Just say “F’ It”

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach helping midlife women believe their best years are ahead.  Learn how to turn an "F' It" moment into a moment of hope!

Are you willing to vulnerably admit that at times of frustration you just want to say “F’ it”?  Yes, I admit that I use the F word on occasion.  

For instance, I might say it prior to the third glass of wine, or finishing the cake after the kids went to bed.  Does this happen to just me?  

“She realized that vulnerability was easier to wear than vanity.  So she stripped straight down to nothing. And set herself free.”  ~  Cara Alwill Leyba

This week I spent time wondering why the “F’ it” moments happen.  

My F’ It Moment

Recently, at a point when my dreams seem to be on the horizon but still so far out of reach, I had a major “F ’it” moment.  

I had planned my eating protocol for the day.  I knew I’d be meeting friends at my favorite winery, so I planned one glass of wine.  (famously naive)  At the winery, I had my planned glass of wine and then bought a bottle to take home.  When I got home my plans got railroaded, as if I can blame it on the circumstances, and proceeded to drink the bottle too.  The moment I opened the bottle I recall saying to myself, “Fuck it!” (not abbreviated)

The real reason I had a “F’ it” moment was not my evening circumstances.  Frankly, the real reason I felt the need to “F’ it” was my unrealized dreams weighing heavy on my heart ALL DAY.  

The next morning I awoke with the guilt of not honoring my planned protocol, and the familiar shame storm.    

I wrote in my journal:  I can’t seem to catch a mystic break.  God, I’m trusting you.  Please lead me to the gold-mine within.  

Then I came across another poem…  

Surrender

I want to breath in passion like air.  I want to fill my lungs with the magic and lust and possibility only passion brings.  And the feeling that is only available to you when you finally, fully, fiercely surrender.   ~ Cara Alwill Leyba 

Faith   

The absence of evidence is NOT the evidence of its absence.  Surrender to the mystery.

Surrendering is actually saying, “F’ it” in a completely different way.  It is breathing in passion like air and saying to yourself, “this just might work!”  What do you actually have to loose when you choose to believe notwithstanding the absence of evidence?    

Faith is a powerful emotion that helps you believe your dreams are worth pursuing.

It just might work!

The first “F’ it” has no upside.  It is just a familiar way to approach discouragement that leads to guilt and an inevitable shame storm.  Creative solutions are impossible to discover when your energy is consumed by discouragement.  

The second “F’ it” has HUGE upsides.  The thought “what if it works” produces a feeling of hope and leads to massive action.  

Here is what I’ve learned about hope this week:

Hope is not an accident.

You cultivated hope by allowing the mystery.  

The mystery is a little voice that whispers maybe, when the whole world is shouting no.  

This hope is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  

Hope is the charged emotion that elevates your dreams.  

Not forced, but ready to see crazy things happen!

What if you gave up entertaining the thoughts that cause fear and discouragement, the thoughts that lead to lack? 

Have compassion on your discouraging thoughts, noticing them without guilt or shame, and then simply release them.  

Surrender to the idea that it just might work, and to the mystery of uncommon creativity.   

This is my life’s work.  

Believing in possibilities and abundance is my super power.  Even when I suffer discouragement, my will to break through will not allow me to wallow in it.  I desire to cultivate a mindset that surrenders to fierce hope.

I am happy to share my journey with you in hopes that it inspires your journey.  As your life coach I will help you to reclaim your life, full of dreams and visions for your best years ahead.  

I’d love to work with you to develop a proper “F’ it” mindset.   

If you regret a recent “F’ it” moment that produced a shame storm, I know I can help you flip it to a “it just might work” mindset.  I offer a FREE mini session for those of you who are curious about life coaching.  

Simply click the link below and choose a date/time that works for you!  It just might work!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach helping midlife women believe their best years are ahead.  Schedule a FREE mini session to chat about how she can help you!

Living Vicariously

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach helping women live vicariously through their future self

By definition, living vicariously is imagining life through other people’s experiences.  You may have lived vicariously through your children, pictures of a friend’s vacation, or someone you admire.  

When I went on picking trips for my antique store I frequently had women tell me they were living vicariously through me.  While I was honored they followed my adventures, I always hoped to inspire them to fly free on their own journeys.  

