Welcome!

As I prepared to begin blogging for the first time ever it occurred to me that as with all things it would help to have an intention around it. I've learned from coaching, and doing the personal work associated with it, that intentions are very different from agendas. Agendas have a certain outcome and a definite means of getting there attached to them. They can just be a list or outline of things to be considered or done, like a meeting agenda. Agendas can also be anything you're trying to obtain for yourself or something you want somebody else to do. Agendas tend to be problematic when they're hidden. With intentions, on the other hand, you still want something to happen, but there's a lot more space for things to go any way the Universe sees fit. With an intention, I can be happy no matter what comes to pass if I'm willing (which, needless to say, is the KEY). An example of an agenda could be for you to read this, think about agendas in your life, and gain significant insight into yourself. Whereas, an intention might be for you to learn something about yourself.

You might guess from all of this that intentions require a certain amount of 'letting go', and you'd be right. Intentions definitely require 'letting go', something that I've traditionally struggled with. Being a self-proclaimed control freak, I always want to dictate how everything goes. Ask anybody, especially my partner, or the folks I'm inclined to boss around all day at my part-time job at Target. I've recognized that I often have this little voice in my head chanting some lines (which I've probably butchered drastically) from Pretty Woman: "I say who. I say when. I say where. I say how." (I may have thrown that last sentence in myself.) Let me just say that those lines resonate with me big time. So, my challenge is to pay attention to what my agendas are, especially my hidden ones, (I'm really good at hiding them from even myself,) and once I've exposed them, 'let go'. (More in the next blog about some tried and true ways to successfully 'let go'.)

Well, back to the original point. Welcome to the Altman Life Coaching blog! I'm Jill Altman, and I'd love to hear from you. (If you're like me and blogging is new to you, click on the word 'comments' in aqua at the bottom of this entry. Then, click on 'sign up here' to create a Google account if you don't already have one. Next, type your comment in 'leave your comment'. Finally, complete the 'word verification', and click 'publish your comment'. Once you've created your Google account it'll be easier to comment on future entries.) What are some of your agendas? Are they hidden (intentionally from others, or unintentionally from yourself)? Did anything surprise you as you thought about this topic? What's your intention for the holidays? And my intention for having this blog? Why, to connect with all of you, of course!

If you haven't already seen it, check out my website at http://www.altmanlifecoaching.com/ It'll be updated by the middle of January and provide another resource to assist you in leading a happier life.