Later this month I am speaking to a group of nurses on how to use Mindfulness for Compassion Fatigue. Although my presentation is mostly I complete, I spent a few hours yesterday researching to add greater depth to my understanding.
Compassion Fatigue is an extreme state of stress resulting from helping those suffering and a preoccupation with the suffering of others. Although incredibly common in healthcare, parents and other caregivers may also struggle. It occurs when you do not recognize and take care of your own needs.
Psychologists now regard Compassion Fatigue as Empathy Fatigue. As humans we are hard wired to be empathetic. Mirror neurons allow for you to feel another’s pain and suffering and this is what moves you to be being compassionate and wanting to help. Empathy drives compassion. It is when you can’t separate another’s pain and suffering from your own and don’t make choices to take care of yourself that problems develop.
Awareness is always the first step in any type of healing. If you don’t know your limitations, if you don’t know your boundaries, if you don’t know how you are feeling, if you don’t know how to reduce stress, and if you don’t how to practice self-care then you are putting yourself at risk.
Mindfulness means to be in the present moment and be at peace. Mindfulness based practices allow you learn how to stop and reconnect to yourself. The process of going inward allows you to understand what is going on within and around you. Mindfulness cultivates curiosity, kindness, and even compassion but in a way that allows you to take care of your own needs.
One popular mindful self-care practice referred to as ” Loving Kindness” may look something like this:
Take a moment to sit down and notice your breathing. Put your hand over your heart. Close your eyes if it feels good to do so. Mentally repeat,”May I be at peace, May I be well, May I be loved, May I be happy. (You can choose any words that feel good and that are kind and compassionate). Put your other hand on your heart. Notice the difference. Choose a mantra again and repeat it. Notice how you feel when you are done.
There are numerous ways to do this practice and countless other Mindfulness skills you can learn to do easily and implement right now, even for two minutes.
To learn more about how Mindfulness can help you or your organization please set up a time to visit with me by phone http://amymcae.as.me/focussession.
Mindful resources for personal development just for you!
I am sitting at my desk enjoying the sun shining through the window this morning contemplating what would be the most helpful and useful topic in mindfulness to write about today.
Mindfulness is fast becoming one of the most important skills you can have as research is finally catching up to what those of us who meditate already know, mindfulness and meditation matter.
Since I get asked for resources all of the time, below you will find some of my favorite websites, apps, resources, and books.
My favorite websites include:
*www.mindfulnessexercises.com This site has countless FREE options for you. Sean Fargo was my Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and Coach several years ago. I highly recommend him!
*www.mindful.org This site has some fantastic articles and resources for all things related to a healthy mind and life.
*www.mindfulleader.org This site is all about mindfulness is the workplace. Their emails are awesome!
Although I am not a huge fan of apps, they can be helpful and these three offer some unique experiences: *Balance, *HeadSpace, or *Insight Timer
Several books I highly suggest:
*Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan -A HUGE favorite! This is all things mindfulness and emotional intelligence! Life changing…
*Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton, and Heen. We all need this, too…
*Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hansen- The neuroscience of happiness, your default state.
*Becoming Super Natural by Joe Dispenza- The science of human potential.
*Brain Storm by Dan Siegel (all about the teenage brain…) and The Whole Brain Child by Dan Siegel (Younger kids). Excellent parenting strategies based on brain function for anyone with children or anyone working with children.
*Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman and Richard J Davidson- The neuroscience of meditation and emotional intelligence.
Just for the kids:
Blissful Kids- Countless tips for fun self-awareness and mindfulness.
Mindful Schools of California- Training for adults working with children. The most well researched program for teaching mindfulness to children that exists.
Mindful Kids cards by Whitney Stewart and Mirna Braun and Yoga Pretzel cards by Tara Guber and Leah Kalish- Beautifully done as well as fun and simple ideas for children to learn mindfulness.
