I am excited to announce my retirement from coaching!
I have really enjoyed working with amazing clients and colleagues, and learning so much about myself in the process.
And now, I'm going full time with my art!
I don't think I'd have made the leap to being an artist without coaching as a necessary stepping stone.
Thank you all for your support!
Love,
Amy
PS. Come find me on Etsy! http://amylburns.com
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Mindful Choices
With the heat wave I spent yesterday morning at an official city cooling center, the Brooklyn Public Library. One of the books I came home with is Bringing Yoga to Life: The Everyday Practice of Enlightened Living
. Although every page has an abundance of food for thought, this morning a couple of questions really stood out for me...
*Are my choices supporting what is deeply satisfying in my life?
*Are my choices leading to long-term freedom or short-lived pleasure?
We make thousands of choices every day... How might our days look different if we asked ourselves these questions throughout?
If we ask ourselves these questions in reference to what we do for work, where we live, what we do for play and pleasure, how would our lives change?
How might my life be different tomorrow if I ponder these questions today?
I encourage you to spend some time with these questions. Let me know what you come up with.
. Although every page has an abundance of food for thought, this morning a couple of questions really stood out for me...*Are my choices supporting what is deeply satisfying in my life?
*Are my choices leading to long-term freedom or short-lived pleasure?
We make thousands of choices every day... How might our days look different if we asked ourselves these questions throughout?
If we ask ourselves these questions in reference to what we do for work, where we live, what we do for play and pleasure, how would our lives change?
How might my life be different tomorrow if I ponder these questions today?
I encourage you to spend some time with these questions. Let me know what you come up with.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I Am Safe - mantra
One of my most coveted mantras is "I am safe." I picked it up years ago from the writings, teachings, and card decks of Louise L. Hay, and have found it to be indispensable.
I am no stranger to fear. There have been times in my life when I have found fear in sitting still, in moving forward, and in going deeper into my journey. And there are still times when little fears and big fears nuzzle up to me and try to take hold. "I am safe" has been my strongest ally and partner in releasing fear, gathering courage, and finding peace.
Whether I find myself feeling a slight concern, or a level of panic, I turn to thoughts of safety and always find comfort. Even now, in the face of an incurable health condition with symptoms and possible health effects so variable and chaotic that I never know how I'll feel when I wake in the morning, I routinely find comfort in this mantra.
It reminds me that in this very moment, I am okay. In this moment, I am safe from the unknown, the chaos, the future. Right now, I can make choices from a place of safety and courage. It absolutely pulls me into the present moment - and that is our only place of power.
What mantra do you have, or could you have, that would support you in fearless living, courageous living? What phrase gives you comfort, brings you peace, and eases your mind?
I am no stranger to fear. There have been times in my life when I have found fear in sitting still, in moving forward, and in going deeper into my journey. And there are still times when little fears and big fears nuzzle up to me and try to take hold. "I am safe" has been my strongest ally and partner in releasing fear, gathering courage, and finding peace.
Whether I find myself feeling a slight concern, or a level of panic, I turn to thoughts of safety and always find comfort. Even now, in the face of an incurable health condition with symptoms and possible health effects so variable and chaotic that I never know how I'll feel when I wake in the morning, I routinely find comfort in this mantra.
It reminds me that in this very moment, I am okay. In this moment, I am safe from the unknown, the chaos, the future. Right now, I can make choices from a place of safety and courage. It absolutely pulls me into the present moment - and that is our only place of power.
What mantra do you have, or could you have, that would support you in fearless living, courageous living? What phrase gives you comfort, brings you peace, and eases your mind?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Coping with the Jerks
Recently a cousin of mine asked the question "Why does God take all the good people and leave all the jerks?" She lost her husband a year ago in a terrible accident. She is grieving, and likely will be for many years. Loss is a very difficult thing to process - it's so painful.
She seemed to be asking this question in an effort to truly find peace, perhaps tired of the cliches that people had been offering.
