I’m excited to share that I’ll be offering a dynamic, jam-packed teleclass called “The Quarter Life Crisis Fix — How to get out of your funk & re-claim your 20′s!”  

To learn more about the event & to register, check out my events pg.

This call has the potential to get lots of ppl out of their Quarter Life funks & back on track to reaching personal & professional goals.  The call’s content comes directly from the needs of my past clients — jobs, personal growth, love, money — you name it, I’ll talk about it!

AND as  a special treat, a former rock-start client of mine will be on the call to share her success story & tips!

BONUS! Sign-up now & receive an early bird discount, just be sure to register by February 2, 2012. 

Register, share — get your friends on this call — it’s going to be a great way to start 2012!

Best,

Rachel

2012 has been getting hype for what…nearly six years now? Whether you’re into that whole “Mayan End of Days” thing or of the conviction that 2012 will usher in some huge awakening for mankind…it’s safe to say we’re all putting a lot of pressure on this upcoming year.

Maybe it’s the freshness, the newness, the unlimited possibility of new beginnings and a clean slate to build upon — but somewhere around late February, the year’s new shine starts to fade, old habits resurface and thoughts of well there is always next year trickle in. Pressure and expectations of greatness typically lead to one thing – a major letdown.

It doesn’t have to be that way, you know…

When I was in my earlier 20′s, I used to think often in “if only” terms. Example…if only I could lose 20lbs, then I’d fit into the sexier outfit & get myself a great guy! Errrr. Another good one was…Once I get a master’s degree, then I can start thinking about being a life coach. Bah!

So, with all these conditions, all these boundaries [calendar dates included] we put around ourselves — how do they really support the end goal for us? They don’t — they only make us feel pressure and upset if we don’t live up to them.

Reaching goals takes far more than just a wish, a prayer, setting a due-date then going back to life on autopilot. Accomplishing a goal comes down to how well you stick to it during the inevitable periods of when you just want to give up and stop believing in yourself and the outcome.

Ask anyone who achieves a goal they set out to do –they will tell you that the trick is to keep going despite being imperfect. The “perfect” you isn’t out there somewhere to just bump into one day — what you do today makes who you are tomorrow. 

Jan 1 or June 9 — what’s really the difference? What magical powers are present on the first of the year that aren’t still available somewhere in mid-August? Think about it….if you want to change something, the only time that matters is the one you’re in now. And it’s that type of thinking that builds momentum around a change and actually gets you results.

THIS moment carries with you always. Jan 1? — it’s done and gone in 24hrs. Let the symbolism of the New Year remind you that at ANY time a new start is available.

Wishing you a goal-reaching year ahead,

Rachel

Think of your QLC as an “update” button - keep pressing X and everything stays the same…press UPDATE  and….

“But that’s the scary part!”

For years, the course ahead was laid out very well, then after the initial high of post-college life (somewhere between the mid- to-late twenties) a crash occurs. You’re not sure who you are, where you’re heading, and doubt if you’re equipped to even “get there” – where ever THERE is!  QLC is all about becoming yourself and re-examining who you REALLY are…because the old definitions just don’t feel quite right.

A majority of my clients come to me because they’ve heard about the Quarter Life Crisis, are experiencing one now, and want to feel better. Having gone through my QLC,  I know how confusing and painful it is, but also know the other side of it is fantastic — but that’s not the point — the point is to guide others through whatever they are experiencing, because this crisis really is a huge lesson in self and is a chance to finally become who we know we really want to be.

So – where are you in your QLC? Here’s an excerpt from an article outlining common phases:

Phase 1 – A feeling of being trapped by your life choices. Feeling as though you are living your life on autopilot.
Phase 2 – A rising sense of “I’ve got to get out” and the feeling that you can change your life.
Phase 3 – Quitting the job or relationship or whatever else is making you feel trapped and embarking on a “time out” period where you try out new experiences to find out who you want to be.
Phase 4 – Rebuilding your life.
Phase 5 – Developing new commitments more attuned to your interests and aspirations.