I recently lived vicariously through my friend Michele, who treated herself to a resort vacation at Miraval Resort in Austin, Texas.  I was envious of the royal treatment she received at this luxuriously tranquil retreat.  Michele cast a dream for me that I didn’t realize my soul was longing for.  

Let me cast a dream for you

What if the next fifty years were totally directed by you?  

Well, it is NOT impossible if you step away from life on autopilot and the expectations of others.  

It starts with a little imagination.  Think of your life as the ultimate Pinterest board.  What interesting things do you want to learn?  Where would you live and travel to?  Who would you surround yourself with?  Who do you want to be? 

Can you picture it yet?

Where focus goes, energy flows.  

Most people focus their energy on the past.  They make decisions and predict their future based on what has happened (or did not happen) in the past.  The energy it takes to rehearse the past is very low and familiar.  

“How much creative energy is tied up in guilt, hatred, resentment, lack or fear?  The truth is that you could be using all that energy to re-create a new destiny,”  Dr. Joe Dispenza.

I teach my clients to process their past, but become future focused.  

Your Future self will be proud

What if you lived vicariously through your future self?  

You don’t have to look enviously to others.  Create a vision for yourself in your imagination.

What will she appreciate that you dreamed up for her?

First create your ultimate Pinterest life, then consider how the experience will feel; empowered, fortunate, free, blissful, authentic, carefree, calm, easy, expansive, mindful… 

The more energy you can attach to your future self, the more intimate you become with your future.  

Is your view of reality limited?

The mind is a powerful thing.

As you fill your mind with thoughts and add energy to the ideas, you actually experience the vision as if it were in real time.  The mind simply doesn’t know the difference between reality and fantasy.   

Have you ever experienced a physical reaction to a thought?  For instance, when I think about meals I had in Italy, my mouth starts watering.

Living Vicariously through your future self.

What happens when you unlock creativity by rehearsing the future you want in your mind?  The skills you need to thrive in the future will become important to develop.  Your future self’s opinion of your current choices suddenly matter.   Unexpected opportunities present themselves in a new awareness.  

Do you need a guide?

Have you caught yourself living vicariously through someone lately?  What is stopping you from living your dream life?  

I work with midlife women who want to believe their best years are ahead.  Learning to live with your future self in mind is a big part of creating that life you’ve always wanted.  

I’d love to help you activate your imagination and manage your mind to direct your next fifty years!  

Still unsure if life coaching is for you?  I offer a FREE mini session to chat about how I specifically can help you.  Click the link below and pick a date and time on my calendar that works for you.  

Here’s to living the best years!

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

Flip The Script

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach helping women believe their best years are ahead.  Today she is chatting about Flipping the Script.
Embracing my grey hair! What parts of midlife are you embracing????

Your Script

Do you feel that you were handed a script to live by when you were young, but at midlife feel ready to birth something new? As the master of reinvention, let me offer you ideas to get your creative juices flowing and allow you to flip that script.

Here’s a fun exercise to stir those creative juices.  If your life played out on the big screen, what would the title of your movie be?  

Sex In The City

The Housewife of {your town}

Real Women Have Curves

Last Woman Standing

Unfortunately, the titles I typically hear sound like these instead…

Do I Deserve It?

Why do I Always Attract The Wrong Partner

They Just Don’t Like Me

I’m Too Old For This

All too often, women can not identify what they truly want. Has society conditioned women to assume what they should want?  If you do know what you want, do you tend to believe you don’t deserve it? 

Dear friend, please know you were born worthy.  You deserve the desires of your heart, have purpose and are capable of far more than you can possibly imagine.  

In fact, you are not doing anyone favors by staying stuck.  You just need to flip the script.  

How do you flip the script?

Ditch the old worn out story

The past does not equal your future, unless you live there.  

Look, I am a self professed master of reinvention, with a stack of business cards to prove it.  I could choose the title of failure, allowing the failures to prevent me from pursuing something new, or create a different future.  

I prefer to be future focused. My future self will be so proud of the work I am doing today to flip the script.  

Recognize your story

The daily “trinity thoughts” are useful prompts for journaling.  I learned this exercise from Dr. Northrup’s book Goddesses Never Age.  

“This exercise will help you remember how important it is to enjoy life instead of just getting through your To Do list.”  ~ Dr. Northrup.

