Archive for the ‘Coaching’ Category
What Is Your Passion?
Friday, March 30th, 2012
In a recent conversation with my partner, she asked me what my passion was. I told her it was traveling and writing. She said, “But what is your inner passion?” I found myself stumbling and babbling all sorts of ideas. None of the ideas felt like my one passion in life. Then I asked myself the question and when I listened from that perspective, I knew the answer: “Service.” My passion in life is service. It’s something I was taught by my parents and a gene I inherited. I told my partner, “I will always be of service, no matter what I do in life.”
It seemed my answer was so obvious that I began to search for another one. Sometimes what we are really passionate about is right in front of us – something we do daily or is a part of our essence. When you think about your essence, what do you bring to the world?
What is your one passion you share effortlessly?
May you live your passion each day in celebration with the world.
Mary Anne
And if you need assistance unearthing your passion, feel free to contact me to set up a coaching session. Live your passion!
My Growing Edge. What Is Yours?
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
I often encourage people to think bigger, go bolder, and reach higher. As my business started to grow, I knew it was time to expand my coaching practice – to reach more people – to be more visible. I began to draft my business design, update my bio, and launch a new website. After completing my draft, three things happened: 1. I came down with a horrible stomach virus; 2. A family member was diagnosed with a serious illness; 3 My computer crashed. All of this happened in the span of about seven days. While feeling vulnerable, the voice of doubt came whispering (okay, screaming) in. I had the thought, “Maybe I am not ready and capable of expanding my coaching business.”
When I was done feeling sorry for myself, I realized at that moment I was going to my growing edge. And for that reason I knew it was important for me to help other people discover theirs – because at any given moment, we are called to go beyond the voice of doubt and fear and see what incredible opportunity is awaiting us. It may not always be easy, but it can be simple. It can simple knowing what we are called to do. And it may take getting support to help us create the map to get there. Continue reading…
Celebrate your growing edge in Hawaii. For more details about the upcoming retreat in Hawaii on the Big Island, click here.
Peace, Mary Anne
What Are You Seeing in Your World?
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
When you look out, what are you seeing in your world?
What is your vision?
What is your mantra?
What are you creating?
In stillness, your creative vision and mantra is available.
When you look within, what are you seeing in your world?
{Photo taken in Egypt by Mary Anne Flanagan}
Celebrating International Coaching Week!
Thursday, February 10th, 2011
As part of International Coaching Week, 2/6 – 2/12, I am doing some wellness coaching at various centers and spas. I am also offering special discounts so folks can experience the power of coaching. If you are interested in learning more about life coaching and taking your dreams and goals to the next level, visit my website: http://toningtheom.com
Feel free to check out my Life Coaching Services on Thumbtack as well.
Drop me a line!
Mary Anne
What Scares You More – Failure or Success?
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
“I’ve been terrified every day of my life but that’s never stopped me from doing what I wanted to do.” -Georgia O’Keefe
There is something so freeing and exhilarating when we can challenge and transcend our fears. Dr. Susan Jeffers has a book called, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, that talks about facing and walking through our fears. What’s amazing is that when we walk through our fears, we not only find the fear to be an illusion, but often we find our greatest passion is on the other side of it.
Every time I have a new project, create a new program, post a blog, send a proposal of a workshop, I have a stream of fearful thoughts run through me. Sometimes the fear of success is even bigger than the fear of failure. It is in those moments I think of my friend Fr. Bob who twenty years ago said, “Anytime you do ‘God’s’ work, you ought to be a little afraid.” Work that is meaningful and influential allows me to transcend my fears.
As Joyce Meyers says, “Do It Afraid.” Do one thing this week that scares you – it is a great starting point.
Do something despite your fear and see where it leads you.