And of course you can always work with me! If you would like to learn more please set up a time to visit by phonehttps://amymccae.as.me/
Relationships skills are vital for success, happiness and a peace of mind. Purpose, passion, and responsibility are vital to any industry leader and to any organization being sustainable. People are the most sustainable resource.
Below is a list of Mindful Relationships based questions. These were developed during my Life Coaching training merely by accident. They are a testament to the creative, intuitive, resourceful process of even “practicing” coaching.
You can go through this list of “Corporate Competencies” and answer the questions. Then, go back and answer the questions as you see your organization or your team.
1.Core Values
*Do you have them? Do you use them? Are they spoken about regularly? What’s the strategy for implementing? Does everyone agree? What does your company really value?
2. Cause
*Why do you care? Why do your partners care? What makes you want to do your job? What makes your employees or colleagues want to work? What does your company seek to achieve? Why?
3. Community
* Do you have friends at work? Are there wellness events? Are there continuing education opportunities? Are there social functions you can attend? Are meetings handled effectively?
4. Connection
* How connected to resources is your corporation? Are your resourceful? Are you networking? Social Media? How are you staying in touch with life outside of work?
5. Clarity
*Do you understand your position and where you intend to go? Does your manager or team as well? Do you have goals and plans set? Are you achieving your goals? Why or why not?
6. Contribution
* What do you bring to the company intentionally? What education or skill set do utilize? In what ways do you help the people you work with? In what ways can you make your employees jobs better?
7. Creativity
*What new advancements has your business made? What new ideas have you come up with? Do you have time to be creative? Is there a brainstorming process? Are people receptive to new ideas? How can you insure you and your colleagues have the space and time to become visionaries? What do you need to do so?
8. Commitment
*Are you really committed to the job? The industry? The company? The title of your position? The people? What do you do that expresses your commitment? What does commitment mean to you?
9. Communication
*Do you hear your boss? Do you validate your colleagues? Do you express yourself appropriately? Are you listening to reply or understand?
Take the time to answer honestly and reflect on what you need, desire, and value so that you can communicate, be validated, and improve all of your relationships.
If you would like to learn more about how to use mindfulness based practices in your life or in your organization set up a call now HERE
Amy McCae
Corporate Wellness Trainer. Life Coach. Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. Intuitive Energy Healer.
“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” Albert Einstein
Meditate.
No, it won’t solve every problem, but you will gain insight and perspective and with that comes a new level of consciousness.
(SCROLL DOWN FOR SALES)
Psychologists suggest that 80% of the time you are emotionally reacting to people and experiences based off situations and experiences of your past. If you wish to consciously choose your response from a more ideal level of consciousness for better outcomes you must first develop self-awareness.
Self-awareness gives you insight into your thoughts, your emotional processes, your relationships, your history, your values, your beliefs, your stress level, your well-being, your dreams and passions, your skill set, and so much more.
Although I am a fan of self-discovery through Enneagram tests, Gallup Strength Finder, and others, sometimes what you need to do is be still and be silent, if even for a few moments. We as society spend too much time “doing” and not enough time allowing for the space where the answers come naturally.
“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear?” Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?” Lao Tzu
My experience has been that formal meditations practices make it easier for me to be naturally more mindful and self-aware throughout the day (science says this is so…). I have also found that consciously choosing mini moments to mindfully notice my breath, sense my body, name my feelings, notice the sounds, or notice my thoughts helps me to make more conscious decisions. These practices give me clear insight and I gain perspective even in the worst of scenarios.
Both of these styles of practices lead me to silence, stillness, and knowing. This quiet knowing allows me to make conscious decisions that improve my health, relationships, and success in positive and empowering ways. YOU CAN TOO!
