January 19, 2019Erin Nicole
I woke up this morning to the sound of pouring down rain. Ugh. I moved away from Seattle to get away from the rain. I was going to run a long and much needed route this morning. I could run with my raincoat…. But then I’d get all sweaty…. Nah
I opted to do some Yoga with Adriene on Youtube instead. I took a few extra 15 minutes afterwards and meditated on my thoughts. It felt like it was only a few moments..
The Erin 5 years ago would not have been able to sit still for 1 minute let alone think on nothing for 15 minutes….
But I decided to give meditation more intentional effort in the last couple years….
When I worked in the PNW Psychiatric Hospital, I co-lead a group on Mindfulness led by a Licensed Mental Health Therapist. She incorporated this meditation practice into every active treatment group at the beginning and end of the group for about 10 minutes each.
At the beginning, it was a struggle for me to sit still in my thoughts but being in front of my patients, I wanted to lead a good example…
After about 2 weeks of co-leading Mindfulness, I could feel a difference on the weekend when I didn’t meditate. Almost like I was missing something in my day. So I started practicing it daily for a few minutes to help me stay calm as I had a lot of ish going on in my personal life…
My co-leader brought some scientific papers for the group to read on the benefits of Mindfulness meditation practice one day. We discovered that meditation actually increases gray matter in the brain and stimulates your brain to be more proactive instead of reactive. It helps your brain to stay calm despite being in a storm of chaos (as many of my patients were dealing with).
I knew there was a TON of scientific papers on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, but knowing and doing do not always align…
After this experience, I wanted to incorporate meditation into more aspects of my life and help create opportunities for others to experience its power also..
Later in the term I asked my supervisor if I could create a course for my patients by incorporating my background and passion (exercise/fitness) and psychotherapy (journaling/group discussion). She approved but warned me that the patients weren’t that interested in exercising and it would probably be a major struggle to teach…
I asked my colleague that taught the mindfulness course to join me in facilitating the course. She agreed and even has a background in yoga and latin dance so we incorporated some of her background in the program. I called the course Move Happy.
I outlined topics related to happiness and helping empower the individual to be proactive towards their own happiness (whatever that would mean for them). I had the topics and content overview evaluated by my peers (psychologists, mental health therapists, occupational therapists, and recreational therapists). I created my own psychological questionnaire on happiness and fitness questionnaire so we could measure the patients progress and so they would self rate their own progress throughout the program. The psychological questionnaire included both likert-style questions (with a self rating scale 1-5) and open ended questions so patients could give me a better picture on their own perspective of their happiness levels. We measured them pre-mid-post to all volunteering patients.
We had 18 patients sign up for the first round and increased the class cap for a couple more…
For the first round of Move Happy we included two weeks on mindfulness journaling and group discussion along with working out together the other half of the session 4 days a week…
I am happy to report that most patients self reported improved levels of happiness AND improved fitness. My program was a success! Some patients did not get to complete the course because they successfully were discharged from the hospital. Those that stayed showed up just about every day excited to be there. I could feel a sense of trust building over the course of the first few weeks as they began to understand the routine…
By the second round of Move Happy we incorporated some yoga-style stretches throughout and even had patients that participated in the first round take on leadership roles (like writing the journal topic page on the white board, and helping set up space for the workout session time)….
By the third round of Move Happy we added meditation at the end of each session and had 2 patients that had participated in every round of Move Happy take on even bigger leadership roles prior to its start and started marketing the program to other halls during their fresh air breaks without me asking btw 😉 ….
I know meditation helped me to improve the course for my patients throughout… as well as my patients feedback at the end of each 16-week term…
TIP #1: Meditation can inspire creativity
Later in the year the hospital has a tradition of doing an end of the summer carnival for the patients outside. Half the hospital attends in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. There were about 12-15 different stations including: water balloon toss, a live rock band (led by the staff), karaoke, face painting, horseshoe, and more. Patients got to choose where to go and were mingling throughout. I was volunteering at the karaoke stand because y’all know I love to SING!…
A couple of patients approached me that I never met in my life. They said, “hey aren’t you the Move Happy gal?”
Me: “Uhh…. yeah I am. How’d you hear about it?”
Patients: “We heard about it from _________ who’s in your group. We wish we lived in your hall so we could take it too. They said it’s really fun and you don’t force them to exercise but make it so they want to.”
Me: “Well thank you for letting me know. Maybe I should write it out so I can share it with your instructors.”
