ACRWorks

2011-11-29T07:11:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Quote of the Day - "Sanity remains defined simply by the ability to cope with insane conditions."
Ana Castillo

2011-11-28T07:43:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Challenge of the Week. Focus on responding instead of reacting. For more info, read my blog at www.acrworks.blogspot.com.

2011-11-28T07:42:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Quote of the Day, "To respond is positive, to react is negative" ~ Zig Ziglar

Responding vs. Reacting

2011-11-28T07:31:00.001-05:00

Moving toward productive communications

Is there someone that just knows how to push yourbuttons? Maybe a boss or colleague atwork that tries to micromanage the office, or an opinionated relative, whoseopinions are always directed at how you are living your life. These people make us anxious and tense andjust their presence can put us on guard, distract us and create an unproductiveenvironment.

Reacting to an unpleasant conversation or situation is whatmost people do when they feel they are threatened in some way. However, when we react, it only brews morehostility and discomfort. It also givesway too much control to the aggressive or domineering party. However, this form of communication can bechanged from reacting to responding with a little practice.

Responding puts you in control of the situation because youare not allowing the individual to manage your emotions by their careless wordsor actions. When we respond, we arecarefully choosing our words in a manner that gets our point across, withoutcross words and strong emotions. Whenyou are in a confrontational position and you feel your temperature rising,take a moment and pause before you respond. Pay attention to how your body isfeeling and what thoughts are going through your mind and quickly cool yourselfdown.

Here are a couple examples.

Your step brother comes in for a visit. All he ever talks about is how much money hehas, what is business is doing and his brand new 6000 square foot home he isbuilding. You can never get a word in,because he always changes the conversation back to what he is doing. During his visit he says, “So John, are youstill living in that little place on Short Street? I could never live in a home so small..how do you do it? I was feeling claustrophobic in our last house and it was4000 square feet – your place is what, 1500 square feet?”

Your reaction: “Well, I guess if I was more deceptive in mybusiness practices I could be pulling in more money as well. However, I believe in running my business andtreating my clients with integrity and respect.”

Your response: “Yes Iam still living in my home. It is verycomfortable for me and my family and we are happy there. We have wonderful neighbors and we feel asense of community where we live and that is important to us.”

When we choose to react we only had more fuel to the fireand the person who will be harmed the most is ourselves. In the work environment this type of conflictleads to a lack in productivity which will hurt in your job performance and inthe performance of the business.

Remember, while we cannot control the actions of others, wecan control our own. Choose to respondinstead of react and let go of the unproductive and negative behavior patternsof others. You will keep your emotionsin balance, reduce your stress level and be able to focus on matters that areof importance to you.

The end of another year, yet the beginning of new opportunities!

2011-11-27T22:43:00.000-05:00

Tonight I posted that there are 36 days to the launch of mynew website ACRWorks.com. The originalwebsite was launched in 2009, but soon after, I was hired in what is my presentfull-time position as Chair of a Criminal Justice/Paralegal Studies program ata technical school. The job whilerewarding, is also demanding so my vision of working in a field I have alwaysbeen so passionate about was put on the back burner. I needed the steady income and those of us inthis field know it takes time to build your practice to where you can sustainyourself financially.

It has been almost two years since I first launched ACRWorks– my dream. It has never gone away. But as I sit here this evening I realize howmuch further along I could have been had I continued my pursuit, along with aposition that sustained my family financially. How many of us have a foregone a dream or burning desire to be or dosomething because of the obligations we have?

I believe there was a reason ACRWorks was put on hold. I believe I still had some learning andgrowing to do. I wasn’t completelyready. I needed additional pruningbefore I could be completely dedicated to my passion. The last two years in my current position hastaught me so much about what I have control over and what I do not. It has taught me how to coach people who arecoachable – who want significant changes. I have learned a lot about myself, my worth, my capabilities and what Ibelieve I was put on this earth for. Ido not know that I would have had the same awareness of myself or of others twoyears ago.

Many of us get sidetracked and put our dreams on hold. But don’t ever give up on a dream or passionyou have, because it is instilled deep within you for a reason. Keep learning and growing. Sometimes, the time just isn’t right yet. ACRWorks, even though it didn’t have a nameseveral years ago, it has been a big part of me now for over 10 years. I never gave up, but had to go througheducation outside of an institution to fully prepare me for what I was meant todo. When you feel like your dreams arebeing put on hold or that you will never get to that place – keep thefaith. Hold tight to what you know youwere meant to do and don’t ever lose sight of that. Many times, there are other experiences wemust go through to fully prepare us for what we are meant to do.

