Step Stones For Life® Blog » Family

Happy Thanksgiving

Nova Reed — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:52:58 +0000

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to God and those you cherish. I am so grateful and blessed to do what I love every day and to be a part of your life. I’d like to show you my gratitude this Thanksgiving with special savings.

You’ll find extra discounts on already discounted packages, and prices include processing fees if you’d like to pay with credit card via PayPal. So, if you know you’ll use the sessions stock up and save. This offer is good until the weekend after Thanksgiving (11/27/11).

Feel free to forward this offer or give a gift to those you care about!

Thanksgiving Special

Session Prices:

Single session (one hour): $125
Special: $115 (save $10)

Packages:

4 Sessions: $450 (save $50)
Special: $410 (save $90 total)

6 Sessions: $675 (save $75)
Special: $605 (save $145 total)

8 Sessions: $875 (save $125)
Special: $790 (save $210 total)

12 Sessions: $1275 (save $225)
Special: $1150 (save $350 total)

24 Sessions: $2500 (save $500)
Special: $2225 (save $775)

If you’d like to pay with a Credit Card – just click on the Pay Pal link below the package you’d like. Processing fees are included in the Special Price. Or pay by check by mailing by the date above or bring to your next session. If you’d like to give a gift, just include the recipient’s name in the memo at check-out or send me an email.

I’m SO grateful for you! ~ Nova

Happy Thanksgiving

Pre-paid sessions are valid for 3 years, and are transferrable. Packages are not refundable.

A Mother’s Love

Nova Reed — Thu, 05 May 2011 23:36:13 +0000

A Mother’s Love by Nova Reed

Being a mother pulls at every essence of your being.

You feel love you never knew you could feel.

You know your way, yet never walked that way before.

You are guided by your love, your devotion, and spirit.

Mothers understand like no else.

A mother comforts hurts with just a look of warmth.

Being a mother heals and mends disappointments of the past,

Filling the tears of life with drops of love with every hug.

You find wisdom, strength, and a purpose for life.

A knowing of what truly is your calling;

To nurture a spirit, to feed a soul,

To enhance security and watch over their health.

Being a mother is the greatest responsibility, and yet the greatest joy.

The bond you have with your child connects you deeper with God.

You can sense your child’s presence like a tingle of an angel blowing down your back.

You know when happiness or sadness falls on them, or when they are in need.

You would gladly sacrifice anything for their contentment and inner peace.

You quest for their fulfillment above and beyond your own.

With just one look upon your child, your heart can overflow,

And remind you of the meaning of life.

Being a mother is God’s greatest gift, a priceless treasure, an all encompassing love.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Warmly,

Nova

Email: Nova@StepStonesForLife.com
Office: 949.858.2442

Step Stones For Life Copyright © 2007 Including the right to reproduction in whole or in part of any form. Blog articles may not be reproduced, feel free to forward the URL to those you would like share.

Adding Joy To Your Holiday

Nova Reed — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:11:15 +0000

Though the holiday season is thought to be a joyous time by all, many find the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to be stressful and emotional. As a helping professional, I have observed the approaching holiday season as both a joyous time, as well as a time filled with heartache and family conflict.

The holidays often surface emotions from the past with greater intensity. Unresolved conflict, hurt, and past regrets are heightened with the approaching end of the New Year. Maybe goals were unfulfilled, or relationships came to an end, or a loved one passed away, or a deep family conflict remains an open wound. Many report to me that the pain can become unbearable, the sorrow of a missed loved one seems inescapable, or the motivation to get along with a particular family member for one meal seems just too much.

This holiday season, focus on one word to pull you toward happiness, fulfillment, and contentment: HOPE. There is always HOPE. Hope surfaces faith, love, joy, and the beauty in all of us to turn to others and GIVE. The act of giving pushes away pain, hurt, and isolation.

Follow this simple exercise to prepare your heart to take in all the joy around you this holiday season:

1. Write down 10 things you are most grateful for today. Read them over. Your heart will fill with gratitude, bring you to the present, and create thoughts of joy.

2. On 10 notes write “I am grateful for you.” And personally hand them (or if not possible mail them) to the 10 most important people in your life. A bonus would be to include a positive affirmation about each person that you find endearing. Such as, “I am grateful for you. You are a great listener.” – What a beautiful gift. Create place cards for your holiday table, use them as stocking stuffers, or labels for gifts.

Grieving can take on new pain over the holidays:
Knowing that a very important person may include the memory of a loved one, write down your gratitude for them and place the note in a photo album or next to a picture of them. By embracing gratitude for the beautiful memories you have, you are holding their spirit close and honoring every piece of their life.

3. Do the one thing you enjoy the most this holiday. Take time to nurture yourself. You will have more energy to give, resentment will diminish, and you will take in the good in everyone. Everyone seems more pleasant when you are relaxed!

And finally, center yourself with this thought;

Gratitude, the act of giving, pulls me closer to others,
to creation, to hope, and to love.

