A mindful & embodied way forward

How are you feeling, in your body?

This question is sometimes met with a little confusion. We are used to staying in our head when asked, “How are you?”. Our brain does the mental computing of whether we are safe to answer with the emotion we are really processing or if we simply say, ‘fine’. It’s a social dance of psychological safety and should’s.

When I asked my client how she was feeling in her body the tears begun to well to her surprise. She thought she had already expressed what was going on for her.

I was not surprised that once she listened to her body more of her truth emerged. The election news had recently broke and as an immigrant and Latina she feels the real consequences threatened by the winning candidate.

Our sense of safety and belonging is felt on a cellular level.

When we don’t have the space and skills to feel and process the anxiety and stress in our body the alternative is to simply ignore it.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it go away. It still sits in our body and we end up being disconnected at the neck. Our mind rehashes the fears and we react with our most practiced response, such as overworking, becoming numb, outbursts with those we love, etc.

When we are disconnected from our full humanity we end up making choices and behaving in ways that make sense in our head, but ultimately cause harm to ourselves and others.

As change agents and social impact professionals it is ESSENTIAL that we re-connect the fibers between our head and heart. In practicing embodied leadership we are able to utilize the wisdom in our body and create more sustainable energy for the long road of social change.

Investing the time and energy into holistic leadership coaching is about integrating this wisdom and wellness into the impact you want to create in the world.

The internal work is real and worthwhile.

November is Native American Heritage Month:

Much of my holistic leadership approach comes from indigenous wisdom. Similar to the women’s suffrage movement* that utilized the wisdom of Native model of government that included women as equal democratic actors, I am also indebted to the ancient practices that honor our connections and denounce the illusion of separateness.
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​*Unfortunately suffragists did not advocate for indigenous women. However, Native American activists like Zitkála-Šá continued to organize and advocate with white mainstream suffragists. Not until The Snyder Act in 1924, did American-born Native women gain citizenship. But until as late as 1962, individual states still prevented them from voting on contrived grounds, such as literacy tests, poll taxes and claims that residence on a reservation meant one wasn’t also a resident of that state.

OPEN CALL FOR SOCIAL IMPACT GIFT IDEAS:

I need your help! The season of gift giving is upon us. Where we spend our $$ makes a difference.

Do you have a product or favorite company that I should include in my gift list in two weeks? PLEASE SHARE! Hit reply and let me know.

Not sure how to practice listening to your body?
Craving a moment to pause, breathe, & be encouraged in community?
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​You’re Invited to join the Live Call This Saturday Nov. 9 @ 10:05 am CST (11:05 am EST/ 8:05am PST)

• 25 minutes to pause, re-center, and discover ways to rejuvenate yourself in this busy world.
• Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nhs-skcd-rxa
  Or dial: ‪(US) +1 513-666-7417‬ PIN: ‪216 444 401‬#

“This call totally shifted my mood. It felt so good to be supported in this way.”

– Rejuvenation Community member