By now, many of you have set some new year’s “resolutions” and/or goals. I generally like to take time at the end of a year, to review what I’ve done, where I’ve gone, and to look at the accomplishments, challenges and amazing experiences. Giving time for this review is my way of honoring the experiences I’ve had. After this review, sometime in January, I like to look forward and try to picture what this next year might hold. I’ll often visualize wishes, dreams and down to earth practical daily life events that I want to have happen. This year, I had two new experiences I’d like to tell you about. Both were amazing coaching experiences that really helped to solidify and envision my year.
The first experience was with Coach Laura Burkey (www.lauraburkeycoaching.com). Laura facilitated a coaching experience that focused on developing a personal theme for the New Year (instead of developing new year’s goals or resolutions). A “theme” would be infused throughout all areas of your life and relate to any of the goals you’ve been thinking about. Laura’s belief is that having a theme is about emerging your authentic or core self vs. improving or adding to who you are. She explains that as we each evolve, two things are occurring: 1. we are emerging our true selves, and 2. we are expanding our awareness and enhancing what is already true (we are born whole, complete and authentic…. we might need to do better and think better to be more of who you are or let more of you out). There is no need to add to or change who you are. And so with that, Laura led us through some exercises to help us narrow down and focus on what is calling to us this year. The process is much more complicated that this brief explanation, but it was a wonderful experience and one I highly recommend. I will keep you posted on the theme that is emerging for me, this year. And would highly recommend contacting Laura yourself, for your own participation in her coaching your towards your personal theme.
The second experience was with Coach Lisa Kramer (www.livingwithintention.com). She’s a relationship coach, mentor coach as well as faculty at the coaching school I trained through, Institute for Life Coach Training (ILTC). Lisa offers coaching couples towards developing a Relationship Vision for themselves. This January, my husband and I worked with Lisa on developing a relationship vision for us as a couple for 2007. The process begins with each individual doing their own work. This includes completing a ‘current reality’ using the Relationship Wheel Lisa has developed. Next, each individual uses the Relationship Wheel to come up with their ‘dream’ relationship. In the third step, we each shared our individual work, while Lisa kept track of similarities, differences, etc. The forth (and more challenging) step is for the couple to work towards an agreed upon joint relationship vision. This process is similar to Harville Hendrick’s IMAGO Therapy for couples that has been adapted for coaching. Whether you are in a new relationship or one of many years, developing a relationship vision can be an extremely helpful and rewarding experience. I strongly recommend it! Please contact Lisa at her website for more information. 
Here’s wishing you a meaningful year full of delight and awe. If you find yourself ready to ‘move forward’ (adelante) this year and could use some support, I’d welcome the chance to talk with your about how coaching can make a difference.
Peace – Sandi Lindgren
