By now you probably know I announced the birth my very first book earlier this month, and I wanted to thank everyone who has purchased a copy, offered congratulations and attended the launch!

As mentioned, I’ll be promoting this baby for a while, so today I wanted to once again remind you to like, share, tweet, google plus, holla and smoke signal the word about  Personal Growth Gab (PGG) Volume One: Thought-provoking, inspirational, entertaining essays to keep you connected with yourself and make sense of this journey called Life so that all your peeps can find out about and benefit from it, too! 

And remember, once you check it out I would love to get your feedback, so please let me know what you think by sending me an email , posting on the PGG Facebook Page , tweeting about it and/or writing an Amazon Review. 

Thank you for being a part of this – it’s a huge step in my own personal growth! 🙂 Kristina

P.S. I’m so grateful to all of you who shared this last week! Here are some of the Facebook posts/feedback I was honored to have received:

… Kristina Leonardi is one extraordinary writer! From her calming voice and beautiful perspective to her ability to connect the dots and provoke “ah-ha!” moments, her words will change you for the better. I know without a doubt that the essays in this book will positively impact you, so check it out and give yourself a great gift!

Ambition, empathy, wisdom and the drive to make things happen: that’s my friend Kristina Leonardi and it’s easy to understand why she is such a successful coach and motivational speaker! So excited to celebrate the launch of her new book!!!

I am so proud of my friend, Kristina Leonardi, for writing a book called Personal Growth Gab. I highly recommend it-and not just because she’s my friend. It’s already helped me lots with topics such as self-love, patience, change, and self-expression. You reading this book can definitely help make the world a better place by taking the step of “creating peace in your piece of the pie” as Kristina says!

Kristina is a amazing person and mentor. If you have ever been to one of her talks or actually met her face to face you would totally understand how inspirational and supportive she can be. If you haven’t met her you can experience what I am talking about, she has just released a new book… You should read it!  

My high school friend, Kristina Leonardi, started an organization years ago to help women of different backgrounds learn about each other, themselves, and unlock their passion and true calling. She went on to be a life coach, speaker, and blogger. She has compiled her essays in a new book designed to “help make your life the most fulfilled it can be” and “to create peace in your piece of the pie.” So proud of her and everything she has offered women over the years. Here is her new book!

My friend, Kristina Leonardi, has written a book of insightful essays (injected with fun and humor) to help guide, inspire, and make sense of life’s daily challenges and milestones alike. If you need a mood booster or helping hand, check it out!

Hi Kristina, love your book. [M] gave it to me for a b-day gift and I enjoy reading it as a morning meditation before the chaos begins. Wishing you continued success with it.

Hi Kristina…I am reading your book – have about an hour this morning to myself before the craziness of life begins and I just read “Labor Pains” – I honestly have to tell you it has got me thinking !! I feel like at this point in my life I am just going through the motions with no direction – no goal for myself. Get up go to work / spend time with family and friends / pay bills / cook / clean etc. I really need to figure out what I should be focusing on – believe I am happy but I think if I focus my energy on one thing to improve myself or my life – I may find even more happiness. I am really enjoying it!!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT & INFO   

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If you are receiving this email (or subscribed to this blog) you’ve being finding a PGG in your inbox every week for a while now, and have stuck with me this far as I’ve discovered my voice and put my thoughts and observations out there in a creative way. My intention has always been to provide a unique perspective about life and bring some reflection, hope and meaning to your day. Thank you for reading them!

I’ve sent out more than 131 original essays over the past five years (oh yes, there were more but they were re-runs!) and because I’ve received such positive feedback about how they help motivate, inspire and make you think, I thought why not put them together in a beautiful book for you to access at any time?

It took a while to get it all together but I’m proud to announce it’s finally here!  I’ll be promoting this baby in multiple ways these next couple weeks (well, forever), but for now I just wanted to let you know you can get a copy of Personal Growth Gab (PGG) Volume One: Thought-provoking, inspirational, entertaining essays to keep you connected with yourself and make sense of this journey called Life in your hot little hands today!

I sincerely hope you enjoy the book – please let me know what you think by sending me an email, posting on Facebook, tweeting about it, and/or writing an Amazon Review.

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Personal Growth Gab (PGG) Volume One: Thought-provoking, inspirational and entertaining essays to keep you connected with yourself and make sense of this journey called Life

“If you are seeking how to get centered in who you are and what you want, read this book!”

