mindfulness

Interview: An Update on the Hope-Action Theory

September 25, 2023 by Jim Peacock Leave a Comment

I talk with Dr. Spencer Niles about the Hope-Action Theory developed by Dr. Spencer Niles, Dr. Hyung Joon Yoon, and Dr. Norm Amundson. I’ve always said that hope is what drives career development. We review what Hope-Action Theory is and what are some ways coaches can utilize this theory.

Listen to what Skip says here to understand how hope can be cultivated in our work. Hope requires three things in our work. (1) A goal the client is working toward (2) Strategies on how to achieve and (3) Are they confident they can move forward and motivated to do it?

Skip introduces us to how you can give hope to a client using poetry. He shares two poems that demonstrate using this medium to help our clients. As well as the importance of reflection.

Note: this is my second interview with Skip on the Hope-Action Theory. Watch our first one here.

Watch / Listen to this Interview Now

BIO: Spencer G. Niles Dr. Spencer Niles serves as Professor in the Counselor Education Program at William & Mary. Previously, he served as Dean (2013-2020) and Professor at the School of Education at William & Mary.

Spencer Niles is a Past-President of Chi Sigma Iota International and was twice the President of the National Career Development Association (NCDA). He is the recipient of the NCDA Eminent Career Award. Niles is a Fellow of the National Career Development Association and the American Counseling Association.

Niles is a Fellow of ACA and NCDA. He served as two-term Editor for The Career Development Quarterly, Editor for the Journal of Counseling & Development, and continues to serve on numerous journal editorial boards. He has authored or co-authored approximately 140 publications and delivered over 150 presentations at national and international conferences. His book Career Development Interventions (6th edition) is the best-selling career text in the world. His forthcoming co-authored books are titled Career Flow and Development: Hope-Action Theory and Career Recovery: Creating Careers with Hope in Difficult Times.

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Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from National Career Development Association.

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Another Tech-Free Retreat

September 12, 2022 by Jim Peacock Leave a Comment

I can’t tell you how much I missed doing a tech-free retreat this summer. I had plenty of time off this summer—I always do—but I had not done a real tech-free retreat until last week. For those of you who know me, you know what I’m talking about. For those who don’t know me, I have been doing tech-free retreats since 2016, inspired by Richard Leider’s book, Repacking Your Bags.

This is a day (preferably a full day 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) where I turn off my cell phone and do not check social media while I read, plan, think, meditate, and “retreat.”

For a number of years I used a friend’s office space downtown Waterville along the Kennebec River, but she sold it last year and I have been struggling to find a new place. I used the local library and coffee shops in the past but always wanted to find a cabin or camp on one of the lakes nearby. Well, I found one.

I spent Last Friday at a friend’s camp on Messalonskee Lake here in Central Maine. The weather was fabulous (although that is not a prerequisite), and I spent the morning on the camp deck looking over the lake. I watched a loon swim by and a fish jump as I began writing in my journal. The peacefulness of the day was helpful in slowing me down.

There is something special about these retreats. They take me away from jumping between tasks and wondering how I am going to get to the third task on my list. This day was about slowing down. After writing and thinking for awhile, I picked up a book recommended by a friend, The Earned Life by Marshall Goldsmith, and began my journey into his thoughts on what is important.

After a short break for a morning meal and coffee, I returned to the deck for more reading and writing on my retreat.

I forced myself to stop and look at the water and forest around me, thinking of my mother who loved our camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan which looked similar to this camp. Mom could sit for hours and enjoy the moment. But I was always looking for things to do and struggled with sitting quietly and thinking. Not anymore. Now I relish the moments; but it took practice.

My day started with walking meditation which helps me focus and slow down. Most days, I take a mid-afternoon meditation break which helps me re-energize myself and refocus myself for the remainder of the day. This day was no different.

After taking some time to just reflect, I took out my editorial calendar and began planning my next 90 days. Turns out, I planned nearly six months of weekly emails and made numerous decisions about the kind of content I want to share with my followers. What a relief to get so much planned!

Journaling on my retreat — Selfie of me journaling on my retreat.

I know you are busy. We all are. But I encourage you to find time to slow down. Take a half day to turn off technology and let your brain think instead of react. Here is my blog from a couple of years ago, Tech Free Retreat and the Benefits of Turning Off the Tsunami of Information. If you try a retreat, please let me know how it goes.

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and The Adventure of Finding Me in New Zealand. He is also the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from the National Career Development Association and the Mid-Atlantic Career Counseling Association’s Professional Contribution’s Award in 2020.

Slow Down to Be Better

November 29, 2021 by Jim Peacock Leave a Comment

My biggest mistakes have come when I am in a hurry. As an ENFP (Myers-My biggest mistakes have come when I am in a hurry. As an ENFP (Myers-Briggs definition is a golden retriever in a room with 5 tennis balls) I have had a lifetime of “open mouth, insert foot” episodes. What I have learned is that I need to slow down. It seems to me that the holidays are a great time for us all to remember to slow down and here are my tips to help you get started.

There is a part of me that always feels like I can do more. When I was a high school counselor I felt that seeing more students was the way to do my job. But eventually I figured out that I had to block out an hour of my calendar for no students. By slowing down the flow of students, I was able to take better control of my day.

Slow Down Tip #1

Look at your day and make sure you are taking time to slow down and take care of yourself so that you can serve others more effectively.

Slowing down is more than just time management, it is about self-care. I’ve written about and interviewed people on mindfulness many times, so I won’t spend a lot of time on it today. Just know that 10-15 minute breaks can refuel your mind and body allowing you to provide better service to everyone you meet.