This was my response to her.
In order to have peace of mind I think of it this way...
Every single spirit/soul/person is on a divine mission to experience the rich diversity of experience available to humans, but each can not experience all of it at once, they can only experience aspects. So, each comes into this world with the intention of having certain experiences in their human life - both "positive" and "negative" experiences.
So, not just experiences like falling in love, being a parent, or being rich, but also experiences like having a broken heart, having an illness/disease (curable or incurable), or being poor.
And experiences such as what it's like to be a kind, generous, loving person, or a person who is fearful all the time of everything, or a person who consistently makes bad choices, or a person who can be described as nothing other than pure evil and "a waste of space"... Yep, they are divine, too.
Some people float through life on a cloud of "easy" and others have a hell of a time, and yet others fall on a spectrum between the two.
There are a million directions to go with this idea... and I'm NOT saying that people living in poverty asked to be poor and shouldn't receive assistance! Or that racism/sexism/classism (or any ism!) are justified. Rather, it may be that part of one person's experience living in poverty is to experience an incredible act of generosity, or to experience the unique human struggles of a lifetime of such poverty, or the struggles and issues of emerging out of poverty only to be thrust back in, or even to escape poverty and live "a nice middle class existence". It may be that many people have incarnated in order to experience the incredible power of leading a movement for change. Who can ever know besides that spirit/soul/person/God/Goddess/Universe?
The point is, we can't keep all the nice people and get rid of all the jerks - the jerks are here on a divine mission, too... (And it isn't necessarily to make life hell for others! Although it sure seems that way.)
My way of coping with this is to allow for a purpose for everyone, and for every experience. And that also gives purpose to my experiences (both pleasant and unpleasant). It also gives me the inner peace of being able to release my anger at people who make things suck for everyone, and focus on my self and my own experience (and how I impact the experience of my loved ones).
Perhaps there is something within that you'll find useful for your self... or not! Take what works for you and discard the rest.
She seemed to be asking this question in an effort to truly find peace, perhaps tired of the cliches that people had been offering.
This was my response to her.
In order to have peace of mind I think of it this way...
Every single spirit/soul/person is on a divine mission to experience the rich diversity of experience available to humans, but each can not experience all of it at once, they can only experience aspects. So, each comes into this world with the intention of having certain experiences in their human life - both "positive" and "negative" experiences.
So, not just experiences like falling in love, being a parent, or being rich, but also experiences like having a broken heart, having an illness/disease (curable or incurable), or being poor.
And experiences such as what it's like to be a kind, generous, loving person, or a person who is fearful all the time of everything, or a person who consistently makes bad choices, or a person who can be described as nothing other than pure evil and "a waste of space"... Yep, they are divine, too.
Some people float through life on a cloud of "easy" and others have a hell of a time, and yet others fall on a spectrum between the two.
There are a million directions to go with this idea... and I'm NOT saying that people living in poverty asked to be poor and shouldn't receive assistance! Or that racism/sexism/classism (or any ism!) are justified. Rather, it may be that part of one person's experience living in poverty is to experience an incredible act of generosity, or to experience the unique human struggles of a lifetime of such poverty, or the struggles and issues of emerging out of poverty only to be thrust back in, or even to escape poverty and live "a nice middle class existence". It may be that many people have incarnated in order to experience the incredible power of leading a movement for change. Who can ever know besides that spirit/soul/person/God/Goddess/Universe?
The point is, we can't keep all the nice people and get rid of all the jerks - the jerks are here on a divine mission, too... (And it isn't necessarily to make life hell for others! Although it sure seems that way.)
My way of coping with this is to allow for a purpose for everyone, and for every experience. And that also gives purpose to my experiences (both pleasant and unpleasant). It also gives me the inner peace of being able to release my anger at people who make things suck for everyone, and focus on my self and my own experience (and how I impact the experience of my loved ones).
