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Katie Kramer, RN/Life Coach/Author
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Your Body, Your Ally

7/25/2017

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"You're one piece of a jigsaw puzzle: as you begin to move into your true shape, the pieces around you either change to match you, or stop fitting." ~ Martha Beck
 

I lived in Santa Fe for 17 years; it's where much of my adult life happened: I established myself as a Pediatric/Maternity Nurse and Instructor; my three children were born and raised; we bought two homes; and my 15-year marriage ended. Some of my most cherished--and difficult--memories are of Santa Fe.

It's also a place known for its rich culture, art, picturesque landscape, and as a lesser-known characteristic: its woo-woo.

Santa Feans love their crystals, Wiccan, prayer circles, Tribal sweat lodges, and eastern medicine influences.

And after my marriage imploded, I got very involved in the woo-woo. I chased it; I craved it; and when I practiced it consistently, it felt like home to me.

So it was no surprise that I consulted a Natural Healer after dealing with colon upset that wouldn't go away, and western medicine couldn't heal.

But when she began to practice her magic on me, I felt a bit skeptical, even worried.

After a lengthy intake and her genuine interest in all of my symptoms, she asked me to stand up and place my arms at right angles to my body. I lifted my arms as if ready for take-off, then she placed a small vial of something in each hand.

She stood in front of me and in one motion, her hands pushed both of my arms down toward the floor.

To my surprise, one arm stayed steady while one became weak and limp.

"This is the one," she said, as she handed me the vial that was tucked into the fist of the arm that stayed upright. "This is what your body prefers."

She was right, of course. My gut did heal with that preferred medication, but what really impressed me was how she knew it. Or rather, how my body knew which remedy to "choose".

I have since practiced this many times--with food, with decisions, and preferences. Bodies go limp in the presence of things that are not right for them, and bodies stay strong when presented with something that's good or nourishing.

You can practice this right now without even doing the weird "Arm Thing"--as my Coaching Mentor calls it.

Think of something you love: sandy beaches, mangoes, or your favorite person. It doesn't matter what you picture. What matters is how your body reacts.

Do you feel a skip in your heart, a surge of energy, or a feeling of elation or peace?

Now think of something you hate. How does your body react? Do you feel sluggish, unmotivated, or sad?

See? You now know a bit of woo-woo to help you with decisions that have once eluded or stumped you.

Why? Because your body is your biggest ally. It knows what your mind does not. The problem is, we usually don't trust our body's signals of pain or sickness or elation because we've been conditioned to believe that our minds are stronger and smarter.

Not so.

Your only goal as you practice this form of woo is to follow your body's joy, peace, and excitement. If your body responds with less than anything but heart-jumping whistling, don't follow it, don't choose it, and don't do it.

But don't be surprised if you begin to love this practice so much that you excitedly share it with family and friends, and they think you're off your rocker.

Practicing anything that isn't considered logical feels a bit foreign and weird to most people--sometimes too weird. And that often equals threatening.

But no need to fret.

As you move into your true shape--whether you're chasing woo-woo or something else--the people who are closest to you are bound to feel a bit displaced. They will either try to fit into their true shape, too, or they will stop fitting with you altogether.

If you find people or things disappearing from your life, consider it a blessing, because your body--in all its wisdom--is helping you create a life that fits you best.

If you listen, your body's signals will enlighten you about whom to hang out with, what to eat, where to go on vacation, and how to make a profitable and fun living.

Try it...then let me know how wise your body is.  


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Do Work That Feeds Your Soul

5/23/2017

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"Do whatever work feeds your true self, even if it's not a safe bet, even if it's like a crazy risk, even if everyone in your life tells you you're wrong or bad or crazy." ~ Leaving the Saints by Martha Beck

When my youngest graduated high school nearly four years ago, I set out to complete a dream that had already been twenty-years-in-the-making. When she was one-year-old and my life underwent a monumental change, I decided to become a Life Coach. 

I'd been through such a life-altering experience that I knew I could help others in the same situation. And coaching has always been such an innate part of me; I just didn't have the formal training, nor the know-how to begin a business at that time.

And then, life happened. And my dream was set aside.

But upon my daughter's graduation two decades later, I knew it was time to dust off that old wish and just jump into it.

I quit my nursing job and sought out training.

People around me thought I was nuts.

But I felt where my heart was leading me, and it wasn't found in the halls of hospitals anymore.

By the end of the following year, I was a full-fledged life coach, but I was also still not making much money, and my savings account was quickly being drained.

Uh-oh.

I realized that my business would take longer to set up and make sustainable, so I found another nursing job to cover the bills for a while.

Friends and family sighed with relief.

But my soul started balking.

Nursing was not what my soul was longing for anymore; I'd had a good run spanning almost three decades, but it was time to pursue my new passion.

(Not surprisingly, the new nursing job didn't last long, either).

So I kept at coaching while my friends and family held their breath. At that point, even I began doubting my ability to become a life coach with a full-time clientele.

Even I began to think I was nuts.

It was taking much longer than I'd anticipated, it was draining my savings and retirement accounts, and I was losing faith that it would ever happen.

But I kept at it because I was following what made my soul happy: I hosted workshops; I wrote blogs and newsletters; I continued my weekly column; I spoke on the radio; and I kept working with clients.

And ever so slowly, somewhere along the way, it began to take shape. It's not yet a full-time gig, but that's okay. I'm happy; fulfilled; proud.

I continue to feed my true self, even on the days when it doesn't feel like a safe bet, because I trust that it will one day become what I've envisioned all along.

What about you?

What work would you do that feeds your true self, even if it's not a safe bet, even if it's like a crazy risk, even if everyone in your life tells you you're wrong or bad or crazy?  

 
Much love,   
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    Author

    After being raised in the mid-west, I migrated south for high school (with a year in Brazil) and college, and ventured west for a long marriage (and later, divorce)...and eventually landed in the northwest--my real home. Sigh. 

    I am a Teacher, Healer, Single Mother, Nurse, Coach, Columnist, Artist, Author, Traveler, Motivator...eager to share myself with you. 

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