1. A Note From Christina
   
2. Events Calendar
3. Article: The W5’s of Coaching with Graphics
4. Recent Blog Entries
5. More Links & Resources
   
   

It’s been a whirlwind of good stuff since I got back from the Abraham-Hicks Mexico Cruise. Right away I was back in connection with Abraham … as Hay House Radio offered a call-in show with Jerry and Esther Hicks. And I made it on as a caller!

I asked Abraham several questions about the economy, more specifically how we can handle the short-term (as I know the long-term is going to turn out just fine) - and also about women aligning with success. The recording of the full two-hour show (I was on for 16 minutes) is now available at Hay House.

And speaking about access to non-physical intelligence, here’s a special ‘save the date’ announcement …

I’ve been feeling the pull to create a “Soothing Saturday Series”. I’ve had the name in the back of my mind for a while … and Obama’s ‘call to service’ (even though I’m not an American) really resonates with me.

A wealth of Law of Attraction, soul integration and ‘create your own reality’ information … Sheila is the direct voice channel to “Theo” the non-physical intelligence that instructed Esther Hicks that she too had the ability to connect with universal wisdom (and she did … the Abraham materials being the result). Sheila has written a wonderful new book, called Soul Truth, based off of her 25 years experience as a renowned spiritual medium.

On Saturday, March 21st, you’ll hear Sheila and Marcus explain their unique journey, as well as open the lines for YOU to ask Theo ANY QUESTION you care to ask (I’m arranging a special operator assisted queue system … so we’ll have a really professional experience!).

I’ve had four private sessions with Theo (they predicted Obama’s election), and am pleased to be able to offer this exciting opportunity to my SHIFT-IT tribe. Over the next few weeks, you’ll receive info on how you can sign up for this call. In the meantime, check out my previous blog posts for more information about Theo and the Gillettes: THEO POST 1 and THEO POST 2.

As for this week’s article … I could continue along the spiritual theme we’ve begun here, but instead I’m going to ground things with an article about the Who, What, Where, When and Why of coaching with graphics.

May the Force Be With You … and Doodlers Unite (hee hee!),

Christina Merkley,
The SHIFT-IT Coach

March 21, 10-11:30am Pacific: Ask Theo Call-In: Join me with special guests Sheila and Marcus Gillette … direct voice channel for the non-physical intelligence known as Theo. Details Coming Soon!

May 20-22, 2009: The Graphic Coaching Clinic. It’s finally here – after years of being asked … I’m sharing my Graphic Coaching secrets with other helping professionals (coaches, counselors, therapists, consultants, etc).  My first-ever fundamental skills training exclusively focused on "graphic-enhanced coaching" - using visuals in coaching, counseling and personal growth settings (rather than the business and organizational settings that I’ve taught on for years … although if you are a consultant, trainer or facilitator, you can still apply what you learn to your environments too). 12 spots left … Early Bird Plans end on Monday  More Info.

(Now Recorded! To Listen to My Audio of This Article, Click Here)

Graphic coaching is a new, visual way to do coaching and personal development work. This article gives you the lowdown on this emerging methodology: the who, what, where, when and why of it, as well as a little bit of the how thrown in for good measure.

The WHO:
‘Graphics’ has been used in corporate and business settings as a thinking, planning and decision-making technology with great success over the last 30+ years (see History of the Field article). As a graphic coaching pioneer, I have woven the visual skills of graphic recording and graphic facilitation into the realm of life coaching, personal development and law of attraction work.

Why should the benefits of interactive visuals be reaped just by large corporations and organizations? They shouldn’t! Now you can have these fantastic thinking methods applied to you, your couple and/or your business partner or small team. Get clarity about what you really want and how to get it. Graphic Coaching literally draws your answers and actions right out of you.

The WHAT:

Graphic coaching is an alliance between the coach and client. The coach creates a ‘container’ in which the individual, couple, or business partners do strategic thinking on whatever is most pressing for them. The process has a very visual component to it – meaning that the client’s thoughts and feelings are literally drawn out of them, by their coach, who uses paper and markers to write down what they are saying.

These displays act as large mirrors, helping people to see just what is going on inside their head and heart. And make decisions about their next moves and options – what they next want to create (I call it “Become Your Next Self”).

The WHERE:
Graphic coaching occurs either in person or over the phone. Coach and client(s) meet face-to-face to create large, wall-size displays, or work by phone off of small, pre-drawn templates that can be faxed and/or emailed back and forth.

