Meet Vicki and Cheri on their way to do a tandem Skydiving jump!

Vicki and Cheri Launch video

Here the two most powerful Life Choice questions you can ask yourself to create a solid, success foundation in your life.

1. What do I want?
2. And why?

Yep, these two simple questions can sometimes be the hardest questions to answer. When I coach my clients, these are the first two questions I ask them. Do you know what the number one answer I hear is?  “I don’t know.”  They want to be coached to success in love, business, or health but they do not know what they want.  In contrast, the clients who share with me exactly what they want and why, by the end of their coaching experience, they have achieved it or close to achieving it. The results are really as different as day and night.  Understanding the importance of having the answers to these two questions, is the first step to creating a strong foundation for success.

Why is it so hard to answer those two questions? I have a theory. First, many of us have had our parents, teachers, friends and/or society tell us not to want early on in our lives. Remember when you wanted that favorite expensive toy for your birthday or Christmas, you told your parents or siblings what you wanted and they answered, That is too expensive – what else do you want that is not so pricey? How did you feel? Maybe you felt guilty for wanting anything. Result -you ended up accepting what you did not want.  After many experiences similar to this, you just stop wanting. Why? Because you won’t get it.  In conclusion, we stop trusting our inner voices who are telling us what we want and desire.  We just turn down the volume and stop listening.

Now if you are unable to know what you want- then you will never get to the reason why you want it.  Let’s take for example. You are single and you are telling your friends you want a serious loving relationship. A friend then asks you, what do you want in this relationship? Your mind goes blank. Then your friend asks you- why do you want this relationship? Again, nothing.  What do you think your chances are you will be in a serious loving relationship anytime soon? Have you ever had something like this happen to you? You can apply this scenario to any dream or desire you have had. Sadly, many of us are out of practice in knowing what we want and we do not know where to start.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone would start to desire and dream again!?!

I believe everyone understands, at some level, our dreams and desires do not come from “thinking”. Dreams and desires come from our hearts. They are ignited from within.  You can feel yourself expand, when you have one of these desires ignite.  Anything is possible!  You feel connected to the truth of who you are.  Here is where your why comes in. It has to be strong enough to continue to fuel your desire when your limiting beliefs or anyone wants to stop you from continuing on. By the way, one of your strongest whys can be – Because I know that I know that I know this why I want to do this! When I have this kind of “intuitive why“, watch out world here I come. This why has always powered me to success. If you don’t have a powerful why- your foundation for success will easily crumble.

Let’s build a strong foundation for your future successes. Here are a few steps you can take everyday to strengthen your “desire and why” muscles again, so you can begin to trust and listen to your heart and follow your truth to love and success. It may feel a little strange in the beginning because those muscles might have atrophied a bit.

• Take at least 10-15 minutes in the morning and ask yourself, What do I want today? Take the time to visualize it.
• Then ask yourself, WHY? Then get quiet and listen to your answer. Do it over and over again until you feel yourself expand to feel anything is possible.
• If you feel an emotional block or obstacle show up- feel it and then give it to love.
• End your “desire and why” session with gratitude for allowing your desire to be fueled by your empowering why to success!

When you go through this process you might discover, you really do not want what you thought you wanted or your why did not give you the power you needed to stay motivated. It is OK. It might not be the right time for you to take on this task or you might have uncovered a want or dream which is in more alignment with you at this time. Be patient.

Please keep asking these two Life Choice questions.  Build your success foundation with what you want, launch your dreams and desires by having a strong why and land amongst the stars of success! Enjoy the ride!

As I handed over my Apple computer to the twenty-something kid at the Apple Store, it hit me.  I best learn how to work one of these computers or my life was going to be a living hell.  Before I left the store, I signed up for their one-to-one coaching sessions.  A few days later, when I picked up my repaired computer, I had my first coaching session.  I went home that day hating my Apple Computer a little less.  Over a period of a year, I had many, many coaching sessions.  I discovered it really is easy, if someone shows you how!  Imagine that! The hate just disappeared – I was actually loving my computer.

How did this happen?  What was my love/hate relationship with my Apple computer really about?  What did I learn from this experience?