“Brimming with insight, compassion, and humor, this collection of essays offers encouragement to anyone seeking to grow in harmony with their true nature, and to discover a genuine path toward positive change in the world, starting with themselves.”  

“A great way to go to bed on a positive note and wake up with a refreshing message. Definitely one I’m keeping on my night stand!”

“Each essay is punchy and profound.”

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Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly ~ Unknown

One of my current clients has done a tremendous amount of work in a very short time: She has had major revelations in noticing past patterns, stripped away unhealthy relationships and is beginning to tap into who she really is, not who she became to please everyone else.  It takes an immense amount of effort to do this.

For the caterpillar, transformation literally means disintegrating its old form to become ‘goop’ while protected in the cocoon prior to emerging as a butterfly.  You can imagine the energy required to do so, and it can’t be very comfortable being formless and not able to see much, if it can see at all – it’s not easy being goop! 

Conscious or not of its eventual destiny, the old self, having served its purpose, is dying a type of death and a natural grieving process occurs. In consoling my client about letting go of her past, I mentioned how Cher had a hard time because intellectually she had grasped what was happening, but she became very upset when she realized the voice of her child was changing;  her daughter was now becoming a son. And although the person that she gave birth to was very much still there, she was losing Chastity in order to welcome Chaz.

Chaz Bono, and anyone who is transgender, has to deal with perhaps the most extreme of identity issues.  The amount of courage it takes to make such a transition, especially in the public eye, is truly inspiring. Not only did Chaz have to know and be comfortable enough with himself to make such a seemingly drastic decision, but he also had the poise and confidence to articulate so graciously and effectively how and why he needed to do what he did, demonstrating a profound lesson for us all in ultimate self-awareness and love.  

Chaz’s story is an important and powerful one because no matter how we identify ourselves, we all go through various forms of transformation throughout our lives -some more internal, others more external -in order to evolve into the best and fullest versions of our own humanity. His experience teaches us to be true to ourselves, accept and honor all of who we are, and trust that those who sincerely care for us will do so as well, even if it does take some time to adjust. Chaz is more content in his new body and his new life than he has ever been; the more of us who get to that place, the better off we all are.

Whether you want to find your voice, be more comfortable in your body, or express more of your Sal or Sally, I can be a mirror and guide for you in the process, peeling back the layers and providing a cocoon of support and space for you to go from goop to glorious, like a Butterfly!

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on May 17, 2011)

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We all have areas of life that we tend to neglect more than others, allowing things to build up over time.

Like Mother Nature’s need to release her pent up pressure through a variety of earth and weather based events, our unbalanced energy has to go somewhere. And when not addressed it gets buried within us as fat or addictions, crushing debt, unhelathy relationships, dead-end jobs, physical or mental illness or a general malaise until one day the walls come a tumblin’ down – because if you don’t take care of it, the Universe eventually will.

As the saying goes, we often need to have a breakdown before we can have a breakthrough – it’s just life showing you where change is required. What emotions have been repressed that need to be released with a good cry or a sweaty workout? Is your mind about to crack (hopefully not like Charlie Sheen’s did, which on the surface appears entertaining but is no joking matter)? Is a relationship, career, job search or financial situation beyond repair or in need of a big ole tune-up? Is your body giving you a hard time?

Change is one thing that is certain in life, and it is most definitely in the air at the moment. Embracing it and going with the flow makes dealing with change easier and less stressful, so heed the wisdom from a certain 70’s hit TV series, when Peter was going through puberty and the Brady kids sang,very groovily I might add, “ When it’s time to change, then it’s time to change/ Don’t fight the tide, come along for the ride.” It means that “…you’ve got to re-arrange who you are into what you’re gonna be.” (Try getting that song out of your head now…Sha na na na na).

Change is always good if we respond to it in the right way– by accepting our state of affairs and our responsibility in its creation, and by facing the fears about what actions are necessary to confront it, all the while knowing that we will be better, stronger, and wiser for having done so.  And, we need to deal with the reality of the situation as it is, not as we would like it to be.

Not sure where the seismic activity or cresting river is in your life? Like Luke Skywalker or Jamiroquai, you can always use the force, or just give me a buzz and I’ll provide some rescue, relief and/or recovery to help you avoid a full-on meltdown and instead enjoy the ride!

