Nov 19, 2019 | Personal Development
An attitude of gratitude.
Sure, it’s that time of year, so it would make sense for me to want to start to think about gratitude…
I think an attitude of gratitude could be one of the most powerful transformational human emotions that exist.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
If it’s that amazing, why wait until mid-November to start being grateful?
Being grateful is a daily practice for me. I continue to work on being grateful and reaping the benefits.
Let me tell you 5 ways that gratitude has dramatically changed my life…
And how gratitude can change your life…
- I am happier.
Yes, gratitude can be a key that unlocks the door to happiness. After I started practicing gratitude I noticed contentment in my heart, a good feeling that was relaxed, at ease, calm, and overall, a happier more fulfilled me.
- I am less focused on perceived problems.
Simply stated, I started worrying less. Many of the problems I thought I had weren’t there at all. They were in my mind. I realized how easy it was to make molehills into mountains and sabotage my inner sense of peace.
- I am healthier.
Being grateful has allowed me to let go of toxic thoughts and emotions. The practice has allowed me to let go of thoughts that were creating unnecessary stress. The result, a more peaceful me. I started having more restful nights, better sleep which reduced the hormone cortisol in my body.
- I am less self-centered.
Okay, I am being brutally honest here. I can be self-centered without knowing it. I am much better now with conscious effort. I attribute this to being the baby in the family, my closest sibling is nine years older than me. The nature of gratitude is to focus on the benevolent acts of others. The practice of gratitude has helped me be grateful for others in my life and realize their unique gifts.
- I am more magnetic as a person.
An attitude of gratitude makes me feel good, feel sparkly and that’s attractive to others. I feel nicer, out-going, and social. Gratitude makes me have more natural positive happy energy. Clearly, what you give off you get back.
Being grateful is a conscious practice. It is not a quick fix, cure-all, but if you put in the effort the benefits outweigh the effort. You’ll see changes in your life that might pleasantly surprise you and lead you down a path of more health, happiness, confidence, and radiance.
I am Lisa Jollimois, mother of four who loves supporting women 40 plus who are looking for a more fulfilling life. I work with women who are looking for more out of life, who want to uncover themselves, take the next step, rewrite their story, be more vulnerable, and learn how to live happier, healthier, confident and radiant.
If this interests you, email me for a FREE discovery call at lisa@lisajollimois.com
https://calendly.com/lisa-365
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Nov 11, 2019 | Growth Mindset, Personal Development
“The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls.” – Nietzsche
It’s November, the time where I start thinking about where I have been, what I have accomplished over the last year, and where I am heading into the new year.
I am super excited because I have a lot of amazing things planned for the new year. The next year will be one of transition mainly because my youngest son will be graduating from high school.
Earlier in the day I spoke on the phone with my friend. She seems to be in the same mode. She’s thinking about her year, planning for the next with some exciting things on the agenda.
Somehow we entered a conversation about dating, charm, and power. We chatted about the moves men make to capture the attention of women. How, some puff up their chests, use their bravado and charm to lure women into relationships. Oh, don’t get me wrong, women do this as well.
The conversation led to how unhealthy relationships that can be controlling, dominant, threatening, forceful, and violent. We agreed that these tactics of intimidation and control are found to be driven by the ego to mask fear,and insecurity and eventually prove themselves as weak and foolish.
I tend to think that society rarely teaches how to have healthy and peaceful relationships, ones of which cooperation, respect, negotiation, compromise, righteous, and ethical principles are at the forefront. These basic principles are the solutions that satisfy both points of view in a relationship and prove to win over any other option.
This is soft power or I like to think of it as the velvet glove in relationships. This type relating is very powerful. The term soft power is the ability to shape the preferences of another through appeal and attraction minus exerting pressure or force. The terms soft power vs hard power was coined by Joseph Nye, in 1990 when the term was originally used and intended by international affairs analysts to describe a style of power.
Despite the original intent, there is definitely a place for soft power in personal relationships. Some might think you are weak, vulnerability, or a pushover to use this; it may seem like the least powerful option to resolution. The voice that says that is the ego that has been groomed from birth. The only power involved is the power we all hold within, the power of transformational LOVE.
Is there a relationship in your life that needs fine-tuning, a change of pace? You have more power than you think.
I am Lisa Jollimois, mother of four who loves supporting women 40 plus who are looking for a more fulfilling life. I work with women who are looking for more out of life, who want to uncover themselves, take the next step, rewrite their story, be more vulnerable, and learn how to live happier, healthier, confident and radiant.
If this interests you email me for your FREE discovery call at lisa@lisajollimois.com or sign up at https://calendly.com/lisa-365
Bug Hugs,
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Oct 27, 2019 | Growth Mindset, Personal Development
“It takes courage to grow up and be truly who you are.” – E E Cummings
It’s the time of year that we go through our closets to muster up a funky costume or head to the local store to gather up a scary costume for a night out.
There’s nothing more fun than dressing up with some outrageous look, a personality to match and taking on the town.