I am always here for you.
Please feel free to email me at nova@stepstonesforlife.com
or call 949.858.2442

Take a look at what’s new:

Step Stones For Life New Features & Gifts

Life Coaching and Stress Reduction Gift Packages
What a great gift to give someone you care about!
Start 2012 with a brand new beginning …

Packages include a beautiful gift certificate, welcome packet, and gift wrapped book. Free shipping too.

Go to StepStonesForLife.com/giftsandpackages to browse your options and purchase online.

Happy Holidays!

Peace,

~ Nova

Reigniting Passion

Nova Reed — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:33:58 +0000

Dear Nova,

Thank you so much for breathing new life into our relationship! When I contacted you, I was seriously thinking of ending my marriage. I was so unhappy. The romance was gone. I questioned everything, and didn’t know where to turn.

Steve and I have learned how communicate, identify our needs, and stay in a positive cycle. It’s amazing when you had us define our negative cycle and how to stop it, everything began to change. There was hope for us! Not only did we stop the negative cycle, we began a whole new chapter in our marriage. One of love, respect, mutual support, and passion!

Our marriage is better than ever, and we now have the tools to get through challenging times together. We will forever be grateful.

Sincerely,

Susan and Steve

(names altered for privacy)

Tips For Parents Of Teens

Nova Reed — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:22:29 +0000

Just when you got the parenting thing down, your child goes to sleep one night and wakes up an adolescent. Adolescence seems to happen overnight, bursting at the seems with emotions, drama, power struggles, and turmoil. A rebalancing act within the family structure to accommodate a budding adult can offer new parenting challenges.

How do you get through it?

First, develop an understanding that the developmental bridge between childhood and adulthood consisting of adolescence can be more painful and scary for your child than you. The destination of adulthood can be a vast land of unknown responsibilities accompanying that independence they are also pushing for.

Develop a plan and strategy to help guide you through adolescence with the optimal goal of serving your child’s independence, character, and confidence to smooth away the pressure from the outside world and gain peace within your home.

1. Foster a Solid Identity

Your child starts out incorporating their parents as equal parts of their identity. During adolescence differentiation begins where the individual begins the natural separation process from the parents and begins building there own identity. The differentiation process is critical to successful development, relationships, and adulthood. This can also be a wobbly time for your adolescent, as they work to fill up their identity tank.

As parents, this is your opportunity to foster a solid identity as your teen begins to form a separate, unique, and healthy identity. The more solid a teen’s identity, the greater their ability will be to push away peer pressure, handle challenging tasks, develop healthy coping skills, and keep a stable mood.

You can foster a solid identity by asking questions, and actively listening. Active Listening requires attention, leaning toward the person, and reflection. The intent is to listen and have the speaker feel heard and understood. Help your teen by engaging in conversations that solidify their identity and encouraging them to put into words their own personal experience and meaning in the world. A helpful hint: Pay great attention to the values and ideals you want to encourage and ask detailed questions. While your teen is forming their own unique identity, you can still guide them by your own congruency with family values and love.

2. Be a Fan

Be their greatest fan! Cheer on accomplishments, point out positive interactions and what your teen does well. Shift the focus from the turmoil of adolescence to the accomplishments and growth experiences of adolescence. The words, “I am proud of you,” can melt away tension, ground confidence and security, and just feels good to say and receive.

3. Set limits

Healthy boundaries are a must during adolescence and communicate care and concern. Helping your teen set goals with positive rewards will teach them self-initiative and pride. Consequences follow naturally in life when we don’t stay within the boundaries of the law, our employer, school, and relationships. Teach your teen with effective discipline by implementing appropriate consequences that are immediate, quick, and allows them to get back to life quickly. The goal remains to stay in a positive cycle with your teen, using failures and troubles as learning opportunities for personal growth.

For more tips on getting through adolescence don’t hesitate to utilize any resource available to help you and your child through the biggest transition in life. Just as quickly as childhood burst to adolescence, adulthood rounds the corner. Make the most out of your relationship with your teen by seeking support when needed.

Nova Reed, M.A., Life Coach
Step Stones For Life

Develop your plan to help your teen through adolescence, contact me for available Life Coaching packages to assist you and your teen develop a loving, respectful, and productive relationship. Visit www.StepStonesForLife.com, email me at Nova@StepStonesForLife.com or call 949.858.2442.

Step Stones For Life Copyright © 2006
Including reproduction in whole or in part of any form

The Five Stages Of Grief

Nova Reed — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:19:40 +0000

When you are dealing with the loss of a loved one emotions can come in waves. One moment you think you are fine, the next you are sobbing, angry and devastated. Taking time to understand your feelings and the stages of grief will help you cope, celebrate treasured memories, and move forward with life.

The Five Stages of Grief:

1. Denial
Shock and disbelief. You can’t believe they are gone. Are you sure? Is a typical question, needing to see or hear for yourself. This stage may last a few moments, days, or more.