1. Something to brag about – wow!  I had a hard time with this one at first.  What are you really proud of?  Can you imagine how good you will feel celebrating daily successes?  

2. Something to appreciate – gratitude is a an attitude everyone could agree on.  Look for something you appreciate about your life, your body and/or your tribe on a daily basis. 

3. Something you desire – OK this is a muscle that needs to be flexed!  I have gotten very clear on what I want in life by answering this daily.  It might be easier to answer what you don’t want, but can you name one thing you desire right now? 

Know the what and why, ditch the how

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul.  Proverbs 13:19

I long for the day Jeff can retire from his full-time job.  {Some say be careful of what you wish for LOL}  We both want to stay active with outdoors sports and activities.  We will pursue projects that will support our retirement goals.  I desire to spend more time with family and friends who live across the United States.  So, travel is an important component.  Although I am crystal clear on the what and why, I don’t stress over the “HOW”. 

“When you know your WHY, you can endure any HOW.” ~ Viktor Frankl 

A longing fulfilled is sweet for the soul.   

Your heart is engaged by the WHY.  

Dr. Martin Luther King had a “I have a dream” speech, not a “I have a plan” speech.

Tap into your imagination.  Ask yourself, “wouldn’t it be amazing if…”

What comes up for you when you allow your heart to dream?  

Can you get creative with a title for this dream? 

Do you know WHY you chose that title?  

Please, just don’t let the HOW choke out your dream.  

Do you need a guide?

I have come to realize that I no longer fear death.  I fear a life not fully lived, a purpose not fulfilled.  

Do you feel stuck in an old script and fear you may not be fully living?  

I’d love to help you flip the script.  As a certified life coach I am trained in helping you identify the old worn out story that is holding you back.  

Schedule a FREE mini session with someone who truly believes YOUR best years are ahead.  

We can discuss where you are and where you would like to be, and then identify strategies for overcoming the obstacles.  

Click the link below and choose a date on my calendar.  It really is that simple!  

Cheers,  

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky!  

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

What if your dream is measured in miles?

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach helping women believe their best years are ahead.  Learn how to go the extra miles for your dreams
Will you go the extra mile????

What if your dreams are measured in miles?  At what mile marker do you let the dream die?

You set out to achieve a dream, thinking it will be achieved at the mile one marker. 

What if the dream couldn’t actually be realized until you reached mile 4?  

In your minds eye, did you stop at mile one? Or did you continue?  

What if it took 20 miles?  Would the dream be worth it to you?

Determination of a weed

Last week we chatted about resiliency.  I am convinced resiliency is the secret to achieving abundant dreams.  I believe in your capacity!  

Your best years are ahead when you are willing to go the extra mile.  

Getting older has it’s benefits.  Life experience has taught me the importance of perseverance. 

My motto is “fall seven times, stand up eight.”

I had an a-ha moment in my garden this week.  

Y’all, the weeds took control while we were out of town.  This is not the first time I faced a major clean up in my garden.  In fact, pulling weeds is a daily chore.  As I was cleaning out rogue grass and weeds I thought to myself, “these damn plants refuse to die.” 

In that moment, I wondered if I am as determined as a weed?  

Am I willing to go the extra mile?  

GRACE for your dream

I believe the life you desire will present you with opportunities to be persistent.  So, I offer you grace.  

You will skip through miles of pure joy and adventure!  But when adversity hits, you will need to be determined, learn new skills and develop resiliency to reach your dreams.  

How do you navigate the extra miles?

  1. Universal law of construction

Jeff and I have remodeled and restored seven homes in the course of our thirty years of marriage.  One thing we can tell you for sure is that it ALWAYS takes longer and cost more money than expected.  

Is that a failure?  No, it is wise to allow for the unexpected.  

Failure is a stepping stone on the path towards your dreams.  Decide on how you will define failures, and do not let them define you. 

“If you want success, you need to double your rate of failure,” Thomas J. Watson.  

2. Instant results verses hard work.

It is like winning the universal lottery when a dream comes quickly without much effort.  You may think that you are destine or chosen.  You definitely feel excited.    

