Joanne Hughes Coaching

Men's Breakthrough Coach

Joanne Hughes

Spring Means Trouble For Some Children, and here is why.

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Parents, did you know that Springtime is a time that some kids will produce more mucous and will have trouble with #allergies, #colds, #asthma, and #bronchial inflammatory symptoms? In the ancient science of #Ayurveda, they talk about three (3) doshas, which are the governing agents of physiology. These doshas help you to understand your child more in terms of the mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical attributes of each child. Understanding your child’s dosha helps you to understand and identify potential problem behaviors, challenges, and illness plus much, much more. In the spring, children that are more ‘solid and heavier, that have Earth-like qualities, such as; grounded, down to earth, kind, slower to do activities, warmer skin, fuller, rosy cheeks, will produce more mucus in springtime which can block the bronchioles and create breathing difficulties, the may have allergies, runny nose, slow digestion or digestive/tummy problems. Asthma is on the rise for children and we see more asthma in children now at an alarming increase since 1997 according to scientific studies. Knowing and understanding your child and what their ‘energetic and physiological’ blueprint is, as I like to refer to it, can help you to determine the right diet for your child, catch and be proactive with any issues around allergy, asthma, and bowel concerns. (*** You can now learn about your child’s dosha with my R.O.C.K.S.T.A.R. Parenting video course that you can watch at your convenience You can message me to find out more details.)For these children that produce more mucous in the Spring, it is best to avoid foods that are fried, pizza, and dairy as these are high mucous producing foods. The good news is, is that there are ways to get a jump on prevention and remedies that are right in your cupboard. Turmeric is your best defense and ally in combating excess mucus. It is a powerful non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and not only is it a classic cold remedy around the world, in Ayurveda, but it is also a preventative herb that is never left out of treating colds and excess mucus production. Turmeric also is used in treating Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel syndrome and not to mention repairing cellular intestinal damage. In your home, at the first sign of colds, allergies, etc, you can make a paste by mixing equal amounts of turmeric powder with honey. (never give honey to children under 2) you can give your child a tsp a few times a day. You can also use turmeric in cooking. Spices such as ginger and pepper are heating and can also help to ‘dry up’ mucous in the body. I hope this helps you get a jump on springtime colds and allergies. #ayurveda, #parentingcoach,#healthandwellnesstips, #parentingtips **Joanne Hughes is a Parenting Coach. Joanne has had a passion and love for children since she can remember. When she graduated High School she knew she wanted to work with children and youth and so became a Child and Youth Counselor working in Residential Treatment Centers with children that had severe emotional and behavioral challenges, in domestic violence shelters working with children and youth, daycares, and as a nanny. Joanne has a Nanny 911 program that works with parents of children that have behavioral issues in the home, in the school from very young children to youth. Joanne meets with the parents and creates a safe and warm environment to hear and listen to the concerns of the parents and then helps them to formulate a plan to lesson the behaviors and therefore reduce stress in the home environment. For more details message her on Facebook or by email at: joannehughescoaching@gmail.com Picture from Victoria Borodinova from Pexels.

3 Signs of Depression In Men Facing Retirement.

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I remember feeling really sad after my Dad retired. It wasn’t because ‘I’ was sad but I could plainly see that it was hard on my Dad. Men and Women often have emotions around retirement but they will experience it differently.

Most men will find ‘significance’ in the work that they do, in their jobs, and find their ‘identity’ through their work. For a lot of men, they have felt fear of judgment, and have had lots of pressure from peers, family, and often, themselves, to have the best job or make a great amount of money. In the past, men have typically made more money and have been the ‘providers’. So, what happens when the company that they work for wants them to retire and are pushed to retire early?