First off, I learned I did not have a love/hate relationship with my new computer.  I had a love/fear relationship with it.  I discovered hate was just another word for fear.  I feared it, so I hated it.  The fear, I had about my inability to learn a new system, put the hate idea in my head.  It just produced frustrations when I was in my hate mode.  When I finally mustered up the courage to face the fear of not being smart enough to learn this new computer, the hate began to dissipate.  As I learned my new computer and its programs, I felt more confident and empowered.  Today, I love that I stepped out of my comfort zone and allowed myself to love what I feared.

Secondly, I learned hate is just an excuse created by fear.  Hate kept me stuck in my old ways.  Has that ever happened to you?

Lastly, I learned hatred can be born out of my ignorance. It is fearing what I did not know.  The fear of the unknown is what stops many of us from succeeding in many areas of our lives.  Can you relate to this?

The next time you say to yourself or others, “I have a love/hate relationship with my friend, job, dog, computer or whatever.”  Replace the word “hate” with the word “fear” and get down to what is causing this reaction in you.  Get to the truth of the situation!
Ask yourself-

• What am I fearing?
• Am I fearing not being smart enough?
• Am I fearing the unknown?
• Do I fear I might be wrong or what?
• Do I fear someone else knows more than me?

Investigate what is really going on.  Then face the fear, take action, and see where it takes you. I have a feeling it will take you to LOVE.
Enjoy the endless possibilities!

Vicki’s Joyful Summer Reading List:

Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn

This powerful book was published in 1925. It was written by an astonishing woman, Florence Scovel Shinn, who loved to share her amazing wisdom in her many books.  It is a must-have book for those are seeking an understanding of what is possible when one changes one thinking and how to change it for a happier life.

Love for No Reason by Marci Shimoff and Carol Kline

Marci has done a marvelous job in interviewing many “love luminaries” and their views on love and the ways to love. She has also married science and spirituality throughout the book. She guides you through a loving 7 step process to create a life of Unconditional Love.  If you want to know the power of love, put this book on your reading list for the summer.

Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks

This life-changing book is all about learning to manifest your desires.  In this book, the Hicks explain the energies of emotions and how our emotions are our success indicators. Part 2 of the book has 22 processes you can choose to understand your emotional blocks and release them, so you can experience more joy and success in your lives.  I recommend you get the book, choose a process that resonates with you, do it,  and experience more joy this summer!

The Ultimate Truth by Lester Levenson

Lester was the founder of the Release Technique or the Sedona Method.  He was such an enlightened soul.  Lester reminds us- “The Ultimate Truth is Truth that is true now, has always been true, and will forever be true.” This book also shares his profound thoughts and beliefs on truth, giving, love and happiness. It is a beautiful handbook for a rich life.

The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

If you are into just having a good laugh with a fun mystery mixed in then, “The Stephanie Plum Series” is for you this summer.  Janet Evanovich has created some really far out and hysterical characters in this series of 17 books.  These books follow the life and adventures of one, Stephanie Plum, a New Jersey bounty hunter who is forever getting her car or house fire bombed by some lunatic on the run. I suggest reading the books in order, so you can experience the full personality build ups of those wacky and easy to love characters. Start with the first one - One for the Money. I am currently laughing my way through Smokin’ Seventeen.  My husband has enjoyed these fun loving as much as I have.

So there you have it, my personal joyful summer reading recommendations.  I believe most of these books can be downloaded or purchased from Amazon. You might have to visit the release technique site for Lester’s book.

I recommend you turn off the TV reruns and Reality Shows this summer and dive into a good book. Feed your soul and reap the benefits of doing so. Joy! Joy! Joy!

This was my second time in Roma. I went with a group of people from a coaching course I took 10 years ago. It was husband’s first time.  We spent a few days enjoying Ancient Roma! We hit all the typical places-the Colosseum, The Roman Forum, Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps and Palatine Hill to name a few.  The weather was perfect and our hotel was so-so but close to the sites of ancient Rome which was great.  We even took two day trips out of Rome to Tivoli to visit the Villa d’Este, a lush, fountain filled 16th-century residence of a cardinal in exile. The grounds were amazing- all of the fountains were feed by an underground river.  My husband wanted to visit the ruins of the ancient port city of Ostia (founded in 620BC) called Ostia Antica. It was once occupied by 60,000. The city was abandoned after the fall of Rome and was preserved by the mud and silt of the Tiber river which protected it from the ravages of time. We loved walking through the ruins and catching a glimpse of what life was like for the inhabitants.  Of course, while in Rome, we walked up and down those 7 hills of Rome. When we wanted rest, we would stop and eat pizza or pasta and drink wine at one of the hundreds of outdoor cafes.  How spectacular was that!

