The Year of Living Uncomfortably

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Check out this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)” In this excerpt covering the final seven minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life, maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.

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Tags change, life coach, mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self awareness, self reflection

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The Big Squeeze

July 29, 2022 //

Sometimes the weather affects our mood, and other times it reflects our mood. It’s been unusually gloomy in New York this week, and that seems to be how many people are feeling these days as the overall fatigue, stress and uncertainty of our current crisis continue to weigh upon us (now over seven months in, with no significant relief in the near future), and the contentious battle for who gets to run our country, at least for the next four years, is nearing the finish line.

From my perspective, these are the times when, like Beyonce, you make lemonade. When life serves you lemons or just feels a bit sour, go ahead and squeeze those lemons, or surrender to the squeezing you’re experiencing in life — after which you can add (or will simply feel) some sweetness (i.e., a burden is lifted, you find a liberating solution or do something fun!) and find yourself refreshed and uplifted as a result.

In other words, instead of suffering under or trying to avoid the squeeze, EMBRACE it by seeing what it’s trying to get out of you: What illumination, release and insights can come of the pressure, malaise, anxiety or fear? What are you being asked to understand, change or reveal to yourself and/or to others? This takes some mental and emotional elbow grease through self-reflection, which could involve a little heavy-duty butt-shaking to some rockin’ funky tunes — thank you, Beyonce — in order to expel that energy and/or bring out the aha feelings that will get you unstuck.

That last bit is especially effective if you’re feeling blah or frustrated, or maybe even angry or enraged. The energy needs to get out. Those of you who attended my Self Care in the Midst of Sea Change Talk (encore presentation coming mid-November!) know that dance/movement is just one of the tools I mention. The bottom line is that we have to confront and make the best of this time and use it as the productive, albeit challenging, opportunity it presents. The more of us who do this, the better off we will come out on the other side, as I talk about in this essay, as well as here, here, or here.

Therefore, in the days ahead, become a detective and keep excavating to get to the root of your sour stuckness (or hire me as your Sherlock Holmes 😉. A major clue is always in how you feel about or treat yourself, as everything follows from there. The absence of self-worth, imho, is the real pandemic in our society, so what can you do to connect more with the innermost part of yourself and really acknowledge, accept and love who you are?

Another powerful tool is gratitude, so if you don’t already have a practice of acknowledging things to be grateful for every day, now would be a good time to start. And expressing your appreciation to others can make all the difference in someone’s life, especially right now, as we all need our spirits lifted as much as possible. You can watch my thoughts about this particular point on IGTV or YouTube, and see this Instagram post or this one for some examples 🙂

For more inspiration and motivation, you can check out this video about why we need to be kind and compassionate with ourselves, and this Instagram post reminds you the smallest things can make the biggest impact. For something a little more in-depth about my thoughts on personal growth, communication and healing, check out this podcast-style interview with Rick Young of What’s in Your Hand Radio Show.

Today’s PGG was originally published on October 27, 2020

Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

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Tags change, mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self awareness, self reflection

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A More Perfect Union

July 8, 2022 //

One of my favorite movies, Bottle Shock, is about the then-nascent California wine industry and its victory over the French in a blind taste test celebrating the 1976 bicentennial. The film is based on the true story of a man who ditched his legal career to pursue a dream of making the best wine possible. Jim Barrett put his life into Chateau Montelena; to do so was a huge risk, and he had to have unwavering faith in himself and trust in the process of such a delicate, complex and time-consuming task, whose results were not necessarily guaranteed.

As with any such journey, there were many twist and turns and ups and downs along the way, but in the end he triumphed not only because he beat the French at their proudest export, but also because in doing so, blew the field wide open for quality wine to be produced in countries around the globe, and the world has never been the same.

Orson Welles, in his famous commercials would say, “We will sell no wine before its time.” It takes time for lasting success to develop, and there is no better activity than viticulture to demonstrate that. There are cycles of planting, pruning, harvesting, fermenting and numerous other magical, alchemical things that need to happen for that perfect glass to arrive at your table. As I always say in my seminars, “Remember that grapes do not turn into wine overnight!”