I do not get discouraged because it has already been twoyears since I initially launched ACRWorks. To be honest, I am thankful because due to the last two years, I havegrown and have more clarity on who I am and where I want to be. So as I look to the end of another year, I amexcited to look forward at what a new year can bring. Each day is a day of possibilities. I have learned as I get older that while Imay have a bad day – at night I can close my eyes and when I awaken, I have theopportunity to create a new day. It is atremendous gift we all have!

Many of us look back at the year and think about all thethings we should have done or started to do and didn’t finish and feeldiscouraged or feel as if we have failed. I want you to change that thinking and instead, reflect on what you havelearned. Who where you at the beginningof 2011 and who are you today? How haveyou grown? What has changed? Then I wantyou to take that new knowledge and look ahead. What new opportunities do you have that await you? What changes do youwant to make that you have control over? Are there any you don’t have control over? My guess is that most of the changes you wishto make you have ultimate control over. Some may take more time than others, but you ultimately have control over the decisions you will make thatwill lead you to who an where you want to be.

So say goodbye today and hello to a new tomorrow. We always think we are the same from day today. But the truth is we are not. I change from day to day. I learned new things today. I meet new people, I may have been led to newopportunities. These are things I didnot have with me yesterday. Andtomorrow, who knows what I might be led to, taught or who might meet. Everyday I am a little different from thelast and I can use that to bring me closer to where I want to go. Broken down like this really puts things inperspective and see how I am developing each day.

Take some time to reflect.. not on failures, but on what youhave learned. Then play it forward andsee how you can apply this to where you want to be. Even though you may not have accomplishedwhat you had originally hoped for by now, you might be surprised at how muchyou have developed and grown. Take allthat with you and apply it to tomorrow, because tomorrow something just mayhappen that may take your dreams, closer to reality.

2011-11-27T21:07:00.001-05:00

26 Days til the launch of ACRWorks.com.. January 2, 2012!!

2011-11-26T06:27:00.001-05:00

10 tips to kick holiday stress in the jingle balls http://ping.fm/COAIp

2011-11-24T12:54:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from ACRWorks!

2011-11-23T08:20:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Quote of the Day ~ "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?" ~Stephen Levine

2011-11-22T14:58:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Quote of the Day -
"Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts." ~Author Unknown

2011-11-21T11:51:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Quote of the day: "Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas." ~ Donatella Versace

2011-11-20T13:08:00.001-05:00

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.
Jim Rohn

Reality of Relatives

2011-11-19T22:08:00.000-05:00

Surviving the holidays with your loved ones ... and maybe not so loved ones.

When you think of your family gatherings during the holidays, does your family resemble the Griswold’s? How about a Madea family reunion? Maybe your family is similar to the Huxtables or even the Cleavers. Whatever the family dynamic, we all have relatives - some, even though related by blood or marriage, we just may not want to take ownership of. However, during the holidays we find ourselves spending a good portion of the season with our best and most dysfunctional bunch. For many of us this can create a myriad of feelings ranging from mild stress to all out panic. Our relatives are REAL and the holidays are challenging enough as we juggle our work, activities, shopping and day to day family commitments. Throwing in the family social gatherings just may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back – you being the camel that is. So as the holidays quickly approach, how can we overcome the inevitable dinners and social gatherings that we will be invited to attend?

First of all, relatives are related by blood or through marriage only. This does not mean that we automatically love them or even like them. It may be hard enough just tolerating each other. Sometimes we feel a certain obligation to get along or like that person because after all they are “family”. Maybe in a perfect world, but we are not in a perfect world. Each of us are unique individuals with different interests, thoughts, religious views, and view of life in general. Just because Uncle Joe is your Mom’s brother doesn’t give him an automatic ticket to your love and affection. Understand that it is “OK” not to get along or even like another member of your family. Do you like everyone you meet at work, or that you meet in public? I am sure that is a definite “No”. So why then do we feel we must like or even get along with someone just because they are “family”? We don’t have to. Again, that is our choice. But because Uncle Joe is Mom’s brother and we know how much it means to her for him to attend the family gatherings we may feel a sense of obligation to be present for the holiday festivities. So remind yourself that just because certain individuals are considered family, there is more to the meaning of family than the relation by marriage or blood.

