Embracing Love and Growth

Hey Creative Uprising Rockstars,

Ah, February – the month of love, chocolates, and trying to remember how to spell "February" correctly. ???? Buckle up, because this month's newsletter is all about relationships – the ones that make your heart race and the ones that make you want to race out of the office on a Friday afternoon!

If you have been reading me for a while, you will know that I like to write monthly about whatever subject it's been the trend that month in my coaching practice. Lately, many of my clients have been talking about relationships, particularly relationships in the workplace.

Love Starts Within: Hug Yourself First

February, aka the "month of love," is upon us. But, let's be real – true love begins with the most important person in your life: you!

To create a better and more loving world, it is important to focus on growing our own greatness. The world is a reflection of our relationship with ourselves and others, and the quality of our lives is only as good as the quality of our relationships.

As a coach, I hear people share their life stories, but so often they leave out their own greatness. They may focus on the difficulties and challenges, but they don't always see the resilience and breakthroughs that have come from these experiences.

No one lives a life without being wounded, but too often we hide our wounds instead of seeing the greatness in our ability to overcome them.

Love & Laughs – Relationship Tips for Couples

Now, whether you're in a relationship, navigating the single life, or deeply committed to your pet cat – relationships matter! Here are some tips for creating partnerships that are as fulfilling as a three-day weekend. I have been married for two decades and I'm still working on these:

• Listen Actively: It's like Netflix for your ears – no interruptions!
• Avoid Assumptions: Communication is key; it's stronger with fewer assumptions.
• Practice Empathy: Walk a mile in their shoes. Or at least to the nearest coffee shop together.
• Avoid Blame: The blame game is so last season. Let's focus on solutions.
• Speak Kindly: Use words that make your partner feel like a unicorn in a field of horses.
• Practice Compromise: Because deciding on pizza toppings is a serious negotiation.
• Maintain Openness: Let your partner finish their story; it might have a plot twist!
• Be Clear: If your partner is a mind reader, kudos! For the rest of us, use words.
• Show Gratitude: If your partner can put up with you, that's worth celebrating!
• Regular Check-Ins: Schedule time to discuss important things, like who gets the last slice of pizza.

Workplace Shenanigans – Where "Co-worker" is the New "Co-star"

Coaching isn't just about work performance; it's also about mastering the art of office relationships. Because, let's face it, dealing with office drama is practically a full-time job itself. ??

We all carry narratives from our childhood, our community, our family, our schools, our religion, and they influence the way we communicate. They influence the way we deal with conflict and how we establish expectations for relationships. They influence how we experience trust, and whether we see the world as a place where we have to be self-reliant or as a place where we are interdependent with others.

In any case, all these relational skills that we have don’t just disappear when people go to work. They are rather highlighted- and that's why it's so important to be aware of our narratives.

Fundamentally, I think that the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives. And I have said this about romantic relationships, but I think the same is true at work. The quality of your work life depends on the quality of the relationships. Even if you have a good job, no amount of money, or purpose, or even free food is going to compensate for a poisonous relationship. I’ve spent many coaching sessions working with people who were obsessing about somebody every night before going to bed, feeling like their boss, their manager, their colleague, the person next to them that was plaguing them had intruded on their life.

The best tool we can cultivate is relational self-awareness. There are two questions you can ask: Do you have a sense of how you act, how you are perceived, and the role that you play on your team? Do you understand the fundamental importance of complementarity in relationships?

Remember, coaching is basically an advanced course in adulting. Need help? Bring it up in our sessions because, let's be honest, adulting is hard, and we could all use a cheat code!

Wishing you a month filled with love, laughter, and the occasional eye-roll at life's absurdity.

Cheers to being fabulously flawed and loving it!

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