Time to read: still going at 5 seconds
Learn to discern the energy of yes and the energy of no in your life. Make decisions accordingly.
Thoughts? Comments? Email me here.
One Practical Tool to Help You Thrive
Time to read: 56 seconds
Time to schedule on my calendar: 30 seconds
Actual time to chat: 30 minutes (You can choose a time to talk here).
Hello Rebels,
A few weeks ago, I took a three-day personal and professional retreat (more about that another week). I hit the wall with the pandemic, the politics, the homeschooling and needed a break. Controlling, pushing, and striving my way through this moment in history was not effective for me, my family, nor my work. I needed quiet time to reflect and create a smoother path forward into the chaos.
Out of this reflection and creation came a Survival Journal. I want to share a few of the elements with you and invite you to create your own Survival Journal so you have a consistent and solid place to go when you feel uncertain, afraid, and worried. Here are some tips:
- Don't over engineer it. You don't have to have the perfect notebook or a set of sparkly colored pens (unless those things are fun for you). Just grab whatever you have lying around (like a half used composition notebook abandoned by one of your kids, not that I know anything about that).
- Consider at 10,000 feet what brings you comfort and reassurance when things feel hard. Make your journal about those things.
- Be free and open with the content. There is no right way to create a Survival Journal. Add things that are meaningful to you. Mine includes:
- activities for this winter
- TV shows to watch
- powerful thoughts and quotes from my mentors and teachers
- questions to ponder when I feel stuck
- short descriptions of when I've seen magic at work in my life
- reminders of physical practices that keep my nervous system calm
- Let it grow over time. My journal is living and breathing. I add thoughts and elements frequently.
- Make it your own. I can see verses from meaningful religious texts, drawings, photographs, pet stories, recipes, humor. When you create your journal, please hit reply and share your ideas with me. I have pages for more and would love your inspiration.
There is lots going on. I hope you find this strategy provides you a safe haven in the storm.
And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Clarity U. Starting October 21, a powerful group will be cleaning out the mental junk in order to clear the path to the future. The goal: for you to be clear so can put work and life on your terms, even during these challenging times. If you've been curious and perhaps not sure if Clarity U is for you, let's talk. Choose a 30-minute spot on my personal calendar. Spots fill fast.
In the words of a participant from last year:
"Working with Clarity U gave me insights and tools that I use daily. This work has been more valuable than a lifetime of therapy. (And a lot more fun.) I wish I had done it 20 years ago. Christina and Anne are insightful and honest and two of the warmest and most encouraging people I have ever had the honor to know." - E.G.
People are scheduling faster than I can add spots to the calendar. We have extended the early bird price through October 13 (next Tuesday). If you don't find a time on my calendar by October 13, go ahead and schedule later. If you've chosen your time before October 13, we'll still give you the early bird price. Confused? Email me.
I look forward to connecting. Choose a time here.
I can't wait to talk.
Christina
Tools For Your Daily Life
Time to read: 45 seconds
Time to choose a spot: 30 seconds
Actual time to chat: 30 minutes (You can choose a time to talk here).
Hello Rebels!
A participant of last year's Clarity U group coaching program lives in a part of the country that has been especially hard hit by recent events. I called her a few weeks ago to check on her and her family. In the course of our conversation (she is doing fine), I asked if she uses her Clarity U strategies.
She laughed and was like, "Yeah. Everyday. I'll send you a picture." Then she sent me the above photo of her desk, covered in tools from Clarity U.
She said she uses the lessons she learned in Clarity U to calm herself when she feels stress. She uses her tools to de-escalate tension and conflict at work. She's even a calmer mother, laughing when she explained that the desk in the photo was soon going to be returned to a deer processing table for the hunters in her family. She's calmer, happier, and more productive. In her words,
"When I need to re-center, I look down, take a breath and feel like I’m safe."
That's the point of Clarity U - to fill your toolbox with actionable strategies that will make a difference every.single.day. In Clarity U, you will clean out the junk (old beliefs and habits) that hold you back and clear the path to design your future. You will be challenged and uplifted.
