Coaching

How to Live in Astonishment (leaf lesson #3)

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 19 Conversations

 

We all have a dark side; a part of ourselves that we wish were otherwise.

Even the nicest of the nice, they’ve got their shadow side too.

But whatever you call it, however much you try to hide it, there’s something to learn from it if you look.

Just like this leaf, which I’m starting to think of as the leaf that keeps on giving. Weird thing is, when I first chose the leaf I completely missed the big dark spot you’ll see below.

It was hidden from my view.

How could I have missed that big, dark spot?

It was easier than you might think. I was so wrapped up in the colour and size, the majesty of it – I had eyes only for its beauty.

Continue reading →

Lessons & Reverberations

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 13 Conversations

 

The biggest lesson of 2011 was this. . .

You have to live in the now.

I know you’ve heard it before, but we all need reminding now and then. You simply can’t wait for a health crisis or any other kind of emergency before pursuing what you want in life.

When my father-in-law died suddenly last January, it was a wake-up call like no other. It lit a fire that caused a ripple effect throughout my life and business. And even though I’d thought this before, in an instant it became more real. . .

There is no someday.

It went from an intellectual concept to a burning desire to wake people up.

That is a lesson I can never forget. Its learning can never be undone. Ever.

Some days I don’t know if I’m up to this calling.

 

I think, who am I to wake people up?

And then I hear, who am I not to?

Because the alternative – people continuing to live and die with regrets – has become unbearable. Continue reading →

Turn Up Your Awareness and Come Alive (leaf lesson #2)

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 13 Conversations

 

“All you have to do is to pay attention; lessons always arrive when you are ready, and if you can read the signs, you will learn everything you need to know in order to take the next step.” – Paulo Coehlo

So the question is. . .do you pay attention?

Time after time, I’ve learned that it’s all about awareness. It really is a muscle that you can develop with practice. And when you consciously turn up your awareness (think of it like a dimmer switch) everything zooms into focus.

Solutions become clear, often in abundance.

Next steps open up, right there in front of you.

Confusion fades away.

How do you turn up that awareness then?

The exercise I shared from my retreat is a good way to start. Being with an object (for me this leaf) with no expectations, no judgments, no concerns, created space for my mind to see it (and life) in a new way.

Continue reading →

Walking In Wonder

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 12 Conversations

 

When you walk, how do you walk exactly?

Odd question, I know.

What I mean is do you look straight ahead or down at the ground? Do you look people in the eye or avert your gaze at all costs? Do you march military style or stroll like it’s Sunday afternoon?

How you walk says a lot.

Labyrinth at St. Paul's Cathedral, Vancouver, BC

I look around, I look at people, and I look like I know where I’m going.

For years I couldn’t understand why I got asked for directions or why people so often chatted with me on the bus.

Now I know.

It’s the walk.

But that’s only the day-to-day walk.

There’s another walk I’ve been thinking about.

How do you walk in the world?

Are you light-hearted, downtrodden or skeptical? Optimistic, resentful or curious?

What’s your way of being when you walk through life?

Just like your physical stride, this walk speaks volumes.

Continue reading →

Lessons Are Everywhere (in which I learn about myself in a most unusual way)

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 18 Conversations

 

Ever notice how anything in life can teach you if you let it?

While on retreat recently, as part of a group exercise I was invited to choose a leaf from a table covered with leaves of all shapes, colours and sizes. The beauty of fall lay before me.

While initially drawn to the intense red of the Japanese Maple, I found my hand reaching out to this leaf.

maple leaf found at Rivendell, Bowen Island

I didn’t question it or try to convince myself otherwise. I simply trusted my intuition, something I sometimes forget in the busyness of life.

The invitation was to notice if the chosen leaf had anything to teach me.

Funny how the oddest things seem perfectly natural when I’m on retreat.

Up in my room, I placed it on the desk where I did my writing.

And so I sat with my leaf.

Continue reading →

Choose Your Path

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 16 Conversations

 

Do you view life as a maze, full of challenges and competition OR as a labyrinth, an opportunity to find yourself along the path?

