Breaking Patterns, Bringing Hope & Balancing Our Being
Our human compassion binds us the one to the other — not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future. ~ Nelson Mandela
As we arrive at the midpoint of our calendar year — with the peak of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere coinciding with an illuminating full moon — it’s a good time to check in with ourselves and where we are in our lives: What have you accomplished, learned and/or healed in the past six months? How have you grown? What do you want to focus on for the next six?
When we think of growing and healing, it’s not always rainbows and unicorns on a bed of roses! Just like when you go to the gym or start a different kind of exercise, the new muscles you are using are going to feel weird and stretched or strained as the fibers tear — and be sore for the next day or two. There is some truth to the “no pain, no gain” saying.
Another analogy I use with my clients and audiences is that any kind of detox, like vomiting, is not a pleasant process, but you always feel better, lighter and clearer after. So if you’ve had some rough patches and tests from the Universe recently, trust that it is an integral part of your evolution. We’re all doing our best, and a big step is simply being aware of a pattern and making a different choice. It’s a start; be compassionate and patient with yourself! (Check out this IG post with related inspiration).
With a world going through so much, it can be easy to feel adrift, afloat or lost at sea. So many people right now are barely surviving either physically, financially or psychologically, questioning it all: What’s the point? Where is the joy? And since we are all wrapped up in our own stories and issues, it’s easy to think we’re the only ones struggling. Yet I have observed and experienced in my travels and work, talking to clients, friends, family and strangers, that everyone seems to have a low level of anxiety and uncertainty, whether or not they are conscious of it or admit it. But we don’t have to live that way.
Due to an increasing loss of confidence in the systems that have traditionally supported us — careers, relationships or a way of life we used to love but no longer resonate with — combined with world events and rapidly changing technology, we are looking at a future that is not on the same trajectory as it once was. What it will be is anyone’s guess, because we are creating it in every moment; our thoughts, choices and interactions are dictating how we want to live. Yes, you are that powerful!
This means that we are the ones who have to get our you-know-what together, in an internal way that then extends outward, and thus become the leaders we are looking for. (Watch my YouTube video about this.) We need to break patterns of exclusively relying on external voices telling us what is best for us, which direction to go, what to buy or who to be afraid of; we must love ourselves more than ever to break patterns of codependency in our relationships and how we relate to the world at large. It’s time to double down on recognizing, owning and expressing our deepest humanity so that we can recognize and acknowledge the humanity in others.
This could be as seemingly small as a random act of kindness, looking at someone on the street in the eyes and smiling, or offering a hug instead of an argument. We can be a spark of hope that makes all the difference in someone’s life, or at least get them through until the next day.
No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you believe, we are fundamentally built the same. We have the same basic needs. We all want to be seen, heard, understood, and hence, loved. The more you can make an effort to step out of your comfort zone (until it becomes your norm) and help do that for others when possible, the better future we will create. We’re all in this together ♥️.
We are a microcosm of the Universe, so let’s use the solstices and equinoxes to remind us to come into harmony with ourselves and our environments, which is ultimately where we find peace and healing. We must balance our Being — discerning and reconciling the external artificial polarities (i.e., divide and conquer) and the supposed binary choices we are forced to make — with the underlying unity of existence. But we must also balance the internal compass within us, navigating between giving and receiving, being assertive and/or holding on and letting things go.
Life is a constant dance, moving with the yin and the yang of it all, and I hope to be a partner with you in whatever form (even salsa!) that makes sense, if just via these monthly missives.
But should you want a little inspiration and positive vibes throughout your days and weeks, be sure to follow me on social media. You can watch many video clips and talks about career path, personal growth, leadership, success and connecting to your heart on my YouTube channel and Instagram. (Follow my IG stories for what I’m sharing and experiencing on a regular basis and be sure to subscribe, like and follow ‘cuz #algorithms.) Btw, I am going to be a doing a Thursday series based on my first PGG book, see that announcement here.
Looking for one-on-one help? I can identify your patterns and provide unique perspectives to find your current “why,” so you can live with more purpose, joy and peace. Book a coaching session with me via my website, with current options.
Need a tool to create a positive mindset through any challenges at work or in life? It was so thrilling to find out how a client uses my book Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower Your Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul. He let me video him talking about it, which you can watch here, and you can purchase your copy here :)
(Originally published as a PGG newsletter on June 21, 2024)
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Kristina Leonardi is a nationally recognized career and life coach, speaker and author who for over 16 years has empowered individuals to make lasting professional and personal changes aligned with their true passions and talents while fulfilling their role in the world at large.
With a holistic and personal growth-oriented approach, she has helped hundreds of men and women improve their job performance, enter or re-enter the job force, change careers, better manage their time and stress, and live happier, more meaningful, balanced lives.
Her specialty is working with people who feel stuck or are in transition and can help you clarify exactly what you want to do, identify blocks, issues, and patterns in your way, and offer proven ideas, resources, and action steps to get you there.
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Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:
15 Candles |All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself
