by Amy Matthews | Aug 12, 2020 | Inspiration, Mindset |
The world has changed. Our new reality has left us distracted, ungrounded, isolated, and lonely. It’s a perfect set of circumstances contributing to feeling lost.
If you’ve lost your footing, you are not alone. If you don’t know why you’re doing the job you are doing or how you got to this place, you are not alone. If you crave freedom and connection, you are not alone. If you’re feeling unmotivated, you are not alone. If you are looking for meaning, you are not alone. If you want to run and hide, you are not alone. If you secretly wish you could flip a switch and go back to the way it was, you are not alone.
The truth is, it’s not. We won’t be “going back to the way it was before.”
If we can agree on that, what can you do right now to feel empowered and hopeful about your future?
Focus on yourself and your own growth. There isn’t a better time to uncover your essential qualities – your Natural Strengths, Skills, Core Values, and Passions that make up your Authentic Brand. Once you identify and claim your unique qualities, you will feel more empowered, energized, connected, and confident to create what you want most in your life.
In Northern California where I live, this week we had an unprecedented lightning storm, a record heatwave, and tornado fires throughout the region. Houses lost, people evacuated – almost overnight.
Things can change on a dime. For the worse AND for the better.
One minute you feel lost, the next you have clarity about who you really are and the conviction to create your future.
You can spend your time worrying about what’s next or ruminating about your ex or past mistakes. Or, you can rein in your energy and direct it towards claiming your superpowers and what you want to create next. You have options. Which one will you choose?
I’m excited to be offering my next class, Your Authentic Brand. Stay tuned for deets.
by Amy Matthews | Jul 20, 2020 | Inspiration, Mindset |
We are all running low, gas tanks on empty, if not, nearing empty.
Before COVID, we used to get tired and run on empty because we were always on the move. Now, we are exhausted because we are doing more while marching in place. I’ve heard many sentiments like these:
I’m tired of the same routine
Life is not my own
I don’t have any privacy
I’ve lost my motivation
As soon as I plan, I get hit with another curveball
I feel cut off from friends
I’m frustrated and sad
We feel depleted, aimless and without a rudder. We have lost sight of the shore and where we are heading. The truth is, many of us have lost sight of our desires.
I went on a 12-hour road trip lately. My brother in law gave me some great advice.
“Make sure you don’t let your gas tank go below 1/4 full.”
It’s up to us to fill up before we run out of gas. It’s up to us to give ourselves a break. We all need one. it’s up to us to refuel and replenish by getting back in touch with our own needs and desires.
Fill up on rest. Fill up in nature on the back nine, a hike, a beach walk, or bike ride. Fill up on gratitude and an open heart.
by Amy Matthews | Jul 14, 2020 | In-Power, Mindset |
I went for a long hike with a friend over the weekend, one of the things that keeps me sane. We talked about the ways people are struggling and the emotions they are feeling – fear, sadness, anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. All the things that I’ve been writing and coaching about since the pandemic hit.
It’s hard to feel these feelings. I certainly have had to grapple with my own share.
Earlier this week, I went back and read all the newsletters I’ve written. I came across one dated October 2017. Here’s an excerpt from it:
Many of us are feeling overwhelmed these days because there is so much uncertainty in the world. Fear and anxiety are at an all-time high. We’ve had so much destruction in such a short period of time – the multiple hurricanes, the Las Vegas shooting, the Northern California fires. People are walking on eggshells, wondering when the next shoe is going to drop. When so much is happening, it’s difficult to feel inspired and to stay focused on what you want to create in your life.
W H O A.
The light bulb went on. We’ve been in a state of duress for a V E R Y long time.
Predictability used to made us feel safe. If you’ve lost your footing, you are not alone. So what do we do?
We cook up a smorgasbord of compassion for ourselves, partners, friends, family, essential workers, pets, colleagues, and our community. We fill up on thoughts that make us feel centered and calm. We fill up on the people and things in our lives that nurture us. We fill up on what inspires us.
Feed yourself until your stomach is full. Once you fill up, you will find the clarity, conviction, confidence to create what’s next in your life.
by Amy Matthews | Jul 14, 2020 | In-Power, Mindset |
I’ve been working on Radical Acceptance for the last few weeks.
It’s natural to reject what is happening in our lives if it’s not something we like. Our brains are programmed to do so. We push it away, get angry, frustrated, ‘pull a nutty’ or run for the hills. We question why, we deny, we manipulate, we negotiate. We’ll try anything before we accept.
Here are a few real struggles that my clients and friends are facing right now:
Yet ANOTHER project dumped in her lap
Leadership not listening
24/7 with spouse/partner/family
The loss of a parent
You want different things
Noise and distraction of construction (that’s mine!)
Lack of ‘breathing room’
“Independent young adults” living at home
The guy you were dating dissed you
It’s not easy to accept the current reality. It’s a process. Yet, it takes a lot more energy to resist than accept. Resisting is like a power struggle with yourself and never a win win. When I push away or reject what’s happening in the moment, it’s usually because I’m feeling vulnerable, misunderstood or not heard. How about you?
Feel your feelings. Once you do, you get to decide whether to turn your thoughts towards accepting OR keep rejecting reality. Decide what you’re committed to and let that propel you forward.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” ~ Mathatma Ghandi
by Amy Matthews | Jun 22, 2020 | In-Power, Inspiration |
I found out last Wednesday remodeling was starting below my place that very same day. One minute it was quiet, the next it was seriously LOUD. Without any warning, my home was transformed into a very noisy construction site.
For days my clients, colleagues and I put up with hammering in the background of our zoom calls. I was beside myself. I was pissed! How could this be happening to me? I quickly recognized I was in victim mode. Whoa.
I wasn’t going to live in misery for a month. Nope, no way. Not on your life. The answer quickly came to me.
ROAD TRIP!
I asked a few friends to join me but the timing wasn’t right. So, I filled up the tank with gas, put air in my tires (all by myself) and packed the car. The next morning, I drove twelve hours with my plus one, Pie, my mini golden doodle. I am now in idyllic Sun Valley, Idaho for a week! It’s quintessentially charming and beautiful. The weather is warm. Views are stunning. Hiking is amazing. Every person I’ve met is kind. And, it’s QUIET. I can hear myself think and my creative juices are flowing.
As the saying goes, if you can’t change a situation, change your perception of it. Or, hop in yo ur car and get the hell out of dodge.
Create your own happiness.
