Sometimes, you have to get out of your head to get sanity.

Today, I’ve decided to share an email I received, and offered my guidance not only for the dear writer who reached out to me, but to any of you struggling to decide “what should I do next?”  I’ve changed some of the facts, just to protect this dear writer’s privacy.

“Dear Susan:  I’m 27 years old and I am very lost and feel like my life is going nowhere. I earned a university degree in religious studies  in 2006 and since then the only jobs I’ve ever done have been temping jobs in the government, have done a total of 5 temping jobs and the longest of which have been 6 months! So in total I’ve only worked about a year in total and so been out of work for a total of 5 years. I have suffered with depression and anxiety. I lack motivation and drive. I just can’t seem to decide what I want to do with my life.

And what’s more it feels like I’ve tried everything. I’ve seen career counselors, spoken to career advisers, done career tests, written down all my interests and skills, and done voluntary work — all in an attempt to make a decision on doing something, but I still can”t figure out why I seem paralyzed and unable to move on with my life. The voluntary roles I had I just simply lost interest in. I’m someone who gets bored very easily. I just feel so hopeless and sad every day as I already think it’s kinda of too late to do some things. The bottom line: Right now I feel a huge sense of urgency as I need to make a decision to do something without wasting any more time.

What can I do, based on my limited experience? What options do I have?”

Thank you,
Mary

Can you identify with this letter?

My response is not about: Another career test. Another internship or volunteer position. Nor do I prescribe a visit to the psychiatrist for antidepressants.

Here’s my response:

“Dear Mary:  Thanks for being in touch. My heart goes out to you. And when I listen underneath everything you’ve said, my sense is that you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You know, everyone finds their path at their own speed, despite what school and companies and society try to dictate. It seems really important to reduce the anxiety.

Deep down, you have a knowing inside of you about each of your next steps. Trust those steps one at a time. No need to rush. No need for urgency. Really a need to hear yourself, I believe. I encourage you to experiment with processes that teach you to hear yourself, like meditation, or perhaps a moving meditation, like the 5Rhythms, or a practice called Sensory Awareness.

Using your mind and your logic to constantly “figure it out,” is overrated, in my humble opinion. I was stuck for a long time not knowing what I wanted. Then, I found body-centered psychotherapy and body-centered practices, like the 5Rhythms and while it was not linear, it lead me to my inner wisdom. I encourage you to drop the needing to know what you need to do for the long run, and start trusting your short-run instincts and impulses.

I wish you well in just being with yourself in a patient, totally compassionate way,
Susan”

Is this reply what you expected? Were you waiting for a list of assessments and tests for Mary to take? Would you have sent Mary to a psychologist or psychotherapist? What would you have suggested to help Mary?

Personally, I think that we in the Western world are a deeply disembodied bunch. We don’t remember our childlike impulses to listen within ourselves. We look outside of ourselves, to a candy store full of luscious life and career choices. And without ever taking a bite, we instantly get sick to our stomachs. That’s because we make ourselves ill when we look for personal answers outside of ourselves.

We’ve forgotten how to mine the delicious treats within. We have lost our memory for how to find our way with our best way-finding equipment:  our senses. I’m a huge believer in waking up the body’s wisdom, in all facets of our lives. Your body connects you to your intuition, your instinctive wisdom, that sense of your next steps.

So, what are you doing to wake up your inner wisdom?
Susan

PS – One of my personal favorite tools for waking up my own inner wisdom? I consult the “Get a Move On!” cards I created. They’re my favorite tool for getting unstuck.

(OK, this is belated…but I did post to the Work from Within page on Facebook on time!)

Each Wednesday, I’ll share a video with you, with wisdom for getting unstuck & unblocked. With a whimsical image from the “Get a Move On!” deck of cards I created, I invite you to tap into your body’s wisdom to get new insights & perspectives.

WEEK 1 QUESTION for YOU:
What are you inspired to do when you take the time to consciously breathe?

Share your answers, below.

So, in August, I boogied down to the Esalen Institute, a personal development retreat center on the rugged Big Sur coast for a workshop of Soul Motion with my gracious and graceful teachers, Zuza Engler and Scott Engler. I moved and grooved, sweated profusely, and got in touch with my heart in a big, juicy way. (By the way, I’m teaching a workshop there December 5-10! Check it out on their calendar )

And, as I always seem to do at Esalen, I connected with great people. One of them is Mary Pinozotto, who is a total original. One day, Mary asked our group to help her film a video. I was feeling emotionally tender that day, so I hid from the camera. But I was intrigued over dinner, as she edited the video to post the next day. I asked her what she was doing.

