Forget A Face Lift… Get A Life Lift!

Personal trainers will help trim the fat after one too many chocolate binges, nutrition experts will make sure your diet’s in order and after a week (or five) of late nights, a beautician can get your skin glowing again. But where do you turn when you need a little help getting your life in tip-top shape? Life coaches… the new spiritual rock stars and can be invaluable when it comes to helping you create a life you truly love. If you could do with a shot of inspiration to fire up your week, read on for our Q&A with guru life coach & writer, Connie Chapman.Connie is a savvy Bondi local on a heart-fueled mission to empower women around the world to do what they love and manifest their dreams. Sounds good to us! 

What was the catalyst that turned you in to a life coach?

Three years ago, life was proving really challenging for me. I felt unhappy with where I was and also really stuck and unable to create the change I wanted to experience. I sought out a life coach, who supported me to really connect with my dream and take powerful steps towards it. Our work totally changed my life and convinced me this was what I truly wanted to do. 

Why would someone see a life coach?

Just like a personal trainer will support you to create physical transformation, or a health coach will help you transform your diet, a life coach will help you transform your life. Many people are unsure where or how to start when it comes to creating change and making their dreams a reality - others may be unsure what they want altogether, or have certain fears/blocks holding them back from moving forward. A life coach can help set you on the right path, take action and create positive momentum. 

How do you combat stress?

For me, it is about keeping my mindset in check at all times. I love to set an intention at the start of the day about how I want to feel throughout it. Then I check in with this intention throughout the day and bring myself back to that feeling. If I start to become overwhelmed and frazzled, I will step away and just take some deep breaths to re-centre myself. 

What is your morning ritual?

I wake up at around 5.30am, make myself a cup of warm water with a squeeze of lemon and then light some candles and sit in a meditation practice. After that I will either take myself outdoors for a morning walk, or do some journaling. My morning ritual ends with a homemade green juice. 

How do you define happiness for yourself and your clients?

I truly believe happiness is a state of mind, and is not something we have to work hard to achieve. It is not about changing the external circumstances of your life so they will “make you happy”, rather it is about making small inner shifts.Happiness is a sense of contentment with where you are in any given moment. So, all you need to do to experience happiness now is bring your attention back to the very moment you are living and focus on something you are grateful for. Feeling happy is also about filling your life with the things you love, no matter how small.I recommend people write a list of all the things they love and then make time to do at least one of them each day. It may be as small as reading your favourite book, going to a yoga class, running on the beach, or dancing to your favourite song in your lounge room! 

I know you are a huge green juice fan, what is your favourite and why?

My favourites always include Kale, as it is a total superfood and incredibly alkalising to the body. My favourite combo is 3 kale leaves, 1 cucumber, 2 celery sticks and one lemon (no rind). If you need it a little sweeter, just add an apple! 

What do you do to stay fit?

I love cardio, so will often go for beautiful long runs outdoors. I have a personal training session weekly, and in addition to that I use the Nike Training App to do strength workouts. I love yoga to stretch out my muscles and calm my mind. 

Advice for people struggling with motivation

1. Acknowledge your progress - When we are working towards some form of goal, our motivation will start to wane when we feel like we are not making progress. Many people focus on how far they have to go before they reach their goal, rather than how far they have come. Acknowledging the progress you have made will help remind you that what you are doing is working and will re-ignite your motivation to keep going.
2. Find your “why” - When you have a powerful reason why you are doing something, it will always pull you forward. Many people choose goals or outcomes without really thinking about why they want to achieve them and as a result have nothing pulling them forward past all the challenges along the way. When you set a goal, think about why it is important to you, what it will mean to you when you achieve it and what it will enable you to do. This will help you feel excited about it.
3. Mix it up - When things become monotonous we get bored and over it. No matter what you are doing, it is important to make it fun. If you are struggling with motivation to train, mix up your routine or put some new music on your iPod. Or, if you are becoming bored with your food plan, try out new recipes, experiment with foods you have never eaten before, and get in to superfoods.

 Connie is the author of The 12 Step Dream Creator Guide e book, and founder of The 90 Day Transformation Project, a 3 month online program which supports you to create deep lasting change from the inside-out.The next 90 Day Transformation Project begins on April 22nd, and Connie would love you to join her! As part of this project you receive weekly workbooks, videos, live calls, bonuses and an amazing Facebook community. Find out more information, and secure your spot here.