Mary Anne
Inspiration, Curiosity, & Positivity
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
After meeting some of the best and the brightest researchers and educators at a recent Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital Coaching in Medicine & Leadership Intensive, I wanted to share some amazing quotes of inspiration:
“All great leaders by their passion and sense of purpose, and their accomplishments, live a great story.” ~Sanjiv Chopra, MD
“The opponent within one’s head is more daunting that the one on the other side of the net.” ~Sir John Whitmore, PhD
“Positive emotions help us become the best versions of ourselves.” ~Barbara Fredrickson, PhD
“Changes in the internal system will effect changes in the external system and vice versa. This means that how you relate to your Inner Team members is similar to how you relate to the people in your world and vice versa.” ~Richard Schwartz, PhD
“We cannot inspire passion in others without engaging it ourselves.” ~Richard Boyatzis, PhD
“Coaching improves psychological resources that predict higher performance, capacity to change, and mental health, e.g. increasing positivity, resilience, and self-efficacy.” ~Margaret Moore, M.B.A.
You don’t have to be a life coach or a doctor to ask, to be open, to be curious, to connect in ways that allow us to reach our deepest vision of healing and wholeness. As Paul Farmer once said, “The only true nation is humanity.”
Mary Anne
Believing in Your Potential
Monday, September 27th, 2010
I just came home from a Coaching in Medicine and Leadership Intensive with Harvard Medical School. In another blog, I will post some amazing quotes and ideas. I wanted to dedicate this one to sharing why it meant so much to me to go to this Harvard Intensive.
Back in grade school, I was never the best or brightest in class. Teachers often based my grades on my hard work, my creativity, and my enthusiasm. My report cards had remarks like, “Mary Anne is a joy to have in class.” While I may not have understood everything happening in the classroom, I had an insatiable curiosity and loved asking questions.
By the time I went to high school, I felt like I had to work so hard just to keep up. I started to feel very lost and struggled with many classes. By the end of my junior year, I prayed to get through one more year. Not knowing what I would do after high school, I met with my guidance counselor, who after looking at my transcript, told me not to apply to college. My counselor thought I ought to go to a trade school or find a job. She told me I wouldn’t make it through college.
As a Life Coach, I can look back now and see that this counselor didn’t see or believe in my potential. She never asked me what I wanted to do after high school or ask if I wanted to attend college. Fortunately, I had a religion teacher who told me I had a lot of gifts to share with the world. She encouraged me (along with my parents) to attend college and explore classes until I found something that brought me joy.
This teacher saw in me more than I could at 17 and encouraged me to explore and dream — she saw potential and possibility. I graduated college with honors and have gone on to do amazing work with non-profits as well as successfully start my own company.
Going to Harvard Medical school this weekend was symbolic for me. It reminded me that anything is possible and I have even more potential to celebrate.
Who believes in your potential? As Thich Nhat Hanh says, “We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.”
Mary Anne
Did You Do Your Best?
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
There was a time growing up when I didn’t doing well in school and my mom asked me, “Did you do your best?” I told her I did and she said that was all I needed to give others – my best. My mom told me I could be anything I wanted and believed in me at times when I didn’t believe in myself.
This past week I completed my certification as a Life/Executive Coach from New York University. It was a big undertaking as I work full-time and run my own company as well as had major family health issues come up while taking classes. There were times I thought I was going to give up. Keeping up with all the courses, homework assignments, readings, completing forms, and coaching clients became all consuming. Yet, through it all, I have met some of the most amazing individuals (some of whom have become my closest friends). I have come across men and women from ages 25 – 65 that see potential and possibility in the individuals, business executives, and organizations they partner with. This exceptional group of coaches is all about life-long learning and developing their own sense of self-mastery. They are vulnerable, generous, and supportive.
After completing the last course, I celebrated with my fellow coaches and then went home and celebrated with my partner, Lorene (who has encouraged me every step of the way). I told her I wish I could have picked up the phone to tell my mom that I finished the coaching program. I still miss hearing her voice. Instead, I opened a box that has photos and other memorabilia and pulled out a photo of the two of us. I looked at a photo of my mom and I, cried, and said, “I did my best.”
Special thanks to all of my family, friends, and coaches for being so supportive on my journey.
Mary Anne
This is dedicated with gratitude & love to my teacher, my coach, my mentor, and my good friend, Paulette Rao.
