KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE |
Greetings!
When I first wrote this PGG essay back in 2018, no one was really talking about the physical and psychological benefits of being in Nature. A couple years later, in 2020 during the pandemic, many people reconnected with it and started to understand and experience what I describe below.
I've been on vacation this past week and was fortunate to get out of the city for some time in the country in CT, but it was a bit shocking and sad to see how drought has affected the grass and trees; it made me realize how much we take for granted that they will be there - healthy and green - season after season.
I hope you can enjoy some outdoors during this last unofficial weekend of the summer, and this PGG is to remind you that while you're out there, to have gratitude for and send Mother Nature some of the healing and love she so generously gives to us <3
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:
And as always, please feel free to contact me with any comments about anything.
Big Hug <3
Kristina
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What are people saying about Kristina's new book
I LOVE this book and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a little boost of positivity in their lives. ~ Margaret H.
This is more of a "working" book – not something you'll pick up once and read cover to cover, but it'll become more of a tool to help you see yourself differently and will return to over and over again, which is priceless. ~ Cherise R.
The intro pages guided me on how the affirmations can be used, and I love how she speaks of having “anchor times” in my day. ~ Alex I.
I absolutely love these affirmations and the way the book was put together with such thought and creativity. Say them, post them, paste them! Affirmations have helped me tremendously and I love that these are made easily accessible. ~ Tina R.
The colors and fonts are bold and energizing... I’ve started opening the book to any page throughout the day and spending a few minutes with that singular page letting it imprint on my brain body, and being. This book is a gift from a great wise teacher. ~ Karen M.
It’s such a perfect bite-sized book of inspiration and happiness… everyone should have it! ~ Melissa F.
It can be as simple as a jump-start or as deep as an entire rewiring of your inner thoughts.
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UPCOMING EVENT:
CONNECTING WITH KRISTINA
Monthly topic, online group chat, support and Q & A
Connect with like-minded folks on a personal growth & career journey
Next month's topic:
BALANCE
Wednesday, September 21st
7pm-8:30pmET via Zoom
Zoom link sent upon registration & prior to event.
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Green Means Go
Originally published June 9, 2018
As someone who is pretty dyslexic, I often switch prefixes and mash up my words when writing and speaking. When talking to a good friend who was feeling very scattered and exhausted, I somehow came out with the word “mentical” when observing how she was mentally disconnected from her physical body. It seemed to be a perfect way to describe the “dis-ease” that a lot of 21st century urbanites suffer from, and we immediately adopted it into our vocabulary. And then I told her: A walk in the woods is a way to mitigate the mentical.
In 2015 after spending many hours in a hospital with my mom over a two-month period, I knew what I needed to do to get rid of the accumulated “ick” from such an environment, and headed to a nearby nature preserve. I felt the benefits in five minutes! It was as if I had dipped myself in some magic potion; I came out refreshed, healed and cleansed.
Several years ago, I gave as homework to one of my clients, an African-American woman, to go spend some time exploring and journaling deep in a woodsy park. She looked at me as if I had two heads and said, “You know Black folk don’t hike…?!” I laughed and of course didn’t care, and she wisely heeded the assignment. She is now an avid fan of the activity, and has even influenced many in her circle to try it as well.
However this is not about hiking per se, in the very athletic sense of climb difficulty and the views as a reward, etc. It’s about letting the energy of those deep-green leaves absorb any negative mental, emotional, physical and spiritual vibes within and around us, and letting us take in some good ones from them. It’s purely alchemical.
Most people flock to the beach in the summer. I’ve always headed for the trees. At least in the Northeast, this is the time of the year when they are the most lush and verdant. They are at their peak of healing juiciness, and they call out to me big time!
As usual, science finally caught up with and has now “proved” what I and others have known intuitively and have been doing for eons; I was thrilled to come across this article, which justified my cure to me and others of spending time in the woods. Apparently the Japanese have coined the term “forest bathing,” and put some explanation and studies behind what I simply considered common sense and what made me feel good; now it is being used as preventive medicine as well as treatment for asthma, depression and other ailments! I bow and thank you for affirming my “homework,” Japan.
I have come to find the practice even more necessary these days with our increasing dependence on electronic devices — who knows what stuff they are emitting and what WiFi is really doing to us mentally and physically. Remember that plants and trees suck the carbon dioxide out of the air and increase the oxygen — for us city folk we need as much clean fresh air as we can get. Especially if you have been spending a lot of time in hospitals, airports, and/or inhabit the concrete jungle, it’s the perfect antidote to erratic energy, as well as recycled, conditioned and even toxic air.
Once you get yourself to a park, preserve or forest, the first thing to do is express gratitude. Think about how the trees and plants are always there, evolving, growing, moving toward life, no matter what they’re handed or how much they suffer — they remain steadfast in supporting and healing us.
By giving thanks, perhaps we can counteract some of the abuse we humans have doled out! I generally recommend going alone, or with just a few close friends/partners who “get it.” Take deep breaths and move slowly. Be grateful for the miracle that is Mother Earth. Visualize and feel the trees like a filter absorbing all the guck in us at that moment. Let yourself be grounded and feel any stress, worry or disease be released from your mental, physical and emotional bodies.
If you can’t get to an actual forest, perhaps your gym’s tread mills have one of those virtual videos courses so you can feel as if you are — now this does not give you any of the alchemical benefits I’ve mentioned above, however it is still good for meditation purposes so hey it’s better than nothing!
The beach can be the bomb in a different way when it comes to healing too so listen to your body and hear what it’s asking for.
You probably don’t need to go to the extreme like Reese/Cheryl in order to your reclaim your soul and sanity, but if you’re not sure about the who, what, why and where of your personal Nature Rx, give me a buzz. I’ll be the forest ranger in the Pharrell hat that points you in the right direction, reminds you to take it all in, and will be there should you get lost on the trail.
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If you like what I write, you'll love what I have to say in person!
"Many times job searching and navigating your professional career can actually be soul searching as well. Kristina combines both career and soul, which is extremely rare. Thank you, Kristina!" ~ C. Loridas
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If you've heard about affirmations but never knew what they were or how to create or use them, this potent little book is just the tool you need!
This colorful guide’s straightforward, actionable advice and 30 bold affirmations can help you to shift your mindset and feel better about yourself no matter who you are or what your circumstances.
Keep this handy, pocket-size book at your bedside or in your backpack so you’re never far from information about:
- What affirmations are and why they are important
- How and when to use affirmations so they are most effective
- 10 ways to use the specific affirmations in the book.
Use as part of a daily routine or while on the go to strengthen your connection to yourself and maintain a positive, uplifting outlook on who you are and what you can accomplish in every area of your life!
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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:
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(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 Rusted Root's
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