On the flip side, what does it mean when it takes a long time to realize a dream?  Could sticking with a dream create perseverance?  Going the extra mile gives you something to be proud of.  It shows what you are made of.  You learn so much more from the stepping stones of failure than you do from instant gratification.  

Sometimes it is simply good for your soul to really “earn” the dream.  

“When we suddenly shift toward both focusing on and finding joy in the process of achieving instead of having the goal, we have gained a new skill,”  Tom Sterner.  

3. Curiosity is always the answer to a road block!

Yep, questions are the answer!  Asking your brain questions forces it to focus on solving problems.  It can’t help but answer the question.  Isn’t that cool?  

How will this make me stronger?

What can I learn from this experience?

How can I use this?

What do I want to create from this?

How many miles will you travel for your dream?

You know that failure does not define you, that you are capable of hard work and are curious, but maybe you just need a little push from someone who believes your best years are ahead.  

When you live your life in an intentional way, you create the life you desire!  

I’d love to help you navigate the miles ahead.  If this resonates with you, schedule a FREE mini session. 

Click the link below and choose a date on my calendar.  It is really that simple.  

I hope our paths cross on your journey.  

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky.  

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

The amazing resiliency of the mind, body and spirit

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach for midlife women who want to believe the best years are ahead.  Today we are talking about resiliency.
We take on the world… one house at a time.

The amazing resiliency of the mind, body and spirit

Can you remember a time when you blew your own damn mind by your sheer will power to accomplish a goal?  At the end you were exhausted, yet proud of the energy you pulled from a mysterious source called resiliency.

How quickly did you recover from the struggle of that experience? 

“No one escapes pain, fear, and suffering.  Yet from pain can come wisdom, from fear can come courage, from suffering can come strength – if we have the virtue of resilience.”  Eric Greitens

Resilience in action

This past week Jeff and I were preoccupied with the exhausting task of completing a month’s worth of work on our home in Ohio in less than a week.

Most of the empty nesters I know mourn the day their kids fly the coop.  A house once filled with unending activity and the laughter of teenagers becomes piercingly quiet and still.  Jeff and I took an unorthodox approach to this season.  WE flew the coop and left the house to the kids.  I love my kids dearly, but leaving a house to college students who had friends and animals move in and out of it for eight years created a massive project for us.  

So, Jeff and I drove to Ohio (a two day trip), spent six straight days emptying the house of left behind junk, cleaning every nook and cranny, fixing broken things, and painting nearly every room and baseboard.  The house looked brand new when we were done.  Thank God my father in-law flew up to help us and did an awesome job keeping up with the work frenzy.  In between working, I got to play with my grandson who brightened every single day and managed to see my family (if for only a short time).  

Needless to say, every night I went to bed wondering how I would do it agin the next day.  Every day I woke up and worked from a mysterious energy that can only be described as sheer will power.  

It hit me as Jeff and I was driving back to Texas that what I experienced and continue to see in my life is the amazing resiliency of the human mind, body and spirit.  

I’m confident in your resiliency

I know you have your own stories… mind, body and spirit.

Can you remember a time you couldn’t imagine ever recovering from?  {A hurtful word said, a failure that seemed final, etc.}. Your capacity to forgive yourself and others, and to choose to reframe any circumstance is an amazing function of a well managed mind.  

If you ever broken a bone, cut yourself or got stung by a bee, you know the amazing ability of the body to heal.

The best example of resiliency is a mamma who gives birth and is willing to experience it again. 

Have you ever survived a tornado, hurricane or flood?  It is heartwarming to witness the human spirit rally behind communities in the clean up efforts.

There are so many examples!  

At times we have no choice but to be resilient, but we are and that is amazing.

Can you believe?

Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.  It’s a noun, a thing.  

Once you realize your capacity, resiliency is impelling.  There is nothing you won’t take on with the mysterious energy that comes from wisdom, courage and strength. ~ Tiffany

So, let me encourage you to get curious.  

In unavoidable circumstances, do you believe you are resilient?  

What difficult task would you undertake if you believed you had the ability to recover quickly?  

Looking back, have you ever blown your own damn mind?  

What keeps you from having resilience?  

Who determines your resiliency?  

I’m crazy enough to believe 

Failing forward is essential to your success in any endeavor and resiliency is the key.  I am confident in your capacity.  You can imagine the life you desire and work through any obstacle with wisdom, courage and strength.

