Last week, I had my first meeting with a Life Coach.  About 15 minutes into our dialogue she asked me if I was familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  As a teacher, it is something considered every day when working with students.  If the basic needs are not met, learning cannot occur.

I have extreme gratitude for my Physiological and Safety fulfillment.  Having these needs met allows me to explore the upper deck of the pyramid this year.

Starting with “Love and Belonging”, I have mentioned my relationships could use a bit of “buffing.” I doubt it was an accident that Annie Grace sent an email highlighting a program on Relationship Development by Stacey and Paul Martino.

Here’s Annie’s Podcast with Stacey Martino

After hearing the podcast,  I signed up and listened to Paul and Stacey’s webinar and had some amazing takeaways:

• Demand Relationships v Relationship Development – (WOW! what an aHa)
• Blame and Judgement = Damage
• Support Systems are Key to Change
• “Life is Happening FOR you … not TO you”

I committed to the 8-Week Quick Start Program and was introduced to Six-Core Human Needs by Tony Robbins.

As anyone who has read my blog knows, I use this (at times) to take notes for myself on things that I have learned.  In honor of Stacey and Paul and the work they are doing, I’m not going to break down too much but to name the 2 new ideas for my toolbox.  They are extremely applicable to the AF journey.  (Which is why it is so easy to see why Annie Grace is a fan!)

The Spectrum of Change allows me to catch myself falling into old patterns of behavior so that triggers can be eliminated and I gradually move toward new brain rewiring.

The State-o-Meter identifies staying Above the 50% Line (aka Merry NOT going down the RABBIT HOLE).  For homework, I was challenged to come up with a 50 WAYS LIST to shift from below to above “the line”.  I got stuck and used google to help me with some new ideas–here’s a few:

• Blow out a candle
• Count Backwards from 100
• Repeat a mantra or sigh or OM
• Make a vision board
• Give or get a hug
• Blow on pinwheel
• Name the emotion
• Push against a wall
• Roll a ball under your feet
• Primal Yell
• Focus on 5 Senses 5-4-3-2-1-Grounding Technique
• Body Scan yourself…where am I tense?
• Push palms together for 5 seconds
• Chew Gum
• Release Verbally
• Arms to sky down to toes – Stretch
• Watch animals
• Scribble
• Smell something citrus
• Pectoral Door Stretch

Stacey and Paul Martino “Words of Wisdom” from Module 1:

“Magnificent friends are not found, they are developed.”

“To create something, you must know what you want.”

“Autopilot just gets us to an unknown destination.”