Second, take ownership of your feelings. Believe it or not, we have control over our emotions. How we respond to a situation is our choice and we can choose to allow it to anger us, sadden us, make us feel anxious or we can choose to have a positive attitude, carry ourselves with confidence and allow the joy of the season to fill our days. One way to do this is to get in touch and master our feelings. We have to understand how certain people or situations make us feel and prepare and train ourselves not to react, but rather respond with a conscious, chosen behavior. Take time prior to the occasion to prepare how you will interact with that individual or individuals. This will help you make the event enjoyable, even under the worse of circumstances.

Being conscious of our feelings and making a choice as to how we will respond takes some preparation and practice. Take some time prior to the event to sit quietly, with your eyes closed and envision how you see this event unfolding. Let the feelings flow through your body, both pleasant and unpleasant. How do you feel as you act out the event in your mind? When you begin to feel unpleasant feelings, stop and remember you have control and visualize how you might change the direction of the situation. Visualize yourself responding instead of reacting to the situation. When we respond vs. react, we are handling our emotions and communicating in a confident and controlled manner. This takes the power away from the
family offender and you maintain the control. As you visualize this new situation, what new emotions are you feeling? Take a few moments to allow your mind and body to take in the information. Depending on the situation, you may want to practice this several times before the upcoming event.

Third, plan some family fun games. We are never too old to play games. As a matter of fact, it may surprise you who has the most fun. One year my family played the “Who Am I” game. I am sure there is another name for it, but that is what we called it. One or two people take small pieces of paper and write a famous person or even a cartoon character’s name on it and stick it to each other’s foreheads of where they cannot see it. Everyone will have a piece of paper on their forehead, which is funny in itself because we all look a little silly. Everyone takes turns asking questions about the person stuck on their forehead until they figure out who they are. We have played this game several times and have found that even the most rigid of folk have a really great time. Funny too, because even those individuals we may not get along with turn into someone else as we are guessing their character and for a brief period of time may actually be enjoyable! There is a plethora of holiday games found on the internet. Do a search prior to your gathering and find some family fun!

Finally, set clear expectations. When you have been invited to a family get together, or any get together for that matter, set clear expectations with the host. Agree to attend, but state you can only stay for an hour or two because you have other commitments. They don’t have to know your plans, but by setting clear expectations, they will know ahead of time that you can only commit a certain amount of time to their event. This will satisfy the host that you are attending, as well as provide a way to leave early without making an excuse.

The holidays can be enjoyable with a little planning and a little practice in communication skill building (responses and setting clear expectations). Here’s to the happier holidays!

2011-11-19T08:09:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks Quote of the Day -

"Some of the biggest mistakes in leadership are when you are using a hammer when sand paper is required"

2011-11-18T16:04:00.001-05:00

http://ping.fm/CysK1

2011-11-18T12:22:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks quote of the day. "You can't shake hands with a clenched fist" - Indira Gandi

2011-11-18T09:30:00.001-05:00

Community steps up for Baskets for Branches - The Herald Dispatch#.TsUmK8gvxVk.facebook#.TsUmK8gvxVk.facebook#.TsUmK8gvxVk.facebook#.TsUmK8gvxVk.facebook http://ping.fm/UjUsl

2011-11-17T07:06:00.001-05:00

ACRWorks quote of the day. "I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott

2011-11-17T07:05:00.001-05:00

Visit our Facebook page and become a fan..www.facebook.com/acrworks

2011-11-17T07:04:00.001-05:00

45 Days til the launch of ACRWorks.com!

2011-11-04T11:27:00.001-04:00

Stress is often the result of suppressing the desire to choke the living daylights out of someone who desperately deserves it.