The WHEN:
Clients normally come to Graphic Coaching when they are standing at a crossroads of some sort … and/or their satisfaction has been interrupted and they want to get it back (in Law of Attraction speak, they are ‘out of the vortex’ and want to get back in).

The coaching work might occur in an intensive retreat over several days, or be spread out over weeks or months in separate meetings or through a series of calls.

The WHY:
Graphic coaching is a very effective medium.  People are drawn to it (full pun intended!) for a variety of reasons: it’s engaging, creative and highly practical.  It makes thinking easier and more enjoyable.  It appeals to many types of thinkers: especially visual and kinesthetic people (88% of the population).  It is a systems-approach: meaning you get all the different aspects of an issue or problem onto the large paper: enabling you to connect the dots and see how things ar inter-related.  Insights, ahhas and breakthroughs are prevalent.  You see how you are creating your current reality and you can choose if and how you want to course correct.

Working in a visual way gives coaching clients something tangible to see, hold and distribute – there is a tangible record of what you have done and the decisions and conclusions that you have reached.  Typical coaching techniques rely primarily on the auditory sense (the thinking goes off into thin air), with graphic coaching you have visual reports from your sessions that remind you of what occurred.  It’s functional art to post around your home, office and on the computer.  And, you can use these visual aids to communicate your coaching work and decisions to loved ones, colleagues and trusted advisors.  

The How:
If you are standing at a crossroads and would like to be coached, see my various private and group coaching programs to find the right one for you.

If you are a coach, counselor, therapist, consultant, etc … and are interested in learning foundational graphic skills to use in your own practice, then see my recently announced Graphic Coaching Clinic.  I’ve been asked for years to train other helping professionals in my rare skills, and now I am in this three-day fundamental skills training held in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia.   

© 2009 Christina L. Merkley

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it:

Christina Merkley, "The SHIFT-IT Coach" and creator of the SHIFT-IT Method® is a Visioning and Strategic Planning Expert specializing in Graphic Facilitation and Law of Attraction techniques. Based in charming Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, she works deeply with individuals, partners and groups in defining and getting what they really, really want. For more information visit: www.shift-it-coach.com

Looking for more rich, SHIFT-IT content? Check out my blog for recent ramblings, resources and general interest features:

• Announcing The GRAPHIC COACHING CLINIC®
• This Weeks "Visual Positive Aspects"
• Actor Mickey Rourke's Internal & External SHIFT
• Positive Aspects Collection - Starting!
• 32 Live Twitter Posts from Abraham-Hicks Mexico Cruise
• Inside Look at Abrahm-Hicks Mexico Cruise
• Abraham-Hicks on Hays Radio
• VizThink Conference in San Jose

Besides the Blog, there are plenty of articles to read in the Ezine Archives. Browse past issues here.

Click Here to Read SHIFT-IT Blog

Have something you want to ask me? Curious about SHIFT-IT, graphic coaching, Law of Attraction, etc ???

FYI, I’ve added a new option to the website .. an ‘Ask Christina’ section. 

Ask me your most pressing SHIFT-IT questions.  Most popular and interesting questions … and my answers (hopefully as interesting!) will be posted on the blog.

Ask a Question Here

Are you in on the fun at Facebook? Have your own profile? If so, let’s be friends! I’m under ‘Christina Merkley’ … in your note, be sure to let me know you are an e-zine reader and anything else you care to share … so I know you truly are a friend.

We're also now on Twitter! If you use Twitter to watch people's updates, come and follow mine! Twitter is a quick growing trend in the social media scene and one that will prove to become very important in the business world!

Click Here to Go to My Twitter Profile Now!

Now Graphic Coaching tools right at your fingertips. Conduct your own SHIFT-IT Graphic Coaching Retreat® - from the privacy of your own home. Your life isn't a dress rehearsal. In fact, its happening right NOW. Is it going the way you want it to? Do you know what you next want? Are you sure you can do it? Get organized and confident with the step-by-step SHIFT-IT Graphic Coaching system.

In this innovative kit, I walk you through your past, present and desired future, so you can plot out your directions and strategies. You also pinpoint and flip the negative beliefs, assumptions and mindsets that stand in your way - to stop sabotaging yourself and your dreams. SHIFT-IT has already helped hundreds live life by design, not by accident. Learn how it can help you too!

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