This is great information that was published today in Positive Psychology Daily News that I wanted to make sure you knew about.

http://positivepsychologynews.com/

            Your dreams, goals, values and resolutions are important to you, but you can become thwarted trying to attain any of them. You may reach a point where you are at a standstill and seem to be going nowhere. You’ve tried all you know to move past the block, but to no avail. You might say to yourself “I’m stuck!”  So what can you do?

            One of the best actions you can take to help master these types of blocks is to hire a well-trained professional coach.  The two of you can then form a partnership by working together in a safe environment focused on the agenda you developed for the coaching sessions.

            As the title says – stumbling blocks don’t have to be road blocks. All manner of things can happen in your life to throw you off balance – relationships you’ve trusted get broken, work overwhelms you, and a myriad of distressful things occur to you and those you love. Sometimes they are manageable and you resolve them on your own – you stumble a little but are able to pick yourself up and move on. But sometimes the stumbling block becomes a road block that you can’t get around on your own. That’s when you need a professional coach. When you can’t move forward in your usual manner, the focused listening, undivided attention, respect and expertise of your coach will enable you to keep moving toward the goals you have set for yourself.

            There is another important ingredient in the coaching relationship that helps form the bridge between coach and client, problem and resolution, agenda and accomplishment. The coach needs to enjoy helping you accomplish your needs and be totally focused on them in each coaching session. The ethics of your coach should reflect those identified by the International Coaching Federation, which you can find on their website: www.internationalcoachingfederation.com.

            Until now I have only been referencing the individual coaching relationship. However, blocks can also be resolved in a good group coaching relationship. A coach skilled in both individual and group coaching can offer you the individual attention you need plus the additional support offered by others undergoing experiences similar to yours.

            So, if you feel like you are facing a block, I recommend you step back and take a good look at your situation. Realize that we all need a little help once in a while.  Reach out and explore the possibilities that an experienced coach can bring to you. Imagine what your life could be like with a little push in the right direction!  The possibilities are endless!

            My name is Rita, and I am a professional coach who can help you find the direction that is right for you. Let me help you navigate around your road blocks and overcome your stumbling blocks. You can contact me at: www.ritathompsoncoaching.com.

I am a MentorCoach Connections Ambassador! I can’t say enough good things about the MentorCoach program and I can’t keep the information to myself. Something that good is worth sharing which is why I am posting this here for all to see.

As stated on their website, MentorCoach is a virtual university that offers an International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited coach training program that prepares helping professionals from a variety of occupations to meet their coaching career goals. Their Foundations class is their flagship 31-week coach training program. It intends to provide students training in individual and group coaching skills, service marketing skills, ethics and risk management skills–all within a rich community of support– to launch their coaching practices.

For me, taking the MentorCoach Foundations class launched my coaching career and helped to improve both my personal and professional life. There are student testimonials on their website that include many comments which mirror my own experiences.

If you are interested in knowing what good coaching is all about, go to http://www.mentorcoach.com/cmd.php?af=1116954 and register for the Mentor Coach Foundations Class. (I do receive some remuneration when you register.)

Thank you,

Rita M. Thompson

Gratitude, A Story, A Question and Five Tips

by Rita M. Thompson

Personal and Educational Coach

Gratitude is a strength of the heart, an appreciation of another’s excellence in moral character (Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman), and a positive emotion that opens your heart and carries the urge to give back (Dr. Barbara Fredrickson).

Gratitude is one of my strongest strengths, making me enjoy life more when I use it and increasing my resilience during difficult times.

Here is one of my stories.

My neighbor during my pre-teen years was an elderly woman living alone. One time, I noticed her lawn was unusually overgrown, so I mowed it for her.

 Over thirty years later, 3000 miles away, I was raising my two young daughters alone and received a call from her. She was in the area and wanted to treat the three of us to lunch. As we ate and shared experiences and memories of home, I realized what a wonderful gift she was giving my children. My own gratitude surged and I savor that time. It still has the power to elevate me, even as I write.

What’s your story?

What happened to you in 2009, or before, that made you more grateful, helped you appreciate another person, or made you love life more?  Think of that time, how you felt, what reaction it created in you, and what is it’s effect on your life now?

Here are five tips that can help your gratitude practice.

