A client self-care story...and video!

The people I support through my healing practice are amazing individuals. They are taking bold steps, opening to new possibilities, breathing through their fears and finding the courage on the other side of that fear coin. As one of my teachers says, "Fear is simply courage without the breath!"

I was particularly honored that Anthony Scimonelli asked me to serve as his faculty advisor for an independent study. As a student in the Transformative Leadership and Social Change program at Tai Sophia Institute, Anthony was embarking on the Independent Study phase of his learning with a focus on self-care and breaking free from old stories and shoulds about writing and publishing his original music.

Among other learning activities, Anthony came for regular Reiki and Sound Healing sessions, which assisted him in opening to new possibilities and ways of being in his life. He discovered patterns of harshness, striving, and efforting that took a toll on his physical, mental and emotional health. I coached him to partner those patterns with a gentler and more nurturing approach, particularly in how he spoke and related to himself. As he took steps to express his creativity through original music, he broke free from old personal and family stories that he wasn't good enough to perform on his own. It was a joy to watch him move through the fears, create and honor space in his life for music practice, and proudly share the results with me and others.

Anthony is an audiovisual expert by day, and also loves to use those skills in his creative life. So he designed his Independent Study to include a music video chronicling his experience. It is now on YouTube (check it out!) and includes the first song he has recorded on his way to producing an album. Congratulations, Anthony!

I feel fortunate to be doing work that is so deeply rewarding. What a gift to be a companion to Anthony and so many others, as they break free from what is holding them back from bringing their unique and authentic gifts to the world. Kudos to all of them for honoring self-care as an important step to owning, embodying and sharing their gifts with the world.I am humbled and grateful for their trust in me as a partner on the journey.

Deep Nourishment: What step will you take?

I just spent a lovely evening at the Anne Arundel Co. meeting of On Purpose Networking for Women. In my 5 minute presentation, I did an abbreviated Raisin Meditation and talked about getting pleasure from food and--even more importantly--from non-food sources. In a culture that's overfed and undernourished physically, I say there's also a deeper malnutrition on the soul level.

For years, I suppressed who I really was in order to please others and meet unreasonable expectations--both theirs and mine. I was numb to my feelings, cut off from my true self, and living by the "shoulds." It's been an interesting journey over the past decade, of learning how to nourish myself on all levels. I've slowly been waking up, breaking free from all that oppressed and suppressed my unique voice, and learning to savor the sacredness in everything. An amazing adventure, really, that I will be on for the rest of my life.

How might your life (and specifically your relationship with food) be different if you slowed down to savor each bite of food, and nourished yourself deeply in non-food ways. Here's the question I left the group with tonight, and I ask it of you as well: What step will you take to break free from the "shoulds" and deeply nourish yourself in the next 24 hours?

Honor what comes up for you, even if you or others might perceive it as a little "upside-down." For me, after a 12-hour work day today, it just might be a nap in the middle of the day tomorrow (when I "should" be working).

I'd love to hear about what you did and how it affected you, and look forward to reading your comments!