Networks have been used forever and a day to pass on news through word-of-mouth, that’s why I know what my Aunties and Grand-Parents are up to even if I have not seen them for 10 years! The difference is now, we have the “21st century automobile” version of networking, because with viral networking, information is spread at the click of a button from my phone, to my cousin in Jamaica, my whole family in France and actually the whole world in an instant. Then it can be circulated and circulated and circulated with out me knowing anything about it, lying dormant until it shows up somewhere. where now it impacts me and my life (good or bad) several years later.

By consciously networking, I am in control of the information that I put out there myself. I am aware of the effect that my interactions could have now and in the future and I take responsibility and ownership for what I put out there.

I am building my brand as a person who is passionate about change and transformation in all areas of my life and the lives of those around me and I consciously chose to use the social media platforms to promote yourself and expand my networks – why? Well, because I was starting up my business and did not have the means to invest in media campaigns and so had to look at a way of doing things differently. Figuring out how kids could afford to communicate with each other all the time on their phones, was what got me to look at social media and how it works.

Being from the older generation, my privacy was very important, so becoming highly aware as to what information was out there and what impact it has on others made me look further into how I could use social media effectively without revealing too much about me.

Overview
In these constantly changing times, has your mind shifted to accept that social media is here to stay and is one of the most effective and powerful tools for the 21st century?

It is the ultimate in narcissism, since we can plaster ourselves unashamedly all over the world and invade other people’s homes and personal space with inane nonsense and bits of totally useless information. Ah! But, wait a minute! Is it totally useless? Actually not at all, since every piece of information out there can be and will be interpreted in a certain manner, with or without your consent!

Whatever you intended, can and is often misinterpreted to mean something different. Even one word can mean totally something totally different to the reader i.e. the word “Hello”

“Hello” – Is there anyone out there? To the person feeling a bit lonely and reaching out but not wanting to show that they are vulnerable

“Hello” – Are you mad – what are you talking about – the same person in response to a wild statement the other person has said

“Hello” – You dunce, idiot etc.. – to someone who misunderstood or didn’t get what the originator of the dialogue was saying

The list can go on for quite a while – the additional issue is that, the written text can be totally out of sync with the frame of mind in which the receiver finds themselves because there could be delays of up to 24 hours before a response is received, which can then cause further room for confusion and people getting the wrong message, leading to friends falling out with each other and worse.

Social media can be a very painful world, where innocent words and images can be taken out of context and used to either intentionally or more often than not, unintentionally degrade another persons image. So always be aware, when posting something, that others will be reading or watching what you have posted.

And that’s what social media is about – Image! So if you choose consciously to use it to brand your public and private images, the use of the social media platforms, then become powerful allies for you in all aspects of your life.

Some may say, that then we are giving a false image of ourselves? Is that true? Do you act in the same manner in front of your parents, your friends, your boss and your children?

We all have several private and public personas – so why should portraying ourselves differently via the social media platforms be so different? As long as we are not creating our alter-egos, it is perfectly fine to create profiles, which portray us in the best light for the platform that we have chosen.

I have several profiles – business, social, spiritual and general profiles that say very little about the private me. On Facebook, I have my private profile and I also have my fan pages, which I use for professional reasons only.
Generally anyone can access all of my profiles but they don’t – (Unless they are stalkers ☺). They see different aspects of me and they will connect to that part of me that they need to, they may say oh and by the way, I didn’t know you were Jamaican for example – but their curiosity does not go beyond that. They also will pick up the essence of who I am through the different profiles and even if I wanted to hide that, I could not!

I found that people are happy to know the other side of you, that gets silly drunk and does something wild from time to time – they are reassured that you are only human after all. They are empathic when someone says – “Get better soon”, without prying they will also wish you a swift recovery and move on. Knowing that outside of being a total workaholic, you enjoy walking with the dogs on a Sunday after builds rapport that would not occur otherwise.

So how do we use it to our advantage? Actually, how do you use social media to your advantage?

Joan Laine
Transformational Life & Business Coach

Find me on HEAD START PBS

There is something poignantly beautiful about this poem http://htxt.it/edEB

I’ll smile again when I make friends with vodacom…mmhh.. think I better scrap that and just start smiling again now!

There is so much love in the world! Inexhaustible! And guess what? It’s free!

