Page 13 - August 2023 CW Magazine
P. 13

I Took Myself to a Picture Show – I Got So Fresh –

        Teagan  was  an  artist  trapped  in  an  office         Aida, a young professional, who tried to handle
        manager’s  body.  She  often  felt  frustration,         everything  on  her  own.  She  felt  emotionally
        emotional  stagnation,  and  a  sense  of  being         burdened,  had  increased  stress  and  anxiety,
        “stuck.”  She  was  unfulfilled  and  disconnected       and loss of trust and intimacy in relationships.
        from her purpose.
                                                                 When Aida learned the significance of seeking
        When  Teagan  starting  indulging  in  creative          support  when  faced  with  challenges.  Rather
        passions      like    painting,     writing     and      than  shouldering  the  weight  of  her  burdens
        photography,  she  found  an  outlet  to  express        alone,  she  reached  out  to  trusted  friends,
        herself  authentically.  Engaging  in  creativity        family,  and  professionals.  Seeking  coaching
        and  self-expression  activities  allowed  her  to       provided her with a safe space to explore her
        channel      her     emotions,      unleash     her      emotions, gain new perspectives, and develop
        imagination,  and  foster  a  deep  sense  of            effective  coping  strategies.  Aida's  courageous
        fulfillment.  These  moments  of  self-expression        decision  to  seek  support  ultimately  enabled
        not  only  provided  her  with  a  valuable  escape      her to nurture her mental well-being and grow
        but  also  cultivated  a  strong  sense  of  identity    stronger through adversity.
        and  purpose.  This  opened  up  the  possibilities
        for  her  to  even  be  more  creative  in  her  office  I Kissed My Face –
        manager  position  which  gave  her  a  greater          (Yes,  I  changed  the  rhyme  just  a  little)
        sense of contentment in her life.
                                                                 Johanna,  a  corporate  executive,  often  felt
        I Put My Arm Around My Waist –                           unvalued,       emotional      distressed      and
                                                                 diminished motivation.
        Seema,  a  people-pleaser  by  nature.  And
        though  she  loved  taking  care  of  others,  she       Johanna, discovered the transformative power
        often  felt  emotional  exhaustion,  resentment          of  practicing  gratitude  in  her  daily  life.  By
        which resulted in interpersonal challenges and           cultivating  a  habit  of  acknowledging  and
        setbacks.                                                appreciating  the  positive  aspects  of  her  life,
                                                                 Johanna  experienced  a  profound  shift  in  her
        Once  Seema  recognized  the  importance  of             perspective. She became more attuned to the
        setting  boundaries  as  an  act  of  self-love,         simple  joys,  the  beauty  around  her,  and  the
        learning  to  say  'no'  when  necessary  and            relationships  that  enriched  her  life.  This
        establishing  healthy  limits,  she  regained            practice of gratitude helped Johanna combat
        control of her time and energy. This newfound            negativity,  embrace  optimism,  and  develop  a
        assertiveness  allowed  Seema  to  prioritize  her       deeper sense of self-acceptance.
        needs  and  prevent  burnout.  Through  setting
        boundaries,        she      fostered      healthier
        relationships and built a stronger sense of self-
        worth.













            THE CONTEMPORARY WOMAN MAGAZINE                      www.thecontemporarywoman.com                  I  13
   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18