2. Anger
Why did you leave me?! Hurt, feelings of abandonment, injustice, and loss surface. Anger may be directed toward the deceased, the world, or even yourself.

3. Bargaining
If I had only…thoughts circulate in your mind. This loss hurts, how could I have prevented this pain?

4. Depression
Feelings of numbness, inward anger, and intense sadness.

5. Acceptance
The dark cloud of anger, intense sadness and mourning begins to lift. The loss seems real, undeniable, and nonnegotiable.

There are many strong and uncomfortable feelings associated with grief. You may feel anger, abandonment, fear, guilt, and depression. Facing these intense emotions can be very difficult. Failing to work trough the five stages of grief is actually more stressful and strenuous on your body, mind, and spirit. The best way to work through grief is to face your feelings, do not try to hide how you feel, let it out. Healing will take place when you allow yourself to move through your feelings and all the stages of grief.

Reach out for support, get enough hugs, and know you are cared for.

With Care,

Life Coach Nova

Giving Thanks

Nova Reed — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:53:40 +0000

Mild depression seems to permeate much of our society as we struggle to fulfill multiple roles, strive for perfection, and bury the pain of the past. The holidays often surface emotions from the past with greater intensity. Unresolved conflict, hurt, and past regrets are heightened with the impending marker representing the approaching end of the New Year. Maybe goals were unfulfilled, or relationships came to an end, or a loved one passed away, or a deep family conflict remains an open wound. Many report to me that the pain can become unbearable, the sorrow of a missed loved one seems inescapable, or the motivation to get along with a particular family member for one meal seems just too much.

The Thanksgiving holiday provides us with the opportunity to pause, reflect on our blessings, and proclaim our gratitude. The very act of saying grace, thanking God for our gifts, our food, our family, friends, and health serves us in so many ways. Gratitude, as I have written before, happens to be the exact opposite of depression. When you are grateful, you are not depressed. Gratitude also exists in the present. In the present you can feel joy, elation, and peace.

Follow this simple exercise to prepare your heart to take in all the joy around you this holiday season:

With the knowing that we are all connected in harmony through the unison of Thanksgiving, and that many before us sacrificed to give us the life we have now, give thanks and express your gratitude…

1. Write down 10 things you are most grateful for today. Read them over. Your heart will fill with gratitude, bring you to the present, and pull the giving trait we all have to share your blessings with others.

2. On 10 notes write “I am grateful for you.” And personally hand them (or if not possible mail them) to the 10 most important people in your life. A bonus would be to include a positive affirmation about each person that you find endearing. Such as, “I am grateful for you. You are a great listener.” – What a beautiful gift for the thanksgiving table to leave place cards for your family proclaiming your gratitude!

And finally, center yourself with this thought;

Gratitude, the act of giving thanks, pulls me closer to others, to creation, to hope, and to love.

Give thanks this Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving with all the trimmings.

All my best,

Life Coach Nova

Email: Nova@StepStonesForLife.com

Or call: 949.858.2442

I am always here for you.

The contents of this article may not be reproduced, feel free to forward the entire article to those you care about.

Creating Me Time

Nova Reed — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:35:34 +0000

Life is so busy, and this year seems to be particularly heavy and stressful for many. Creating time to unwind, decompress, and center yourself is important to avoid burn-out, disease, and strain on your relationships.

Is it difficult for you to find the time to just focus on you?

I know for me, I’m a busy, busy working mom. I love what I do and I am so passionate about my career and my job as a mom. I also know, I must stay balanced in order to serve everyone well. “Me Time” is a period of time where you allow yourself to not think about all your impending duties, recharge your energy level, and re-balance yourself.

Here’s some quick escape ideas for everyday “Me Time.”

1. Take a walk or a hike – and for at least half of the time, push all your thoughts of what’s waiting for you away and notice only your surroundings, the beauty around you, the smell of the air, the joy of being outside.

2. Practice 20 Minutes of Relaxation – find a place of comfort and peace and recharge your mind, body, and spirit. This really works! Here’s the link to read more details:
http://feelbetternetwork.com/forums/12/topics/194

3. Soak in a warm tub or jacuzzi. Turn your attention to unwinding and relaxing your body. Focus on any areas of tension and visualize your tension melting into the water.

4. Read. Find an interesting, “get-away” book. Carry your book with you so if you are waiting in the carpool line, or getting your car washed, you can create some Me Time at a moments notice.

5. Sit quietly with physical elements that calm you for 20 minutes. Add a water feature, fish aquarium, beautiful candles, or a statue that brings a sense of calmness and peace. Focusing on a physical structure helps re-direct racing thoughts and reduces the input of stimuli creating a sense of calmness. Add music for a deeper level of relaxation.

My favorite escape is the spa on a clear night, surrounded by the scent of jasmine, music playing in the background, and the bubbles floating all around. – A good combination of the suggestions above!

How about you? What’s your favorite “Me Time?” Would you like to create more “Me Time?”

Take the time for you, you are deserving and worth it!