Understanding which phase you’re in can help you breathe a bit easier and explain why you’re feeling the way to do. But like anything…a plan of action helps move things along [ahem, via coaching?] and makes the trek into ‘You 2.0′ more powerful and lasting.

Crisis’s push you out of your comfort zone…that’s how you grow. How we handle these challenges and what we learn through the process  is more telling of who we really are than the outcomes. The point of the QLC isn’t to unravel everything you know about yourself…it’s an opportunity to upgrade in maturity and wisdom about who you really are so you can chart and walk along the path towards who you truly want to become.

All this makes it even more important to reflect back on where you’ve come so far this year — and more importantly, recognize and appreciate who helped you along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone — and as awesome as turkey and mashed potatoes are, tell your fam & friends [and coaching supporters!] just how much they mean to you

The article was one of the most emailed article’s on the whole site that day; shared now over 1,000 times from the article itself — and hundreds more times via social networks.

A special thank-you to Rose Lincoln for the awesome photos, to The Next Great Generation, and writer Charlotte Glasser for putting herself out there to make this story possible. By sharing your life, you made others realize they too can grow, learn and find themselves in times of feeling lost and confused – you lived the benefit of coaching.
This time three years ago, I was laid-off and freaking out over what it was going to mean for my future — financially, professionally and personally.

In that time I created a new approach to living — undercurrent– the idea that if you put your own personal growth first, follow and share what you love with the world around you, you’ll become happier and more successful because you’re living authentically to who you are.  That little idea pulled me though some rough times — and today, that same idea, no longer little, is quickly becoming my life’s work.

The lesson from this incredible opportunity? If you put yourself and what you love out there, it will always come back to you in ways that inspire, validate and encourage you that the risks are always worth taking — that your authentic self is worth sharing and worth loving. 

Friends, family, readers, supporters, strangers– thank you ALL for making this article spread and for making this coach one  humbled and inspired woman!

My very best to each of you,

Rachel

There’s a disease on the rise among 20something’s. It’s subtle at first with symptoms of minor jealousy, resentfulness, restlessness and frequent refreshing of an already updated Facebook feed. As it gains strength it turns once vibrant and confident optimists about the future into self-doubting, paranoid and unhappy worriers who feel left out of the crowd.

Diagnosis: F.O.M.O. The Fear of Missing Out.

Sufferers believe life for everyone else seems to be going onward and upward — while they feel lagging behind, waiting and worrying if life will ever pick-up.  FOMO’s impact can even lead people to fill every moment of the day with “something” even if they are exhausted and uninterested; the justification is that it’s far better to be busy, distracted and moving than to be caught “doing nothing.”

Due to the explosion of social media, FOMO cases have risen in magnitude and 20somethings feel the brunt of it. If left unchecked, FOMO not only occupies the mind with worrisome thoughts of self-doubt, regret or resentfulness of other success– it actually triggers psychical symptoms of anxiety like sweating, heart racing and hives.

My FOMO came in the form of feeling like I was total loser if I didn’t have Friday night plans. I was missing my former lifestyle filled with parties and friends every weekend. My FOMO made me pine for the life I had before I was laid-off, broke and anxious about the future. Everyone and everything seemed to be moving on and part of me couldn’t let go. At one point, my FOMO was so bad that every Friday night that I didn’t have plans, I’d sulk the whole evening and sour my mood for the weekend. Yeah…FOMO sucks all the joy out of the room.

We’ve ALL had a case of FOMO — but what can you do about it?

I realized I had to leg go of a lot of things from the recent past. I allowed the sadness, loneliness and agitation to all flood in without a fight and I sat with it. But I also made a conscious decision to focus on happier, positive thoughts. I wanted to look forward to my future and the only way to do that was to make peace with the past. I carved out personal quiet time, where I’d listen to music, meditate, write/write –I needed to just be still. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t quick, but the process eventually worked for me and I now enjoy the life I’ve got  — what an incredible relief.

