Simple Ways Coaching

We've Moved!

2008-08-06T14:10:00.001-07:00

We've moved! Please check us out our Family Resource Blog! We look forward to connecting with you!

We're Looking for Writers and Bloggers!

2008-06-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

Greenwich Park Sunset
Photo Artwork by londonlens

Are you ready to reach more people through your writing?
And would you like to join a community of people who are ready and willing to improve their relationships and strengthen their connections?

I hope so because we're looking for contributing writers and bloggers to publish articles through the SWC Community Blog. The guidelines are simple:

Topic must be about relationships and/or connecting
Family friendly content
Positive focused

Here's how it works:

Submit your article to me by sending it in the body of an email to Cassandra@SimpleWaysCoaching.com
Upon approval, your article will be published on the blog
You will be added to the blogroll

It can be an article you've already published elsewhere and/or posted on your own blog. We will elaborate on the guidelines and approval process as needed.

Cassandra's New Blog!

2008-06-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

So today I completely revamped CassandraRae.com into my new personal blog! I'm still in the creative process with our web developer Greg Norman with Norcraft Design, but since I had time sensitive information on my website and I needed to update it anyways I decided to implement my plans now instead of waiting for the new website. In the past, I have stalled under the guise of "this or that needs to be finished first". But, it feels so liberating to move forward without having everything to be perfectly neat and tidy. There's so much less pressure and it's probably better content too!

Heartfelt Fun

2008-06-09T14:14:00.001-07:00

tada!
Photo art by craftyhearts

Kids are the best role models for heartfelt fun!

So last week I posted about having "messy fun" and how when you can let go of perfection and embrace the chaos of creativity that things usually turn out better than planned and I must share that that is exactly what happened with our first group seminars!

We held our very first 7 Simple Ways to Connect group seminars and they were absolutely *AMAZING*! We experienced what I have begun to term "heartfelt fun" which is delving deeply into the heart of the matter, but having fun along the way. Usually when we think about healing a relationship or reconnecting in a challenging situation, we can feel resistant and heavy. But, the 7 Simple Ways to Connect truly help to lighten the load, simplify, and create a plan of action. This seminar is awesome and I look forward to facilitating it again soon!

Don't want to miss out on the heartfelt fun? Then simply subscribe to SimpleWaysCoaching.com by filling out the form in the side bar so that you will receive an invitation to our next group seminar!

3 Questions to a Better Relationship

2008-06-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

Taima & Alex dressed up for Fanime

My 18 year old nephew, Alex, lives with us full-time. He moved in about a year ago after finishing up high school. His mom (my sister Nancy) , her husband, and young daughter all live in Barrow, Alaska. I'm actually native Alaskan, but that's a whole other post! Anyhow, the reason why I'm posting about Alex is because one of my challenges has been how to support him. I'm not his parent and he does pay rent, so should we (meaning my husband Will and me) just let him do whatever as long as he is paying rent? Or do we create rules and structures for him like we do with our 15 year old daughter Carina?

To be honest, I've been flip-flopping back and forth. We put some structure in place, but we don't always follow through on it. We come up with plans, but then let them go. The uncertainty has really affected how committed we are to the process. And at the same time, none of us are satisfied with where we're at.

So, how much do we do? Who leads the process? How do we hold him accountable without being too forceful?

I've been grappling with these questions for quite some time now and after a minor catastrophe have discovered an amazing and simple process to help us all out. {sidenote: most brilliant solutions come to us during a challenging situation!} It's so simple, that it's only 3 questions and here they are:

What's your plan?
How can I help out? or How can I hold you accountable?
When can I check back in with you?

We've started to go through this process every day and it is so helpful! It works because he's in charge of his plan and commitments and we are simply here to check in with him and to offer our support. This allows him to take responsibility and gives us the comfort of knowing where he's at and what he's up to. One of our standards we've defined is that he must be working towards something - it doesn't have to be college, but it has to be something. Hey, I guess things are more clearly defined than I was even giving us credit for!

You know, these 3 questions will work in any relationship. I encourage you to put them into practice and let me know how it's going. Now, I'm heading out of the office for Champagne Friday! Woohoo!

Creativity Comes Out of Chaos!

