by Amy Matthews | Mar 31, 2022 | Blog, Inspiration |
I conducted a workshop last week with a group of financial advisors. The team works for a division of a large bank, think household name.
The purpose of the workshop was twofold: for individuals to feel more confident about their unique talents and to build a stronger team identity based on the collective attributes of the team. When I conduct these workshops, I ask attendees to get input on how others see and value them.
The group was eager to give each other feedback. Without any prompting, they genuinely went on about how they appreciated one other. It was wonderful to witness! The energy of the group lifted.
This was one comment:
Thank you, Amy! It was a great bonding opportunity between myself and my fellow team members.
Fast forward to what happened at the Academy Awards. Social media and the news has been all over it so no need to comment. What I will say is the situation made me think about this:
Every person on the planet wants to be loved, accepted, appreciated and respected. This isn’t a big aha..we know this. But when we get too busy or stressed or have a deadline or “in our stuff”, we can forget to take time to appreciate others.
Appreciation is like gratitude on steroids. It lifts people up, connects us and builds community. And in turn, it lifts you up.
Appreciation begets appreciation. Spread some today.
by Amy Matthews | Jan 13, 2022 | Blog, Inspiration, Mindset |
A brand spanking new year! It doesn’t feel like it, yet. With Omicron still raging, we can’t exactly put the petal to the metal. That’s why January is the perfect month to reflect, reevaluate and renew.
Our landscape has literally shifted under our feet the past two years. Many of us still feel wobbly, others are searching for clarity or craving momentum. Here’s the deal. With so much uncertainty still in the air, the #1 thing you can lean on is knowing who you really are.
Authenticity is the cornerstone for creating a fulfilling life. It’s the choice to show up and be REAL. It’s your most powerful asset, always, and a direct path to your success.
I’m offering my Authentic Brand Workshop again in February! I’ll take you on a journey to discover your strengths, skills, passions, values and superpowers. The result? You’ll have more clarity and focus, and feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Yep, you’ll be on fire! Stay tuned for details next week.
May 2022 be the year you let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace all of who you are – warts and all.
You attract the right things when you have a sense of who you are. – Amy Poehler
by Amy Matthews | Nov 22, 2021 | Blog, Inspiration |
I love Thanksgiving. It’s a time to pause, reflect and open our hearts.
You all know I’m a big fan of gratitude practice but I realized recently, I was just going through the motions. I would do my yoga routine, meditate, connect with my intention and feel super grateful in the moment. But the feeling didn’t stick with me through the day. I felt exhausted and out of balance.
I bet many of you can relate.
To regain my “attitude of gratitude”, it was clear to me I needed to stop rushing and slow down. That included my thoughts, my activities, even the little things like how fast I drive and how hard I work out. I had a sense of urgency to move through the world and get stuff done. Wonder Woman was once my hero but she just wasn’t working for me – anymore.
With that awareness, I made a few simple changes:
I started taking the scenic route while driving instead of the direct path.
I became more selective about the podcasts I listen to and the news I read.
I stopped stressing about things and started trusting that everything I need to get done, will get done.
Plus, to feel inspired:
I’ve been playing Elton John and Dua Lipa’s Cold Heart – on repeat. Dance party for one, anyone?
I listened to Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist on Audible. Jeremy Irons narrates it and it’s even better than the written book! It’s filled with so many nuggets of wisdom.
I surround myself with candles at every opportunity.
With slowing down and making these minor shifts, I feel more grounded and present. And, my “attitude of gratitude” is back.
It doesn’t take much to get back into balance. Grant yourself permission to slow down this holiday. Everything will get done, I promise.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving:
Seek out the things that inspire and rejuvenate you. May you feel gratitude for all the abundance in your life, especially, for those who contribute to your life.
