Surrender & Adventures in Potty Training
on June 29, 2010 byWell, I’m sorry for the use of the word “potty” in the title, but when you have a 2 1/2 year old in the house, “potty talk” is all the rage. My little girl, Annabella, just graduated to the big leagues: she’s out of diapers and into her brand-new “big girl” underwear and I cannot tell you the sheer relief I feel.
This process ranks right up there as one of the most challenging scenarios I’ve faced as a parent. My hubbie, Rob (the most talented and cutest man I know), and I spent many late nights lying in bed talking, trying to fend off total panic as to how to do this process “right.”
And I learned so much about myself, about my Inner Mean Girl and her Big Fat Lies, and about surrender.
Let me elaborate…
We have no control over anyone else. Really. Let me repeat with feeling: we don’t get to control anyone else. And for me, becoming a parent has been SO humbling – I kept thinking I could somehow control Annabella’s sleeping through the night, eating all her vegetables, and yes, doing #1 and #2 in the potty. My Inner Mean Girl kept saying things to me like:
If you just read the right book, said the right thing, used the right philosophy, all this would be sooo easy.
You’re doing it wrong.
You’re going to really screw her up this time.
You’re a horrible mom.
Ouch. The good news is that I keep using my Three Step Process to get out of the spin and tap into my Inner Wisdom’s Truth:
You’re doing the best you can.
This too shall pass.
Annabella is happy and thriving. (See picture for proof!)
My proud, happy daughter showing off a recent drawing!
Ahhhhh…that’s better.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe we influence, inspire and persuade people all the time. Throw in a good dose of leadership and we have some amazing power to help people “see the light.” But when it comes to potty training, I finally realized that the BEST thing I could do was surrender. Surrendering the illusion of control meant that I could still teach, support, take advantage of “teachable moments” and set a good example, but it also meant handing over the ultimate control of the process to my smart, capable, amazing daughter (and The Universe) and telling her to go for it.
In other words, I had to get my own resistance to change, my own fears and anxieties and even my hopes out of the way and let go.
I literally said to Annabella, “Sweetie, I love you and am so proud of you. I know you’re going to get through this and use the potty every time. I trust you.”So there you have it. Surrender = potty trained 2 year old smiling and owning her accomplishment.
Now I keep investigating: where else can I surrender?
How can I simply release and let go of it all?
I can think of three projects I’m working on right now that could use a little surrender.
How about YOU?
( Please leave me your thoughts in the comments below!)
P.S. Many thanks for all the votes on my Oprah Women Masters submission. You can vote as often as you’d like through Saturday, July 3rd. Just click here: http://oprah.thewomenmasters.com/ and feel free to spread the word! Much gratitude!!
Oprah and The Women Masters
on June 25, 2010 by
Click the play button to watch the video and cast your vote!
Wouldn’t it be incredibly inspiring to have The Women Masters as a show on Oprah’s new TV network? I think so too!
After the 3rd person (I always pay attention when 3 “signs” appear, don’t you?!) told me I needed to enter Oprah’s OWN contest, I finally did.
I would SO appreciate your support and votes. Will you help me? You can vote as often as you’d like through July 3rd, simply click the link below and hit the green “vote” button. Oh and get ready because my 2 1/2 year old, Annabella, makes an appearance (of course!).
Click here to view the Oprah Women Masters Video and Cast your Vote!!
With love and gratitude,
Amy
Amy Ahlers
CEO of Wake-Up Call Coaching
Creator of The Women Masters
Co-Creator of Inner Mean Girl Reform School
www.WakeUpCallCoaching.com
P.S. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy, full life to vote for me and this show. I truly appreciate it. Click here to view the Oprah Women Masters Video and Cast your Vote!!
“I think I can” Magic
on April 29, 2010 byMy 2 ½ year old daughter, Annabella, recently became enthralled with the book, “The Little Engine That Could.” You remember the one, right? Where the little tiny engine tries with all her might to haul a big train over the mountain and succeeds by chanting over and over again: “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”
It hit me like a ton of bricks – this book had been my very first encounter with affirmations. I remember saying, “I think I can” when I was faced with a challenge as a kid. And as I saw myself overcoming difficulties, I learned deep in my heart that our thoughts and beliefs are powerful. We have the power to create what we want in our lives.
A sticker I recently encountered states:
“You don’t have to face reality. YOU CAN CREATE IT!”
