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Maria Connolly, LPC Facebook Facebook Facebook

A New Way of Thinking Unlocks Your Full Potential For Happy Success

If you’re dissatisfied with life, a new way of thinking is the first step toward creating a new action and way of being that brings you happy success.In 2006, I chose the name “Neways” for my business, because I was overflowing with the desire to offer women new ways of thinking, acting and being in the world. Today I’d like to share more of my story.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results‘” (Albert Einstein). The truth of this statement resonates with us on a deep level because we’ve all done it!  We get stuck in a rut and we don’t see any other way of doing or being, hence our dreams remain out of reach. 

If what we’ve learned and practiced in the past isn’t serving us, it’s time to take a step back and assess why it’s not working. We must look for a new way of thinking that supports a new way of acting. 

Admittedly, it isn’t easy to begin thinking in a new way. Billions of broken resolutions prove this. Maybe you’ve broken a few yourself over the years. That’s because our brains are extremely efficient, sometimes taking too many shortcuts! Neuroscience calls it “habituation” — neurons stop firing once they have sufficient information about an unchanging stimulus. You literally don’t see what’s right in front of you, because you’ve seen it so much. 

Once we’ve learned something, a pathway is etched into our brain, making it harder to break free from that automatic path. If we’ve practiced it for many years, it takes tremendous effort to change. This can either work to our advantage (helpful habits) or against us (unhelpful habits). For a fact, when we say we’re in a rut, we really are.

My mission: supporting women in finding a new way of thinking, acting, and being in the world.

Over the years people have asked why my somatic coaching business is named “Neways”. This name emerged from a lifelong passion and journey. I’m driven by a powerful desire to have a voice and stand up for myself. This yearning for authentic self-expression and advocacy took root within me from a very young age.

As a teenager, I knew I wanted to pursue a path that would allow me to guide, support, and empower others in their personal growth and healing. I was captivated by the fields of philosophy and psychology, endlessly fascinated by the study of human behavior and the complex factors that shape our experiences and worldviews.

My curiosity extends beyond just the mental and emotional realms – I have an insatiable thirst to understand what it truly means to live well. How can we inhabit our bodies fully and mindfully? How can we build fulfilling connections with others while honoring our innermost selves? These questions continue to fuel my exploration of holistic well-being.

The name “Neways” encapsulates this lifelong quest. It speaks to the new perspectives, novel approaches, and pioneering pathways I aim to facilitate through somatic coaching.  The word “soma” refers to the living body, and somatic coaching focuses on the mind-body connection and embodied awareness.

With the name “Neways” I wanted to suggest new pathways or novel approaches to well-being that go beyond just the mental sphere. It implies exploring alternative or innovative ways of achieving holistic health and personal growth by tapping into the wisdom of the body.

By attuning to the wisdom held within our bodies, we can discover new ways of being, relating, and thriving.

My work is driven by the belief that unlocking our somatic intelligence allows us to peel back layers of conditioning, release long-held tensions and patterns, and reclaim our authenticity. 

“Neways” is an invitation to embark on a transformative journey; one that empowers women to give voice to their truth, embody their courage, and create their unique evolutionary path. Yes, there is more than one New Way to explore. However, as I’ve worked with women from around the globe, I see that many of you have in common these things:Have you ever felt like you’re in a rut? It isn’t easy to begin thinking in a new way.

  • You want something “New” —  a fresh start, reinvention, creativity, thinking outside the box.
  • You want processes to follow, hence “Ways” — paths, mindsets, actions, possibilities, taking chances.

I love that my clients experience a thrilling aha moment when they connect the dots; they find their own “Neways” of thinking, acting, and being.  Are you like me in the following ways? 

  • Are you naturally oriented toward change, growth, and improvement? 
  • Do you like challenging yourself?
  • Does it make you happy to set a goal and map the baby steps to reach it? 

Those things thrill me! That’s why my business has evolved over the past 22 years; my practices are very different than when I started.

Three key elements that make “Neways” the best name for my business

  1.  I am committed to guiding clients toward discovering new ways of being, new perspectives, and new embodied experiences that can catalyze positive transformation. 
  2. I propose a departure from conventional cognitive-based methods; and embrace somatic intelligence and bodily awareness as powerful tools for self-discovery and healing.
  3. “Neways” also symbolizes the uniquely tailored journeys I co-create with each client, helping them find their own “new ways” of living more fully and authentically, aligned with their deepest selves

Overall, “Neways” resonates with the somatic coaching principles of exploration, integration, and cultivating fresh possibilities for growth and fulfillment.

Your “Dream Big, Start Small” here’s the one thing you can do today.

Start exercising your “New Way of Thinking” muscle. Take a common item (cup of coffee, cat, flower)  and explain it out loud to someone in an entirely new way, avoiding its common name or how it’s usually described, so you see it from all angles with fresh eyes. Notice how this also reignites your sense of awe and wonder. Feel how newfound creativity flows to your other projects throughout your day.

Start exercising your “New Way of Thinking” muscle. Take a common item (cup of coffee, cat, flower)  and explain it out loud to someone in an entirely new way, avoiding its common name or how it’s usually described, so you see it from all angles with fresh eyes. Notice how this exercise also reignites your sense of awe and wonder. Feel how your newfound creativity flows to your other projects throughout your day. When you feel stuck, practice this exercise and see how it sparks innovation and creativity. 

To create change more quickly, take a holistic perspective that includes mindfulness around everything about you. I invite you to learn how Somatic Coaching can help you tune into what your body is telling you and how you can give it exactly what it needs when it needs it. Please contact me and schedule a 30-minute complimentary consultation by phone or via Zoom, to see if we’re a good fit for working together.

 

Photos from depositphoto.com and  Paola Aguilar on Unsplash

Personal Growth - Professional Growth


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