Maria Connolly, LPC
If the words “grateful” and “thankful” were colors, in the shade of red, which would be the darker, richer red? Many of us use those words interchangeably. They are closely related. But there are fundamental differences between the two. Understanding the difference between thankful and grateful will deepen and enrich your mindfulness practices.
I congratulate you! You’re doing very well at incorporating a self-care routine into your busy lives. You’re eating better, sleeping longer and deeper, and exercising more. And it’s paying off! You tell me that you have more energy and feel so much better. I’m proud of you. But may I bring to your attention a trend I see? People are trying to steal a few moments to cram self-care into the busyness of life, which ultimately diminishes or negates the intention of self-care. The result I’m seeing is that this approach doesn’t allow space for soul care.
Do you feel powerful? If your answer is, “Some days, yes; some days, not at all!” I understand how one day you can feel full of energy and clarity; and then the next day you feel drained, deflated and uncertain. Our personal power is dramatically affected by external forces beyond our control… or are they?
We’re living in interesting times. Many women have been inspired to do something more meaningful with their lives. They have a spark, an inspiration, a message they need to share with others. Do you feel it too? Perhaps, in the moment, this idea fills you up and makes you feel powerful. But the reality is we live in a world that can easily drain your power away, if you let it.
This may be controversial, but I have to speak up…
As coaches, we’re often told we need to specialize in one area to stand out from the crowd, like nutrition coach, business coach, public speaking coach, mindset coach, personal development coach, etc. But to make a real difference in our clients’ lives, we can’t be so hyperfocused on only one aspect of life. Everything affects everything else. We need a holistic approach and that involves a self-care mindset!
We can learn a lot from plants. They are constantly in a cycle of growing and changing. If you pay attention to and provide what each plant likes and needs, you’ll have a lovely, productive garden. Of course, they can suffer transplant shock when they’re moved from one spot to another, but when you give them the right amount of a plant food like MiracleGro, they take off like crazy! What does this have to do with your personal and professional growth?
We similarly are constantly changing, but we’re not necessarily growing unless we choose to do so. But aren’t we the happiest when we are growing? I know I am. And that’s where the Miracle Grow of Mentor Coaching comes in…