Annelies M. Gentile, MA, PCC
Integrative Life & Leadership Coach
Consultant | Facilitator | Process Artist | Author | Speaker
Hello Dear Ones,
It's been a very interesting few months! How are YOU? I publish the Inspiring Nuggets newsletter five times a year based on the five elements/seasons of eastern medicine. The last publication you received was in June. If you're new to my newsletters, welcome! You have made it to "late summer". Let me know what's changing in your world.
Since last we connected, I lovingly coached executives and leaders from corporate to non-profits to entrepreneurs, and professionals facing change helping them take brave bold action.
Coaching through change can show up in many ways...
- I helped a CA fire-fighter chief face grief and plan for retirement
- coached a NC non-profit director to recognize her value and her dream
- guided global C-suite executives to shift limited thinking and strategize care for aging parents
- nurtured entrepreneurs to embrace creativity, identify blocks and purpose
- spoke to law professionals about ethics, wellbeing and mental health
I also popped by the beach a few times, tip-toed through tall sunflowers with my mom, held the hand of two dying friends, a dying neighbor plus counseled a widow and another facing the next phase of his life in a wheel chair.... I also spoke at a funeral, planned a wedding, foraged for mushrooms, tried new recipes, updated my CV/Resume, applied for an art exhibition at the NC Medical Board, started a hula hooping group, paddle boarded at the lake, wore a tiara with my niece, saw two huge snakes, made a piñYoda, resined my art table, facilitated Art in the Garden, hugged many people and had many lovely dinner parties. I'd like to say I lost weight but that didn't happen. Although I did gain three new clients! So, it's all good.
How are YOU? Email me. I want to know. Let's connect to what matters. In the meantime, remember to ... B R E A T H E.
Need/want a creative co-pilot to navigate change? I'd love to coach you! My favorite client is the leader who cares to connect to what matters. Are you ready for change with meaning? Let's connect!
Enjoy Late Summer and its juicy ripe goodness!
Love and light, Annelies
LATE SUMMER :: Harvest :: Element of Earth
Each season I provide inspiring nuggets of wisdom through my newsletter which includes invitations to upcoming events. My goal is to help YOU better cope and create through change. I also aim to help you create a mindful approach to resiliency in the face of personal, professional and cultural change.
Seasonal teachings come through both my personal and professional experiences and the Chinese Five Elements philosophy of Wu Xing (wŭ ching) and Tao, among other philosophies and sciences which highlight and explore unique nature-based ways to understand the processes of change.Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend! Want to hear more? Invite me to speak at your next conference, place of business, networking or civic groups. Enjoy!
One of the ways I help professionals become better leaders in life and at work is to help them cope, navigate and manage change. We cannot separate the human condition from our work life. They're inseparable. When we try to separate our humanity from the tasks, lists and linear roles of the work-world we harden ourselves and become hard towards others. As life gives us a variety of challenges to cope with, exploring problem-solving through nature is not only interesting and inspiring, it's also a unique way to better understand our own nature.
According to Eastern tradition of Tao, there are five elements expressed through five seasons each represented by an element, color and emotional characteristics. Here's a simplified explanation.
• Winter : Water : Blue : Stillness : Fear
• Spring : Wood : Green : Creativity : Anger
• Summer : Fire : Red : Connectivity : Joy
• Late Summer : Earth : Yellow : Generosity : Sympathy
• Autumn : Metal : White : Acknowledgement : Grief
The season of Late Summer sneaks on in around mid-July and carries us back into autumn. The sunlight shifts, tops of trees yellow, the "back-to-school" bugs chirp late afternoon into night and early morning. Only the most keen realize something new has arrived. What have you noticed shifting in the natural world? What have you noticed shifting in you?
- Late Summer is related to the element of EARTH which feeds and inspires generosity, sympathy, harvesting, nourishment, and transformation. It's also represented by the color yellow and upholds soothing, sweet sounds. Think of the earth element in metaphor.
- Let's explore just one Earth/Late Summer quality; harvest. As we all continue to find ourselves pivoting through change... the earth element reminds us to take what's useful and release the rest.
- Harvest the Moment! It's a time to squeeze the best out of summer, friends, family, finances, food and to begin to stock up for the next seasonal wave of change. Get vacations in, write those grants, sign up for that class, program or retreat, hire a coach, hug your friends and make the sort of plans you know will take you into the next quarter-- as fully prepared as possible.
- The snag is we cannot prepare for everything. On the flip side, being too prepared, too stocked can be burdensome, anxiety provoking. Think: over-abundance; a state of too much and a yearning for perfection. Find the fine line for harvesting "just enough". Consider harvest as it relates to "just enough" as it relates to you and your relationships, business and/or work. Here's some reflection questions to explore.
Look Within
To integrate the element of EARTH in your life and work, explore these ideas.
- Try new things. Variety is the spice of life!
- What feels most fruitful for you at this time?
- In what ways do you tend (or not tend) to yourself and others?
- How well do you receive compliments, support or even criticism from others?
- How do you know when enough is enough?
Contact Annelies
Email: annelies@conduitforchange.com
Website: www.conduitforchange.com
Phone: 919-345-8396