‘The Hen Do’ – Relationship Coaching

My Hens

‘My boyfriend loves me!’ a realization that came to one of the participants of our relationship coaching – after understanding the nature of feminine and masculine energies and the way they relate and communicate differently. We had another wonderful Hen Party at Chiltern Escapes, our weekend retreat for women, last Saturday. 

I’d like to share the scope of feminine and masculine differences we discussed with our “hens” with you. We all agreed that in order to keep our relationships happy we have to give and serve each other. A little joke like ‘divorce is 50/50, marriage is 100%’ went a long way with our conscientious ladies. We took a quiz on three levels of love to see if we are ‘takers’, ‘bargainers’ or ‘givers’ in our relationships. And most of us scored pretty good. But what happens in life – we get frustrated about giving and at the end of it is often a feeling, ‘I gave you all I had and what!?!’

We often give what we think is good for the person or the thing we’d like to receive ourselves. In reality it could be far from what your partner/spouse really needs. Although all of us have universal human needs the meaning of them varies from individual to individual. The most basic divide begins with feminine and masculine fulfilment of those needs. This polarity between the two energies creates challenge in the relationship but at the same time is a spark that ignites passion flames and keeps them going. When familiar with the truth of it it’s easier to navigate the deep and the shallow. E.g. for sex – to quote Tony Robbins – masculine needs only a place, feminine needs a reason. And this is a huge fundamental principle not to laugh about.

Feminine needs to be safe, seen, and understood. Masculine needs to be appreciated for results; accepted as a leader and left alone. If a feminine needs attention 100% of the time, the masculine hates it. So once he said ‘I do’, he thinks it’s enough for the rest of their life. But she will test his love daily if not hourly.

Masculine needs to believe that his actions will and can make feminine happy. This is the bedrock of a happy relationship; if a man doesn’t feel that his actions make his woman happy he cannot function or stay in such relationship or be fulfilled. Because the sole purpose of the masculine is to please feminine, to protect, provide and lead. That is why in our longer relationship coaching course for women we ask them to start a journal of all the very smallest things that their partners do for them that makes them happy. When a woman believes that his actions do/can make her happy her man changes even without verbal expression of appreciation by her.

The next difference is that our analytical brains connect differently to our ability to feel, receive and process sensory information. Masculine has a great disconnect between those two. The masculine will focus on one thing at a time and feel only that thing. It gives a huge advantage on goal setting and achieving but at the expense of feeling all the rest of the world. So when a man is focused on his work e.g. at home at the computer and his woman goes around in a new dress… wait for the trouble. She might feel ignored and unloved while he is just being focused on the task.

Even more so in stress, masculine needs to be alone and quiet in order to process all the thoughts and ‘archive’ them properly in their mind. Well, feminine needs to talk the stress through. So imagine two of them at the end of a stressful day, one needs to be alone and quiet the other needs to talk. So here comes the 20 minute end of the day rule: a man needs to listen to his woman patiently without advising or solving or judging her, but a woman needs to leave him alone to recoup for 20 minutes.

When tired and stressed each women and men tend to behave in a  style of the opposite energy. Imagine if naturally a feminine woman is thought to be loving, caring and gentle, when pushed to limits she becomes the opposite: withdrawn, sharp-tongued, disconnected and oh, not so soft at all (chose your own). Such things happen because of our natural hormonal build up. During any kind of harsh times, we cope due to production of stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol by the adrenal glands, but when they become depleted in a situation of prolonged and intense pressure, they start borrowing from our sex hormones.

The trick is that women and men produce the male hormone testosterone, the confidence hormone, when engaging in goal-oriented activities. In a male body the hormone production becomes a rechargeable circuit. In a female body it’s a one way street because the adrenal glands borrow from female hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. And these female hormones, unlike testosterone, are produced in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, during such ‘female’ activities as girly get togethers, pampering at the spa, napping on your own bed, knitting, sewing, embroidering, nature walking, hobbies and crafts. In other words, anything that is process and love oriented rather than deadline and results achieving.