2011-11-02T13:13:00.001-04:00

"Any fool can know. The point is to understand." - Albert Einstein

2011-11-02T08:31:00.001-04:00

"People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them" - Epictetus

2011-11-01T15:28:00.001-04:00

"There are never in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity" - Michel de Montaigue

2011-11-01T12:20:00.001-04:00

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is what it takes to sit down and listen" - Winston Churchill

2011-10-31T21:32:00.001-04:00

"Bad human communication leaves you less room to grow" - Rowan D Williams

2011-10-31T16:03:00.001-04:00

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it” ~ Unknown

2011-10-27T22:51:00.001-04:00

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity". Albert Einstein

2011-10-26T20:58:00.001-04:00

ACRWorks - Catlettsburg, KY (Kentucky) | 859-905-0681 http://ping.fm/4hWUc

2011-10-26T08:22:00.001-04:00

Understanding the Benefits of Online Dispute Resolution 10/25 by Texas Conflict Coach | Blog Talk Radio http://ping.fm/AJynA

2011-10-26T07:23:00.001-04:00

“To observe people in conflict is a necessary part of a child's education. It helps him to understand and accept his own occasional hostilities and to realize that differing opinions need not imply an absence of love.”
Milton R. Sapirstein quotes

2011-10-25T15:56:00.001-04:00

http://ping.fm/0qzBt

2011-10-24T08:30:00.001-04:00

"Don't wake up expecting a great day, CREATE one" - Bob Proctor

2011-10-22T07:43:00.001-04:00

http://ping.fm/fvAp6

2011-10-21T22:17:00.001-04:00

2011-10-21T22:16:00.001-04:00

“It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
Norman Schwarzkopf

2011-10-21T22:15:00.003-04:00

“The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says, 'Go!' -a leader says, 'Let's go!'.”
E. M. Kelly quotes

2011-10-21T22:15:00.001-04:00

“Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” ~ William James

2011-10-21T22:13:00.001-04:00

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist."
- Indira Gandhi

2011-10-21T22:12:00.001-04:00

"The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations."
- David Friedman

2011-10-21T22:10:00.001-04:00

Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict -- alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence."
- Dorothy Thompson

2011-10-21T19:38:00.001-04:00

“Mediation Provides Meaningful Access to Justice,” Says ABA President Robinson http://ping.fm/Xj9G5

2011-10-11T13:38:00.001-04:00

Choose to make changes, not excuses...

2011-10-10T21:43:00.001-04:00

Check out the new professional networking app on facebook - "beknown". Add Stephanie Armstrong as a contact. Let's connect!

2011-10-10T20:09:00.001-04:00

Police in Ga. shut down girls' lemonade stand http://ping.fm/9FJ2Z

2011-10-10T14:32:00.001-04:00

Checkout these free mediation webinars and teleseminars!

http://ping.fm/vmobY

2011-10-10T14:23:00.001-04:00

October 20 (third Thursday in October) is Conflict Resolution Day (as organized by the Association for Conflict Resolution) and the week of October 17 – 23 in Mediation Week (as organized by the ABA Section on Dispute Resolution).

2011-10-05T14:53:00.001-04:00

"Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you" - Robert Fulghum

2011-10-03T22:23:00.001-04:00

The Office - Conflict Resolution - Video - http://www.nbc.com http://ping.fm/dTXlf/the-office/video/conflict-resolution/116196#.Topt75SQw2I.pingfm

2011-10-03T07:39:00.001-04:00

Commentary - EO explains pros of alternative dispute resolution http://ping.fm/73mzR

2011-09-26T08:13:00.001-04:00

http://ping.fm/Zg7QD

Free webinar tomorrow. Managing Conflict in the Workplace

2011-09-26T07:44:00.001-04:00

Just added Ping.fm to my iPhone. Now I can update all my social networks from one app!

2011-01-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

http://ping.fm/lwcdx

Great blog post my Joseph C. Markowitz

2010-12-29T15:25:00.001-05:00

It is finally here! USANetwork presents, Fairly Legal. The series that focuses on mediation as a profession. http://ping.fm/3iIvc

2010-12-29T09:41:00.001-05:00

Interesting article on a very hot topic.. Workplace Bullying

http://ping.fm/DjnJ0

2010-12-18T08:43:00.001-05:00

Ten Tips To Ease Your Divorce: Mediate, Don’t Litigate http://ping.fm/XJtA6

2010-12-17T21:29:00.001-05:00

Finally, a positive method to teach our children how to handle conflict and take responsibility for their actions.....

http://ping.fm/4myCj

2010-12-17T21:27:00.001-05:00

Finally, a means of teaching our children how to manage conflict and take ownership for their behavior..

