Lisa Nickel Coaching

08/19/2026

Does this resonate with you? There are 12 days remaining in August. What will you do end the month differently than you started it?

I just may go a little crazy and take this all the way through 2026 and right on into 2027!
✌️❤️✨

08/17/2026

It's always a thrill to present to members of Central Exchange! I hope you will join us this Wednesday as we look at happiness from the perspective of removing roadblocks. What keeps you from living a deeply satisfied life? Let's talk about it and then work on strategies to clear the path. Mark you calendar for the 1st to learn quick practices to reset your thinking, your energy, and your happiness.

08/12/2026

Remember that “challenging client” I told you about? The one with the ridiculously full, chaotic life this summer?

Still me. 😂

And after trying lots of research-based happiness strategies, I discovered what worked best for me:

AND.

This is chaotic AND I've successfully managed chaos before.
Having people in and out of my house all the time is exhausting AND I'm feeling lucky and excited about the updates we are making.
I'm scared to have this procedure AND I'm totally confident it will turn out fine.

The AND allowed me to acknowledge what was hard without having to pretend it was good.

Some of my go-to strategies like finding the silver lining and practicing gratitude didn't feel genuine or helpful. When you're overwhelmed, sometimes you just don't have the energy to work that hard to find the good. And honestly, I wanted to whine a little.

I'm so thankful for the people in my life who let me blow off some steam without trying to fix me or solve the problem.

Sometimes what I needed most was a nod and: “Wow. This sounds hard.”

Maybe that's part of happiness, too—not forcing ourselves to be positive, but learning that we can hold two truths at the same time.

It can be hard AND there can still be good.

What works for you when you're feeling overwhelmed?

And if you need a little help finding your AND, you know where to find me.

08/10/2026

I’ve been working with a really challenging client this spring and summer.

Her life has been exceptionally FULL: work projects, volunteer activities, house renovations, health issues, vacations, and lots of other changes.

And not all of it was negative! Some of it was exciting. Some was fun. Some was even stuff she had been looking forward to.

But it was A LOT. And it was all happening at once.

Even positive change can be stressful and unsettling. When your life is overflowing, it can be hard to manage stress, stay grounded, and keep cultivating optimism.

So we worked at it.

We tried research-based happiness strategies. We experimented. We reflected. And when something didn't quite do the trick, we went looking for something else.

Happiness grows with intentionality, so we kept practicing.

Want to know what worked best?

Stay tuned. I’ll share more soon.

And now for the plot twist…

That challenging client?

Me. 😂

Yes. I’m a happiness coach who sometimes has to coach herself.

We’re all a work in progress.

06/26/2026

Hey Coach Friends! I'm co-chairing this event for ICF Heartland Chapter for KS/MO. Want to join the fun and be a part of the planning committee? I'd love to work with you to put on this special day.

Something big is coming for our community. 🗓️

The Heartland Coaches Summit: Connection, Community, Skills and Innovation is set for Saturday, October 10th, 9am to 4pm at the Kansas Leadership Center.

Keynote speakers. Breakout sessions. Annual awards. Real networking and collaboration.

Plus a buy-your-own-dinner connection opportunity the evening before on October 9th.

Want to help plan the event or pitch a breakout session? Members are invited to get involved!

Contact Lisa Nickel at [email protected] to volunteer or submit a proposal.

06/23/2026

Have you read this book? It made my happiness heart burst. I love to help people come alive!

06/22/2026

We've been working with contractors on some home renovation projects and my people-pleaser saboteur has been busy. Many times over the last month, I have had to remind myself of Brene Brown's statement that "clear is kind". No one can read my mind and know my expectations, so it's the kind thing to do to let people know.

This can be hard for me. Is it hard for you?

06/19/2026

Things have been really full and busy (and stressful) around here. I'm not saying I'm about to have a meltdown, but I'm sharing this reminder in case I do. It's also a great reminder that we have no idea what's going on in someone's life, so lead with grace.

Happy weekend!

06/11/2026

I often say that technology is a great complement for connection but it’s a terrible substitute. Here’s an example. This week, I got to spend time with my dear high school friend who came to town to attend the Celebrate Summer Retreat that I co-hosted. We have been friends for 40 years, but have not seen each other in person in many years. Because we “see” each other on FB and a rare Zoom call, we picked right up like it was yesterday. We built our foundation in person and nourish it through technology. It’s a friendship I cherish!

How do you nurture long friendships when you live far from each other?

06/09/2026

What a joy it was to speak at the annual conference for the Kansas State Chapter of P.E.O.! If you are not familiar with P.E.O., it is a fabulous women's Philanthropic Educational Organization.

My presentation, "Pathways to Happiness: Unlocking the Power of CONNECTION and PURPOSE", focused on two powerful ingredients for happiness and how they also help member-driven organizations flourish.

The audience was so welcoming, supportive, and engaged. They laughed, reflected, shared ideas, and even took notes (which every speaker secretly loves to see 😊).

Thank you to everyone who attended and to outgoing president Jan Clason Guevel for inviting me to be part of such a wonderful event. I left feeling inspired by the dedication, generosity, and sense of purpose that make organizations like P.E.O. so special.

Connection and purpose truly are superpowers. ❤️