Natalie Haworth-Liu - Certified Life Coach

It’s not every day that you get to be part of something as remarkable and historic as a World Premiere. I feel humbled to share the stage with my dear colleagues and help bring Lee Actor’s brilliant work to life after a two-year delay. Both Lee and my fellow soloist Ray Furuta are also dear friends, and to see so many friends, family members, and students in the audience remind me how blessed I am. Music is life. My heart is whole.

Mom.

My favorite job.

Nothing has gone as planned.

The journey to this point has been full of worry, doubt, frustration, and lots of love.

I can’t wait to see what’s next.

I will be gobbling up every minute.

I am bursting with gratitude.

Congratulations, Ethan 🎉

Our brains need training.

Repetition.

Making a habit of celebrating your wins (even the smallest of victories) will train your brain to look for them.

I like to celebrate everything.

This Friday, I have some pretty big wins, like a successful first week back in the classroom.

And playing Mozart string quartets in person!

But I also get to decide that the little things are wins, too.

And these little wins add up, especially when facing a more challenging week or day.

Do you celebrate that you brushed your teeth?

Why not?

Do you celebrate making the bed?

Cleaning up the kitchen?

The more we celebrate the small things, the big things feel extra special.

After work today I'm going to jump up and down, dance, and sing out my wins.

And bonus, I get to embarrass my teenagers, too.

I hope you will join me.

Happy Friday, my friends!

xoxo,
Natalie

What are your wins? Share below!

Oh, to be a puppy.

Mine, mine, mine.

I want all the things.

I eat all the things.

I want to love, love, love.

Love me, love me, love me.

I want to be a puppy.

That’s the life for me!

Life can be more simple.

Life can be about love and all the things.

Happy “hump day,” my friends!

xoxo,
Natalie

Hello friends, I know it’s been a minute.

Yesterday was a fantastic first day back in the classroom teaching both in-person and online.

And you know why?

I decided ahead of time to embrace every possible hiccup, problem, and failure with grace and humor.

I didn't always do this.

I used to be the queen of panic.

Monday morning, I decided to be flexible and focus on each minute as it came and went.

I came up with a plan of what to focus on and what to think.

I anticipated challenges ahead of time and came up with ways to think they aren't a problem.

This is called self-coaching.

And it is THE most powerful tool I teach my clients.

Self-coaching is how YOU can change your mindset to serve you better!

It's life-changing.

Because I spent time self-coaching, I entered my classroom confident and ready for anything.

Life is imperfect. And that imperfection keeps it interesting.

Sometimes we forget we have choices and the power to create whatever we want.

All our power is in what we consciously choose to think.

What challenges are you anticipating this week?

What thoughts help you feel more relaxed, flexible, and accepting?

Would you like to learn how to self-coach?

DM me!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

xoxo,
Natalie

We all deserve to have a soft place to land.

Do you create one for yourself?

As a teacher, I am there for my students.

As a coach, I am there for my clients.

As a mom, I am there for my children.

As a wife, I am there for my husband.

As a friend, I am there for my friends.

But I am not always there for myself in the same way.

It has taken a lot of work to undo my auto-judge reflex when something goes wrong.

I work on this daily because I know it helps me feel stronger and more confident.

And when I feel strong and confident, I am a better version of myself in all areas of life.

Do you have kind words and thoughts ready for when you are feeling down, experiencing something difficult, or needing a pep talk?

A little planning can make a world of difference.

Here is something I do and recommend to my clients:

1. Write a script for different situations.
2. Read it frequently.
3. Memorize it.
4. Practice reciting it out loud.

The more you practice the script, the sooner you believe it.

And that's powerful.

Xoxo,
Natalie

I like to think we have a mirror inside of us.

And when we love inward, it reflects out into the world.

When we love ourselves, our ability to love others expands.

And that capacity for love is infinite.

So love more.

Every day.

Every moment.

You will change inside and change the world.

Xoxo,
Natalie

Morning coffee, messy hair, loving pups, and my heart is whole.

There was a time when I could not fully enjoy this moment. 

I was too busy judging myself, pressuring myself, and exhausting myself doing things to please others.

There was a time when I thought life was about happiness and anything less meant something was wrong with me.

It has taken years and years of work on myself.

I am still on a journey to love myself fully and unconditionally. 

I pay attention to myself.

I listen to my inner voice.

I engage with my heart.

I embrace my whole being.

I have dedicated myself to being an example of what is possible.

I have dedicated myself to helping others on their journey.

I wish you all many blessings on your journey.

Xoxo,
Natalie

Today started with spilled coffee.

Today ended with cheerful “goodbyes” from chirpy first graders while clicking “end meeting.”

We learned about Vivaldi’s Autumn, shared pictures, and sung solfeggio.

It's been a year of this.

I am exhausted.

And it’s ok.

I am sending love and light to my fellow exhausted teachers.

It's not always like this.

But today is.

xoxo,
Natalie

Circumstances are the things that happen in life that we don't have direct control over in our current position.

Circumstances in their essence are neutral.

Examples of circumstances include, words said in the past (think of a transcript), a number on the scale or in a bank account, or a recounting of an event without adjectives or emotions.

Circumstances being inherently neutral means we have the ability to choose our thoughts about it.

This👏is👏good👏news!

When you experience a circumstance, YOU get to decide what it means.

Your decision creates your feelings about it.

This decision is vital because feelings drive everything we do.

So the next time you are stressed, worried, disappointed, or upset about a situation, pay attention to what you are thinking, as this is the key.

What are you choosing to make this mean?

Is this how you want to feel?

Try to find the neutrality of the situation.

Question your thoughts.

These actions gives you power.

Xoxo,
Natalie

I teach private flute lessons on Sundays.

I have been for years and years.

So my Sunday gratitude focuses on one of my greatest joys in life.

✨I am super grateful for my students and the opportunity to fill my house with music.

✨I am grateful it doesn't disturb my teens sleeping in because I have been training them since birth 😂

✨Even though I don't have my young, budding musicians physically coming in and out of my home studio, I am grateful for technology and the ability to still see, listen, and nurture them.

✨I am grateful for my neighbors, who enjoy it when I keep the windows open so they can hear.

✨I am grateful to my husband, who helps keep the dogs and house quiet and makes me a coffee!

✨But most of all, I am grateful for the opportunities I created for myself and my family by facing fear and discomfort, listening to my inner voice, and trying to show up as the best version of myself each day.

✨But I am also grateful for learning how to be kind and compassionate to myself when I struggle or make mistakes.

✨I am grateful for learning how to celebrate my wins and be my best cheerleader.

✨ It's been a long road, and I'm proud of myself for doing it and not giving up.

Do you practice gratitude?

What are you grateful for today?

What are your wins?

Xoxo,
Natalie