We also discussed stages of marriage that every couple is likely to go through and a secrets of a long happy one. It’s a topic for another blog post. For younger participants of our coaching session it probably sounded like a touristic itinerary whereas older women who had experience of long-term relationship resonated with it very much.

All this was a huge revelation full of ‘aha’ moments for our ‘hen’ ladies, as I heard from them at our afternoon one-on-one consultations (during which we also laughed, hugged and even cried a bit). It seemed that each of these women took home their own discovery however big or small.

 © Dana Johnson 2015

Relationship Skills for Women

I believe relationships are at the core of our being. From early days of mother-baby then father-child, siblings connection and eventually life partners – these are the corner stones that give shape and meaning to all what we do. I lived my adult life in running away mode until my thirties and then spent a decade reconnecting with my family and started to have ‘towards’ goals. I discovered my heart finally at the begining of my fourth decade. I’m so grateful for this awakening to happen and feel that I can give so much to others to  find or heal their hearts, too. There are two ways we learn in life from personal experience which often means suffering or through wisdom that exists in the body of knowledge others could show us. So I went through both. I spent the last few years studying Vedic psychology and learning from the masters in the field of life coaching.  I begun working with women on all kinds of relationship issues.

My new web page ‘Relationship Skills for Women’ contains my current individual and group coaching courses for women who would like to be or already are in a relationship as well as information about coaching on all family concerns. Check it out below what is there for you:

Relationship Magnet – You are single and looking for a great committed long-term relationship.

Image result for single women

Learn what you can influence and control in your life in order to find, attract and keep the right person and build a stable relationship. Explore what is in your current reality and mindset that precludes you from selecting, connecting and staying with the one for you. “Relationship Magnet” is an individual or group course for up to 8 weeks.  Book a group of 6 – 10 girlfriends and up to two will have it for free. Call 07917376004 for a free 15 minute consultation. Email to arrange Skype or other web supported connection.

Relationship Bliss – You are on top of the world and happy as happy can be, so why would you need a relationship coach? Learn the secret of how to stay blissfully together even after the initial infatuation is over and everyday reality sinks in.

There are four components to every relationship – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. In the beginning it’s usually one or two that attract people to each other and if the other two or three are not aligned and present our happiness is often as fragile as a bubble in the air. Learn to master all four of them as well as skills of loving communication and confrontation, and enjoy life to the fullest. This course is available as individual or group coaching; give it as a gift to your hen party, flower girls, or girlfriends and get a discount. It’s a three-week course for a woman who wants to know exactly how to keep happiness and grow in it together with her partner. Inquire to schedule your own sessions or join a group. Call 07917376004 for a free 15 minute consultation. Email to arrange Skype or other web supported connection.

Relationship Check-up or ‘MOT’ – You’ve been and weathered together a little or a lot and are now at a stage of an open plain, m.b. even a plateau, or is that a fork on the road ahead; or your family situation is changing with new children on board, children growing or emptying the nest. Whatever the reason, something is changing or standing still without a breeze for some time.

Before boredom and casualness sets in there is a spark that could be reignited, brought back or a new flame found, fresh air let in. As a woman you hold the reins of the relationship.  It’s up to you to wish it to a completely new level. This four-week individual or group course will examine your possibilities of growing and expanding your relationship and establishing even deeper and satisfying connection. Book your group and one comes free. Call 07917376004 for a free 15 minute consultation. Email to arrange Skype or other web supported connection.

Relationship ‘SOS’ – Wait, it’s not the time to panic. It is time to take control and see clearly what works and what doesn’t and why.

