PGG
Greetings!

If you enjoy reading this week's Personal Growth Gab, please be sure to share it with your friends and followers using the social media icons at the top of this email!
  And as always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments
 
NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR GROUP COACHING: Tuesday Talk June 4th 6:30-8:30pm Click here for more info and RSVP here.  *Please note if you would like to receive separate reminder emails about this meeting and other special events, scroll to the bottom of this email, click on the Update Profile/Email Address link and be sure the "Thursdays at Three/Tuesday Talk" list is checked off. 
  
In case you missed it last week, check out three of my articles in Inspire Virtual Mag from South Africa. 

Paradigm Shift logo

(Pages 24, 119 & 149 with contributor profile pg 16)
InspireMag

 

You can also check out this post about me on Paradigm Shift's blog: 

 

"Personal transformation is the key to social transformation:" An interview with Kristina Leonardi - Kristen Verge

  
Beauty in the Breakdown
by Kristina Leonardi
                      cloud rainbows    

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~ Viktor Frankl 

 

I recently read about a pill being developed that would erase unpleasant memories, kind of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-ish. Of course I was appalled.  It's bad enough the American public is seduced by quick fixes to deal with many physical ailments that a simple change in diet and exercise, a reduction in stress, self-love and a little mind/body/spirit elbow grease would take care of.  Now they want to get rid of negative memories?!?!  We're already a society who over-eats, over-drinks/drugs, over-sexes, over-technologizes, over-works and over-realityshows to avoid what we're feeling!

 

There's a saying that many athletic coaches and trainers use: No pain, no gain. Yes, that can certainly apply to losing 20 pounds or training for a marathon, but it applies to our inner workouts as well.  As humans we like to avoid pain as much as possible, but pain can be a very useful tool if we let it.  Emotional, mental, physical or spiritual/soul pain shows us where we're out of wack and where attention needs to be paid and adjustments made in order to learn and grow in any area of our life.

 

To the extent that you are 'asleep' is the proportion in which the Universe is going to use some big 'ole version of its alarm clock to 'wake you up' and give you a big kick in the butt to do something about it.  And a kick in the butt doesn't feel too good, but we all need one now and then to propel us into action. Most of us don't want to endure prolonged suffering, so the pain forces us to take action. In other words, as I mentioned in the Well & Good.com article I was featured in, we often need to have a breakdown in order to have a breakthrough.

 

And remember that without pain we wouldn't know joy.  When we are experiencing something akin to the 'dark night of the soul,' think of the caterpillar who thought the world was over just before it became a butterfly, and that 'it's always darkest before dawn.'  Sometimes we just need to 'go there' - these are the times that are meant to test our mettle and force us to rise up like the phoenix from the ashes in order to evolve into a better version of ourselves - and who wouldn't want that?

 

So if you're feeling like you're about to crack, have been sleepwalking a little too long, or need someone to push you off that diving board, just Let Go, jump in, what are you waiting for? Give me a buzz and we'll find the amazing beauty in whatever type of breakdown is occurring in your life.

 

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts: Fear FactorAnd S/he WasThe Roof is On Fire

 

 Gray 

 

KML2010R
About Kristina's Coaching
Work with her one-on-one or as part of a group

 

Kristina Leonardi is a career/life coach who has a proven record of getting "stuck" clients empowered to make changes aligned with their true passions and talents in a short time. She provides a practical framework for each individual to make the most of their personal and professional lives, allowing them to recognize, connect to, and fulfill their role in the world at large and live a life with clarity, balance and direction.   

 

Kristina's holistic, gimmick-free, and minimalist approach has earned her widely diverse and fiercely loyal following from all walks and stations of life, including savvy New Yorkers who have tried other coaches, approaches, and therapy with little or limited results.  Click here to learn more 

  

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She has a laid-back approach, but don't let that fool anyone. Her ability to read people is amazing and her assessments of how a person can enrich their lives/careers are spot-on. After she asked me lots of questions, she was somehow able to give me an assessment that was frighteningly accurate and illuminating.    

 

What's it like working with Kristina? Click here for more info 

  

For more information visit www.kristinaleonardi.com or contact her to schedule a session today.

 
KML Speaking
About Kristina's Speaking
Attend an event or hire her to speak at y0ur company or  organization!

Known as a dynamic, 'inspiring' and 'down-to-earth' speaker with unique yet practical perspectives on career development, work/life wellness, and employee engagement, Kristina has been a featured speaker for many corporate seminars, non-profit organizations and conferences, including: UBS, Saatchi & Saatchi, HR Association of NY, Ogilvy & Mather, American Business Women's Association, the Junior League, NYU and the New York's Science, Business & Industry Library.
Click here for more info
Contact Kristina for full bio and a list of topics

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Staying Motivated Throughout the Job Search Process
May 28th 12noon at SIBL

  

About Personal Growth Gab
Kristina Leonardi's Weekly eNewsletter

Since launching Personal Growth Gab (PGG) in January 2010, Kristina has formed an avid and faithful following ("they're the only emails I read" "they really help me" "they help me start my week" "I save them until I get home and can read them with a cup of tea" "you're such a good writer!" ) of over 1500 who look forward to a 'weekly dose of thought-provoking, inspirational and entertaining helpful tidbits to keep you connected with yourself and make sense of this journey called life.


All past PGG posts can be found on the home page at www.kristinaleonardi.com
 

  

Kristina's Media Mix
Articles and videos by,  about or featuring Kristina Leonardi
Forbes article
What I Learned Working with a Career Coach
From Passion to Profit Career Transition Support Group - Episode 1
From Passion to Profit Career Transition Support Group
Daily Muse
6 Things You Can Get from a Not-Quite Dream Job (Besides the Paycheck)

NYPL SIBL video
Pink Slips: How Losing Your Job is a Good Thing (Video)

Huffington Post article
5 Simple Steps for Finding Your Life's Purpose.
Contact
For more information visit www.kristinaleonardi.com

 You can also email me kleonardi@mindspring.com or call 917-816-0834

Stay Connected
   Follow me on Twitter

"Kristina gave me permission to be myself!  I can say no other person has empowered me in that way as much as she has - and I am TRULY forever grateful for that.."  - Cherise R.
"Kristina conveys really important practical ideas with such passion and in a really accessible way.  Thank you! - Andrea K.