One thing is certain, the future is coming. (Winter is coming too, but that's a different reference.) There is no returning to the "normal" we had before. The national and international mood crackles with change. Now is the perfect time to do the work to be ready to embrace and create whatever happens next for you, your community, and the world.
Intrigued? Want to know more? Everyone who joins spends a little time with me sharing what's going on for you, strategizing solutions, and asking questions. Choose a time to talk on my personal calendar. Spots fill fast so I added a bunch more.
If you want to read about Clarity U, click here for a detailed information page. The early bird price ends on October 9 so let's talk before then.
Those of you who know me know that hopping on the phone won't land you in a weird sales vortex. These conversations are authentic and connected. My goal is to help you figure out your next step - Clarity U or not.
I look forward to connecting. Choose a time here.
In the words of another participant:
"Working with Clarity U gave me insights and tools that I use daily. This work has been more valuable than a lifetime of therapy. (And a lot more fun.) I wish I had done it 20 years ago. Christina and Anne are insightful and honest and two of the warmest and most encouraging people I have ever had the honor to know." E.G.
Take advantage of the early bird price by joining by or before October 9.
I can't wait to talk.
Christina
P.S. If you're sitting on the sidelines wondering if you should check out Clarity U, the answer is YES. Choose a time to talk here.
P.P.S. Know someone who is ready to take the leap? Please forward this email to them.
How Are You Coping?
Time to read: 2 minutes if you read both PSes.
Yup - I've seen all these seasons of the Bachelor(ette)
You don't need me to remind you of all the ways that things are stressful right now. Some days, the stress is so all-encompassing that it's hard to face the day. We are in survival mode - quite literally - and when in survival mode, you figure out how to cope.
Some coping is good.
Some coping is bad.
What are good and bad strategies, you may ask?
I have the most frustrating coach-y sort of answer...
It depends.
We can probably agree that violence against others is a bad coping strategy and finding homes for kittens is good. What about all the others like wine? TV? Cake? Work?
The answer goes back to last week's newsletter - know thyself.
Let's take my favorite coping strategy. My 16-year-old and I are on our 12th season of The Bachelor(ette). That's a lot of group dates, rose ceremonies and interpersonal drama. If you had suggested a year ago that The Bachelor would feature heavily in my mental health, I would have laughed.
To stay sane these days, something mindless and absorbing is not only fun, it's crucial. You can't consume a steady diet of politics and coronavirus news and stay mentally healthy. Mental breaks are vital. As a mental vacation, The Bachelor = good coping.
If I start to disappear into stupid TV to the exclusion of daily activities or you start to use wine to numb the discomfort of these hard times or if overworking is masking your feelings, then we've crossed into bad coping. Only you can know where that line is (that's the "it depends" part).
A glass of wine, TV time, and productive work may be exactly what you need to survive these times. Then know when your excellent coping has crossed into disappearing, numbing and denial and pull yourself back.
The Corporate Rebel coaching group is the best kind of coping. Fantastic colleagues. Consistent support. A step-by-step process to get to know yourself so you can powerfully navigate this moment in history and come out the other side ready for what's next.
Clarity U, will start in October. This program opens once a year, and I'd love to chat with you about how Clarity U will support and grow where you are now and where you want to go.
Sign up here for a 30-minute chat.
We'll talk about what's going on for you, what you need, and whether Clarity U is a good next step for where you are headed. For any of you who have worked with me, you know this initial conversation is casual, fun and productive whether you decide to join or not.
Here are some words from last year's participants:
"Doing this work has been more valuable than a lifetime of therapy. (And a lot more fun.)" - E.G.
"The Clarity U program has helped me in ways I didn't realize were possible." - A.C.
"I am so glad I participated in this program, it has changed me in ways I never expected!" - A.R.
I can't wait to connect!
Christina
P.S. Want to talk about Clarity U? Choose a time here for us to talk about what's going on in your life and career and how Clarity U will help you use the next few months to build your capacity for what's next.
P.P.S. Here's more information. Let's talk!
Do you relate to any of these statements?
