I’m fresh off of almost three weeks of travel, and boy, am I glad for a break from living out of a suitcase. We had such a wonderful time in Chicago! In addition to teaching three workshops, holding private sessions with students, and meeting with coaching clients, my husband and I cheered on the runners at the Chicago marathon and filled our hearts with laughter with friends and lots of hugs and kisses from my little niece and nephew. I am so grateful that I got to see many of my Chicago students and meet some new faces as well. We dove deeper into breathing techniques, tuned up our bodies and lives with the chakras, and found nourishment by doing less.

After just enough time home to do laundry, my husband and I drove to Atlanta to celebrate his culture’s biggest holiday of the year with his sister and her husband. The festival honors the Goddess Durga, the divine mother and destroyer of evil. I always appreciate connecting with the empowerment and victorious nature she represents because it is so relevant to our daily lives. She rides a lion and has 10 arms, each carrying a different tool to accomplish her task, which was to slay a demon who was terrorizing earth and heaven.

Ok, I drive a Subaru, not a lion, and have only two arms, BUT, we all have our own “demons” to conquer and “battles” to fight, right? Now, let’s be clear that I am not advocating physical violence. The demon might be that inner critic that keeps you from sharing your gifts with the world. The battle might be overcoming the desire to stay at your desk (or on the couch!) instead of getting on your mat. You might need to slay your tendency to say “yes” to everyone’s requests just to keep the peace. Or maybe it’s victory over that messy office that you’re seeking.

Whatever the quest, you have so many tools at your disposal. Durga holds a trident, a rotating disc, a conch shell, a missile, arrows, a thunderbolt, a bell, a rod, and a noose. You carry the ability to calm your anxiety through your breath. You have the willpower to choose when exercise or rest is best for your body. You own your voice and can speak your truth. You have the discernment to put systems in place that help you create productive and comfortable space. You can meditate, stop your energy leakages, set boundaries, and better manage your time. You carry your mind, your strength, your courage, your compassion, your light, your heart.

And so.

Much.

More.

The problem is your life toolbox can get cluttered or tattered, just like anything else that you don’t dig into on a regular basis. If you haven’t used that flashlight in a while, the batteries might have run out. Your voice might be buried so deeply under your basic survival tools that you might have to dust it off before you sound it. You might find things you forgot you had if you only started looking.

“Hmmm…Now where is my courage again? Oh, look! I found my breath!”

When we get busy and overwhelmed, or come up against a new, more complex problem, we tend to use the same old devices over and over again, no matter the situation, because those tools are easy to access and comfortable. They’re what we know. We sometimes forget all the other gadgets and methods available to us. When we keep using the same old tools for new, more complex problems, it’s like trying to drive in a screw or nail with a saw. It just doesn’t work well. At the very least it will be a lot harder and slower than if you drew on a better set of tools, or just got some help.

Sometimes you need someone to hold that flashlight while you dig through your own tool box. Sometimes you just need some new tools. That’s what coaching does. It shines the light on all that wisdom that’s already within you, and offers you some new approaches to help you slay that demon that’s terrorizing YOUR heaven and earth. When you find the right tools and get focused on using them, it completely changes the course of your battle.

If you want some support in dusting off your tools or bringing on some new ones, I’m offering you a FREE one-on-one coaching consultation (offer is for new clients or clients who are interested in exploring a new topic/program). Register by midnight on November 3 by clicking this link to fill out the application. I’ll let you know in 24 hours if your application is approved so we can schedule your complimentary session right away. You’ll leave our meeting with a couple of new tools you can use immediately to slay whatever demons are holding you back from living a happier, healthier life.

Speak Your Truth

What wellness demons are you battling? What tools do you want to dust off? What new methods do you need to acquire? What help would make the biggest difference for you? Let me know in the comments!