Image result for unhappy couple imagesThen it’s time to learn what could be done to change what is not working. It’s time to take action and know precisely what steps to take to turn things around. It is almost never too late. It’s a question of one’s dedication, effort and belief. Come to the individual or group sessions for 6 weeks initially and reverse the situation no matter how hopeless it seems at present. Call 07917376004 for a free 15 minute consultation. Email to arrange Skype or other web supported connection.

Relationship In the Family – Are your close relations causing you pain, are you struggling to find love and understanding  with your parents, siblings or children?

Take action to bring peace and comfort in every relationship that is misunderstood or hurting and taking away from your current happiness and confidence. These vital life connections affect all other spheres of our lives, they are the blood that fills the vessels of our success and social standing and building stones of happy intimate relationship. When these primary ties are at fault, quite often our life power is drained and purpose is missing. Bring back the love or establish the connection anew with your mum, dad, brother, sister or child and your wings will soar again. This is a an 8  to 12 week individual or group course. Call 07917376004 for a free 15 minute consultation. Email myinnerpowercoach@gmail.com to arrange Skype or other web supported connection.

© Dana Johnson 2015

Female Hormones, Careers and Energies

In my previous posts I was introducing the concepts of all adults operating in feminine and masculine energies. I also wrote about three feminine energies that women posses in themselves. Without further introduction I would like to point out a connection between female hormones and women’s careers and the conundrum of “having it all”.

When stressed, our adrenal glands borrow on our sex hormones either female or male depending upon who we are, therefore our ability to sustain stress is directly connected to our womanhood or manhood respectively. If you’d like to know more about this follow Dr Yolanda Loafer’s functional medicine Daily News Paperless. I had the pleasure to work with her a few years ago to figure out all these tricks of nature.

Testosterone, the main male hormone, is produced when a person is actively doing something in a social setting achieving definite results. The more men go out and do, like kill a mammoth, the stronger their adrenal glands are and overall strength, both physical and mental power.  Of course there are limits to growth, and men confront their peak performance and then downhill slope during their life span. Female hormones are produced in a calm and loving environment. When women go out and do their active social achieving roles in a manly manner they produce testosterone too, but it cannot be utilised by female adrenal glands; instead, it stresses them. When it comes to a typical burnout (adrenal fatigue), the female adrenal glands had already heavily borrowed on the body’s progesterone/oestrogen. Temporary infertility or inability to sustain pregnancy is often a result for many professionally active and high-achieving women as their female hormones are low and not supported. Every individual has different capacity and ability to sustain stress.

When a woman relaxes and manages her work and stress levels, fertility comes back. It takes time and stillness of mind though. Other hormone related illnesses, like endomethriosis and breast diseases, are all sign of women operating in the wrong energy. All traditionally female crafts like needle work, embroidery, quilting and sewing are great facilitators of female hormone production. It’s especially beneficial for young girls to do such crafts as doing them grows and strengthen their female hormones and balances the adrenal glands. So the conundrum for women who want to play all social roles without stepping heavily into masculine territory is real and have practical health and personal life implications.

Most of us adore those amazing women among us who kept their femininity and achieved a lot in many spheres of life and are taken seriously at work. They didn’t hit the ‘glass ceiling’ and have great relationship with a long term partner in their life. What is their secret? I found an interesting answer in Vedic psychology according to which every woman possesses three separate energies that present themselves as distinct social roles, are purpose oriented and to many come with age as a rite of passage. Yet all three are always available to us at any time if we know how to connect to them or they are simply triggered by situations. In my workshops I help women to establish this connection within themselves and to take a great advantage of using these energies purposefully in their relationships and careers.

The first feminine energy encompasses beauty and fragility, vanity and seduction. Its only purpose is to give joy and attract a romantic partner and bring a new generation into the world as it’s maternal and life giving at the same time. This energy is sacred and must be kept very private in order for a woman to keep her strength and attractiveness for a long time and sustain a stable life long relationship with a committed partner. When women operate on this young and beautiful energy at workplaces, their careers end when the energy runs out. Hollywood with it’s demand for young hot beauties is the starkest example of this. But we all know there are actresses like Maryl Streep and Helen Mirren and others. Their careers only blossomed after the age. Why?