Case in point: the story of the 4-minute mile. In 1954, runner Roger Bannister defeated the widely held belief that running a 4-minute mile was impossible. Before his triumph, people thought it was impossible for a human to go that fast. But he didn’t let that belief stop him from going for it. He applied “I think I can” magic and broke the record. And then, lo and behold, a month later another runner followed suit, and many more have since. All because the belief became reality.
I have experienced the power of affirmations over and over again in my life. From making manifest the small but handy statement of “I love rock star parking” to the biggest “Happy, healthy Zen baby” and “I love rubbing elbows with leaders I admire.” My life has unfolded in the most magical way over the last couple of years due in large part to the “I think I can” mindset.
So, where in your life could you use a little “I think I can” magic?
Is there an area that you’re saying “I can’t” or where you’re believing that what you want is not possible?
Apply the “I think I can” principle and see how shifting your perspective changes the situation. Comment below and let me know what you find…because I don’t just think you can do it: I know you can!
You Matter! Quick Survey Request…
on April 1, 2010 byI would SO appreciate you taking 5 minutes out of your busy day to respond to my brief 9 question survey. This will allow me and my team to do an even better job of INSPIRING and SUPPORTING fabulous you!
Please click here to take the quick survey.
This survey is completely anonymous and confidential, so please be frank with your feedback. Your opinions are important. I truly value you.
With much gratitude,
Amy
Amy Ahlers, The Wake-Up Call Coach
CEO of Wake-Up Call Coaching
Creator of The Women Masters
1.888.929.2531
P.S. This will only take brief moment.
Please click here to take the quick survey.
I’m saving you a seat at Inner Mean Girl Reform School!
on March 18, 2010 by
Over the course of the last two weeks I’ve been talking A LOT about Inner Mean Girl Reform School. I even created a fun video message featuring my 2 year old Annabella: watch our short video. Why am I spending so much time talking with you about inner mean girls?
Because I know personally how damaging inner critics can be to the most important relationship you will ever have — your relationship with YOU. I have the scars from my own inner mean girl to prove it, and I’ve witnessed professionally as a coach, how inner mean girls silently beat up even the most outwardly successful women.
Christine, my Inner Mean Girl Reform School co-leader, and I have come to understand that when your mean girl is in charge, you can never quite hold onto the freedom, happiness, success and love you desire.
So we’ve decided to take a stand! To stop pretending these inner mean girls don’t exisit… and to start bringing them out into the light, putting them through school, and getting them on our side!
This is why we created Inner Mean Girl Reform School… the place where women go to transform their inner critics into their inner superheroines.
And we saved you a seat!!
This 10-week experience isn’t for everyone, but it is for you if any of these sound familiar…
- You are hard on yourself … way harder than anyone else could ever be
- You are addicted to doing… find it hard to relax, slow down, to just ‘be’
- You compare yourself to others
- You self-sabotage yourself… in relationships, in your career, with money, with food…
- You achieve a lot, but never stop to fully enjoy or celebrate
- You doubt yourself or your ability to create what you want… especially in today’s economy
- You are overwhelmed, exhausted and over it… and ready to have your mean girl stop driving you so hard.
If any of these ring true for you, we invite you to give Inner Mean Girl School a try and register yourself today.
The only risk involved is to your inner mean girl…she might just get loved to death. We guarantee that this 10-week experience will turn down the volume on your inner mean girl and turn up the volume on your inner wisdom, and if not, we will refund 100% of your tuition.
We are so committed to stopping this epidemic of self-sabotage and self-loathing… for all women and for every little girl on the planet today, and to come. We would never tell our child as they learned to walk, “Get with it! You’re a loser. What’s your problem??”… No, we encourage them to do their best and love them even when they fall. You deserve the same support and love.
Register now for the 10-week transformational experience, & change your relationship with yourself!
Wherever you are today, I send you much much love!
With love,
Amy
Amy Ahlers, The Wake-Up Call Coach
CEO of Wake-Up Call Coaching
Creator of The Women Masters
www.WakeUpCallCoaching.com
www.InnerMeanGirl.com
P.S. Feel free to email the Inner Mean Girl team at meangirl@wakeupcallcoaching.com or call our office at (510)482.5858 with anything else you might need to get started.
P.P.S. Even if you can’t make the call tonight, you can still register! All calls with be recorded, with links posted to our online Campus. You’ll get so much value–we promise.
And just for a hit of self-love today... watch what we were all like before our Inner Mean Girls showed up: watch our short video
Bella, my daughter, says it all!
CLICK HERE for full course details and to enroll.
