The Balanced Living Journal

Practical information for busy women from Women's Success Coach Catherine Bruns. Visit me also at www.coachbalance.com

Monday, February 28, 2005

You Can't Water a Garden with an Empty Bucket

Think about it. Empty bucket - no garden, right? So how many women are trying to take care of work, chores, and everyone else, without taking care of themselves first? In order for women to be effective and fulfilled in their lives they must learn how to put themselves at the top of their own list and fill their energy buckets.

If you're not sure how to fill your bucket, what should go in it and how much, then check out the 5 questions to ask to get you started.

Then keep checking back because March is Fill Your Bucket Month. All month long I'll be giving you ideas of what you can do to fill up your very own bucket.

What are your favorite bucket filling ideas? Post them in the comments so we can all learn from each other.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Supportive Circles of Women

I spent this last weekend in California helping my sister move herself and her 1 year old son 30 miles down the road and away from her boyfriend. This has been a long time brewing and since there’s now a baby involved it was a particularly difficult decision and action for my sister, though it was the right one for all involved.

As I schlepped box after box, first up the driveway and into the truck, and then out of the truck and up the 16 cement stairs I had glee in my heart. Certainly not for my sister’s pain, or for the ugly work of moving house, but for the simple fact that I was able to be there for my sister and help her during a very difficult time.

I’ve always been a big believer in the power of women’s support of other women and that belief was certainly cemented as I have participated in my sister’s transition.

Women are not meant to be alone. Look backwards in time. Historically, women have always banded with the other women in the tribe, village, frontier, PTA. There have been circles of women forever – come together for quilting, prayer, weight loss, you name it. Women know how to help other women. And women simply cannot get along without each other.

I am very fortunate that I have an amazing circle of women to call my own. They are 9 spectacularly different women, varying in age from 30 to 60 who I could call to help me with anything. What peace I feel knowing that these goddesses are there for me.

And my circle has provided me with much more than support. It is from this group that I have learned how to speak my truth, receive from others, trust myself, and bring the wisdom of age into my heart. I would not be who I am today without these women. They have given me the great gift of mirroring myself back to me so I can continue to grow.

So, who’s in your circle? What women could you call upon for any need that you might have? Who’s your best friend?

I hope you have answers to those questions. It’s important that you do. You can’t do life alone. You need other people, and you need other women. Reach out and strengthen your relationships with important women in your life. And if you’re one of the fortunate ones like me to have that supportive circle, then reach out to a woman who is struggling and may not be as lucky as you.

I want you all to feel that glee in your heart that comes from the true connection of one woman to another.

Thursday, February 17, 2005

SuperNanny! Resource for Parents

OK - let's get all the disclosures out of the box right away. I'm not a parent and I'm a sucker for reality TV. With that being said I think a new show on ABC, SuperNanny is an amazing resource for parents. I never thought I'd say such a thing, but I'm really impressed with the practical techniques that are taught to parents on this show. Though I'm not a parent, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Coach for women so feel like my opinion in this regard can count.

Most of my coaching clients are moms. And being a good mom is on their mind. But where do moms (and dads) learn how to be good parents? From their own upbrining most likely. If you had your own great parent, then you're way ahead of the game, but many women haven't had good parenting role models and don't know how to parent in a way that is effective and balanced. So where else to turn for parenting information? There are lots of great resources out there and I'm glad that now there's one more that is so available and accessible to millions of people via network TV.

SuperNanny, shows parents how to take charge of discipline in the household without becoming a drill sargeant. Lots of moms these days struggle with feeling that they're not spending enough time with their kids and so they feel badly to deny their children anything. But, kids need boundaries and rules. They really don't want to be in charge - even if it looks like they do.

Check it out, see what you think, make up your own mind.
Moms need all the resources they can get!



Sunday, February 13, 2005

Balanced Living - Yeah Right!

In my work as a Life Coach for Women I work with busy busy women who's schedules are packed tightly with everything from executive meetings to car maintenance. Even though I coach on the phone with these wonderful women, I can see them roll their eyes at me when I introduce the idea of balanced living. Yeah right, they say. When pigs fly and I become as rich as Oprah and I can hire people to wash the dog for me! Having recovered from my own busy unbalanced life, I can relate. It just doesn't seem possible. But it is.

Balance means different things to all of us. To me it is about all parts of a woman's life working well together to create the most ease and success possible. It's not about everything being equal.

Want to know how to get more balance in your life? A great place to start is to read the article How to Create a Balanced Life, which gives some practical information on how to begin from the bottom up. And in the meantime, have some fun and schedule a date with your loved one for Valentines Day!