KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE |
Greetings!
TGIF! Yes it is Friday the 13th and in 2020 that shouldn't be a big deal, right? Well, we still are sorting out last week's presidential election, but no matter who is officially inaugurated on January 20, 2021, as the famous quote goes: "Houston, we have a problem."
As I mentioned in last week's note (which you can read as a separate essay here on Medium), the political, cultural and mass communication divide in our country is not good for anyone, regardless of who sits in the White House and is why melancholy was my dominant emotion upon hearing the declared winner last weekend. Add to that the prolonged (and seemingly increasing) forced isolation and separation of family, friends, work colleagues and humans in general which is completely unnatural, unrealistic and detrimental to one's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health - the exact opposite of what these extreme measures are supposed to do to save lives.
Messages and mandates that only magnify fear, sow division or overtly or subliminally suggest that we are the indirect or direct enemies of each other - as well as stripping away the joys that make us human like being able to see each other's faces and smiles or enjoy performing arts and live music or each other's company - are having a bigger toll on our humanity than any chart can measure, besides the obvious economic impact and subsequent effects. We need more humanity and connection in the midst of this political health crisis - both the health of our body politic, and the politics of our bodies - not less.
I know many of you may not agree with me, or might have very specific circumstances that inform your level of interaction and caution with your fellow humans, and I respect that. But no matter what you feel about any of these issues, I wanted to send this week's PGG as a reminder of the importance - both psychologically and physiologically - of what keeps us rooted in being a healthy human no matter who you voted for, what skin color you have or what decisions you make about your body or business.
In other words, we really need to double down on our love and connection game - and one of the simplest ways to do that is with a hug! If you're unable to physically hug somebody, you can always visualize giving or receiving one in your mind or when talking with them on a phone or video call or when socially distanced. And, like at the end of EVERY session with my clients for the past 13 years, I do it with the same energy and emotion as if the person was in front of me. (All of you out there who have worked with me can attest to this :) These virtual hugs may not be the same as the real deal, but will certainly help, as well as add to the collective field of unity from which we will all benefit.
Lastly, if you look forward to and benefit from these weekly missives and PGG essays and want to show your gratitude, any donations for my efforts are welcome and appreciated here: Paypal.me/kristinaleonardi. And as always, please feel free to contact me with any comments about anything.
Big hug,
Kristina
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Six Seconds
Originally published on September 27, 2011
I recently attended the screening of a very cool documentary called Connected: An Autobiography About Love, Death & Technology. An ambitious undertaking, filmmaker Tiffany Shlain has presented some interesting ideas and factoids in a unique visual way about the history of who we are and the connections we have to each other from the past, present and where we might be headed in the future.
One of the best tidbits I learned was that if you hug someone for six seconds or more, a dose of the feel-good hormone oxytocin is released.
Many of you who have worked with me individually, in a group, or have talked to me after one of my workshops or seminars, know that I’m a big hugger. In addition to hugging my clients and audience members, I tend to hug strangers after a meaningful conversation, and even in more professional situations, say after a meeting, which may or may not be kosher, but I can’t help it! I often randomly hug friends, family members and co-workers because I somehow sense they need one, and I will occasionally request one myself (especially from a super-good hugger, like my bro!)
Why? I’ve actually never thought about it. It’s just always been a natural extension of who I am, the work I do and my love of people in general. If I had to intellectualize it, perhaps it’s about sealing an interaction with a “Yes, I see and hear you, you see and hear me, and we can show mutual love, respect and care for each other as human beings in the most tangible way.”
And let’s face it, who couldn’t use a hug now and then? We should be able to give and receive hugs freely, but for those of you who need to justify your request, there’s a scientific explanation, because hey, who wouldn’t want to get a little shot of some naturally feel-good feelings?! So forget about the economy and the Internet, because the true currency of connection is the HUG, and the good news is that it’s available worldwide and abundant in infinite amounts.
Feeling a little stressed or simply need a boost to brighten your day? Instead of reaching for that Twix bar or beer, have no fear, don’t you pout, just say hello and hug it out!
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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
Looking for some quality content while social distancing?
Remember, you can always see PGGs from any month or year going back to 2010 on my website at www.kristinaleonardi.com and visit my social media pages for more inspiration throughout the week! Want to share my PGG? Use my Medium page for friendliest posting version.
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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.
Now is a great time to use this time to take stock of and get on track with your career and life with clarity, balance and direction.
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PGG VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK |
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Click on the link for this week's video where I remind you
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