1. You can write yourself a story about a gratitude moment in your life. While you write, savor the time and what it meant to you.
2. You can keep a diary of gratitude events that happen as you go through life.
3. You can, on a weekly basis, have a gratitude recall of three blessings, good things that happened to you that week.
4. You can think of something you can do for someone else, whether you know them or not, and do it graciously, without a sense of duty or expectation of return.
5. You can take a fresh look around you with an open mind and heart, growing in appreciation for the wonders that are there for you to find, in nature, in other people, and in events that occur.

My January, 2010 free teleconference will be on “Gratitude, What’s Your Story.” You can listen, share, and grow on January 6, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, 12:00 noon Eastern.

E-mail me at lifecoachrita@gmail.com for your free teleconference number- long distance charges may apply.

Send me your story ahead of time if you would like to share it with others on the call.

My next Gratitude Class, “Gratitude In Action” starts January 16, 2010 at 8:00 Eastern, and ends five sessions later on February 13, 2010. Cost is $125 per person, payable in advance by sending a check to Rita M. Thompson, 3185-D Via Buena Vista, Laguna Woods, Ca 92637. For future class notification, e-mail Rita your intent.

 Rita M. Thompson

Personal and Educational Coach

www.coaching4positivechange.com.

I wish all the best for my readers during the Christmas Holidays and the coming New Year and hope you will give yourself a gift.

Going one step further, I am offering a free teleconference on “What Is Important To You?” on December 28, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

If you want to learn how reach to your goals, enjoy the positive emotions and handle the negative ones, this could help you.

Should you feel blocked, unable to move forward, there will be some powerful ways presented toward accomplishment.

It’s best to make up your mind that you matter and so do others and there is help to make that happen with Coach Rita.

E-mail: lifecoachrita@gmail.com. with a few lines about what is important to you, and the conference number and info will be sent to you.

Join the conference and see the difference appreciative participation can make for you.

If you can’t attend the conference and want individual and/or group coaching e-mail me your preference at:

lifecoachrita@gmail.com.

We can arrange for a free half/hour conference or coaching times.

Act now while you are motivated.

On November 10, 2009 at twelve noon, Coach Rita M. Thompson, President of the Happy Works Club, LLC, will give a free teleconference on “From I Think I Can, Maybe, to I Did It!”.

To attend the call, write Rita at: lifecoachrita@gmail.com.  Only long distance charges may apply.

For additional scheduled time, e-mail Rita or find her on freespeakermatch.com.

<!–[endif]–>

Professional Bio for Rita M. Thompson, Life Coach

Education:

High School Graduation-Homer Central, Homer, N.Y.

Bachelor of Science, SUNY, Cortland, N.Y.

Master of Science, Syracuse, N.Y.

Graduate classes, Peabody College, Vanderbilt, Tenn., USC, Los Angeles, CA

Authentic Happiness Vanguard Coaching Program, U. of Penn. 2003

Mentor Coach LLC classes 2005-2010.

Awards and Honors:

Senightly Citizenship

W.A.A, Outstanding Senior

Who’s Who Among Women and In the West.

Who’s Who n America-most recent – 2008

 Past President Newport Beach Lawn Bowling Ckub

Teaching:

Pittsford Central School District, Pittsford, N.Y.

Palm Beach County Schools, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Counseling:

Fulton Consolidated Schools, Fulton, N.Y.

Orange Unified School District, Orange, Ca.

Coaching:

Individual and group

Happy Works Club LLC Past President, 2008,3009

www.coaching4positivechange.com.

Current Professional Organization memberships

ICF-The International Coaching federation

IPPA- The International Positive Psychology Association

E-mail: lifecoachrita@gmail.com.

Other favorite activities I love are my family and friends, music, gardening, reading, pets, writing, walking and water sports.

     I’m delighted you are here and want you to enjoy Coaching 4 Positive Change.

     What makes life so meaningful for me is love in action. That’s when I help people to realize their loves, strengths, talents, goals and joys. Like my joy in gardening, a bud opens into a beautiful flower; a person grows into the beauty of walking their fulfilling life.

     Professionally, My service has been 38 years as a teacher, counselor, and life coach. I’m a graduate of the Authentic Happiness Vanguard Coaching Program, Mentor Coach LLC trained, with memberships in the International Coaching Federation and the International Positive Psychology Association.

     Some other interests I enjoy are exercise, writing, reading, water sports, family, friends, pets and mental and physical health education advancement.

     I invite you to come with me and discover, grow, experience, walking the life you love.

     A free coaching session is available to you. 

     Act now for help that will move you forward where you want to go with positive change.

     E-mail me at: lifecoachrita@gmail.com.

Rita M. Thompson

Life, Personal and Educational Coach