KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE
A NOTE FROM KRISTINA:
Greetings!

Since it's Women's History Month, and I've been celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Women's Mosaic, I thought I'd share an interview from 2013 on Paradigm Shift where I was asked what I thought were the issues and challenges for women at the time, which from my view, have only slightly improved in the past seven years. In 2007, I was interviewed after having won the Tango Diva Visionary Award and talked about two of my heroes and why they were important to me (questions 8 and 10).

Regardless of our gender, we all want to feel empowered; this why we love to revere and celebrate our heroes, those who have paved the way, provide inspiration and serve as examples of what is possible - or find fictional ones to project that on! But as I've always said, like in the interview, personal transformation is the key to social transformation - so ultimately, we are the only ones who can save ourselves, and in so doing we save others. In other words, we need to tap into our power and learn how to be our own superhero, which is what today's PGG touches on.

Part of being powerful is first knowing how to regulate our energy and stay in balance, so the PGG Video of the Week is a clip from my Heart & Soul talk that explains a powerful way to deal with anxiety. Also, we give away our power when we compare ourselves to others, so this week's Instagram post talks about how not to do that :)

And if you've been reading these newsletters the past couple weeks, you know I've been celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the organization I founded called The Women's Mosaic (TWM) (PGG note talking about it here). I've continued to add more pictures on the TWM Facebook Page, so those of you who were part of TWM (or curious about it) might want to take a stroll down memory lane there, and keep checking back. This Instagram post talks about how much of a personal growth experience this photo project has been for me.

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 <3
Kristina

P.S. Want to get unstuck and on track in your career and life in 2021 and beyond? Check out the website for my individual coaching services.
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wonderwoman
Power Puff

...You sensitize yourself so much that you recognize how extraordinarily powerful you are. Not power in the sense of taking over someone – but in managing your capacity to not let an illusion take *you* over. To not let a fear possess you. Or in the language of Teresa [of Avila], to not let a reptile get into your Interior Castle. ~ Caroline Myss

For years now we've seen an ever-increasing proliferation of Superhero movies/series which to me seems like a very obvious - and often grotesque, with the amount of violence and extreme special effects - projection of our longing to be powerful on the one hand, and tendency to outsource that power to some savior, supernatural or not, on the other.

I’ve worked with a lot of folks recently who on some level feel or think they are powerless in their job, career or life in general. These days especially, I also see this reflected in the behaviors of so many people every time I walk out the door or visit Facebook. And while there are certainly some extenuating and challenging external situations and events that could explain such a state, it's ultimately an inside job, i.e., in the way that we perceive, relate to and /or confront those circumstances that are the main cause of our suffering. In other words, we are often our own worst Supervillain!

It’s no wonder though, since every time you turn on the TV or go on social media, especially this past year, all you see are dis-empowering themes and messages - overtly or subliminally - that seep into your consciousness, if you are not aware of them or powerful enough "to not let the illusion take you over."

If you've been to or watched one of my talks, you'll often hear me say that You have more power than you think you do. Either directly or indirectly, what I try to express in much of my work is that real power is not about controlling your outer world, but it's about taking responsibility for how you you manage your inner world, and then the outer takes care of itself. It's about how you interact with life, and the choices you make in any situation. Or as Caroline Myss says, it's about "how you manage creation itself with every breath you take… And to actually sense what you are sparking in creation." I also touch on this connection between power and creativity in this interview answer from last August.

At this massively transformative time in the history of humanity, we must begin to more deeply know who we are, understand and own our intrinsic power, and become familiar with our innate wisdom and what is meaningful, valuable and true for us - especially when so many forces at play would have us do otherwise. And we need to exercise that power in the small decisions we make every day, so that we build up the strength and trust for when the big ones need to be made. And because everything is reflected from microcosm to macrocosm, as we grow in authentic, integrated individual power, we will start to see those changes in our collective power.

The journey starts with a commitment to your own self-worth and self-empowerment. It requires an extraordinary effort to break out of the spells from others or your inner Superviliains; you must be disciplined and ever-vigilant about where your attention goes, and where your power ends and another influence begins, particularly on your screens, which is where “life” happens most these days. Be particularly observant of the people around you and your media diet - what you expose your mind and heart to, just as much as what you put into or expose your body to (see my PGG called Radiohead for more on that..), and most of all monitor the broadcast that is happening between your two ears!

This means spending more time out of your head, and into your heart, that ‘Interior Castle’, to help strengthen your connection to yourself and something greater than yourself. In my view, this is the only way we are going to get out of or heal the many messes and rampant dis-ease of every type: mental, physical, emotional, political and spiritual that we as a society, both locally and globally, have manifested. As the famous quote from one of my Superheroes, Mahatma Gandhi, goes: We must be the change we wish to see in the world.

Can't quite recognize what your superpowers are or how to use them for good? Give me a buzz and I'll activate my x-ray vision and supersonic hearing to help you find and be the one you are looking for and tap into your gifts; your unique combination that will contribute to taking the planet and humanity back from the grips of the likes of Lex Luthor - whether he/she/they/it are found in your screen, your backyard or your psyche.

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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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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.

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 take stock of and get on track with your career and life with clarity, balance and direction.


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BACK IN MARCH
VIRTUAL GROUP COACHING

STAY TUNED FOR NEXT DATE
Heart & Soul: The Key to Success in 2021 and Beyond

Watch Past Talks Here:
SELF-CARE IN THE MIDST OF SEA CHANGE:
Navigating times of transition for healing and personal growth

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

Kristina's Books:

Read Kristina's Career & Personal Growth Articles:

"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.
 
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PGG VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
KRISTINA IN ACTION

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