“Oh, I’m recording one dance video every day.”

What!?! That’s pretty amazing. Where does she get inspired? What keeps her going? I was intrigued. She told me about dancing at Wal-Mart. And with Hells’ Angels. And in nature. And in so many different ways. Short dance. Long dances. And then the artistry of editing all of these.

Well, of course I asked to interview her for this blog. Here’s a woman who’s following her heart and her art. As she says in the audio interview I had with her, she’s becoming the person she’s dreamed herself to be.

To me, when we move, we change. Mary is in the flow of change, and I hope you’ll listen to her wisdom if you are in a place of transition, and craving a more authentic, creative life.

Listen to my interview with Mary

I hope you’ll enjoy the interview, with some key highlights about:
- moving emotions out and through the body; the metaphors in movement (I know about that from the Get A Move On! cards)
- dealing with money, and cherishing what you have
- increasing your ability to learn notice new things
- dedication and staying with something with discipline; sinking your teeth in
- listening for the creative inspiration

I’ve also posted a few of Mary’s amazing dance videos. Do they make you want to get up and move your body? C’mon! It’s OK. Go ahead! Join the dance!

Video 1: About the Freebox Blog

Video 2: To Sheryl Crow’s I Shall Believe


Video 3: From a Hafiz poem

I hope this inspires you!  If you want to view Mary’s blog, The Freebox, visit http://thefreebox.wordpress.com/

Wishing you delicious rhythmic journeys,

Susan

So, what about those results? What happens for people when they go through a workshop like Crafting Careers That Truly Fit? Well, let me share with you a note that I received very recently from a participant in the October 2009 offering of that workshop.

“Dear Susan,

I wanted to let you know that I had a great experience at your workshop and am so glad I went.

Being unappreciated, overworked and underpaid is draining and discouraging and I was at a real low point in my confidence and self worth.

I had a couple of interesting epiphanies during the workshop, but doing one of them in particular not only gave me back my sense of self but completely surprised and delighted me. I never realized or I guess acknowledged my own skills, talents and accomplishments and I couldn’t believe how many I had.  So many things that I contribute and am great at. The experience filled my heart with light and pride. I walked away with the realization that I felt/feel really good about myself and my abilities deep in my heart and not being acknowledged or appreciated at work doesn’t change that.

Real, true internal validation in the purest sense is priceless.

It was also really recharging for me to be around you and all the amazing people in the workshop and spend time focusing on myself.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

This note warms my heart. I am so, so, so happy for the participant who wrote it. It’s true that “being unappreciated, overworked and underpaid is draining and discouraging,” and yet people settle for mediocre working situations all the time. It does take energy and effort to move out of these situations. The Crafting Careers That Truly Fit workshop is designed to:

• Help you not only become aware of what’s not working — but to transform those elements into what you truly desire.
• Give the opportunity to discover how to move from a draining career to an energizing career, and you’ll get directionally clearer on what that career might be
• Bring together your skills, talents, and abilities to form new possibilities for work
• Redefine work in a way that’s truly meaningful, uplifting, and actionable
• Get you unstuck and moving in a direction that truly fits for you

I’d love to have YOU (yes, you!) join this workshop. If you have questions, please feel free to email me at Info @ WorkFromWithin.com or contact me through the Work from Within website.

And, as a early-bird special bonus for you – if you register with Esalen for this workshop before January 1, 2010, I’ll give you a free coaching session and a deck of the Get A Move On! cards, worth over $250! Be sure to read the details of this offer, and contact Esalen (or call them at 831-667-3000) to sign up for the workshop TODAY! Take action now, so that you ensure your space. It’s a great way to start off 2010 with a new confidence about your career, your self-esteem, and your future.

Come join us & craft work that truly fits YOU!
Susan

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

I was in no mood to laugh. A friend had called to tell me she lost all her investments. I thought I had a speaking engagement, and it was canceled at the last minute, and since I hadn’t anticipated it, I lost out with no recourse. I looked out the window onto a grey, gloomy day and rain was coming down in sheets. I felt like the soggy pile of leaves that was collapsing in front of my house. How was I supposed to be upbeat and positive to support a client who would be calling in 10 minutes for her coaching session?