Being forced to retire early because of budget cuts, lay-offs, etc can be devastating. If you are aged 60 – 65 and you are laid off, or even in your 50’s, unexpectedly, it can be hard to bounce back from this. This is a major life change, with change comes loss and with loss of course comes grief. Grief has many complexities and symptoms that come with it. For example to name a few: Sadness, anger, fear, rage, isolation, lethargy, fatigue, and fear that things will never feel good again. For many years a man wakes up and has the same routine and all of a sudden he is retired early and finding another job at this age can be very difficult. Here are 3 signs to watch out for in men;

  • Withdrawn – Men may feel guilt or shame around being forced into early retirement and even when it was not a forced retirement, men may become more withdrawn as they try to deal with the feelings of being retired. These signs may be subtle such as spending time on their own more often, sleeping more, not as communicative and not being aware of those around him.
  • Digestive disruptions – feeling emotions such as guilt and shame, not feeling ‘good enough, can have major effects on our digestive system, but not only our digestive system, the stress of having to retire, unexpected or not, can trigger our trauma and we may jump into ‘survival stress’ and this leads to dysregulation. Esstentially, men easily can head to total ‘shutdown’ which leads to the body not functioning properly, including digestion which then leads to many other health issues.
  • Social Relationship Decline – It starts with being somewhat withdrawn within the family but it often spreads into social isolation and disconnection. So men will stay away from friends, from the gym, from their circles that are usually their source of support and connection. Men may often have circles that include co-workers and now that they are no longer at work they will stay away from their circles and now lack support, they feel now less confident, less useful and unworthy.

Men don’t typically seek professional help and will most often be in denial that they are feeling depressed or cut off since being retired from their work. The key is for men, is to get them to sit down and reassess what they want. Being retired can be the best time of their life with more time now to interact with their friends, family, and other circles. It may be a difficult time for sure but once they can come to a realization that their lives are ‘just beginning’ rather than ‘ending’ they can start to put together a plan for what they would like to do to fill their time.

I worked with a client that had not only been retired from his job, but had lost his marriage as well and was at a complete loss as to what he might do now, and truly felt that it was the ‘end’ instead of the beginning. For this gentleman, it only took a little bit to have him completely turn around and see that he was still needed, useful and competent.

Retirement for sure can be a huge life change, but as well, can be one of the most amazing times of your life. Putting an “Action Plan” together, writing a Mission Statement for who and what you are going to commit to now moving forward, surrounding yourself with community, becoming a mentor, etc can be just as rewarding or even more than your career! I like to create a “Wheel of Possibilities” with clients as it helps them to get clarity on what their wants and needs are and sometimes, they need to be able to shift their mindset to see other possibilities. We all struggle with change and the loss of a career is so difficult but you do not have to be silent and suffer alone. Reach out to a friend, family doctor, or even a coach to help you navigate these new waters. Having support, or community and especially having a group of your peers that are going through the same thing, in your life will decrease depression, help you to build ‘new’ connections, and give you a new network of peers that are different than your coworkers, will help to empower you to take control of your new life and learn a different way of living.

Beginning March 13th, Joanne Hughes Coaching Presents “Circle of Possibilities” a Men’s Group Coaching that is for men aged 50 plus to learn to prepare for retirement, deal with the change of life retirement brings with it, change or relationship or just to learn new strategies to cope with change.

Circle of Possibilities

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How The Day Of Love Has So Many Mixed Emotions and How Men Can Learn To Survive.

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Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I don’t think I have ever seen or heard of a holiday or special day that brings with it such a wide plethora of emotions with it. To the ones that are single, it can be the most painful of days, and even if you are in a relationship it can become pretty intense, after all, this is a day that is so different for both men and women. To women of course this is a day that they like to feel special, they want to feel pampered and to know that they are thought of. Women run out and buy a bottle of whiskey and cigar, their favorite beer holder, or a book to sit in the bathroom, then deep down they begin to stress and obsess. Thoughts of if their partner will remember and of “he better buy me something good” go through their head until they finally go for dinner or get that box of chocolates.