Wishing you a heartfelt and fun Thanksgiving week.
by Amy Matthews | Jul 8, 2021 | Business, Inspiration |
I listened to a Goop podcast yesterday where Gwyneth Paltrow interviewed Venus Williams. In addition to her acclaimed tennis career, Venus has a lifestyle apparel brand, interior design company and a plant based protein company! What an amazing icon and rule breaker.
You can listen to this inspiring podcast right here.
When Gwyneth asked Venus why she named her lifestyle and activewear brand, ELEVEN, she said: we all should pursue our best self and strive to be better than a TEN. We can get more out of ourselves than we think.
I love the idea of striving for an ELEVEN. To me, it’s another way to ask ourselves where we currently sit with our career/business, health and fitness, friends and family, partner, money, fun and our relationship with ourselves.
It’s half way through 2021.On a scale of 1-11, where are you in these key areas of your life? And, where would you like to be by the end of the year?
We can create anything. If we want it enough.
by Amy Matthews | May 5, 2021 | Inspiration, Mindset |
Happy Cinco de Mayo! This day always brings a smile to my face. It’s a great reminder of victory and celebration.
My love for this holiday started years ago when I worked in Latin America. My team based in Mexico City taught me how to enjoy the little things in life which at the time, was a huge lesson for me. I was a stressed out, over performer on the verge of burnout. I was a big hot mess.
Since then, year after year, I’ve said I wanted to throw a Cinco de Mayo party. I would get excited about the idea, think about recipes, decorations, invite list, etc. I vividly imagined it yet, I never pulled the trigger. Why? I was making it a bigger deal than it really was. Rather than creating a simple get together, I had this idea in my head that it needed to be a big soiree with everything just so. I allowed my thinking mind to take over which squelched my inspiration.
I bet you can relate. We all get inspired by something we want but then let the spark die. We allow our minds to complicate things until it becomes overwhelming and then we don’t take action. Sometimes for years. Big things in life and the little things – like hosting a Cinco de Mayo party.
If there is something you say you want but you don’t have it, your desire to not have it is greater than your desire to have it.
If you really want it, you can have it. It’s that simple.
I am happy to report that we had a Cinco de Mayo party last year and are having one this year too! A simple affair, just a few friends, where we are all contributing. I am making this delicious Jalepeño-Roast Pork recipe, which I highly recommend. And yes, there will be plenty of tequila + margaritas. Because, Why Not?
Sign up for a free 45 minute coaching session with me here
by Amy Matthews | Apr 23, 2021 | Inspiration, Mindset |
I go for a long hike on Saturday’s with my friend Amber and my dog, Pie. It’s our time to catch up, solve the world’s problems and “get it all out on the mountain.” Our hikes are therapy for the body, mind and soul. This past week she told me about a friend whose mother died suddenly in a car accident. We quickly got on the topic of loss and how we never know when the unthinkable might happen.
A sudden death of a loved one, a business folds overnight, a marriage splits, a cancer diagnosis, a friend dies of Covid, the tragedy in India. There’s been so much loss lately. The truth is, none of us will leave this life unscathed.
So what to do when the unthinkable happens?
1. Honor your feelings and feel deeply.
It’s natural to want to run away from them, believe me, I get it. Yet the only way forward is through.
2. Give yourself permission to do whatever the $%&* you want.
Hide underneath the covers for as long as it takes. Being overly busy is NOT a solution.
3. Grieve. Then grieve some more.
Give into it. Trust that the grieving process won’t last forever.
4. Let your pain propel you forward on your life path.
Loss has a way of shining its light on what our purpose is and the action we want to take in the world. Only when you are ready, no rush.
5. Connect with what truly matters.
Restore and replenish first. Then reconnect with YOUR Joy and what inspires you.
One day you’ll emerge stronger, wiser and more resilient. You’ll declare: I’m back.
If you’ve experienced a loss and grieving, I’ve got your back. Sign up for a free 45 minute coaching session with me here
To replenish + reconnect with Joy and what truly matters, join my Eat the Brownie Challenge here
