Move With It...

It has been a long time since I sat down to put my pen to paper (or finger tips to keyboard.) Life happens and sometimes we can get derailed. It happened to me. Here, I am a life coach and mental health advocate with all the tools—and somewhere along the way, I lost my toolbox. But I knew where to go to be reminded… my support circle, my family, my faith community, mental health resources, and even working with a coach myself.

Having already weathered the storms of grief and loss, there was more to come. This is life. I won’t bore you with the gory details—we all have our own. More importantly, I’m here to encourage you with the same message I’ve been sharing from the beginning… one I had temporarily forgotten, buried under overwhelming circumstances. But it’s always there. Sometimes, you just have to get back up and keep going. And rather than telling you to “move forward,” I encourage you to move with it. Move with your challenges, your grief, your loss, your pain—even if it’s in baby steps.

It is possible to live in the duality of two truths: grieving while also experiencing newfound joy. How can you possibly find joy during a difficult time you ask? It takes self-inventory to rediscover who you are—your interests, your passions, your pursuits. Pick up a pen and start scrawling on a blank page; unbridled stream of consciousness to remove any mental clutter that has accumulated. Look at old photos of yourself or play music you enjoy to start re-awakening what might have been buried inside. There may be tears streaming down your face, but move with it. You might re-connect with friends you haven't seen in awhile. Pick up the phone, even if it's heavy. Working with a mentor, coach or other safe space can be invaluable. But, move with the pain as you reconnect to yourself.

After a time… you learn how to hold it all; the grief and the gratitude, the pain and the purpose—

and still move, one step at a time!

Move with it.

IG: @_jennifersnyderlifecoaching_