With the start of every Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall, we are reminded that to Every Thing There is a Season. The historic vote to legalize same-sex marriage in NY three days [after the solstice of June 2011] was decades in the making; several societal changes and generations of progress had to occur in order to have the majority of the population now be “ripe” for its acceptance, and we are all stronger and better for having gone through the process.

Since we are just about a quarter through the year, be sure you check in and are working internally and externally towards whatever goals you set for yourself; know that as long as you consistently do things that you love and care about, you are fertilizing your life, making it as rich as possible. Focus your thoughts, words and deeds in the direction you want to be going, knowing that all will come to fruition with a perfect union of patience, persistence and perseverance — in time and on time.

You can’t put the cart before the horse, so if you’re feeling a little frustrated and impatient in pursuit of your passions, give me a buzz and I’ll be a future sommelier explaining the uniqueness and quality of your vintage, or the judge that casts the deciding vote to make your dream a reality!

Today’s PGG was originally published on June 28, 2011

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CONNECTING WITH KRISTINA

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

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If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

Click here for a video that explains some ways I can help you as a coach

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Click here for some testimonials from past clients

**CLICK HERE FOR MY PODCAST-STYLE INTERVIEW WITH RICK YOUNG OF WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND RADIO SHOW**

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

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Tags mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self awareness, self reflection

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Bridging the Divide

July 1, 2022 //

As the famous line from Lincoln’s speech goes, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” This sentiment was in response to the very literal Black and white issue in our nation at the time, i.e., slavery and the division it caused in our union. We are very much continuing to deal with that era’s repercussions, which are coming up very loudly at this moment to be confronted and healed in a more profound way than ever before.

And in the broader context, it’s important not to get sucked into the polarity, the absolutism of everything, the duality of good vs. evil and us vs. them. Right now it’s especially easy — with all the propaganda from both sides — to get into a catastrophic or doomsday mindset. This is certainly a challenging time, and people, property, businesses and ways of life are dying and/or permanently changing, but when we accept that this is all part of the much bigger transformation I’ve talked about here many times, you can switch into a less extreme, more detached attitude in order to be a constructive rather than reactive part of the process.

And we must get there, because when each of us individually is divided within our mind, body and spirit, we cannot stand collectively as a whole and healthy society. In other words, when we are divided, we are much more susceptible to being conquered. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in being conquered on any level. So how can we resist becoming a casualty of the conquest? We need to start with ourselves, hence this PGG, called Grey’s Anatomy which you can find here on Medium.

And to learn more about how you can help bridge the divide, you can check out this interview where Rick Young of What’s In Your Hand Radio Show started out by asking me what I would say if I were speaking at the Democratic convention. I had no idea what he was going to ask in the hour-plus interview, which meant all of my answers were off the top of my head, and here’s how I responded.

And this PGG Video of week is a clip from a talk I gave in February, right before the world turned upside down. I talk about how some days are good, some days are not so good, and how we need to listen to ourselves and learn to go with the flow of life, which can help us be more detached and neutral as we navigate the tempest that lies ahead.

Because the more of us who remain calm in the eye of the storm, the more unified we will be internally, and then can join forces externally to get to the other side as one nation, indivisible, and stronger than ever before.

Today’s PGG was originally published on September 1, 2020

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

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If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

Click here for a video that explains some ways I can help you as a coach

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Click here for some testimonials from past clients

**CLICK HERE FOR MY PODCAST-STYLE INTERVIEW WITH RICK YOUNG OF WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND RADIO SHOW**

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

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Roots

June 17, 2022 //

Whether or not you are a direct descendant of someone who lived or worked on a plantation in the 19th century, all of us in the 21st century, no matter who or where we came from, can check in to see which areas of our lives need to be emancipated from the tyranny of whatever is keeping us down, holding us back and making us feel “less-than” in both subtle and overt ways.

Oprah expressed it perfectly when she called slavery “A machine to create inferiority.” You can only imagine what amazing strength, utter self-belief and profound self-worth was required to break out of that mentality, to really know who you are and be able to simply exist, let alone thrive, despite others perceiving you and often treating you in, well, let’s just say a most unfavorable way. What it would take to preserve and protect your self, your spirit and your soul under such circumstances is beyond comprehension.