http://ping.fm/rLzDT

2010-12-16T10:24:00.001-05:00

http://ping.fm/EgEkf

‘The Peacemaker’ faces harsh reality of gangland - The Boston Globe

2010-12-16T09:24:00.000-05:00

‘The Peacemaker’ faces harsh reality of gangland - The Boston Globe

2010-12-01T08:23:00.001-05:00

http://ping.fm/ja7sf

William Ury Speaks

2010-12-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

Beauty is only Skin Deep

2010-11-19T22:20:00.003-05:00

Click on the link below for information on the upcoming radio show!!

http://wp.me/P1bJPu-7

2010-10-23T11:35:00.000-04:00

2010-04-14T13:03:00.001-04:00

Bullypolice.org is a great resource to know your states anti-bullying laws. This watchdog organization advocates for bullied children and reports on every state's anti-bullying laws. Referencing your state's laws on bullying (if they exist) in your letter will likely get an administrator's attention quickly if you have a bullying situation.

2010-04-13T20:35:00.001-04:00

Using a Transformative Approach in an Elementary School Peer Mediation Program http://ping.fm/YgAhg

Teens learn mediation techniques at workshop

2010-04-13T07:01:00.001-04:00

Teens learn mediation techniques at workshop

Posted using ShareThis

2010-04-12T16:56:00.001-04:00

What do you think? When kids are bullies, are their parents to blame?

2010-04-08T12:42:00.001-04:00

Opinion: Do you think bystanders to bullying need to be held accountable?

2010-04-07T13:48:00.001-04:00

Fighting School Bullying - KIFI - Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Jackson WY - Weather News Sports- http://ping.fm/ursOL

2010-04-07T13:46:00.001-04:00

http://ping.fm/G6q8T

2010-04-05T21:00:00.001-04:00

What do you invest in? Most would say money. How about your time? Do you realize that each minute used, is a minute lost.. so how are you spending your time? If you want to learn more about investing your time.. visit Compass.. www.mylifecompass.com/acrworks and join for free!

2010-04-05T20:51:00.001-04:00

Watch Good Morning America tomorrow morning. They are talking about school bullying.. this is a rising area of concern that is gaining national attention.

Schools battling bullies through mediation : Home: The Buffalo News

2010-04-04T08:53:00.000-04:00

Schools battling bullies through mediation : Home: The Buffalo News

This is an excellent article that is demonstrative of what many schools are experiencing - bullying needs to be addressed, not just through reprimand, but through education. Please read this important article. It is time we educate our youth on conflict management and appropriate social behaviors.

Howard Gadlin: Future of Mediation Profession - Video

2010-03-30T13:09:00.000-04:00

Howard Gadlin: Future of Mediation Profession - Video

2010-03-26T06:55:00.001-04:00

Eldercare Mediation: A New Way To Make Decisions Regarding Aging Parents http://ping.fm/VcWTY

Eldercare Mediation: A New Way To Make Decisions Regarding Aging Parents

2010-03-26T06:54:00.000-04:00

Eldercare Mediation: A New Way To Make Decisions Regarding Aging Parents

Good Communication Starts With Listening

2010-03-26T06:53:00.002-04:00

Good Communication Starts With Listening

2010-03-26T06:53:00.001-04:00

Good Communication Starts With Listening http://ping.fm/4uSbO

2010-03-23T13:44:00.001-04:00

"And in the end it's not the years in your life
that count. It's the life in your years."
— Abraham Lincoln

Latest Goings On..

2010-03-21T15:52:00.000-04:00

Well, my website has officially launched.. check us out at www.acrworks.com. I am so excited to finally be working in a field I have longed to work in for years. How wonderful to be doing something that can make a difference in other peoples lives - mediation and coaching - empowering people!

Alot has been going on over the last several weeks. ACRWorks was launched, the school quarter came to an end, I attended the first of many conflict management conferences and began my first group coaching with Compass. It has been exhausting, yet exhilarating. Today, I am working on enjoying the wonderful warm day and catching up on a few much needed "housekeeping" matters. One of which is working on designing my ACRWorks Newsletter.

I hope to work more diligently in the coming months on providing my followers with substantial mediation and coaching news here on my blog. Please stay tuned..

The Count Down Begins!

2010-02-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

I can not believe that in a few days we will already be entering the month of March. Spring is just around the corner! Another big event is the launch of ACRWorks. March 1st will be the official launch of ACRWorks at www.acrworks.com. My practice is focused on mediation and life coaching services in an effort to promote both "proactive" and "reactive" methods for resolving conflicts and attaining personal goals. Please visit ACRWorks and sign up for our monthly newsletter which will be filled with mediation and coaching news, tips, inspiration, personal stories and so much more!

