Generosity is one of the many mindfulness tools I teach my teen clients as a way to refocus their thoughts from constantly thinking about themselves and putting energy into doing good for others.  When we give or do something for someone it actually gives us a sense of satisfaction and makes us feel more positive about ourselves. The mere act of giving fills a person’s life with joy and their own happiness multiplies. A win-win in my book!

Generosity rarely happens by chance. Instead, it is an intentional decision that we make in our lives. But it does not need to be as difficult as many people think. Week one we focused on generosity with our words.  We learned that our words are powerful and being intentional and generous with our words to uplift those around us (and our own spirits too) is a simple yet impactful way to give to others.  

For our SECOND week of giving with a generous spirit we will concentrate on:  Generosity of TIME.

“When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”  Rick Warren 

We all know that our time is a precious gift but we don’t always use it to benefit others. Instead, we use it up with an endless to-do list and we get so busy, there is little left time to give away.  I challenge you to look at your schedule each day and be more intentional in finding ways to use your time to benefit others.    

Time and presence is often the greatest gift we can give to people 

Being generous with our time can be as simple as spending quality time with people. For example, going on a date with your spouse, hanging with your teens, meeting friends face to face, or putting down your phone when talking with others!!!    

To support our generous spirit this week I recommend journaling daily and repeating the affirmation. These are simple but effective ways to help with our monthly intention. 

The Affirmation to practice for the week: I am a loving, generous, kind person.

The journal prompt for the week: How can I create time today, to be present with a loved one?  What would this look like? 

I usually write my affirmation on several index cards and leave them in different places.  Every time I see it, I repeat it. You can also add as your screensaver, or set an alarm or reminder several times a day with the affirmation written.   

I would love to hear from you!  Let me know how your week of generosity is going.Always remember, the act of giving is an energy and when we give, we also receive. Be open to receive this week as well. Be open to giving and receiving and see all the goodness that comes into your life! 

Did you know practicing generosity could be the very key to a happy and healthy life? 

Giving to others always feels good, This month, I want to hyper focus on giving and make it a priority in my life!It is way more fun to do this together and I know our generosity will multiply and impact so many more people!  Thanks for joining me with getting into a giving conscious.

Deepak Chopra writes that the intention behind our giving is the most important thing. When the act of giving is joyful, when it is unconditional and from the HEART, then the energy behind the giving increases many times over!  

Be mindful over this month as we practice giving, that we do not give grudgingly, there is no energy behind that giving. If we feel we have lost something through the act, then the gift is not truly given and will not cause an increase.

This week we will practice: GENEROSITY of WORDS.  Being generous with words means expressing kindness, appreciation, and support through your words. 

Our words are powerful and we will execute being intentional and generous with our words to uplift those around us (and our own spirits too). A double win in my book!

This simple but powerful way to give is an excellent way to start off the month of November. I challenge you to give the gift of your words in kind, loving ways. Sometimes these are the most precious gifts you can give and they do not cost a thing.

As a life coach, my role is to support and guide your teen in various aspects of their lives to help them achieve their goals, navigate challenges, and develop important life skills!!

 Here are all the ways I can help your teen:

Goal Setting and Planning: Work with your teen to identify their short-term and long-term goals. This can include academic, career, personal, and social goals.

Building Self-Confidence: Assist your teen in recognizing their strengths and building self-confidence. Celebrate their successes, no matter how small!!

Time Management and Organization: Teach time management skills and organizational strategies to help your teen balance school, extracurricular activities, and personal life. 

Communication Skills: Work on improving your teen's communication skills, both with peers and with parents. Effective communication is vital for resolving conflicts and building healthy relationships.

Emotional Intelligence: Teach your teen to recognize and manage their emotions, as well as how to empathize with others. Emotional intelligence is crucial for building strong relationships and coping with stress.

Problem Solving and Decision-Making: Guide your teen in developing critical thinking skills, which can aid them in solving problems and making well-informed decisions.

College & Career Exploration: Help your teen explore different college & career options and provide guidance on choosing the right educational path.

Stress Management: Teach stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and time management, to help your  teen manage the pressures of school, extracurricular activities, and family life.

Relationship Building: Support your teen in developing healthy relationships, including friendships and romantic relationships. Discuss boundaries, respect, and effective communication within relationships.

Healthy Habits: Encourage your teen to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as nutrition, exercise, and sleep routines.

Resilience and Coping: Help your teen develop resilience and coping strategies for dealing with setbacks and challenges.

Accountability: Encourage your teen to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

Personal Values and Ethics: Discuss the importance of personal values and ethical decision-making.

