letter D for Doubt

I want to tell you a story:

A story about me and my business.

This is a story about a client and I.

A story that I thought would leave me derailed, feeling worthless and devalued- 

I had graduated from IIN ( the largest nutrition school) when I started doing many  more consultations ( health histories) and I was starting to get a nice client base, and building my email list. 
I met a women who was a Pilate's trainer, she came to one of my lectures. After the lecture she asked for my business card. For a number of months she followed me on my facebook fan page and commented and wrote me often.

Finally, the day came when she met me for a consultation. ( on a side note- "While I was at IIN I was Vegan and lost 35 lbs, While I was working on my business, I wanted to save money and so I did not hire a team I began doing everything myself. I spend more and more time in front of the computer, learning SEO , marketing, website codes and more. I let my food and my exercise slide")

Have you ever seen a coach of a football team, a basketball team or something physical and they don't look very fit? Well, I was that coach. I was not a fitness trainer or a fitness coach. I was just a coach. 

We sat down and had a great chat, I did the health history and she was really digging deep giving me good answers. I felt a connection.

NOW, it came to the part where I have to "close the deal" I had done it many times before so I wasn't nervous. If she chose not to work with me, it wasn't going to be a personal knock to my self-esteem, I had done a lot of personal growth over the year, and I know if she chose not to work with me~ I would be fine- I would get right back on that surf board and keep riding the wave.

She leaned over and said," LisaRenee I think you have this passionate charisma that I love, and I know you know a lot about health and clean eating, but I don't think I can work with you as a client, as your body type, the size you are -isn't fit in my eyes- and I wouldn't be able to be inspired by you. "

You could hear a pin drop.

Did I cry? NO- Did I want to cry? honestly no NOT THIS TIME... she did not rock me to my core with these comments. They were hard to hear as I was 190 at the time- but they motivated me to get back to taking care of me.

Why wasn't I angry or sad by this shocking comment?

Because she was HONEST
RAW 
and it showed me she wasn't my ideal client.

We wouldn't have been a good match.

She might have wasted my time, at each session by not really connecting with me, and not doing her action steps or meeting her goals.

IF she hadn't been honest with herself and her feelings, she may have signed up with me, and then if she didn't get the results, she would spread negative feedback- 

So don't let doubt get in your way- If a client sits with you in a consultation and says, no thank you. 

Don't doubt what you worked so hard to do.
Don't give up your dreams and go grab the want ads.
Don't  doubt your self-worth.
Don't let doubt paralyze you.

They were NOT your ideal client or they would have opened up their wallet~ and paid you.

Take some time to write down today- 
what is your ideal client?
Where do they hang out?
What do they do for fun?
What movies do they like?
What blogs or websites or magazines do they read?

Letter A is for abundance

Today is Day one letter A of the A-Z challenge. 

Today's letter is A.

I want to talk about  Abundance (in your life).

You may think, what does Abundance have to do with being healthy and well.  I think the mind and body connection is a huge part of how we heal and how we feel.


The dictionary has a few meanings for abundance: One says the quantity or amount of something, which is ok- but I like the definition I found at Positively positive www.positivelypositive.com

Their definition says:" The essential meaning of abundance is that you are solidly happy who you are no external events good or bad can subtract your from your happiness."

Top 5 tips to having and receiving abundance

1) Look at the way you look and care for money. 
Are you open to receiving more money- new jobs- meeting possible new clients or prospects. How do you feel about money? Do you save? Do you keep money in your wallet or pockets all crumbled? or do you keep it neat, and show it how you appreciate it by facing all the money in one direction, and flattening out crinkled dollars.

2.) Remember your thoughts are real and can they carry energy. SO if you say I am never going to get paid more- than you won't. If you say I am never going to have more clients, than you won't. IF you say I a won't find a new friend, boyfriend  or significant other- chances are you might not.

3.)You can reduce your resistance to new things and raise your vibration, with exercise, positive thoughts in a nightly gratitude journal. Write down at night 3 things you were grateful for that day.

4)More self-acceptance of who you are and what you are- brings you closer to more abundance- I did the book A course in Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein and I felt this book helped me slow down and think about who I was, and that it was ok to be ME the way I am without changing.

5) Try practicing mantras or affirmations that say things like:
Things always have a way of working out for the best…”
“Life has a way of working out for me…”
“I love waiting for what the Universe has in store for me…”
“There is a bigger and better plan I can’t see yet…”

Before I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition I never nothing about the Law of Attraction, and if I did, I didn't believe it. Now that I have studied it, read books about it, and continue to work with other health coaches and female entrepreneurs and we focus on it, I have seen it work. I know positive energy has a powerful connection to abundance. The key is that you must be a good receiver, if you are not good at accepting compliments, gifts or hugs- you may not be receiving some of the energy and abundance that is coming your way. Practice being more open and receiving of help, gifts, and compliments. 

