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Inspiring Nuggets
From Annelies & Conduit for Change, LLC
Annelies M. Gentile, MA, PCC
Integrative Life & Leadership Coach
Consultant | Facilitator | Process Artist | Author | Speaker
Hello Dear Ones!
YOU have made it to "Late Summer"! Hope this finds you well. How are you? I'm celebrating 15 years as a coach and 10 years publishing this newsletter! What are you celebrating?
First published in 2013, Inspiring Nuggets is based on fundamentals of the creative process and systems of change. Nestled within are teachings of the five elements/seasons of eastern medicine. It's sent to you with love, five times a year.
The last publication you received was in May 2023. If you're new to my newsletters, welcome! If you're new to me -- hello! My nephew drew me this summer. I'm the one on the left. Hi! : )
My goal is always to be as inspirational and as honest as possible, to nurture connection, present ideas for perspective, and to encourage you to stay curious alongside adversity. What's changing in your world? Email or call, share what's good, what's new or what's difficult. I'm here to help, here to listen, here to nurture you through endings and beginnings of all sorts.
Since last we connected... I held sacred creative space at the International Organizational Development Network Summit inviting participants to pause, breathe and center as they painted, attended the Southeastern Documentary Filmmakers Conference, searched for the recent supernova in the pinwheel galaxy through a Dob telescope, attended an Art Salon, facilitated our Annual Talent Show Garden Party, ate tapas with a old friend, drank prosecco with a new friend, celebrated several friends entering retirement, read the book Awe out-loud with family members, planned an unusual event called the Armageddon Dinner Party (there's room for you! Details below.), added another layer of resin on my art table, paddleboarded on the lake, mushroom foraged in the woods, enjoyed a personal silent retreat at a 500 acre spiritual center with five alligators within eyesight, helped my sweetie with a few teambuilding events, saw the Barbie movie (read my thoughts), spent many months (and still am) troubleshooting a new health issue of eczema on my face, became gluten-free, lost three pounds, gained six new clients, got hired to speak at a synagogue in FL, lovingly cared for our niece and nephew for AntSis and UG Camp (see adorable photo above) and of course lovingly coached executives and leaders from all walks of life. Everything is connected! What's new with you?
I've been told working with me is like having a private muse, a connection to the divine in all things, a spiritual guide. Sometimes our work together is brisk and bright with obvious shifts. Other times it's quiet and slow, tender. Working through the unknown, across a threshold is a birth of sorts. Know that working with me will always be profound, this I can promise.
Here's a few recent success stories...
- I helped "Grace", a non-profit executive, face grief and embrace creative retirement.
- I coached "Dashonne", a career coach to recognize her self-worth and her dream to live in a new country that makes her feel truly at home.
- I guided "Roger", a former global C-suite executive to unpack what's next after a 50 year career.
- I coached "Gene" a community leader, to remember their humanity to reduce burn-out, improve empathy and communication skills at work and in life.
- I nurtured "Stacy" a financial professional, through tough conversations she needed to have with staff and life-partner which proved to be game-changing in every aspect.
- I coached "Ben", a business owner, to strategize care for his aging parents and his sanity.
- I inspired "Rachel" a rabbi, to reimagine her sabbath, inviting me as a guest speaker to lead prayer and facilitate a creativity retreat for her synagogue focused on embracing our fractured parts in order to embrace wholeness. Kintsugi meets Teshuvah.
Everything is connected. The business of being human matters everywhere, in all things. Know where I can be helpful? Schedule a call with me now.
Until then, know you are tucked into my heart's pocket.
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 with plans and stuff can be burdensome, anxiety provoking. Think: over-abundance; a state of too much and a yearning for relentless perfection. The gift is to recognize when it's "just enough".
- The book and show called Geography of Bliss highlights most happy people learn to do with what they have, keep life simple and focus on family, community and creative freedom. Curious to make some changes in your mindset? Here's some reflection nuggets to explore.
Look Within
To integrate the element of EARTH in your life and work, explore these ideas.
- Try one new thing. 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? Give too much away?
- How well do you receive compliments, support or even critique from others?
- What is enough? ... how would you know when you get there?
Learning for Life-- JOIN US!
Armageddon Dinner Party :: Cultivating Creative Conversations that Matter
Join us for an interactive facilitated community outdoor farm-to-table dining experience designed to make tough topics tender. We'll explore the rise in artificial intelligence, and environmental and social collapse. Major tipping points of concern add to our collective anxiety and unrest. Reduce the noise. Discover relief in ideation, curiosity, community and creativity. It's not the END, it's the beginning! Let's cultivate tasty conversations for new beginnings, planetary flourishing and hope that brings us together. Think of this experience as a living TED talk or edible think-tank. Interactive, unusual, provocative, profound, humbling, and necessary. Rain or shine!
Co-facilitated by Annelies Gentile MA, PCC of Conduit for Change, LLC and professor Sarah Egan Warren, Ph.D. of NCSU. Together, they'll hold space for tender dialogue that's also playful and powerful. Walk away informed, inspired, hopeful and curious.
FREE AUTHOR TALK
Thursday Sept 28 6:30PM
Oberlin Village Library
1930 Clark Ave, Raleigh, NC 27605
Join me as we explore, "What does it mean to flourish through change?" featuring highlights from my book From Chaos to Calm :: Leading Change from the Inside Out.
From Chaos to Calm :: Leading Change From the Inside Out is a quiet call to wake up to our individual and collective role and responsibility in solving our most pressing 21st century problems by cultivating resiliency at the personal level first. In this part personal story, part philosophy and part guidebook, you'll learn useful nuggets for life, leadership and well-being. To regain a sense of peace with what is, even in chaotic times, we need to begin within.
TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE WITH ME
Contact Annelies
Email: annelies@conduitforchange.com
Website: www.conduitforchange.com
Phone: 919-345-8396