Peace x Piece
This allowed me to see … my true soul’s purpose, and that is to be liberated, discover the tools of liberation, and share them with as many spirits as I can. ~ Pharrell Williams
I hope you’re enjoying this collectively crazy and/or calm time of year (usually a mixture of both!), regardless of the holidays you may or may not celebrate. And resting whenever possible.
When we look back on 2024, it seems many people felt it was a year of taking two steps forward and three steps back. This is the nature of these massively transformative times; we are must be profoundly present, have patience, and trust in the unknown more than we ever have.
We must also be participants in our own evolution — which impacts the evolution of our society — even if we don’t know what that will ultimately look like. Perhaps we need to look at what we normally don’t like to look at in order to approach things in a different way, so we can change and progress. It’s a process. It takes awareness, effort and time — which is why so many of us are feeling this not really here, not really there, not really anywhere kinda vibe.
For me and many of my clients and friends, 2024 was a year of internal progress, and that’s not as easy to check off on your goals list or post on social media, so don’t feel bad!
I have met many celebrities and famous folk over the years, but the one who had the most impact on me was Pharrell Williams, who now has a documentary about his life called Piece by Piece. I haven’t seen the film yet, but in many interviews about its making, he explained how he has grown and evolved over the past decade, which confirmed to me how special I thought he was 10 years ago, when I had my magical, fateful encounter with him on a NYC sidewalk. He talked about how watching the film made him more objective about his life, and it allowed him to see and define his journey and purpose, which is where the above quote came from.
Most of us will never have a documentary made about our lives (in LEGOs no less!), but this is the time of year when even if you’re not typically self-reflective, it’s a natural time to do so: Where have you been in 2024 and where do you want to go in 2025? And it’s always good to think about what is the through line, the main purpose/theme/goals of your lifelong journey?
The emphasis at this time of year tends to be only on looking ahead to what’s next, but a review is important, especially because of the way our days are so blurred. Time has become a concept many of us can’t seem to grasp easily anymore, with our always-on, instant-access digital world and connectivity, now only speeding up with AI.
Therefore, as I recommend to my clients, I suggest going through your calendars, datebooks, photos and journals month by month to see what 2024 was made of and how you’ve grown both internally and externally. Some of it can be bullet points, but it’s also about how you feel about what you’ve experienced the past 12 months. I personally felt this year was like five years in one, and the person I was in January or February 2024 seems very different from how I feel in my body now. (If you need a little inspiration/motivation to do this exercise, here is one video and another from my Gratitude Gathering last month.)
Taking time for regular self-reflection is a way to cultivate peace within, as it keeps you grounded, integrated and connected to your essence amid all the distractions and ways that life be lifein’, as the months and years go by faster and faster. When you look within, you can find a connection to something more real, the part of you that is healing and developing, as well as the part that is ever-present, unalterable, eternal and divine. There ain’t an app for that.
No matter what is happening externally, there is a part of you who knows beyond knowing why you are here and what you should do or where you should go next; if you only listen, it will guide you step by step, piece by piece. By doing so, you will be contributing your piece of the puzzle, as we all have our own unique part to play in contributing to peace on Earth. Because as the famous song goes, “Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.”
(Originally published as a PGG newsletter on December 27, 2024.)
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If you’d like a compassionate companion and guide in your transformation, consider taking advantage of my new Essential Evolution Package, a longer, more in-depth engagement to support your personal growth process. For all the current options to work with me, visit my website.
If you need more of a check-in/tuneup or shorter engagement to start your year off with clarity, balance and direction, you can find all the current options to work with me on my website or contact me for custom packages.
It’s always been easier for my clients to describe what I do, and this review, along with others you can find on my LinkedIn profile, seems to capture it well:
Kristina is more than a career coach. She changed my life. She made me realize how disconnected I was with my inner-self and how that was a root cause of many issues I faced, including my career. I have spoken to a number of professionals and career coaches, but Kristina is the one who truly helped me get unstuck and re-evaluate my values. Her recommendations were vital and enabled me to reorient my life. I am so grateful that I had a chance to work with Kristina — book a session with her to rediscover your life and career! ~ Esther J.
The bottom line is if you are feeling stuck, out of balance and/or looking for a new direction in your career and life and need to discern the next steps, my work as a holistic career coach and personal growth expert can help in many different forms.
I also offer inspiration and positive vibes throughout the week, so be sure to follow me on social media. You can watch many video clips and talks 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) Oh — and I’m on Threads now too!
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 :)
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Kristina Leonardi is a nationally recognized career and life coach, speaker and author who for over 17 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
