Linda’s Profile

my Faith

First Name and Last initial: Linda F

Tell me what you think of the word faith?: Believing without seeing, or confidence that something will come to pass before it actually does. What do I think of the word faith? I think it is something that is absolutely necessary to go through life with any semblance of hope for a life that is fulfilled, joyful and peaceful.

Are there limits to your faith?: Sometimes there are limits (temporarily) and sometimes there aren't.

Explain in details please.: What I mean by that is sometimes there are instances where I have faith and know that God will bring about the right outcome. There are other times when I tend to want to be in charge, find a solution, come up with a plan B, C, D and so on. But I do eventually get to the point where I realize I don't need to be in control and I turn it over to God. Oftentimes it takes me too long to get to that point, but I've gotten a bit better over time. Still have a ways to go.

On a scale of 1-10, how faithful are you?: 7

Does your definition of "Faith" match your demonstration of "Faith"?: Sometimes, but not always.

Define "Faith" for me?: Okay, so if I'm correct, this is where I should put what I put for the first question. Believing without seeing, or confidence that something will come to pass before it actually does.

Where does your definition of "faith" stop lining up with your demonstration of "Faith"?: My faith waivers, and sometimes takes too long to come into play. I need to know at the start that God knows the outcome and has my best interest in mind.

When have you struggled with your faith in the past?: Three and a half years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. My lack of faith was not that I would be cancer free at some point, but my lack of faith was in the pain I endured during the process. It was hard to see a time when I wouldn't be in pain, or when I would be able to eat normally again.

How did you overcome whatever it was?: It wasn't really me--it was God who allowed me to go through the healing process and start to see progress. When I stopped thinking about the pain and starting talking to God, things started to change.

Is your lack of faith tied to what you can't do or what God can't do? How?: With what I can't do. God can do anything!

Give me some evidence of what God can do that you can't do on your own.: Here I am, 3 1/2 years later, cancer free and healthy. I didn't have to have chemo or radiation. I had the best surgeon in the WORLD for the type of cancer I had. Only God could orchestrate that!

Why do you struggle knowing what God can do?: I think not being close enough to Him comes into play.

Explain in details please.: There are some older ladies at my church (older than me!) that have been through all kinds of things. But they are always smiling and always talking about the goodness of God. You can sense their closeness to God just by the way they talk and act. You know they are close to God and that their faith is boundless and unmovable. That's how I want to be.

What is your favorite scripture related to faith?: The one I know best is,' faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

Why is this text your favorite?: It's my favorite because it's the one that comes to mind when I feel my faith wavering.

Is there anything I can do to help you increase your faith?: I think you're already doing it. This coaching experience is perfect to help reveal the areas where work is needed. Just by answering the questions it makes me realize how important it is to have faith. I was listening to Pastor Paul Shepherd today and he was talking about how God brings people, situations, etc., into our lives to help us grow. I have to think that's why I came across your radio show!

My Priorities

First Name and Last Initial: Linda F

I highlight a few things that you mentioned in your questionnaire. Please tell me if you see anything that's incorrect.: No, everything is right on point.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Name 2 areas that you'd like to focus on first.: I'm going to go with space/quiet time with God, and getting more balance. Got my book in the mail today. Can't wait to start reading.

Commitment

First Name and Last initial: Linda F

Tell me what you think of the word commitment?: Determined to follow through to completion, or to stay consistent without giving up.

Are there limits?: Only the limits we put on ourselves

One a scale of 1-10, how committed are you to this journey?: 9

Explain in details please.: My intention is to complete this project, but my goal is to follow through on what I learn. Follow through is usually my biggest problem.

PRE-WORKSHOP SURVEY

Name: Linda Fairley

Phone: (708) 951-3310

How did you hear about this ONLINE workshop?: On Felisha's radio show

Email Address: linda.jpt@gmail.com

Why did you say "Yes!" to this workshop?: There are so many things I want to do and so much I want to become. I want God to be proud of me! I want to become more and better, and I want to be better for others. Sometimes I feel like I'm too old, but I know it's never too late to grow, expand, learn, teach.

What do you hope to get out of this workshop?: A closer relationship with God and the ability to hear His voice more clearly. Most importantly, to act on what I hear. I think once that happens, everything else will fall into place.

What do you think is keeping you from having that already?: I've always been an introvert. I'm shy, and I guess I'm a perfectionist to some degree. I have 2 issues (well, probably more, but 2 main ones, I think). I have a hard time doing things I should be doing because of my shyness. I tend to avoid situations where Ithe attention is on me, or where I have to interact with people I don't know. The other is that I think I'm a perfectionist of sorts, meaning that I want the outcome in situations to be "perfect" (or what I "think" is perfect), or I don't do anything at all because I feel it won't be perfect. That leads to procrastination, which is big in my life. I have gotten a little better over the years, but only because at 67 I'm a bit more aggressive and outgoing than I was years ago, but

What fears do you need to face?: The fear of failure! The fear of not fulfilling the purpose God has for me! The feeling of not finding what that purpose is!

