lifes a-bicycle - how to balance your life like you balance a bike

Academy of Creative Living

Life’s A BicycleIF You Can

Balance A BIKE,

You Can Balance Your LIFE!

© 2015 Sharon M. Barnes LCSW PLLC


Life’s A BicycleEvery time You RIDE a bike or SEE a bike, You will REMEMBER to

Tune In Tune Up Take off

To Balance Your LIFEJust Like You Balance a BIKE

www.TherapistForSensitiveAndGifted.com

Academy of Creative Living www.TherapistForSensitiveAndGifted.com

Do You -Feel overwhelmed?Suffer from Compassion Fatigue?Feel tugged in too many directions at once?


Balancing Your Life is Like Balancing a Bike!

• Both are Mind-body skills• Both require Dynamic--not static--balance

Dynamic Balanceo Flexes when the road or path varieso Responds to changes in weather & traffico Accommodates shifts in body, mind & emotionso Adjusts to continual movemento Allows you to GET & STAY balanced



Would You Like toGET and STAY balanced Thrive AND Reach your goalsBecome STRONG and FLEXIBLE Build on body-mind skills you ALREADY have

Go BACK to Kindergarten for some FUN!


What You’ll Learn -3 KEY LIFE BALANCE SKILLSTHE MOST COMMON SINGLE MISTAKE HOW TO CORRECT IT3 WAYS TO CHECK FOR THE SOURCE OF TROUBLE2 QUICK AND EASY TOOLS


Why?Life = Stress (Holmes Rahe)

Stress makes you sick= Life makes you sick?– It did to my husband Gary – It did to me – We were in the 80%– Would you like to be in the 20%?


Who?Who gets the most negative impact from stress? CASIGYs™!

Creative, Curious, Complex

Acutely Aware

Super-Sensitive

Intense, Introverted, Intelligent and/or

Gifted

YOU?


Life’s A Bicycle

Can You Ride A Bike?


3 KEY Bike Balance Skills

1. Tune in2. Tune up3. Take off



3 KEY Life Balance Skills

1. Tune in2. Tune up3. Take off



1. Tune InMost Common Mistake–Ignore itHow to Correct It–Tune In = Pay Attention


How’s Your Ride?Smooth?Bumpy?Got a flat?Anyone run into any bumps lately?


Signs of Bike ImbalanceWobblySlow downFallWork harder???



Signs of Life Imbalance

Irritability/over-reactionsAnxiety/DepressionFatigueInability to concentrateDis-easeSleep disruption/ changes

Appetite/eating/weight changesOverwhelming emotionsLife crisis or chaosDecreased sex driveMistakes or accidents



Prime Times for CASIGY™Imbalances to Occur

MarriageDivorceChange of jobChange of residenceChange of family sizeIllness

DeathLoss of JobFinancial difficultiesLife transitions Hunger, fatigue, boredomLeg-lifting experiences


In abnormal circumstances, abnormal feelings are normal (Bryan)


Leg-Lifting Leg-Lowering

How to Know When Things Are Out of Balance


3 Ways to Findthe Source of Trouble

1. Stop2. Look3. Listen4. Feel



What do you find when you Stop, Look &Listen?How are you feeling today?Tool #1: Daily Tune-In Tool (TNT)Tool #2: Creative &

Contemplative Handwork™



CASGIY™ Toolbox: Daily TNT™ (Tune-iN Tool)

DAY

What’s happening? What/how am I feeling? (Body sensations and/or emotions)

1 1 2 3

1 2 3

2 1 2 3

1 2 3

3 1 2 3

1 2 3

4 1 2 3

1 2 3

5 1 2 3

1 2 3

6 1 2 3

1 2 3

7 1 2 3

1 2 3

Building Personal Power starts with self-awareness, which is also an important coping tool, especially for CASIGYs (Creative, Aware, Sensitive, Intense, Gifted You-s). One way to expand your self-awareness is to tune in to what is happening inside of you and to connect it to what is happening around you. Becoming ‘strong on the inside” starts with small (sometimes boring) skill-building tasks, like sit-ups or push-ups with physical exercise, or practicing scales with music. As you use it consistently, this Daily TNT™ can help you strengthen and expand your inner strength & resilience. I recommend developing a habit of taking five to ten minutes daily to reflect on the last 24 hours. Ask yourself, ‘What’s been happening?” and “How am I feeling?” and write down the two or three most salient things that occur to you. Writing this down allows you to make it concrete and tangible. It becomes more real, which can be intimidating but is in the end, both freeing & empowering. Writing it down can help you release what you don’t want as well as give you more access to it for identifying patterns and making positive changes; even more reasons I recommend doing it. Questions?Comments? Email me: [email protected] Phone me: (USA) 303-987-0346 Skype: scrap-lady-sharon.m.barnes © 2007-2015 Sharon M. Barnes, LCSW, PLLC


2. Tune UpWe Resist Tune Ups

Time$Pandora’s boxTake care of others first???



Flight Attendants’ Secret Formula

Put on your own oxygen mask first– BUT we’re supposed to love others first!

WRONG!– Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF

• Your love for others is limited by ….. YOUR CAPACITY TO LOVE YOURSELF!


Tune Up -The Art of Bicycle MaintenanceWhy Tune Up?

Start ridingSmoother rideLess effort More FUNCare for yourself so you CAN care for others



Tune UpThe Art of Bicycle MaintenanceHOW to Tune Up:

Check (Tune In)Clean (Regular/Seasonal)Lubricate(Decrease Friction)Adjust Small changes = Big effectReplace or Repair (what you can)

Repair Shop (When to Get Help)



We all have our favorites


3 Tools CASIGYs™ can USE to Restore Balance

1. Breathe (8-4-7) x 42. Give thanks 3. Stretch 4. Laugh5. Physical Exercise



3. Take OffIt’s about the Journey . . . AND the Destination

Get started exploring new territoryStay on TrackOne Pedal at a TimePace YourselfPedal, pedal, pedalFinishCelebrate



Life’s A BicycleEvery time You SEE a bike or RIDE one, Remember —All You have to do is:

Tune In Tune Up Take off

To Balance Your CASIGY™ LIFEJust Like You Balance a BIKE


lifes a-bicycle - how to balance your life like you balance a bike

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