How are you investing in your learning?

I am an avid reader and a life long learner.  There are so many beautiful opportunities to invest in our learning.

Each year in August around my birthday I start looking at ways to invest in my learning through additional professional development.   This is something I have done for many years, if not decades.  Some years I have worked with a coach.  Some of the questions I ask myself are:

What problem would I like to help solve?

What new thinking is needed?

Where are the opportunities to expand on this learning?

What can I do differently?

Over the years I will admit I have been inventive.  Some organizations I was part of were very generous with professional development dollars, which was a true gift.  Others this required innovative conversations, where I may pay to attend a conference and they would cover my salary. And others this was not a priority. I made the choice to invest in myself and found amazing opportunities to learn and grown.

Finding ways to invest in myself has always been a top priority for me.

Earlier this year I had an opportunity to attend a workshop with W North Connect where Deborah Stellingwerff was sharing insights on Mental Fitness and Positive Intelligence.  I was so inspired by Deborah and her presentation I wanted to learn more.

Over the past several weeks, in addition to working with Deborah, I have been working through the Positive Intelligence app and learning more about Sharzad Chamaine and his  book on Positive Intelligence.  Truly inspiring.

Some of my biggest insights are the strategies to help quiet the voice of the inner critic.  We all have an inner critic.  The key is to find those strategies to reduce the volume.  As well, how can we approach everything as a gift and opportunity?

For many years I thought that being hard on myself was the way to learning and growth.  The harder we push ourselves and continue to engage in negative self talk the more difficult it is to move forward and connect with others.

Negative emotions are only helpful in the moment to help you move to the other part of the brain to help find new ways.  from Positive Intelligence

What are the ways you can be kind and gentle with yourself?

Where we think we need more self-discipline we usually need more self love.  Tara Mohr

In what new ways can you invest in your learning? Are you considering new ways you can show up for yourself?

As this is my birthday week I am offering 30 minutes of complimentary coaching to anyone who reaches out to learn more about our work by August 30th, 2021.

Be kind.

Be gentle.

Be nourished in all you do.

Sharon

Photo credit:  Sharon K. Summerfield

At The Nourished Executive we coach business professionals and share strategies to invest in wellbeing, manage stress and prevent burnout. Our founder, Sharon K. Summerfield, is a holistic nutritionist and certified breath coach, with an extensive business background.  We have a strong commitment to giving back, investing in local community creating space for all students to consider careers in construction, science, technology, engineering and math.