Live Empowered ~ Stephanie

Parenting Plans For Special Needs Children

2010-02-22T13:34:00.000-05:00

Parenting Plans For Special Needs Children

Reasons to use a Court Qualified Mediator

2010-01-26T13:12:00.000-05:00

Reasons to use a Court Qualified Mediator

Fighting Fair (Teaching Our Children Conflict Resolution)

2010-01-26T12:47:00.000-05:00

Fighting Fair (Teaching Our Children Conflict Resolution)

"How to set up school-based strategies to protect children from harassment in a digital age." January 15, 2010. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

2010-01-16T23:12:00.000-05:00

"How to set up school-based strategies to protect children from harassment in a digital age." January 15, 2010. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

Happy New Year 2010!

2010-01-05T19:16:00.000-05:00

Wow! 2010! We made it through another year. As I begin to phase out of holiday mode and into my regular routine, I am forced to reflect back to 2009. Reflection is wonderful to review where you were a year ago and where you are now, what you have accomplished through the year. Maybe the year was rough, but look YOU MADE IT! 2010 is our year to shine!!

One thing we all think about as we approach the new year are our New Year's Resolutions. It has been a tradition across the country for years, one that almost inevitably seems to fade away after about a month or two. This year, I want you to forget the New Years Resolutions and focus on New You Solutions! A New Day for a New You! Take some time to visualize your goals as if you had already attained them! You have heard the saying "If you can believe it, you can achieve it!" Well this is true, you can! Begin today, and I want to help.

I have been working on the launch of my practice, ACRWorks, which is due to launch March 2010. I have been working on my website, talking and networking and I have been introduced to an exciting opportunity through Compass. Compass has been developed to assist women in achieving their goals, empowering them to seek their dreams and become the life they visualize. Compass works to help clients achieve a state of balance and wellness. Compass is about YOU! I signed up as a free client and took some time to review their website, talk to one of their coaches and listen into a free webinar. Compass completely lined up with the direction I wanted to take my practice. You see, I am an avid supporter of alternative conflict resolution processes, i.e. mediation; and after taking some coaching courses and being introduced to Compass, I realized that mediation is a positive reactive process to handling conflict; however, coaching is a positive, and completely empowering, proactive system that supports and guides their clients into taking control of their lives and seeking their dreams. If we work on a better us, we become more confident, individuals, which in turn creates an individual who is better able to handle conflict and adversity in their lives. Coaching brings out the ability that each an everyone of us has to be the wonderful, successful individual we were meant to be.

For example, if I go to work in the morning, tired, depressed, or just in a bad mood and someone says something to me that I take as a negative communication, how do you suppose I am going to respond? In a negative manner! I may get angry, I may sit and sulk, I may retaliate. Essentially, I am further igniting a fire that is destructive to my day. However, if I go to work feeling confident, inspired, empowered, in a state of balance and peace, how do you suppose my reaction will differ?? The entire communication atmosphere has changed! The processes and skills truly go hand in hand.

Compass is truly an awesome company and for those of you interested, you can become a client and receive personal coaching, a client rep to support and assist in marketing our coaching programs or become a Compass Certified Coach yourself. Coaching along with ACR methods is a fast growing field, because people are finding how important it is to have a support and accountability system in place if they truly want to achieve and be the person they were designed to be. One of the truly valuable benefits with Compass, especially in these economic times, is that they offer coaching at a fraction of what a private practicing coach charges, so clients can receive the support they need without breaking the bank!

I want to share with you a Compass video entitled, "I AM COMPASS." Please take a minute and watch this wonderfully inspiring video. After watching, I want to invite you to visit my personal compass website and see for yourself what Compass has to offer. www.mylifecompass.com/acrworks . You can click directly on this link and it will take you to my page. I also encourage you to try Compass "FREE" for ten days. I will show you what we have to offer, attend a free coaching session and one of our webinars. And when we say free, it is free, they do not ask for any credit card information, you are not hounded by sales people to sign up because this company is truly about what YOU need and focused on helping you grow and flourish.

Watch the video. If you have questions, you may also email me at stephanie@acrworks.com!

Decision Making: Are You Better Than Coin Flipping?

2009-12-29T20:40:00.000-05:00

Decision Making: Are You Better Than Coin Flipping?

