Annelies M. Gentile, MA, PCC

Integrative Life & Leadership Executive Coach

Consultant | Facilitator | Process Artist | Author | Speaker

Hello! I'm Annelies and I'm glad you are here. How are you? If you are new to my newsletters, welcome! Inspiring Nuggets is published five times a year and is written to help nurture resiliency in the face of change and uncertainty. (See video below for today's lesson.)

Even if we've just met... or we haven't connected in a while, please know you are tucked into my heart's pocket. Lots going on in the world. Lots to consider and make adjustments for. Who are we without our labels, right?

I care to help people through tough choices and create new directions. Change can knock our understanding of what's true right out the door. Any change can do this. Death, divorce, illness, job change, culture change. Any trigger event will rewrite our story, especially when we don't know who we are in the first place.

I do my best to focus on the good and encourage clients to explore what's best for them. Want support? Schedule a call.

Here's what happened since last we connected... I've just celebrated my 50th year flying 'round the sun (Yup, AARP "old")! It's also Conduit for Change, LLC 's sweet 16th year in business! So, that's good. Still figuring out what works while being of service is the dance of a soloprenuer. Not always easy, yet always valuable work that makes a BIG difference in people's lives. Grateful to be of service. How and where do you make a difference?

Since my last publication, I witnessed... another Aurora Borealis Northern Lights event in Raleigh, NC. AHmazing! Twice in one year! Life is FULL of surprises. Also, I had several art gallery shows and invites including one on menopause featuring artist talks on my Annelies art. Community dialogue on this was fascinating! Really powerful to hold safe space for vulnerable conversation on everyday topics.

Throughout recent months I spoke... on the value of the creative process and wellbeing at several events including at Meredith College, OLLI for NCSU, and at several conferences including being the opening presenter for the Cary Chamber of Commerce. Feedback was rave reviews and genuine connection was established. Also planning a mental health summit for NAMI in the spring. What's your relationship to self-care?

With the good, there's the difficult... Last week, I said goodbye to one of my first mentors who taught me the meaning and value of the Wu-Xing Five Elements. A long road of dementia took her vitality but never her legacy which she left with me and so many of her students.

Throughout the season... I've watered the plants, kept windows cleaned, walked in nature, swam laps with my sweetie, held hands with a neighbor who fell while EMS checked her vitals, made soup for friends, foraged a few wonderful Griffola Frondosa "Hen of the Woods", pan seared pink oyster mushrooms, helped a friend who had a house fire, voted, consoled a few souls, and officiated a few ceremonies and weddings, cooked too many excellent biscuits (never really too many), gained and lost a few pounds (ok, maybe a few too many biscuits).

And of course... I coached executives through personal and professional change including imposter syndrome, family and team communication dynamics, planned speaking engagements for the spring and inspired people to do good, lead smart and stay calm regardless of stress, overwhelm and grief. I love what I do and am so grateful to help make a difference in people's lives, wellbeing and the world.

Through life's fire, we learn to be resilient, adaptable and (hopefully) honor boundaries and specifically our own needs. Persistence not perfection. Are you open to seeing life differently? Do you even know what you need?

One-to-one, with groups and from the stage, I'm dedicated to being an invaluable creative guide to resilience— sense, solace and sanity for our rapidly changing world. Let's explore, together.

May this season of gratitude bless you, what you do and who you "be".

Love and light, Annelies ✨

INSPIRING NUGGETS :: An Integrative Perspective

Inspiring Nuggets Newsletter comes five times a year and is written to help nurture resiliency in the face of change and uncertainty. Teachings come through both my personal and professional experiences and the Chinese Five Elements philosophy of Wu Xing (wŭ ching) and Tao, among other philosophies and sciences which highlight and explore unique nature-based ways to understand the processes of change.

The five seasons/element model of Chinese Medicine is at the core of my transformative leadership training and masters's degree in Integrative Coaching. My goal is to help YOU better cope and create through change. Nature is an excellent lens to see life differently.

Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend! Want to hear more? Invite me to speak at your next conference, place of business, networking or civic groups. Love it? Be a Conduit Angel! Funds go to support pro-bono coaching for under-served populations and to spread the value of coaching to help us all develop resilience. Thank you in advance! Keep reading!

We are nature and nature is us. We cannot separate our human condition from our work life. They're inseparable. When we try to separate our humanity from the tasks, lists and linear roles of the work-world we harden ourselves and become hard towards others. As life gives us a variety of challenges, exploring problem-solving through nature is an interesting and inspiring lens in which to see life differently!

According to Eastern tradition of Tao, there are five elements expressed through five seasons each represented by an element, color, varied qualities and an emotional characteristic. Here's a simplified explanation.

• Winter : Water : Blue : Stillness : Fear
• Spring : Wood : Green : Creativity : Anger
• Summer : Fire : Red : Connectivity : Joy
• Late Summer : Earth : Yellow : Transformation : Empathy
• Autumn : Metal : White : Acknowledgement : Grief

Autumn :: METAL

Autumn is related to element of METAL which represents the emotion of grief and informs a sense of awe, inspiration, loss, acknowledgement and letting go.

Through the season of Autumn and element of METAL, we are invited to honor the inherent qualities of change and reflect upon the aspects of life which are deeply sacred and transforming. It's impossible to move forward unless we acknowledge where we are in the first place. Autumn and the element of metal remind us to acknowledge what is. "It is what it is." And goodness... sometimes it's really hard... to see ourselves as we actually are.

The metaphor of metal is a reminder to "prune away what doesn't serve", address what needs to be said, felt and released. It's a very powerful metaphor to acknowledge what needs to be known. To acknowledge truth to ourselves and to other, as necessary.

The season of Autumn with its Metal Element is a reminder to be honest with our feelings and with each other so that we can let go, release attachment to anything that is draining our vitality. It can/will/might be challenging, and it can be freeing.

FYI- This ask isn't inviting you to go against your values. This ask is inviting you to let go while disagreeing. Tough... and possible. I encourage you to try it.

Personal & Professional Transformation : Look Within

To integrate the element of METAL and season of AUTUMN in your life and work, I invite you to explore these questions.

What TRUTH needs to be acknowledged in life or work right now? Think: Truth telling on a deep level.

What are you willing to let go?

What can you do today to tap inspiration today?

When was the last time you were inspired? What were you doing, who was around, what made it inspirational for you? Explore that pattern, see if you can repeat some of it.

Do a grief ritual. Let something go. Clean a thing, throw a thing out, write an emotional letter and burn it or bury it, let some of those nostalgic nick-knacks go. Move, if you need to. Shake the metaphorical tree and let those leaves fall. Cry with your eyes open with intent to be aware of what is true. Make adjustments to your life as needed.

"Annelies was exactly what I didn't know I absolutely needed." D.B.

Coach with Annelies
If you're overwhelmed by change and want a mirror to see things differently-- coach one-on-one with me to address priority issues and let of of unnecessary suffering. Schedule a call with me now.

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Invite Annelies to Speak
Learn about resilience, creative process, transform grief associated with change, build empathy and trust, learn mindfulness practices and improve wellbeing for you and those you lead. View Speaker page here.