Author: Bela Friedman

Many of us are having a hard time with all that’s been going on in the world – on top of the Covid crisis that we’ve had to deal with for the past two years. Even with all the tools I have, I find myself very sad, and in despair at times, just like everyone else. My parents were Holocaust survivors from Ukraine, and seeing what’s happening is like reliving what they went through.

I thought I’d share 10 tips that I offer clients, as well as myself, that can help anyone get off the roller coaster of sadness:

1. If you are feeling anxious, sit or lie down and take at least 10 slow deep breaths, in through your nose, and slowly out through your mouth.
2. Limit your news intake. Take a break from social media, TV and/or radio news and get active.
3. Take action! This can be done by donating money or by sitting quietly to say a quick prayer or send energy to those in need. (I often asked my loved ones who have passed to the other side to use whatever abilities they have to find and help those who are most in need and to offer them healing, comfort, and relief. This feels so good to me and helps me let go when everything feels beyond my control.)
4. Listen to your favorite music. Get up and dance.
5. Practice compassion and self-care.
6. Keep your body moving and exercise.
7. Drink plenty of water.
8. Focus on nature; go for walks and enjoy the beautiful changing spring season with its magnificent colorful flowers and clean brisk air.
9. Keep a journal/notebook and write down your feelings; write at least three things you are grateful for. Also write what brings you joy.
10. Focus on things you can control — and let go of things you can’t.

I hope these tips are helpful for you too.

A few months ago, I sent an email to my Be Inspired Women’s Circle asking what sort of topics they’d like to take part in? One reply I received was “Different Ways to Nurture Creativity.”  I started thinking about it.

If you are like the average adult experiencing the pandemic, you may be binge watching movies on Netflix and other formats, and have become a little less creative. But I want to assure you, your creativity isn’t gone — it just may be out of practice.

When we watch small children – or if we can remember ourselves as small children, we know that they have no problem being creative: They use their imagination to make up stories and joyfully can go from one art project to another without hesitation. As we grow older, we have more and more responsibilities and become more serious. And somehow, many of us lose that creative part of us. But we can nurture our creativity in different ways and nurture our way back to having creativity be part of our daily lives.

Here is a great quote about nurturing our creativity as adults:

“Creativity is a powerful part of personal and professional growth for everyone, even for non-artists. By infusing our days with more creativity, we set a foundation for innovative thinking and brilliant collaboration. More of that can only be a good thing.”

Chad Halverson, founder and CEO of When I Work, an employee scheduling app that more than 30,000 businesses rely on.

Here are some great tips on how to nurture your creativity:

What do you do to nurture your own creativity? Take some time to write about it – or how you would like to start nurturing your creativity.

Tips:

• Allow yourself 5 minutes of quiet journaling to write your answers.
• Don’t analyze, just write. Or, you can make lists.

Helpful hints:

1. To help you, just for a moment, close your eyes and think back to your childhood, or when you were a teen. What creative things did you like to do?

Here are some great tips on how to nurture your creativity:

If you are yearning to be creative and don’t know where to start, you may be stuck, like so many of us experiencing issues with fear, stress, lack of confidence, frustration, that pesky inner critic or Covid-19. I can help, so please reach out to me. I offer free telephone consultations and offer Zoom and phone coaching as well as hypnotherapy sessions.  You don’t have to suffer alone. You can reach me from my website at https://belacoaching.com/contact or by phone at 503-848-3640.

Dear Be Inspired Community,

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be offering fun and magical writing workshops on Zoom.  My goal is to offer a creative release for the tensions we’ve all been feeling this past year through writing and journaling workshops.

My Writing Story

I’ve always loved writing. I’ve kept journals for most of my life. Journal writing has helped me in a multitude of transformational ways: meeting life’s challenges, self-discovery, creativity, inspiration, gratitude, writing gutsy or angry letters that I never sent. In my darkest and most challenging times my journal has often been my trusted best friend where I could cry and pour out my deepest, heartfelt feelings and thoughts when I was too afraid or embarrassed to tell a human friend. In my happiest times my journal was a place where I could release my delight in many ways.  Writing has been my escape, my muse, my self-care, my creativity and my work…and many times my challenge.  But in the end, my comfort and joy.

My professional writing experience began as a newspaper reporter and freelance writer in Los Angeles. I also wrote for a variety of business clients in my public relations business for almost 40 years. Most recently I collaborated and published a book with two other life coaches, Lessons from a Fall, Three Powerful Women and Their Stories of Transformation.

I love to write and I know you will too!

Your Time to Write Workshop

Thursday, Feb. 11, 10 am Pacific Time; $25

Thursday, Feb.18, 1 pm Pacific Time; $25

I hope that you can join me in February for two 75-minute writing workshops that will give you a chance to feel, process and articulate. You can sign up for one or both sessions and use this time for personal journaling, creative projects you’ve been wanting to work on or any other writing you do in your life or work.

I’ll provide the sparks of inspiration and support to get the words flowing for your writing sessions.

Group journaling is magical and powerful.  It will open you up to connect with your inner wisdom and higher self.