After a few days of venturing through Rome, we took a fast train to Figline Valdarno in Tuscany where we rented a car and  stayed a B and B type place called Savernano. It is nestled in a vineyard and olive orchard on a beautiful hill over looking a Tuscan valley.  It really doesn’t get any better then that! We enjoyed our stay there. The owners, David and Eva, were a delight. The food and their wine was amazing. They really made our stay in Tuscany unforgettable. While in Tuscany, we took a train to Florence and visited 3 museums then walked around the historical city.  Seeing Michelangelo’s David was the highlight of  our Florence day trip. Breath-taking! We drove all over Tuscany. We went to Siena, Greve in Chianti, Pisa, Cinque Terrra, and Assisi which were all amazing. I could write a blog entry on each city -so much history and beauty in each place.

As a real foodie, Rod enjoyed eating pizza or pasta in the various Tuscan towns. We both want to know why pasta in Italy does not feel heavy when eating it? Yes, we went to a wine and olive tasting room in Greve in Chianti- we did not drink too much because we would have never made it back driving on those narrow, winding Tuscan roads. After driving all over central Italy, one day we just slept in and enjoyed sitting around the pool under an umbrella at Savernano enjoying our little piece of heaven.

I felt sad as we left Savernano- we had met so many interesting and enjoyable guests during our stay. We took a slow train back to Roma so we could slowly say good-bye to beautiful-,red poppy- filled Tuscany!

While back in Roma, we spent most of  our first full day back visiting the Vatican and it’s unbelievable museum. That place is so amazing. We took a long day trip to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. Let me tell you it was a long day but so rewarding. I had always wanted to go to Pompeii. The place is so humbling with Mt Vesuvius in the background.  10 years ago, when I was in Capri in January, I said I wanted to come back with Rod when the weather was good.  So it was just magnificent. We walked all over Capri. We even took a tiny bus to Anacapri, the other town on the Island, with the narrow road skirting the steep cliffs. Rod said that it really got his attention when you could not see the side of the road just a steep drop and the rocks and water below. That evening, we took another ferry this time to Naples. In Naples, the rain came. We walked 45 minutes in it to have an “Original Napoli Pizza” restaurant.  I felt the pizza was so-so. Then off to the train station in the rain and got on our train back to Rome. Yes- slept most of the way back! After that amazingly long day we slept in and then visited the Priscilla Christian Catacombs on our last full day in Italy. Now that was quite educational.

After two weeks in Rome, we were ready to go home and be in our own bed. As an amateur photographer, I enjoyed taking over a thousand pictures. At anytime I can call up those pictures on my computer and take my trip Italy over and over again. I have a few of my many photos on the blog following this one. I hope you enjoy them.

Ciao for now,

Vicki

On May 2, while watching the Today Show, I listened to Meredith Viera interview Jennifer Lopez about her soon-to-be released album called “Love?“.  Asked about the title of her album and the question mark, Jennifer Lopez said that it came from “being in such a good place” and “always questioning yourself when it comes to happiness.” She went on to say that after giving birth to her twins, she felt “a deeper love” and “started questioning things….Am I loving in the right way? Am I being loved in the right way? You still have questions; there’s still so much to learn. Love is the answer but it’s also a question.”

Jennifer has been voted the most beautiful woman in the world and you can see why. She does not only work at keeping her outside looking fabulous, she also works on her spiritual self, too.  She understands that happiness is an inside job. She is also brave enough to ask herself the tough questions.

Are you brave enough to ask yourself those tough questions about love? Allowing yourself to get to your love truth can be quite freeing. Sometimes we are just not aware that we have closed off love to a friend, family member or to ourselves. There are many reasons we close off love- when we want to change someone or ourselves, when we are listening to our “liar” ego mind, when we are not forgiving ourselves or others- just to name a few. Asking yourself a few key questions can allow you to see if you are in the loving, connecting flow or stuck in being right and cut off! Remember every decision we make takes us to love or away from love and everyone is seeking love. When one is loving everyone wins!

