Thursday, December 18, 2014

Sending Your Child Off To College


It's that time in a senior's life where they're waiting to hear from all the colleges they've applied for. This is a very exciting and anxious time for both the teenagers and the parents. For the teenagers, they've waited a long time for all their hard work to pay off, in order to be accepted into a school of their dream...and for the parents, this is a huge milestone and you couldn't be more proud for your child! So, why are you both feeling anxious, scared, angry, happy, and ecstatic all at the same time?

Ask yourself some questions...

What emotions arise when I think of the day my child goes off to college?

Have I expressed my thoughts and concerns with my child about their safety around campus?

Have I asked, and fully listened, to any thoughts, concerns, or questions my child has about being on their own, away from home?

What "one" thing can I do to allow this experience to be a happy and exciting for both myself and my child?

What do I need to hear from my child, to reassure myself I have given him/her all the tools and resources they need when they are away at college?

The first step in organizing your emotions, is clearing away the unresolved thoughts and concerns that are haunting you. As you check off the things that are no longer a concern to you, you can focus on any last loving advice or support you may want to share with your child. This deeper communication, which is about the love and excitement you have for your child, will be the moment you both will want to remember before they are off and on their own.

This is a time to be excited, happy, and proud of all that we've done to be able to send our children off to college. This is also a time to create new relationships with them that will only grow stronger as the years go by.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Thank You Card To Yourself



Have you ever spent over 1/2 hour trying to find the perfect card for that special someone in your life? I have!

Why do I do it, because I want the card I've chosen to say exactly what my heart is feeling about that person. I want my special someone to know what they mean to me, and how they've added joy, peace, and love into my life. My expectations after they read the card is for them to feel appreciated, valued, needed, wanted, and loved...all at the same time.

Americans send out an average of 6.5 billion greeting cards a year! 6.5 BILLION!!!!!! Just think of all the time and money spent on telling others how special they are. CRAZY, right?

Now, imagine if you received one of those cards from yourself. What kind of card would you pick out? What other kind, inspirational, and loving words would you add to it? Take out a piece of paper, fold it in half and write Thank You on the front. Now open it and start writing a "thank you" to yourself. Write from your heart and let the thoughts flow.

When you're finished, close it up and put it away in a draw...Somewhere you know you'll remember where you put. The next time you're feeling down, take out that card and remind yourself of all the things you are, and that the moment of sadness you're in will soon pass.

www.donnaleakeclc.com

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Oprah's The Life You Want Weekend


During Oprah's weekend, there was a speaker Rob Bell, who mentioned the importance of staying thankful and living in grace. We often question all the bad things that happen to us and carry around all the anger that WE ALLOW to come from it. Only we  are responsible for what we carry with us. Too many times we blame others for what they've done to us...instead of realizing that WE allowed them to do what they've done to us.

When we simply say, "In some strange way, I am thankful for this thing I tried so hard to avoid", we create a switch within and begin thinking of why we are thankful. When we start seeing the beauty that came from it...courage, self-worth, trusting ourselves, strengths, new relationships that were formed, etc...we will begin to release that anger and move forward to the next chapter of our lives.

Pretty cool stuff, right? There's so much I've gotten from this weekend and I'm more than happy to share it all with you!




www.donnaleakeclc.com

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Shhhhhh! Listen To Yourself





Are you listening to all the signs your intuition is giving you? What are you feeling? What are you hearing?

Most women ignore the inner messages they're recieving. A pounding heart, sweaty palms, even stomach aches are pushed aside for many reasons, usually to benefit other people. A high percentage of women are people pleasers. People pleasers put others first, while they take the back seat. There's absolutley nothing wrong with wanting to make another person feel good, when you're feeling happy and excited doing so. However, when you can actually hear the voice in your head telling you, "I don't want to do this!" or "I don't want to stay here!".... why are you ignoring it and continue doing or living a life you don't really want?

The next time someone puts you in a position you are physically or emotionally uncomfortable with, ask yourself these questions...

1) What am I benefiting or gaining by doing this them?
2) How am I going to feel while I'm doing it?
3) How am I going to feel once it's over?
4) What thoughts and emotions immediately came to me, as I was asked to do this?




Thursday, September 18, 2014

YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!!!!!!!!!!!

Click and watch this video!


Can you imagine if she listened to everyone who told her she doesn't have what it takes? Where would she be today? What would her future have looked like?

http://youtu.be/ZY0cdXr_1MA


Thursday, September 11, 2014

Are The Excuses You're Making Holding Yourself Back?

What is the difference between you and a friend you know who has wanted something so bad and went for it? Is it because she was in a better financial position than you to do so? Was it because she received help from others around her? Maybe she sacrificed a lot more than you were willing to sacrifice to get what she wanted? If the answers to all of these are true, than ask yourself this one question, "What was holding me back from getting what I wanted?"

Never meeting you before, I can tell you this....YOU were holding yourself back. Go back as far as you can and think of the many moments in your life when you really wanted something. What did you do if you didn't have the money at that moment to buy a car you wanted or the home you're living in today? I can bet you started saving your money, so you could get it! What about your younger years when you didn't have a license to get to a concert that you and your girlfriends really wanted to go to? I can bet you asked one of your parents to drive all of you there, so you didn't miss it! What sacrifices have you made in your life in order to be healthier, happier, and more financially secure? I can bet you've made healthier food choices when going out to dinner, you took time for yourself to enjoy things in life that made you happy, and went to work every day, maybe putting in a couple of extra hours every now and then, so you can live your every day life.

So, now what? You will want to stop creating any more excuses in your head, and begin creating "focus" and a "plan". Life happens and we loose focus on what we want, and we soon begin focusing on the needs of others around us. 

1) Make a list of all the things (excuses) that you believe are stopping you.
2) Cross each one out and write down what you can do to get around it.
3) Put a date you want to achieve each one by.
4) Celebrate each achievement.
5) Keep adding to your list as the old ones are achieved.


Take moments to meditate and listen to what you want for yourself. Find that excitement you had in the past for other things that you had wanted. That excitement will create a focus, and once you have a focus a plan will fall into place.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Saying "Yes"!!!!

I'm usually coaching my clients on how to say "no". There are so many reasons why saying "no" can make you a happier person.

This week I coached two of my clients on how to say "yes"! There are too many people who say "no" due to the fear of the unknown or change. When you know in your gut that you don't want to do something, the best thing you can do is say "no", but when there is fear behind that drive to say "no", you will want to begin saying "yes" and see how your life will change!

By saying "yes" to try new places you've never been before, to move forward with new ideas, and to take chances at a new opportunities, you are growing and experiencing what life has to offer.

Be mindful as to what the driving force behind your "yes" or "no" decisions are, and if it's your gut...GO WITH IT!....if it's fear....GO AROUND IT!

http://www.donnaleakeclc.com/index.html


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