Perhaps there is something within that you'll find useful for your self... or not! Take what works for you and discard the rest.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Spirit and Soul
I've been away for a while. Over the last few years I've had some health issues that have left me with little energy for the "extra" stuff, like blogging. So, as part of my self-care I decided to put my blogging on the back burner for a while.
I do miss sharing in this space. And yet, I also feel like I've recently entered a whole new energetic space - a little deeper, perhaps even a bit less glittery. I've been thinking of it in terms of spirit/soul.
In chapter one of his book "Soul Mates" Thomas Moore discusses the ideas of soul and spirit, sharing what several writers, philosophers and psychologists have said about the two over the century. The soul, he writes, "involves itself in the stuff of this world, both people and objects." While spirit "wants to transcend these messy conditions of actual life to find some blissful or at least brighter experience, or an expresson of meaning that will take us away intellectually from the quagmire of actual existence."
Both of these strike chords with me. And if you've followed my writings, or worked with me as your coach, you'll know I've operated from a place of spirit - a place of brightness, bliss, delight and adventure. Over the last couple of years I feel like I have shifted into a more soulful place, and I'm noticing my language is shifting, too. I feel more grounded, more "everyday," and more in a place of journey and rich contemplation. And in a way, I feel like spirituality has become such an integrated part of my life that so much of what I focused on becoming, creating and integrating is now just who I am and how I live. There is a richness here that I never would have expected.
As I examine spirit and soul, my location between these two things, and where I'm headed, my coaching site and blog may undergo changes to reflect this personal transformation. I do hope you will join me in this soulful journey.
I do miss sharing in this space. And yet, I also feel like I've recently entered a whole new energetic space - a little deeper, perhaps even a bit less glittery. I've been thinking of it in terms of spirit/soul.
In chapter one of his book "Soul Mates" Thomas Moore discusses the ideas of soul and spirit, sharing what several writers, philosophers and psychologists have said about the two over the century. The soul, he writes, "involves itself in the stuff of this world, both people and objects." While spirit "wants to transcend these messy conditions of actual life to find some blissful or at least brighter experience, or an expresson of meaning that will take us away intellectually from the quagmire of actual existence."
Both of these strike chords with me. And if you've followed my writings, or worked with me as your coach, you'll know I've operated from a place of spirit - a place of brightness, bliss, delight and adventure. Over the last couple of years I feel like I have shifted into a more soulful place, and I'm noticing my language is shifting, too. I feel more grounded, more "everyday," and more in a place of journey and rich contemplation. And in a way, I feel like spirituality has become such an integrated part of my life that so much of what I focused on becoming, creating and integrating is now just who I am and how I live. There is a richness here that I never would have expected.
As I examine spirit and soul, my location between these two things, and where I'm headed, my coaching site and blog may undergo changes to reflect this personal transformation. I do hope you will join me in this soulful journey.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Powerful Listening
Recently a colleague asked some beautiful questions about the power of listening, and how powerful listening impacts relationships, business, etc. I loved reflecting on the role of powerful listening in my personal life and wanted to share these thoughts with you. My response to her question:
As my listening skills have developed over the years, I have found some of my very old friendships deepening in response. These deepening friendships are usually with people who have always been willing to listen and hear me, on some level. It seems that as my listening skills increase (and people experience powerful listening), their listening skills increase, too. I love this!
In some instances I have needed to teach the people in my life how I want to be listened to, and then ask them for that kind of listening when I need it. This means I need to be (or become) very tuned into my own needs.
My partner and I occasionally remind each other that we need a particular kind of listening... (supportive, problem solving, celebrating, or objective outsider) “Right now, I need to vent...” or “Right now, I need you to find something to celebrate in what I’m saying.” Or we ask each other “How do you need me to listen right now?” Powerful listening is probably one of the three biggest factors in our incredible closeness.
Also, I find that I no longer maintain contact with former friends whom I did not feel truly listened to me – perhaps I could never get a word in, they talked over me, or they didn't want to learn a new way to listen. Usually these friendships felt very draining for me and one-sided, rather than supportive, cooperative and mutually fulfilling. It made sense for the relationship to end.