Beyond Halloween, many of us hide behind masks and wear costumes everyday. I wore one years ago, I sported all white, a mask, protective glasses, and purple gloves as a dental hygienist. That was just one costume…
Feeling stuck and unfulfilled in my dental cubical, one day I asked myself, “Lisa, what do you really want to do with your life?:
I challenged myself to take the steps to go back to college as a young mother to head in a different direction, a new career, a different path…. I discovered that it was not always about doing something different or having a new fulfilling career. It was about being who I wanted to be as a woman and the impact I made on those around me.
Every day I challenge myself to live in a heart-centered place to come from love, a place of beauty, balance, and inspiration.
Today, I challenge you to think not so much as what you want to do, but who you want to be in the world…to show up in this world minus the costume.
You may want to be a mother who is available to her children. Or a woman who can cook healthy, delicious dishes, or a woman who can live in love. The possibilities are endless and the choice is yours!
Try on your new way of being and see how it makes you feel. Notice how others are responding to the new you. I would love to hear.
I am Lisa Jollimois, a personal development coach who works with women 40+ who are seeking a change in their life. Women who are at crossroads, feel stuck or not sure about the next step. I help women get to the other side of whatever they are feeling and support them to be Healthier, Happier, Confident, and Radiant.
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Oct 17, 2019 | Personal Development, Special Needs
Embracing our own unique gifts honors who we are as human beings.
We’ve all worn masks. I think I’ve worn the one with the gold and red ribbon in the center of the picture.
There have been times in my life where I have wondered what the heck am I gonna do next. That’s been my time of being a part of the masquerade.
Have you ever been in the place where you wonder what the next step is?
Trust me, I’ve been there…
It is those times when you have felt paralyzed and have thought there has to be more to life, but you find it difficult to know what direction to take. Maybe you’ve seen yourself fail or the unexpected has happened that flips your world upside down.
Let me tell you more about one of those world-rocking times… Seventeen years ago my fourth child was born with Down Syndrome.
I can remember standing in my living room, feeling alone and being afraid. I knew nothing about Trisomy 21, children who were born with an extra chromosome on the 21st pair or Down Syndrome.
Sure, It was hard those first few months after Patrick was born. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t hard having Patrick. I loved and treated him like my other children… as a capable human being despite some of the things I had read or was told about Trisomy 21. The difficulty was seeing pitied faces and hearing the limiting beliefs people had of Down Syndrome.
The great thing was we often proved those beliefs wrong. I learned fast that conscious awareness was the best way to grow this child, any child and listening to those beliefs wasn’t worth a dime.
I was told Patrick couldn’t nurse. With perseverance, commitment, and support Patrick eventually latched on and nursed exclusively. There were many of those moments. It became clear to me that Patrick was here in his perfect form, the one that God intended for him…And what a gift!
This month is National Down Syndrome Awareness month. Patrick is 17 years old. Today, I stand in my living room with a full heart and eyes that see through a different lens. I count the many gifts he has brought to me. A trait that comes to mind as our Halloween nears is that Patrick is Patrick. He doesn’t wear a mask, or hide himself. He is who he is wholeheartedly. He doesn’t think twice about who he is or what others think of him.
So many of us put on that mask and present ourselves the way we want to be seen, the way we think society expects us to be. With that, we rob ourselves of our authenticity, our true self, our gifts and talents. We prevent ourselves from making genuine connections that enrich our lives.
We can either wear the mask that hides us or remove it all together to expose our real self. It is clear that one path leads you to the land of pretend and disconnection, the other towards a beautiful life experience full of love, connectedness and joy.
The good thing is that we all have a choice here.
So, the next time when you feel the constriction of wondering what people are thinking… pull off the mask and be you. Take the risk. I know now that when people show up and be vulnerable it not only changes the lives of those around them, but it has the ability to ripple and change the world.
I am Lisa Jollimois, mother of four who loves supporting women 40 plus who are looking for a more fulfilling life. I work with women who want to take the mask off, uncover themselves, take the next step, rewrite their story, be more vulnerable, and learn how to live happier, healthier, confident and radiant.
If this interests you, email me for your FREE Discovery call at lisa@lisajollimois.com or sign up at https://calendly.com/lisa-365
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Big Hugs,
Sep 25, 2019 | Personal Development
“The secret to happiness is freedom…And the secret to freedom is courage.” -Thucydides
Sometimes life throws punches. Sometimes they feel small and sometimes they feel really big. Hopefully we use those challenges as guideposts and opportunities to question, think, learn, and grow.
“Grow Through What You Go Through”. That has been a rhyme, a mantra that I like to keep handy. It’s a reminder that even when times feel difficult and less than friendly, there is grace.
I encourage you to take advantage of these times of challenge even though they feel hard and scary most of the time. Sure, it is easier to hide out, blame the other person or people involved or rag on the situation, but that doesn’t get you anywhere except in a place fear, frustration, and anger.
