5 things I want you to know in these tough times

I've struggled with what to write this week. The news has been like drinking from a political firehose. It's hard to keep up.

I wanted to find a brilliant answer for you. A salve that would solve the pain in the world. I haven't found the shiny solution yet. If you spot it, will you let me know?

That said, I have uncovered some truths about Corporate Rebels that I'd like to share. My hope is that they give you hope.

1. Corporate Rebels understand that uncertainty is the only certainty. If you don't know where to put your attention or what to do in the current climate, you are not alone. You don't have to know your final destination in order to take action. (Just like your career.)
2. Corporate Rebels know that change is inevitable, and hard. We are in the midst of significant change. If you have lived through an acquisition, a divorce, or a relocation, you know that change is disruptive and anxiety-producing, even if it's change you wanted.
3. Corporate Rebels are complex thinkers. You see beyond either/or and us/them. You can hold complexity, even things you disagree with, in service of a larger vision. It is going to take creativity and innovation to navigate the divisiveness and pain. We need unique voices right now. Like yours.
4. Corporate Rebels know that how you show up is as important as what you do. Staying silent on important issues at work keeps people unhappy in their jobs. With everything that's going on in the world, it's important not to sit quietly on the sidelines. Some people will march (see the peace dove my children, husband, and I marched under in St. Paul), some write letters, others reach out with compassion to their Muslim neighbors, some pray. Do what you do best. Write. Bake. Reach out. Show up at work with kindness and love. You have tremendous power to make a difference with your gifts from where you are right now.
5. Corporate Rebels know that self care if crucial. In order to be involved in your community, to do your job well, to show up for your family, and to navigate the work that needs to be done, you have to take care of yourself. Maintaining your inner peace and health will ensure peace and health in your outer world, too.

As has been said many times, we're in uncharted waters. It would be lovely if there was a simple solution and a best action. There isn't. And, you have tremendous power to be what you wish to see in the world. Go be that.

With deep respect and love,

Christina

The game-changing question I learned this week

You know those moments when you are trying to make a decision and you're wondering, "Should I? Shouldn't I?" "Leave my job or stay?" "Talk to my boss about a part-time schedule or not?" "Spend money on a vacation or save the money for a house project?"

Those moments of indecision can suck up an incredible amount of your headspace and energy leaving you with less energy for the activities you want to do. (Unless worrying is what you want to do. If that's the case, proceed.)

A coach friend of mine shared her favorite question with me. I immediately thought of you when I heard it and couldn't wait to share it. Here's the magic question:

What would you do if you trusted yourself?

Imagine a decision that's been in your headspace for a while. Then ask yourself, "What would I do if I trusted myself?"

You'll get fresh clarity and will probably be able to move forward to make that darn decision and move on to other things.

And when you get your flash of clarity, email me at christina@boydsmithcoaching.com and tell me all about it. I love hearing from you!

With love,

Christina

The #1 Strategy for Managing Stress. Yes, even YOU can do it!

What's the #1, research-proven strategy to manage stress? Here's the punchline, right up front.

Meditation

If that's all you needed, then you can go now and use your 89 seconds of bonus time however you please. If you are already listing all the reasons you can't meditate and have 89 seconds to spare, keep reading.

Here are the popular reasons I hear from my clients not to meditate:

• No time.
• No quiet space.
• Impossible to quiet my mind.
• Too wiggly (that was my reason for years).
• Too impatient.

Those excuses are a bit like saying you need to get in shape before you hire a trainer. Meditation will help you with all these things plus it's proven to improve your immunity, lower blood pressure and to change your brain to enhance compassion and promote calmer reactions to the stresses of life.

Meditation is not just for the ashram anymore. Companies like Google, McKinsey & Co, AOL Time Warner, Apple and Procter and Gamble encourage meditation for their employees because they know that meditation promotes the happiness and productivity of their workforce.

The list of benefits goes on and on, and you can start to realize all kinds of good things within 10 seconds of your first meditation. What else can promise you such fast results?

