Author: Maria Connolly

4 Core Components of Resilience: How to Become a More Resilient Person

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Controlling Stress, Handling Change, Positive Mindset, Self-Leadership Skills.

“If you can see yourself as an artist, and you can see that your life is your own creation, then why not create the most beautiful story for yourself?” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Life is full of unexpected twist and turns; some are pleasant and welcomed, others are devastating. At times we may think we just can’t endure it. Especially is this so after the loss of a loved one to death or a cherished privilege is snatched away from you, such as a dream job, a vocation that has defined your identity, or your security. What is it that makes us get back up, dust ourselves off and keep going? It’s the quality of resilience.

Be Patient with Yourself by Mindfully Observing Without Judgment

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Handling Change, Self-Leadership Skills.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This pandemic doesn’t seem like it’s going away any time soon. As the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months, our patience may begin to run thin. Since we know this, it will be helpful to review how you can become more lovingly patient with yourself.

While you may plan to use the stay-at-home order to feverishly clean your home, write a book, or work on increasing your mastery of a new skill, you might find yourself feeling too down to do so. And that might lead you to feeling worthless or unproductive.

Now is not the time to put such undue pressure on yourself. The stress and worry of trying to make sense of these unpredictable times, is hard on us, whether we admit it or not. It can’t help but change us, as it changes the very world around us.

10 Principles of Mastery — Become Highly Skilled and In Demand

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Self-Leadership Skills.

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.” ~ Robert Greene

Now that we have more free time to finally master a skill, where has the motivation gone? Maybe you created a list of things you could do, during this stay-at-home social distancing. However, now that over a month has passed, has your list been neglected? I understand. During stressful times, it’s hard to focus. Our bodies are flooded with stress hormones that make us pull back in, to keep ourselves safe. We feel tired and afraid to start anything new. That’s why I think it’s time to redirect our focus. And the principles of mastery will help us do that.

Firstly, I encourage you to get outside for a walk, dust off your dreams, turn down the noise from the news, and focus on the one thing you really want to master. Take a notebook with you and jot down ideas as they come to you. When you find a spot to sit, create a checklist of all the things about the subject you already know, and then the things you want to know.

A book that has really helped me is Mastery by Robert Greene. After studying the lives of numerous influential figures, he learned that our culture has many myths about genius that need to be debunked, and he distilled the wisdom of the ages, revealing the secret to greatness in his book.

Become Smarter – 7 Secrets Leaders Use Daily to Increase their Intellect

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Self-Leadership Skills.

“You are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way.” ~ Jennifer Freeman

In this fast-paced world, it takes tremendous mental agility to keep up. Especially in coaching and therapy professions, we have to stay current on how to help people as they face new challenges, PLUS how to run a business using modern technology. For example, now that we’re totally relying on video conferencing, I’ve noticed that switching to this technology has taken a toll on my being grounded and centered. Sometimes I just don’t feel smart enough. And when that feeling washes over me, this is what I do to become smarter…

My goal is to learn something new every day. My daily practice of mindfulness makes it so much easier to do this, for I’m constantly aware of how I’m being in my surroundings. This increases what I understand and it exercises my brain, so it’s functioning at peak capacity.

Leaders Are Readers — 4 Reasons Why Reading Promotes Success!

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Embodied Leadership, Life Skills, Self-Leadership Skills.

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ~ Anna Quindlen

Books reveal the full range of human experience like nothing else does. You’d have to live hundreds of years to experience, in person, what you can experience by reading books. Great leaders have long known and used this “secret” to their advantage. Yes, leaders are readers.

Even if you’re not a born reader, you can learn to love to read. It starts with mindfully feeling gratitude for the privilege to read. There was a time that owning a book was impossible. Before the printing press (known as the Dark Ages) people had to depend on public readings. They were truly dark ages intellectually, politically, economically and so forth. Books brought enlightenment.

Now people take books for granted. And that can give those who desire leadership roles an advantage! There’s a world of wisdom just waiting for you within books that many are missing. In fact, with the current world situation, many of us are spending more time at home. This is a great opportunity to keep your mind and heart open by reading.

Author: Maria Connolly

4 Core Components of Resilience: How to Become a More Resilient Person

Be Patient with Yourself by Mindfully Observing Without Judgment

10 Principles of Mastery — Become Highly Skilled and In Demand

Become Smarter – 7 Secrets Leaders Use Daily to Increase their Intellect

Leaders Are Readers — 4 Reasons Why Reading Promotes Success!

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