- Life feels chaotic and uncertain, and you feel overwhelmed and depleted.
- You make decisions from a place of fear instead of empowered choice, constantly second guessing yourself.
- You’re simultaneously unproductive and working more than you ever have.
- The ineffective patterns that have held you back for years have intensified, showing up in work dynamics and personal relationships.
- You’re reaching for ways to get your life and work back in control and not sure how or what to do.
What's in it for you? Starting in October you will learn to...
- Shake off negative patterns of thinking and behaving so you can stop holding yourself back. Your life will be easier and work more fulfilling during this stressful time and into the future.
- Gracefully navigate uncertainty so you are confident in your ability to handle change and instability.
- Ground yourself physically and spiritually to allow radical transformation so you can stand steady in the midst of chaos.
- Wield your new, portable Toolbox of Skills so you're ready to take action, make choices, and be in control of your career and life.
- Get clear about who you are and what you want, and bravely take action to make your goals real.
Searching For An Answer?
Time to read: 1.48 minutes
Where is that darn answer, anyway?
Last week I talked about the depletion of your "surge capacity." The sourdough bread, gardening, and Zoom happy hours aren't cutting it anymore. You need a new set of strategies to face the next few months of the pandemic and the ugly election.
Your brain is full so I'm keeping things simple. One step at a time. One idea/thought/recommendation at a time. This way, you only have to think about or do one new thing each week. Easy peasy. I have the attention span of a gnat these days. I need things to be easy and think you might need that, too.
Where to start?
How about here... I (and everyone I know) have been reading a lot of news. Last week I realized I was looking for THE ANSWER. I was looking for the person who is smart enough, who has a big enough vision, who knows what will happen next. If I could just find it, then I would feel less anxious and more in control.
Unfortunately, the answer is not out there. No analyst or commentator or friend knows where we are headed or what to do next. No one person has the solution or the power to fix the mess that we see on the news everyday.
The good news is that the answer is in you. You know what's best for you, your career and your family. You know how to take care of yourself. You have the power to change the world with your choices and behavior every day. You can trust yourself to handle whatever happens and that you have everything you need to manage the future just like you have always managed the past.
So, this week, look around your life to see where you are looking for the answers "out there" and start to bring your awareness to the answers that are "in here." This new awareness will help you feel more powerful and in control in a situation that feels very much out of control. From there, you can take action.
Awkward transition
I'm excited to announce that The Corporate Rebel signature group coaching experience, Clarity U, will start again in mid-October. This program opens once a year and the plan was to launch in early 2021. Your emails tell me that stress is high. You've told me you have a lot to figure out. A community of personal and professional growth is just the place to learn how to live through this moment in history with power, possibility and courage so I moved the start date forward.
Intrigued? Let's talk.
Sign up here for a 30-minute chat.
We'll talk about what's going on for you, what you need, and whether Clarity U is a good next step for where you are headed. (See the PS for a few more details about Clarity U.) For any of you who have worked with me, you know this initial conversation is casual, fun and productive whether you decide to join or not.
One of last year's Clarity U participants said, "Doing this work has been more valuable than a lifetime of therapy. (And a lot more fun.)"
I can't wait to connect!
Christina
P.S. Want to talk about Clarity U? Choose a time here for us to talk about how the current moment is affecting your life and work and how Clarity U will help you use the next few months to build your capacity for what's next.
Want to know more?
Do you relate to any of these statements?
- Life feels chaotic and uncertain, and you feel overwhelmed and depleted.
- You make decisions from a place of fear instead of empowered choice, constantly second guessing yourself.
- You’re simultaneously unproductive and working more than you ever have.
- The ineffective patterns that have held you back for years have intensified, showing up in work dynamics and personal relationships.
- You’re reaching for ways to get your life and work back in control and not sure how or what to do.
What's in it for you? Starting in October you will learn to...
- Shake off negative patterns of thinking and behaving so you can stop holding yourself back. Your life will be easier and work more fulfilling during this stressful time and into the future.
- Gracefully navigate uncertainty so you are confident in your ability to handle change and instability.