Mindfulness and Well-being: Teach mindfulness techniques to help your teen stay present and manage anxiety or stress.

Holistic Well-being: Focus on your teen's overall well-being, including physical, mental, and emotional health.

I recently had an amazing opportunity to speak in front of 250 high school athletes about the benefits of sleep and how it impacts performance. I wanted to share the highlights with you to help unlock your teens potential and provide a guide for peak performance.

Sleep is totally underrated. It doesn’t get the fanfare it deserves. Most of us don’t make sleep a priority and it can be the one thing we all need to take our health, our mind, our athletic and academic performance to the NEXT LEVEL.

Studies have shown that sleep improves fine motor skills, reaction time, muscular power and endurance, and problem solving.

Here are some top benefits of sleep to gain the academic and athletic performance your teen and YOU are striving for!

It is important for teens to prioritize sleep and aim for 8-10 hours of quality sleep per night. Good sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and minimizing screen time before bedtime, can contribute to better sleep quality and overall peak performance.

The back-to-school season is here, and it's time to help your teens get ready.  I have got your back with some tips to make this transition a breeze. From having real heart-to-heart talks to homework hacks,  I have the  ultimate guide for parent-teen tag team success! 

Open Communication:  Time for some real talk! Sit down with your teen and have a chat about their feelings, dreams, and even those first-day jitters. Creating a space where they can share anything sets the tone for an amazing school year. 🙌

 Back-to-School Shopping:  Shopping spree alert! Take your teen on a shopping adventure for school supplies and clothes. This isn't just shopping – I use this time to build connection with my teen and excitement around meeting new teachers, new friends, and starting new classes.  This all needs new school supplies and awesome outfits! 

 Emphasize Self-Care: Time for some TLC – Teen Love and Care! Teach your teen the art of self-care. Encourage them to rock out to their favorite tunes, sketch away, or just chill with a good book. Remind them that taking care of themselves is like giving their awesomeness a big, warm hug! 

Study Habits:  Help your teen find their study groove by minimizing tech distractions. It's all about power hour study sessions followed by some social media time!

Supporting Extracurricular Activities:  Time to cheer on your teen's passions! Whether it's soccer, art club, or playing the piano, be their biggest fan. 

Celebrate Achievements:  It's time to celebrate! The big and the small wins.  Whether they've aced a test, nailed a presentation, or got ready for school on time, pop the confetti cannons and show them they're the stars of the show!

Back to School/College is fast approaching and I know you and your teens have a ton of thoughts about it!

Most of us may have mixed emotions about the start of the school year. Some days I am ready for school to start and get back into a routine and other days I don't want summer to end!

Our teens have a ton of thoughts and emotions about this school year.

Their thoughts are creating feelings of anxiousness, nervousness, apathy, fear, anger, excitement and so many more.

Our minds are super powerful and it wants us to manage it! One way to manage our mind is to create thoughts that will serve us this school year.

I created a FREE 5-day workbook to help your teen with their Back To School Mindset. This workbook will help teens decide what they want this year, and how to take intentional action towards it!

It all begins with our thoughts!

I have been doing this mindset work for years and let me tell you it works!! I was able to create an awesome career and work with the most amazing people! All by doing the inner work and taking time to discover what I truly want.

This workbook is a powerful tool to help your teen explore and discover what they want and how they want to feel this school year.

It is time for your teen to discover what they want this school year to look like!

Parenting teenagers can be an intricate dance of balancing guidance and independence. One of the challenges that many parents encounter during this stage is helping their teens understand the difference between perfectionism and the pursuit of excellence. In a world that often emphasizes flawless achievement, it's crucial for parents to guide their teens towards a healthier perspective on success. In this blog, we will explore the concepts of perfectionism and excellence, their impact on teens, and offer practical strategies for parents to foster a mindset of excellence in their adolescents.

The Perfectionism Trap:

Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can drive individuals to excel and achieve high standards. On the other hand, it can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and a fear of failure. Parents should be aware of the signs of perfectionism in their teens, such as setting unrealistically high expectations, avoiding challenges for fear of failure, and being overly critical of themselves. It's important to have open conversations with your teen about the pressures they feel and the standards they are holding themselves to.

The Essence of Excellence:

Excellence, unlike perfectionism, is a mindset that promotes growth, learning, and personal development. It involves setting high standards, but also acknowledging that mistakes and setbacks are essential components of the journey. Excellence is about the process, while perfectionism fixates on the outcome. Encouraging your teen to adopt an attitude of excellence can help them build resilience, develop problem-solving skills, and maintain a healthier self-esteem.