What you need:

• A notebook or journal, a good working pen, a comfortable place to write
• A refreshing beverage to keep you hydrated
• Put your inner critic aside, and give yourself permission not to be perfect.

l provide :

• Unique journal prompts
• A brief guided meditation
• A sacred Zoom space

* To register contact me at bela@belacoaching.com. Payments can be made on PayPal, by credit card or check. Just let me know how you’d like to pay. There will be no refunds.

Writing workshops coming soon – Dates to be announced.

• Journaling for Self-Care
• Wine and Writing Evening

I’m looking forward to sharing these writing sessions with you. Let me know if you have any questions.

Warm wishes,

Bela Friedman

If you are feeling anxious, stressed or worried, remember to be gentle with yourself. This is a special self-care love note to you:

“All I can do is stay present and take this period

of time one day at a time.

When I’m present,

I find gratitude.  -Cleo Wade

Wishing you all a wonderful happy week filled with health, love, peace and self-care.

Sending love and blessings,

Bela

Dear Beautiful Be Inspired Community,

With Christmas and New Year’s just around the corner, I hope that you are taking time for self-care.  Here is my special love note to you.

    “Let your light shine so brightly within, that others can see their way out of the dark.” – Unknown

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday and a week filled with health, love, joy, self-care and inspiration.  Have a happy holiday!

Sending love and light,

Bela

I learned to let my light shine by being true to myself.

But it took so many years to find that light and the truth of my soul.

The light that allowed me to marry someone I loved and who loved me.

I let my light shine by leaving Los Angeles and moving to Oregon with my children and new husband not knowing a soul when I arrived.

Being true to myself by leaving my public relations business after more than 30 years of work that no longer brought me joy.

I let my light shine by following my spiritual journey that led me to discover a new field that I love.

Now my light shines brightly in the work I do to inspire others to shine their lights brightly as well.

My light shines in my adult children and the beautiful bright eyes, laughter and love of my grandchildren.

That light that will be passed on and touch others in ways no one yet knows and will burn brightly for generations to come hopefully in a world of truth, justice and peace.

It took many years, but I had to reach deep into my soul to find my light, my truth.

It was difficult taking off the mask of happiness, the mask that was a lie so many years ago…

But now, years later I’m happy that I did, because life is fulfilling, precious and full.

Being my true self and knowing that I’ve allowed myself to blossom and my spiritual light to shine has helped so many others do the same.

Are you allowing your light to shine?

If you are experiencing issues with fear, stress, lack of confidence, that pesky inner critic or Covid-19, please reach out to me. I offer free telephone consultations and offering Zoom and phone coaching as well as hypnotherapy sessions.  You don’t have to suffer alone. You can reach me from my website at https://belacoaching.com/contact/ or by phone at 503-848-3640.

As my husband and I celebrated Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, we had to navigate being grateful in this very strange time. We all have many things to be grateful for. But many of us couldn’t be with our loved ones; things today are strange and different.

I was feeling pretty let down when it was decided that we couldn’t visit two of our adult children, their spouses and our four grandchildren in California because of Covid. It was a punch in the gut because we haven’t seen them in more than a year. We had a nice Zoom Thanksgiving, and we also do lots of Facetime. I’m very grateful for the technology that is now available enabling all of us to reach far and touch those we love.

But as I was going through my pity party, I re-read an article on the Daily OM website written by its founder, the talented Madisyn Taylor. Here are some snippets from her quote: “Honoring our memories and focusing on the ways our past experiences have blessed us can offer a richer awareness and appreciation for where we currently are in life. While we can relive happy memories and honor our experiences, we can’t go back and dwell in the past. Choosing to honor your memories and then move forward with hope and joy for the future will help you to feel more optimistic about your current circumstances today.”

I started to think about the many precious moments of my past – and began writing them down. And it gave me such a lift!

I’d like to give you the same opportunity. So here is a wonderful journaling exercise that will help you get in touch with what truly has given you joy in life, especially if you are feeling down about not being able to see your loved ones in person during this holiday season. Open a journal or notebook, take a pen and make a list of the precious moments you’ve had in life. You will feel so much better!

If you are having issues with fear, confidence or stress please reach out to me. I offer free telephone consultations and offering Zoom and phone coaching as well as hypnotherapy sessions. You can reach me from my website at https://belacoaching.com/contact/ or call me on my landline at 503-848-3640.

Dear Beautiful Be Inspired Community,

In this strange holiday season, I hope that you are taking time for self-care.  Here is my special love note to you:

I am unlimited in my wealth. Love, laughter and luxuries are all mine. -Louise Hay

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday of health, love, and for a peaceful week ahead.

Sending love and light,

Bela

Dear Beautiful Be Inspired Community,

I hope that you are taking time for self-care, some introspection and fun. Here is my special love note to you.

            Allow more peace, calm , clarity and light

                     into your life by not

          watching, listening or reading the news for at least 5 days.

                   Will you join me in the challenge?

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday of health, love, and for a peaceful week ahead.