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on March 15, 2011)

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When things aren’t quite going your way, it’s easy to fall into the grass-is-always-greener syndrome. But as the saying goes, before you judge a man (or covet his life), walk a mile in his shoes.

You don’t have to turn back the clock , eat a magical fortune cookie, ride in a souped up DeLorean or relieve yourself in an enchanted fountain to discover your life and relationships are exactly as they should be, or get the kick in the butt you need to make them better. The fact is, our lives are the sum total of all the choices we’ve ever made up until this point – a combination unique unto ourselves. That means we have, on some level, created the situation we’ve wanted or needed in order to learn and grow on this journey called life.

So whatever your state of affairs, take full responsibility for it. The good news is that if you don’t like it, because you got yourself into it, you totally have the power to get out of it!

A lot of my clients right now are at the point of no return – where there’s no turning back or delaying the inevitable.  They’ve gotten to a place where the only thing to do is to go through – there is no way around, there is no way back – they need to make a change or take action in a certain direction because at this point there’s no alternative, whether because of forced external realities or an internal malaise and dissatisfaction that they can no longer withstand.

Why changes haven’t been made up to now is a more complicated and varied topic for another time; often it’s a stronger sense of obligation to others, what they want or would make them happy that prevents us from moving forward to the beat of our own drum. But contrary to Hollywood plots, we are the ones who have to live in our bodies, so it’s up to us to do what needs to be done. It’s time to go big or go home.

Not fully convinced you don’t have to go all topsy turvy or time-travelly to get it right? Give me a buzz and I’ll be the freaky fictional device that helps you wake up and smell the coffee. You’ll understand and appreciate where you’re at and what changes you can make in order to learn and experience whatever you need to be the best you can be, Right Here, Right Now.

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on September 25, 2012)

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Suffering without catharsis is nothing but wasted pain.~ Jim MacLaren

It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace. ~Aristotle

If you’re like me, my clients, friends and family, the last three years or so have felt like you’ve been fighting your way through a series of battles one after another, one deeper or slightly different from the last, but all relentlessly asking you to deal with one particular area of life, even if that area spills over to a few others. And it doesn’t help that our world has been going through its own revolution with major insanity via governments and insurgents, the misuse of technology and military/police force, and the dis-ease that Mother Nature has been rebelling against in her own way…

Whether a war was being waged against you from the outside – perhaps in the form of losing a job or a loved one, dealing with a health crisis, break-up, financial issues – and/or from the inside, i.e. confronting depression, addiction, OCD, ADD, emotional trauma, co-dependency, self-esteem, toxic relationships, negative thoughts and patterns- it’s been a time that’s forced you to go to the mattresses with your psyche, getting schooled in something or someone, but ultimately, yourself, in a probably not-so-pleasant way.

If you rose to the challenge and hunkered down, when you look back as the fog starts to lift, you will find a super-stark reality check; things that you thought to be stable or secure no longer hold that position; things that once gave you comfort, now not so much. We see things now as they really are, not how we wish them to be. Smooth sailing it has definitely not been, but if you can honestly reflect on all that’s transpired you will see that indeed it has been quite productive!

Yes there were some casualties, but most likely they were the enemies, real or imagined, internal or external, holding you back from moving forward anyway. We might have some scars, but we’ve recognized and liberated ourselves from our own self-imposed torture chambers and internment camps. You’ve decided what is or isn’t important, and have begun to adjust some behaviors in order to reflect your new attitude and revelations. 

The most dangerous threat we all faced, and continue to face, is that of “divide and conquer”; of thinking we are the lone soldier out in the battlefield and that we have to suffer in silence. Sure at the end of the day we have to vanquish our own demons, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t call in the troops and rely upon our buddies for support, even if just moral, along the way. We cannot isolate in our trenches – we must reach out to our platoon – that is what they are there for!

The good news is that after sloshing through this winter’s powerful punch, we can look forward to the Spring Equinox knowing there are lighter days, both literally and metaphorically, ahead.  Be patient with yourself and others as you enter back into civil society and express kindness, compassion and forgiveness to all you meet, even your so-called adversaries, as we have all been struggling in one way or another with our wounds and probably have a little PTSD that can be cured with a lot of TLC. It is finally time for a truce, and to surrender to the peace that is waiting for you should you choose to accept all that the Universe has asked (well, more like demanded!) you to change.

