Volume 4, Issue 1 | Jan. 4, 2008
www.shift-it-coach.com | [email protected]

Welcome to your January SHIFT-IT e-Zine.

1. A Note From Christina
   
2. Tele-Classes and Workshops
3. New SHIFT-IT Tele-group Forming Soon
4. Feature Article: Cool 'Frontier' Tools to Wake You Up!
5. Recent Blog Entries
6. More Links & Resources
   
   

Dear ,

Ahhhhh, I pretty much enjoyed my holidays this year. I’m not the world’s biggest Christmas fan. So that is saying something eh :)

Had a nice quiet Xmas Eve dinner with Jim and our friend Ghislaine. And then had plenty of lazy slow days - sleeping in late, going to the gym for leisurely workouts (the steam afterwards is the best) and doing some personal visioning and reflection work. I did my own mini SHIFT-IT Retreat (used the same pdf and map tools that I gave access to all of you in last month’s issue). Thinking about my past year (all in all an excellent one) and the current crossroads I stand on --- and imagining how I want next year to go (as it fits into my overall trajectory). Things are manifesting nicely on many fronts.

Last issue I ‘came out of the closet’ a bit more about some of my metaphysical pursuits (my reading with Theo). Was a fascinating experience. They nailed my life purpose and certain dilemmas I’m facing, so much so that I quickly booked another call to answer a few more questions. I’m not a big advocate of looking outside of oneself for answers, however it was useful to get some insights on my life from my soul’s perspective.

I have many years of very grounded experience in strategic planning and visioning with corporations, government and not-for-profit. So I can tell you all about the regular, ‘straight’ theories of change management and organizational development, etc. However, those approaches only take groups and individuals so far, at least in my experience. There is a lot more going on at the ‘energy’ and ‘emotional alignment’ end of things that just gets left out of most change programs. So that has been what I’ve been studying and exploring in my ‘off time' for years now – and what is insistently pushing itself to the surface in my work more and more.

As its January, and this is the typical time of year that us coach types dispense advice about setting goals and resolutions … I thought I’d do something a bit different and give you my top recommendations on more ‘alternative’ or ‘frontier’ approaches to change work. There are some fascinating methods being employed to assist people in changing their lives. Its where regular ol’ boring change management meets the world of personal growth, spiritual development and meta-physics. As per always … go for what you are attracted to and discard the rest (your own inner guidance system knows what is best for you!).

Enjoy! See you next month,

Christina Merkley,
The SHIFT-IT Coach

Jan. 13: (2-5pm) Next LOA Gathering 
This month’s fr*ee Law of Attraction Gathering in my Victoria, BC studio.  Watch Abraham-Hicks material.  Discuss LOA with other curious people.  Suitable for both beginners and advanced learners.  RSVP Now. 

Jan. 13-Feb 24: (Sundays 10-11:30 PST)
SHIFT-IT Int’l Tele-Group: Make 2008 ‘The Year of Your SHIFT’ – this virtual coaching group is rocket fuel to shift your life!  7 tele-calls that lead you step-by-step through the powerful SHIFT-IT Method – guaranteed to help you CLARIFY and GET what you want most! Why wait another year?  Shift your life now! 
More Info

March 2 – May 18: (Sundays, 10-11:30am PST)
(NEW 90-Day) Merkley’s Mastermind: You’ve asked for it, now here it is: a second level virtual coaching group for past SHIFT-IT and Meeting Graphics/Graphic Bootcamp attendees.  Create right livelihood, shape your work and life as YOU like it --- accelerate your joy, prosperity and productivity. Special emphasis: creation and fun maintenance of entrepreneurial/independent lifestyle, implementing technology and internet marketing aids, and how to correctly apply and truly live The Law of Attraction.
Coming Soon.

May 21-22:
MEETING GRAPHICS 101 WORKSHOP (level 1): Introductory graphic recording and graphic facilitation skills for facilitators, consultants, trainers, coaches, managers and other process leaders and assistants. Foundational basics for the beginner. No art skills necessary.      
More Info. 5 spaces already taken – just 7 left. 

