Category: Self-Leadership Skills

Being Present — The Daily Practice of SEEING the People in Your Life

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

“Hurrying and delaying are alike ways of trying to resist the present.” ~ Alan W. Watts

The world’s greatest resource is not its gold, silver, coffee or chocolate, despite what some people say. The world’s, or rather, OUR greatest resource is people. The people we’re joined to by family and romantic relationships. The ones we rub shoulders with at work. The people we meet from across the globe online. Even the countless people we don’t see, because we’re not being present, as we run daily errands.

Nothing has made this more apparent than the 6-foot-distancing COVID-19 mandate. Close contact means so much to us. Raise your hand if you’re missing hugs from friends and family or coffee dates with colleagues. I am! Without it, we’ve become stressed and depressed. Sadly some have even ended their lives in suicide, because they couldn’t handle it. Clearly, being self-aware of our need for social contact is only half of the equation to being happy.

The future of our planet requires a commitment to being present and truly seeing the people who cross our paths. Whether in business or social settings, the well-being of each person contributes to a sustainable and enjoyable life journey.

Impulse Management: Navigating Them Without Losing Track of Your Vision

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

“People often fail to make lasting changes because they don’t commit to one path long enough to see results.” ~ MK Mueller

Impulse management? Really? You thrive on trying something new! You start one thing, then impulsively dart to another. Or you get distracted and second guess yourself, “Did I make the right choice?” From impulse buying to impulse eating, impulsive action takes a bad rap. But impulses are not bad. They are pieces of information. And if you listen carefully, they can tell you a great deal.

For example, you go down one career path and discover someone’s already doing it, so you feel there’s no place for you; because surely they do it better, since they were there first. Impulsively you jump to another career path. What does that impulse tell you? It’s very revealing, isn’t it?

Keeping My Commitment to Myself — Why Is It So Hard, but So Necessary?

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

“Stay committed to your decisions but flexible in your approach.” ~ Tony Robbins

“Why is it so hard to keep my commitment to myself, when I always keep my commitments to others?” That’s what a client asked, and I assured her she’s not alone. I’ve been there myself. However, mindfully contemplating this very revealing question uncovered some deeply held beliefs and, as a result, opened up opportunities for major personal growth, improving her self-esteem and self-leadership skills.

Can you relate? You want to lose weight, but your family likes goodies, so you stock the cupboards with them in mind, knowing it’s going to make it harder on you. Or you want a regular exercise program, but your sister calls and wants to go shopping…oh, well, you can exercise later, right? But that doesn’t happen.

Here are some commitments to self we tend to make and break. What would you add to this list?

Will You Work from Home Post Pandemic? Self Leadership Skills Required!

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

“Self-care is, fundamentally, about bringing balance back to a life that has grown imbalanced from too many commitments or responsibilities.” ~ Robyn L. Gobin, author of The Self-Care Prescription

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your work routine? Do you still go to the office to work? Or were you forced to work from home? Perhaps you already worked from home as an entrepreneur, coach or business owner. Whatever your circumstances, this unique time in our history creates an opportunity to think about what you really want from life, including whether or not you’ll work from home post pandemic.

As with many of my clients, I had to quickly learn how to work from home. Thankfully, I was already using Zoom to work with clients who live in different parts of the country (and the world!) so was able to transition to that format very easily. I’m also grateful I already had self-leadership and self-care practices and routines in place, which allow me to balance new demands in a healthful way. It’s like riding a bicycle — we have to keep moving forward to keep your balance.

Bored by Routine? Learn to Unleash the Power of Repetition to Improve Your Health and Life

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Health and Wellness, Self-Leadership Skills, Somatic Coaching.

Is predictability passé? Do you thrive on change? Is chasing novel experiences your thing? Do you view routine activities as boring, even a waste of time? I get it. I’m the kind of person who craves something different. For example, I’m not happy unless I rearrange my furniture every few months. But I’ve learned that tapping into the power of repetition and routine actually gives me more freedom to enjoy novel experiences in my life, and I think it will work for you, too.

The number one reason why routine and the power of repetition gives you more freedom, is that repetitive actions reduce your overall stress levels. Every time you have to stop and make a conscious decision, you’re adding stress to your life. But once the decision is made, you’re free to not think about it again unless you choose.

Doing things routinely allows you to become more centered. I’ll get to how to do that in just a moment. However, let me first assure you that learning to love the power of repetition will improve not only your mental health, but also your physical health. So many people tell me they don’t like the rigidity of counting calories, tracking their food intake, or doing the same exercise routines. With a simple mindset change, you can flip this thinking on its head!

Category: Self-Leadership Skills

Being Present — The Daily Practice of SEEING the People in Your Life

Impulse Management: Navigating Them Without Losing Track of Your Vision

Keeping My Commitment to Myself — Why Is It So Hard, but So Necessary?

Will You Work from Home Post Pandemic? Self Leadership Skills Required!

Bored by Routine? Learn to Unleash the Power of Repetition to Improve Your Health and Life

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