My battle between my Ego and Higher Self

Posted by Scott on Dec 17, 2010 in Coaching, Healing, Learning | 1 comment

One of the things I’ve really been pondering as of late is that of trying to live in more in my “Higher Self” rather than revert to my “Ego” in stressful times or situations. I’m sure a lot of us know this drill. Something causes us to feel hurt, alone, distressed, or even more simply “like something has changed” – and our Ego, or “so-called protector” jumps in.

The Ego snaps at people, adopts a defensive posture, gives “the look” to others, and has to “win” any argument, even if it’s imagined.

Today I had a few too many Ego-moments, and I need to remind myself that “I’m strong when I’m fragile.” My Ego creates a huge weight sometimes, and it’s the reason I struggle with my friends, partner, and even sometimes strangers on the street.

I found this song by Sara Bareilles today called “Gravity” that I’d like to share. While listening to the song and reading the lyrics, I address the words to my Ego, as it’s time to start the process of breakup.

Enjoy!

I’m a guest blogger!!

Posted by Scott on Dec 12, 2010 in Coaching, Learning | 0 comments

Most of you know that I’ve been taking the Free Coach Training Program from Julia Stewart and the School of Coaching Mastery. It’s been a wonderfully great learning journey for me! The test opens this weekend (in the midst of the busiest time I’ve ever seen in my business! When to study..? hmmm..), and hopefully soon I’ll have a nice certificate for this 28-hour coach training program!

A few weeks ago I gave Julia some free tips and tricks on how to maximize her links for search engine optimization, and in turn, she offered me a spot as a guest blogger on the SCM site!

Take a look at my guest blog post at The School of Coaching Mastery. I talk about the quality of this training program, what I learned, and also what I found out about myself in the process.

Many thanks to Julia Stewart for this great opportunity to guest blog!

*Note: I just finished the exam! Wish me luck! I’ll know if I passed next week!

Help Ellen Evert Hopman to write another book!

Posted by Scott on Nov 28, 2010 in Druidry, Learning, News | 0 comments

Greetings kindred Druids!

If you are a fan of any of Ellen Evert Hopman’s books (A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year, A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine, Priestess of the Forest, etc), there is a real opportunity to help her to give even more back to the Druid Community.

Ellen is attempting to raise money on Kickstarter.com, collecting pledges to travel back to Ireland where she will dig deeper into the roots of the land, lore, and history, to assist her in her next book.

All you need to do is pledge an amount, and only if she reaches her goal, will your credit card actually be charged. I put in a pledge of $20, and that’s my challenge to all of you.

Ellen has given our community so much! Please consider giving back, and also spreading the word by forwarding this message on!

Here is the link to her kickstarter page where you can read about her project and pledge your support, or you can click the widget to the right!

http://kck.st/biXu8l

Many Blessings. May you never thirst!

Scott Schumacher

What are you tolerating in your life?

Posted by Scott on Oct 25, 2010 in Coaching, Healing, Learning, Magic | 0 comments

I realized that I skipped around a bit with Julia Stewart’s Free Coach Training program, and completely forgot about the module – What Drives Your Client. Interestingly, it was probably the Universe or my Higher Self that allowed me to take this module right at this time.

A great exercise in this module is to List 20 things in your life that you are “tolerating.” These are the things that are happening or that you are putting up with that aren’t allowing your life to move forward, or to pull you forward.

Here’s a portion of my list.

I’m Tolerating:

1. Not having an organized office space at home
2. Not having enough furniture to feel I could entertain guests
3. Not having a clean or uncluttered space to meditate or do yoga
4. How every flat surface in my apartment starts collecting piles of paper

So, these were all environmental influences on me that were keeping me a little stuck in feeling motivated.  The clutter, disorganization, and arrangement of my living space just wasn’t in line with how I wanted to live.

Exploring Ethics

Posted by Scott on Oct 20, 2010 in Coaching, Learning | 0 comments

I have a feeling that this topic could turn into a series of blog posts, simply because of the importance of ethics in doing business.

In the first “Do The Right Thing” module in the Free Coach Training program, we learn about the International Association of Coaches (IAC) and their Code of Ethics. As well, participants in this recording have great discussions about the different certifying bodies out there for coaches, their codes of ethics, and how they certify coaches and/or accredit or license schools.

In both my hats as a holistic practitioner and a web designer, I’ve taken countless hours to research state and organizational codes of ethics, as well as develop my own that I do business by and share with my clients. However, for me, there are some sticky ethical dilemmas that occur when Ethics, Specialization, Credentialism, Licensing, Accreditation, Competency, and Freedom to practice a profession come into play.

I practiced as a massage therapist for 10 years in the State of Minnesota. Minnesota is one of five states in the United States that have a “Freedom of Access/Freedom to Practice” law in place for alternative and complimentary healing practitioners. Massage Therapists are required to follow the laws and regulations outlined in Chapter 146A of the State of Minnesota Code. There are strong Regulations for practicing a healing art in Minnesota, with many consumer protections in place, yet there is not a statewide License which restricts the practice of massage therapy. Massage Therapists are free to practice as Unlicensed Complimentary and Alternative Healthcare Practitioners, and the State of Minnesota does not regulate curriculum or coursework. Practitioners must disclose all of their training and experience on a Client Bill of Rights and may only practice within the bounds of their training. But it can be through apprenticeship, hands-on individualized study, training from a school, or training from abroad – so long as this training is disclosed. There is also a consumer office in the State which can receive and investigate complaints, which has the power to discipline a practitioner – even to the point of barring them from practice.

What does this mean as far as Coaching and this path I’m on?

Personally, I enjoy the freedom to learn from a variety of sources to build my own level of Competency. I appreciate laws and regulations (even codes of ethics) which allow me the breadth and freedom to build my own portfolio and unique skillset. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that everyone needs good training and education to be effective in many careers. However, I believe that there are many paths to gaining extensive and effective education and training that can bring about success.

One line that I always look for in a professional organization’s code of ethics is that of “honoring all paths” within a profession. This can be hard to find when a profession becomes largely regulated with curriculum standards, licensing, and accreditation of schools. An honoring of all paths and lineages can embrace both competency and curriculum, and allow multiple entry points into a career.

Imagine if I lived in rural Minnesota – lets say International Falls. The closest physical “school” for maybe coaching, massage therapy, etc, might be well over 300 miles away, or a closer school might exist in the province of Manitoba in Canada. Or perhaps I could learn the same skills over the internet or from a coach trainer that is only 30 miles away? Imagine the costs involved if I needed to attend a physical “accredited or licensed” school that might be 300 miles away, and I was required to have 100 hours or more of only their coursework. What if I had a family to take care of? What if I lacked transportation to take me to this school? What if I attended this school and could not afford the perhaps $500 licensing fee from the State in order to practice (after I had spent a ton of money on travel, expenses, coursework, books, etc). I could be the most effective coach in the world, but I’d be excluded and barred from practicing.

I’m very encouraged that the IAC provides their mastery certification based on COMPETENCY rather than number of “clock hours” of education, where I received my education, and whether or not this school was licensed or accredited or not. I also believe that our customers and clients expect both competency and consumer protection.

Does consumer protection have to come from licensing, accreditation, or stringent curriculum standards, or can there be freedom to practice within good local, state, and regional regulation?

What makes a great coach? Where and what training they received (and how much), or how effective, competent, and ethical they might be?

Personal Paradigms for Coaches

Posted by Scott on Oct 18, 2010 in Coaching, Healing, Learning | 0 comments

Psst.. I decided to put the blog post on “Global Paradigms” on my HolisticGeek.com blog (where I do my web-design related work)! No, I didn’t jump ahead!

If I could reflect and sum up the lessons coming forward for me in this module of the Free Coach Training program, they would be:

• It pays to collaborate rather than compete
• Too much energy is spent on FEAR and Blame, and
• Be of service to something BIGGER than yourself

Now, I have to admit, that sometimes I ride along the edges of these paradigms, just holding on!  I don’t really believe in competition, however, I’ve learned that I play best as a soloprenuer rather than a collaborator on a team.  Maybe it’s just my working style, because I love to engage a lot of my diverse skills.  Maybe there is a small “fear” of letting go of tasks, responsibility, or the thought that I might lose my identity in the process of sharing and collaborating too much.

There have been times I’ve “walked out” of collaborative situations because I felt that they weren’t resonating with my goals or personal ideals – sometimes even very NOBLE causes or projects.  I think too, that there is definitely a learned skill at navigating collaboration so that everyone wins, no one person takes on too much, and everyone has their needs met throughout the process.  So I’m hopeful.  I do like to be the one in charge of my own destiny, and definitely I have more of a collaborative relationship with my clients.  But so far, I’ve realized that I work better on my own.

People are imperfect and they fail.  They fail a lot!  I include myself in the “people” I’m talking about!

Deciding to not live in Fear however – I believe that this is the biggest lesson of all for healing to come about in an individual, group, family, etc.  In all of my experience, I’ve benefited so much more from being courageous rather than fearful.

Fear and Blame are evil twins!  In my mind, they travel around together like a Yin-Yang style bowling ball!  Sometimes it’s easier to give up, not take any risk, throw up our hands and say something like “Well, it’s the ECONOMY.  That’s why I’m can’t make more money.”   Then we just throw our dreams in the gutter.  And conversely, sometimes when there’s no one left to blame, we simply blame ourselves and stay stuck in our fear, and we don’t move forward.  We don’t even step up to play.  It’s time for a new bowling ball I think!

If we just got out of our internal and external “blame game” and spent our energy on possible solutions, even if we failed at a few attempts, maybe we’d be propelled into success FASTER!

Finally, being of service to something bigger than ourselves, to me, opens up some new possibilities.  Even for me currently, I’m very steeped in my own research and thinking about the concepts of Indigo Children and Indigo Adults, that some of my old ways of thinking are being challenged, and I’m thinking of some new possibilities in actively reaching out to these communities.  I’m starting to see that regardless of the definitions or labels we put on children with special sensitivities, that they need positive adults in their corners, and others who will help to build structures and alternate institutions that benefit rather than hinder them.

So, while I’m still a work in progress, feeling more comfortable in a solo role in my work, some great inspiration is poking through within these wonderful Personal Paradigms for me!