Maybe you just need a little push. 

I want you to help you realize your capacity to process the obstacles and take creative control of your life.  

If this resonates with you, please take the time to schedule a FREE mini session with me, someone who truly believes in YOUR possibilities.  Simply click the link below and choose a date on my calendar.  

It really is that simple.  

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach


Questions are the answers

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach with Flown The Coop.  Let her help you create a life YOU are excited to get out of bed for.

What if curious people understood questions are the answer?  

Do you long to wake up excited to get out of bed and be the person you know you can be, but just not sure how to get connected with that life?  What if questions are the answers and curiosity is the key?

Just curious, do you believe it’s possible to create the life of your dreams?

Successful people know questions are the answer

Martha Stewart contributes her success to an avid curiosity.  

Jeff Bezos’ mother believed it was her responsibility to allow deep dives into what her son enjoyed.  She may have not always liked his questions, but gave him space to explore with curiosity.   

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”  Walt Disney 

Questions are the answers

Curious folks just learned to ask good questions.  

Are you known to think outside the box, not afraid to fail, explore new ideas, and have an unquenchable willingness to grow?

“Getting the right question is the key to getting the right answer,”  Jeff Bezos.    

What if a zesty life is an endless journey of discovery?  

How curious are you?  Don’t let yourself off the hook.  This is YOUR life… you deserve to create it.  

Here are a few questions to spark your curiosity….

Are you doing what you truly want to do?

How many promises have you kept to yourself?

If you could clone yourself, which of your characteristics you wouldn’t want to be cloned?

Who do you admire and why?

Is there anyone who inspired your life today?

What are you most proud of?

If happiness was a currency, how rich would you be?  

If today was the end of the world, what would you do?  

I hope you came up with some of your own questions!  

Does creating a life resonate with you?   

I’d love to offer a FREE mini coaching session.  The mini session is simply a chat with someone who truly believes your best years are ahead.  

Click on the link below and pick a date on my calendar.  It is really that simple.  

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her wiring “YES” in the sky.  

You are not broken

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach for midlife wellness... permission to soar!
Permission to soar

Have you ever wondered if something in your life is not right or perhaps you’re broken… yet you are not willing to give up on your dreams?

You are not broken, you just need permission to break free from your cage and soar.

Milestone birthdays

Milestone birthdays are generally catalyst for serious life evaluation.  Leading up to my milestone birthday, I decided that this next phase of life would be epic.  I’ve reached the age that I officially don’t care what others think of my choices.  

I don’t know about you… but I’d like to see more midlife women defy the rules of what this season is supposed to look like. 

Do you believe your soul is ageless?  

Think about it.  

According to Dr. Northrup, “You can change your future starting today by adopting a new, ageless attitude that will help you flourish physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.”

Agelessness is about chunking society’s ideals of what women of a certain age should focus on, look like, dress, be, do, have, etc.  Lord knows you’ve tried to fit in society’s boxes your whole life.  Their boxes have left you feeling broken or not able to measure up.  

Forget that!  Give yourself permission to break free from that cage and soar.

I say it’s time to unstuck your brain

After you’ve given yourself permission to soar into a vision you create for midlife, you’ll need to unstuck your brain from the old, worn-out story you once believed.  You need to replace it with a well-crafted story that serves you and your dreams.  

Address negative emotions

The worst thing you can do for yourself is hold onto destructive emotions.  

“Negative” emotions are indicators of unmet needs that need to be processed for healing.  Think of emotions as your guidance system, pointing to the areas in your life that need to be addressed.  

Emotions like sadness, despair, and unworthiness have an adverse effect on your wellness and keep you stuck in a life that you don’t want. 

It is helpful to process these emotions and not ignore them.  That is where I can help… as a certified life coach I can help you identify what is causing the “negative” emotions so you can release them. 

Curious about coaching? Check out my article: 3 Reasons You Need To Hire A Life Coach.

Focus on “causes of health”

Wellness is my jam.  {Yep, I just said jam.}  I love studying “causes of health.”  It makes more sense to me than always reacting to disease.  

It is society, the medical establishment, big Pharma, etc who support a belief that disease and infirmity are inevitable.  

My personal plan is to be “ninety three and prescription free” as Gladys McGarey, M.D. proclaims.  