Not quite sure what you’ve gained or lost in this epic battle with yourself? Give me a buzz and I’ll help you see this particular War, what it is really good for is to say “Thank you for letting be myself again” – only a better, new and improved version of who you are truly meant to be!

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We’ve just celebrated  International Women’s Day , so in honor of this occasion I’d like to give a special shout-out to all the men out there and encourage you to celebrate the many ways women make your lives better (i.e.check out my post from last week), acknowledge what you can learn from them, and inspire you to get in touch with your feminine side with unabashed pride.

Dan Abrams recently came out with a book called Man Down, a tome that provides extensive research proving how women are pretty much better at everything than men. Whether or not you believed that already, the key here is to remember that we are not in a Battle of the Sexes, but more that everyone, regardless of the gender you are identified as or associate with, needs to demonstrate the best characteristics of both worlds.

The reality is that most men have a problem expressing emotion, long considered a “girlie” trait. The amazing irony is that as I am literally in the midst of writing this post (which has been planned for more than a day) I flip the TV channel to catch the end of Charlie Rose interviewing David Brooks about his book The Social Animal. Charlie, who is clearly an exception to the rule, admits how important it is for people to have the “power to express yourself and have emotional intelligence.” David comments how he, and most men, struggle with this and how he admires Bruce Springsteen as someone who is a ‘manly working class guy who can be emotional in a respectable way.’  (Thanks fellas for validating this as I type it!)

Most men will never know What It Feels Like For a Girl, so since this year the day also falls on Mardi Gras, what better excuse is there than to ‘dress’ in drag metaphorically and try your woman-like alter ego on for size.  I don’t mean like a full-on Tootsie or Mrs. Doubtfire, but more like the guys in I Love You, Man or The Boss in all his glory; allow yourself to be just a little more sensitive, intuitive, creative, and expressive of what it is you’re feeling. 

Whether your birth announcement was pink or blue, we all need to balance our Mickey with our Minnie, so give me a buzz and I’ll give you an opportunity and show you the way to make the most of all of who you are, without having to shave your legs, put on a fake moustache or become like SNL’s Pat

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic check out my posts: You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby?, Girl Power, I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar, Are You Gonna Go My Way? , Rage Against the Machine

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on March 8, 2011)

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There’s just me. ~ Jill Scott

The number one has always garnered a lot of attention – all that talk about the 1%, who came in first place and what or who gets to be number one on which list.

It only takes one person to change the world (for good or bad), and whether conscious of it or not, we all strive to have those blissful moments of becoming one with something or someone outside ourselves; it can happen with your loved one, but also with your dance partner, your paintbrush, your horse,  your golf club, your violin, with Nature and the whole of humanity.

We also need to take care number one, because if you don’t who will? How can you help anyone else if you haven’t first cared for yourself?  And hey, if you’re happy there’s a much greater chance of everyone around you being happy too, just like the pebble thrown in a pond whose ripples go out far beyond…

One doesn’t have to be the Loneliest Number, because at the end of the day you’re the only one you’ve got – no one else can inhabit your body, mind and spirit and experience your challenges and successes. You are ultimately responsible for your joy and fulfillment, how you relate to the world and make the most of what you’ve been given.

We only have One Live to Live, so how can you know and love who you are and what you think, feel and desire if you don’t spend some quality alone time with yourself on a regular basis?

The proverbial saying tells us a journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step, so now is as potent a time as any to finally make some effort, take some action towards a goal or way of being that you want to achieve and/or be open to discover new, unimagined opportunities and vistas that may bring you out of your comfort zone but closer to your best life.

As Bono sings, we’re One, but we’re not the same; we’ve got to carry each other, so give me a buzz and I’ll help you figure out how there’s just One in a Million You, show you what should be Numero Uno in your life right now and move you towards feeling One Love more than ever!

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on November 8, 2011)

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Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays for a variety of reasons, and not just for the day off, barbeques and fireworks.  America’s birthday holds special place in my heart for the idealism it inspires and the respect and gratitude I have for the wisdom, sacrifice and most of all, courage, that our Founding Fathers displayed that fateful summer of 1776.

As I always mention in my seminars, the root of the word courage is ‘cor’ the Latin word for heart. This means that anything requiring courage is something that comes from the heart, from a place of deep love, a passion for that which one is pushing oneself to do.

