Some people, when they first start learning about life coaching, they get the idea that what we’re trying to do is control our thoughts. We gotta push those negative thoughts away, don’t let them in, and just figure out a way to make ourselves think positive.  What I teach, what I believe in, is actually not that at all.  In this episode, I share two words that describe what I’m aiming to do with my thoughts, and what I help others do with their thoughts when I'm coaching them.  Tune into today's episode to learn how you can notice your thoughts and understand your thoughts, rather than trying to control them. 

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My oldest son is about to turn 20. Over the years I have shifted my mindest from being frustrated that my kids have the ability to make choices I wouldn't make, more toward honoring and celebrating their god-given right to decide how they will live their lives and who they want to be. In today's episode I share a piece of my journey in the form of a letter I wrote to my son a few years ago.  If you are raising teenagers, or are in any other situation where you find yourself reaching over wanting to control other people ("just do what I want you to do, dang it!")this episode is for you.  

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Have you ever worn a sweater that was super uncomfortable?  That was too tight, or too scratchy, or that you just didn't feel excited to go out in?  Thoughts are like sweaters. Some thoughts fit just right, and you'll feel really good when you think them. Other thoughts feel uncomfortable, or downright terrible. Sometimes we buy sweaters for ourselves that we really don't end up liking, or sometimes we wear sweaters that we really don't enjoy wearing, that were given to us by other people.  Either way, if you don't like how you feel when you believe a thought, you can stop "wearing" it at any time. Tune in to today's episode to learn more. 

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If you want to set a New Year's Resolution that is guaranteed not to last more than a month, look no further for the ultimate guide--I'll show you exactly how.  In this epsiode, I'll teach you how to focus exclusively on the actions you need to take, how to criticize yourself, and and how to maintain rigidity in your plans to ensure that you lose motivation to achieve any goal in a matter of weeks.  I bet you can't wait to learn these secrets!  Or, if you want to set a long term goal and actually achieve it, I'll share 3 (opposite) tips for how to do that too. If you want a good chuckle and also some ideas for how to inspire yourself to make a positive change in your life this year, this episode is for you. 

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What is your perception of forgiveness?  When you think about the idea of forgiving someone who has wronged you, do you feel about as excited as a toddler who is being told it's time to take a nap?  If you are carrying around frustration and resentment over things that have happened in the past, you probably have some understandable reasons why you don't want to let go. And you don't have to.  But you can.  For YOUR sake. Listen in to this episode to find out 3 things forgiveness ISN'T--and how it can set you free. 

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Have you ever longed for a project, commitment or event to be over so you can finally get relief from all the stress?  A lot of people imagine the relief they will feel when their circumstances are different. But since relief is a feeling, and feelings are created by your thoughts (not your circumstances!), there are certain types of relief that are actually available to you right now, even if your circumstances don't change at all.  Listen in to today's episode to hear 3 "real life" examples of how this can be true. 

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Your life is like a musical, and you are the director. You get to choose what you shine your mental spotlight on.  It's up to you to decide what things you will think about, talk about, post about, complain about, worry about, express gratitude for, or believe in. Who or what do you want to cast as the lead in your musical?? Where do you want to give your focus and attention? Tune into this week's episode to get some inspiring advice from the Apostle Paul that can help you as you direct the musical inside your mind.  

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Did you know you can be grateful for things that haven't happened yet?  You can't know exactly what the future holds, but if you visualize what you hope for and believe is possible, you can experience a feeling of gratitude now, that will fuel you toward a future that is full of things to be grateful for. Tune into this week's episode to consider a whole new way of looking at what it means to have faith. 

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If you're looking to feel frustrated, powerless, and exhausted, I know just the thing!  It's called arguing with reality.  Most of us do it all day long, and it drains our energy and gets us nowhere. In this episode, I'll share 3 things you can't ever change no matter how hard you try, and show you how to train your brain to focus on what you CAN change. Listen in for a fresh take on what gratitude is...and isn't. 

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Did you know that when you feel stressed about the holidays, it's not caused by the gifts, the decorations, or your busy schedule? In this episode, I'll tell you about a sneaky thought (that seems lovely but is actually toxic!) that creates so much stress if you believe it. I'll also share some ideas of what you can choose to believe instead.  If you don’t feel any stress or anxiety or worry about anything related to the holidays, or if you are super stressed and uptight about a bunch of things but that doesn’t bother you at all, you could skip this epiosde. But if you feel some pressure this time of year, and maybe some resentment or dread or frustration as you plan and execute all the festivities, and you’d like to dial that down a little bit, this episode is for you!

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Thoughts create feelings. So what thoughts create anxiety? If you're like most people, you probably feel anxious when you are thinking thoughts that focus on things you worry might happen in the future or emotions you worry you might feel in the future. In this episode, I point out what a lot of people do to try to decrease anxiety that doesn't usually work, and I share a  strategy that's only a little bit different, that can help you feel the opposite of anxiety. It might surprise you how simple it is. 

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Have you ever regretted a decision you made, or something you said or did?  If you're like most people, you have probably longed for the ability to go back in time and fix a mistake you made so you coudl get out of feeling all that regret.  Well, unless you're Marty McFly from Back to the Future, you'll never have a time machine to go back and change the past.  The good news is, you don't need one.  Tune in to this week's episode to find out how the solution to regret is actually in the present. 

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Do you sometimes feel sorry for yourself when life doesn't go the way you planned, or when you face challenges, difficulties, or disappointments? If you do, it's totally fine. You can choose to feel sorry for yourself anytime you want to. But, if you don't really like the feeling of self-pity, you can actually choose connection, gratitude, and hope instead--even when you are going through hard things. Tune into this week's episode and I'll show you how. 

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Do you ever feel like you are on trial?  Like every day, you have to somehow prove that you are smart, capable, and good enough... Or depending on the evidence of the day, accept the verdict that you aren't?!  Do you put other people on trial, too? If you're tired of  trying to prove who measures up and who doesn't, or of trying to play judge, jury, defendant, and prosecutor with yourself and in your relationships, I have good news for you:  You don't have to keep doing it.  Tune into this week's episode, where I share how you can shift from a focus on "proving" into the joy of IMproving. 

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If you're like most people, you sometimes end up blaming other people for the negative parts of your life, or you beat YOURSELF up when you make mistakes or fall short. In this episode I'll show you why blame and shame are both tempting, but utimately aren't useful because they both keep you trapped in negative emotion. And did you know that blame and shame aren't your only two options?  I'll tell you what I recommend instead, that feels SO much better.

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Something that drives me crazy is to reach into a drawer to get a pen and not have any pens in there. Which is pretty funny, because I also have a habit of using a pen in one room and then wandering into another room without realizing I'm doing it.  Tune in to this week's episode to get a few good laughs about what it looks like when we accidentally create results in our lives that we don't want, and learn what you can do about it. 

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In this episode I share a life coaching tool that is the foundation of everything I do as a coach. I use this tool with my clients, I use it to coach myself, I use it to create courses, and you can use it to make any changes you want to make in your life. It's called The Model. 

Tune in to find out what it is and how you can start benefitting from it right away!

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Welcome to the Think New Thoughts Podcast!  In this introductory episode, I share the idea that you have the power to choose the thoughts you want to think, and explore 2 truths and a lie about life coaching: The truth that all thoughts are optional, the truth that what we choose to think creates our emotions, and the lie we often believe that what HAPPENS to us determines how we feel.

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