We certainly continue to struggle in a variety of ways with the legacy and repercussions of slavery in terms of race, while at the same time have come very far. But regardless of the color of our skin, there are more inconspicuous ways that we are judged — much of which has to do with what we think of ourselves when we look in the mirror, are alone with our thoughts, and by the choices we make in every area of our lives.

The foundation of who we are reaches far and wide throughout our work, relationships, health and everyday life, so the stronger and deeper your tree grows, the more you can weather even a storm like Sandy. Yes, you might lose a few branches along the way, but you won’t be knocked out for good! So take some time this month to connect to the root of who you are, using this part of of Summer to develop, heal and love yourself so you can harvest more fully come Fall.

You might have some family roots to dig up or some grass roots to build up in the process, but the bottom line is that if you look at any problem, challenge or change you want to make and trace it back to its ultimate root — if you’re honest with yourself — will find that the buck stops with you.

Remember, this is always good news — because that means you can do something about it.

Having a little trouble connecting all the literal and metaphorical genealogical dots of your career and life? Give me a buzz, and I will help you get to the root the matter, so just like Alex Haley searching for Kunta Kinte in Africa you can shout, “I found you!”

Today’s PGG was originally published on February 13, 2013

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the

Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

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If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

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**CLICK HERE FOR MY PODCAST-STYLE INTERVIEW WITH RICK YOUNG OF WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND RADIO SHOW**

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

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Tags mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self awareness, self empowerment, self love, self reflection, self worth

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Set Yourself Straight with Self-Care

June 10, 2022 //

This week, I wanted to ask one simple question: How well are you taking care of yourself? And I mean that on all levels — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

My guess is there are some areas where you are pretty good at it; other areas that could use some attention; and some where you think you are OK but may be in a little denial or have a blind spot about because you have become so accustomed to existing in a particular way that you don’t even realize it’s unhealthy or imbalanced.

That last one’s a tricky sucker, no doubt, and when you finally realize how “off” you’ve been, it can be enlightening and even liberating. But implementing the necessary corrections or improvements can feel monumental, requiring discipline and conscious choices to be made, often painstakingly, over time. Yet when you are able to see everything as an act of self-love and self-care, it takes some of the edge off the very uncomfortable actions of doing what you know is right for yourself but might be difficult in the moment.

The fact is that we are each responsible for our own lives, happiness and well-being, so the more we rely on external forces like our spouses/partners, friends, parents, doctors, pastors/rabbis, the government, etc. (or the projections of any of those onto each other!), the more frustrated, anxious and/or disappointed we become.

We must remember that we have the power to change our lives for the better (which includes asking for help when we need it), and in doing so, we will suffer less, achieve more, and everyone around us will ultimately benefit.

These extraordinary and challenging times have likely highlighted some of these issues for you, so give me a buzz and I can show how you can make the most of the current circumstances with new perspectives, tips and tools to take care of yourself on all levels.

Remember everyone is fighting their own battle and are at different levels of self-care, so be extra gentle and compassionate with yourself and others!

Originally posted as a PGG note on August 2020

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the

Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

CLICK HERE FOR FULL PGG ENEWSLETTER WITH INTRODUCTORY NOTE ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS

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Get essays like this delivered every Friday to your inbox as my PGG newsletter by texting CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to join my mailing list.

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If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

Click here for a video that explains some ways I can help you as a coach

Click here for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today.

Click here for some testimonials from past clients

**CLICK HERE FOR MY PODCAST-STYLE INTERVIEW WITH RICK YOUNG OF WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND RADIO SHOW**

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

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Tags mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self love, self reflection

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Smile in Your Liver

June 3, 2022 //

In the best-selling book Eat, Pray, Love, author Elizabeth Gilbert visits a holy man in Bali who gives her a meditation to smile in every part of her body, “Even in your liver.” This is a great way to activate the feelings of joy within. Just reading that makes you feel a little lighter and more relaxed doesn’t it?

