This this past weekend I had the honor of teaching yoga at Triple Play Farm that hosted Davidson LifeLine’s Spring into Wellness event. Triple Play provides Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and the farm is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend an afternoon! Did I mention there was ice cream? The past 4 months have been a whirlwind for me that started with mom taking a fall at Christmas and having to leave her home of 65 years and go into long term care. I am her POA and had to learn fast about elder care and get on top of her finances to coordinate her care. I also sold her home in New Jersey, which was my childhood home. On top of taking several trips back to New Jersey, I have been traveling one weekend a month to NYC from Charlotte, NC for leadership training. On top of running my counseling business and growing my Life and Career Coaching biz. On top of getting my work outs in, connecting with my team and my friends. It just hit me when I was out on the farm this weekend that I really need to slow it down, breathe and get back to being. One of things about yoga I love so much is the breathing and slowing down to be more present in the moment. I feel the same way about spending time outdoors in nature. We live in a society where there is much emphasis on being busy and productive…all.the.time. Someone I worked with once shared they wanted to quit the “busy club”. I get it. Have you ever asked someone how they are doing and their response is “Great, I’m crazy busy!” So, since when did being busy make our lives better? Whatever happened to encouraging relaxation, peace, joy? Simply just being? I totally get having goals and taking action steps to reach your intended goals, that is important too. So is having connections with others and interests we love. We seem to forget about relaxation and being in the present because there is 'always something to do'. Being busy and productive can be quite an addictive cycle and stems from all different reasons. Sometimes we use being busy and productive as a measure of self-worth. The more we feel productive and busy, we connect it to feelings of self worth and compare ourselves to others. Many times people equate being busy as a measure of success. For others, it can be the feeling they have to do it all. So if this resonates with you, you are not alone. This also doesn’t have to be a way of being all the time either. Nor does it have to define your worth. You get to choose. Choosing to quit the busy club is possible. Consider that time is made up and you get to create it with intention. Consider this a reminder that relaxation is healthy. Slowing down, taking a technology break and taking time for ourselves to get back to being is just as important as achieving goals. It may actually assist with reaching your goals, just coming from a place of ease and intention and not as much busyness and force. Taking care of your well-being may look different for everyone. The areas to take a look are physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and relationships. Are there areas that need a little more attention? What shifts can you make to get back to being? I love the expression 'we are human beings, not human doings.' So for me, this means getting plenty of sleep and rest. Taking walks outdoors, getting my yoga practice in. Saying 'no' to meetings to take care of myself. Connecting with important people in my life. Joy, play, laughter and of course adventure. I have an amazing support system and my own coach to share with. Reading a good book, being creative, listening to good music. Allowing myself to slow down. Addressing nutrition and hydration as well. So.. take care of you and your well-being. It’s ok to slow down to relax… and just be. Photo cred: Triple Play Farm
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Many of you know that I expanded my business to include Life and Career Coaching in addition to providing therapy. I have been getting a lot of questions about what coaching actually is. So I decided to share a little more. Perhaps you are looking to make a shift in your own life. Maybe you heard of life and career coaching but not quite sure what it is…if you’re curious read on. Coaching is similar to therapy, however it's not exactly the same. Coaching does address blocks, beliefs, and wounds. However coaching focuses on the present and future, building on the hard, deeper work you may have already done in counseling or therapy. Although therapy can focus on moving forward and the future, it's a different support system more focused on building new coping mechanism or can be more process oriented. Both are fantastic support systems and modalities. Coaching is a partnership that focus on you, what you want, and your vision for your life. It is powerful conversations about creating your life and moving beyond your current comfort zone. I coach clients on aspects of their career, business, relationships, wellness or areas of their life they want to make a shift in. We may start to focus on one area of your life, but other areas will be impacted as they are connected and impact each other. Coaching also provides an opportunity to understand the blocks you may not see for yourself and how to overcome them, allowing you to create the life you want and be who you truly want to be. Coaching allows you to create your life from a place of possibility and empowerment, instead of a place of how you think it should be or has to be. You get to choose outside of your circumstances and feelings. I am here to support your ability to see things for what they really are by providing reflections, asking provoking questions, and standing for what you say you want. Coaching can support you get you unstuck from ineffective habits and patterns by building effective communication and relationship skills and offering encouragement and empowerment along with accountability. Coaching can move you forward to the life you wish to create...from your own design. If you're curious to learn more, let’s talk! PS: I see people in my office or on-line via FaceTime or zoom. PPS: Photo from my trip to Croatia |
AuthorLife and Leadership Coach, Licensed Counselor, outdoor enthusiast, yoga lover and passionate about wellness. Archives
May 2022
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