2008-06-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on at Simple Ways Coaching right now. We've created a private client website, had our first teleseminar, and we are holding our first in-person group seminar tonight. We are also creating a brand new website and I plan on creating a new personal blog. In the meantime, (funny sidenote: "meantime" without the "a" is "mentime"!) I've decided to use the CommUnoBlog as my personal blog while everything is in transition.

You know, being in transition with lots of things in progress is super challenging for me. It's just that there is this part of me that wants everything to be all neat, tidy, and in its place all of the time. But, the creative process simply isn't neat and tidy. It's messy fun and things never turn out exactly how you thought they would. In fact, when you trust and flow with the process it turns out better!

I've had to learn how to accept the messiness and flow with creativity. It's about choosing to let go of the fear of messy and embracing the beauty of creative birth. It's challenging. But, it's also simple and it happens one moment, one choice at a time. And to help me remember to choose beautiful messy I have this sign hanging in my office:

Creativity comes out of chaos!

Do You Ever Feel Ignored?

2008-05-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

I love taking photos of dead and dying flowers. They simply don't get the attention that the beautiful, full-bloom ones receive. And yet, they are just as much a part of the life cycle as all other stages.

Sometimes in our connections we can ignore and push away the parts we don't want to face. But, when we do, then we get stuck. And when we get stuck, things begin to accumulate like resentment, regret, worry, etc.

The 7 Simple Ways to Connect Group Seminar is all about how to rebuild the connection one simple step at a time. I truly hope you are able to join us for this relationship-changing seminar! Visit our website at SimpleWaysCoaching.com to learn more and register.

Launching a Free Workshop for You!

2008-05-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

from left to right: my Chihuahua Gracie, Me, my daughter Carina, and my mom Connie

I am so excited to announce our first group seminar by Simple Ways Coaching that I thought I would celebrate by posting a picture of me with some of the most important people in my life! Each one of them (including Gracie!) has shown me that you really can deepen and improve your relationship in short, sweet, and simple ways. Now here is the official announcement:

Who are the most important people in your life?
And how connected do you feel with them?
Often times, the most important relationships are also the most challenging.
But, they don't have to be...

Take some time out to take care of you and attend our FREE one hour group seminar where we will explore:

7 Simple Ways to Connect
Led by: Cassandra Rae, certified professional coach

Over the phone on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 from 7 to 8pm Pacific Daylight Time

In person on Thursday, June 5, 2008 from 7 to 8pm in downtown Sunnyvale

We understand that these dates and times simply won't work for everyone, which is why we are recording the teleseminar and sending an MP3 to each registrant. The in-person seminar is limited to 6 participants. If it fills up or you can’t make it, then register for the teleseminar so that you will receive the materials and recording.

Seminar Objectives

Dedicate an hour to yourself and join us for this seminar to:

Learn practical ways to deepen your connection
Create a daily practice to improve your relationships right now
Come together with others who champion the same goal
Experience group coaching first-hand

Now, we know how busy you are and each Simple Way is short, sweet, and to the point. Quite literally, we believe that you can drastically improve your life and relationships just by spending a few minutes a day going through the 7 Simple Ways.

Who is this seminar for?

This seminar is for anyone who:

Wants to create deeper connections
Is ready to explore the heart of the matter
Is willing to receive uplifting support and acknowledgment
Is open to learning new perspectives and skills

To Sign Up

Registration is required for this *FREE* seminar:

To register for the teleseminar on Tuesday, 6/3/08 from 7 to 8 pm Pacific Daylight Time send an email to 7simpleways0603@aweber.com
To register for the in-person seminar on Thursday, 6/5/08 from 7 to 8pm in downtown Sunnyvale, CA send an email to 7simpleways0605@aweber.com

Would you like to learn more? No problem! Simply send Coach Cassandra Rae an email at Cassandra@SimpleWaysCoaching.com or give her a call at (408) 206-1662.

The Birth of a New Blog!

2008-05-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

The vision for the CommUnoBlog is that it will serve as a safe place for our coach and clients to express, explore, and exchange with one another! We are still in start-up mode at Simple Ways Coaching, so this vision - along with a multitude of others - will be rolled out over the next year. One of our challenges as a budding practice is harnessing all of our brilliant ideas while pacing ourselves so that we don't burn out and give up. To stay informed about this project, receive our monthly newsletter, and V.I.P. broadcasts (these have coupons in them!) subscribe to our site by filling out the form in the sidebar.