“The real meditation practice is how we live our lives from moment to moment.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
DECEMBER DEALS: *By multiple requests, NEW OFFER: Mindfulness Training and Energy Work/2 hour session *Invite me to speak next year and get this year’s price. January 1st the investment cost goes up. *20% OFF Mindfulness Matters 6 Month Coaching Package *Buy one Intuitive Energy Work session and get one half off Some exclusions apply GET the details NOW https://amymccae.as.me/focussession
Wishing you an amazing and peaceful day,
Amy McCae Certified Life and Executive Coach. Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. Intuitive Energy Coach. http://www.amymccae.com
In honor of April being Stress Awareness Month I will send you a free guided relaxation audio that I created this morning. Take 10 or so minutes today to relax, breath, focus, and gain clarity & peace of mind.
MESSAGE ME for a FREE GUIDED RELAXATION AUDIO!
creativewellness@cox.net
If you enjoy it then check out other ways to reduce stress!
Mindfulness Matters Online Course: Accredited, neuroscience based, emotional intelligence course developed for leaders suffering from self-doubt and overwhelm. If you are stressed you can not make the impact you desire. Ideal for BOTH individuals AND CORPORATIONS. Seminars available.
Meditation and Mindfulness Session: Your own private class where you get to experience various effective, science based practices that you can easily use right away to feel more relaxed and peaceful. With daily practice this can rewire your brain and be life changing.
Energetic Healing Session: Kick you feet up and rest peacefully on my massage table fully clothed while I guide you to relax. Since you are more than just a body I get in touch with these subtle energies and realign and balance them. Most clients report having more clarity, confidence, better sleep, and specific relationships or health issues may improve.
Life Coaching: Bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be, Life Coaching insures you get there. Personal development is through resources and intuitively asked questions personal allowing for better health, success, and relationships.
Please message me at creativewellness@cox.net to learn more. Sending you all the love, joy, and peace you can imagine AND more.
Amy McCae Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher AND more!
Amy specializes in helping leaders overcome self-doubt and overwhelm so they can have clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. She offers Mindfulness Matters an accredited online course with or without Life Coaching to individuals and corporations. Amy also as offers classes, presentations, and seminars as well as several types of energetic healing.
Mindfulness Matters is an accredited, neuroscience based, emotional intelligence program created for developing visionary and conscious leaders. Many leaders struggle with self-doubt and overwhelm. This course insures you gain clarity, confidence, success, and will even help improve your relationships and health!!
Amy spent her childhood dreaming of being a doctor only to watch her mother die of cancer when she was 20. Her life took an entirely different direction after that and she spent much of her 20’s sick with chronic illnesses.
One day Amy was too sick to take care of her newborn baby and she had to crawl to the phone to call for help. Amy then went on a quest to heal and looked in places she never knew existed before that day. AND she healed largely through fitness, nutrition, and meditation.
Through that experience Amy rediscovered a passion for helping others. She is committed to excellence and to making a difference in the world.
Not for one second do I believe that “time heals all wounds.” This catchy, all too often used phrase, intended to pacify someone in pain simply isn’t always true. True healing requires truth not time; truth about who you really are, truth about how you feel, truth about your relationships, and truth about your choices. Healing requires an entirely new level of self-awareness, a willingness to be honest, and a capacity to be receptive to change.
” Until you heal the wounds of your past, you are going to bleed with food, with alcohol, with work, with cigarettes, with sex; but eventually, it will ooze through and stain your life. You must find the strength to open the wounds, stick your hands inside, pull out the core of the pain that is holding you in your past, the memories, and make peace with them.” Iyanla Vanaznt
My chosen career field arose out my own suffering. I am no stranger to pain and my stubbornness and perfectionism have often proven to be less than ideal in numerous situations… Being in the business of helping people I still find myself seeking to help people feel better through inspiration and positivity.However, the truth is sometimes the truth hurts.
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious.” Carl Jung
Carl Jung is/was a famous psychologist and psychiatrist who made numerous contributions int these fields of study. Jung proposed that everyone’s personality includes four Jungian Archetypes that help you understand your behaviors and they also influence the way you think and act. One of those aspects is referred to as “The Shadow” or the “the dark side of the psyche, representing wildness, chaos, and the unknown.” (learning-mind.com) Jung believed in the power of the unconscious mind and understood that repressing your desires or qualities you stifle your growth.