You have a choice to focus on wellness.  There are plenty of actions you can take to promote wellness; like eat whole fresh foods, get outside, move your body, feed your mind, get good sleep, remove the toxins from your home, etc.

I’d like to offer that Self-Aware is the first step in Self-Care.  The best place to start a wellness journey is your thoughts about it.  What do you actually believe is possible?  Why is it important to you?

For me, I want to soar into midlife and eventually retirement with the energy of a twenty-something.  I want my obituary to read, “Tiffany Eckhardt was a cockeyed optimist with uncommon energy.” 

Do you need to unstuck your brain concerning midlife wellness?  

Surround yourself with positive influences

The tribe I hang with vibrates in another reality entirely.”  Gladys McGarey, M.D.

It helps to surround yourself with people that are crazy enough to believe that YOU can create a life.  In fact, your friends can be your biggest cheerleaders for midlife wellness.  

Positive influences can also be found outside your circle of friends by following podcasts, reading books, subscribing to YouTube channels, etc.  Who are your go-to influencers who encourage you to live fully?

Unstuck your brain and give yourself permission to soar.  

If you find yourself stuck and you want to start living the life you know is possible, I’d love to help.  I offer a free mini session for those who are curious about what a life coach can offer.  

I am a master at reinvention and have an abundant belief in possibilities.  But what totally makes a difference is the tools I’ve learned to utilize.  

If you are curious, schedule your free mini session today by clicking the link below and choosing a date on the calendar.  It really is that simple.  

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

~Tiffany

And the birds fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky. 

Do you have swagger?

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach helping midlife women create swagger

You may be good at beating yourself up for eating the third piece of pizza or forgetting an important zoom call, but hardly ever give yourself credit for the twenty years you spent raising competent children who are now making their way in the world.  So, learning to possess swagger will take some practice.  

Fail Friday

I brought up bragging during my Fail Friday on May 7th.  I shared a three-step daily practice that includes bragging, gratitude and desire.  Focusing on the “trinity” thoughts daily will drastically improve your midlife wellness awakening.

First of all, I believe failure has an important place in your growth.  My weekly Facebook Live called Fail Friday is designed to highlight failure and give examples of people who use their failure as stepping stones to success.   

Sara Blakely is a great example of the importance of acknowledging failure.  Her Dad set her up to embrace failure by insisting on a nightly tradition of sharing failures at the dinner table.  

When it comes to failure, I definitely have swagger.  Unfortunately, it is rare that I’ll boast about a success.  Why is that? 

Focus

What ever your mind focuses on you will attract in your life.  It is easier to focus on problems to be solved than to celebrate a success.  So how do we switch our focus to swagger?

To redirect focus, stop yourself with the statement, “NOW I know what I don’t want.”  Then ask yourself, “What do I REALLY want?”  

For example, you notice that you really don’t like feeling out of control when you’ve had the third glass of wine.  The next morning you get up not feeling yourself and start beating yourself up for that third glass.  Stop beating yourself up and proclaim, “NOW I know what I don’t want.”  Then ask yourself, “What do I REALLY want?”  

The Swagger Practice

You may have more of what you don’t want stored in your subconscious.  You simply need to deposit more swagger into the story you rehearse in your mind.  

Dr. Northrup shares in her book Goddesses Never Age a daily practice of bragging, gratitude and desire  “I think it is fantastic for bringing perspective to your daily experiences and remembering how challenges set you up to more deeply appreciate blessings.  Doing this exercise will help you remember how important it is to enjoy life instead of getting through a To Do list.’

So SWAGGER!

  1. Think of something to brag about.  It doesn’t have to be earth shattering, just a thought you can be proud of.  You don’t have to share it publicly, but definitely record it in a journal to look back on.  
  2. Identify something you can be grateful for.  This is different from a brag.  What blessing in your life fills your heart with joy?
  3. What do you desire?  This should be out of reach.  If money or time were not an object, what would you want? 

I LOVE the idea off doing this daily activity with your wingwomen.  It will uplift your tribe and encourage swagger.

Swagger takes practice

You can attain a life your proud of and enjoy getting out of bed for.  If the idea of creating daily swagger is resonating with you, I’d love to help.  I can help you sort through the thoughts that are keeping you stuck.

