KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE |
Greetings!
In my work as a holistic career coach, my approach and goal with any client is to get to the root of how and why they are stuck in their personal and/or professional life - and 9 out of 10 times all roads lead to the level of their self-worth and self-love, as everything pretty much stems from there.
The majority of us have struggled with this issue in one form or another due to childhood experiences that were never healed, and therefore wreak havoc in our adult lives in a variety of ways. This means, to a large extent, we are a nation of wounded, dysfunctional children raising, managing and/or shaming other wounded dysfunctional children. So the cycle goes on until a critical mass of us breaks the pattern....
I believe this a core root of the many challenges our culture and society are dealing with today. But if you are reading this, and - even better - have worked with me, then you are ahead of the curve and are part of the solution, so yay!
However, add onto all of that wounding the factor of systemic racism, and there are even more layers to peel back and heal. So in honor of Juneteenth, our newly minted Federal holiday highlighting our legacy of slavery, legal emancipation and subsequent consequences of it all, today's PGG from 2013 offers a way to think about what those concepts mean on a personal growth level. (To read more thoughts on this topic, read this past PGG note about my aha experience in Charleston, SC and links to other related PGGs)
The PGG Video of the Week reminds you to forgive and love yourself and this week's Instagram post is a testimonial from a client about how emotions were impacting his current situation. And here is a bonus post about how smiling can help you feel better no matter what the circumstances :)
If you haven't already, be sure to follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my YouTube channel for inspirational, motivational and sometimes silly content (like this or this) in between PGGs. Also, I've recently joined Clubhouse, so if any of you are on it, be sure to follow me there @clearlykristina and maybe we can start a room to talk about some of these things - let me know what you think!
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
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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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Roots
Originally published February 13, 2013
With the release of films like Lincoln and Django Unchained, and BET’s bringing the acclaimed ‘70’s TV series Roots out of the vault, [and more recently 12 Years a Slave and Birth of a Nation], there’s been a spotlight on and discussion about this essential part of our nation’s history both on screen and off.
Whether or not you are a direct descendant of someone who lived or worked on a plantation in the 19th century, all of us in the 21st century, no matter who or where we came from, can check in to see which areas of our lives need to be emancipated from the tyranny of whatever is keeping us down, holding us back and making us feel “less-than” in both subtle and overt ways.
Oprah expressed it perfectly when she called slavery “A machine to create inferiority.” You can only imagine what amazing strength, utter self-belief and profound self-worth was required to break out of that mentality, to really know who you are and be able to simply exist, let alone thrive, despite others perceiving you and often treating you in, well, let’s just say a most unfavorable way. What it would take to preserve and protect your self, your spirit and your soul under such circumstances is beyond comprehension.
We certainly continue to struggle in a variety of ways with the legacy and repercussions of slavery in terms of race, while at the same time have come very far. But regardless of the color of our skin, there are more inconspicuous ways that we are judged — much of which has to do with what we think of ourselves when we look in the mirror, are alone with our thoughts, and by the choices we make in every area of our lives.
The foundation of who we are reaches far and wide throughout our work, relationships, health and everyday life, so the stronger and deeper your tree grows, the more you can weather even a storm like Sandy. Yes, you might lose a few branches along the way, but you won’t be knocked out for good! So take some time this month to connect to the root of who you are, using this last part of of the [summer] to develop, heal and love yourself so you can blossom more fully come [Fall].
You might have some family roots to dig up or some grass roots to build up in the process, but the bottom line is that if you look at any problem, challenge or change you want to make and trace it back to its ultimate root — if you’re honest with yourself — will find that the buck stops with you. Remember, this is always good news — because that means you can do something about it.
Having a little trouble connecting all the literal and metaphorical genealogical dots of your career and life? Give me a buzz, and I will help you get to the root the matter, so just like Alex Haley searching for Kunta Kinte in Africa, you can shout, “I found you!”
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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 take stock of and get on track with your career and life with clarity, balance and direction.
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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.
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WORK WITH KRISTINA
"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."
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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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Thank you again for opening my eyes to a new future! ~ K. Handa
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PGG VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK |
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Click on the link for this week's video for some thoughts to
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kristina leonardi - Medium
Looking for more good reads? Check out and follow me on Medium, where you can easily like and share the PGG's that really click. Share the love <3
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