“Who’s in Your Fab 5?”
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Mary Anne & her drumming Fab 5 in Hawaii
There is an amazing new book out called The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle. Coyle visited some of the world’s greatest “hotbeds”, which are small areas that have produced large amounts of talent. It’s all about having a better understanding of where talent comes from, how we learn, and how we can discover more by our mistakes. Coyle talks a lot about how we can acquire skill by learning about a substance called myelin. “Myelin is the insulation that wraps around nerve fibers and increases signal strength, speed, and accuracy.”
According to Coyle, there is a pattern in acquiring talent that includes, “deep practice, ignition, and master coaching.” I found this fascinating. I always wondered what talents were inherited and which ones were not. How can we increase our level of talent? …Practice, practice, practice.
In looking at how to increase our level of talent, I found there were other factors such as confidence, motivation, and environment. Want to build up that myelin? Here are just a few of my suggestions.
There may be times you want to do something new or increase your level of performance, but fear gets in your way. Notice and acknowledge fear when it arises. The more you push it away, the more it returns – even bigger and louder.
- Make mistakes. We not only learn by doing; we also learn by re-doing. Our brains can actually recalibrate according to what we learn from our mistakes. So, go ahead and use that phrase you did as a kid, “Do-over.”
- “You are who you hang out with.” A good friend of mine, Fr. Bob, once said this to me on a retreat back in 1989. Basically, look around and see who you are hanging around with and that will show you where your energy and actions are drawn towards. Are your friends there to support you on your journey or holding you back? Another way of saying this is, “Who is your Fab 5?” Take an inventory of the people who most influence your life.
- Do something new. Push yourself. Challenge yourself to do one thing that scares you. “Do It Afraid.”
- Ask questions. Push the limits of your brain and your heart. Begin a practice of asking questions daily and see what emerges. Create a question ritual. I find by asking a BIG question, it leads me to what is next in my life. My big question this month is: How can I be of MORE service?
- Follow your breath. Your breath is your will. When you are ready to start a new project, practice your skills, or create a path, start with your breath. Use your breath to guide you. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, slowly and deeply. Awareness of our breath allows for better focus.
- Finally, our coaches were right – practice, practice, practice. Repetition is key when wanting to acquire a new skill.
So, go ahead, make mistakes, practice, and find a good coach. Then look around and ask, “Who’s in your Fab 5?”
Thanks to my “Fab 5” for keeping me on track, pushing me to be more, and allowing the space to practice, to grow, and to develop.
Living Succinctly
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
I recently finished the book The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. In his book he talks about creating a blueprint for living with less clutter, noise, distractions, and unnecessary interruptions in our daily living. Babauta says, “By setting limitations, we must choose the essential.”
How can we choose the essential? I started looking at all the “stuff” in my life. These are the things that fill up my home, my desk, my inbox, and even the trunk of my car. I began to notice that I was surrounded by so many unessential things. My vision is to live more succinctly. I want to be able to live with fewer things and make myself available for more experiences. A rich filled life for me is not having more things, but the ability to spend time with good friends, travel to new places, and create space for more learning.
To live succinctly means keeping the essential and letting the rest fall away. A good example that Babauta refers to in choosing the essential is in a poetry form known as a haiku. A haiku is Japanese style poetry written in seventeen syllables on three lines (five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables). A haiku is usually written about a nature related ordinary moment. Back in 1990, I wrote a Haiku poem in response to some volunteer work I was doing with children in the Bahamas.
Little arms and hands
Wrapped around my waist show me
The beauty of God-
Here is to speaking and living succinctly – and noticing what begins to show up in your life. Are there places in your life where you can set limitations and free yourself for more of the essential? Take notice of how you fill your days, your desk, and your home.
Start with the beauty of a Haiku. Everyone is invited to send me their haiku poems and I will post them. Send your poems to toningtheom@yahoo.com.
This blog is dedicated to all my English teachers who inspired me to read poetry and encouraged me to write. The haiku is dedicated to all the children in the Bahamas where living succinctly and lovingly was a gift I still carry today.