Men, on the other hand, will stress about what they buy, will it be good enough, is it what she expects, etc, etc. I am sure many feel the most pressure on this day as too many, it’s a silly day that confuses them. I am being somewhat silly here

3 Reasons To Write A Personal ‘Mission’ Statement.

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No matter who you are or what you do in life today I believe having a ‘Mission’ Statement is one simple way to live your best life. During those times when you feel ‘lost’ or broken and down on your luck, a Mission Statement brings you back to your core, strength, and to a place of integrity.

I see it so many times where a husband or partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, has put up blocks, feels like they have nothing left to give or their partner is just not the same person anymore and relationships end, marriages struggle, or an individual losses their path.

My core belief as a Coach and personal mentor is writing a ‘Mission Statement’. I find that often we lose sight of a goal, of a reason why we fell in love with someone, or a reason that we started a business or a job and that happens often, and it’s okay. Life is ever-changing and evolving and I for one, have taken a different road that has led me off my path before and I have lost sight or vision.

First, let me define what a Mission Statement is, a mission statement is usually used by a company to define in simple and concise words its reason for being, for existing. When writing a Mission Statement we should ask ourselves these three questions: 1. Who are you at your core, your center? In your marriage, or business who is it that you want to be? How will you make this happen? This is also beneficial for any individual on their own as well for the purpose of becoming their best self. So, here are my three reasons to have a Mission Statement.

  • A Mission Statement provides clarity for who you are as a person. This is at your core, not your perception.
  • A Mission Statement gives you purpose.
  • A Mission Statement is a committment to yourself to take back your power, to get back on your path and stand tall.

I find when a person writes a Mission Statement for themselves and the person that they want to become for themselves, their partner, or their business, it provides empowerment like no other. Sometimes we lose our way or our vision because life’s ups and downs can take a toll on us, but the most important thing is to find that clarity and just get back on your path, pull yourself together, and keep moving forward.

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With every ending comes new beginnings. Welcome, 2022!

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Well, another year down! A year that many will not be sorry to see an ending to. I know this year has seen many losses for sure, and there have been so many struggles. This year has taught me a lot, so much and at this time of year I really enjoy having space throughout the day, to move slow, have a lot of quiet time to process the year and how I feel the year went for me. I also like to journal and really look at the “big picture” of the year for me and begin to write out my intentions and goals and even strategies for the new year. (You can find some notebooks that I created here https://joanne-hughes.myshopify.com/products/spiral-notebook-2)

The one thing that I know is that there are many things outside our control and some things in our control. The best thing that we can do at this time for ourselves is to really tune into the one thing we all have control over, our bodies and our mind. It is the one thing that we can have total control over and the one thing that we can really focus on this new year. We can choose to have peace within us, practice positive thinking, eat healthy, exercise, and put into place a daily practice of gratitude to stay in a balanced state of wellbeing. Think about the people that you choose to be around and share time and energy with, what ideas and thoughts you will allow into your mind, make choices of which path you will take, and how you want this year to unfold for you! These are all within our control.

This year is ending and we can all breathe in and release any negativity this year might have brought into our space and now celebrate this new year that is upon us! I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my followers and subscribers, thank you for your support. I hope you all have a wonderful new year. Be safe on the streets tonight if you are traveling. I wish all of you a year of health, vibrancy, abundance, and love. Here’s to 2022! I know I am ready for it and to begin a new and exciting path and I look forward to all the opportunities coming my way! May you all find opportunities as well in the coming year! Cheers!

How To Live A Vibrant and Purposeful Life.

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Well, 2021 is almost a memory now and a new year upon us. The past three years have been hard years and have taken a huge toll on us all! It may seem surprising to a lot of people but despite everything that is going on around us in this weird world, we can live a vibrant and purposeful life and it can be full! I’m going to share with you some of the things that I do and incorporate into my life that makes me feel vibrant and purposeful!