Uncovering your “darkness” will lead you to healing. These are aspects, ideas, beliefs, attitudes, traits, behaviors, and feelings that you are not aware of, have avoided or refused to acknowledge. It is through your acceptance of yourself wholeheartedly that you will find true healing, peace of mind, happiness, and freedom. AND you will be able to make conscious decisions!
As always, I am going to suggest meditation and mindfulness. You have to quiet all the chatter in your mind to get the truth. Silence speaks. ALWAYS. Mindfulness at its simplest means to pay attention on purpose and be at peace with the moment despite any “chaos.” They both lead to self-awareness which is an aspect of emotional intelligence desperately needed in our society.
In meditation you can ask for the answers. If you simply stop, notice your breathing for a few minutes, focus on your chest and then your heart, gently bringing your awareness back each time your mind wanders, notice how you feel, think of situations and then notice how you feel, think of certain people and ask questions and notice what comes to you. The idea is not to pass judgment on what you are feeling, thinking, or experiencing. Journal about these experiences!!! Please note that sometimes things or feelings come up that are bothersome if that occurs always ask for help.
During the day you can practice mini moments of mindfulness. How do you feel when you see a meme or post on social media? How do you feel when talking to your boss? How do you feel while cooking dinner? How do you feel in traffic? How do you feel when home alone? Are you emotionally reacting or consciously choosing your actions? What are the thoughts in your mind during these experiences? Sometimes when you can not get in touch with the feeling knowing the thought will lead you to the feelings. My awareness of my thoughts has often lead me to understanding my beliefs and my judgments. Not always easy… but so worthwhile.
Never fear the “shadows” as they remind you that there is light nearby. Remember that what you resist persists. Forgive yourself for what you didn’t know at the time. It is in your acknowledgement of ALL OF YOU that you will find healing.
Thank you,
Amy S McCae
Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher AND MORE!
Amy specializes in helping leaders overcome self-doubt and overwhelm so they can have clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. She offers Mindfulness Matters an accredited online course with or without Life Coaching to individuals and corporations. Amy also as offers classes, presentations, and seminars and even energy work.
Mindfulness Matters is an accredited, neuroscience based, emotional intelligence program created for developing visionary and conscious leaders. Many leaders struggle with self-doubt and overwhelm. This course insures you gain clarity, confidence, success, and will even help improve your relationships and health!!
Amy spent her childhood dreaming of being a doctor only to watch her mother die of cancer when she was 20. Her life took an entirely different direction after that and she spent much of her 20’s sick with chronic illnesses.
One day Amy was too sick to take care of her newborn baby and she had to crawl to the phone to call for help. Amy then went on a quest to heal and looked in places she never knew existed before that day. AND she healed largely through fitness, nutrition, and meditation.
Though that experience Amy rediscovered a passion for helping others. She is committed to excellence and to making a difference in the world.
Too often I think we overlook the value of simply being kind. We live in a world where busyness and outcomes often rank supreme to everything. No wonder so may suffer from self-worth issues.
Imagine for as moment a time when you were hard on yourself? How about a co-worker or boss? Spouse? Child? Would you feel better about the “outcome” had you chosen differently?
Honestly, meditation and mindfulness help me to be kinder and more compassionate both personally and professionally. I am more aware of my thoughts, my feelings, my actions and also of other’s feelings. (Emotional Intelligence)
I feel better when I am kind. I feel like I can make a difference in someone life or even in the world if I am kinder and more compassionate.
Take a breath and be patient. Choose to do something kind. Create good.
Below is a list of random acts of kindness from a challenge I organized a few years ago. Choose one or more! Or create your own!