Meditation CAN fit into your busy, fast-paced life.

Here's how meditation works for me. Ideally, I wake up before my family and meditate in the dark before anyone else is awake. That happens, like, 1% of the time.

Usually, my husband comes in to start his coffee grinder. Then my son wakes up and climbs into my lap for a snuggle which invites the dog to join us. Then we settle in.

My point in telling you this is that meditation can fit into your regular life. In fact, your regular life can serve to help you focus your practice and model to others the importance of a little stillness and quiet.

Here are three easy ways to fit meditation into your life:

1. Sit at your desk with your eyes closed for 5 minutes. Find a little stillness.
2. Go for a walk with the only purpose being to enjoy the sights around you.
3. Find a meditation app or program (there are hundreds online) that you like. My favorite is the meditation series from Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey.

Give meditation a whirl then tell me what it was like. If you already meditate, I'd love to hear what practices work for you and the benefits you receive.

Om.

Christina

My ugly breakdown. Whoo, mama!

In November, I hit a wall. Every brick in that wall became obvious when I was sitting by the side of the road one day sobbing so hard I couldn't safely drive. It was a snotty mess.

By many measures, 2016 was a tremendous year. My family is settled in our newly renovated house, and my business took off. I navigated all the changes, stretches, and activity gracefully and smoothy.

Until I realized the one thing I had neglected.

Myself.

I couldn't even see how I had neglected the things that are most important to me until I was snotting into my sleeve. I missed my friends, and my life was a minute-to-minute, action packed schedule with not a second to spare for self care or reflection or even relaxed conversation.

Does this story ring any bells for you?

I work with people like you who have tremendous capacity for productivity and neglect their own needs. (Yup, we teach what we need to learn.)

When your needs are so far down the priority list as to be invisible, you are unable to sustain your effectiveness over time. Eventually, you'll hit your limit and ka-blam, you have to pull into a random park by the highway to ensure you make it home safely.

And, for every breakdown, there is breakthrough. Even when I'm completely falling apart, I'm thinking about how will this serve the Corporate Rebels? I'm recovered and ready to share some learning with you:

1. Rest and Recover. If you've gone too far, seriously scale back and let the pressure valve slowly release. There were days I was in bed at 7:30. Be intentional and disciplined about your sleep and downtime. It's not a luxury. It's a necessity.
2. Protect your energy. Give yourself credit for how much energy it takes to schedule your family's activities or to take on an extra direct report or a new project at the office. If you've had the experience of reaching an outer limit or you're teetering on the edge of one, start to learn your energetic limits and protect them.
3. Enlist your friends to help you. I am not a good judge of when I've pushed myself too far so I've enlisted friends and family to help me see it. Ask for honest feedback and even when you resist, listen.
4. Pace yourself. This year I will finally break my overworking pattern and learn to pace myself. You'll see lots of great things coming from Corporate Rebel HQ, and I'm experimenting with more spaciousness for you and me in what and how things are released. I'm also knitting again which is lovely.
5. Get support. Get a coach. A therapist. A mentor. Someone who has your back no matter what. I have two coaches. They help me see and change my overworking pattern even when it's uncomfortable. I am grateful to them.

You've got this!

Christina

Before you sink into your new year's resolution, read this...

It's 2017, Christina! You've eaten all the eats, slept in for a few days, and are now back at the office. Thank goodness 2016 is in the rearview mirror.

Now what?

This process will help you create your now what. I've used this process myself and with my clients for 6 years, and it has created powerful intentions and results each time. It's easy and at the end, you'll have a guiding theme to launch your success for 2017.

Instructions:

Take 3 pieces of paper.

1. On the first page, write down all your disappointments, failures, losses, and breakdowns.
2. On the second page, write all your successes, celebrations, accomplishments and breakthroughs.
3. On the third page, write everything you learned about life and yourself in 2016.
4. When your lists are complete, sit down and analyze them for themes. Look at the big picture. What do you see?
5. While looking at the big picture of your year, use what you see to create the theme/words/intentions that will guide your new year.

