I hope you are well and finding some peace and joy as we move through the unfamiliar and uncertain. The transition from the norm seemed sudden at first and yet we were able to respond with swiftness as we moved our lives inside and online. I have written and rewritten this blog several times. I feel the weight in knowing that you are juggling a number of things at once, similar yet different to life before sheltering in place. Now there is the added stress and anxiety of not having total control of how long we will be in our current situation. If you are anything like me, the anxiety is outright exhausting. I minimally take in the news. When I do, the one thing that continuously comes to me is, human beings are resilient. We weather storms and come out with additional strength and knowledge. We adopt and for this reason, what collective life looks like on the other side of the pandemic is going to be different, yet as individuals, our truths are a constant.
Times of adversity allow us to look at who we are, what’s important and what we value. The truth that lives within us is called out so to speak. When life is comfortable and we are distracted by the busyness of our lives, we often don’t take the time to check in. Adversity, whether personal or collective provides us the space to take a look at what’s working and what is not. Were you living your values or were you simply reacting to life as it occurred? Had you stopped experiencing your moments, breathing them in and sensing everything present in them? Now, you have the opportunity to ask yourself these questions and assess the quality of life you were giving yourself. Living your truth is necessary for living fulfilled. There is no faking it through this living thing. Either you are doing it, or you are not.
I like to equate living true to running. I started running when I was five and have been since with a couple of brief breaks during my pregnancies. Because of this, I always have a running analogy. There is no lying on the run. Only the truth is present, and sometimes you are faced with it in a harsh manner. The truth is ever-present because your body, mind, and soul only experience what is true as your foot meets the earth. If you have knee pain, you have knee pain. There’s no covering it up. And if your adrenaline is soaring and you have a runner’s high that is the truth you will know. As you move into your stride and your mind, body and soul are working in sync to keep you present and going forward you are in a state of mindfulness. Running is mindfulness, it is truth and it will uncover the deepest parts of what it means to be human.
Kindness, compassion, self-discovery, and being of service are important to me. I value my family, friends, community and running. As I live and face adversities in my life, what’s important and what I value remains constant. They are the home I go to. They ground me and help me build awareness. As we shelter in place, I am incredibly grateful for my ability to go out for a run. Runs help me make sense of everything that is going on around me and thoroughly process the wisdom I need to heighten my awareness. Movement has a beautiful way of getting us into our bodies, minds, and souls. It is here, in embodiment where we find the answers and uncover our truth.
This morning on my run I was thinking about the physical mechanics of running and it speaks to exactly what I am sharing. One foot in front of the other, a consistent cadence, ease and comfort in each strike. Each stride moving me closer to the finish. It is not about the miles, it is about the seconds and minutes that exist within the mile. The body, mind, and soul interpret the wisdom released in every foot strike and all the sensations that come with it. This mindful synergy connects me to my aliveness.
Collectively we are on an intense run. The magnitude of soul searching, wisdom collecting, and pain felt can only possibly be compared to the gains experienced while running an ultra-distance (50 miles more). Individually we are running our own race based on our individual values. We are also running alongside each other and carrying our collective values. The world is focused on healing and moving past the current pandemic we face. We will get through this together and come out with a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.
Our stories will unfold, our strengths revealed, and the brightness of our lights felt. And firmly holding up the foundation of who we are and what defines us will be our values.
Please stay safe, stay home, and be gentle and kind to yourself and one another.
Kristin Asadourian is a leadership coach best known for activating the purpose and wisdom from within her clients. She understands the importance of authenticity and courage on the path to becoming inspired and mindful leaders. Kristin believes bold actions generated by energized leaders with compassionate and open-hearts bring change. She helps her clients create an action plan to move them into values-based leadership, accomplishing their goals and living fulfilled.
Kristin’s coaching practice is strongly influenced by her work in the public sector as a Senior Field Deputy for the City of Los Angeles, founder of the not for profit Artists for Change, which brings arts education to elementary-age children in Los Angeles and the documentary film company, Seeroon Productions. She formed the internationally recognized production company that produced the honored film “Beginning Where the Soviet Ends: A Study of Social Work in Armenia.” Her years as a television and documentary film producer also greatly impact her practice. Kristin learned by interviewing several celebrities during her tenure at E! Entertainment Television that people, famous and not so famous are motivated to generate a positive impact on their communities. A natural speaker and storyteller, she uses her experiences to generate connection and laughter while guiding her audiences to become the leaders and changemakers within them.
Kristin leads workshops for adults and young people along with webinars and live talks. Her curriculum focuses on developing the whole person by building self-awareness and self-confidence. She is currently teaching her BECOME (Bold, Energize, Compassionate, Open-hearted, Mindful, Education) curriculum in Massachusetts and looks forward to growing its reach.
Kristin earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology and multicultural relations from the University of Connecticut and master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She received her co-active life coaching credential from the Coaches Training Institute and continues to be an active learner in order to be a better coach, mom and human.