The EQrated vol. 26
Hello Reader,
Where do I begin today?
I have been quiet on some immigration challenges that I have had this year. And now that most of them have been resolved, I am so grateful to share that after a long break, I finally obtained my renewed work permit! It was a long journey from February. What was meant to be a rather quick turnaround turned out to be a long p a u s e. I have been through a rainbow of emotions. From anger, to frustration and impatience, to resourcefulness, and finally acceptance & gratitude. It has been a rollercoaster.
Now that the pause is over, and I resume my activities and plan future travel, I am focusing on gratitude. Now that I am looking back at this experience, I wondered if there was something positive to this whole futile exercise. What were the gifts of this pause?
Well, for one thing, I learned. A lot. And I hope to continue my journey on this learning path. As mentioned last week, I jumped into Neuroscience for Business course at MIT and completed a series of four coaching development courses with Six Seconds, including one focused on DEI. My next step will be a more long-term learning solution, one that will lead to an expansion of my services. I am enrolling into a Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and hopefully I will be accepted into a cohort that starts soon.
I have actively moved towards more volunteering, by supporting vaccination clinics in my local community, as well as Afghan refugee children. This has been a rewarding experience that I am planning to continue, and one that I hope will inform my future as a therapist. I have traveled over the summer months, and enjoyed a mostly work-free vacation with my children. It has been a long time since I had one of those, and with my children being older, it was a real treat. And I jumped right into competing in a Triathlon. I trained 6 days a week, completed 4 triathlons, and continue to practice towards more goals. Next year will be Half Marathon in March and Ironman 70.3 in September.
Much of what has happened has been the outcome of this pause, and of giving myself permission to explore something new. To call myself a triathlete. To envision myself as a therapist in the future. To steer myself in the direction of social justice focused work.
Some special friends amongst this group of newsletter recipients have been by my side all along. You have listened to me complaining, crying, protesting :) Thank you all for your support. I am very grateful for your presence.
Did you have a tough year? What did you find to be grateful for? Let us know @YourTurnSolutions on LinkedIn & Facebook.
Here's your bi-weekly EQrated list of resources on GRATITUDE:
7 Best Gratitude Apps to Increase Your Wellbeing - Traditionally, the end of the year is a time of reflection and gratitude. it is a time to say thank you on Thanksgiving Day, a time to give and receive gifts, and a time to look at the year gone past and the year ahead. If you struggle to remember your blessings, whether they are big or small, here are some gratitude apps to make things easier. Source: Positive Psychology
Brené Brown and Oprah on Joy and Gratitude - Joy is an emotion we all seek. In this video Dr. Brené Brown and Oprah Winfrey agree that it's inextricable from gratitude. Find out why we're so afraid our joy will be taken away, and how developing our tolerance for vulnerability is key to being both grateful and happy. Source: Gratefulness.org
The Neuroscience of Gratitude and How It Affects Anxiety & Grief - We all want a happy life. A cushy job, a perfect family, financial stability, and a great social life! And in this indefinite pursuit of happiness that is mostly like a mirage, how often do we spare a minute to thank what we already have at this very moment? Gratitude is a powerful human emotion. By conveying and receiving simple ‘thank you’ messages, we can truly derive the pleasure that we seek everywhere else. Source: Positive Psychology
If there is a topic that you would like to see featured in The EQrated, please let me know at stef@yourturnsolutions.com. Please feel free to share this Newsletter with people you know who might find value in it! They can also subscribe to the EQrated by clicking the button below.
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Thank you for your support and for continuing this conversation on all things EQ.
Ciao,
Stef
Hi, I’m a creator
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