I imagine you’ve been in a crummy mood before.  So, when you’re feeling low, what can you do to shift out of it?

One answer is to smile.

Over the past 10 years many studies have demonstrated that our emotional state is highly correlated with the activity in our facial muscles. Scientists Fair and Schwartz have reported that research participants who are asked to imagine positive images have stronger responses in their zygomatic muscles than those who depressed patients who imagined negative images. Zygomatic muscles are basically the muscles that make you smile. Scientists have also found that people can lift their mood by smiling for 60 seconds or more, provided it’s a natural smile (not a Cheshire cat grin!)

Better yet, when subjects in the lab were made to laugh or smile naturally, their positive brain wave activity tended to be higher than when they forced themselves to smile.

So, what did I do to lift my mood on that grey, icky day? I stood in front of a mirror, and smiled as naturally as I could, as I imagined having a great connection with my client. “Crows feet” emerged, those little tell-tale lines at the side of my eyes that indicate a natural smile. And, after activitating those muscles, like a workout, I felt better. Part of the reason that works?   A genuine smile increases the production of serotonin, which is also known as the “happiness hormone.”

I’m happy to say that the 60 seconds of smile therapy worked – my gloomy mood brightened, I was able to connect with my client, and the day hummed along a lot better.

So, try some “smile therapy” to shift your mood.  And post a reply here to let us know what happens for you!

: )

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

This week, I’m trying something new.  Instead of telling you my intent with the card image, I’m focusing on what’s really important: Allowing YOU to express what it means to YOU to extend yourself.

So, when you’re stuck, or lost, or confused, and you need to find your direction, how does the guidance “extend yourself” help you?

What does “extend yourself” bring to mind for you?

How might you “extend yourself” right now?

I welcome your stories, observations, and thoughts about how this image and the wisdom to “extend yourself” touches you.  Thank you for extending yourself!  When you share, I promise to reply back on the blog.

Warmly,

Susan

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

PS – Each week, I’ve been introducing a new card from the deck of 52 Get A Move On! cards I created.   When you’re feeling lost, confused, or unsure, these cards that are designed to help you get “unstuck.” Each of the 52 cards (plus two instruction cards) features an image and a phrase, and these whimsical hand-drawn (with crayon and pen, by me, Dr. Susan Bernstein) images is meant to get you inspired and moving.

Last week, I introduced the new Get A Move On! cards. When you’re feeling lost, confused, or unsure, t

Each week, I’m  blogging about a different card from the Get A Move On! deck of cards. This week, I’ve chosen to share some wisdom about the card Shake It Up!

When you’re stuck, have you ever wished you could hit a big “reset” button?

What if I told you that by shaking your body, you could start over? You could create a “re-do,” a “do-over,” a chance to redeem yourself. That by moving and grooving your body in different directions, you could wipe the slate clean. As you bumped and gyrated, you could get unstuck from whatever unpleasant situation you find ourselves in.

OK, well, it may not solve all of your problems, but you can let go of a lot of tension by simply shaking out your body for a few minutes. It’s like a natural way to shift directions.

In nature, we see the enactment of “shake it up” all the time. Have you ever seen a dog get out of the water, and it just shakes itself silly? Of course, that’s to dry off. But it also marks the transition from swimming to the next activity. When horses whinny, they, too, are shaking something off. We humans shake, but mostly, we try to stop that action. Somehow, we’ve learned that it looks awkward.

A few years ago, I was in a car accident. Thankfully, it was minor. But it jolted me. It shook me up. I felt really anxious and confused. Who was at fault? What had happened? What should I say or do next? I was physically shaking. In the past, I would have tried to control that movement. But, because I’ve learned a lot about shaking as a natural bodily response that helps us lets things go, I gave myself permission to feel those quaking tremors. I knew my nervous system was resetting itself. So I told the others involved in the accident that I needed a minute or two to calm down before I could talk. I walked a few feet away, on the sidewalk, and let my body shake naturally. I was able to be composed and to speak coherently and think logically about next steps.

An experiment for you:

The next time you feel the need to shake something off -- an unpleasant encounter with someone, a disappointment, a confusion — allow your body to shake gently for 3 to 5 minutes.

Stand up and flail your arms and legs around. Shake your head and all your limbs. As you get accustomed to this, you can move move vigorously.

