Inspiring Nuggets

Annelies M. Gentile, MA, PCC

Integrative Life & Leadership Coach
Consultant | Facilitator | Process Artist | Author | Speaker

Hello, I'm Annelies and I am glad you are here!

Let's lean into change. Shall we?

From Broadway to blacksmithing to divorce, death and Dubai, I'm no stranger to change. Through life's fire, I've learned to be resilient. Certainly not perfect but persistent. I've got grit and love to share with you. I create engaging thoughtful creative experiences designed to inspire insight, happiness and wellbeing. Good stuff for our changing world.

I consider myself a creative evangelist, a pioneer thought-leader with a presence-based artful approach to executive coaching. More to the point, I help leaders love life again, helping them navigate change mindfully and creatively. Some of which is sticky stuff at work like communication issues or culture shift. Some is much more personal like being vulnerable.

Whether facing personal or professional issues, through coaching-- together we transform stress, overwhelm and grief associated with change.

Having traveled 22 countries and 47 US states, I've discovered that most people want the same three things: to be heard, to feel safe and to hold a sense of belonging. How we get there is unique to each one of us. Do you know yours?

I say, creativity resides at the edge of chaos. Getting comfortable with what’s uncomfortable is not only important-- it's required to change with change.

No matter who I serve, I believe the secret to any success is compassion and creativity, and the ability to make a gourmet salad with weeds. ;) More than ever-- the world needs imagination, compassion and creativity. Will you join me?

Hello beloveds... How is your heart and soul? How's work and life for you? I think of you daily. Please know you are tucked into my heart's pocket. :) What's new with you, what's good, what's difficult? I want to know.

How am I? Good. Still sailin'... Regardless of the wild changes we all continue to face, we're all good. Grit, resilience, intent and hope help keep the love lights on. Take a breath, sit back and enjoy this season's newsletter and our colorful season of change!

Love and light, Annelies

Since last we connected, I've coached executives, entrepreneurs and professionals in transition from NYC to LA, tended garden and soul, paddle-boarded a few times, turned 47, enjoyed a beach trip or two, led a variety of Creativity Retreats including Art in the Garden and a new P1t tour titled "P-Art How Protest, Pandemic and Profit changed the Raleigh art scene".

What's changing in your community?

What influence or impact must you make?

I've also truly enjoyed a fascinating new hobby of mushroom foraging (see my new Chanterelle tee shirt below, want one? Just ask!), and painted my coaching table a glorious glistening turquoise that resembles a fabulous swimming pool...come deep dive with me! I've also camped with family and started a lighthearted Centered Self Hooping for Health and Wellness weekly class. If you want a Zoom version for the winter... let me know. I may create one!

What sparks joy for you and others you serve?

What moves you, literally?

I've also cared for multiple friends and clients facing illness and death, spoke at two funerals, officiated one wedding, and made dozens of hugs and quiches, all while doing what life asks like paying bills (poolside at my new desk of course) and nesting with an occasional sewing or baking project. I'm also still serving on the leadership board of Triangle ArtWorks, and volunteer with Leadership North Carolina and Caldwell Fellows serving leaders to craft futures and calm minds.

What helps you cope and create in chaos?

Also... how's your sleeping lately?

Reality check: I worry about things too, just like you. I'm up a few pounds and rely on my own coaches and therapy to support, manage and reimagine life. I've also come to the reality that I truly don't like nor thrive working behind screens. I choose to serve otherwise, on the phone or in person, especially in relation to nature and creativity. Life is just too darn short to compromise. What about you?

If you can, I invite you to ask yourself...

Where does compromise outweigh benefit? It's ok to change your mind. Rewrite the rules.

How's life in YOUR world? I want to know! Email or call me. Let me know what's changing in your world. When you are ready for a rockstar co-pilot to see beyond, let's coach together. I love helping leaders connect to what matters.

Each season I provide inspiring nuggets of wisdom through my newsletter which includes invitations to upcoming events. My goal is to help YOU better cope and create through change. Seasonal teachings come through both my personal and professional experiences and the Chinese Five Elements philosophy of Wu Xing (wŭ ching) and Tao, among other philosophies and sciences which highlight and explore unique nature-based ways to understand the processes of change. In addition, each newsletter aims to help you create a mindful mindset and provide resources to build resiliency in the face of personal, professional and cultural change.

Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend! Want to hear more? Invite me to speak at your next conference, place of business, networking or civic groups. Love it? Be angel, funds go to support free or discounted coaching for under-served populations. Thank you in advance.

One of the ways I help professionals become better leaders in life and at work is to help them cope, navigate and manage change. We cannot separate the human condition from our work life. They're inseparable. When we try to separate our humanity from the tasks, lists and linear roles of the work-world we harden ourselves and become hard towards others. What's more useful is understanding how to integrate our humanity into all expressions of life, even at work. As life gives us a variety of challenges to cope with, exploring problem-solving through nature is not only interesting and inspiring, it's also a unique way to better understand our own nature.

According to Eastern tradition of Tao, there are five elements expressed through five seasons each represented by an element, color and emotional characteristics. Here's a simplified explanation.

• Winter : Water : Blue : Stillness : Fear
• Spring : Wood : Green : Creativity : Anger
• Summer : Fire : Red : Connectivity : Joy
• Late Summer : Earth : Yellow : Transformation : Empathy
• Autumn : Metal : White : Acknowledgement : Grief

Autumn is related to element of METAL which represents the emotion of grief and informs a sense of awe, inspiration, loss, acknowledgement and letting go. Through the season of autumn, we are invited to honor the inherent qualities of change and reflect upon the aspects of life which are deeply sacred and transforming.

Inspiration can spontaneously occur without intent. A likely feeling of something happening for you verses something happening to you. You know the difference. One feels like a goose-pimply-woosh and the other like a gut-punch. Where does inspiration come from and what conditions allows it to occur again?

Life is like old school photography-- use negatives to develop a healthy state of mindset. I feel inspiration is a combination of gratitude and awareness wrapped in one. When things go awry, upsetting or unplanned, it can be difficult to manage a positive outlook or even craft a what's next plan. Stress can build and distraction can paralyze. Inspiration can become completely out of reach. And because everything is connected, the consequences can be devastating, especially if you are leading others. Hard to solve problems with thoughtfulness in an uninspired state.

It's a bit cliché but true... Be grateful for what you have. When you find appreciation even when bad things happen, almost magically-- there's room to breathe and see next steps. How might you create ripe conditions for inspiration to emerge or is it simply a shift in mindset?

As a reminder... Autumn is related to element of METAL which represents the emotion of grief and informs a sense of awe, inspiration, loss, acknowledgement and letting go. Through the season of autumn, we are invited to honor the inherent qualities of change and reflect upon the aspects of life which are deeply sacred and transforming.

The metaphor of metal is a reminder to "cut the crap", slice through the formalities and drama, right to the heart of what needs to be said, felt or released. It's a very powerful metaphor to acknowledge what needs to be known within and without. Thus, inspiration is a bi-product of doing the good work upfront. Say what needs to be said. Do what needs to be done. Release what needs to go. Capish?

Need or want help navigating change? Let's talk. To integrate the element of METAL and season of AUTUMN in your life and work, I invite you to get a jumpstart on your discovery path. Explore these questions.

• What truly inspires you?
  
• What needs to be acknowledged in life or work right now? Think: Truth telling on a deep level.
  

• What will you let go?
  

Coach Immersions with Annelies
If you're wrestling change and want a superhero side-kick consider working one-on-one with me to address priority issues, de-stress, get clear, set and achieve goals. Coach with me for several months, longer or for a brief period of time. Immersions are custom designed to suite your needs, time and budget. Immersion packages range from half-day, full-day, two days or more and can be local to Raleigh, coastal NC or virtual.

Invite Me to Customize a Virtual Retreat or Teambuilding for YOU
Moving through change has never been so interesting! Need a boost at the office, an educational experience or thoughtful retreat? Invite me to speak and/or facilitate a workshop, virtual treasure hunt or custom retreat. Learn about resilience and creativity, transform grief associated with change and learn mindfulness practices to navigate change. Contact Annelies

Awwh... it's so nostalgic to see people's faces, shaking hands and a bustling art scene. This commercial was filmed Dec 2019. Although the People First Tourism First Friday ART WALKS WITH ANNELIES have evolved to something slightly different... I still wanted you to feel connected to me and the value of exploration together. #creativitymatters

Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend! Like it? Invite me to speak at your next conference, place of business, networking or civic groups. Love it? Be angel donor. Funds go to support free coaching for under-served populations. Enjoy!

Email: annelies@conduitforchange.com
Website: www.conduitforchange.com
Phone: 919-345-8396