Write a letter of appreciation to someone who helped you Shovel or mow for a neighbor Buy someone coffee or a meal Create a joy jar Ask someone to be your gratitude partner Volunteer to serve food at homeless shelter Raise money for an organization Give random compliments Mentor or read to a child Pick up litter and trash Pay someone’s parking meter Forgive Meditate Make notes on your beauty and post them around the house Paint, draw, create art and give it away Recycle Feed the birds Take someone flowers Make dinner for a friend or neighbor Donate teaching your skills Smile at each person you see today Hold the door Give hugs Validate someone’s feelings and experience Tell someone you love them Donate toys to sick children Knit hats for cancer patients Make blankets for the elderly Encourage someone Donate school supplies or books
Thank you,
Amy McCae
Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
Amy offers Mindfulness Matters an accredited online course with or without Life Coaching to individual and corporations as well as energy work as well as seminars and classes. Personal development at its finest.
Amy McCae is a Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher in Omaha, Nebraska. She is passionate about healing and helping others. Amy holds numerous certifications allowing her to support individuals and organizations.
Mindfulness Matters is an accredited, neuroscience based, emotional intelligence program created for developing visionary and conscious leaders. Many leaders struggle with self-doubt and overwhelm. This course insures you gain clarity, confidence, success, and will even help improve your relationships and health!!
Amy spent her childhood dreaming of being a doctor only to watch her mother die of cancer when she was 20. Her life took an entirely different direction after that and she spent much of her 20’s sick with chronic illnesses.
One day Amy was too sick to take care of her newborn baby and she had to crawl to the phone to call for help. Amy then went on a quest to heal and looked in places she never knew existed before that day. AND she healed largely through fitness, nutrition, and meditation.
I’m not bossy and I’m not a control freak. I just have better ideas than you.
Sometimes when people appear to be bossy or controlling there is more to the story…
As child I remember being meticulous about things being in order. My clothes in my closet faced a certain direction and were hung colored coded and according to season, my music alphabetized, and my grades perfect. I worked hard to control every aspect of my environment.
As an adult I have often done the same things to an even deeper extent both personally and professionally. I strive for excellence in all that I do and used to wish I could control people, places, and events so that they quit messing up my plans.
Middle age and painful life experiences have this way of insuring that you deal with your sh*t. In my late thirties I began having panic attacks to the point of not being able to function for hours afterwards. I also started waking up having panic attacks thinking I was going to die. Imagine waking up not being able to breath or control your body… Looking back I always had anxiety but was masking it in any way I could.
Through a lot of personal development work I realized that deep down I am not a control freak after all. When I feel anxious I will try to find something to control. The other night I was cooking and thinking about a personal situation that was hurting me. Suddenly I felt the need to organize, control, and clean something. Instead of doing that I stopped, took a breath, and asked myself what was really going.
“People with anxiety don’t have a train of thought. We have 7 trains on 4 tracks that narrowly avoid each other when the paths cross and all the conductors are screaming.” (Survivors Stand Tall/ Facebook)
Meditation and mindfulness have been my saving Grace. They have taught me how to breath, how to focus, and how to help myself. What I have learned is that I am not controlling but I do sometimes experience anxiety. The source of that anxiety is caused by my thoughts and feelings about a situation or person that I don’t have control over. Why would I want to control the person or situation? Because I feel insecure, unworthy, unsafe and that scares me. FEAR…
The next time you find yourself feeling the need to control a situation or the next time you notice you are feeling anxious try asking yourself some questions:
What is this really about?
What emotion am I feeling?
What outcome do I want?
How can I be at peace with this person or situation if it doesn’t turn out as I would like?
What things can I do for myself to create the my preferred feelings?
Not everyone experiences anxiety the same way. If you have anxiety or panic attacks please make sure you see the proper professional for you.
Wishing peace and joy.
Many Blessings,
Amy McCae
Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
Amy McCae is a Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher in Omaha, Nebraska. She is passionate about healing and helping others. Amy holds numerous certifications allowing her to support individuals and organizations.
