Changing with the seasons
On somatic exploration, emotional processing & preparing for Spring!
Field Notes is a monthly-ish newsletter where I share my observations, impressions and insights from my work and life. Should you want to reflect on and better understand the opportunities, challenges, and life transitions you’re currently navigating, we can explore that in a personal coaching session.
It’s Monday morning and I’m sitting enjoying my coffee at my desk. It’s quiet at home since my husband is away for three weeks in the US, so it’s just me and my dog Remi. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy, somewhat hectic, and at the same time energizing and exciting. Tomomi and I launched the 3rd cohort for our Navigating Emotions at Work program last week, and I’m delighted to learn and grow alongside such a beautiful group of 11 over the next 8 weeks! 🎉
In the spirit of my new “field notes” format, I’ve captured and shared some key observations, impressions, and insights from my work and life over the last month.
The power of honoring my natural energy cycle: After hibernating in January and early February, I finally have more energy! The cherry blossoms are out in Belgrade and I can sense Spring on the horizon (with the March Equinox only 2.5 weeks away) 👏🏼 I’m looking forward to the warmer, longer days and preparing for some upcoming travel. This feels like an annual lesson. A reminder that my energy ebbs and flows. There are days, weeks and months where I don’t get much done, where I pause and recoup before I have energy and motivation to move forward. While it’s not always possible to pause work and/or life, I’ve noticed that when I accept and have grace for my slower self, I’m much more content and joyful.
A big belly laugh and reminder to “listen” to my body: Over the last few months, Tomomi and I have been exploring a shared timidity in marketing and ‘selling’ our group program and a desire to be more bold. During a recent session with our coach Erin, we shook things up and explored our offer from a somatic (body-oriented) approach. We both had a big belly laugh as I embodied how I felt at the beginning of this work (hiding behind my big blue office chair, popping my head up and peaking out every so often like a shy little rabbit 🐰). Then, as I embodied my ideal state with this work (standing on top of my blue chair, arms open and ready for adventure!) I could immediately sense what needs to shift to move toward my desired goal. This was a great reminder of the powerful mind-body connection and something I’ll repeatedly come back to when I’m seeking to be more bold!
Exploring personal values from a new angle: Tomomi and I had a blast leading our February alumni session for Navigating Emotions at Work, where we guided the group through a body-oriented exploration of their personal values at work. Again, the simplification of values, something we often intellectualize, was so powerful to witness in each person and reminded me to come back to my body and let it guide me.
Practicing a new way of processing emotion: I recently picked up Dr. David Hawkins’ book “Letting Go: The Path to Surrender”, in which he shares a simple, yet powerful technique for processing emotion. The technique involves “being aware of a feeling, letting it come up, staying with it, and letting it run its course without wanting to make it different or do anything about it.” In my experience, this is easier said than done. And yet, I’ve found the practice (and that’s exactly what it is, a practice) to be incredibly potent. I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to avoid certain emotions and distract myself from discomfort, so to simply focus on letting the emotion be there without resisting it, fearing it, or condemning it has in itself been a major point of growth for me. I find the power of this technique is in giving myself full permission to feel without judgement or resistance (as it’s in this space that the emotion seems to dissipate and fade for me).
Okay dear friends, that’s all for now. Thanks for joining me in my exploration. If something in particular resonated or sparked curiosity for you, hit ‘reply’ I’d love to hear and chat more!
Warmly,
Oriana