New mantra: soften

Lately when I've felt a little tense, the word "soften" has been coming to mind. I like it because it doesn't mean I have to fully release whatever it is I'm stressing over but if I can even soften just a little bit that takes the pressure off.

Coming back from a long vacation, my mind is swirling with all the things I'm excited to tackle over the next couple weeks. I'm ready to get back in the groove! But at times the mounting to-do list can feel a little overwhelming to keep track of, as I'm sure many of you can all relate to! The word "soften" brings me back to the present moment and remind me of what I have to be grateful for- like getting to shower in my own bathroom! Glorious!

I vow as I get back in the swing of things to remind myself to "soften, Katelyn, soften." After all, nothing on my to-do list is a life-or-death matter; it will all get done in time. Easter weekend means a big get-together with the fam, the weather in pittsburgh has been gorgeous, I had an amazing trip, and I'm excited to be home!!

So let's go a little easier on ourselves and soften a bit!!

How I came to find my life path and purpose (manifesting in action!)

I tell this story a lot but I have never shared so many personal aspects of it... until now :)

A few years ago when I was still working at my engineering job (long before I even knew what Beachbody coaching was), I was VERY stressed by all the traveling I was doing for work. I loved my company and I loved my job, but the traveling was a huge pressure on me. There were also other things going on in my life that had me very stressed out. So it was a point in my life where I was questioning EVERYTHING. The main thing was that if I could no longer do the job I was doing (mainly because the travel was wearing me down), what would I do if I could do absolutely anything? I obsessively made lists of what my life goals were, what I had been most effective at/productive with in my life, what brought me joy, what hobbies I was most passionate about, what interested me, what I wanted to be remembered for, etc. 

These questions and practices of journaling my heart's desires brought me a lot of clarity and peace. I kept these in what I called my "soul search binder," a binder I had kept ever since high school with printed copies of articles that inspired me, motivational quotes, and things that enlightened/challenged/expanded me like this article, "50 Life Secrets and Tips".

In time, the traveling died down and as my life became less stressful, I set these lists to the side and decided I didn't need to "figure it all out" right then. But low and behold, about 6 months later, I had stumbled upon Beachbody coaching and got involved with that. It started as something I wanted to do because I loved it, then became something I was able to do on the side along with my full-time job as an engineer, and then eventually BECAME my full-time job when I lost my job as an engineer. I tell the full story in my previous blog about trusting the process. 

Now, when I look back at those lists, I TRULY feel like what I do as a coach completely NAILS so many of those things I said I wanted and that I was best at on those lists!! Talk about manifesting our heart's desires!! You can click on the picture below and read all of my very personal notes about what I want out of life and you'll see that so much of what I mentioned involves helping people, being kind to people, motivating people, and things relating to health and fitness. 

What I didn't realize was how much this experience as a coach would change ME. It is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things I have ever done. It challenges me, expands me, and inspires me every day through the incredible people I get to interact with because of my job! I am SO GRATEFUL that life has taken me down a path where I feel like I get to live out my purpose every.single.day. 

Thank YOU to all who have been involved with this :) :) :) 

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

My theme for 2015, How I want to FEEL

I started this practice back in November of 2014 and I've already been seeing the wonderful effects of this. I wrote out a statement about how I want to FEEL (I actually wrote a few versions of this). I have it in the front of my binder and I read it regularly. It immediately makes me feel reassured and at ease. The first paragraph on this page is one of the versions:

When I originally wrote this statement, I had trouble saying "I *am* someone who trusts the universe completely." I know affirmations are "supposed" to be written in the present tense but if something doesn't resonate as truth to me, I scrap it and rephrase it to be something more believable. But the interesting part is, the more I read this, the more I really feel like I AM someone who trusts the universe completely and doesn't get hung up on disappointments, and smiles knowing they are all part of the plan. If I can see these kind of changes in 2 months of this practice, I can only imagine what an entire year can do!

I made a video explaining more about this process with examples of other things I wrote. There are 2 parts (my memory card maxed out during the first one). I hope these are helpful! Here's to 2015 being an incredible year full of things more amazing than we ever could have conceived of!!! 

Part 1:

Part 2:

Happy 2015!!

Love,

Katelyn