This month take a few minutes in the evening and ask yourself these love questions and evaluate your loving for that day. If you do not like what you have done or you can see where you can be more loving, set an intention for the next day which will allow you to love more. See if you do a better job at choosing love the next day. There are a plethora of ways to love- being accepting, being grateful, acts of kindness, smiling, listening, and sharing are a good start. Remember when you are not loving, it is like you are taking the poison expecting some else to die! Stress is caused by closing off our love and listening to our Ego mind. Give yourself a gift. Allow yourself to have less stress in your life. Start loving and start flowing and connecting to peace and happiness.

Love Questions for the End of the Day

Was I loving in the right way today?

Was I loving myself in the right way today?

Was I being loved in the right way today?

Was I forgiving myself and others today?

Did I choose to be grateful today?

Did I choose to accept a difficult person or situation today?

Here are just a few, feel free to add more. After a week or so, I am sure you will feel more loving and connected.  You will also be experiencing much more happiness and peace in your life.

Have a wonderful, loving May.

“Love for Peace in Yourself and in Your World!”

Being the Queen of Letting Go, you might think it was easy for me to just release it. Hey, I am still a work in progress and sometimes I struggle, too. Thank goodness it doesn’t happen too often.  I knew I had to change what I was doing, forgive myself, and allow myself to make the modifications necessary to get balance back into my body and life!
How would I get back on track? I finally took time to meditate on what to do. During the meditation, I asked myself, “What would Vicki, the life coach, tell her client, if this was happening to him or her?” I laughed when the answer came- “Journal for Joy!” I had stopped writing in my journal, even though, I know there is great power in doing so.  These are the questions I asked myself.

• - What am I feeling right now?
• - Why am I feeling this way?
• - Why do I want to feel connected to my body?
• - Whose approval do I want?
• - Why do I want to change anything?
• - What am I willing to do to feel better and in balance again?
• - When do I want to start feeling balanced and in control again?
• - What is the first step I am willing to take?

I answered them without judgment and thought, I just wrote what I felt. I acknowledged all of what I felt. The answers did not have to make sense-I scribbled until I felt I had said it all – so I could quiet my unloving EGO mind. Then, from that quiet, peaceful place, I could allow my Lovingness to uncover the loving solutions.

After I had completed my Journey for Joy entry, I observed my heart was opening up.  I grabbed my IPod and told Rod, “I am taking a walk.”  I walked for 45 minutes listening to my “Release Fear and Love Yourself Cds”. As I walked and released all of my non-loving feelings and thoughts, I felt lighter and balance started to return to my body. I was in a joyful flow again! I came home and wrote this newsletter! I have been at peace ever since.  What a beautiful gift I gave myself and Rod- ha!

If something is not working for you right now and you are experiencing that out of control feeling, just spend an hour or less answering the questions above or make up your own. Just Journal for Joy! Get it all out, quiet your EGO mind and start letting the joyful, renewing possibilities in. Open up your heart and embrace your wisdom! For today is a new beginning of the rest of your joyful life!

If you wish to receive Vicki’s Newsletter, just sign up today and receive a free e-copy of her book, “It Begins with You!”

Have a Happy Easter!

“Loving people doesn’t mean you have to enjoy their companionship and you want to see more of them and respect their values. It means you are willing to keep your heart open to them, show them compassion, and accept them for who they are.”

I explained to the gals when they give up being right (the drama and games) and choose being happy and accept what is going on then love it all, they will vibrate higher then the crappy energy their ex’s were in and the problems will become less and less until they are gone. Einstein said, “One cannot solve a problem on the same plane it was created.” By letting go of being right and loving and accepting what is going on, the gals will be able to rise higher and the solutions will come with little effort.

Another informative speaker, Jacqueline Edwards, at the conference explained- when we are learning something new, we must first learn to crawl, then walk, and then run with the new concept! Taking her advice, I asked the ladies to love a couple of “unlovable” things about their ex-husbands each day until they could love it all. I also reminded them to love themselves in the process.

Gay Hendricks author of Loving Consciously states “Love what you can from where you are!” If you plan on being happy and in the flow of life, start loving the unlovable and accept what people say and do. Open up your heart forgive and love. Love is the answer!

Remember when you are disapproving and not forgiving people or situations- it is like you are taking the poison and expecting other person to die. When you are not loving or forgiving the other person or situation, it is keeping you in that low crappy energy which will only produce more pain and sorrow!

Remember to always-Let go and love Today!