“Reflection” has a Latin root meaning “bent back” This could not be more true for what I’ve been doing if you follow me on any social channels, you may have noticed I took a break from social media…for 4 months.
Knowing when you are in Burnout is important.
It was in the 4th year after losing my dad suddenly, that I started to come out of the pressure of “sludging through,” or “toughening up and soldiering on” because….Life Goes On.
I went back to work very quickly. I went into covid isolation very much alone and grieving. I pushed and pushed to return to “normal” even when not much was normal for us all.
This caused extreme burnout in several areas, and in turn took its toll.
(From this experience I created Burnout Breakup Plan, a simple workbook to work through your own path to prevent or begin to recover from burnout. It’s $9 and comes with a video tutorial and google doc workbook.)
After 4 years of reflection,
I strongly oppose how society requires people who grieve to move at an expected/defined pace that is an arbitrary number of yrs defined by everyone but the person experiencing the loss. It is ludacris to have such expectations when each person is literally one of kind. How we grieve, grow, expand, learn, and live is just as unique.
So WTF does this have to do with coaching or my business?
In these last 4 years, I also had to rest, a TON.
During rest, I would sit with the truths of why I’m here and wrestle with the expectations of others and the practicalities of bills that must be paid. Here’s what I heard, when I sat with silence –
…sometimes for days…
How we focus ourselves is very important & reflection is an important part to regaining focus
〰️ Energy is expended intention
〰️ Intention is channeled thought
〰️ Imagination is the home to all that becomes realized in the outer world and inner world.
Our days are dances between inner and outer, and over time results in personal realization.
Our realities change as we change.
When we become aware of the change in real-time, this is where exponential growth occurs.
In business many are expected to cater to and follow blueprints, plans, strategy, branding guides, and other structures. Frankly these structures are boring, sometimes so unoriginal that logging out is what people want to do, but somehow they find dopamine has a hold on them…
Learning to be deliberate with your energy, intention, time, and attention is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s also a huge pillar of my coaching practice.
What is life if we’re always looking forward, without being present?
What is life if we become beholden to dopamine and algorithms that wouldn’t exist if one day we all lost power? What then will we as people be sitting with, in our minds and hearts?
Focus is a skill.
Flow is a lifestyle.
As we come into a new age of exponential stimulation overdrive…
Focus and Flow will help you remain centered and confident with self-efficacy.
Taking this time for rest and reflection allowed me to accept and surrender to more of myself and who I’m becoming. I wouldn’t trade the weeks that ends did not meet. I wouldn’t trade the times I contemplated giving up being a coach as I watched hundreds of other coaches “succeed” financially.
I wouldn’t trade the peace of mind I felt by saying f*ck the algorithm and all the digital clutter, fake metrics, and trolls.
What I’ve been up to is the very work I do with private coaching clients.
This work is deep and long lasting…
it is the raw and unfiltered
the deliberate intention of growth & expansion
the urge to become the best version of you, which can no longer be ignored…
…despite obstacles, old stories, loss, pressures from society, and failure.
This work, that I’m absolutely meant to do through coaching, art, music, and creative life, is worth it.
I’m very happy to be back from a sabbatical and I’m very ready to coach those who want long lasting change as a person who seeks quality fulfillment and peace in life.
If you resonate with any of these thoughts and would like to explore working together, book a free call and we can chat.
I hope to be writing more in 2024 as I come out of my shell again and I can’t wait to share what I learn in my research, discussions with creative people, and from my direct experiences in living in Flow.
-Anna
