Annelies M Gentile, MA, PCC

Integrative Life & Leadership Coach | Consultant | Speaker | Facilitator | Author | Process Artist

Hello Dear Ones,

Since last we connected, I've noticed some changes. Spring is revealing itself in new places, as if large branches have died off and green shoots are popping up in unexpected places.

I'm noticing what I'm noticing. What are you noticing? How does noticing feel in your body wisdom? What do you notice about our collective societal body of those around you?

It's those quiet little teachings from within that tell us a deeper truth than what we "think" we know as best. Trust your inner authority as TRUTH. It's an "ing" thing. Listen, pay attention to the "speak-ings" from within. Those little teachings are valuable data, leading us towards new paths through new ideas. Eyes wide open.

Lately, I've begun to notice a shift in my business towards personal enrichment services but not particularly by choice. The corporate world is really changing, and its changing fast.

When I first completed my Masters degree in Coaching and acquired professional ICF coach certification in 2015, I aimed for corporate contracts. I wanted to impact change from within organized systems, bringing creative process to leadership, culture, and wellbeing. Amazing opportunities to coach high-level executives within the City of Raleigh, emergency room physicians and healthcare admins were some of my favorite successes stories.

However-- what I've seen occur lately, especially post covid, is a massive draw-back of funding which used to go to hiring outsiders like me, in. This has been a conundrum on a number of levels. Stress and mental health crisis are up while funding is cut.

What I also witness; Human Resource reps who'd hire me and coaches like me are retiring in waves! So, I'm finding myself.. and maybe this is my age as well (50 this year!)... getting less corporate contracts yet helping more professionals entering retirement, caring for aging parents and struggling with compassion fatigue. They also wish to nurture creativity for healing and to process their grief associated with so much change. Some are facing deeply personal considerations like legacy, and even end-of-life choices.

Carrying people home from life to death has been something I'm good at and have been called to do for decades but never advertised quite this way.

People come to me to die, to shed old ideas, stories that don't quite fit any more, and to help them cross a threshold beyond uncertainty. Sometimes that's inclusive of a fresh new start. Sometimes it's guiding someone beyond this life.

Recently, my husband and I were invited to hold sacred space playing music at a green burial. We were at Bluestem in Chapel Hill, NC which offers 87 acres of rolling green hills and natural areas for green burials. We were gifted a heartfelt opportunity to hold sacred space through music making. It was the first day of spring, a bright and sunny, chilly, windy day.

We all play our parts in life's creative process. This experience is an active reminder... we are all walking each other home in every moment, every day.

Coaching for LIFE (Leaning In For Everything) is what I seem to be evolving to serve more of. It's not a clearly defined business label nor an expected path. It's what the world is coming to me for. It's asking... and reminding me to carve my own path as I help you bend and mend through arcs of change. Perhaps that's always been the case. Perhaps, along the way, I forgot my own path too.

I notice my sweet-spot is evolving... towards helping you dismantle, re-create and accept what's changing versus pushing progress to an unfulfilling end.

What do you think? Life and career aren't separate, and endings come for all of us. What are you honestly facing? Here to help no matter where in the arc of change you might find yourself.

So, in honor of my continued commitment to share useful and inspiring processes to nurture you and those you serve through change, BELOW is this season's Inspiring Nuggets newsletter. Enjoy and thank you for your continued listening and reading.

I publish Inspiring Nuggets seasonally, five times a year and aim to be as inspirational as possible to nurture connection, and to present ideas for perspective. Enjoy and please pass this on to those who'll enjoy it too!

This is Inspiring Nuggets' 10th anniversary! Love receiving this newsletter? Please click here to donate any amount to support its creation. I put months of thought, dedication and writing into what you are reading right now. Thank you!

Many blessings, love and light, Annelies ✨

Five times a year, I publish Inspiring Nuggets Newsletter. 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.

