WELCOME…new subscribers to my e-club!!

I have been blessed to receive a number of requests over the past months to add new members to my e-club. If you are one of those and this is your first e-newsletter from me, it is because I had gotten a bit behind with maintaining my subscription list…and am getting caught up!

The GOOD NEWS, though, is that you haven’t missed out – you are welcome to review previous e-newsletters and blog postings on my website at www.lighthousewellness.ca by clicking on the “Newsletter Archive” button just under our logo.

And, now, you’re “in the club!” I am so glad to have you join us. If, however, at any point you choose to no longer receive our e-newsletters and blogs relating to “whole-life wellness”, you can simply unsubscribe by clicking on that link at the bottom of the message.

Meanwhile, thank you for joining us! Please send along ANY comments, questions, and suggestions for topics you’d like covered to info@lighthousewellness.ca.

And please share this with anyone in your network who you think may be interested in some Simple, Practical, Workable Strategies for greater “whole-life wellness”! The more, the merrier!!

You’re Invited! Get your FREE Weekend Passes to the Halifax Wellness Expo on October 15 & 16!

Once again this year, Lighthouse Wellness Strategies is proud to be participating in the Wellness Expo at the Halifax Forum Multi-Purpose Room on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 (10am-5pm each day).

In the spirit of this Thanksgiving season, and as a special Thank You to my valued clients and colleagues, I am offering you the chance to get a FREE Weekend Pass to the Expo – for you AND your friends! Here are the details:

The Wellness Expo is a great event to learn about the latest and greatest in Health and Personal Growth. There are seminars all day and about 80 exhibitors to visit, most of whom offer a sample or free draw of some kind. For more info about the Expo, click on the link Wellness Expo Halifax.

We will be there with our own special offers so grab your free pass and come see us at the Expo.

These passes are usually $12 and can be used for the whole weekend. To get your Complimentary Weekend Pass, visit this link: http://goo.gl/7Gt8h

ACT FAST!…

There is only a limited amount of free passes being offered so don’t wait.

Thank you for being a valued client and supporter of Lighthouse Wellness Strategies, and we hope to see you at the Expo!

Coming Soon…

I’ve met some fabulous business women (and some men) recently who have asked some very good questions that help me better explain what I can do for them, and how I can help them have greater wellness in ALL the areas of their lives.

In particular, I’d like to thank Pam – you know who you are – for helping me tell my story in a way that, as you said, “was really quite inspiring!” I’m so glad it resonated with you and I appreciate your helping me make it meaningful to you – and to the other ladies who were there!

In the next issue, I will address some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about what I can do for you.

Meanwhile, feel free to drop me a line or give me a call – I offer you a FREE CONSULT so you can get a better sense of “What’s In It For YOU”.

See you soon….

In Wellness,

Gail
Lighthouse Wellness Strategies

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What Would You Change in Your Life…If You Knew You Could?

Is there something you would like to do differently in your life? Something you would like more (or less) of? Is there a change you would like to make…but you just feel STUCK?

As I’ve been working with my clients recently, one thing is becoming clear: most are at a point of transition in their life – they’re trying to make a change (in one or more areas) but may need a little support to help them get UN-stuck!  

Some need guidance in developing strategies. Some need help with accountability – keeping them on track to accomplish what they’ve set out to do. Some need a gentle nudge, or perhaps a sturdier push. Still others may need suggestions of some additional resources to help them achieve their goals. Some need help for a little while (just a few sessions), others benefit from a longer-term relationship.

They all have one thing in common: they are undergoing a change (either one they desire or one which is outside their control), and they are taking the initiative to obtain help in navigating it successfully.

What are the top concerns my clients ask for help with? The top 4 are as follows:

• How to eat healthier
• How to incorporate more or better physical activity into their day
• How to better manage stress in their lives
• How to have a better, more satisfying career

Because we take a “whole-life” perspective to Wellness Coaching & Navigation, we naturally consider all aspects of the individual’s life:

• Physical (healthy eating & physical activity)
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Relational (family & friends)
• Financial
• Professional

While clients usually have one or two main areas they want to address, they appreciate the “whole-life” approach since they know we will not sabotage one area for another. After all, the goal is to help you achieve greater abundance in your overall life!

So…is there some part of your life where you feel STUCK? Is there something you would like to achieve for yourself, but don’t know quite how to get there? Or do you know that “something’s missing” but you’re just not sure what you want? Would you like some help figuring out how to get from where you are to where you’d like to be?

My biggest hope for you can be summed up by my personal philosophy of “No Regrets!” If you don’t take a chance – take that first step – how will you ever know what could have been? Whatever that “first step” is for you, I encourage you to take it – TODAY!! You’ll never know if you don’t try.

In Wellness,

Gail

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Contact Us:

Lighthouse Wellness Strategies

372 Buckingham Drive

http://lighthousewellness.ca

Stillwater Lake, Nova Scotia B3Z 1M9
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Workplace Wellness as a Competitive Advantage!
 
According to the NovaKnowledge Report Card from June 2010, Nova Scotia lags behind most of the rest of the country on several health and wellness indicators. And we know that employee absenteeism is costing us a whopping $538 million per year!! In this era of global competition – and even just within the Canadian marketplace – it is evident that such costs make it very difficult for Nova Scotia to compete!

What we know:

• Our population is aging
• We have some of the worst statistics of serious disease in the country
• Our workforce consists of various generations, each with its own values and motivations
• Keeping and retaining quality workers, from a shrinking labour pool, is challenging

But what can we do?

We need to invest in our workforce where it generates the biggest value for our employees and for the organization. The smartest employers are realizing the value of Workplace Wellness Programs in terms of the following:

• Employee engagement
• Attendance
• Productivity
• Profitability
• Sustainability in the Marketplace!

Tune in next month…when we further explore how Workplace Wellness is not just good for the employees but a strategic investment for the organization as well!

Who Do You Know? 

If you know of some organizations out there in Nova Scotia – or in Atlantic Canada – who are leading the charge in terms of Workplace Wellness, let us know and we can celebrate them! Simply submit a COMMENT or send us an e-mail (info@lighthousewellness.ca) to share the word.

On the other hand, if you know of an organization – or are part of an organization – who would benefit from a Workplace Wellness Program (or specific initiatives), please drop us a line. We would love to share some information about how this is a “win-win” investment.

What Would Help You Put a Little SPRING in Your Step?

Ahhhh, Spring!! Yes, it is here – officially – and feeling more like it each week!

Spring naturally conjures up images…of freshness, new growth, clean starts!

So, are you still carrying the “weightiness” of winter? Do you feel like you’re just coming out of hibernation…perhaps reluctantly? If so, what would help you to bounce into Spring with enthusiasm and vigour? Do you need a little “nudge” here or a small “push” there…or perhaps just a “running mate” to help you “rev up your engine” again?

Perhaps you need to do some “Spring cleaning” of your old habits, things that “clutter up” your daily routine but don’t really serve you and get you to your goals? Or maybe you just need help “dusting off” those new behaviours that were your New Year’s Resolutions, and bring them back out into the light?

As a Wellness Coach, I help my clients clear out what’s no longer working for them, or create new beginnings that support their goals of living with more abundance on a day-to-day basis – not waiting for that “some day” when everything will be easier.

If that sounds appealing to you, contact me for a FREE Consultation to see how we can work together to bring more abundance and “whole-life wellness” into YOUR LIFE! If you already know you’re ready for a change, go to my website (www.lighthousewellness.ca) and select the Coaching options that work best for you.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Launching Small Group Coaching Sessions – See Why That Matters To You
 

While many people thrive in individual (1-on-1) coaching sessions, we realize that some may prefer other options. Some clients prefer Small Group Coaching sessions.

What are some of the BENEFITS of Small Group Coaching?

• Shared learning as the participants work on similar goals together
• Social support among participants – both during and after the sessions
• More economical than individual sessions (only $120 per session) – share the cost among 2, 3, or even 4 participants

 
Small Group Coaching sessions are kept to a small size in order to support the intimacy of the group and to ensure each participant gets sufficient individual attention and support during the sessions.

Who participates in Small Group Coaching sessions?

Any small number of people who want to work on a similar issue – perhaps focussing on Healthy Eating or Physical Activity, better ways to navigate Stress, improving the Professional segment of your “Whole-Life Wellness Wheel”, etc.

How Would I Get a Small Group Together?

Some suggestions for who you may want to bring together to share Small Group Coaching sessions include:

• Co-workers
• Neighbours
• Family members
• Friends

BONUS for Early Decision-Makers:

For any clients who register for Small Group Coaching sessions by March 31, 2011, you will receive my FREE BONUS: 8 Tips to Living with Greater “Whole-Life Wellness”.

It’s SIMPLE to Get Started – just gather 1, 2 or 3 (no more, please!) friends, colleagues, neighbours together and contact me to schedule your first Small Group Coaching session – your first step to greater “Whole-Life Wellness”!

