It’s summer time! The school year is finishing. The June frenzy is almost over. Our teachers have been thanked, our graduates have been celebrated and our gardens look beautiful.

Now our energy turns to our summer holidays. This is the precious time when we can slow down and really enjoy the warm weather, our family and our friends. We each have our favourite things to do – go to the cottage, go camping, travel, explore the parks and recreation in our community, summer camps, ice cream sundaes, lounging by the cool swimming pool and so much more.

My coaching tip for you is to Be Present in ALL of the Moments of your life. Here are some effective strategies which you can start using today!

Set the Intention
Choose to enjoy what you are doing right here and now. Stop dwelling on the past and/or planning the future. Right now – what are you Seeing? Hearing? Feeling? Savour right now. This applies to the full range of our Moments – the happy times, the sad times, the agonizing times, the celebratory times. Embrace all of these times of our lives. The wide range of emotion and learning from these experiences so greatly enriches our lives.

Create a Structure
Create a structure to help you to keep focused on Being Present. Structures could include: your GEM from one of our workshops, a code word (like: Savour, Be Here or Enjoy), a favourite quote or a picture of what is most important to you. Have your structure handy, especially at times when you know you may get distracted or where you have a tendency to move out of an emotion quickly. For example, in the time that you have allocated for self reflection or nourishing your soul, the mourning of a loss, the celebration of a job well done, or in receiving a compliment.

Prioritize
Be in control of where, how and with whom you spend your time and resources. Just because you have done something every summer, it does not mean that you have to do it again this summer. Wishing away where you are or where you have to go are most definitely examples of not Being Present in the Moments of your life. Tap into your true feelings and select the activities you really want to do and the company you really want to keep. This makes Being Present in the Moment so much easier and pleasurable.

Time Mapping
Plan your time so that you know that you can get to do all of your high priority items. Create a weekly plan to slot those activities into their most ideal days and time of the day. Know that you have mapped out your time well and that you are now free to work your plan. Feel the ease that comes with not having to worry about when things will get done. You have already sorted that out and everything fits. Now you get to truly enjoy the doing and being of each moment.

Use Thought Stopping and Thought Substitution
You cannot control the thoughts which come into your head but you can control how long you dwell on them. When you notice unwanted thoughts coming into your head intentionally stop the unwanted thoughts from becoming a run away internal conversation. You can even visualize putting the unwanted thoughts on a shelf or tucked away to symbolize that you will not deal with them at that moment and perhaps you will chose to never come back to them. Replace those thoughts with thoughts about what is going on in the Present Moment. It helps to raise your head and notice everything around you. See your child running down the soccer field, focus on the person you are talking to, push yourself a little harder in your fitness class, celebrate a project well done! This strategy takes some mental muscle and practice. The great news is that it really works!

I am delighted to announce that I will be expanding my Group Coaching Workshop Offerings in September, 2009.

Some of the Workshops include:

• Life Coaching Boot Camp – Part 1
• Life Coaching Boot Camp – Part 2 -> Yes! It is here and full of great learning, experiential activities and life enriching strategies!
• The GEM Time Management System
• Positive Parent-Child Relationships (including teenagers)

• Individual weekly coaching sessions to help you to create the life you really want.
• Whether you want to make a big change or some fine-tuning.
• If you are at a cross roads I can help you to thoughtfully consider your options and see you through to achieving your goals.
• Take a personal journey in a customized, supportive environment.

• Business Start-up and Growth coaching
• Leadership coaching
• Team Building workshops
• Lunch and Learns
• Corporate Workshops and Boot Camps
• Keynote Speaker

Click here for more on GEM Life Coaching and Consulting’s Services and Workshops.

Call me today at 416-237-1986 or email me at evamarie@gemlifecoaching.com.

If you are still not sure if Life Coaching is for you, please call or email me to set up a complimentary, no obligation coaching session. This 30 minute phone call will give you a taste of life coaching with Eva-Marie and it will help you to decide how it could work for you.

Here is your chance to be one of GEM's wonderful Success Stories!