May 23-24:
THE GRAPHIC BOOTCAMP (level 2): More advanced instruction and experiential practice. Offered right after MG 101 for those traveling from afar. Tons of at-the-wall drills. Demos. Template construction. Recording and facilitation practice. Advance icon library. Plus business and sales instruction- how to effectively market the benefits of working visually.
More Info. 4 spaces already taken – just 8 left.

Individually Scheduled:
PRIVATE MENTORING & IN-HOUSE TRAININGS: One-to-one graphic recording and graphic facilitation training for yourself or for your company/group. Come to me or I come to you.
More Info.

More Info and Registration

It’s a brand new year.  And in January, the news media trots out the different experts to talk about goals, aspirations and new year resolutions.  I totally believe in the ability of people to change their lives (if I didn’t … it really wouldn’t sense for me to be called The SHIFT-IT Coach now would it?!).  However most of this advice tends to be pretty boring and conservative – the same old, same old.

So, to spice things up a bit, I’m going to share some of what I feel are the very best ‘frontier’ tools out there right now (frontier as in alternative/cutting edge … or bleeding edge according to some folks).  Tools that can be used to kick off your New Year’s with a bang ,or better yet, used consistently throughout the year for steady and accelerating results.

First, a few thoughts about the change process in general:

Change Is Not a One Shot Deal:
First off, change is ongoing. It’s a process not a one shot deal (unless you have some sort of amazing, rare awakening experience). It takes work, it takes discipline and its about taking consistent actions (even if the action is thinking a different way, one thought at a time).  We have created our lives the way they currently are.  If you want to change your life, then you are going to have to do some things differently to get different results. 

Change is Challenging Yet Possible:
While change can be hard, difficult and challenging as heck … it is possible. And it does get easier the more you work at it and do things that support your growth and advancement.  It’s the most difficult at the beginning (budging that inertia and resistance is killer).  If you stick with it, the pendulum will swing.  Don’t let anyone tell you that people don’t change.  They do.  I see it all the time.  And having the belief that it is possible (and possible for you) is a necessity.

Being Positive is Key (and LOA understanding is a must!): 
I know, I know. There is a lot of backlash about The Law of Attraction and its more simplistic vehicles (like “The Secret”).  At its worse, its a bunch of magical thinking – especially if you don’t really get to the core of what it is all about.  However, I do know that learning to be more positive is going to serve you (it certainly has in my own life and with my organizational and coaching clients). 

You don’t have to immediately become an annoying Pollyanna.  However, it is going to behoove you to reach for better feeling thoughts (as an individual and/or as a member of a group).  If you’ve learned negative, pessimistic or depressing habits of thought from family, societal, organizational and other cultural systems – there is something you can do about it.  Learning to think a different way is going to really serve you and change your circumstances. 

Meditation and Quieting Your Mind Is a Good Backup:
Learning to focus your mind in more positive ways is not an easy task.  Its simple – you just poke around for better feeling thoughts and think them.  But it has to be done over and over again to build up new neuro-pathways in your brain.  Its like weight-training for your mind (pushing better thoughts around again and again until your chemical soup starts to change for the better). 

My top recommendations are Bill Harris’ Holosync program (I’ve been using it for three years) and integral guru Ken Wilber’s Integral Life Practice Starter Kit.  Also, pharmacologist Candice Pert covers some really interesting ground about the brain chemistry of emotions in her new audio program, To Feel Go(o)d: The Science & Spirit of Bliss.

Work with Your Sub-Personalities: 

Did you know that you (and all of us) have little parts or sub-personalities running around inside yourself?  Some of these sub-personalities benefit your life and your change process. They are aligned with your goals and evolving vision.  However other of your sub-personalities, for different reasons, fight or resist your goals.  Mediating and resolving conflicts with your sub-personalities can ‘magically’ create shifts. Where there was once blocks and stubborn resistance, there is now free flowing energy and harmony.

