatever.  Now pick up the object.  Pretty easy uh? You told you mind to pick up the object and wah la you did it.  Now…

try to pick up the object. Don’t actually pick it up just try to.  Truth is your mind doesn’t know what to do with try.  Your mind was created to propel the rest of your body into action.  It works in present and active mode.

Another great proof is to ask the most serious person you know to put on a unhappy stern face and no matter what do not change the look.  Then ask them to repeat this sentence “I will not smile. I will not smile.”  From my experience of doing this many times regardless of how mean or unhappy this persons demeanor usually is they can only repeat the sentence 2-3 times maximum before a silly smile pops up on their face.

This way the mind works is why when we tell ourselves over and over again we are NOT going to eat that chocolate cake or that we are NOT going to get sick.  What generally happens? We eat that chocolate cake we wanted to avoid or we end up getting sick.  All because the mind did not know what to do with the NOT.  So it took the action from the thought and got busy making it happen.  That’s the minds job after all to get our bodies into action.  So next time you want something to happen like the report that’s due this week or the laundry you despise don’t tell yourself you’ll try to get to it today because it’s highly likely it won’t happen.  Instead set aside the time to do it and then prior to the time begin telling yourself (out loud if you can get away with it) I am gathering the facts, opening the online resources to complete the report and keep repeating those words until the body gets in line behind your mind to get the report accomplished.

Bottom line want to make positive progress on a task or area of life.  Eliminate all the NOT’s and I’ll TRY in your language and you’ll be well on your way to getting things done.

So what is it you need to accomplish today? Use this method and report back in the comments your results.

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

Perfect gift for the Wise Woman in your Life. Email to karen@inspirationtochange.org your Wise Woman’s digital photograph, your shipping address and the name of gift (Wise Woman Quote #4) and purchase your print through the link below. And you’ll receive in the mail your personalized high quality 8×8 print perfect for framing as a special gift.

$5.00 plus tax & shipping

There are times in life for each of us where we seem to be closed off from the world.  Dark times where our lives appear stuck and we are struggling to get past or through a difficult circumstance.  In fact the longer you have lived the more of these periods you have probably lived through.  It could be a financial trial, a health issue, or the death of a loved one.  Regardless of what the circumstances are you require a little more inspiration than a pat on the back and “Don’t worry, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!” You need inspiration to keep moving forward, you need reason to continue to persevere.

P - is for PERSIST no matter what. Connect with people that have been able to persist through tough times for some pointers and encouragement. Even though you feel alone and may even prefer to be alone during this time it will be much easier with the support of a friend. And connect with people for fun as well.  The more opportunities you can find to bring laughter into your life the better.

E - is for ENDURE discomfort. Tough times bring with them worry, pain and sorrow.  What positive means do you have for enduring discomfort. Just a few positive ways to deal with the discomfort is scripture reading, prayer & journaling, perhaps a hobby like horseback riding or something else you’ve enjoyed in life that takes you away from your circumstances and brings joy.

R - is for REQUEST help from other people. In a world where we have been taught to be self-sufficient this can a difficult task for many.  But being on both the giving and the receiving end in difficult times is what makes for the richest blessings in life.

S – is for STEADFASTLY hold on to your beliefs and values. These are the constants in life. When the waves of the sea are constantly changing – hold steadfast to what doesn’t change.

E – is for ENVISION triumph! If you cannot see it then it will not happen. Where there is no vision the people perish. Begin building the vision of triumph today. Add to the picture and think on it often throughout the day. Build the vision until you can see it, taste it, feel it touch it. What you see in your mind you can achieve.

V – is for VICTORY mindset. Eliminate the can’t, won’t, never, always, and buts from your vocabulary and your thoughts.  Keep a positive can and will do mindset even when all the circumstances around you tell you otherwise.

E – is for EMBRACE adversity as your teacher. Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors as a proverb goes. All though adversity may make us a little sea sick at times it is still the best place for learning the skills needed for success.

R – is for REFUSE to give up. Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Don’t make it permanent by giving up.

E – is for ENJOY every tiny bit of progress! I experience this a lot with coaching clients. They choose to be depressed about how much further they have to go vs. celebrating the joy of the progress they have made. Don’t make that mistake. Celebrate today even the smallest steps of progress.

So what are the quotes, hobbies, routines you use to help you persevere through a challenging time? Share with us here in the comment section.

To request Karen’s services as a life coach, guest speaker or freelance writer email your request to karen@inspirationtochange.org.

Perfect quote to remind those who struggle with mistakes or painful circumstances of the past. Comes in quality 5×7 print perfect for framing.