IF someone says, " I love your dress." Don't say, " Oh, this I got at target on a 50% off sale." Just say- Thank you.

Practice some receiving today and let me know what abundance comes your way. If you like this post share it and If anything resonated with you leave a comment below.

10 things you may not know about a Health and Wellness coach.

So as you might have learned I am taking part in a blog challenge from another women who's online business focuses on branding and finding the true you.  YOU can check her out at www.flourishonline.com.au ( yes she is Australian)  Which leads me to 10 things you dont' know about me, the Health and Wellness coach.*** I made it like I interviewed myself

Where do you want to visit most in the world?
1. I want to visit Australia it's on my bucket list

What does a health and wellness coach mean?

2."I help other health coaches and busy moms connect the dots between what they eat and how they feel. We focus on primary foods- NOT secondary foods (things you actually eat) primary foods are your relationships, your job, your spirituality, and movement."

3. What happens the first time you sit with a potential client?

" If someone is interested on eating cleaner, or digging deeper into why they emotionally eat or why they can't clear clutter or their limiting beliefs- I invite them to meet me via Skype, phone or in person and  for 45 minutes it's their time to discuss their unique goals and health concerns. They walk away ready to commit to a program with me either 28 days, 3 month, or 6 months."

4. What is your biggest struggle as a wellness coach with practicing what you preach?

" I would have to say- staying present- trying not to worry all the time about the future. I would also have to say- my portion control- I tend to go back for 2nds and being a women in my late 40's that just is not an option for me, plus I am not as active as I once was although I am trying to change that. A friend of mine invited me to join her for a 21 day FIX program that I will be starting soon, and I am excited to try that with what I learned at IIN- The Instuitute for Integrative Nutrition."

5. What is your down fall in the food world?

" I was vegan last year and so I really found that I didn't miss cheese much or ice cream or even meat but I did miss cupcakes ( good ones) so my down fall was and still is Vegan cupcakes."


6. Why did you change careers from being a Pre-k to K teacher to being a Health and Wellness coach?

" Well, I let myself go and began to stuff my feelings down with food, and was eating my emotions. I was filling voids, with food. When I did a detox, I realized through the mind and body connection of a detox, that I wanted to guide other coaches and moms to deeper levels of wellness.  I understood the value of living a healthy life."

7. For a college student who still can't find a job, or a mother who doesn't feel full-filled or a person who is drawn to health and wellness and wants to enroll in IIN ( Institute for Integrative Nutrition) what advice would you give them?

" Well, this is a loaded question. I would tell them that if they want to improve the health and happiness of "people" than this is the right move for them." BUT they have to be crystal clear about what they want from life? and crystal clear about what kind of person they want to work and serve. I would also tell them that much of the school is about really getting to know yourself to and to step out of your comfort zone, and if that sounds to scary- than to not bother because coaching is about, changing, redefining and growing this journey as a Health and Wellness coach."

8. What is the most important daily practice that you engage in?

" I have two very important practices and they are considered self-care practices. I drink 1 full glass of water daily before waking, and I write in my morning pages ( Julie Cameron) daily.  I also dry brush and practice really breathing... and my breath especially if I find no time to meditate that day. I feel movement for 20 minutes or more daily is HUGE but I am still working on adding that into my life, as much as I want. Dancing, walking, exercise, biking, hiking." I love a good hike."


9. What food did you dislike before that you eat now?

" Growing up I was raised by my grandmother who had me eating yogurt, and salads and veggies at an early age. I did NOT like brussel sprouts, liver, or cilantro at all. I eat all of them now."


10. What do you love about your career as a Health and Wellness coach that you didn't have as a Pre-k teacher ?

" I have the flexibility to work 4 hour workweeks sometimes, I am able to be home for my son if he is ill, I am able to have the freedom of working from outside, or from my car if need be. I love that I meet people and other coaches who need the support of someone who understands their struggles and goals. I love seeing people stand up for themselves and  to step into the spot light and to stop hiding - I also love when people realize they had goals that they forgot they had dreams that were not being full-filled because of fear, or limiting beliefs and they crush those fears and move forward to their dreams, that part is so rewarding."



I hope that you got to know 10 things about me and my coaching world that you didn't know before and that if you are interested more you can read more at www.fountainofheatlhcoach.com