Inspiring Nuggets

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

Since last we connected, I've coached executive leaders in city government to entrepreneurs facing change, facilitated a resiliency workshop at IBM, thwarted a hurricane, attended a conference, hiked a mountain, took up paddle boarding, put "speaker" and "author" on my business card, turned in my final revision for my book to my publisher, volunteered to coach students for the Caldwell Fellows program at NCSU, led an "Epic!" Art in the Garden (Yes, received a testimonial stating that) and spent valuable time with family and friends. What have YOU been up to? I want to know! Email or call me. Let me know what's good in your world.

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 with life and learn how to cultivate success through mindfulness and creativity. 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. Enjoy!

One of the ways I help professionals become better leaders in life and at work is to help them cope 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 through our 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 : Integrity : Gratitude
• 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.

Let's explore just one metal/autumn quality; awe. Awe is defined as "a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder". Awe also means "to feel inspired". Astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson said, "The iron from that meteorite and the iron from your blood have common origin in the core of a star." To me, that's inspiring! I'm SO much bigger than just little me. I'm related to star-stuff. How else might you notice a sense of awe today?

So, how do we cultivate awe? We need to remember we're all connected. Even when something is awful (full of awe), we're given a chance to step back or step in closer to notice the power of awe in that moment. Just acknowledge the rarity of something even when it seems so common place. Recently, I facilitated a workshop where a participant shared a story of personal loss. Although it was a moving moment for her, the class collectively shared that same sensation. She was the occasion for acknowledgement to occur. What showed up afterwards was a shared sense of joy and appreciation for life. The element of metal cuts right through the fluff, straight on to the heart of meaning. It reminds us to acknowledge truth.

To integrate the element of METAL in your life and work, explore these questions.

• What inspires you?
  
• What needs to be acknowledged in life or work right now?

• What needs to be let go?
  

"What surprised about your book launch?", a friend asked. Great question! Here's what I said...

"From day one, the support to purchase my book; a representative of hard work and collective wisdom was no doubt appreciated. Yet— what surprises me the most about my book launch is the comments about what people think it is about. The book in a nutshell seems to be the exact placeholder for hope, imagination and solace that I’d intended it to be. And from the design of the cover to the title to the heft and feel of its physical nature itself— I seem to have filled a need and hit the mark dead-on. Yes, certainly it was designed to do so and yes... I’m equally as surprised by the sheer continued flow of the world’s absolute and resounding “YES-ness” of my gift. The timing is right for all this to emerge, the chaos and the call for calm. And that’s bigger than big. Wow."

I have mixed emotions about my work being "timely". 18 years ago I quit my career on Broadway to fulfill an inkling to be exactly where I am now. It's eerie, profound and truth-telling that when it's time to leap, just leap. And when things fall apart they will land together-- eventually, it will land as needed. Take that to heart as the world around you pushes and pulls. Let what needs to fall away, fall.

Purchase your copy of From Chaos to Calm :: Leading Change From the Inside Out HERE.

ON SALE $16.99 until Dec 31st. Price will increase to $22.22 on Jan 1st.

Want to learn more?

Invite me to present at your next conference, company lunch 'n learn or community event! Like my book? Invite me to lead a group discussion in your home or office. My workshops on resiliency, creativity and moving through change are interactive and thought-provoking. Moving through change has never been so interesting! Contact Annelies

Coach Immersions with Annelies
I help professionals navigate change. If you're an executive or entrepreneur facing transition, consider working one-on-one with me or bring me in to your place of business to work with your team to address priority issues, fuel goals and sharpen mindset. Immersions are custom designed to suite your needs, time and budget. Immerse yourself over one full-day, a few days, six months or more. Local and destination experiences are available. Design your transformation. Contact Annelies

Better Business Training
Custom designed business development seminars for small businesses from 3-25 employees, staff and management. Trainings include variations on skills to improve communication, develop empathy, leadership, collaboration, change management, stress reduction, resiliency and conflict resolution. Learn more

Wisdom Circle Mastermind
Wisdom Circle is a facilitated 6-month mastermind group designed to help you gain mastery over your mindset alongside other professionals. Bi-weekly meetings, accountability partnerships and coaching support helps serious professionals, like you, to define yourself, grow your business, fuel goals, catalyze ideas, gain traction, direction, community and peace of mind from personal and professional accomplishments. READ MORE

NEW! Learn DIGITAL "PAINTING" on your ipad!!

Saturday Dec 8th 10AM-12PM

$22 REGISTER HERE NOW

Art is transformative! With our monthly Art in the Garden on the back burner until a warmer April, this will be a great chance for you to learn a new skill, get creative and engage some screen-time in a more productive way-- inside. In the colder months from December to March I'll still facilitate a powerful creative arts-based class but this time... instead of watercolor, you'll bring your ipad and I'll teach you how to "paint". If you don't have an ipad, ask for one for the holidays!! It's an easy and cheap way to "make a mess", have fun and learn how valuable creativity is to a well-rounded life, problem-solving and de-stressing in this chaotic world.

• All levels of experience/knowledge are welcome.
• YOU WILL NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN iPAD (make sure it's charged!).
  
• PLEASE download either the "Bamboo Paper" or "Paper 53" app. Also you're welcome to use your stylus however, your fingers work just fine too! Draw from a picture or real-life.

• Class will meet inside at the Embassy Suites Cafe (food & drinks available for purchase)
• 4700 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612

ART IN THE GARDEN (LAST ONE OF THE YEAR!!)

Last Saturday of every month 10AM-1PM

$38 includes Lunch & Workshop
REGISTER HERE for OCT 27 or READ MORE HERE

Come explore an art-FULL experience at one of Raleigh's best kept secrets, the Well Fed Community Garden owned by Irregardless Cafe. Join us for Art in the Garden and enjoy the simplicities of life; creativity, community and cuisine. Experience the good life through an outdoor (plein-air) guided watercolor class with Annelies followed by a vegetarian farm-to-table picnic lunch from Irregardless Cafe.

• Well Fed Community Garden
• 1321 Athens Dr, Raleigh, NC 27606

Inspiring, informative and transformational experiences for you, your company and community. Conduit for Change, LLC

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