Patients: “YES You definitely should!”
Wow such a humbling and heart warming thing to hear…
TIP #2: Practicing meditation can positively influence others that aren’t even directly connected to you!
I told my supervisor what happened the next morning before our morning report meeting. She agreed and said…
“Erin I didn’t think the patients would be that into Move Happy, not because I didn’t think you’re capable, but because they always complain about exercising anytime someone teaches a workout group for the past 30+ years I’ve been working here. I have heard from enough of the staff and patients how much they enjoy your Move Happy group. I think you should share it with other hospitals.”
Right around that time my friend Jason encouraged me to start a life coaching business and I had just released my first book on positive affirmations for the whole life. I wasn’t super clear on what kind of life coach I wanted to be but knew I wanted to help people…
Through the process of recreating the program for others to facilitate to their audiences and TONS of meditation, I found clarity…
TIP #3: Meditation can bring clarity on your purpose.
I actually went back to my roots of who I am as a person and the gifts I’ve been given…
I love bringing people together and building community. I have a huge passion for fitness to improve your health, and intentionally working to keep a positive mindset daily….
Thus Move Happy was more than just a 16 week program…. it was the mission for my brand.
During the 3rd round of the program I was offered a promotion in another department to be the head of an entire ward for their psychological needs (despite being told my Masters w/o licensure would not get me the position). I accepted the promotion and had to miss a couple days here and there for training from the gal that was moving to her promoted position…
One of my colleagues in the active treatment hall covered for my Move Happy group. She approached me one day and thanked me for creating such a fun course. She said, “I will sub for you any day. The patients know exactly what to do, they openly share about the topics and are respectful of their peers, and they really enjoy getting to exercise outside as do I after a long day of working!”
I knew I had created a duplicatable program that didn’t need me as a facilitator…
After we completed the training and she went on a week of vacation, then I took my vacation, I came back to find out the state government had voted against mental health and the new hall that was being built for high risk patients had to be shut down…..
I sadly had to leave the hospital as I needed to make more income to cover my expenses…
I got a new day job and promised myself I would work daily on this brand and practice meditation daily as it had already helped me to help others…
When recreating the Move Happy Facilitator Program, I knew from my background in psychology and behavior change that the best way to inspire someone to follow your example is to demonstrate live in person or second best is by video in multiple angles (according to world famous psychologist Alfred Bandura). I knew I needed to create video demonstrations of the workouts but didn’t have any connections yet…
I meditated and started attending networking events and asking friends on social media.
Then one day I met someone that used to film videos for Macklemore and loved my concept….
He agreed to film my video demos at a really good rate because he could see how passionate I was and he wasn’t in it for the money. I feel so honored that he did the entire 60+ video demo recording and editing at such a fraction of his normal rate.
I asked him why he was so willing to help me and he said, “I believe in what you’re doing and wanting to help others. I would love to be a part of the foundation of your Move Happy brand in transforming lives.”
WOW. What an honor. If you’re needing any technology services I highly recommend him. You can reach him here.
TIP #4: Meditation can manifest the people you need into your life.
When I wasn’t working my sales job, I was filming the workout demonstration videos and meditating on the next direction of my Move Happy brand…
I knew I needed to protect the programs and my writing so I knew I need to apply for a Trademark and copyright all the materials…
I looked on the US Trademark website and searched and searched… man is it a process without a lawyer! I didn’t have the thousands of $$ to pay a lawyer so I decided if God put this dream into my heart then he would provide me enough clarity to apply for the right one in the right way. You see if you apply but fill out the form incorrectly, you forfeit the $400 approximately that you submit and you also do not get your brand trademarked…
So I meditated and meditated and meditated… Paid the fee, sent in the form, waited 6 months for approval, then another 6 months for full registration… and am the owner of the trademark Move Happy®. I legally can require all other businesses in the USA to be removed from advertising on social media but that’s not in my value system nor in alignment with my company so I happily leave them be as I hope others will respect my hard work towards improving the treatment of people with mental illness.
TIP #6: Meditation helps you focus on the key elements.
And then I waited…
They said it takes about 90 days to hear back after submission…
Tip #7: Meditation helps you be patient.
About 6 months later to be exact, after I had moved myself across the US, I got a phone call from the United States Patent and Trademark Office Lawyer. I had met all the requirements and they just needed to make a couple minor adjustments! Praise the Lord!
