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Authentic Wellness with Carli Dansky: Life & Wellness Coach and Founder of btrue&well
Carli Dansky believes and has learned first-hand that being true to ourselves in all aspects of life opens the door for us to make the right changes--changes that ultimately bring us more joy and fulfillment.
In her coaching practice, Carli uses a variety of modalities such as breathwork, exercise, meditation and more to help clients re-learn what works best for them physically, mentally, and emotionally.
With so much influence impacting us from various sources, we can sometimes forget we are all different, and what works for one person might not work for another. So, Carli's approach is intentional and tailored to meet the needs of each client.
The Power of Mindfulness
In the world we live in today, grounding ourselves has become extremely challenging. As we try to balance multiple aspects of our lives, we can easily lose sight of the present moment. In the same way we develop physical patterns such as our morning, night or exercise routines, we can also develop emotional patterns like stories that replay over and over again in our minds. These stories are usually representative of what has happened in our past and what may happen in the future.
This is when auto-pilot sets in. Our minds are consumed with what has already happened and what has yet to come, and we are no longer presently aware or moving with intention. Most of the time we don't even realize we’re doing it. What we do notice, however, is a lack of joy, fulfillment and overall satisfaction in our day-to-day lives. It is then that we start to feel overwhelmed with stress and anxiety.
So, how can we fix this? How can we let go of the repetitive stories and bring more happiness into our lives? Mindfulness, our ability to embrace the present moment with compassion and acceptance, can help! When we are truly able to be in the present, only then can we really experience the joys and small wins of life that maybe, we couldn't see before. For example, nature, a smile, or an “I love you” from the ones we care about most.
Three Mindful Techniques to Try
The practice of mindfulness has been around for a very long time and there are multiple techniques we can practice to help guide us into a present state of mind. Here are three of my favorites!
1) Walking Meditation
A walking meditation is just a leisurely walk, usually lasting about 10 minutes, where we focus our attention on ourselves and our surroundings.
Tips for success:
Choose a location that is peaceful, with little distractions.
Take a few deep breaths before starting your walk.
As you start to walk, take notice of how your physical body is feeling. Then, take notice of your thoughts and mood.
Toward the end of your walk, take notice of your surroundings.
2) Breath Meditation
Breath meditation is when we focus our awareness and attention on our breath. This meditation can be as long or short as you see fit.
Tips for a success:
Find a quiet, comfortable spot where you can sit or lay. Feel free to keep your eyes open or closed and play calm music in the background.
Start by taking 3 deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Then, breathe as you would normally.
Start counting your normal breathing (1 count as you inhale, 1 count as you exhale). Once you hit 10, start again. Continue doing this for as long as you see fit. The goal is to quiet the mind and to focus strictly on your breath.
Towards the end of this meditation, I love to repeat a positive affirmation. For example, “Today I am going to conquer the day while being kind and compassionate to myself and others.”
3) Journaling
Journaling once a day is a great way for us to check in with ourselves and release our emotions and thoughts to create space for new ones to come in.
With consistent mindfulness practice, you'll find a newfound appreciation for the present, welcoming increased joy and fulfillment into your life.
Tips for success:
Start by writing your current thoughts, feelings, and fears.
List your concerns of the day or anticipated wins.
I like to end all my journal entries with writing a few positive affirmations. It greatly helps to shift mindset, especially when done consistently.
All three of these mindful techniques can help us do the following:
Feel connected to the present moment
Reduce stress & anxiety
Increase mood
Improve decision-making
Gain clarity and more!
The more we practice mindfulness, the more we will be able to appreciate what we already have, which will open the door for more joy and fulfillment to come in!
Carli Dansky is a Life & Wellness Coach, Inspirational Speaker, and founder of btrue&well. Carli is passionate about speaking on how powerful yet fragile our authenticity can be, and works with clients to achieve their goals by guiding and encouraging them to tap into their own inner voice of what works best for them.