I help midlife women figure out where they are and where they want to be.  

I am offering a FREE mini session for you to test drive a coaching session.  It’s a pain free way to see if coaching is for you!  

Click the link below and choose a date on the calendar!  It is that easy.  

~Tiffany

And the bird fluttered around her writing “YES” in the sky.  

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

Funky Lockdown

Tiffany Eckhardt, Life Coach Creating YOUR vision for midlife wellness.  Helping you get out of a lockdown funk.

Funky Lockdown ~ Getting out of a funk!

Have you found yourself in a lockdown funk?  In your attempt to NOT shut down during lockdown you managed media input and discovered new things about yourself, but your limits have been severely tested.  So, you spend a day in a funk allowing the feelings to well up.

Is this your story?  It was mine last Friday.   

I had a low energy day after receiving news that our trip to Ohio would be postponed again because the stay at home order for Ohio was extended through the end of May.  I won’t tell you what I thought about that.  Feelings of deep sadness turned to anger as the day progressed.  I was in a funk.  

It is healthy to fully experience all the feels and then release them.  It is detrimental to stuff emotions.  I love Dr. Christiane Norhrup’s take on feelings…

“The crying will stop when it needs to stop.  I have the strength to tolerate my strong emotions.”  Dr. Northrup

Do you believe in coincidences?  

In the book, Goddesses Never Age, Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D. speaks to my soul!  It is no coincidence that this week my friend Dawn and I happen to be reading Chapter 2: Goddesses Know The Power Of Pleasure.  

By Friday evening I knew that I needed to get out of the funk!  It simply is not good for my sense of well being.  Luckily, I had tools!  I self coached myself and then worked on finding some much needed pleasure.  

Here are three simple steps you can take to get out of a lockdown funk.

Make a list

I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.” ~Kurt Vonnegut

Are you aware of what brings you pleasure?

Dr. Northrup’s prescription for general health is to experience more pleasure every day.  She suggests an activity that I practice daily.  Take a minute every day to list as many joyful activities and experiences that you can.  Think big and small experiences.  

This list can be helpful in getting out of a funk, and could guide you in finding what your soul longs for.  As I became more aware of what gives me pleasure (and what does not), I was surprised by what I discovered.  

Phone a friend

Dr. Northrup calls these friends Wingwomen.  I love that!  

Good friends will point you to a healthy mindset, while allowing you to feel your emotions.  

On Friday I enlisted the help from a life coach from my certification class and my book club friend.  I also had several dear friends reach out to me for encouragement.  It felt like a lifeline. 

Who are your Wingwomen?    

Take action

Saturday morning I woke up with the thought, “this is a new day.”  I knew I had a choice to make it a good day or wallow in my grief.  Fortunately, Jeff was on board with a day of fun!  

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day, nearly perfect with a cool breeze.  Jeff and I rode our bikes to Round Top (thirty miles round trip).  While in Round Top, we had coffee at Royers Pie Haven and ate hamburgers at Popi Burgers. During lunch we FaceTimed with our daughter and grandson (fill my cup).  We then went to Brenham to see what shops had opened.  I bought a new dress at The Canyon Chic and then visited a newly opened Brazos Valley Brewing Co that happened to have live music (heaven).  We took crawfish home for a backyard picnic.  I washed our 48 Ford Maggie and took her for a drive in the country.  After dinner I could barely keep my eyes open.  I fell into bed extremely happy.   

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” ~Martin Luther

Discover what fills your pleasure journal

I’m not thankful for the funk, but it did teach me the importance of the pleasure journal.  Taking a day to experience as much pleasure as possible got me out of a funk.  

When you discover what fills your pleasure journal, taking action is very simple.

If you feel stuck in a funk, I can help!  I’ve been trained to identify thoughts that are creating unwanted feelings.  Curious?  I offer a free mini session.  I’d love to chat with you!  

Click the link below to schedule your FREE MINI SESSION!

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach

~Tiffany 

And the birds fluttered around her writing “Yes” in the sky!

Busting Midlife Myths

Tiffany Eckhardt, Life Coach busting midlife myths

Are you ready to bust Midlife Myths?

Could it be possible that you have accepted common midlife myths as reality? 

