Me? I want it all. Well, to put a finer point on it, I want to LEARN it all. I want to learn Buteyko breathing, I want to learn osteopathic manual therapy techniques, I want to watch dissection videos so I can understand better how our physical layer is put together, I want to learn more about the organs and how to keep them healthy with massage, I want to understand the trains of fascial connections in the body, I want to learn how to be IN my body and help my clients be in THEIR bodies, I want to learn about the world within and how to build the world I want. And want to hear something a little alarming? I have spent $1700 on several online trainings in the past year to help me learn these things And you want to hear something REALLY alarming?? Out of these 7 online trainings, I have only completed… ONE And why is that, exactly? Well. I used to think this was due to some nasty character flaw. I just chase the next shiny new training that promises to be The One Thing my clients and myself REALLY need – the ONE THING that will bring clarity and amazing results. However… I recently met with a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, who is also a coach, who is also an astrologer. VERY interesting combination. I’ve never really gotten into astrology. I was raised in a religion where astrology was considered “spiritistic” (and not in a good way), but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to let go of black & white thinking. So in my newfound open-mindedness and curiosity, I decided to see what my birth time and place had to say about Heather Anne. And wow. According to my astrological chart, I like to learn lots of things without diving deeply into them. I love to learn and share, learn and share, learn and share. I want win-win solutions for everyone. I am more comfortable talking and thinking than feeling. I have lots of ideas. I am kinda shy. I enjoy talking about philosophy and ideas. My career is super important to me and part of my life’s purpose, but it’s going to take it’s time to come to fruition – probably around when I turn 50. OH MY GOD. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. I AM JUST DOING EXACTLY WHAT I WAS BUILT TO DO. Ahhhhhhhhh……… Understanding ourselves better is SUCH a gift. We can see that we have areas of strengths and areas where we don’t naturally thrive, and that’s OKAY! We can make choices that better align with our natural gifts. We can slowly and subtly course-correct to move onto a path of better alignment with who we REALLY are (not who we are trying to be to please people or in order to fit in). It can be really difficult to get to know ourselves, and here are some ways to get started. 1. Ask 10 friends/coworkers to describe you in 3 words (tip from my SE Astrologer/Coach, Angela Freebird). 2. Subscribe to my friend Angela’s yoga classes and newsletter here. She sends out a few paragraphs with each class recording, and there are so many good self-discovery nuggets in there. She sent out a list of strengths-finding questions last week, which I loved (I copied them at the bottom of this newsletter). 3. Identify your top 5 values. You can download the worksheet to help here.There are probably a million more ways to start the journey of self-discovery, but those are a few that are top of mind right now. I would really love to hear what strengths and/or values you crystalize as a result of these exercises. Space to be Human Lab – If pain or tightness is preventing you from doing what you love, book a manual therapy session with me here: Booking link. We’ll co-create an experience tailored to your specific case. – I am offering no-cost 30-minute embodiment sessions where we can explore how Somatic Experiencing principles can help you find more ease and peace in your body. It’s a win-win; you get to spent some time building the vital skill of feeling your feelings, and I get some practice in holding space. You can book a Zoom or in-person session here. Newsletter signup If you would like to sign up to get these posts sent to you directly, please click here. ____________________________________________________ “Alex Linley’s Top Ten Strength Spotting Tips (copied from Angela Stewart’s 7/13/22 newsletter) 1. Childhood memories: What do you remember doing as a child that you still do now – but most likely much better? Strengths often have deep roots from our earlier lives. 2. Energy: What activities give you an energetic buzz when you are doing them? These activities are very likely calling on your strengths. 3. Authenticity: When do you feel most like the “real you”? The chances are that you will be using your strengths in some way. 4. Ease: See what activities come naturally to you, and at which you excel – sometimes, it seems, without even trying. These will likely be your strengths. 5. Attention: See where you naturally pay attention. You’re more likely to focus on things that are playing to your strengths. 6. Rapid Learning: What are the things that you have picked up quickly, learning them almost effortlessly? Rapid learning often indicates and underlying strength. 7. Motivation:What motivates you? When you find activities that you do simply for the love of doing them, they are likely to be working from your strengths. 8. Voice: Monitor your tone of voice. When you notice a shift in passion, energy and engagement, you’re probably talking about a strength. 9. Words and phrases: Listen to the words you use. When you’re saying “I love to…” or “It’s just great when….,” the chances are that it’s a strength to which you are referring. 10. “To do” lists: Notice the things that never make it on to your “to do” list. These things that always seem to get done often reveal an underlying strength that means we never need to be asked twice. Adapted from Average to A+: Realising Strengths in Yourself and Others, by Alex Linley, published by CAPP Press, 2008″ |