- Ground yourself physically and spiritually to allow radical transformation so you can stand steady in the midst of chaos.
- Wield your new, portable Toolbox of Skills so you're ready to take action, make choices, and be in control of your career and life.
- Get clear about who you are and what you want, and bravely take action to make your goals real.
Hitting a Wall? What Is Going On?
Time to read: short. You're tired and don't need more things to do.
Like this one
About a week ago, I hit a wall... unmotivated, exhausted, crabby, unproductive, discouraged, and frustrated wall.
My family ate leftovers and take out. Emails went unanswered. Sleep was elusive. I could handle about one decision a day and if your need for my attention was the second or third decision that day, sorry, you'd have to wait till tomorrow.
Can you relate?
In the first few months of this pandemic, I was on fire. New programs for all of you. Cooking. Gardening. Reading. A new fish tank. Zoom calls. A few weeks ago, I published a list for the Corporate Rebel Masters (an ongoing community of people who have graduated from coaching) of the things I do to fill my energy bucket. It was an impressive and true list. If there is such a thing as winning in this pandemic, I was doing it. (Ha. My life's work to learn that my value isn't my accomplishments was apparent even in how I handle a pandemic. Can't a girl get a break?)
A few days ago, I couldn't imagine doing any of those things. Friends started calling in tears. Clients talked about low motivation and exhaustion. I was barely keeping up with the basics.
I'm eternally optimistic. I can see the silver lining in just about any cloud. A friend commented that it was disconcerting to see me be so dark when she counts on me for light.
What the heck is going on? I feared something was truly wrong with me that I wasn't coping better.
Then my friend sent this article. The term is "surge capacity." As you'll see from the psychological research the author cites, we humans are programmed to handle crises. We have resilience that enables us to handle acute stress and to surge our energy to meet it. However, that capacity is meant to be short term. We are not mentally programmed to manage a crisis that continues for months or even years.
We "surged," and now we're depleted.
Having a name for what happened to me was a great relief. I slept well last night and today, I can handle two decisions.
We're tired, folks. It's been a long road with no end in sight.
For the next few weeks, I am going to talk about how to recover and create resilience in new ways. Less accomplishment. More energy. You can get through this. You just need a different toolbox.
I'll be recovering right along with you. Please hit reply to this email and tell me how you're doing. If you're still riding high with energy, awesome. I'd love to hear what's working.
And stay tuned. I'm excited for something I have in store for you. I'll be ready to share next week.
With love,
Christina
P.S. A cool opportunity is coming next week. Keep your eyes open!
You Can't Afford Not to Deal With the Stress
Time to read: one second less than one minute
Hey rebels!
Many of you replied that you are seeing a lot of stress in your teams or that your leadership doesn't seem to get how stressful life and work are right now (kids at home, furloughs, economic uncertainty, just to name a few).
Here's a story to illustrate:
One of my clients is struggling to support two stressed leaders who have devolved into conflict. The conflict led a potential client to walk away. She made the case to her leadership that these two folks need support to resolve the hurt feelings and develop the skills to move forward productively for the company. The company is afraid to spend the money right now.
Sound familiar?
I have a strong opinion on the subject. Companies are made of humans. Humans have feelings. Humans have human-sized capacity. You can't push people indefinitely or leave them with unresolved stress and conflict and expect them to perform their best. Hoping stress and conflict will go away on its own is magical thinking. When your employees are stressed, choosing to put off addressing the stress because you "can't afford it" is narrow, short-term thinking.
Your stressed employees are less productive. They are unable to be magnetic with customers and clients and may cost you business. They are less creative and innovative at a time when you need them to be MORE creative and innovative.
One angry customer. One lost contract. One employee who quits. Hundreds of employees who can't focus. These cost the company more than any coach or class. You can't afford not to address the stress.
You gotta take care of those humans. When you do, your employees are grateful. They become loyal. They are more productive. They are happier. It's a win-win for the company and for the humans.
These are my words.
With love,
Christina
P.S. Do you need to make a case to your leadership that your team needs support to manage their stress? Email this article to them then reach out anytime to see how I might help.