Who cares what you look like? If you do care, and need privacy, find a bathroom stall and move in there. Or shake your hand under a table in the heat of a high-stakes business negotiation. If that’s too apparent, wiggle your toes in your shoes. Moving this way can jolt you out of a bad mood or a tense situation.

What do you need to “shake up” in your life?

Notice what happens to you when you shake it up. How does your mood change? How does your mind shift?

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

More resources to explore

If you’d like to explore shaking in more depth, I suggest this book and this audio program, both from Dr. Bradford Keeney, who has studied the transformative practices of shaking all over the world. I’ve had the pleasure of learning from Dr. Keeney directly, and he shares amazing stories that blend science and shamanism. He’s wise and wild. Fun!

Shaking Medicine	Shaking – audio program

Each week, I’ll be blogging about a different card from the Get A Move On! deck of cards. So, this week, we start with the card that says:

“Trust your gut.”

It’s such simple advice. But boy, have you ever not followed your gut? And boy, the consequences you pay for that, right?

Today, I want to remind you to trust your gut.

And I also want to introduce you to just one of the 52 whimsical images in the new The Get A Move On! deck of cards I created. If you ever get stuck, lost, or confused, you might wish you had a coach to guide you. Well, another option is to draw one of the cards from this deck and follow the wisdom. The Get A Move On! cards are designed to help you get unstuck, by reminding you that you have everything you need inside of you to get free, get clear, and get moving!

So, really, is it worth it to trust your gut?

Why should you pay attention to what your gut is telling you?When you feel a gut instinct, that’s a form of embodied intelligence. This claim is backed up by the research of pharmacologist and former National Institute of Health (NIH) scientist Dr. Candace Pert, author of Molecules of Emotion, who helped to demonstrate that, in fact, the entire body participates in human emotional life. While a scientist at the NIH, she and her team identified the so-called “molecules of emotion.” These combinations of proteins on the surface of cells form receptors, sensors that collect chemical information carried throughout the body by other molecules called ligands.

Pert’s team discovered a particular naturally-occurring ligand in the body, called a neurotransmitter, and discovered its function in emotional processing. Prior to her research, the dominant idea was that neurotransmitters were found only in the brain. However, her discovery was that these neurotransmitters were abundant in the human gut and also travel throughout the body. These neurotransmitters are the chemicals that convey the message of emotional states to the brain, through the nervous system.

Therefore, according to Pert’s research, the entire human body has the capacity to transform sensation into emotion. As a result, Pert’s research asserts that your entire body is a vehicle for conveying information about what you like and dislike. This is an important point. For when you are confronted with difficult or large-scale decisions (for example, in the case in major career change), you may literally feel choices at a sensate level. Such signals are crucial during transitions, you may feel ungrounded, and need the internal reassurance of your well-being.

The connection between the gut, emotions, and behavior has also recently become clearer through the research of Michael Gershon, author of The Second Brain., who looked at the role of the enteric nervous system, or gut.  From his research, one might infer that “trust your gut instincts” may, in fact, be very wise advice for a person facing a major transition.

According to Gershon, the enteric nervous system of the gut actually acts like a brain, as it sends and receives impulses, responds to emotional states, and records experiences.  The enteric nervous system contains many of the same neurotransmitters that are found in the upper brain, including dopamine, glutamine, norephinephrine, and serotonin.  The brain can send message that upset the gut, and vice versa.

Developmental biologists have demonstrated that during early embryogenesis, a tissue formation known as the neural crest divides into two sections.  One becomes the central nervous system, while the other becomes the enteric nervous system.  Later in development, the vagus nerve forms a link between these two systems.

For example, when you encounter a frightening situation, stress hormones are released by the central nervous system, signaling a fight or flee reaction. This chemical reaction triggers sensory nerves in your stomach, accounting for what many people term, “butterflies.”  During periods of extreme stress, your upper brain signals the gut to cease functioning.  Hence, a scared animal, when running from danger, does not pause to (um, excuse me…but this is true) defecate.

When your upper brain detects a fearful situation, the vagus nerve triggers an increase of production of serotonin circuits in the gut, which can cause stomach upset and even, well…diarrhea. Sometimes fear stimulates nerves in the esophagus, so that your swallowing reflex is blocked, leading to a feeling of being “choked” with emotions.