Well, if that doesn’t do it, then what will? Whatever the thought or image is, make sure you get a daily dose in order to keep yourself young, happy and at peace. Doing so has numerous health benefits, and when identified and used properly, is cheaper and better than any diet pill, drug or food out there!

Whether savoring a scoop of gelato, relishing in a job well done, experiencing a romantic moment, or watching an episode of Glee, recognize and cherish those moments you feel joyful. Try to sustain and bathe in the sensations for as long as you can and be able to recall them when you need them the most.

I recently attended a friend’s musical, and for an hour and a half it had me smiling from ear to ear, and from my heart, gut and, yes, even my liver. If he had not followed his calling to create, I would not have enjoyed the positive mental, physical and emotional benefits that came along with it.

Everyone has the capacity to bring joy to the world, or at least to someone else. If you don’t believe me or are not quite sure how, gimme a buzz -because my work gives me such joy, it would be my pleasure, literally, to help you figure it out!

P.S. The photo for this PGG is of my friend Alex whose play I reference in the essay. It’s from last weekend being silly making videos for my book. Click here or on image for a chuckle 🙂

Today’s PGG was originally published on May 4, 2010

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

Click here for info about Kristina’s coaching and speaking services

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Get essays like this delivered every Friday to your mailbox (with an introductory note about current events) as my PGG newsletter by texting CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to join my mailing list.

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Kristina Leonardi is a nationally recognized career and life coach, speaker and author who for over 14 years has empowered individuals to make lasting professional and personal changes aligned with their true passions and talents while fulfilling their role in the world at large. With a holistic and personal growth-oriented approach, she has helped hundreds of men and women over the past decade improve their job performance, enter or re-enter the job force, change careers, better manage their time and stress, and live happier, more meaningful, balanced lives. Her specialty is working with people who feel stuck or are in transition and can help you clarify exactly what you want to do, identify blocks, issues, and patterns in your way, and offer proven ideas, resources, and action steps to get you there.

Follow on Facebook and Instagram and Twitterfor up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

Check out my book Personal Growth Gab:Personal Growth Gab (PGG) Volume One: Thought-provoking, inspirational and entertaining essays to keep you connected to yourself and make sense of this journey called Lifeon Amazon

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

Click here for info about my coaching and speaking services

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Click here for a video that explains some ways in which I can help you

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Tags creativity, happiness, mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self awareness

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One Day at a Time

May 20, 2022 //

A good friend would often quote a Yiddish saying to me: Mensch tracht, Gott lacht. Man plans, God laughs.

The renowned Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh offers another perspective: “People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is possible only in the present.”

In this era of instant everything and a world of answers literally at our fingertips, one of the hardest things for us to do is live in that space where we don’t know what will happen next. With the unemployment rate at record highs, more and more people are learning the hard way how to experience life in this manner.

People in career transition, artists and freelancers have to operate without knowing where their next paycheck will be coming from. People in new relationships are at often at sea in unchartered emotional waters. Whenever we put ourselves in unfamiliar social territory or a take a trip to a place we’ve never been, we journey into the unknown — which is why it’s so important to travel; it’s one of the most natural ways to be in the present.

An easy way to add anxiety and stress in your life is to allow yourself to be overwhelmed by all the things you think you need to accomplish in the near or not-so-near future. The reality is that you can’t possibly know what tomorrow will bring, so you may as well trust that the right decision or action today will lead you where you need to go, even if you don’t know where you’re ultimately going.

So when your life is a big question mark or an empty slate, or if you find yourself in terra incognita, I can help you fill in the blanks and navigate your way through, or simply show you how to be okay with where you right now.

Give me a buzz and I will be the lighthouse in the fog, the compass in your pocket, to help guide you to your most authentic destination, in time and on time!

Originally published on September 14, 2010

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

Click here for info about Kristina’s coaching and speaking services

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Click here to learn more about Kristina Leonardi coaching and other services.