The Founding Fathers’ profound love for Life, Liberty and Justice laid the foundation for the birth of a nation that promotes the growth of its most precious natural resource – the freedom of its citizens, i.e. We the People – to use our time and energy as we see fit, expressing ourselves and living a life we choose that is without harm to others. Because of the diversity of the 13 colonies, each with their own interests and identities, unfortunately the ideal at the time had to be compromised regarding the institution of slavery in order to gain a unanimous vote for independence from England…but we had to start somewhere, otherwise we might really have been affected by Kate & Will’s nuptials across the pond, or all our TV hosts would be British…oh wait…

Our country is by no means perfect and will continue to have its ups and downs, but ultimately it’s up to each of us to make it the best we can. So what will your contribution be to this great experiment?  How will you leave your symbolic “John Hancock” on history?

One thing we can all do is make the question Where is the Love? obsolete in our corner of the world.  Each of us can exercise that freedom 24/7, so be sure to consistently unleash your love on that special someone, your work, your friends and family, your community, a cause, the nation, the planet, strangers and life itself.

You say you want a Revolution?  Give me a buzz and I’ll help you ring the Liberty Bell in your life because we are all Free to Be … You and Me.

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on July 5, 2011)

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Do you have the discipline to be a free spirit? ~ Gabrielle Roth

In the movie Silver Linings Playbook, t he main characters Pat and Tiffany are in training for a big dance competition that turns out to be much more than a fancy booty-shaking contest. A unique romantic dramedy, it’s a film that shows there is a fine line between sanity and insanity, acceptable versus unacceptable behavior, and the beauty of living life to the beat of your own drum.

In the movie The Sessions, Mark O’Brien is confined to an iron lung 20 hours a day, existing on a gurney, unable to move from the neck down, and yet he writes poetry, is a professional journalist and decides to hire a sex surrogate so he can experience the most human of experiences. We go along on his journey (based on a true story!) and find him to be one of the most alive, loving and liberated individuals to have ever lived despite such extreme physical limitations.

And as seen in the movie Lincoln, our 16th president is clearly not your Average Joe. He was always thinking out of the box, used his quirky sense of humor to diffuse or illuminate situations, and took numerous risks throughout the most heart-wrenching circumstances our country has endured. He stretched the Constitution to its limit, working within an established framework while implementing his own interpretation and/or bending the rules based on his hard-earned wisdom, keen observations and superior judgment as unprecedented needs arose and critical decisions had to be made in order for progress to occur.

In the conscious movement class I take, we are told to ‘dance it your way’ and have breaks of ‘free dance’ where we boogie as we see fit; it’s not chaotic because there is an organized structure and unity contained within the flow as we come back together intermittently as a group throughout the hour. It’s a super-small class because for many people, when given the opportunity to move and think for themselves, even for just a few moments, it is a daunting and uncomfortable feeling; it’s an empowering exercise that requires more effort and less inhibition, and many simply don’t know what to do if they are not following the instructor. And that, my friends, is indicative of a larger problem with implications reaching much farther than a gym studio.

Spielberg’s Lincoln asks, “Do you think we choose to be born? Or are we fitted to the times we’re born into?” As citizens of the 21st century, we are certainly living in extraordinary times that will require us to become the fullest and most unique beings we are meant to be. We each have something that needs to be expressed, something no other person on this planet – no one who has come before or will come after -can express. Right now we need new ways of looking at old problems and to change old ways in order deal with new problems, so it’s more important than ever for you to do your own thang, because there is no other way to generate inspiration and birth innovation.

In any era it’s easy to get stuck in past habits and sucked into the zeitgeist of the day. Resist the urge to follow the herd, fight to honor yourself, think and speak your own thoughts and begin to know and create yourself anew every moment of every day instead of getting swept up by social media, news, commercials, and even your peer groups, work and ethnic cultures or family and friends who are all, consciously or not, forces that can easily grab hold of your mind, body, spirit and/or bank account. Don’t let your physical characteristics, family roots or societal dictates squash all the rhythms inside you that might be quite different from what those outside influences might have you believe, say or do.

Not sure exactly what your groove thing is? Give me a buzz and I’ll get you started with some basic choreography and point you in the right direction, because ultimately You Should Be Dancing your own steps throughout life, hopefully with a fun disco floor beneath your feet along the way!

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on November 28, 2012)

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