Here are 3 tips to beating FOMO:

• Social media is a trigger for FOMO. While I’d never advocate getting rid of Facebook or Twitter, you’ve got to find a balance of how much other people’s lives are going to influence your own. Maybe start a routine where you turn off the computer or phone, even just for 30mins. Make that space about YOUR life — not others.
• Stop assuming and interpreting the life events of other people are better than your own. FOMO is a disease of comparing yourself to another. Work on this and FOMO’s grip loosens.
• And then there’s just time. FOMO passes and it feels less scary and ominous the more you experience and find happiness within your current life. You’ll gain patience, compassion and maturity through this approach.

As a society, we’re so fixated on “what’s next/what’s missing” that we ignore the richness of the present moment. FOMO is a clue that you’ve work to do on yourself. It’s part of growing up and being human — but don’t let FOMO completely stop you from enjoying the incredible life you’ve got.

Here’s mine:  Found my path, now walking it

A link to a slide show from New York Magazine’s article “The Kids Are Actually Sort of Alright” does a blunt job of presenting the varied experiences of the typical American 20-something, entering what’s now being called the “Post-Hope America” era.

I saw this diagram the other day and it resonated deeply with me. How many times have we felt like we’re moving right along, only to double-back, fall off track, scratch our heads, want to give up, and look around with utter confusion thinking “where the hell am I?”  It’s only after time  and with with some perspective that we appreciate all the “off roads” we took to get to where we eventually land.

How often do you compare someone or something against a past experience? How many times have you been proven wrong in what your original assumption was? Our judgments have a tendency to blind our openness to new experiences. Typically, a judgment occurs when we’re trying to protect a part of ourselves from the memory of something we didn’t enjoy. New people, places, experiences, emotions – they are ridiculed by our judgments and assumptions before we even get a chance to experience what they have to offer.

An assumption is an energy block because it ignites your inner-judgment. Assumptions are experience killers – you’re comparing a previous situation that might not have worked out well and assume that the same thing will happen again. It’s the perfect concoction of a “why bother?” mentality.

Assumptions lead to anxiety, insecurity, negative judgments and close-mindedness. Bleck! By comparing a new situation to something previous, you’re eliminating the opportunity for pleasure and appreciation. No two people or situations are similar 100% — so why allow an assumption to overshadow what could be? All assumptions are a reflection inward –you’re lacking the confidence in yourself to experience something new because you don’t want to get hurt.

Here’s a recent example in my life of overcoming an assumption.

I’m a sushi fanatic and have it a few times a month. I’ve also gotten food poisoning twice from it. Most people would assume that after ONE bought of food poisoning I’d never try it again. Not the case! Why? Because I know that I’d be assuming that I’d get sick again – and trust me, the idea crossed my mind to never have it again. Assumption would take something really yummy out of my life and in all honesty, it’s a risk-taking meal from the start, but the benefits outweigh the cost. Now, might I be more discerning where I go get sushi? Totally! But I’m not going to block it out based upon a couple of bad experiences.

So, what do you do when you have assumptions clouding your open-mind?

1. Flag it [a common theme!] – The quicker you can label an assumption/judgment, the faster it’s diffused.
2. Get to the root of it. You’re probably not over the previous painful experience you’re comparing it to. What needs to be released from the past in order for you to embrace the current and future? [Hmmm..this is a GREAT reason to hire a coach!]
3. Let your guard down. Yup – Judgments are a way to control feeling vulnerable, which is not a comfortable feeling for the vast majority.  Becoming more open to experiences will lessen your need to compare and assume.

Assumptions chip away at our ability to be open, curious and confident in our experience. Judgment is the opposite of love — love for ourselves and others. I believe it is important to understand and shift the assumptions that are holding you back from new opportunities.