If failure wasn't an option, what would you do differently?: I would confront issues more quickly and not keep things bottled up inside me. I would try more things without worrying about the outcome. I would be the person I know I could be, and not the person I am. I would end each day with a smile for what I've accomplished rather than thinking about all the things I should have done and didn't do.

What's on your mind right now that you don't want anybody to know about?: I sometimes struggle with depression. It usually only lasts for a couple of days, and then I self-talk myself out of it. During those times I don't wan't to do anything but sleep. Either I'm always trying to do too much, or I don't want to do anything at all. I often have no balance in my life.

What do you think are your gifts? What are you good at?: I've always thought myself to be a jack of all trades and master of none. I think I have many gifts, but I don't always think I'm good at them. I think I could be good, but that's where the perfection things comes into play. I don't do a lot of things because I feel like I won't be good enough. That being said, I play piano, I sing, I'm a great listener, I come up with business ideas and inventions (that I don't pursue), I'm good at coming up with options in situations.

What about your life can use some work? What are you working on improving?: I want to improve my health. I guess I'm relatively healthy. I'm a 3 1/2 year cancer survivor. My health is good on paper (tests and such), but I don't exercise regularly, I don't eat right, I have aches and pains that I'm sure could be helped with exercise and better eating. I know I'm not a kid anymore, but there are still things I can do to take better care of myself so I'd feel better. I'm tired a lot. I need to work on procrastination, because if I could get past that, much of what can use work in my life would improve.

What's in your past that bothers you?: Pretty much the only thing that bothers me is that I feel like I should be closer to knowing what I want to be "when I grow up." There are a lot of things that I've had regrets about, but at this point realize that I can't change the past, and many of those experiences got me to this point. For example, it used to bother me that I had a bad first marriage and didn't get out sooner, that I wish I had been a better mother, that I would have continued to go to school to be a psychologist, but I've gotten past those things bothering me. I sometimes wish I had done things differently, but I don't dwell on it.

What's great about your past that you believe you can use in the future?: My parents were older when I was born. My mom was 45 and my dad was 50. I guess I was their little miracle baby. They exposed me to everything they could. Music lessons, skating lessons, concerts, travel, and on and on. I didn't appreciate much of it at the time (shyness and performance anxiety always came into play), but now I'm grateful. I have a love for many things. All kinds of music from classical to country, I love to read, I have a curious mind--always want to learn, always want to do something new. I believe that can help me in various areas in my life. I guess I would say, life is a sponge--soak it up!

What haunts you about your past?: Again, at this point nothing really haunts me. I'm past the haunt stage. I wish I have made different choices sometimes, or that things had worked out differently, but I don't think I'm haunted by anothing.

What's broken in your life? What do you think you need to fix?: I'm going to say I have some fractures--not breaks. I need to be open to the leading of God and trust that He is going to bring the people and situations into my life to help me realize and become what He wants me to be. As this happens I'll better understand what's broken (fractured), and what needs to be fixed, and how to fix it.

Who or what have you held responsible for your problems and concerns?: I've held people responsible in the past (first husband, people who I felt stood in the way of my business growing or succeeding), but I'm way past that. The only person I hold responsible now is myself.

What do you struggle having time for?: Quiet time with God, exercise, completing tasks.

What's amazing about where you are right now?: I guess the amazing thing is that God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, family, home, etc., and continues to bless me. He's showing me that He's not done with me yet and that I still have a lot to offer.

What would you like to change?: My approach to life. I don't think you should always blurt out what you think, or jump into a project without thinking, but I want to be more open to trying and doing things, and not have that fear of failure stopping me.

Tell me what's your vision for the future?: That's hard--I don't have a specific vision right now, other than to see myself become more self-confident, effective, powerful (not powerful in a "quest for power" kind of way, but more vibrant and relevant. I want to make a difference.

How possible do you think your vision is?: All things are possible--only believe :) (and act!)

Who do you resent? Why?: I don't resent anyone. If I do, it's so deep in my subconscious that when I think about it, nothing comes to the surface.

Whose in your inner circle? Truthfully how do they influence you?: My husband is pretty much the only person in my inner circle. I have many friends and acquaintances, but not really any close friends. To be honest, I feel like women tend to be gossipy, and quick to talk about each other behind the person's back. Men are pretty much the same. I do have one friend that I can talk to, but she doesn't know anybody else that I know, and I don't know anybody else that she knows. We email each other probably once a month, take to each other every few months, and get together probably a couple of times a year. That seems to work for us. She lives about an hour drive from me. I have another friend who was my piano teacher years ago. We also stay in touch through email and phone calls, and we both love concerts and the opera. We go to the CSO and Lyric Opera rather frequently. My third friend was a grad student when I worked at Loyola University. We became close and still keep in touch. None of these are people that I'm in contact with often. I'm most comfortable alone or with my husband. Don't know if that's good or bad.

Where do you need more balance in your life? Do you have space for God, family, work, education & self-improvement? What's mission? etc.: Everywhere! Never seems to be enough hours in my day, but I know that's because I'm not using my time wisely.