About Inspirational Self Leadership

Are you a diamond in the rough or a shiny star needing support to help you shine?

All leadership begins with self leadership. Until one takes responsibility for becoming a leader of self, effective leadership of others is impossible. While Self Leadership may be quite simple, it certainly is not easy and requires willingness and commitment on the part of each individual to undertake what may be a tremendous journey of personal growth, development, transformation and inspiration.

Do you often feel...?


 Frustrated that you are not living up to your full potential
 Trapped by the expectations and demands of others
 Scared to say what is really on your mind and in your heart

One’s authentic self can often be hidden beneath layers of unresolved emotions and limiting subconscious thought patterns that run our behaviour without much awareness of how this is happening. The internal feelings that arise when a poor self relationship exists include a sense of disconnection, loneliness, inner emptiness or void, fear, internal anxiety / chaos, inadequacy, poor confidence levels and inner conflict to name a few. Some of the externally visible effects of the absence of relationship with self may manifest as health challenges, exhaustion, overwhelm, poor concentration, inability to relax, sleep or express personal needs and ultimately an inability to achieve desired results.

Do you ever ask yourself....?

 Why do people not hear me or see my potential
 Why can't I say what I really feel and think   What do I need to do to be able to fully express who I really am
 How can I make some life enhancing changes?

There will always be forces in our lives that will trigger or destabilize us – whether in our external environment or within our own internal energy fields. If you find yourself experiencing the same problems and challenges over and over again or repeating the same un-resourceful responses, this is a red flag to a limiting or disempowering pattern that may exist within you. When there is an imbalance in the system, these symptoms may first present themselves as a gentle whisper, but left unattended without reflection and redress – they will eventually become a noisy roar. By that time, you may already be in crisis mode.

Are you ready to.....?

 Release what is keeping you stuck
 Reconnect with your authentic self
 Individuate your decision making process
 Create your life as an expression of who you really are
 Find your voice

Once you are aware of a recurring pattern, experience or uncomfortable feeling and take ownership of this as a personal creation, this in actual fact represents an opportunity to deepen your relationship with yourself, release emotional baggage, get clear about what is important to you and what you really want, to establish which qualities you want to cultivate along the way, and to demonstrate self leadership through making some empowering decisions and choices.

“Inspired Self Leadership is the key that unlocks
doorways on the path to True Freedom.” Jacque A

Subscribe to Inspirations - our free monthly newsletter, get more information on Self Leadership at www.i-nspire.co.za,  join me on facebook at jacque.allschwang or follow me on twitter @jax_inspires   If you would like to book an exploratory coaching session you can
e-mail  me on jacque@i-nspire.co.za 

Remember to act from Inspiration!
Warmest Regards
Jacque A

The Kings's Speech - Find Your Voice

According to a recent review in the Sunday Times, by Barry Ronge the movie "The King's Speech - With its 12 Oscar nominations, is an elegant and engrossing royal drama which is clearly the film to beat." 

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article903848.ece/The-reluctant-king--The-Kings-Speech

I heard rave reviews from some Facebook friends and received several recommendations, and tonight as I watched this movie, I knew exactly why I, as a Self Leadership and Self Expression Coach was attracted to this specific movie, amongst all the movies showing.  I also knew why I had felt called to make time to see it during a week in which there seems to have been little or no time available at all.

As I watched the movie, I noticed the core message of the movie was about Self Expression ....and on my return home, after tucking my kids in to bed and kissing them good night....I felt inspired to share a few key thoughts with you, about this specific theme.

For me personally, "The Kings Speech" is a universal metaphor for anyone wanting to find their voice and in that journey ultimately discovering and reclaiming themselves and expressing who they really are.  Some highlights include:

Overcoming Past Conditioning

• Recognizing how childhood corrections and conditioning embed tremendous internal fear and often shape us out of who we really are
• Deciding to no longer live according to a father's expectations or in a brother's shadow
• Willingness to accept and express difficult or negative emotions which are normally "frowned upon " including anger, frustration, despair, inadequacy, vulnerability

Strength,  Resillience & Humility

• Building the physical body through a rigorous process to be strong enough to endure and overcome any challenges - through a series of mechanical exercises including breathing, relaxation and a strengthening of the diaphragm - the part of the body responsible for breath and voice
• The willingness to work hard - self expression is a journey not a once off intervention.  The journey requires patience, perserverance, persistence, determination and inner strength
• Sometimes one has to bury one's pride, to ask for forgiveness or to ask for what is really needed

Supportive Relationships & Acceptance

• There are some professionals that can support and help purely because of their approach, their experience, their charachter and their way of being in the world.  It is important to recognize them for who they are, when they come along.
• Equality and Respect - pedestals, status and positions of power can often lead to feelings of isolation, alientation and desparation - no one can get close enough to help
• Acceptance and being surrounded by loving and encouraging support are essential on the self expression journey - those who criticize, doubt, undermine or manipulate are not helpful or necessary  

If you are trying to find your voice or would like to start the journey, I trust that you will find these key themes useful and do yourself a favour - go see this film.  If you would like some encouragement and support on the journey towards Self Expression...please do not hesitate to subscribe to our free monthly newsletter Inspirations or e-mail me on jacque@i-nspire.co.za

Until the next Inspiration!

Take care of you.

Jacque A

The Butterfly and the Crystal

This weekend I attended what was probably one of the most beautiful and romantic weddings that I have ever been to in my life.  The setting - the Vette Mossel, a beach restaurant, in Mosselbay, the time of day -sunset, the weather - perfectly delivered by the gods, the bride - an exquisite goddess and my best friend in the whole wide world - could not have looked more beautiful.

During the festivities I was given the honour of sharing a piece of writing I composed for the occasion which I have called The Butterfly and The Crystal.  While I created this for this specific couple...the sentiments are as applicable for any two people who have decided to share their lives.  This is my dream of people living together in I-nspired Love:

As I gaze out into the open yonder, and I let my eyes wander to the far distant horizon

on the cusp of the eternal ocean blue, where the heavens meet the seas and

where the seas cascade over the edge of the earth, I dreamed a dream

It is a dream of two special souls coming together
in a union of the unique lights that they both are

An angel descended from heaven in the form of a butterfly bride,  flapped her gossamer wings and touched the lives and hearts of me and mine and of so many others when she landed in our worlds,

We played, we explored, we pollinated many flowers

and we blew seeds of joy and hope into the open fields of endless possibilities

Then one day, after fluttering and flying freely for many moons and suns, she landed on one specific crystal groom which she had visited with...a few times....for a while

This crystal amongst all the gifts the world had to offer was the one special one, that always kept calling her back. The crystal, was the one rock that was strong, protective, kind, caring and wise, a force of nature that she knew would always be there for her.

One gloriously, beautifully, perfect day the butterfly and the crystal came together in a sacred ceremony during which they made a promise to each other: -

To unite in a cosmic dance, an exchange of the heart that would bring both the butterfly and the crystal enrichment, expansion, nourishment and love.  To always treat each other with the kindness and gentleness that allows tender and vulnerable open – hearts, to be ever present. To breathe life into each other’s hopes and dreams and those they dream together and to encourage each other towards a life of happiness, fulfilment, adventure and joy

To build a warm and safe cocoon for their union together that inspires harmony, connectedness and peace.  To grow together in prosperity and abundance, so that there is always enough of what they need to nurture and grow any seeds they plant to full potential.

And as I dream this dream for two people that I love and care for so dearly and watch it coming to pass, my heart is overwhelmed by the joy and the love that I feel.

To the beautiful butterfly bride and her crystal groom –
May your union overflow with blessings

With All My Love

Jacque A