Mindfulness Matters is an accredited, neuroscience based, emotional intelligence program created for developing visionary and conscious leaders. Many leaders struggle with self-doubt and overwhelm. This course insures you gain clarity, confidence, success, and will even help improve your relationships and health!!
Amy spent her childhood dreaming of being a doctor only to watch her mother die of cancer when she was 20. Her life took an entirely different direction after that and she spent much of her 20’s sick with chronic illnesses.
One day Amy was too sick to take care of her newborn baby and she had to crawl to the phone to call for help. Amy then went on a quest to heal and looked in places she never knew existed before that day. AND she healed largely through fitness, nutrition, and meditation.
You may be wondering what meditation is or what mindfulness is as well as if there is any difference. I am going to attempt to semi-define. Please know that you can choose your own ways to define the terms as this is just a frame of reference to help you if you feel confused. The experience is what matters and in some ways will be unique to you.
Mindfulness is simply paying attention on purpose to things such as thoughts, sensations, sounds, feelings and doing so without passing judgment. We often suggest that mindfulness is being in the present moment. There is, however, the aspect we refer to as “equanimity” which means to be at peace with that moment.
Peace: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of those things, and still be calm in your heart. (unknown) Equanimity equals peace of mind.
Mindfulness techniques and practices can be done for a moment or for an extended time. There are a few core practices that you can learn and develop. There are also skills to bring mindfulness into your daily activities so that you are more present. Mindfulness Meditation is really just using these practices to “meditate” and also only one form of meditation.
Meditation and its various forms are mental training practices that may lead to a relaxed state of mind or heightened state of awareness. Many define meditation as a formal practice and it is often done for a set amount of time. There are countless and varied styles. These various style can really be narrowed down to two types. One being “focused attention” where you have an object that keeps your attention and you continue to bring your attention back to that focal point. The other is “open monitored” where you allow your thoughts to wander from one experience or thought to another just noticing. Both are worthy of your attention.
There is a mental space in mindfulness and meditation that seem to encompass everything yet nothing as well as absolute peace and awareness. This is an ideal to place to visit. However, having an end goal in Mindfulness Meditation defeats the practice. AND if your meditation and mindfulness practices stress you out then you need a new plan.
Personally, I tend to believe that simple mindfulness practices lead to a meditation hence Mindfulness Meditation. I believe that mini mindful moments change lives. The beauty of mindfulness is that it can be practiced at any moment while doing anything and anywhere. I also believe that regularly practicing any style meditation lends itself to almost seemingly or accidentally being more mindful through out the day.
In reality it only matters that you practice. Despite the practices being simple, the problem tends to be with incorporating and sticking to a practice in daily life. Don’t under estimate the power of mindfulness. Mindfulness creates this space where you have the power to consciously choose. This is a space of empowerment.
Viktor Frank said: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Thank you,
Amy McCae
Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
Amy McCae is a Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher in Omaha, Nebraska. She is passionate about healing and helping others and especially about mindfulness and emotional intelligence.
Amy spent her childhood dreaming of being a doctor only to watch her other die of cancer when she was 20. Her life took an entirely different direction after that and she spent much of her 20’s sick with chronic illnesses.
One day Amy was too sick to take care of her newborn baby and she had to crawl to the phone to call for help. Amy then went on a quest to heal and looked in places she never knew existed before that day. AND she healed largely through fitness, nutrition, and meditation.
The experience allowed her to rediscover her passion for healing and helping others. Amy now holds numerous certifications allowing her to be of support to individuals and organizations. Mindfulness Matters is an accredited 8-week online course rooted in science and inspired by her desire to help others develop emotional intelligence (especially leaders and those struggling with self-doubt and overwhelm). Please contact Amy for more information and to sign up!