Contact details are on the right-hand side of this newsletter, or at www.lighthousewellness.ca.

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In This Issue:

What Would Help You Put a Little SPRING in Your Step? – helping you embrace the newness of Spring – in Nature and in your own Life!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Lighthouse Wellness Strategies Launches Small Group Coaching Sessions - exploring the Benefits of Small Group Coaching sessions for YOU

BONUS Offer for Small Group Coaching Clients who REGISTER by March 31, 2011!

Call for a FREE CONSULTATION to see how Wellness Coaching can help you get your “whole-life wellness” on track, or just “tweak” it to perform even better!

We offer individual sessions or, better yet, get a few friends together and we can do small-group coaching: work on common goals while you save money and benefit from the support of the group!

If you’re part of an organization, ask about Workplace Wellness Workshops and Presentations – it’s a “win-win” for the organization AND the individuals who are part of it!

Contact us for a no-obligation FREE consultation!  E-mail info@lighthousewellness.ca or phone (902) 471-6729.
 

What Will Mamma Bears Do For Their Cubs?

If you are a “Mamma Bear”, or know some, you know that there is very little – if anything – that they would not do for their “cubs”!! Am I right? Perhaps you saw that with your own mother.

There is a reason why they say that, ‘if you ever come across a mother bear in the woods, never, ever, EVER get between a mother bear and her cub!’ That is because mother bears will fiercely protect their cubs, at any cost!

I was in a conversation with a friend recently and was reminded of this truth. She was in the midst of protecting (and endeavouring not to over-protect) her “cub”, but was wise enough to check in with other “Mamma Bears” before striking out. Smart woman!

It made me think about how this relates to our own wellness. Whether you have your own “cubs” or not, whether you are a “Mamma Bear” or a “Papa Bear”, or perhaps a “Sister” or “Brother Bear”, etc., chances are there are people for whom you would “go to the mat”. It might even be your employer.

We are often willing to take a stand and stick our necks out for others, and may even sacrifice ourselves to do it. It is an admiral quality…to a point!

But here’s my question, as it relates to wellness:

What would you NOT do for your “cubs” (whoever they may be)?

What I’m seeing with many of my clients – and people in general – is that we are often willing to give 100% and MORE to others, but perhaps are under-investing in ourselves! A long time ago, I heard Oprah say “If Momma doesn’t have $5, she can’t give $5!” It is SO TRUE! If we don’t invest in our own wellness, we can’t in turn give so much to our families, our friends, our work-life, etc.

A lot of the women I encounter feel it is somehow selfish to take time for themselves – whether it be for exercise, connecting with friends, or just having a few moments of quiet! They feel tremendous guilt! However, they have no problem turning their back on their own needs in order to fill the needs of others.

I would suggest that we are hard-wired to be giving and nurturing but that, to do so at the expense of our own personal wellness is not sustainable! It all comes back to a degree of BALANCE – “more or less”, as I tell my clients. It’s fine to “borrow” from one area of our life to serve another (as we did over the recent Holidays, where we borrowed from the Professional area and gave to the Relational piece) but, over time, we need to bring our total wellness back to a state of equilibrium.

If we continue to borrow from our Physical Wellness (Healthy Eating and Physical Activity), Emotional Wellness (managing the stressors that are part of our modern world), and Spiritual Wellness (taking time to engage in things which make our spirits sing!), we will inadvertently sabotage our own “whole-life wellness” and possibly that of those we care so much about!

If you knew that caring more for “Mamma Bear” was, in fact, a direct benefit to your “cubs”, would you do it? Of course you would! And, guess what, it is! By investing in your own self-care you give your “cubs” a more resourced, balanced “Mamma Bear” AND a role-model for how they can, in turn, care for themselves – throughout their lives! That is TRULY a gift worth giving!

So…what will it take for you to make this investment in yourself? Do you need to give yourself “permission”? Do you need to draft a “contract” between yourself and those closest to you – to manage everyone’s expectations? Do you need the support, strategies, and accountability that a Wellness Coach can give you? Whatever you need, make it happen. You’re worth it!!

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Lighthouse Wellness Strategies

372 Buckingham Drive

http://lighthousewellness.ca

Stillwater Lake, Nova Scotia B3Z 1M9
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Wellness Coaching to Beat the “Winter Blahs” and Set You Up for a Fabulous Spring!