It has to do with the second feminine energy, which is all about creativity and learning. A woman operating in this energy is a patroness of arts and education, progress and innovation. This energy is great to connect to when going out to work instead of adopting the masculine model of goals and efficiency and alienating people along the way.

And the third feminine energy is maternal protective energy. It has no fear or hesitation, it’s a strong leadership energy and it’s very caring and supportive as well and could be belligerent when the need arises. On a comical side of it, an American writer coined the word momism referring to women using this energy without a limit when communicating with their partners and making children out of their husbands. But practically speaking women in managerial positions are greatly empowered if they can relate to it and utilise it at work. Among  the fifty most powerful women in business listed by Fortune Magazine, only ten are below the age of fifty. The rest are approaching their sixties or already there but all of them clearly are operating in their third feminine energy and could be called matriarchs. None presented themselves in their flighty and vain seductress powers. They obviously didn’t ‘trade on their [bottoms]’ as in Madonna’s latest statement.

Women gracefully operating in these three energies achieve great highs in all spheres of life without provoking social criticism and disapproval of which many of us complain often as we compare our CVs to those of men. The criticism and disconnect arise when women stand on masculine energy platform and become harsh and void of emotion, and then both sexes have a hard time relating to them. This ability to relate and connect to others is essentially what makes us human, and that’s why Madonna is called a superhuman. Personally I identified with her a lot when I was a young and driven woman operating in masculine and rational side of things. I had to adjust a lot though when I started my family and devoted time to child rearing and close family ties. We are mostly brought up in such a way that we strive to achieve external goals and results and it’s a hard throw back for many women to suddenly sit still and watch a little seed grow in the pot and then start all over again with a zero confidence level on top of other things. It was very uplifting for me to receive a birthday card from an older woman relative who went back to work at 40 after twelve years career break because of staying at home with her three kids and navigating it successfully among younger ‘short skirted’ colleagues. It’s actually a huge theme for a new post about going back to work.

In my practice I help women to find clarity and vision for whatever they are set off to do and recognize and manage inner blocks that holds them back and move ahead.

 © Dana Johnson 2015

‘So what is it with the ‘F’ word’, Annie Lennox and Living in Feminine Energies

On Friday my girlfriends and I went to the fifth annual Women of the World (WOW) Festival in London – blissful day it was at the Southbank – the sunshine, the vibe, the atmosphere! A celebration of womanhood. Six of us rushed in the morning from different parts of London and out of it to be on time for the opening talk with Annie Lennox. What a treat! One of my friends even had a ‘bump into the star’ moment with her at the front door! Which she ‘facebooked’ on the spot, Who wouldn’t? Sharing enhances every experience.

And Annie delivered! Among other very compelling things she said was the question, ‘What is it with the ‘F’ word?’ She related a story of her receiving The Woman of the Year Award about six years ago. She was on the stage giving a speech sharing her natural raw emotion of being touched and honoured with an audience of four hundred very powerful individuals of all walks of life – policewomen, women who overcome disabilities, rights activists. On the hype of it all she called everyone who supports feminism to stand up. And it was a real moment of truth for her when half the audience stood up and the other half remain seated. So she asked herself,

‘Why feminism became such an ‘f’ word. The word is tricky by itself.’

Maybe a better word won’t carry so much baggage as to alienate so many. As it probably sounds to a great number of people, the word feminism is in the same category as every other power grabbing ‘ism’ – capitalism, socialism, pacifism, communism, fascism – all to do with allocation of power and resources. It’s political. We don’t expect men to be any of the above just because they are men. To accept this is to relieve this social backlash of expecting every woman supporting something just because of being a woman and propelling the gender bias further instead of getting rid of it.  Also, it actually purifies the feminist cause as one consisting of women taking care of each other first of all and then spreading the equality message to include all willing.