Anger Masks More Vulnerable Emotions

2009-12-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

Anger Masks More Vulnerable Emotions

Mediating A Custody Crisis Can Be Better Than Going Back To Court

2009-12-21T15:40:00.000-05:00

Mediating A Custody Crisis Can Be Better Than Going Back To Court

How to Prosper in a Downturn by Harry Dent

2009-12-18T06:57:00.001-05:00

How to Prosper in a Downturn by Harry Dent

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Positive Affirmations

2009-12-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

If we believe it.. we can it! We have heard this before, but have we ever practiced it? One way is to make a list of positive affirmations to keep handy, so no matter where you are, you can pull them out and review them. Mine are on notecards that I keep in my purse. While we all have our own individual goals and visions for the future of who and what we want to be or accomplish, I have created a list of positive affirmations I would like to share with you.

1. I am strong!
2. I am healthy!
3. I am attractive!
4. I feel great!
5. I am smart!
6. I am organized!
7. I feel peaceful!
8. I am making positive choices about what to do with my money.
9. Everyday my income increases whether I am working playing or sleeping.
10. People love to pay me for what I most enjoy doing. (One of my favorites)
11. I am the creator of my life experience. (Another one of my favorites!)
12. I love my strong, healthy, fit body of _____ lbs.

Whatever your goals are, you can make positive affirmations to suit them. Remember, do not write "I will, I want, I can".. write as if you already are or already have these things you visualize.. "I have, I am, I love my, I feel.." It takes the vision from wanting, which is in the future, to having which is in the now. It is amazing the opportunities you begin to attract by changing the way you think!

Start today! Make the most of every moment and begin to see the changes evolve!

Minimizing Holiday Stress

2009-12-13T09:36:00.001-05:00

Check out my latest Ezine article:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Minimizing-Holiday-Stress&id=3394446

Weekday Wind Down

2009-12-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I am sitting here contemplating today's blog. I have been a little behind in keeping up and I must apologize! The demands on my schedule the last couple weeks have been hectic, yet have resulted in some exciting opportunities!

I began my 2nd quarter teaching the Intro to Paralegal Studies program at ITT Technical Institute and I have an AWESOME new class. I am so excited to begin helping each and every student work toward obtaining their degree and pursuing whatever passion they are driven to. The paralegal is becoming more and more in demand in law offices, corporations, schools, insurance companies and so on. The skills that the paralegal develops through their education and work experiences are invaluable in almost any work setting.

I have recently reunited with a friend of my from "back in the day" and she is introducing me to an exciting life coaching opportunity through My Life Compass. Compass is a personal development company committed to helping you improve your life through powerful, affordable coaching programs and services geared for the busy woman of today. I will have more info on this in the near future, but I encourage you to take a look at the website: http://www.mylifecompass.com/.

Project PEACEWorks is still in the "works", and I am working on gathering informaton and interviewing individuals to obtain their input on what they are seeing as obstacles and issues in their childrens lives and in their schools. I encourage you to send me a message or email me with your input as I develop this very important workshop for today's youth.

Finally, I have had issues with scheduling my BlogTalkRadio show. I had to reschedule once to open more space, then on the schedule air date, we had a bad windstorm and were without power. I will be rescheduling this broadcast, but it will probably be after the first of the year as I know everyone is very busy getting ready for the holidays.

Thanks for following me on ACRWorks. I hope to have my full website up and operational in the very near future.

Have a wonderful day!

Simple Mediation Methods Can Help Children Resolve Disputes

2009-12-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

Simple Mediation Methods Can Help Children Resolve Disputes

Mediating Family Property and Estate Conflicts: Keeping the Peace and Preserving Family Wealth

2009-12-09T09:18:00.000-05:00

Mediating Family Property and Estate Conflicts: Keeping the Peace and Preserving Family Wealth

2009-12-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

Mediating Family Property and Estate Conflicts: Keeping the Peace and Preserving Family Wealth

Why the Google-Facebook Deal is a VERY Big Deal for Your Business | buzzmarketing daily

2009-12-08T16:24:00.001-05:00

Why the Google-Facebook Deal is a VERY Big Deal for Your Business | buzzmarketing daily

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Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Divorce

2009-12-04T22:54:00.000-05:00

Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Divorce

2009-12-04T22:53:00.000-05:00

Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Divorce