KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE
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Greetings!
Happy 2022! If you are ending the first week of the New Year with the expectation that magic-presto you're going to be a whole new person, remember that "the acorn does not become an oak tree overnight." There is a process to transformation and growth which takes consistency and effort; plus the energy feels a little like walking through molasses and fog at the moment, so be gentle and patient with yourself, and know that this is a good time to practice presence and take things one day, or two hours, at a time.
And with extreme weather, lockdowns/mandates, illness/death and the stoking of various forms of fear and division in relentless cycles that will likely not end anytime soon, we have to be more self-reliant and empowered than ever, and remember: We are the ones we are waiting for.
That means that we can all do our part to add a little ease and grace to our day and the days of others. Turn of the news and filter what social media and entertainment you expose yourself to. Play music that makes you feel good. Dance. Laugh more. Be conscious of smiling (whether you are masked or not); make some human contact with "strangers" by looking them in the eyes, saying hello, and having a nice chat about something silly (then they are no longer "strangers"). Especially to the everyday neighborhood workers; the delivery people, cashiers, and anyone you pass on the street, or if you're in the car you can look at the person at the stop sign next to you. No matter what the scenario: Smile and send some good vibes their way.
Kindness, empathy and connection - to ourselves, each other, and something greater than ourselves - are the only things that will get us through these times. Many are scared, tired, fed up and dealing with stressful circumstances and managing anxiety in the face of an uncertain future. Everyone seems to be silently struggling to keep it together in one way or another.
They might not be sharing it, or even realize it themselves, but many are quietly suffering, feeling isolated and alone - whether they live and work with others or not. The entire cv situation has exacerbated issues that have been lingering for a while...If this is you, you are not alone. We need to be more vulnerable with each other, and of course if you are in crisis please seek professional help (one free option: text HOME to 741741). Things are not easy right now for anyone and the mental and emotional toll of what has transpired these past couple years has been just as devastating as the physical one - but where is the public health push on that? There is no silver-bullet pill or jab that can solve any of this, and they are often only band-aids or are the very things that make it worse, but I digress....
With so much out of control, we need to reach deep within us and do the things we can control. So we have to make time for ourselves to nurture, heal and rest; find and/or create pockets of joy; and tap into and use the elixir of LOVE. Today's PGG reflects some of these themes.
Lastly, THANK YOU for being here and for being part of my community! If any of my essays, coaching, talks, videos or posts have helped you along your career/life journey, here are a few ways you can show your appreciation and support my work:
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Just tell me! My love language is words of appreciation, so knowing that my time and energy has meant something to you is invaluable <3 Drop me an email and/or write a testimonial I can use to let others know how I might help them.
And as always, please feel free to contact me with any comments about anything.
Big hug <3
Kristina
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"I love your PGG newsletters - one of the only ones I actually read in its entirety. They are excellently written, and spot on. Thanks for being so inspirational and reflective!" ~ Tom D.
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Love Saves the Day
Originally published on August 23, 2013
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. ~ Jimi Hendrix
If you have been receiving PGGs for a while, worked with me individually or come to one of my group sessions, you know that I talk a lot about love. But the love that I talk about is not some airy-fairy, namby-pamby, hippie-dippy notion one that has been misused, watered-down, misunderstood, or simply lost its meaning with lip service.
Real love is the real deal. As Mahatma Gandhi says “Love is the strongest force the world possesses, and yet it is the humblest imaginable.” Fifty years ago we witnessed an era where our civil rights leaders and all those who were part of that struggle dug deep and called upon this force within themselves to withstand the immense opposition and cruelty they experienced on a daily basis in order to transform society as it existed at the time.
More recently we could not have had a more immediate, direct and tangible example of this phenomenon when one single woman, Antoinette Tuff, used it to save the lives of over 800 people, most of them children, from a lone, heavily loaded mentally ill gunman in Decatur, Georgia. If you do not know the story, or haven’t seen this extraordinary woman talk about what happened, you must learn about her. (Google the numerous stories, or watch one of many interviews and listen to the 911 call)
As humans we are all built from the same stuff. Love doesn’t know race, sexual orientation or religion – if you are human you can love. If you are human you respond to love. As Antoinette and Michael Stipe say, Everybody Hurts sometimes. Everyone needs connection and affection. Compassion and empathy are palpable and are the best antidotes to fear and pain.
If you’ve seen me speak, you know I am always mentioning the fact that the root of the word for courage is Latin for ‘heart’. Which means that true bravery is about connecting to that part of yourself, knowing its innate power, and having faith in a force greater and wiser than yourself (or beyond your ego/brain).
So the next time you find yourself in a challenging situation or being attacked in some form, whether it be mental, emotional, or yes, sometimes even physical, instead of using violence to counteract violence, why not call upon the most powerful weapon at your disposal: L.O.V.E.
Need a little help harnessing the heft of your heart? Give me a buzz and I will show you how to give it a good work-out, because at the end of the day love like is a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it will become – and who knows what miracles will occur in your life or the lives of others because of it!
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If you like what I write, you'll love what I have to say in person!
If you look forward to and benefit from these weekly essays and want to show your gratitude, any donations for my efforts are welcomed and appreciated here: Paypal.me/kristinaleonardi
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WORK WITH KRISTINA
If you're looking for some compassionate candor and a dose of tough love, Kristina is the coach for you.... I came into this really lacking clarity and walked away with a sense of relief. Can't recommend her enough. ~ Kevin R.
Find clarity, balance and direction in your career and life.
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM KRISTINA'S COACHING:
Kristina’s coaching expertise is phenomenal — all-encompassing, inclusive of the mind, body & spirit, nonjudgmental, insightful and deeply involved in providing solutions and tools to be a better version of yourself. ~ Audrey N.
Kristina patiently helped me to discover and embrace my true north. I was stuck in a past identity that blocked me from the person I wanted to become. ~ Pascal D.
Since I last spoke with you, I've had some pretty dramatic changes - New Job, a Big Move, Healthy Dating Relationship. It's been pretty awesome. Emotionally, I've done a 180, and my life is certainly a reflection of that. My last session with you spurred a lot of wonderful life changes." ~ Palanda B.
I can honestly say that speaking to you was one of the most important events in my life. It is almost unbelievable how a 2-hour conversation can have that effect. ~ Bozhanka V.
Thank you again for opening my eyes to a new future! ~ K. Handa
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GET MORE OF KRISTINA
There are no upcoming events at this time. You will receive separate emails for group coaching, speaking appearances, Zoom talks or interviews but in the meantime you can check out past ones here:
VIRTUAL GROUP COACHING
Heart & Soul: The Key to Success in 2021 and Beyond
SELF-CARE IN THE MIDST OF SEA CHANGE:
Watch FULL-LENGTH Talks Here:
Using the Great Pause for Personal & Professional Development
Staying Motivated Throughout the Job Search Process
Authentic Branding: Letting the Real You Shine in Any Situation
Who Are You & What Are You Supposed to Be Doing with Your Life?
Stepping Stones for Success
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INTERVIEWS WITH KRISTINA
CLICK HERE FOR MY INSTAGRAM LIVE WITH ZANADE MANN
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Kristina's Books:
(on Amazon)
(work in progress)
Archive of PGG essays can be found on
Read Kristina's Career & Personal Growth Articles:
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Click link for this week's video of Aretha Franklin's
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