So you survived the stress of the holidays, your challenging co-workers and even your crazy family. In December I shared a skill set to help you reduce stress, create a healthier and happier life, and think more positively. I also shared that your power always lies in the present moment. It is in this moment that if you have enough self-awareness and emotional intelligence that you can make conscious choices inline with your values and save yourself a lot of headaches and regret later. AND obviously be less stressed.
Below I give you 3 specific, simple practices you can easily begin today that will help you develop greater self-awareness/emotional intelligence so that you can take better care of your needs, improve your relationships, and be a conscious, visionary leader.
Almost four years ago I was asked by a doctor in Arizona to participate in an online summit and to speak about relationships. I was in the middle of a nasty divorce and did not feel “worthy” of the opportunity. I decided to dig deeper into the five skills I had been teaching and speak on those. I ended up ranked #6 out of 40 speakers some of which were rather well known. I have shared/taught these practices to corporations, spiritual communities, non-profit organizations and to people from all walks of life. The title changes but the skills are the same include; Awareness, Acceptance, Attitude, Action, and Acknowledgment each with specific practices.
Relationships are always the heart of our daily lives. The people in your life are a reflection of you. The relationship you have with yourself will dictate and impact every facet of your life.
Stress Less Now is really about mindful self-care so that you can live an empowered and extraordinary life. The transformational practices inspire authenticity, confidence, compassion, and emotional intelligence fostering visionary leaders that create a better world.
AWARENESS is the topic for today.
Awareness is first simply because if you do not know who you are or what you are dealing with you simply can not make a conscious choice. As it turns out ignorance is not bliss. You need to be mindful of what lies beneath the roles you play and why. You need quiet and space to explore these. The truth can never be hidden for long.
Self-awareness begins with attention training. (AKA “Mindfulness”) There are several simple mindfulness practices that you begin now. One would be to become mindful of your breath. Just notice without judgement occasionally throughout the day and begin taking a few minutes each day to just breath. You can add more time when you are ready.
Another practice would be a “Loving Kindness Meditation” which is done by simply mentally repeating phrases such as “May I be loved, may I be well, may I be at peace, may I be at ease. You can also hold your hand on your heart when you do this and even send it to others! Notice your body when you do this. Begin to notice what you sense when you practice. Emotional intelligence may be the greatest gift you ever give yourself.
Another way to gain self-awareness is through discovering your core values. You can find lists on the internet or set up a free phone consult with me at http:// https://amymccae.as.me/ and I will send you a free copy. The idea is to narrow it down to your top five. These are your deal breakers. Knowing them will allow you live authentically and confidently. AND it is always eye opening.
Please take the time to journal about your experiences. Taking the time to be kind to yourself and to develop new levels of self-awareness leads to improved wellness, better choices, healthier relationships, greater business success, and peace of mind. Just do it.
Enjoy the journey of learning about you. May you gain the confidence, self-awareness, and tools you need to believe that you are worthy and can create anything you desire. You just have to be willing to look deeply.
Thank you,
Amy McCae
Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
Mindfulness Matters is an accredited 8-week online course rooted in science and inspired by Google’s emotional intelligence program.
Amy McCae is a Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher in Omaha, Nebraska. She is passionate about healing and helping others and especially about mindfulness and emotional intelligence.
Amy spent her childhood dreaming of being a doctor only to watch her other die of cancer when she was 20. Her life took an entirely different direction after that and she spent much of her 20’s sick with chronic illnesses.
One day Amy was too sick to take care of her newborn baby and she had to crawl to the phone to call for help. Amy then went on a quest to heal and looked in places she never knew existed before that day. AND she healed largely through fitness, nutrition, and meditation.
The experience allowed her to rediscover her passion for healing and helping others. Amy now holds numerous certifications allowing her to be of support to individuals and organizations. Mindfulness Matters is an accredited 8-week online course rooted in science and inspired by her desire to help others develop emotional intelligence (especially leaders and those struggling with self-doubt and overwhelm). Please contact Amy for more information and to sign up!
Amy McCae 