Inspiring Nuggets includes invitations to upcoming events, classes, retreats and workshops. Each newsletter aims to help you create a mindful mindset and provide resources to build resiliency in the face of personal, professional and cultural change. Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend! LEARN MORE at conduitforchange.com

Spring is here in full-bloom already! Our daffodils bloomed way back on Jan 6th. A bizarre and wonderful early garden surprise. I trust wherever you are you're able to enjoy tiny expressions of spring's emergence. Where we live, in Raleigh NC-- animated by bursts of color and small movements in nature let us know spring is emerging a little more each day.

Bluebirds are repeatedly nesting while migrating cedar waxwings arrived, pooped generously on our cars then left. We even saw an orange Tanager! Our hellebores are blooming in soft pinks, green-ivory and deep purples. I took time to invest in my joy by visiting two arboretums this month, and forage for morels with a friend.

What do you notice about spring's emergence this year?

Besides sights, sounds and smells, a unique way to experience the season of spring is to explore it via metaphor. According to Eastern traditions there are 5 seasons each represented by an element, a color and a series of emotional characteristics. Here's a simplified explanation.

Winter : Water : Blue : Stillness : Fear

Spring is related to the WOOD element which represents the emotion of anger and informs a sense of renewal, forgiveness, vision, organizing, hope and most importantly-- creativity. Through the season of spring, we are invited to think and act in an upward and outward movement.

THINK: seeds bursting out of hard hull, bulbs piercing cool ground, shoots pushing out dormant branches. When we embrace an upward and outward movement, we are freed from resistance and unnecessary struggle.

What are you tolerating?

Interestingly, WOOD element in the season of Spring is associated with the emotion of anger. It fits though. It may come as a surprise to note that sometimes we need an emotional force, like anger to fuel growth, momentum, innovation and creativity. WOOD energy invites us to shift from stuck to movement. I'm not saying to get angry. I'm saying to look for the gift in what's upsetting you. Check-in and ask...

What's the gift hidden within your anger?

What might it be pointing to? Act on that.

In the context of WOOD in Spring, a gift mindset asks you to pause and consider the gift in this moment. Think growth through gratitude. Regardless of the origin of upset. There's no room for causing more pain, bursting through without consideration. And that includes self-sabotage. Acknowledge what you are angry about and how you clutch it. Invest in discovering how to release.

TWO TRUTHS:

1. The more INformation we take in... the more we are FORMED by that information.
2. The more EXformation we practice, the more FORMED we are by its release. We become what is emerging.

EXforming are practices that help us release. THINK: "ing" things. Playing, singing, biking, walking, talking, swinging, writing, creating, swimming, breathing... etc-- you get the point.

These are not frivolous practices! These are required sheddings for our evolution that lead to the ability to be agile, expressive and adaptive to change both in the moment and over-time.

Last week my husband and I presented for NAMI the North Carolina Association for Mental Illness. We invited participants (staff and community) to explore creative expression for conflict management, team and community wellness and personal and professional flourishing. The next morning I received a text to welcome us back to present at their conference. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND NEEDED WORK FOR OUR TIME. The time is now.

Please share me with your company and community, congregation, friends and family. I cannot ask more humbly in any other way. Thank you in advance.

With spring comes new life. Tiny new buds and green shoots begin to emerge and seem to announce, "I'm ready to grow". Humans are no different. Even under adverse situations, we naturally aim ourselves towards improvement, progress and towards gaining the most success we possibly can. Striving to thrive is fundamental to our human evolutionary success, (even when it may look like self-sabotage or feel like we're going backwards). Take time to examine your own contribution.

In the spirit of spring, ask yourself…

• What’s new in your life?
• What needs organizing?
• What is emerging?
• What are you/we giving birth to, literally, metaphorically, symbolically?
• What are you most angry at? And what might you do to creatively transform this energy into an action that produces feel-good results for you and others around you?

I trust you've gained valuable insight here with me today. Take what's useful. If you need/want more support or guidance, let's connect. Find more free resources here.

Want to learn more? Invite me to create a retreat for you, speak at your next conference, place of business, networking or civic group. From boardrooms to classrooms to living rooms you'll find presentations with me to be immersive treasured experiences! Schedule a call with me.

Email: annelies@conduitforchange.com
Website: www.conduitforchange.com
Phone: 919-345-8396