A couple weeks before the opportunity to move came to fruition, I received an email about releasing money blocks to increase my income…
I decided to go for it! I signed up for the online course with the NY Times Best selling author of Lucky Bitch, Denise Duffield-Thomas. I LOVED the bootcamp course and immediately started manifesting ideas to increase my income and increase my influence right now with my brand without any added income yet…
During my move across the country I got a job working remotely as a health coach and took a major pay cut. I knew I needed a change of environment from the previous job so I accepted the position. Once I got settled I asked if they had any sales positions within the company because the product was good and I knew I’d sell the heck out of it (and make more funds to support my business). They sadly said there were no sales positions and that if I wanted to make more income, I’d have to seek employment elsewhere….
So I prayed and meditated and did some EFT “Tapping” that I learned from Denise’s course.
I felt in my heart that job was a great thing at the time during my move and served its purpose.
I knew my dreams were bigger and my worth was greater than an hourly paid position. Plus with more income I can help more people…
Then I started applying for sales positions in the new area…
I interviewed with probably 15 places and was offered every single job I applied for (except 1 which I know was a blessing anyway). Talk about #Manifesting
I did some more meditating and decided to accept a position that offered a steady base plus commissions and bonuses in the medical sales industry…
With no prior background in this industry I was a little nervous but decided I have never failed at anything I set my full intention towards. With my new mindset skills from Denise’s course and my intention to listen to my heart I knew I would be successful at the job.
I stayed working at the company for a while and found out from a manager that wasn’t my direct management that I was the top sales person for the evening shift. I had asked to be moved to the day shift as the day shift sales people made 5x more than me. I was told by my regional sales director, give me 30 days. I said okay and waited 30 days. She changed her mind as they got bought out and I found out there were some sales people breaking federal laws by calling elderly people and saying they were eligible for their medical supplies knowing full well they weren’t eligible. I did not have to think twice. I left and never came back. No one disrespects the elderly that are LOW INCOME. Unacceptable. I knew God would open an opportunity for me elsewhere and drove for Lyft between jobs to help cover my rent and essentials.
When I am not working the day job I am focused on deeper VIP programs for professionals that want to take my content to the next level as a facilitator. [Updated Dec 2020 – We are literally in process of being offered WHITE PAPERS to do an empirical study on MOVE HAPPY®. Awaiting contract paperwork with a non profit potential partner and/or government support through my networking with Retired US Veterans and 1st Responders. All Glory to God for the betterment in treating people of all backgrounds with the BEST treatment possible that struggle with mental illness. Check out the program details below and email me if you want access come Q1 2021].
Move Happy Elite Leader VIPs get: (click here for video explanation)
- Full access to The Move Happy Facilitator Program (16-week program and 60+ video demos).
- Specialized training on the ordering of exercise and proper form.
- Brief training on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
- 5 One-on-One 30minute sessions with Me to personalize the program to your audience.
- At your own pace videos and worksheets to breakdown the weekly topics of happiness on your schedule.
- Training on proper test administration (so you’re measuring what you’re intending to measure) for both the psychological and fitness testing.
- Move Happy Coaching Certificate of Completion (once course is completed) and optional Continuing Education Credits through your governing agency.
BONUS:
- Specialized trainings in a variety of meditation styles
- Exclusive lifetime access to the Private Facebook Group with other leaders in the fitness and mental health industry to keep you up to date professionally
- Move Happy merch and more
- Live Facebook Trainings
From all the schooling I have done (Masters in Exercise and Sport Psychology, Bachelors of Arts in Physical Education With K-12 Certification, and American College of Sports Medicine Group Fitness Certification) and the 13 years in the fitness industry with ages ranging from 4 to 84yrs I could easily charge $9,999 for this lifetime access course.
I don’t want to limit it to just those with disposable income. So I am offering a special pre launch to my early supporters.
I am diving deep with you and have limited time available for the one-on-one private sessions that I normally charge $75/hr for.
I have only 5 spots available to the first serious about building community, improving fitness and positively influencing mindsets.
If you’re thinking, man what if it’s not the course for me?
You won’t regret this decision. Believe me.
Those that sign up Now will have exclusive access to new programs and products first at discounted rates and receive random giveaways for supporting The Move Happy Movement.
To sign up for the Elite Leadership Online Course, go here.
I am SO excited to work with you!
As always, I love you all and don’t forget to tell someone you love them today…
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