COACHING WITH

Tammy Barnett

Is My Advice Needed?

People don’t always need advice…Sometimes all they need is an ear to listen and a heart to understand.

Earlier this week I learned that two sets of family members living in two different cities in Texas had lost power during the night and with lots of snow and ice all around them, the temperatures were not going to even come close to hitting double digits.  As I listened to the news, the information was not good.  The power could quite possibly remain off for 24 hours or more and another storm with ice was expected to hit within hours. No doubt this problem was not going to be resolved quickly and the challenge of staying warm, cooking food,

Make It A Golden Holiday

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  It can be!

The other day I had a conversation with a friend who has been experiencing a difficult year with family relationships and unexpected financial burdens.  When the topic of the holidays came up in our conversation, my friend told me she has decided to  forget about enjoying the holiday season this year and will hope for a better one next year.

No doubt this year is different. 2020 has brought many obstacles into all of our lives.  Difficult relationships, medical diagnosis, financial burdens, isolation, cancelled events, and the threat of contracting Covid-19 are just some of the circumstances that have made this year challenging.

And now there are the holiday expectations

Expectations we hold for ourselves to do everything “just right.” Expectations to carry out traditions handed down from our past which creates an image of what our holiday “should” look like.

Hope + Action!

“Hope Without Action Is Just a Wish”

I Hope someday I’ll not feel exhausted all the time. I hope someday I’ll have more time to take care of me.  I hope someday I can stop worrying about my loved one who is making poor choices for their life. I hope someday I’ll have less anxiety. I hope 2021 will be better than 2020. I hope my marriage will be better someday. I hope my relationships with my children will be more functional someday.   Sound familiar?

Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true. What are some of the hopes you have for your future?

Does This Belong To You?

“If I’m not part of the problem or I’m not part of the solution, then it doesn’t belong to me!” 

I did it again.  I jumped into a situation that didn’t belong to me! I’ll spare you the ugly details but I’m curious if this ever happens to you?

Here are some examples:

  • A friend is telling you about a circumstance they are currently dealing with, and when they stop to take a breath, you jump in with a list of all the solutions and action steps they need to take.
  • Your spouse orders a cheeseburger and french fries. You interrupt and suggest he change his order to something healthier.

Encouragement Matters!

 “Keep Encouraging. Your words may be the only pillars of strength for someone who is pulling themselves back up to stand again.”

The other day I was listening to a podcast and the topic being discussed was on encouragement.  The guests were exploring what the word encouragement meant to each of them.

One person recalled a time when they were going through a tough situation and a listening friend shared a similar experience they had been through. This conversation brought encouragement to know someone else understood.  Another person spoke about a time when a friend offered to help her with  care giving tasks for an aging parent.  This act of someone else helping allowed her some rest and gave her much needed support.