Slow Down Tip #2

Set a timer if you have to, or block out some time in your day to stop and take 4 deep breaths, or listen to a guided mindfulness app like Calm or Insight Timer. Need some wonderful calming music? Check out this YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfYjEkaN-1s

(Image by John Hain from Pixabay)

I try to take a daylong tech-free retreat once a month. I know this is not for everyone, but I challenge you to embrace the idea that turning off your social media feed and phone for even a few hours can be quite freeing. Especially when you realize you didn’t really miss anything too important.

Slow Down Tip #3

Look at your calendar and start by blocking off 2-4 hours of time to turn off social media and your phone, or better yet all your technology. Use this time to read, reflect, plan, meditate, or whatever you want.

With the holiday season upon us, this is a great time to remember to slow down and be calm with yourself. Trust me, you deserve it and will be a better person for it.

Need more proof about slowing down?

Check out these two TedTalks.

What else can you do to slow down?

Note: Featured Image of Giant tortoise by Alexas_Fotos / 21623 images

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and The Adventure of Finding Me in New Zealand. He is also the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from the National Career Development Association and the Mid-Atlantic Career Counseling Association’s Professional Contribution’s Award in 2020.

Sign up here to receive my TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON. You will also receive the career practitioner’s weekly email on a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more.

Stressed Out? I know I am

March 9, 2020 by Jim Peacock 2 Comments

There is so much to be stressed out about these days, from the uncertainty of politics, to our daily To Do list, worrying about our kids, worrying about our parents, and much more. In order to be the best career coach or career service provider as possible, we need to figure out how to reduce our own stress first.

I think Super Tuesday made me nervous, along with all the talk about the COVID-19 this past week.

So what can we do when we are stressed out?

Here are six (6) things I do when I am feeling stressed out.

Make a “To Do” list of everything I need to do in the upcoming weeks…this is long. Then at the end of each day, I create a “To Do” list for the next workday with only three (3) things on it. What are THE most important things I need to do? Then I start my day with #1. I don’t check emails. I don’t login to social media. I get 1 or 2 of these done before I start getting distracted.
I always have my radio on when I am driving, often listening to Public Radio news. Sometimes this is what is causing me stress though. So I will occasionally turn off the radio or put on classical music…no words, just beautiful soothing music.
Walk away from technology throughout your day. I set a timer for 45 minutes so I will get up and move a bit. A recent Daniel Pink, Pinkcast, (I love his brief videos) showed a 20-20-20 method. Every 20 minutes, stop looking at the computer and look at least 20 feet away at something, for 20 seconds. It’s good for your eyes but also good for your mind to take a break from the computer screen.
Meditation breaks for me are 2:30pm daily. I have the Calm App on my phone set to remind me to stop and take a 20-25 minute meditation break. I have a number of meditations either recorded or saved on my phone. There are days it simply can not happen, but most days, I take this break and I am better for it. More energized, calmer, and more focused.
When I am really feeling like lunch is going to be “thrown down as fast as possible or eaten while I keep working” these are the days that I will often eat my lunch “mindfully”. Take 10 minutes and focus. What I mean by that is, I do not read, I do not watch t.v., I do not look at my computer, I just eat my lunch, one bite at a time and look out the window…take a bite and set the fork down or the sandwich down. This is simply focusing and is amazingly relaxing. Try it sometime.
Start your day doing something slow. I have been doing Qi Gong or going for a walk before my breakfast everyday. You can slow down by journaling, or reading five pages in a book, or just sit for 5 minutes. But do NOT start your day “on screech.”

Bonus stress relief activity for me: When I get really upset about something politically that I read, I will take the time to email my state’s Senators and Representatives. It helps me feel like I am actually doing something. It’s minor, but I do think the people we elected need to know how we feel and it does help me reduce stress a little bit by putting it into writing.

I also took the Greater Good stress test and it turns out I came back with an “average amount of stress.” Not sure if this makes me feel that much better but I guess it’s good to know. Take the Greater Good Stress Test

If you have gone this far 🙂 you should also read my blog Three Reasons to Practice Mindfulness

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INTERVIEW: What is Mindfulness and Why Should Career Practitioners Care?

March 28, 2019 by Jim Peacock Leave a Comment

My guests today are….well me, Jim Peacock 🙂 and Sabrina Woods, Holistic Career / Life Coach and we will explore mindfulness and career practitioners embracing it in their practice.

My good friend Bob McIntosh interviews me and Sabrina on Using Mindfulness to Impact our Wellbeing & That of Our Clients.

Bob McIntosh, SCPRW is a career trainer and coach and LinkedIn authority and asked if he could interview us as he wanted to learn more about mindfulness.

WHAT WE WILL EXPLORE

What is mindfulness and why is it so important to practice it?
How do you practice mindfulness and share your experience with your clients?
What benefits do you derive from mindfulness, and how do you pass the benefits on to your clients?

Watch video now

INTERVIEW: Taking Retreats to Slow Down

November 20, 2018 by Jim Peacock Leave a Comment

How many things are on your “to do” list today?
How many times/day do you check your email and social media accounts?
Get control over your day again by choosing 3 things to do each day that “must get done” and then look at your list of 25 things.
Check your email 3 times/day…bunch them up so you are not chasing emails all the time.

And…consider taking a day, or a half day, retreat to slow down and rediscover your creativity.

Listen to this Peak-Careers Interview with three of us who have been doing retreats for a while now and learn:

What our typical “retreat” looks like
What motivated us to start doing them
What the benefits of doing them can be
and some advice & tips for getting started

Interested in this topic? See my blogs on mindfulness

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a monthly newsletter for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

Sign up here to receive my TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON. You can also receive the career practitioners newsletter which includes a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more.