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Andrea Parker Coaching

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Is It Time To Elevate Your Accountability System?

Andrea and Mel in a canoe

 

 

When you are playing a big inspiring game and playing outside of your comfort zone, it is essential to have a team in your corner to support you and your growth!

If you want to play at your highest level possible, and have fun while doing so, then it’s time to elevate your accountability system.

One of the growth opportunities of playing better and expanding is ensuring that your environment and support system grow alongside you.

There will be times in your journey when you are not as inspired or motivated, which can become easy to get off track or distracted.

Having someone (or a group of people) who can see the bigger vision and hold you accountable to your dreams is huge!

Having someone to both reign you in, challenge you and support you when necessary is game-changing.

I have been playing around with my accountability system. I recently had a call with my accountability partner.

This is something new that we started, and I am very grateful for this person.

We have similar goals, dreams and values, and we have been on a similar journey for the past five years.

Here’s an example of the power of accountability…

Before the call, I was getting frustrated because I didn’t feel inspired to PUSH to make a deadline.

I wanted to get it done, but I also didn’t want to kill myself to do it.

One of the first things she mentioned on the call was how she focused on connecting back to doing things from inspiration and not from the old energy of pushing so hard and taking action just to take action.

This was game-changing. My energy immediately started to shift. It helped me pull my energy back towards my WHY and my bigger vision.

It was so valuable talking to someone on a similar journey (who gets it) AND has similar values.

I wouldn’t recommend being an accountability partner with just anyone. I have had a few in the past, and it wasn’t as valuable if the energy didn’t align. The magic happens when you can vibe with someone in similar energy and vibration.

The truth is, I have multiple accountability systems, from my Life Coach to Business Coach to Brand Strategist to Mastermind groups. I have a system in my calendar, my partner Mel, and the people I surround myself with.

I strongly believe that if you want to play big and create your heaven on earth (whatever that means to you), it’s not possible to do it alone. It’s also not as fun!!!

Sharing your journey with like-minded people is also fluid and changing. As you grow, so does your accountability system.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself…

Does your current accountability system need to be revamped and elevated?
Do you have a team of people in your corner who can both support and challenge you for who you are becoming?
What’s one baby step you can take to elevate this?

Some feedback I received from clients (both in a workshop setting and 1:1) has been how fun and valuable it is to connect with other like-minded people on a similar journey.

I agree!!

The magic happens when you are also able to share the journey with other awesome people.

I find that with this type of coaching, too, the language can be fairly specific, and it’s more of a way of life.

This is why I am creating a bonus monthly group call for my 1:1 clients.

The intention behind hosting monthly group calls is to foster more connections with like-minded people (other coaching clients on a similar journey) while also deep-diving into key topics.

These calls are meant to be fun and valuable.

If this is something that you are interested in joining and being a part of, let me know, I have a few spots that I am opening up for people who are committed to seeing how good their life can get 🙂

Here is the link for the application for a free call. On the call, we can explore if this would make sense based on your goals and dreams.

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How To Live In Your VALUES (not someone else’s)

Andrea Parker coaching at workshop

 

 

I have created a 7-Step Process designed to help those already in love with their lives see how good it can get!

Each step is integrated, often simultaneously, to help you to be able to live in Stage Two of Human Development, where you can discover what is possible when you live from your heart!

The key is to align your time, energy and beliefs that serve you in a way that allows at your highest level possible.

The goal is to create from a place of inspiration and love, while having the time of your life.

Let’s take a deeper look into one of the steps, which is all about VALUES.

The key to this step is to align your time and energy with your highest values.

As Dr. John Demartini teaches, your values are created by your voids. By putting time and attention towards your highest values, you fulfill them, and thus your life becomes more fulfilling.

The truth is everyone has different values.

One thing that can get you stuck is trying to live in someone else’s values.

Judgment is one of the most significant ways to get pulled out of alignment, out of authenticity.

So how do you know if you are living in your values rather than someone else’s?

A clue you are living according to someone else’s values is you are saying things like, I should be doing this. Or I ought to. I have to. Etc.

Life can feel frustrating when you compare yourself and try to live in someone else’s value system. Often there is a lot of guilt, shame and fear that comes along with it.

Not only is it not loving, but it’s also not fun! You are playing an unwinnable game!

Your real power and magnificence come from owning your values and living within them.

A clue you are living according to your values is when you say things like, I LOVE to; I choose to! I want to!

When you are coming from that place, you’ll feel more aligned, empowered and inspired.

This is Stage Two living (where you are living from the values of your heart- which to me is true success).

The next time you come from a place of “I should” or “I have to,”… check-in and ask where you got this idea from.

Whose definition of success/ fulfillment or the way that things should be done is this?

Did you adopt this from your family, friends, society, institutions, etc.?

Whose values are you injecting onto yourself?

Just know that when you are injecting or adopting someone else’s values, it’s often those people who you admire or look up to.

When you look up to someone, you also simultaneously look down on someone (both forms of judgment take you out of your heart and authenticity). For those you put below you, you try to impose your values onto them.

For example, have you heard yourself thinking they should be doing this or they have to do it this way, etc.?

This is also an unwinnable game.

It is wiser to identify your top values. Own it! And then align your time and energy with what you value most.

Rather than comparing yourself to others, see that the things you like in others you also have in yourself. It’s not better or worse; it’s just in a different form.

Honour your uniqueness and yourself. You are worth it!

I could go on about the importance of living in your values for probably a week, lol.

The biggest takeaway I’d love for you to know is that aligning your time and energy with your highest values (and what is truly important to you) is the most efficient, effective and fulfilling way to live! When you are spending time on what you love, it raises your vibration, energy and vitality.

It all comes back to energy!

If you’d love to deep dive more into VALUES, I am hosting a series of workshops this fall where we do just that.