3D dreams… This is what happens, when we are in action towards our goals… Dreams Do Come True! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today is the beginning of the rest of my life! I’d better get cracking in making it the best it can be, hey? Starting with fun, fun, fun!

Good morning everyone. Today I am busy making dreams tangible, coaching a group of very dynamic young people. Make your dreams real too.

How many people have touched you today and how people have you touched? If you have been touched by one or many or if you have touched one or many, then you have lived your life purpose for today.

Joan Laine on Facebook

There are times in our lives, when we are so busy thinking, that it actually stops us from being in action towards the dreams that we have created in our imagination.

So how do we know whether the creative sparks in our imagination will truly manifest new realities or remain dreamscapes, twirling around our brains with no possibility of getting out of our heads?

Well, when you reach the point when you are having fine conversations in your head about everything that you do, the point when you reach analysis/paralysis, where your thinking interferes with not only your waking state but also your dream state… so that you go into analyzing your dreams while you are dreaming (I actually did reach that point), it is time to stop the chatter and just get on with the business of “doing what you said you would do by when you said you would do it”*, regardless of whether you want to or not!

I have been in such a situation.

At that point in my life, the thoughts of insanity, asylum and schizophrenia resonated loudly in my mind and they felt like wonderfully appealing invitations for me to go and just sit, relax my mind and think of nothing. It was an extremely difficult period to endure, simply because the thoughts were truly so loud, I was having conversations with myself constantly and I became totally detached from reality, but still had to operate as a “normal” person.

Life became a series of “accidents” and unpleasant incidents, which I was fully aware of creating, as I busily analyzed every speck of experience that happened to me. I was even watching myself, watching me analyzing the fact that I could not get out of “living in my head”. It was stifling in my head and the busyness was exhausting me!

So how did I get out of my prison of thoughts?

I remember waking up that morning and thinking… SILENCE… ALL I WANT IS SILENCE. I clearly saw two images, the one of a chattering monkey and the other of a silent monk and I said to my Self forcefully … “I choose the Silent Mind”. I huge smile seemed to fill me, coming from deep inside enveloped in a deep and profound sense of peace… stillness and quiet waters.

And that evening, the key which opened my prison cell came, in the form of a single word, itself in the form of a question.

Ironically it was a one word question that got me into such a state in the first place and then kept me bound in the chains of thought, that almost sent me to the asylum and this was the question “Why”? A question we are advised not to ask as a Consciousness Coach (R). Why? Because…. because bla bla bla bla bla…. there is instantly a stream of words that follow the “because” in answer to any question beginning with “why”, which Consciousness Coaching refers to as “story”. Being in story, ensures that you cannot be in action… you’re too busy telling the story!

So that evening as I was at home, relaxing… or so I thought, a friend of mine came around. After catching up for about 15 minutes, sharing what was happening in our respective lives, she suddenly stopped talking and stared at me with a slightly puzzled look on her face.

I said, “What?…

She said “How?”

“….???” There was a moment of utter silence from both of us, both looking very puzzled.

My friend then said “The question is “HOW?” not “WHY?”!

Suddenly, I was free! In my head, there was a moment of dead silence, then a “What do you mean “how”?

The question that got me out of my head and into action was “How?” In an instant I was free from months of self-inflicted torture and given the freedom to act and become once again master of my destiny, when I replaced the “why” with the “how” and fully grasping why we do not ask “Why?”.

And that was it… The Silent Monk gently entered my life to stop the ceaseless Chattering Monkey and I was free at last, to manifest the thoughts into my reality as a coach, trainer and facilitator providing opportunities for teenagers to grow themselves into the best people they could possibly be… one step closer each day!

Who do you choose to be when your conversations become endless?

Joan Laine
Transformational Life and Business Coach
Facilitator and Trainer

Join me on Head Start PBS or on FB
*CCI Definition of Integrity by Marc Steinberg

Is it possible to transform oneself in just 4days? Read on as I share my experience of seeing what takes place when one is in the presence of one of the most inspiring people I have met throughout my life time; Marc Steinberg, founder of the CCI Coaching Academy.

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What an awesome, awesome, awesome joyful privilege for me to walk, run and sometimes take the express train with you as we each travel on our journeys through conscious transformation. I am truly loving it and at times, though the challenges may seem almost insurmountable, the view is amazing when we get to the next destination.