Are sub-personalities true?  I really don’t know.  I just know that doing sub-personality work often makes people feel better (if they are open to it).  I’ve been trained in the method and really enjoy it (my SHIFT-IT Process has a sub-personality activity in it called Inner Alignment).  Other sub-personality work that I recommend: Voice Dialogue (Hal & Sidra Stone’s work), Orin’s Guided Meditations (the spiritual ‘lightbody” work of Sanaya Roman) and Theo’s Soul Integration theories (deep spiritual work along the lines of inner child work (via direct voice medium Sheila Gillette) … the guide that helped Esther Hicks open to her amazing abilities). 

Start Your Day Off Right – Create Your Day:
"To let life happen to you is irresponsible. To create your day is your divine right."-Ramtha

Have you seen the movie What the Bleep Do We Know?  Are you aware of the teacher called Ramtha?  Ok, I’m really stepping out into fringe territory here.  Ramtha is a controversial figure in ‘frontier thinking’ circles.  Another teacher that is channeled, in this case through the psyche and body of J.Z. Knight from Yelm, Washington.  Whatever you think of Ramtha (and I haven’t quite decided my own feelings yet) he/she/it has some really fascinating ideas/processes.  One of which is the Create Your Day talk – guidance on waking up and taking responsibility for yourself and your life.

Experience the Innovation of Graphic Coaching:
Ok, I’ve given everyone else’s products and processes a plug, so I’m going to mention one of my own: my SHIFT-IT Home Retreat Kit and its companion SHIFT-IT Tele-Class. 

And, if you’d like the camaraderie of a group coaching experience, we go through the Kit step-by-step in the 7-week SHIFT-IT Tele-Class Series . A fun telephone coaching group (using both left and right brain practices) that attracts people from all over the world.  The next one starts in just a few weeks (January 13th) … to tie into the juicy New Years energy.  

Make 2008 a Breakthrough Year:
Different tools, processes and teachers resonate with different people.  Again, follow your own internal guidance for what feels best to you. There are many approaches ranging from the linear-rational to the very intuitive-spiritual … and everything in between.  My intent has  been to share a few with you that you might not already be aware of.  Shake up the options a bit!  We are each on our own journey of evolution and development.  Whichever techniques you employ, I hope 2008 is a fun, exhilarating and breakthrough year for you and that you Become Your Next Self!

© 2008 Christina L. Merkley

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it:

Christina Merkley, "The SHIFT-IT Coach" and creator of the SHIFT-IT Method® is a Visioning and Strategic Planning Expert specializing in Graphic Facilitation and Law of Attraction techniques. Based in charming Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, she works deeply with individuals, partners and groups in defining and getting what they really, really want. For more information visit: www.shift-it-coach.com

Looking for more rich, SHIFT-IT content? Check out my blog for recent ramblings, resources and general interest features:

• 2007 - Year in Review Chart
• A Do-It-Yourself Shift For The Holidays (with free coaching tools included)
• Summary of Christina’s SHIFT-IT Presentation at 2007 Int’l Forum of Visual Practitioners Conference
• Cash in on 2007 Graphic Workshop Rates Until December 31st
• Improve Kidney Donation Awareness
• Karen Lloyd’s Storyboarding Blog

Besides the Blog, there are plenty of articles to read in the Ezine Archives. Browse past issues here.

Click Here to Read SHIFT-IT Blog

Ready to bust out of your status quo? Want to take things up to your next level? Curious how to really apply those Law of Attraction principles you have been hearing about for REAL effect?

Let's work together - by phone or in- person (in my charming Victoria BC studio). I'll get you to see and understand how you are currently creating your reality and bust you through the barriers, self sabotage and limiting beliefs that keep you stuck and locked in your status quo. Through our powerful work together you will systematically attract what you really want (better work, improved relationships, healthier body, enhanced prosperity - whatever it is that you want and need to shift for the better!). See testimonials from my many satisfied clients.

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