  1. Stay away from the News – That’s right! I know a lot of you right now are thinking “why would we do that!” I understand wanting to be informed and on top of current affairs, but listening or watching the news daily is not going to make you feel Vibrant! I stopped watching news on a daily basis and stopped reading newspapers many years ago. I find that the media has a way of keeping the public on a medium alert in life and that is not healthy and not only that it adds to anxiety and stress. Once a week really is all you need.
  2. Make your health a priority – If you don’t look after your vehicle it will break down and the same goes for your body. The time to make your health a priority is now. Putting good things into your body will help you to have vital energy, will help to make you feel happiness. Start off with small steps of incorporating greens into your diet everyday, go for a walk or do yoga. Start off with one walk a week, take the stairs instead of the elevator and stretch your body when you get up. Find a 10 min workout on youtube and do this daily.
  3. Spend time with family and friends that make you feel valued and loved – We all want to feel wanted, loved and cared for. Make a commitement to yourself to get around friends and family that make you feel special as they are esstential to your well-being!
  4. Dance, Sing and Be Silly – Music is one of my most important tools to feeling uplifted, inspired, etc. It can put a baby to sleep, soothe and calm nerves and help your spirit soar! So dance in the kitchen, down the street, with a partner. Movement is important as it will ease anxiety and sing as well! We all should learn to be silly and to laugh because it has lots of health benefits that will increase your vibrancy!

Being purposeful is something that I think a lot of people don’t experience on a day-to-day basis. What do I mean by being purposeful? Waking up in the morning and spending some time looking at your day, writing some goals for the day, setting intention for the day and the steps you need to take to achieve these goals. Also, being purposeful will take a bit of patience and time because you can’t be in “thought” and up in your head constantly, you have to actually be present and aware of your whole being. Most of us wake up and rush around to get ready for work, eat and get dressed and are thinking of what needs to be done at work, etc. In traffic you may find yourself with thoughts of the night before, the conversation with your wife or the date you went on and what you plan to do the next time, if there is one.

Being fully present in your being is about being able to sit with your being and be able to process what emotions are coming up, what little tummy flutters you may be having, the fatigue you may be feeling and taking the time to choose what you want to do with this one day that you have before you. It’s feeling whether the choice you are making feels good, feels scary, or it makes you excited or closed off because truly, you are the one that is in charge of how your day goes and let’s face it, you can have it be great or not so great and if you want to be vibrant and feel alive, you are going to have to be aware of how things are feeling and also be aware of the choices you make and the consequences that come along. This happens for you, because of you and yes, there are also ups and downs and challenges etc, but when you are vibrant and purposeful, you chose how these affect you or don’t, It’s as simple as that! So, how do we become purposeful?

  1. Have a journal and daily planner – Most of us do have journals and planners so now utilize them in a way that helps you to become purposeful. Day to day look at setting an intention for how you want your day to go, what goals you want to achieve, what you will compromise on and what you aren’t going to stand for. Make commitements and document emotions and reactions that you have throughout the day with the decisions you make and the people that you come across.
  2. Meditate – You may feel you are not good at “meditating” but there is no specific way you have to go about it, just find a quiet space, put your right hand over your heart if you have a hard time focusing and pay attention to the rise and fall of your chest, your breath or focus on a picture on the wall until you feel relaxed and your mind is quieter. Start off with 5 mins a day, but start. Meditating brings peace to your mind and body and will get you in a habit of awareness within your body and mind.
  3. Get in the habit of checking in with yourself through out the day– how are you feeling? Where are you holding tension, etc. Doing this is crucial to becoming vibrant and purposeful because if you are feeling tense or constricted that is not going to help you to feel vibrant and expansive.
  4. Bedtime journaling – At the end of the day you need to take an hour of your time to check in with yourself and see what you were able to accomplish or not accomplish. Did you have the kind of day you intended and if not what happened? Below is an example of a page that you could have in your journal.

All of these different tools inserted into your day will make for a more balanced, peaceful you which in turn will help you to life a more vibrant and purposeful life!

***Joanne Hughes is a men’s breakthrough coach and can be found at www.joannehughescoaching.ca. Look for her upcoming workshop on “Living a Vibrant and Purposeful Life”.