LIFE COACHING FOR LIVING
FROM THE INSIDE OUT

"Through my work with Mandy I am learning about my needs, my emotions, my values and myself. Mandy has challenged me to get to know the real me and ALL of me. I have learned how to bring compassion and acceptance to myself, have more self confidence in the decisions I make and how to find balance in my own personal life. I have learned to be more aware and attentive to what is going on in my life and how to respond rather than to react. Mandy provides a comfortable, safe and non-judgmental environment where I can be completely open and honest in my journey of better understanding who I am and what is important to me."
EM, Chapel Hill, NC

About Mandy Beard:

Typically, the "About a Person" page on a website is designed to give readers an idea of who this person is and what qualifies them to do what they are doing. I am attempting to do just this -- in my own format. Below are my formal qualifications (some of which I am shy to include) as well as informal reasons for why I feel qualified to help others. In addition to reading on, I hope that you will reach beyond the words of this page to "get to know me" through a conversation.

I have the following formal and external qualifications that encourage me to walk the path of Life Coach, Grief Counselor and Beginning Meditation Coach:

• M.Ed. in Human Resources Development from Vanderbilt University
• Management and leadership consulting, training design, development and delivery experience for a major corporation
• Vice President of Human Resources and Customer Relations for start up technology company
• Founder and Executive Director of Girls on the Run of the Triangle, Inc.
• Certified Life Coach from the Institute for Life Coach Training; certification expected in June 2008
• Member of the International Coaches Federation
• Grief Counseling Certification through the American Academy of Grief Counselors and the American Institute of Health Care Professionals expected in August 2008
• In 2005, I was recognized as one of the Triangle's most accomplished women and an outstanding leader through the YWCA Academy of Women
• Graduate of several Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program courses from Duke Integrative Medicine

Now for the less formal and internal reasons why I feel qualified to walk the path of Life Coach, Grief Counselor and Beginning Meditation Coach:

• I have developed solid skills for listening deeply and being present with people.
• My Life Coach Certification training has provided me with many skills and techniques for creating a safe, warm and encouraging space for exploration, acceptance, growth and accountability.
• I am a self help book "junkie" and have spent a great deal of my life energy reading and understanding people and the complexity of life.
• I have cultivated a strong sense of inner voice through years of meditation, silent retreats, therapy and mindfulness study.
• I have had a regular meditation practice for many years and I am committed to my exercise and health regimen.
• I have my own experience with loss, grief and the fragility of life as my husband died suddenly in 2001 and a month later I gave birth to our child.
• I have had experience integrating new and different identities that result from going through several major life changes.
• My own experience with maintaining balance as well as my previous work experience keeps me grounded in reality.
• I trust my intuition.
• I know that life is messy and at times we need help seeing from a different perspective.
• I know that living from my true place has brought me more joy, peace and meaning than I ever could have imagined. I also know how difficult it can be to stay on my own path and walk with confidence. I know that something in me keeps encouraging me to walk this path and to use my experience to help others.

My Favorite Books:

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron

Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jack Kornfield