I was able to chat to some of you during the CCI Master IV training, and as Lisa may share with you, when we are in action of service to creating a revolution in consciousness and making love a worldwide reality , there is little room for personal interaction or relationship building with you guys, I am therefore taking this opportunity to share my experience viewed from the back row as one of your trainers. And so I share that at the end of the four days this is how I now see you…

Arty, you and I have a date that Chyros set a billion years ago …Ambassadress to be in this life and an Empress in many other previous lives I’m sure, with the commanding presence to direct people towards the right path, those who are not worthy of your you, will quiver in the aisles as you continue in your stride. Those who understand your power will follow close behind, whilst in your wake, will quiver those who are afraid to dare to walk on the path that you pave ahead;

Simon, wow… why are you depriving us from your magnificence? If you had a pipe and played it without sound, I would follow your lead! For me you are a silent giant who will enticingly lead others – those who hear the call of your silent pipe, will indeed be lead to their greatest heights;

Palesa, as a trainer in the back row, it was very difficult for me not to come and take your hands away from your eyes… I am unbelievably happy that you opened your own eyes and saw that the box that kept you contained, was nothing but illusion, so that you could give us the gifts that you had to offer. There is a bookstore waiting to be filled with your sultry beauty and the quintessence of your gentle being – You pave the way ahead with the words of wisdom, knowledge and freedom so that in the future all Africans to may BE who they wish to be;

I am grateful to each of you wonderful giants, for the opportunity to have danced with you and I do add that my favorite dance partner is Sibo, thank you, thank you, kind sir. May you dance your way into the lives of your future associates and lead them to find the music in their lives – by the way Sibo, you lost at least 10 years already and if you follow Arty’s invitation to lose the glasses – I’m sure you’ll lose another 10:-)

Lisa, you and I will be seeing a lot of each other. Each time I see you, your presence affirms the Xena/Kali strength, determination and beauty that you have what it takes and the determination to go get it… move aside guys cos nothing stands in your way. Your giant shadow, will have those following you mesmerized by your integrity and give them the confidence that you will take them unfailingly, all the way to where ever they want to go. It is strange that more than your extraordinary external beauty, it is the image of your beautiful soul that I see each time that you appear in my mind. You inspire trust and if I get lost whilst dancing to Simon’s pipe, I know you would easily get me back on track, because your light can be seen from so, so far away.

Mahindra…. ah Mahindra… what surprises do you now have in store for us? You caught the express train in Master I and saw many beautiful things, and there the giant exploded into our presence as if awakened from hibernation and you realized that you hold the power to manifest all that you want and so began creating and now… wow… what? Ha! now, the giant is rubbing his eyes and really seeing that oh… there’s more?! You bet there is more and no, you cannot go back to sleep!… see you in 3 weeks!

To all of the men in this Master IV, thank you for also showing us that you may be giants with the most softest and gentlest of hearts too. You were beautifully touching and some of your tiny gestures of tenderness had me suppressing tears filled with joy and love… a gentle caressing kiss on the top of a pregnant ladies head… or the little air kiss exchanged right at the end of an intense and competitive moment of fun… between two of the most butch, stereotypical males one can possibly put together in such circumstances. Thank you for that guys! (no I won’t share that with anyone… promise).

I wish a safe journey home to the Capetonians and to our Dutch friends – (how much can you get, when sitting outside the room? – you guys rock and I will see you in Holland next year).

Each and everyone of you has already left an imprint in my life – Maaaaan! There are times when I woke up at 3:00 in the morning with visions of you and your greatness So sometimes the Master Five journey as a trainer, is challenging but hey guys, how could I not continue, when with each internship that I do, I am again transformed and again and again… and again..? Hey Marc! Just how layers of snow are there?

For some of us our paths may never cross again, however I believe that on the contrary, we will not be able to avoid each other because the giants who left the room yesterday at the end of our Consciousness Coaching(R) Master IV training, have already left foot prints so big, that others can but follow in awe.

Always with joy and laughter, until our paths cross again,

Have a wonderful life BEING “Success in Action TM” and remember… and remember, as

Marc Steinberg Says if you don’t do it, it wont get done!

Joan Laine is currently training as a trainer as CCI. She is a Transformational Business and Life Coach, Networker and author of several articles and blogs. Her current project is the launching of a program for personal and leadership development for tweens called Nurture Your Future

Consciousness Coaching International Coaching Academy, founded by Marc Steinberg. All course materials and reference to it is protected by copyright.

Article also published on Selfgrowth.com