I was getting coaching from a man named Ken Porter through Jack Canfield Coaching. Within the first minute of the conversation, Ken told me that he’d reviewed my paperwork (lots of Q & A’s) and that he wanted to ask me something-he said, “you’re a really good person, aren’t you?” It took me aback a little bit. “how do you know?” I asked . He said, “I’ve always had this ability, kind of lie a sixth sense, about people. I can just tell by your and answers on the forms.” He said that I needed to tune into that more and that he could tell this would be freeing for me. We did some work on turning inward and it lifted me to a new level. The reason that I’d entered the coaching program is that I knew I wanted to write and to help people at that point. I had been saying the same things over and over to people. It was time to write it down so that those who couldn’t see me in therapy could benefit from the lesson I’d learned.

And how did the idea take shape?
I didn’t now what I was going to write about. Ken encouraged me to get very quiet and to just tune in, paying attention to whatever cam to me. I got an image of myself walking along a forest path with a group of folks, I was hosting a workshop of some sort, Id didn’t know what it could mean at the time, but it clarified this desire more for me. I realized that this process wasn’t really new to me. I had frequently turned inward for answers at various turning points in my life. Then it hit me-I would write about being true to oneself and the loving gentle voice inside that guides us to do this. How was it that we each had this loving this voice inside-you could call it inner guidance-and how could we actually use it to help us to be true to ourselves?
What was your first step?
My first step was to meditate and then simply ask myself a question: What are the titles of the chapters of my book. I wrote down all of the titles without judgment then, I committed to writing 5 pages a day until I had written a manuscript. As I wrote, I went back to this process of tuning into my inner guidance, over and over again. I also use REBT to help me shift my mood so that I could use this guidance and to help me to make sense of the information I was tapping into. 6 months later, I had a 400 page manuscript, Turned out that the whole thing changed into my short paperback of less than 100 pages after I pitched it to a publisher.
 
3. What was the biggest challenge for you in writing your book?
At one point, I got some very negative feedback on the manuscript. I had to separate my ego from the work. This was a big deal and a good growth experience. It helped me to get more feedback and keep working toward a clear and solid work.
 
4. What was the biggest joy in writing your book?
I loved the fact that as I wrote, my ideas would crystallize and solidify. Examining various angles of what I had to say opened me up to more of what was inside. It also helped me to become a more confident speaker, I felt energized by the creative process as well. It became a joyous time that I looked forward to each morning-my “me” time.
 
5. What is the most important thing message you would like to convey to individuals who to choose to read “The Power of Inner Guidance?”
I would simply like to encourage people to honor their inclinations, trust themselves and work daily to be true themselves. I also believe that it is important to honor others in the process. I’m not big on people being true to themselves unethically. For example, if you have a child, don’t just abandon them to go live out your dream. Do what you want ethically-which means that you honor the prior commitment. If you are a parent, your prior commitment is to parenting, so the fun stuff has to work around your child’s needs. This applies to other commitments as well.
 
6. Are you going to have an audio book and/or online course available and if so when?
Thanks for suggesting this. I would love to do this if there is an interest; I have a free online newsletter called insourcing. People can sign up for it at www.myinnerguide.com this provides an opportunity for my readers to tell me what they want from me. If all goes well, this is something that I will pursue and develop soon.
 
7. In your book refer to REBT (rational emotional behavior therapy) and how by following the steps of smart inner guidance which is a combination of inner guidance and rational thinking an individual can begin to live a fulfilling life. How does this process differ from the other self help books available today?
First of all, I admire Authors who are trying to help people. So it is not my intent to put down the works of others. However, my book differs because it combines the intuitive with the logical. I do this by showing you how to use your inner guidance and how to employ REBT. It is designed to help teach people how to live with themselves as they tap into their inner guidance, and how to make saner decisions in the process.
 
8. Your Bad Mood Box is a wonderful tool for shifting into a better feeling space. How did you come up with idea?
This is a medication of the work of Albert Ellis; I’m simply expanding upon it with my initial 3 question and changes in some of the phrasing of questions. Dr. Ellis was hugely influential in my thinking.
 
9. What do you see for yourself in the future? What projects do you have in the works?
In the future, I hope that this book will reach those folks who really need it. I plan on taking this book to the world more as the Fall approaches. I’ve just written the manuscript for an REBT based workbook, I hope to have that available soon. I’ve recently had thoughts about a sequel to Power of Inner Guidance, which I think I might make totally metaphysical because a lot of people tell me that the love the 2 brothers. So, I’m thinking about where I want to take these brothers and what they can teach us all.
 
10. What is your definition of true success and living a fulfilling life?
True success, to me, is living a life that embodies your values; it is not based in material, though various forms of wealth are often an offspring of it. Living a fulfilling life, in my opinion, is living a life based upon learning, honoring your Higher Self, loving others, sharing laughter, showing commitment to that which you love doing, giving charity, demonstrating patience, developing empathy, ongoing learning, connection and on it goes. The reason that it goes on is because life is a full and enormous process which escapes definition. However, I think that embracing the joy already in your life through attending to your own inner guidance is a key to experiencing true fulfillment. As you expand your awareness to that which is true for you, I believe you will find (and maintain) the excitement and exuberance of walking upon your path!