"LIFE IN A WORD"

The word is CHUTZPAH

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “supreme self-confidence: Nerve, gall.”

Posted 6/2/22

When translated, there are certain unfamiliar words that miss the mark, or their meaning isn’t conveyed strongly enough but not this word. Chutzpah (hu̇t-spa) sounds like what it means. To have supreme self-confidence.

My Story on Chutzpah

Think about how often you tiptoe or dance around a situation with your boss, your friends, or even your family. You’re careful not to say the wrong thing so as not to "rock the boat". You figure it’s safer to avoid conflict than to speak up for what you may want or more importantly, what you may need.

Maybe it's time to shake it up by speaking up. If you’ve never told the people in your life what you really want then chances are they don’t know. Unfortunately, people are not mind-readers. And everyone has their own agenda, so they’re not necessarily in tune with yours. Don't shy away from the microphone, grab it and say, hear me. The people in your life may not be able to change, but they may come to understand you better and be more mindful of your feelings even when they can’t deliver on them. The same is true in reverse. We have to open our minds up to the needs of others if we truly want to find happiness with them.

We’re on this earth for a very short while. Gather up the nerve to kindly express your needs when they are not being met. If the people in your life truly care about you, it should matter to them. And if it doesn’t, it may be time to pause the relationship, take a step back, and reassess. Doing nothing doesn’t feel good and life is too short to live it feeling bad.

If you or someone you know is feeling sad and alone because they are not being understood, it may be time to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you’ll reach out to me. Life is hard, let’s start you on the path of making it a bit easier one step at a time.

Email me at innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading my blog and coming back next week for the next posting of “Life In A Word”.

"LIFE IN A WORD"

The word is MEMORIALIZE

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “something that serves to keep alive the memory of a person or event”

Posted 5/26/22

Memorial Day is almost here. “Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.”

- History Channel

My Story on Memorialize:

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, I thought it fitting to remember both the brave heroes who served our country and the brave heroes we were fortunate enough to have had in our own lives. We miss them and carry parts of them with us always. They’re the ones we looked up to, learned from, and aspired to be. They’re not the celebrities we see in the media they are the people who held a special place in their hearts for us.

I had a few heroes in my life that I will memorialize this weekend.

The first was my dad. He was someone I saw as a hero because he devoted his professional life to saving the lives of others. By example, he allowed me to embrace the survivor and protector in me.

The second was my paternal grandmother. She introduced me to the world of literature and the world of fashion. She was an independent woman ahead of her time who instilled in me a sense of self; read so you can learn about the world and dress the part to live it boldly.

And the third was my maternal grandmother. She was the trailblazer in the family, the hugger, and the woman who made sure everyone had full bellies. She was a woman ahead of her time as well, an immigrant from Turkey who came to America by means of an arranged marriage. With a smile on my face, I proudly say that my grandmother was one of the few women drivers in all of Brooklyn back in the nineteen-twenties. Her Middle Eastern recipes have passed from one generation to the next. Sharing her love, she treated each of her sixteen grandchildren as if they were the best of the best. It wasn’t a competition, just a fact in her estimation. I credit her for teaching me fearlessness, love, and how to cook a delicious boreka (you might have to look that one up, but it was a staple at every family gathering).

This Memorial Day weekend, I invite you to reflect on the hero in your life. Or the many if you were so blessed. Remember the person you learned from and aspired to. Embrace a few minutes of reflection as you memorialize them this weekend and if you’re so inclined, hold your own little parade to celebrate their memory.

"LIFE IN A WORD"

The Word is: Curiosity

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "...the desire to know"

I can conjure up no better example of curiosity than a visual of a child. Isn't that when our sense of curiosity begins? We come into this world with our eyes wide open and take in all kinds of visual stimuli and physical sensations; touch, smell, taste, and sounds. The world is new and inviting. It is a time of awe.

My Story on Curiosity

Close your eyes and picture a toddler sitting on a beach playing with the sand for the first time. He may hold it in his hands and watch as it slips through his fingers. The child has no concept of what he has just discovered, but he knows it feels good in his hands. He may take it a step further and place some of the sand in his mouth, perhaps thinking it might also feel good there. When it doesn't, he will hopefully spit it out. Curiosity and exploration are what allow us to learn and grow.

One could argue that history holds the answers to many of our curiosities. Questions are asked, answered, studied, and viewed from many sides. They are documented for us to learn from.

It’s the same with Life Coaching. Curiosity is one of the most vital tools in my toolbox. My role is to ask questions so I can learn about you. Your answers allow me to understand what you want to change about your life. As I listen to your answers. I take notes. I am documenting your history as I learn about your beliefs, behaviors, and habits.

There is no judgment in my role as your coach. Judgment is the opposite of curiosity; judgment shuts things down, whereas curiosity opens the door. As with history, when we ask questions of ourselves or others, study the answers, and view them from many sides, we will learn and grow too. Like the child curious about the world around him, exploration is also a time of awe for each one of us.

If you're having trouble achieving your goals, it might be time to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you will reach out to me. Thank you for reading my blog and checking back next week for my “Life In A Word” posting.