Photos from My Life Rulz's post

Hey friends. Just letting you know that on Monday 13th I will be drawing out 3 prize winners! 1. The winner of the Moods and Emotions CD's from those who have 'liked and shared' and put their name in the comment box. 2. The winner of a My Life Rulz Family Pack (Valued at $70 plus $15 P & P) for any donation to our Uganda Campaign. 3. The winner of 3 Counselling Appointments with me for anyone who has donated more than $90 to our Uganda Campaign. So, you have the weekend to decide if you would like to go in Monday's draws. Good luck and have a good weekend.

Timeline Photos

Don't forget that I speak at Mum's groups, MOPS groups, church groups, schools, parent evenings and most other places I get an invite. I have around 40 topics I can offer to equip people for the challenges life brings.

Poster Book Winner

#magisto drawing out the winner of the Poster Book

10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12

I have 14 names so far to win the Poster Book (in previous post) at the end of the week. You still have time to 'like and share' (make sure you write your name) to win. In the meantime, I found this short, sharp, and informative article very helpful. I know it is such a struggle to keep children away from technology, especially as they observe our connection to it. Please read but don't beat yourself up - just get informed.

Photos from My Life Rulz's post

Time for a GIVE AWAY. I wonder how many of you remember the original look of My Life Rulz? I have an A3 (which folds out to A2) full colour Poster Book to give away. All you need to do is click 'like' and 'share' and write your name in the comment box so it will go into the bag. I will wrap and post to the winner on Friday 3rd March. These are fantastic for the toilet door because they get read over and over and over, which is exactly how renewing stinking thinking with truth works. I was talking to a young client the other day and she said she only needed two of the 20 truth coaches I had given her to turn a corner. I love hearing stories like that. The Poster Book is bright, colourful, heavy duty and durable. Be in to win as they say.

Hey guys, there are only 9 people in the draw for the My Life Rulz Family Pack and only 3 in the draw for the 3 free counselling appointments. Be in to WIN!

MOPS Wynnum

I am looking forward to another great morning with mums and bubs.

Photos from My Life Rulz's post

In less than 6 weeks I will be in Uganda again running my second, 2 week Living Wisdom School. I am appealing to you to consider making a donation to help in the sponsorship of those who would love to attend. Your donation will make is possible for someone's 'once in lifetime chance' to attend. ANYONE who donates goes into the draw to win a My Life Rulz Family Pack which retails for $70 plus P & P. Anyone who donates more than $90 will go into the draw to receive 3 Counselling Sessions with me (Jo Koskela) valued at $270.00. Just click below to donate NOW. http://livingwisdom.com.au/coming-events/

Timeline Photos

I was so encouraged by the number of people who found the post about the value of listening. Once we have listened and validated then we can discover the reassurance, insight, skill or challenge the child may need. Here is a testimony from a friend who knows the power of a truth coach and helped a child overcome a big fear. Recently, I was ministering to a group of primary aged children. During an activity involving walking through a pit of balloons, I noticed a child sitting on the sidelines holding her hands over her ears. After questioning other adults who were present, I discovered that this child has always been very frightened of the noise of bursting balloons and had been removed from the game to avoid feeling distressed. I listened and then questioned this little girl to help her to discover for herself that if a balloon did burst in the game then it would not actually hurt her but would just make her feel a bit uncomfortable. As each of her team members walked through the challenging pit of balloons I quietly repeated the truth coach I had given her… which was, “A balloon bursting will not hurt me it will just make me feel uncomfortable.” After a period of time where she was thinking through this concept I told her that I thought she would be very brave if she could face what scared her and get some points for her team. The next time I turned to her she was no longer sitting on the sidelines… she had actually lined up ready to go through the balloon pit. She did the challenge while saying her truth coach out loud with each step she took. She got through and as a bonus she didn’t even bust a balloon! She was so proud of herself and I was once again totally convinced of the power that Living Wisdom truth can have in our lives. It is my prayer that the next time this child is faced with a balloon, her truth coach will come back into her mind and she will continue to overcome this fear in her life.

Timeline Photos

In our relationships nearly EVERYTHING should begin with listening. Giving someone the gift of being heard is priceless. You will be pleasantly shocked and surprised how quickly you can put out a fire of heated emotions in your child if you will learn to listen first. Listen before advice, before correcting, before challenging. I have written benefits and 'rulz' for listening below. I dare you to practice with your child - it is much harder than it sounds but the by-product is gold. Some valuable benefits of listening are:- • Listening is the platform for negotiating • Listening maintains trust • Listening re-builds damaged trust • Listening helps drain resentment • Listening stops us becoming selfish and self-referential • Listening reassures, brings hope and understanding Rulz for listening well are:- - NO justifying. “But it is because of this or because of that, blah, blah, blah”. - NO persuading to my way of thinking or reasoning (at this stage). - NO shutting them down or talking over the top of the person - LOTS of coming off the defensive and not taking their pain or ‘complaints’ personally. - LOTS of repeating back and paraphrasing in your own words what you think they have said. - LOTS of validating their feelings regardless of how ‘off’ you think they are. - THIS is about learning to walk in their shoes, feel it from their perspective, whether it is right or wrong.