A maze is designed to confuse you and test your ability to solve the challenge of getting to the centre.

A labyrinth is unicursal, designed with one single path that always leads to the centre.

labyrinth at Rivendell, Bowen Island

The Labyrinth at Rivendell

 

You are not born on one path or the other.

You get to choose your path.

Every single day.

Rational, logical, competitive, pressured ==> You’re in the maze.

Relaxed, present, connected to spirit ==> You’re walking the labyrinth.

Labyrinth thinking takes letting go of societal conditioning to get things done and win at all costs, ie: Who gets to the centre first? It takes letting go of traditional education’s conditioning to do it right and do as your told, ie: Follow the path exactly in order to get a gold star.

Notice your default view.

Maze or Labyrinth.

My work as a coach is not to tell you which path to choose.

It’s not about which path is right, but which path feels right for you.

shadow on Rivendell labyrinth, Bowen Island

If you’re alive you’re on the path.

Which would you rather walk?

 

Here I Am

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 21 Conversations

Reflections From A Retreat

Here I am, again.

Reacquainted with my Self.

Time slows down,

Here.

Rivendell labyrinth, Bowen Island

 Here, I am in need. . .

Of rest and connection.

It always seems easier,

Here.

Rivendell labyrinth, Bowen Island

Here I am, ready,

To let go of all plans.

To start anew,

Here.

centre of Rivendell labyrinth, Bowen Island

Here, I am centred.

I am always here,

But I’m only now,

Remembering.

Remembering.

Be A Waker

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 18 Conversations

 

“A waker is someone who is very good at waking other people up from their metaphorical slumber, temporary or otherwise.” – Hugh MacLeod

So, are you? A waker I mean.

I am.

I look back at my life and remember all the times I just had to rock the boat and wake people up.

Being a waker had me leave the 9-5 world and become a coach, a job that actually pays me to wake people up.

Life’s funny like that.

But being a waker isn’t necessarily an easy path in life.

As Hugh MacLeod says,

“A waker reminds you on a constant basis,  just how alive you really are….And there’s something about their influence that makes you utterly unable to go back to “sleep” ever again, in spite of your best efforts.”

Think about it. . .a lot of people don’t want to be woken up. Waking up takes courage and it’s so much easier to keep your head down and play it safe.

Sometimes. . .not often, but there are moments. . .I wish I could go back to those days of being less conscious, less awake.

But not really. Continue reading →

The Body Never Lies

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 21 Conversations

“Your body has a story to tell you. In order to take better care of your body, you have to find out about its needs. And the best way of discovering what will nourish and nurture you is to simply ask yourself.” – Cigdem Kobu

If you’ve never asked yourself this type of question, you might be surprised at how your body responds, how willing it is to communicate.

Your body has a story to tell. Your job is to listen.

Listening to your body is about letting its messages come through; messages you’ve ignored or avoided, messages overshadowed by the busyness of life.

Not listening has a significant cost to your well-being as I remember so well.

Continue reading →

Let Them Eat Cake

Posted on by Sandi Amorim 15 Conversations

 

If every behaviour has a positive intention, instead of flogging yourself and donning a hairshirt, why not look back and see a lifetime of you taking care of you?

Shaking your head in disbelief and doubt? I know, I hear it from clients all the time. I’m not going to lie, I even have to remind myself now and then.

But think about it like this for a moment. . .

You wouldn’t keep doing the things you do unless there was value for you in there somewhere. You just wouldn’t.

white cupcake with chocolate frosting

The stuff you do that feels good ==> positive intent.

ie: You buy organic because it’s healthier for you and better for the environment, which leads back to you feeling good.

The stuff you do that you suffer about ==> positive intent.

ie: You ate the stale cupcake because in that moment you felt sad about a friend that passed away recently, which lead to a need for comfort and the cupcake reminded you of your mom and how she used to bake treats for you as a kid (comfort), which leads back to you feeling good.

See? Positive. 

Whether it looks healthy and organic or iced and stale. . .all positive.

Are you getting this?

That’s why everything you do is self-care in some way.

Continue reading →