Believe It's Possible Life Coach - Gina Filipelli can help you be energized, manage stress and set goals, Patient Parent someone to listen to you in Yuba City and Placer

A recent Facebook post from a friend got me thinking about the question of what comes first, the marriage or the kids?  This issue touches on areas of our core beliefs, some new ones and others lingering from childhood memories.

As we approach the New Year it’s natural to consider our priorities and look forward to the year to come.  This is a perfect time to ponder how we decide who and what is most important!

Questioning our own belief system and challenging the thoughts that hang out in the nooks and crannies of our minds can lead us to even healthier boundaries and more loving homes. In a society that seems to pride itself on assertively stating one’s every thought (Twitter, Facebook, texting, blogging) as if it were fact, the act of re-thinking, examining, challenging, and weighing our opinions against new growth and realizations can be a gift.

When I was younger I hadn’t heard of “Living With Intention”, mindful parenting, and living with balance. But because we grow and learn as we live each additional year, we accumulate knowledge and wisdom that can fine tune old and new beliefs.

I ask this of those who pose the question of “Who Comes First?”: why does anyone need to come first? Perhaps striving for balance is a key strategy in determining who needs what on a daily balance.

How do you decide if your desire to get a pedicure, read a book, watch football on TV, or go on a date night trumps staying home with your kid(s) and playing, talking, making dinner and giving baths.  A rocky marriage doesn’t help children thrive and yet having kids who believe they come “second” doesn’t seem to make sense either. How will you strive to address this question in the new year?

I decided to blog about goal setting today.  So much of achieving your goal is about giving it the gift of your time, your focus. As I pondered this I felt drawn to make my bed, do a few dishes, and start some laundry. ‘Distraction’ and its sneaky cohort ‘Procrastination’ visiting me once againJ

My goals seem never ending: be more patient with my husband, don’t give unsolicited advice to my daughter, lose some weight, blog, meditate, be more fun, keep the house cleaner, be a good friend . … .

Try asking yourself:  What one thing, if it were better, would make the biggest difference in my life?

·        My ability to manage stress?

·        My Job?

·        My relationship with my kids?

·        My physical health? 

·        My relationship with my partner?

·        ???

The goal setting experts recommend choosing ONE goal to focus on.  Make it specific, measurable, do-able, have a timeline for when you will accomplish your goal. Start small. Have a support person. Know your obstacles, plan for them.

In August of 2010 I did not return to my school psychologist job of 26 years. I had been granted a year of unpaid leave by my school district, at my request. I felt a strong yearning that there was something different for me to pursue, it was out there, I just didn't know what it was yet.

I waited patiently for a sign. Any indication of what the universe had in mind for my second career. I put my intentions out there and went on with my day.  My husband and I visited our daughter in college, my step-son who recently moved to the Bay Area, we biked, kayaked, watched movies, traveled a bit. I re-read some Wayne Dyer, put some more Intentions out there, and waited.

I've never been that patient of a person, so after a couple months I was getting antsy and feeling a bit guilty about bringing in no income.......

In October, I hired a life coach, Karina Robinson.  She lives in Virginia so we connected through phone coaching. She was just what I needed! One of my several ideas for my next career was being a life coach. Karina guided me through a process that culminated with me knowing I would pursue becoming a life coach. She cautioned me not to quit my day job yet. Uh oh, too late.

Within a week I was enrolled in a Life Coaching Course. By May I was a certified Life Coach - yay!  And now, here I am, building a new business, putting existing and new skills to use , to do what I love to do. I am honored to have the opportunity to support others as they work toward fulfilling their life dreams.