Tag Archives: nashville life coach

A Purpose-Driven Life Enhances Well-Being

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In the world’s Blue Zones—regions known for longevity and well-being—purpose isn’t just a concept; it’s a way of life woven into daily routines, traditions, and community roles. Studies show that having a strong sense of purpose can reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and build resilience, all of which contribute to a longer, healthier life. But purpose isn’t reserved for these unique cultures—it’s something we can all cultivate in small but powerful ways. By making intentional choices each day, from morning reflections to acts of kindness, you can create a life filled with meaning and fulfillment. Here’s how to get started.

 

Blue Zones emphasize purpose as part of the cultural fabric:

Reduced Stress: A clear sense of purpose reduces cortisol levels, which lowers the risk of chronic diseases.

Stronger Relationships: Purpose helps individuals stay connected to their families, communities, and traditions.

Increased Resilience: People with purpose are better equipped to adapt to life’s challenges.

 

Cultural Practices Supporting Purpose in Blue Zones

Ikigai (Okinawa, Japan):
 “A reason to wake up in the morning.” Okinawans are encouraged to discover and pursue their passions.

Plan de Vida (Nicoya, Costa Rica):
 “Life plan.” Nicoyans define their goals and roles in the community, fostering a deep sense of belonging.

Intergenerational Roles:
 Elders are highly valued and take active roles in family and community life, giving them a sense of significance and contribution.

 

Transform your daily routine into a meaningful journey with small, intentional actions.

Reflect on Your Passions:

Ask yourself, “What brings me joy? How can I contribute to others? How can I align my days activities with what matters to me most??”

Set an Intention Each Morning:

Start your day with clarity and focus. Take 5 minutes to identify one thing you’d like to prioritize. Write down a mantra or affirmation to guide your mindset.

Pause for Gratitude Check-ins:

Anchor your day with moments of appreciation. Set alarms for two or three specific times to pause and reflect on one thing you’re grateful for. Write your gratitude in a journal or say it aloud.

Create Micro-Adventures:

Infuse excitement into your routine. Explore a new café, take a different route to work, or visit a nearby park during lunch. Treat mundane errands like a mini treasure hunt.

Engage in Small Acts of Kindness:

Purpose grows when we help others. Compliment a colleague or stranger. Send a thoughtful text to a friend or family member. Volunteer or mentor to make a difference and deepen your sense of purpose. 

Embrace the Present Moment:

Find joy in the now. Practice mindfulness: Focus on your breathing for one minute. Notice the sights, sounds, and textures around you while walking, eating, or working. Be present and connect in relationships with people who share your values and passions. 

End Your Day with Reflection:

Connect the dots to see how meaningful your day was. Ask yourself: “What brought me joy today? What could I improve tomorrow?” Write down a highlight of the day in a notebook or app.

 

By implementing these steps, you’ll uncover opportunities to infuse meaning and purpose into even the busiest of days. 

 

THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP.

 

Coach, Erin Kaminski, our resident Blue Zones expert, can help you cultivate a life filled with purpose, community, and longevity.

Whether you’re seeking clarity or a personalized game plan, Erin will guide you in creating a lifestyle that aligns with your values and goals.

WORK WITH ERIN

Banishing Burnout

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I want to talk about a topic that is garnering lots of attention, but still lacks clear solutions – burnout. It’s on the rise, affecting an astonishing number of Americans with symptoms like mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, decreased productivity, feelings of dread, and increased likelihood of being susceptible to illness. 

 

Frequently we hear about burnout being related to the workplace, and it certainly is. A poll conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that upwards of 52% of people reported feeling burnt out at work. However, I think it’s more helpful to take a broader perspective, and consider that workplace overwhelm is just one part of the burnout puzzle. I have personally found that it’s also the mental load of being a parent, the hundreds of activities to not only organize for my family, but to also to be present for. It’s the desire to want to stay connected to friends and family who are important to me, which requires regular communication, planning and time spent together. It’s the responsibility of giving back to the community through volunteering to causes that I hold dear. It’s the need to carve out time that is just for me and my own wellbeing and development. 

 

Earlier this year, I felt myself teetering on the edge of burnout. Cue the imposter syndrome – I’m a LIFE COACH, I help people get out of burnout, how could I have let this happen!? Well, I suppose I am only human after all. I share this to illustrate that I do this work for a living, I practice what I preach, and I’m still not impervious to experiencing burnout. 

 

As a care-giver both in and out of the office, feeling emotionally connected to others is crucial for me – it gives my life purpose and meaning. When I noticed myself feeling emotionally depleted, I knew something had to change. 

 

I admitted to myself that I had pushed too hard, said “yes” too often, and miscalculated my time and energy. In hindsight, it’s a pretty honest mistake, and simply acknowledging my feelings felt like it lifted a weight. As our Medical Director, Dr. Frock said in a previous blog post – “it’s important to normalize and validate burnout so that you don’t spiral deeper into those feelings. Reminding yourself that it’s probably okay to feel what you’re feeling, and to bring some commonality to the situation, ‘If 100 people were put in this position, how many of them would likely feel the way I feel?’ Often, the answer is that 95+ people would feel the same way.” This all reiterated that I’m just a well-intentioned human doing the best I can to make the world a happier place. 

 

Next, I turned to my trusty tools. My favorite time management tool is the Eisenhower Matrix, which helps bring so much clarity and space to the never-ending to-do list. Framing my tasks this way is an instant stress relief, and I was beginning to see more clearly.

 

But, here’s where the big mindset shift happened. I regrounded myself in a quality over quantity approach that I had been veering away from little by little. How would my plan for the week change if I were to focus on the top 20% of my tasks that were most rewarding – financially, emotionally and mentally? It’s not a perfect science, and sometimes you can’t completely delete the bottom 80%, but it helped me to reframe how much energy I needed to spend on less critical tasks. Scheduling blocks on my calendar for those bottom 80% tasks, helps me to be able to create more space to focus on the 20% that truly mattered. 

 

All of this has cleared space for me to reground in my why personally and professionally. It has allowed me to feel re-energized, inspired, purposeful and connected to the bigger picture. Life has a way of teaching us lessons over and over again, and reminds me that no matter how much I am in the ‘teacher’ role, the role of student is perhaps the most important. 

 

7 Steps to Minimize Burnout: 

  1. Name what you’re feeling
  2. Normalize and validate it
  3. Bring commonality of experience into your perspective
  4. Prioritize your life/workload, delegate and delete 
  5. Asses – What are your top 20% most rewarding tasks?
  6. Schedule intentional time for the other tasks, and don’t let them creep into your top 20% time. 
  7. Reground in your Why

 

THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP.