She Was Someone Who Couldn't Say No -- Is That You?

In my book, Yes! I Said No!, I share the example of Susan, a client who came to see me because of extreme anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.  

Over the years, she had adopted an unhealthy lifestyle, one of trying to please others. She was someone who couldn’t say “No.”

The step-by-step process I utilized in the office with her and others like her, was so successful, I began to conduct workshops to help others. 

Maybe you can relate to Susan. 

Maybe you're sick of feeling unheard. 

Maybe you're sick and tired of fighting, disagreeing, and going over the same issues over and over. 

Maybe you're tired of feeling stuck. 

Maybe you didn’t learn how to live differently. You weren’t taught. By recognizing this, you're not throwing anyone under the bus or blaming. You ARE saying you didn't learn. And, it’s ok – because you can get the tools now! 

I created this masterclass for you — if you want LESS STRESS & MORE SUCCESS.

In this class, you will get keys:

• To improve your marriage.

• To create closer family relationships.

• To say no without blowing up, wimping out or running away.

• To stop being a people pleaser.

• To care for people without carrying them.

• To restore healthy relationships.

• To be more confident. 

• To experience less stress and more success in work relationships – with bosses, colleagues, and clients.

• To more easily talk to people, 1:1, small groups, large groups.

BENEFITS:

Reduce Conflict.

Reduce Stress.

Build Rapport Fast.

Become a more Confident Communicator.

Get effective, efficient, comfortable, and have more fun.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Use your new awareness to understand yours and others' behaviors over the years.

• Take the codependency assessment and gain new self-awareness. 

• Stop hurting your relationship. Use your new awareness to build your relationships.

• Reduce stress by communicating more clearly in a way you never could before.

• How to serve others more successfully.

• How to build rapport quickly which means that you build trust and agreement more easily.

• How to use in a group as well as 1:1.

• GET MORE CONFIDENT.

DETAILS:

• Intimate class setting – 20 seats max. 

• Class worksheets – which means no more scrambling to take all the notes!  

• 4 classes versus 1 crammed-jam-packed-mega-class – which means you have time to process and ask questions.

• Group Coaching — which means you will learn with each other. 

• Break-out sessions — which means you get to practice.

• Miss a class? It’s ok! You’ll get the RECORDED LINK.

• Four one hour LIVE ONLINE dynamic classes taught by Barbra Russell. 

WHEN:

Saturday mornings, July 11, 18, 25 and August 1, 2020

At 10 A.M. Mountain Time 

(Schedule conflict? No worries. Register to get recorded links.)

WHERE:

You’ll get a unique Zoom link once you register.

Would you like to give a registration as a gift to someone? Email me.

Do you need a payment plan? Tap here.

Do you still have some questions? Email me.

Email: barb@barbrarussell.com

INVEST IN YOURSELF

What you get:

• The opportunity to gather, get encouraged, get equipped.

• Class worksheets and notes.

• Codependency Assessment

• Access to Class Recordings

• Dynamic class, group coaching, and tools to boost your communication and impact your relationships.

The Quarantine/Crisis/CoronaChaos Discounted Price, for Summer

2020: $149 

That's a total value of over $500 worth of therapy and tools combined for all 4 classes, for only $149. Tap here to choose the payment plan 37.50 every month for 4 months.

Yes. I want these tools which will impact my communication at work, volunteering, and at home!

This crisis has taken too much from you already, hasn’t it? Get the tools.

• Say no without blowing up, wimping out or running away

• Stop being a people pleaser

• Care for people without carrying them

• Restore healthy relationships

• Be confident! 

Yes. Sign me up, sign me up!

I still have some questions.

Email Barbra at barb@barbrarussell.com 

Live your best life, starting now! 

Crisis Coping with the Coach and the Counselor

Need practical tools and tips to deal with the Year of the Corona Virus?

Ana-Christina Hicks (Certified Coach) and me (Licensed Counselor) decided to put our heads together for people who need quick and easy to follow guidelines for help. Each Friday morning at 10 am. MST we share a short video, then have a time for discussion - all on Zoom from the comfort of your home, office or anywhere!

Join us at https://bit.ly/ZOOMCCCC

What Can We Learn From The Greatest Generation?

            It’s been said that America was able to win in World War II because its’ men and women went through the Great Depression. 

        During that time, my grandfather became a moonshiner – making whiskey in the woods, and my mother’s family drove from Oklahoma to California to work in the fruit orchards just like the movie “Grapes of Wrath.”

The Greatest Generation, as they’ve been called, suffered through hardship and deprivation in the depression (no coffee, no sugar, no nylons and no work) and learned to innovate and create something out of nothing.  And those changes stayed with them.   I still remember my parents saving plastic containers and shopping at Goodwill, even when it was no longer necessary. 

         Importantly, that generation developed common values of personal responsibility, duty, honor, country and faith because they fought a common enemy – first the Great Depression, then a Great War.

        Their remarkable actions provided succeeding generations (you and me) with opportunities to excel like never before.

        Now, like them, we fight a common enemy and we can no longer deny our need for cooperation and dependence on one another.  By working together, by digging deep within our own resources and resolve, we will win this COVID-19 war and all the effects reverberating through our economy, our relationships and our way of life.  We will be tested, but we will make it!

        As the saying goes, it is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars. 

        How are you shining in this time?  I’m becoming a “zoomie,”  doing on-line counseling and trying to encourage others by writing – like this blog or on social media and hosting a Bible study counseling class.  Those are my gifts and where I think I can do the most good.

        You have gifts and are perhaps learning new skills that will benefit you and others.  This is the time to shine!  And this is your time to share!  You may inspire someone else! 

The next virus wave -- your mental health

MENTAL HEALTH  --- THE NEXT VIRUS WAVE

 “I’m safe but I’m not ok.  I need to talk to you.”

             As the days go by, I believe we’re going to hear more comments like this one: “I’m safe but I’m not ok,”  The next virus wave is hitting us like a tsunami after an earthquake– the impact on our mental health.   

            We’ve all been surviving through this pandemic by going through the stages of grief, whether we realize it or not.  Denial, depression and anger arise as we struggle to deal with loss.           

Yes, we’re going through grief because we’ve experienced loss – loss of life as we knew it, loss of contact with other humans, and perhaps scariest of all, loss of control.  There’s so much going on we can’t control --  the virus sweeping the world, lock-down orders and the new reality of quarantine. It’s no wonder people don’t feel ok because we humans tend to catastrophize the unknown. 

The impact of such loss can be overwhelming.  We undoubtedly know someone who has caught the virus or has loved ones affected and they can’t go near them, can’t offer the comfort of their presence or a steadying hand.  During such times, stress, fear and grief impact the immune system as an overload of cortisol bombards the mind.

There are other risk factors which arise during such times as well. 

Dr. Hunter Kennedy, Executive Director of Colorado Footprints for Recovery, stated “isolation is one of the components for usage and addiction.”  And Vincent Atchity, CEO of Mental Health Colorado emphasized the importance of dealing with our mental health:  “This particular crisis really drives the message home that our physical health and our mental health are not two separate things.  They are, in fact, two sides of the very same coin.  Our thoughts, our beliefs and our faith make up the glue that holds us and society together.”

Now’s the time to focus on what we can control, what we are in charge of, and keep in mind these tips:

1.     Normalize the emotions – it’s ok to feel and go through all the stages of grief.

2.    Take back control of the part of the world you can – that’s pretty much all inside your head.  Remember, your brain is the #1 organ responsible for your immune system, and we need a strong immune system to withstand the mental and physical toil of the upcoming days, weeks and months.  You might be isolated, but you can face-time friends and family.  You may not be able to see other people at work, church or school, but you can take an on-line class or join the rest of us in learning how to operate Zoom 😊  As you control those parts of your world, the world outside won’t seem so frightening.

3.    Protect and feed your mind – You can get all the critical, necessary information you need in 3 minutes.  This is not the time to insatiably feed on news coverage of the latest crisis.  Instead of being tormented by the “what if’s,” spend time remembering “what is.”  Recording three new things to be grateful for each day might be the start of a new habit which will serve you long beyond this time of crisis. 

4.    Nourish your physical body – eating lots of comfort foods might feel reassuring somehow as we “stress bake” and binge on Netflix series.  This is the week to start the exercise routine, even if it’s in a different place.  This is the week to eat healthy foods and experiment with some new recipes using coconut flour and dates, for example, instead of sugar and flour. 

5.    Don’t forget your spiritual regimen – that time you spend with God in prayer and in His Word will bring calmness to your spirit and harmony to your being.

I am heartened to hear of restaurants providing meals to hospital workers and that more people are watching church services online.  People are sharing and becoming creative in all sorts of ways.

That simply tells me:  The times that try men’s souls are the times we have opportunities to rise and shine.