Category: Mindfulness

Mindfulness provides access to powerful inner resources so we can change the way we see and ultimately experience difficult situations. We’re empowered to participate in these situations – and interact with the world at large – as we work with what arises instead of trying to escape.

10 Common Obstacles to Self-Reflection and How You Can Overcome Them For Good

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Mindfulness.

We start out great…and then something gets in the way. How many times has that happened to you? You think you really want to do something, but within a week you lose the desire. To track down the cause of this lack of motivation, we need a practice of self-reflection. But what happens when we lose the desire to maintain a reflective practice? That’s a big problem because that deprives you of a vital life tool. We cannot afford to lose our momentum or get sidetracked from developing the essential skill of self-reflection!

Cultivate a Reflective Practice that Nurtures Personal and Professional Growth

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Mindfulness.

A parent asks the child, “What are you doing?” Her response “I’m thinking.” The parent comes back with, “Don’t you think it would be better if you got up and did something constructive like cleaning your room instead?” We’re trained at an early age that “doing” and ‘’checking off tasks” is what’s important. We certainly aren’t taught a formula, system, or reflective practice to unpack our experiences. But I’m here to do that for you and we’ll get to that in a moment.

As a result, we’re caught up in the whirlwind of daily tasks and responsibilities. We race through life, rarely pausing to reflect on our actions, decisions, and experiences. However, cultivating a reflective practice can be a transformative journey that brings clarity, self-awareness, and personal growth. One of my favorite quotes helps bring this into perspective…

Empowering Everyday Rituals for Life Are Mindful, Meaningful & Mighty

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Mindfulness.

I was recently asked by a women’s empowerment leader, Dr. Christie de la Gandara, to share how everyday rituals can empower at-risk women. She’s deeply committed to fighting the current femicide crisis in Latin America — the killing of females because of their gender. She also included my contact information in her pamphlet of resources for these women at risk, which she shared with women leaders from 23 countries meeting at a recent conference. This is a huge honor and privilege for me. And I highly commend her for her hard work on behalf of these women!

But I ask you…would you have picked the topic of everyday rituals as being helpful for women fighting for their lives? Doesn’t it give you a clue as to how powerful ritual can be for our everyday well-being?

Have Your Strengths Become Your Weaknesses? Time to Use This Secret Weapon!

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Mindfulness, Stepping Forward.

This may startle you, but many of the excellent behaviors that help women rise in their field will eventually become the behaviors that keep them from further advancement. How can that be? When can excellent behaviors hold you back? Have your strengths become your weaknesses — how can you determine that? And then what can you do about it?

How to Increase Self-Understanding? Use This Powerful Mindfulness Exercise

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Mindfulness, Self-Leadership Skills, Spirituality, Stepping Forward.

“Why did I do that? Sometimes I don’t understand myself.” During a coaching session, has your client ever said that to you? Or perhaps you’ve felt that way yourself. If so, you’re not alone. Even though we live with ourselves 24/7, we don’t automatically possess total self-understanding. Just as it takes work to understand someone else, it takes time and effort to understand ourselves.

Oftentimes, we’re so busy and our lives and thoughts become so cluttered we get into a reactive mode rather than staying in a calm place of choice. This mindlessness makes us forgetful and causes us to feel separation from self, which creates a sense of merely existing rather than living a full and purposeful life. So how can harmony be restored? The answer lies in developing the skill of mindfulness. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. explains that

Category: Mindfulness

10 Common Obstacles to Self-Reflection and How You Can Overcome Them For Good

Cultivate a Reflective Practice that Nurtures Personal and Professional Growth

Empowering Everyday Rituals for Life Are Mindful, Meaningful & Mighty

Have Your Strengths Become Your Weaknesses? Time to Use This Secret Weapon!

How to Increase Self-Understanding? Use This Powerful Mindfulness Exercise

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