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Follow on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

Click here for info about my coaching and speaking services

Click here for some testimonials from past clients

Click here for a video that explains some ways in which I can help you

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Read over 100-star “Yelp” style reviews here

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

Tags change, mindfulness, one day at a time, patience, personal development, personal growth, presence, self reflection

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Tiptoe Through the Tulips

April 30, 2022 //

Spring has finally sprung! Everywhere you look, flowers and trees are blooming up a storm — the colorful symphony of tulips, lilacs, daffodils, cherry blossoms and dogwoods are waking up the city from its cold, long winter slumber, filling us with gorgeous eye candy and reminding us of the new possibilities that exist within and around us.

It’s such a fleeting moment; it only seems to last a week or two, so it’s now or never to take notice and appreciate the beauty and magic while it exists. This is a perfect time to pay attention to the prettiest new little things around you, and to celebrate these glorious gifts of Nature.

Beauty is one of the greatest pleasures in life, and a flower is one of the simplest and most tangible expressions of it. If you can’t soak up all that is staring you in the face right now, then how will you recognize and appreciate the more subtle beauty within and around you throughout the year?

In New York City we tend to rush from here to there, with our noses in our smartphones or blinders on as we think about whatever, when what we really need to do in those transitional times throughout the day is stop and smell the roses, literally and figuratively. Slowing down, taking a few deep breaths and becoming aware of your surroundings, especially when they are so lovely, is a great cure for stress and anxiety. I’m sure that if you just try it, like Mikey, you’ll like it!

Feeling a little curmudgeonly with all this zip-a-dee-doo-dah talk? Try spending some time enjoying the season and give me a buzz, I’ll help get things goin’ your way again…

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Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

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Today’s PGG was orginally published on April 13, 2010.

Get essays like this delivered every Friday to your inbox as my PGG newsletter by texting CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to join my mailing list.

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If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!

Click here for a video that explains some ways I can help you as a coach

Click here for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today.

Click here for some testimonials from past clients

**CLICK HERE FOR MY PODCAST-STYLE INTERVIEW WITH RICK YOUNG OF WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND RADIO SHOW**

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts. Slowly building my YouTube channel so you check that out and subscribe too!

Text CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to be added to my mailing list and be in the loop with my coaching and workshops as well as have these essays delivered to your inbox!

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Click here for my Instagram post that includes a video of the Angel Oak where you can see it in its full majesty!

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

Tags flowers, mindfulness, personal development, personal growth, self love, spring

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From Tiny to Mighty

April 23, 2022 //

An oak tree is just a small nut that persevered against the taunts of doubt and fear.~ Matshona Dhliwayo

Giant oak trees… have deep root systems that can extend two-and-one-half times their height. Such trees rarely are blown down regardless of how violent the storms may be. ~ Joseph B. Wirthlin

The Universe works in mysterious ways. I shot this video in August 2018. Exactly nine months later (oh, just the normal gestation period for a human), who knew I’d be standing in the shade of a 500-year-old oak, one of the oldest trees of its kind in our country!

The first half of 2018 was a season of doubt and fear for me in a way that I had not previously experienced. By allowing myself to be patient with the cycle, to process whatever thoughts and emotions I was presented with, and confront my fears, I ultimately became more sure of and secure in myself.

As a result of those growing pains, I now feel (most of the time!) as if I am rooted in the center of the Earth — and grounded in myself and my connection to humanity more than ever. This has given me a renewed inner strength and confidence in who I am and what I do, despite outer circumstances.

I’m always saying “the acorn doesn’t become an oak tree overnight,” but I never really thought about what it takes for that oak tree to continue to grow and withstand the multitude of external forces once it becomes a tree. Can you imagine what it has required for any living thing to be alive for almost half a millennium? What it has survived and been witness to?

I believe in the soul’s evolution through many lifetimes, so perhaps we don’t live that long biologically, but it can be interesting to think about our lives as part of a broader trajectory and understand the big-picture journey we are on, the lessons we need to learn, and the past experiences we need to heal.

Thank you Angel Oak for being a tangible reminder of it all.

Looking for a little support and fertilizer for your inner acorn? Give me a buzz and I’ll help you find the meaningful mojo to persist and withstand whatever nature brings your way!

Today’s PGG was orginally published on May 31, 2019.

Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul

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