Purposeful, therapeutic, peaceful – encouragement to commit time to the worthiness of my writing practice.
Working with Lynda Monk feels like stepping into a fantastical dream. In that dream are the play-tools of a new life, a life full of possibility, charm, deep warmth and insight. The gift of working with Lynda as a coach helped me to complete important projects and opened the door to my life’s next steps. I am very grateful for her skills, intuition and heartfilled cheerleading!
I recently participated in a unique experience that allowed me to build more work life balance awareness and emphasized the value of my own self-care. Where burnout costs our mental health systems a great deal in terms of financial costs not to mention the human costs, these costs are often not addressed or poorly addressed. This workshop uses a unique approach to address self-care and our attitudes towards it. This coaching is provided via 5 one-hour telephone conference calls. There are no travel costs or time involved for travel. The entire costs per participant are far less than the costs of a single sick day. This is not therapy; this is an opportunity for growth and healing. I was one of the few who burned out and was able to return to work with greater joy and enthusiasm then ever through support and timely intervention. I reflect now and wonder if I had this opportunity years earlier, would I have had to take any time off at all?
Freeing, creative, beautiful – thank you for the opportunity to be myself, to find myself again and to allow me the time and inclination to make a commitment to myself.
During the course of my busy life, one of the best ways to take care of myself is to recognize when to just stop and take the time to rejuvenate by not feeling as though I will be letting someone else down! I found the overall tone of the Creative Wellness Guided Meditations CD to be very soothing, the music was a lovely compliment to the messages being shared. I particularly found myself drawn to the self care track. As a busy caregiver with a bit of a superwoman complex, it was a very powerful reminder that in order to be effect and caring to other I must first care for myself properly. Listening to this meditation was like receiving a permission slip to take some time off to do what fulfills me most… and I accepted it (which never comes easily to me)- so thank you!
Lynda reminded me how powerful I am. Somewhere along the way I forgot.
I was faced with some challenging interactions with doctors as well as difficult surgical options on my health and healing journey. Lynda used visualizations, a kind of art therapy (drawing), combined with writing, movement, touch and vocalizations to help me move the negative energy. This dramatically reduced my stress levels!!!
She reminded me through this process that:
I know what is best for me.
I can make decisions for myself in the face of multiple opinions and perspectives.
I can work through the emotions of any situation, coming to a neutral place, where I can then clearly ask people to help me in the ways that I need and want.
I found the sessions worked well when they were scheduled regularly and consistently. This continuity helped to change patterns that no longer served my best interests.
Lynda continues to be an integral part of my healing team. Her open-hearted acceptance and willingness to move through whatever is up at the moment is priceless!!!
I feel HUGE GRATITUDE to and for this woman and the piece coaching holds in my life!!! Thank you Lynda!!!
In 2000, Lynda Monk came to my office and we talked on bringing her in on a trial basis to offer training courses related to how stress affected not only fire fighters but their families. Having sat through these presentations before and at first going in with a pre-conceived notion that it wouldn’t be of any use to me, I knew that it might be a hard sell to the fire fighters. That first session we had 25 fire fighters present. Three hours later, they were all sold on her approach to the issue and looked forward to her next sessions. We now run at least one session per year utilizing Creative Wellness and they are one of the highest attended training courses. Lynda Monk is very approachable, likeable and down-to-earth. She can communicate readily at any level, thus my fire fighters really appreciate her sessions.
As helping professionals we focus our energy on advocating for others, often forgetting about ourselves. Lynda understands the importance of nurturing the nurturer and offers an invaluable service. My coaching with Lynda is an investment in my own wellness. As a result of my coaching with Lynda I am finding that I am able to create space for ‘being’ in the midst of all of the ‘doing’.
I have journalled in one way or another throughout my life, embracing it as a therapeutic journey toward self-discovery and vitality. Before I read the LSW book, I wondered what journalling techniques could there possibly be that I haven’t already discovered?
Immersing myself in the Life Source Writing book has brought the wonder-full surprise of connecting with your experience in order to re-connect with my own. I felt like I was drawn through a portal into my own soul and experience, gently encouraging me to open myself to my journey. Transformational!
What a gift to have been taken into places of such warmth and depth, feeling so encouraged and energized by the beautiful energy with which you’ve infused the book. Thank you again for the amazing experience.
This was an amazing oasis of warmth and reflection in the midst of a demanding, fast-paced life.