Of course, releasing draining relationships has opened in me the energy and space to develope new beautiful, nurturing, deep friendships with folks who really do listen in the ways I need. And I provide that same care and quality of listening for them as well.
As my listening skills have developed over the years, I have found some of my very old friendships deepening in response. These deepening friendships are usually with people who have always been willing to listen and hear me, on some level. It seems that as my listening skills increase (and people experience powerful listening), their listening skills increase, too. I love this!
In some instances I have needed to teach the people in my life how I want to be listened to, and then ask them for that kind of listening when I need it. This means I need to be (or become) very tuned into my own needs.
My partner and I occasionally remind each other that we need a particular kind of listening... (supportive, problem solving, celebrating, or objective outsider) “Right now, I need to vent...” or “Right now, I need you to find something to celebrate in what I’m saying.” Or we ask each other “How do you need me to listen right now?” Powerful listening is probably one of the three biggest factors in our incredible closeness.
Also, I find that I no longer maintain contact with former friends whom I did not feel truly listened to me – perhaps I could never get a word in, they talked over me, or they didn't want to learn a new way to listen. Usually these friendships felt very draining for me and one-sided, rather than supportive, cooperative and mutually fulfilling. It made sense for the relationship to end.
Of course, releasing draining relationships has opened in me the energy and space to develope new beautiful, nurturing, deep friendships with folks who really do listen in the ways I need. And I provide that same care and quality of listening for them as well.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
April Showers
April showers bring May flowers...
I’ve always thought of this rhyme as a metaphor meaning “even the bad things can have good results.” The clouds and rain showers are things that humans generally do not appreciate and enjoy, but they make the flowers grow and we do love those, right? That’s a nice enough message :)
The other night as I was contemplating everything that had synchronistically come together in my life to make it possible for me to enjoy a summer in Europe, it occurred to me there is yet another meaning.
If we consider the rain showers to be our own actions, no matter how tiny or large, then even the tiny actions we take today to nourish our projects, goals, and dreams will result in a sprouting garden and blooming flowers in the months to come. We have some amount of choice about how many flowers we’ll enjoy in our lives, and it all starts with choosing to nourish and feed those seedlings with clean fresh water.
Even the smallest steps toward our goals and dreams move us forward – just as the tiniest raindrops still wet the seeds so they can begin to take root and grow. Every bit of carefully focused action brings our dreams closer to fruition.
What are you doing today to nurture your dreams so they will bloom for you in the months and years to come?
I encourage you to look at what you’d like to grow in your life, and take just a few tiny steps each day or week to move those forward. Before you know it, you’ll have a lush garden, ripe with your own dreams.
I’ve always thought of this rhyme as a metaphor meaning “even the bad things can have good results.” The clouds and rain showers are things that humans generally do not appreciate and enjoy, but they make the flowers grow and we do love those, right? That’s a nice enough message :)
The other night as I was contemplating everything that had synchronistically come together in my life to make it possible for me to enjoy a summer in Europe, it occurred to me there is yet another meaning.
If we consider the rain showers to be our own actions, no matter how tiny or large, then even the tiny actions we take today to nourish our projects, goals, and dreams will result in a sprouting garden and blooming flowers in the months to come. We have some amount of choice about how many flowers we’ll enjoy in our lives, and it all starts with choosing to nourish and feed those seedlings with clean fresh water.
Even the smallest steps toward our goals and dreams move us forward – just as the tiniest raindrops still wet the seeds so they can begin to take root and grow. Every bit of carefully focused action brings our dreams closer to fruition.
What are you doing today to nurture your dreams so they will bloom for you in the months and years to come?
I encourage you to look at what you’d like to grow in your life, and take just a few tiny steps each day or week to move those forward. Before you know it, you’ll have a lush garden, ripe with your own dreams.
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