Are you suffering from the “Winter Blahs” – the time between all the excitement of the Holidays and the new energy of Spring? It’s the perfect time to focus inwardly – on your own “whole-life” wellness goals! We naturally “cocoon” at this time of year and are just coming off the “high” of our New Year’s Resolutions. Whether you set Resolutions or not, I’m sure you have some goals you’d like to reach in terms of your overall wellness.

Maybe your credit card bills from the Holidays make you dream of greater financial realism. Or you are struggling to find a way to eat better and get enough physical activity to keep up your energy for the demands of your daily life. Whatever your challenge, know that there are resources available to help.

Call for a FREE CONSULTATION to see how Wellness Coaching can help you get your “whole-life wellness” on track, or just “tweak” it to perform even better! We offer individual sessions or, better yet, get a few friends together and we can do small-group coaching: work on common goals while you save money and benefit from the support of the group!

If you’re part of an organization, ask about Workshops and Presentations – it’s a “win-win” for the organization AND the individuals who are part of it!

Contact us for a no-obligation FREE consultation!  E-mail info@lighthousewellness.caor phone 471-6729.
 

Tips to Keep the “Happy” in the Holidays!

Are you starting to feel a little overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays? Stressed out with the prospect of all that shopping, scheduling, visiting, wrapping, cleaning, …and whatever else is on your list? Well – GOOD NEWS! It doesn’t have to be so daunting. There are ways to enjoy the festivities of the season while keeping the “busy-ness” to a more reasonable level. And the added bonus? It sets you up for a more successful and Happy New Year!

5 Tips for Keeping it REAL!

With all that’s going on and all that you’re trying to wrap your mind around at this time of year, your best strategy for success is to remember to “Keep It REAL!” But what does that mean? Keep what real?

At Lighthouse Wellness Strategies, we focus on “whole-life” wellness strategies by providing you with Wellness Coaching & Navigation services. We help you find and keep Balance within and between the various parts of your life: Physical (Healthy Eating & Physical Activity), Emotional, Spiritual, Relational (Family & Friends), Financial and Professional.

Here we will focus on just a few of these areas and how you can try to keep them in balance over this busy season:

1. Healthy Eating - now is not the time for an ambitious “shaping up” goal. Just try to maintain at this point, enjoy the treats of the season (“everything in moderation”, right?) and get back into the swing in January.

2. Physical Activity - at this busy time, one of the best things you can do for your body is to remember to USE it! Just a quick 15-minute walk here and there does wonders for your body – and for your mind!

3. Relationships - remember to keep your expectations “real” in terms of relationships with family and friends. That slightly annoying uncle will probably still be annoying during the Holidays. Add to that all the extra busy-ness, nostalgia, and hopes of the season and you can understand why sometimes we get a little edgy. That said, it’s a great time to extend the hand of kindness and, perhaps, move past some grudges of the past.

4. Emotional – many of us are especially cheery at this time of year but remember that, for some, this can be a more stressful time. Some people are missing loved ones – maybe they live in another part of the world or are serving overseas – and some of us have no family or friends nearby. Try to see the humanity in those around you and see what YOU can do to brighten someone else’s Holiday Season…and yours at the same time!

5. Financial – one of the best things you can do for yourself for 2011 is to “keep it real” in 2010 in terms of your finances! We all know how great it feels to give that special gift, especially when “it’s on SALE!”. BUT…we also know how it feels when the gift wrap is gone and we admit to ourselves that we really couldn’t afford it! Ouch!! Starting the New Year with that stress is NOT a recipe for success. Instead, why not see what you can do that is still a thoughtful, loving gesture without compromising your financial integrity? Your loved ones want the best for you too, and that includes your Financial Wellness!

By taking just a few moments over the Holidays to “check in” with ourselves and consider our wellness in the various areas of our lives, we can ensure we’re still focussing on the “big picture” and really enjoying the abundance of the Holidays.

Wishing You and Yours all the Bounty of the Season, and Abundant Wellness in the New Year!!

Gail
Lighthouse Wellness Strategies

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Wellness Coaching GIFT CERTIFICATES & Stress Busting Gift Baskets – 20% OFF until December 19, 2010!

Set those you love – and yourself – up for the BEST New Year Ever with the gift that keeps on giving – REALLY!

“Whole-life” Wellness Coaching Gift Certificates will help you and yours finally conquer those New Year’s Resolutions! Available as single sessions or monthly packages.

Want something bigger under the tree – ask about our Stress Busting Gift Baskets – includes a Coaching Gift Certificate and MORE!

FREE DELIVERY in HRM for orders placed by December 19!!

TO ORDER or for more information: E-mail info@lighthousewellness.ca or phone 471-6729.