I’m writing about this in connection with my workshop on living in feminine and masculine energy on one of the Chiltern Escapes days. During it I was showing examples of people (famous statesmen and celebrities) portraying different energy. And Annie Lennox presented a slight puzzle for me in this respect.

We looked at masculine versus feminine first. And an example of pure masculine was King Abdullah of Jordan in his commander in chief capacity training his helicopter squad. The front square body posture, direct eye contact and stern facial expression says it all.

marilyn-monroe-pink-The pure feminine example was Marilyn Monroe as I couldn’t find any better contemporary example of a celebrity stepping out in the public view in a pure feminine (vulnerable, beautiful) energy – the only purpose of this energy is romantic relationship. There are two other feminine energies though not particularly identified in Western culture nevertheless existent (follow this post). In our everyday experiences as adults we all live in a combination of different proportion of masculine and feminine energies. We had examples of women in the public eye and workplace stepping into their masculine energy predominantly (like Madonna or younger Hillary Clinton) due to their lack of emotional connection and as a matter of personal protection it’s a safer energy to go out and perform; being in the first type pure feminine energy  – in the social life isn’t such a good idea and didn’t end well neither for Marilyn nor for her contemporary icon Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Way too often women get crash-and-burned or hit the ‘glass ceiling’ in their career life simply because they are either going to work in their young beauty selves and consequently either promoted for the wrong reasons up to a point or not being taken seriously despite their expertise. Or women step into the masculine, being competent and super efficient and yet alienating everyone around them and hitting the ‘glass’ eventually.

And we concluded with images of matriarchs – women in their fully realised feminine energy – HM the Queen Elizabeth the Second and Indra Nooyi, the CEO of PepsiCo, the second largest food company in the world. But we didn’t quite solve the puzzle of what to do for all the working women in between the ages of young beauties and matriarchs. We employed a very useful coaching tool from Tara Mohr’s ‘Playing Big’ book of finding our ‘Inner Mentor’. Tara was another celebrated guest of the WOW on Friday as part of her paperback release world tour.

Well, Annie Lennox is the perfect prototype of the third feminine energy – knowledgeable, artistic and socially active, teaching and learning. Despite her age I won’t place her in the matriarch category and she certainly is not a flirtatious beauty even as her younger self she didn’t step out as one. But she is beautiful, emotional, connected to people, artistic (of-course!) and engaged, she exudes not the power and serenity of the matriarch but the kind of energy many women in different generations could easily relate to – live, vibrant and passionate. She shares her art, experience and knowledge and is constantly learning herself! She has a certain percentage of masculinity (she certainly ‘played’ with it during her long enigmatic career). But in the end this is the type of feminine energy that is predisposed for social life as well as one of the matriarch.

The trick for women is to be flexible in these three energies and preserve the young beauty exclusively for romantic relationships and utilise the artistic-knowledgeable and protective- maternal types in all other areas of life. It may sound all too regimented and unrealistic but it has the positives of preserving intimate relationships and leading a healthy home and active social life. And I can say that my five girlfriends who went to this WOW day are such amazing women.

So as Annie says it, ‘One can be a lipstick loving, high heeled feminist,’ and I’m not afraid of the word.

8th of March is celebrated as International Women’s Rights Day and the eight days of WOW from March 1- 8 is such a powerful and delightful project giving everyone an opportunity in Nelson Mandella’s words, Annie reminded us of, to be ‘a part of the solution not the problem.’

As a life coach working with women I help them identify the three distinct feminine energies in themselves and utilize them on a daily basis to achieve healthier, more balanced and conscious living which ever path they chose not waiting for a major crash like Arianna Huffington. The fears, uncertainties and stresses of being intimate in relationship and moving ahead in career and social life are greatly reduced and often disappear when women find these powers in themselves and use them appropriately.

© Dana Johnson 2015