The Career/ Business Fulfillment Workshop on October 22nd will be a good one, especially for learning what your top values are and how you can earn good money doing what you love.

You’ll discover your current top values and practical steps on how you can align your time and energy with them. This is a fun one!

For more information, click here

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It’s Not About You! It’s About Them!

Mel Mills and dog

 

 

Are you inspired to grow your business and expand your impact so that you can serve more people?

One of the common blocks that hold people back from welcoming in new clients, bringing in new leads or scaling their business is that they have a block around it.

They are consciously saying they want it, but subconsciously it’s not safe.

Often this block is tied with feeling responsible for their client or customer’s success.

Instead of focusing on the people they serve, they get stuck because they make it about them.

I’ve been there and done that! It’s not a fun place to be. This is where it can feel like you are doing all the ‘right’ things, but it’s not happening, or you are getting the opposite results.

I find that this fear or old belief pops up just as you are about to expand and breakthrough to the next level as if it’s a reminder to regain your focus, let go of your ego and make it about service!

By feeling like you are responsible for your client’s results, you put too much pressure on yourself to do unwinnable things.

The truth is, you can’t want it more for your customers than they want it for themselves.

When I first started my coaching business, my mentor, Dr. Lise Janelle, ingrained in my head to stop making it about myself and make it about them.

I want to share that wisdom with you.

It’s not about you! It’s about them! Make it about them!

I used this as my mantra (and still do), especially when fear creeps it.

She also shared with me this principle that I live by and share with my clients…

It goes like this… Take No Credit. Take No Blame.

Let’s take my coaching business, for example.

I know I’m a good coach and good at what I do.

I also know the power that comes from my clients committing to themselves and taking responsibility for their results.

I’m a great tool and guide for my clients. When I am with them, I am present; I serve them to the best of my ability and provide them with tools and resources to set themselves up for success. Then, I let go. I hold the vision that my clients are ultimately the ones responsible for what they do with these tools and making their results happen.

This has freed up my energy to serve more people and have a greater impact on my clients. It has also helped me to attract people who are committed and dedicated to achieving their goals. If someone isn’t willing to own that they are 100% responsible for achieving their results, we are not a good fit right from the get-go.

Working with people who don’t take responsibility for themselves will suck your energy and time. You are not responsible for saving others.

First, you have to check yourself and do your inner work to ensure that you don’t ‘need’ clients and take on new customers for the wrong reasons.

Second, it’s important, especially depending on the type of business you have, that you build in a process to work with people who take ownership.

It could be as simple as asking them how committed they are to their results.

Another approach that I have found VERY helpful is reminding myself…

Take no credit, take no blame.

Just as you are not responsible for your client’s failures, you are not responsible for their successes.

Take no credit, Take no blame.

I love this because rather than swinging and going on the emotional rollercoaster of the highs and lows, it allows you to stay centred and neutral and focus on what you are good at and meant to do, which is to focus on service!!

Focus on doing the best you can do to move them forward, and then let go.

This will free up more energy for you to expand and welcome in even more people or have a greater impact.

Just know that is often mastery level stuff because it’s calling you to expand and grow individually as well.

If you are experiencing some stickiness or blocks towards this, let me know. Removing the subconscious blocks is my specialty!!

You can email me at [email protected] for more info on removing your block(s).

Have a great week!

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The Buffalo And The Cow. Which One Are You?

Andrea Parker paddle boarding

 

 

The principle of “What you resist persists” that I learned from one of my mentors, Dr. John Demartini, a world-class Human Behavioural Expert, is something I remind myself of often.

I find it gives me the courage to do the things that feel hard, uncomfortable or scary because I know the law of the Universe goes,

“What you resist persists.” Carl Jung

It also gives me permission to challenge myself because I know that avoiding or refusing to do what I know is good for me will just become more persistent and challenging.

It’s not about bypassing the fear or pretending it’s not there.

It’s about going right through the centre so that you can dissolve it.

Rather than avoiding the tough conversations, suppressing uncomfortable emotions or distracting myself from taking meaningful action, I try to do the opposite.

Not because I necessarily want to. But more so because I know that if I don’t, it’s likely to get worse.

I’d rather challenge myself and confront the thing, as not fun as that may be at the times than wait around for it to become so painful that I have no choice but to address it.

This is probably one reason I LOVE doing the most challenging thing first thing in the morning.

I find it frees up my energy and builds my confidence for the rest of my day.

Rory Vaden, one of my other mentors, has a great talk about a similar principle.

He has won numerous awards for his speaking, so I’ll give you the less polished Coles notes version. I highly recommend you watch his Ted Talk on it for the whole story.

In the face of a storm, you can either be a cow or a buffalo.

My suggestion is to be the buffalo!

When there is a storm, rather than trying to hit it head-on, the cow tries to avoid it and runs with the storm. By doing so, the cow stays in the storm and experiences its impacts for an extended period.

The buffalo, on the other hand, does the opposite. When there is a storm, the Buffalo runs right in the middle of it and hits it head-on.

Rather than trying to avoid it, the buffalo embraces it and, by doing so, ends up on the other side much quicker and with less resistance.

Yes, it’s challenging when you are in the eye of the storm, but it’s also challenging riding with the storm and staying in it for way longer than you need to be.

I would personally rather challenge myself and do the hard things that will move my life forward than wait around for challenges.

The truth is there are going to be challenges either way. You might as well choose your challenge!!

The beauty of this, too, is that you become more resilient, more confident, and inspired by embracing the storm. When you spend your time trying to avoid something, it takes away your power and keeps you stuck reacting.

My suggestion is to be the buffalo! Challenge yourself, and you’ll be supported!

What is one thing that you have been avoiding?

Carve out some time and hit it head-on! Remember, what you resist, persists.