For instance, have you accepted the message that your fighting a loosing battle with age when you reach fifty years?  What if you were actually entering into the best season of your life filled with abundant wellness?  

I am a cockeyed optimist who wants her tomb to read, “Here lies Tiffany Ann Eckhardt.  Her death found her living with uncommon energy.”

I do not subscribe to rainbows or unicorns, but have learned tools that allow me to fully function through life’s 50/50.  I am convinced it is possible to create a life that includes abundant wellness and the realization of dreams at any age.  

So what gets in your way?

It occurred to me the other day that there are some common midlife myths accepted as truth.  What if they were simply not true? 

What thoughts do you have about midlife and aging?  Gathering your thoughts is a perfect place to start.  I love journaling!  Take a piece of paper and jot down all the thoughts that you have about midlife.     

Next, take a look at the thoughts circulating in your mind that have now landed on your paper.  Do you like the thoughts? Is it possible that there are limiting beliefs?  Where have these thought and ideas come from?  

It is widely believed that our bodies are not separated from our thoughts or emotions.  This is why I preach Self-Aware is the first step to Self-Care.  It is time to let go of toxic beliefs.  Then frame, or reframe, what your idea of midlife is and create it!  

A few midlife myths worth busting

1.  Midlife means the beginning of a loosing battle with well being.

In her book Goddesses Never Age, Christiane Northrup, M.D. confirms, “physical deterioration occurs in large part because of the accumulation of toxins, which results in cellular deterioration and damage along with tissue and organ breakdown.”  

Yet, she also offers that the body is in a constant state of reinvention.  “You do not have to have the same physical body you had just a few years ago.  Every cell has been replaced.”

I am living proof of this!  In 2017 I decided to question the idea that our bodies have to fall apart in midlife.  I spent three years removing toxins from my diet and home.  In November 2018 I became intentional about personal growth, learning tools to manage my mind. Thanks to this work, I am not the same person I was back then.  

You can achieve wellness at any age, that can carry you into the best season of your life!

2.  An empty nest is boring and lonely

I heard someone say in passing, “An empty nest isn’t lonely because I am there.”

Typically women spend there lives between 20 and 40 tending to their families.  Without giving it a second thought, their schedule is dictated by work and family.  When their little birdies fly the coop, there is naturally a void to fill.  

Although change is rarely popular, a new routine emerges from the quiet house.  At this point in life, you are ready to make decisions about what your future will look like?  

Unfortunately, “we believe that if something great was going to happen, it would have happened when we were 20 or 30, right? It would have happened when we were in college or when we were going to school or whatever. That’s when all the amazing things happen. But what if we’re totally wrong about that?”  ~Brooke Castillo

I guarantee there are several ways to look at an empty nest.  What if you discover that you really enjoy your own company and that you are actually fun? 

3.  Time is running out with little options

The ideas that time is running out and that there are few options to those who are of a certain age are two myths that are definably limiting beliefs, in which the focus is on what can’t be done.  

I intend to bust these two myths wide open!!!!  There have been too many examples of successful people who achieved greatness after the age of 40.  Success leaves clues.  Studying their stories encourages me to explore my own.  

Does the cost of learning new skills feels indulgent?  This might be the real obstacle to busting theses myths.  It feels too indulgent to shift the time, the resources, to something that’s purely for you. I hear people comment that they hesitated taking a course if it cost a few thousand dollars.  They have never given themselves permission to spend on themselves, let alone challenge themselves to expand their minds.  

Time will run out if you indulge in self depravation.  Midlife is the time to invest in childhood dreams, ideas that have took a back seat to the demands of family and what your soul longs to teach you.    

The Crossroads

I am sure you have heard or even thought of a few midlife myths of your own.  Maybe you are manifesting some of your beliefs, and want to pluck out them out of your story!   

Are you at the crossroads, at a point in life when you are ready to make decisions about what your future will look like?  

This is where I can help!  Not only have I mastered the fine art of reinvention, I am a certified life coach that can help you bust the myths.  

Schedule a FREE mini session today!  It is my life’s work to inspire people to aspire to a life of well being!  Self-aware is the first step to self-care.  

What midlife myths do you wish to bust?  Click the link below to schedule your FREE mini session!  

Tiffany Eckhardt, Certified Life Coach busting midlife myths