the power of intention

In my recent work with my coach, as a great coach is suppose to do, she pointed out a pattern of mine--that i tend to go into situations prepared for the worst and while that's a way of trying to be strong and enter into everything prepared, it also keeps me from entering things through a positive lens and instead, expecting the worse so leading with the negative. I never realized how much this isn't serving me. that while I thought I was always "preparing myself" I was instead keeping myself from leading with the positive--the outcome I'd prefer vs the worst possible possibility.

And then one of my coaching colleauges suggested that in my preparation for a long visit back east, perhaps I should set some intensions of positive outcomes that I hope to gain from my visit back home. That instead of entering the trip with dread and anxiety b/c it's always painful to return and not find my mom there waiting for me, to instead focus who and what would be there and what i hoped to gain from that. And so that's what I did:

* reconnect w/ the kids: find time to be with them individually and together, make special memories, have fun sleepovers

* help my dad understand what i'm up to these days and how happy I am

* spend time with my close friends

* feel the love and support that my siblings have to offer me, enjoy time with each of them

* network with my advertising peers--spread the word about what i'm up to

* see my aunts and uncle who I don't often see

Overall: live, love, laugh, inspire with my new way of being, stay in the present (not past, not future) and take up space and allow myself to feel all the love and support that surrounds me.

Upon reflection I have a couple thoughts. One, what a gift from my coaching colleague to suggest this and what timing to have my coach make me aware of my pattern of planning for the worse. It allowed me to get out in front of what I was doing and re-set from the positive. And as for the trip itself, as you'll see from the pictures, I had a wonderful visit. I so loved all my time w/ the kids, had a great night with friends in the city and my best friends from growing up and got some good networking in as well. And I hope after catching up some more my dad sees how happy I am and understands what I'm up to--or at least as best that he can. And the bonus was a lovely Easter dinner w/ my uncle joe and aunt esther and cousins and an incredible dinner in the city with my Aunt P, just like old times. She's wiser than ever :) So all in all, I went into my visit hopeful for all of these wonderful experiences and I came out the other side feeling so fulfilled by each of them. And yes of course there are still the hard moments, the cemetary visits and the memories that are no longer but rather than focusing on those, I chose to remember my mom when I was in our home and spend the rest of the time enjoying those who are still here day in and day out loving and supporting me for how far I've come and for who I am today. And I'm so grateful for each and every one of them. xoxo