Written by: Gail Kauranen Jones, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As many of us become more social this summer, please remember to make time to recharge amidst all the activity.
Vacations are for fun AND rest. Sounds simple, right?
No, it can be quite challenging. To stop and become “non-productive” from our busy ways is often jolting, and darn right scary for many—especially those who have had a lifetime of being super competent and driven.
I recommend setting these three intentions for doing this summer differently:
1. Give yourself “permission” to rest
Rest not only gives the body time to rejuvenate; it provides space for emotions to be felt and released, as the body, mind, and spirit get re-centered.
Often when I first suggest that clients give themselves “permission to rest” they start sobbing, for many have been so strong and super responsible for far too long.
My clients’ tears are often a recognition of their exhaustion and grief as they start absorbing the enormity of their losses from lack of playfulness, spontaneity and embracing the mystery of life that opens by taking time to rest.
The culprit for the grief can be due to their unmet needs as a child when they were not adequately validated in a nurturing way, and erroneously believed they had to continually perform to be loved.
Although relieved to feel and release these emotions around lack of rest that has been buried for years, these clients often will still continue to give all sorts of reasons why they cannot stop, detailing a list of their responsibilities and obligations.
To counteract their self-sabotage, I suggest they face the resistance and ask: Do I value being chronically busy more than being present to others and myself? Is there a paradigm shift needed?
The truth is we will always find distractions from choosing to sit and “be” with ourselves. The adrenaline rush of “doing” is more ego stroking than discovering the parts of us that have been painfully neglected. Use rest to embrace these lost parts with love and compassion.
This is the mantra I recommend to help busy clients start to break open to new empowering, peaceful and elevated ways of being: It is safe to rest.
2. Integrate
As I was writing this article, I got a notification that I am an honoree for the Brainz CREA Global Awards which is a prestigious list of top entrepreneurs, influential leaders, and innovators who have been recognized for their innovative ideas, resourcefulness, or for their accomplishments in the areas of sustainability and mental health.
I continued on my day sharing the good news with friends and professional acquaintances, many of whom sent warm notes of congratulations.
Then the next day, when I looked at my “to-do” list of productivity, I made a choice to stop working. Instead, I gave myself time to integrate the achievement, after 40 years as a writer, to truly take in this success and all the love I received upon announcing the award.
There is so much for all of us to integrate this summer, after two years of being transformed by world events.
Grab a journal. Start tracking your reflections. Begin by asking yourself some questions:
How have I changed this past year, or even from two years ago?
What challenges have I taken on?
What do I want to let go of? (A way of being, a grudge, a mistake, an energy sucking relationship or job, etc.)
What am I most proud of?
What can I take in and truly receive?
When you rest and integrate, and fill yourself up, you have more to offer yourself and others.
3. Celebrate
Many of us—consciously or unconsciously—are continually birthing new versions of ourselves, especially during these huge transitory times in our history.
Notice these shifts.
Acknowledge the inner workings from the integration period that may be growing you into a more a loving, patient, kind, fulfilled or better person in some way that is important to you.
Honor yourself for the courage it took to endure what you have, and to stay open to new possibilities as well.
Ask: What new vision do I have for my life that mirrors my internal growth?
Take inspired actions. Think big, yet also know some of the changes will happen in baby steps.
Celebrate each one.
And of course, go play some, doing what nurtures YOU.
Happy summer, 2022!
And, if you want to practice some extra self-care, with a complimentary, 30-minute coaching session—or to spend some downtime integrating a greater sense of worthiness, email gailjones@claimyourworthiness.com. I also will send you my handout on “5 tips for Claiming Your Worthiness” upon scheduling a session.
Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter, or visit my website for more information about my coaching practice and creating a new foundation to live your most fulfilling and authentic life
Gail Kauranen Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gail Kauranen Jones (known as “Coach Gail Jones”) is an intuitive coach, gifted wordsmith and inspiring teacher who has been leading clients through transformation for more than twenty years.
She is the author of two books, "Cancer as a Love Story: Developing the Mindset for Living," and "To Hell and Back… Healing Your Way through Transition."
Passionate to get to the root causes of blocks that hold clients back and then help them create empowering new beliefs to move forward, Gail delved deep after going through her own journey of healing from breast cancer. She learned some profound ways to optimize health and well-being including claiming one’s worthiness to live and thrive.
Gail trained with world-renowned neuroscientists in guiding clients to rewire the brain for new levels of personal and professional success.
She has appeared as a guest “worthiness coach” nationally in the US on CBS TV’s Emmy award-winning talk show The Doctors and on Sirius XM Radio.
She also was hired to train several hundred HeartMath coaches globally on her worthiness platform, with her signature presentation, “The journey to the heart of worthiness.”
She is the host of her own podcast, “Claim Your Worthiness: Intimate Conversations with Gail Jones,” which features national thought leaders and handpicked experts and others who have transformed their lives to serve.
