We:Align (the second time around)
Earlier this week I shared an insight into my We:Align programme through the words of Louise. Sarah (of Sarah Gear Associates and Mindful Stonehaven) shares her experience as she engages in the programme for the second time. It’s lovely to see how We:Align works over time. Thank you Sarah for trusting me to share your words.
Second time around and We:Align is just as good, even dare I say it, better?
This time the experience is richer, fuller, Sarah’s quiet words and gentle wisdom are more embedded in my psyche, my thinking, than before.
You see - I’ve spent my whole life being small, hiding from the world and hiding from, if I’m honest, me. This may come as a surprise to many. People look at me, instantly judging - calm, confident, on top of things - some of which is (sometimes) true but those of you who know the real ‘me’ know that I’ve spent most of my life in a permanent state of worry, caring so deeply and being unable to set boundaries, to say no. Worried that I’m not good enough, that I’ll say or do the wrong thing, anxious for my family, my friends, my clients & all the while, super-afraid of failing.
It’s exhausting being in this space ALL the time. Holding this burden can be SO heavy. I’ve learnt through many years of training & self-development - mindfulness, self-compassion, meditation, neuro-linguistic programming, psycho-therapeutic approaches , trauma-informed training - to understand, to support myself & my wellbeing, to hold my clients in a mind-body-soul approach. But I was never really walking the walk with myself. It was only when I delved deeper with my 1st We:Align programme that I had an epiphany, that a light-bulb went off for me. My fears were written on the page in fluorescent highlighters (I do love stationary!) & in huge capital letters.
There was literally nowhere to hide.
I had two choices - I could face my fears or I could run away & stay small, after all this had served me well all my life, or so I thought.
Sarah helped me with her gentle, insistent, persistence, to face my fears. I’m not even sure she realised how deeply she helped me. I trusted her. I believed in her and she believed in me. And, it turns out, neither of us was wrong.
Since that first We:Align, I’ve not held back. I’ve done daily live videos during lockdown, I’ve written my first blog, I’ve set up a coaching programme and worked with hundreds of people in workshops and courses. I’ve travelled the country teaching mindfulness approaches to communities, workplaces and to many many children & young people. I’ve offered free weekly sessions & online challenges so that I give something back for those who need it.
I bought the mermaid Doc Martens & I wear them at every opportunity!
And now that I’m back on We:Align I can see how far I’ve come and I’m SO enthusiastic about how far I still want to go. Thanks to Sarah, I have every confidence that I’ll get there. Probably wearing Doc Martens, with purple hair & a sparkly highlighter in my pocket, surrounded by my family, my pals, my clients & with the biggest grin on my face, knowing that I’m exactly where I want to be.
~ my words by Sarah Gear
Founder of Mindful Stonehaven, a community enterprise supporting wellbeing through mindfulness
Find us on Facebook or connect with me through my website - www.sarahgear.com