In these times of challenge, I have an old-fashioned talk with myself and say, “Okay Lisa, I know this feels uncomfortable. How courageous are you going to be today?” Seriously, it is hard for me to get out of my comfort zone and take risks. But, I know when I feel discomfort inside, I’m feeling it for a reason. I know I’ll feel better when I challenge myself to move through whatever it is with courage, compassion, and love.
Just the other day I had to contact a friend to discuss a sensitive issue. I had to find the courage to bring up my concerns in a loving non-threatening way. Once I communicated my concerns and wants, and needs I felt better. Even though it was scary for me to initiate the dialogue, my courage in doing so made me feel much better. The burden I once felt, was lighter.
The advice I give myself is… feel the pain, find the courage, seek freedom and grow. When you act appropriately with ease and elegance you will see the beauty in the gift of grace.
So, move past your fear. Find the courage. Be healthier, happier, confident, and radiant!
I use my own life experience as a reference along with training to support women 40 plus who are going through a major life change and are having a difficult time knowing what steps to take next.
If you or someone you know are facing life’s challenges, and need support, I can provide a safe space and help. Please share my name or email me at lisa@lisajollimois.com.
Or sign up for my Free discovery call at https://calendly.com/lisa-365
Healthier, Happier, Confident, Radiant!
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Sep 12, 2019 | Personal Development
“Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.” Bob Newhart
Have you ever planned an event and had something major go wrong?
Let me tell you about last weekend…
A girl friend and I had made plans to go on a weekend camping getaway. We packed the camping gear, food, provisions, our bikes, and kids, hoping for a fabulous weekend in Acadia National Forest in northern Maine.
Sure, I’ll admit we were watching the path of hurricane Dorian up until we decided to get in the car and drive north. Our plan was to be part of an outing group with our kids. Maine Adaptive, the group we had planned to meet up with was still on board with their expedition, so we were off.
It is not often that tropical hurricanes make it up the coast of Maine. We were sure the storm would go out to sea and the weekend would be glorious.
Ha ha ha… Yes it was a weekend of unpredictability and adapting. Plans ended up being very different than what we expected. Sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh.
We arrived late, later than planned because it started to rain. We arrived at our site put up the tents, threw in the sleeping bags, pillows, and flashlights. Settled in for the night when my friend received a weather alert for the coastal Bar Harbor area…
TROPICAL WEATHER ALERT – LEVEL 1 HURRICANE. The strongest winds and rain where scheduled to be between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia.
That’s where we were! I don’t think I had a wink of sleep that night. The wind was howling. The rain was torrential. By the crack of dawn the tarp over our tents had blown off and water had begun to find its way in our tents. We were wet.
So much for the baked bananas and oatmeal over the fire. We got up. Threw everything in the trunk and headed out to a local restaurant to warm our bodies, drink some coffee, hot chocolate, and be catered to with the daily breakfast special.
All was good. After a lengthy breakfast, we found respite at the forest lodge. There we sat fireside. We dried our buttocks that were damp through our pants, dried our shoes, and coats until we felt warm.
Our bike trip had been canceled for Saturday and our plans changed. Instead of a scenic bike trip through Acadia, we found ourselves with many others in the local laundromat drying our belongings.
We laughed and laughed as we saw all the grim faces waiting for their dryers to be done.
Sometimes the best thing to do is laugh. So we laughed….It truly does break the tension, gives you a chance to take a breather, and regroup.
So we looked at each other with tired eyes, and heads ready to nod off and said, “We need a good sleep. Let’s try to find a hotel room for tonight.”
We looked and looked, called and called for a room. There were no vacancies. We laughed, and laughed more and thought there has to be a place for us. We totally trusted we would find the perfect place for the two of us and our kids.
Just east of vacation central there was a room with a kitchenette, a hot shower, swimming pool, and a Keurig. We felt so grateful and couldn’t wait to hit the hay after we cooked up our fun food, and banana boats for dessert.
We laughed and laughed, and cracked a few jokes about the series of weekend events.
Sunday morning the sun appeared. Our kids had opportunities to ride their bikes and kayak with Maine Adaptive. In the end, we had a wonderful time. It was a weekend we’ll never forget.
Here are a few things that can help you when things don’t go as planned.
- Be flexible, Sometimes the most most memorable times are when plans change. Go with the flow. Don’t plan. Go step by step being totally flexible.
- Find humor in things that are not commonly funny. My friend was so good at this. She kept me in stitches.
- Don’t let your thinking hold you back from having a great time. It’s your thinking that’ll cause you to give up, drive home, and end the adventure. Think about how you can pick the pieces up and have a good time right at that moment.
- Opportunities are often disguised as problems. Look at the sudden changes in plans as opportunities to be creative.
- Take on a positive approach to challenges. You can choose to make it a memorable or not.
I would love to hear about any events, weekend plans, or anything else that didn’t turnout the way you had planned.
Shoot me an email and tell me your story. Did you learn anything?
I am Lisa Jollimois. I work specifically with women 40 plus who are interested in being their best selves. I help women uncover limiting beliefs that open up a world of opportunity to become Healthier, Happier, Confident, Radiant.
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Big Hugs,
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