An Invitation To REFLECT & CONNECT

I hope that your day has started with ease and that you are making the most of the warmer weather.

I’ve been fortunate to start my day with a swim in the ocean and being witness to whales breaching not too far away. I truly am grateful for the gift of mother nature.

I’m recently back from guiding a wonderful group of beings on retreat.
We immersed ourselves in nature which inspired the creative process and the conversations. There was much reflection, and learning. We created, meditated, moved gently, connected, practiced self-compassion and being fully present in the moment.

We chatted about the meaning of being AUTHENTIC – a term that is often bandied about. I’ll share some interpretations here which may interest you.

The existential philosopher Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) said that authenticity is choosing the nature of one’s existence and identity.

The elemental root of authenticity is the Greek word “autos” or self – closely related to author and authority.

Dr. Gabor Maté shares that “to be authentic is to be true to a sense of self arising from ones own unique true essence – being attuned with your way of being, your emotions, physical sensations. It means being plugged into your own GPS/intuition and to navigate life from it.”

I resonate with all of the above and have always been particularly drawn to Dr Gabor Maté’s interpretation as it is Ontologically aligned. He speaks to this and other aspects of healing in his new book, The Myth Of Normal (see more info below). If there’s one book you read this year, let it be this one.

So how do we “be authentic – plug into our inner GPS/intuition”? My assessment is that we can do this only under quiet, inviting and trustworthy conditions and it’s up to us to decide what these conditions are. For me it is connecting with mother nature, practicing self-compassion, coaching and creating. The practice of self-compassion has been life-changing for me.

What conditions help you become attuned with your way of being and connect with your intuition?

I invite you to connect with me for a conversation about this – or anything else that you’re curious about. And – perhaps I can entice you to join myself and Teresa Rubé for #theselfcompassionbreak at Stanford Valley Guest Farm in November? This lovely venue is the perfect space in which to reflect on what matters most for you as this year draws to a close.

PS. This retreat is also an opportunity for teams to assess their learnings from this past year.