Can your gut’s brain learn? Gershon has investigated this question.  One particular instance seems to support that this is, in fact, possible.  He describes a male nurse at a military hospital who cared for a group of paraplegics. Since their lower spinal cords had been severed, their bowels would become impacted.  At 10 am each morning, the nurse administered enemas to these patients.  When this nurse left, his replacement decided to give enemas only after impaction had occurred. However, even without enemas, at 10 am the following morning, all of the paraplegics had bowel movements.

According to Gershon, it appears that your gut reflects the emotional states of your head’s brain and can be felt if you pay attention to the sensations of your gut. So, when I’m working with people undergoing career transitions (or any transformation, really), focusing awareness on gut states can help them to check in and get clearer about their emotional responses to various options.

So, now, do you have enough information to help you trust your gut a bit more?  I hope so!

MORE RESOURCES:  Perhaps you want to learn more about your gut instincts?

I can recommend two books:

The Second Brain	Molecules of Emotion

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

After months of effort — planning, writing, getting guidance from a media consulant, a branding expert, and a graphic designer, and so on, and so on — the new Work from Within website is finally here! I’m thrilled to show you around!

Overall, the new website has more of an emphasis on what I call “embodied intelligence.” You see, with our world changing so much, it can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you. That’s unsettling. I help you to find your source of calm, clarity, and confidence that is within you. That way, you can get unstuck and get moving and accomplishing.

Sometimes, raw intellect isn’t enough to guide you in the ever-changing world. You need to be able to trust your gut or listen to your heart. But how? When you develop your embodied intelligence, it’s like finding your inner compass, so you know how to navigate the world. My expertise in as a PhD in Somatic (mind/body) Psychology, combined with nearly two decades of corporate experience at companies including Intel and Accenture, allows me to bring you perspective and the practices that will help you navigate changes more easily.

I hope that you’ll explore the new Work from Within website so you can find all the resources I’ve created to help you breathe easier about the future, step into greater clarity about your next moves, and embody self-confidence from head to toe.

So, let’s take a visit together!

Let’s start by looking at the Home Page. You’ll see a great Flash animation that helps you get an overview of what Work from Within is all about…Life is more chaotic and uncertain than ever. How do you find your way in the world? Get free. Get clear. Get moving. It all comes together when you Work from Within.  You can read a description, too, and can explore new products (like the Get A Move On! cards) and catch up on News about Work from Within, like the October 10 & 11 workshop, Create Work That Truly Fits for You.

You’ll be able to find out about what Work from Within means, and the Work from Within Philosophy, more about me, Dr. Susan Bernstein.

The new website also features great new workshops and speaking engagements I have created. I’d love to host one for your organization, so just get in touch!

I’m reaching out to help more and more people and organizations with services to navigate work and life changes.  That means I’m offering individual coaching, corporate coaching, coaching for entrepreneurs, and even training coaches on the Work from Within practices and perspectives!  Check out these new services, and let me know if I can help you, too!

I’ve been mentioned in the media more and more, like the San Jose Mercury News, and love sharing my expertise widely, so if you are writing a story for the media, contact me on topics including:

• The psychological and physiological impact of work and life transitions (like layoffs, starting a new jobs)
• Tools for breathing easier about the future
• Ways to find greater clarity in the midst of chaos and uncertainty
• Practices for embodying self-confidence

I know that not everyone has the chance to work with me personally, so I’ve created tools so that you can get the best of my expertise, and you can listen and learn with me at your convenience. So the new website has a store, and you’ll find there:

• The best “get unstuck” tool ever – the Get A Move On! cards
• Guidance on going for your dreams – the Follow a More Authentic Career Path CD
• Activities you can do to find your new career – the Create Work That Truly Fits for You CD
• Tools to keep you positive and motivated in your job search – the Job Seeker’s Confidence Kit CD
• A 7-step process and 24 activities to help boost your confidence in interviews – the Interviewing Authentically workbook

Of course, the new Work from Within website has this great blog (OK, I’m biased!) and that’s full of great information. Additionally, I’ve created a wealth of resources for you to read articles on how to work from within, listen to interviews with me on issues about transitions, get recommendations on resources for learning more about the mind-body connection and transitions, and sign up to receive the Work from Within eNewsletter via email.

It’s a full body of work, this new website.  I hope you’ll jump in, explore. Let me know what you think of the new Work from Within website! Please do leave a comment, below!

Just like your body, the Work from Within website is ever-evolving!

Cheers!

Susan

Susan Bernstein, MBA PhD

Life/Work Transition Expert

www.WorkFromWithin.com