All New Parent Pop IN Sessions

I am overjoyed with launching the Parent Pop In!

If you want to build a strong, loving relationship with your teen and need support a long the way. I got YOU!

Do you call your friend and ask her how to handle a certain situation with your teen? Do you google, “What to do when your teen -----?” You are not alone.

Unfortunately, your best friend and Google can’t help you in the way you or your teen needs. You must talk to someone who is objective and isn’t going to just tell you what you want to hear or give you general advice that doesn’t pertain to YOUR child.

You need a PARENT POP IN Session!!

Raising teenagers is a huge responsibility and at times really, really HARD. They are walking hormones fighting for independence while struggling with the reality that they still need guidance from their parents. It is THE most stressful and difficult time for them as developing humans AND the most stressful and difficult time for PARENTS trying to raise good people.

I get this. I have made it my career to learn “teen speak” so I can connect with teens on a level most adults are never blessed to experience. I not only coach teens and their parents, but also am a parent of 3 teens of my own!

WHAT IS A PARENT POP-IN?

If you are a parent of a teenager and struggling with connection, communication, or how best to handle a certain situation or scenario, this is your chance to talk to an objective and knowledgeable expert 1:1.

I will help you navigate the best course of action to help you and your teen effectively and lovingly.

A PARENT POP IN is a 15-30 minute conversation without any pressure or commitment. You are not tied to a number of sessions. No strings attached…just getting the help you need in a short amount of time so you can strengthen your relationship with your teen by understanding how you want to move forward.

Helping your teen is not just about saying the right things…it's about understanding how to be heard by your teen as well as them being seen and heard.

This is your chance to have the floor about YOUR teen…not a generalized talk..a specific discussion about you and your loved one.

We will spend 15-30 minutes working through your thoughts to provide a path forward that strengthens the relationship with your teen AND gives you the perspective and guidance to handle the situation in a way that is authentic to both of you.

All New Parent Pop IN - Coming Soon!!

Did you ever get a hit of inspiration and within 5 seconds your brain kicks in and talks you out of it? Well, it happens to all of us. We create tons of great ideas or hits of inspiration to do something great and most of us ignore that voice and then listen to the negative banter in our heads talking us out of it. When we get that spark of inspiration, like call an old friend, apply for a new job, ask for a raise, write a book, take the vacation…..you get where I am going…right?!?!

The most important thing you can do is act on your hit of inspiration or your intuition tugging at you. As soon as you receive it, take a quick action towards it. That is it…TAKE ACTION!

INSPIRED ACTION IS THE KEY

I had this happen to me on my walk last week. When I was taking my afternoon walk, my creative juices started flowing. I got this idea of a Parent Pop In. A place where parents can pop in via zoom or phone call and chat about what is concerning them about parenting. A space of non-judgement to gain a different perspective and insight. I was so excited about this idea and before my brain could turn on me, I called my sister. Thankfully she answered because if she didn’t I know for sure the negative thoughts would have come swarming in. My energy talking to my sis was light and fun and we brainstormed how this would work. It sounded fabulous until about a few minutes off the phone….the thoughts started to enter.

So here I am today, taking one more step forward. It is a small one but it is forward motion and that is what it takes to bring your inspiration into reality. My step forward was to introduce the concept to you! I have a few more action steps to take prior to making this live but wanted to share an example on how to keep your inspiration alive even in the hectic world we live in.

The end of the school year brings up many mixed emotions for teens and for us parents. 

I have clients that are graduating high school, moving into high school, and even graduating college.  

Even just ending one school year and heading to the next is a transition.  I would even say these are BIG transitions!  

The change of routine that is approaching from seeing school friends every day to being home for the summer can be a huge adjustment.  

Many teens do not even realize the fluctuations of emotions and the many thoughts going through their mind and body.  One minute they are happy and laughing and the next, tears are flowing.  They go from being completely over school to becoming nostalgic and reminiscing over their favorite moments and how much they are going to miss it.  One minute they are excited for the future and the next they are scared of the unknown of the next phase in their life.  

This happens to us as parents as well!  The range of emotions sweep in like a gust of wind.  One moment I am excited about celebrating my son’s graduation and the next I am super stressed about the potential traffic.  Then I am in awe watching my son hang with his friends having fun. Then I find tears streaming from my eyes  because I am immensely grateful for all the amazing hockey parents that helped him along the way. 

So as the school year comes to an end, and new beginnings are on the horizon, how can we best support each of our loved ones and us (for that matter).