Here are some examples to help you:

• One of my clients saw that she spent the year doing what everyone else wanted for her. Her theme for the new year became "Trust myself."
• One year, I noticed that my failures and disappointments list was too short. I hadn't taken enough risk. My theme for the new year was, "Go big or go home."
• Another client had dealt with a significant loss and through that recovery had set a beautiful foundation for a new year of Live! Love! Fly! Laugh!
• One year I spent a great deal of time traveling away from home. My theme for the next year was, "Compassion, Creativity, Come Home."

It can help to talk about your lists with a friend or coach who may be able to illuminate patterns in your successes and failures and help uncover where you are being pointed for 2017. When you're done, hit reply to this email and tell me your theme!

I wish you health, prosperity and happiness!

Happy New Year.

Christina

We need a little Christmas (and Hanukkah and Kwanza and…)!

Estimated read time: 30 seconds

I unapologetically LOVE Christmas. The lights. The music. The cookies. Kids giddy with excitement. Porcelain Christmas villages. The way people are kind to each other on the street and in stores.

For years, I said Happy Holidays to folks as a nice, inclusive seasons greeting, and I felt a little "blah" about it. Last year, I reclaimed Merry Christmas, and the spark came back. Saying "Merry Christmas" feels a little risky in our politically correct world.

I LOVE inclusion as much as I love Christmas. And here's the wonderful thing about inclusion. You can love what you love at the same time that you honor and appreciate the things other people love. Inclusion is not about watering down your own beliefs and passions so others won't feel offended. It's about embracing your beliefs and passions which gives room for others to embrace theirs. Then we all live in peace and harmony. Pretty great, huh?

I now proclaim a "Merry Christmas" to neighbors, friends, and strangers. Some people enthusiastically reply and some mumble an uncomfortable "Happy Holidays." Either way, it's great.

So, Merry Christmas to all you Corporate Rebels out there. It's been an amazing, challenging and powerful year. I hope you and yours have a wonderful time whatever you're celebrating.

Merry Christmas!

Christina

P.S. If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, they can sign-up for The Corporate Rebel Video Podcast and Newsletter HERE.

P.P.S. I'm taking a couple of weeks off so next Thursday will be the first time in 18 months that there will be no newsletter. Enjoy your time off!

Be the light in the darkness. I dare you!

Estimated read time: 45 seconds (55 if you read slowly)

Let your light explode! Or shimmer! Or twinkle!

I was at a meeting this morning and before we began, one of the committee members (who is aptly named, Joy) asked each of us to reflect on where we find joy and light in the darkness. After each of us shared touching details from our lives, Joy said,

"It is a defiant act to be the light in the darkness."

If you watch international news or live in the North, you know that there is plenty of darkness to go around right now - literally and figuritvely. People have told me they feel guilty for wrapping gifts or making plans for holiday travel. They feel guilty for experiencing joy when there is so much darkness.

We need joy now more than ever. Being joyful is a radical act. Being joyful isn't about being complacent or blind. Joy is about harnessing the power of love, spirit, and fun to serve yourself and those around you.

We need your unique light. How will you bring your defiant light to your work and home?

Here are some ideas for inspiration:

• Laugh early and often.
• Take a treat to the office (baking is my personal favorite).
• Tell someone how much you appreciate them.
• Watch a funny movie. (Elf, anyone?)
• Give yourself full permission to enjoy the holidays (or not, if that suits you).
• Be inspired by the beauty in nature.

Choose one way you can add your light to the darkness. What will you do? I'll be baking, delivering treats to neighbors, and road-tripping with my family.

Email me at christina@boydsmithcoaching.com and tell me all about your joy. I love to hear from you!

Stay warm!

Christina

P.S. If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, they can sign-up for The Corporate Rebel Video Podcast and Newsletter HERE.