Synergy Success E-Zine, April 2014

 A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart

And can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

~Donna Roberts

 Greetings!  

Greetings to YOU, and a Huge, Warm Welcome to our new subscribers!

 

All of us are born perfect, whole, and complete. From that moment on, our individual experiences affect how well that truth is reflected back to us.

 

Some of us are wrapped up tight in healthy expressions of Love and Belonging from the start, allowing us to know, in our heart of hearts, that we are safe and secure.  This foundation of trust helps us to easily create meaningful relationships - with ourselves and others.

 

Some of us experience stress and early trauma from the start, leading us to question, in our heart of hearts, whether we will survive. This foundation of panic and confusion is part of my story, as I was raised the last of 5 kids in a family deeply affected by my father's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 

One memory stands out above all others. I was 6 years old, traveling with my family in our station wagon. In true tomboy fashion, I was wrestling and giggling with my brother as we played "this-is-my-line-and-don't-cross-over-it" in the back seat. We must have been too loud. We must have kept laughing after being told one too many times to sit still and be quiet.  We must have been on my dad's last nerve, because he stopped the car and made us get out in the rain.

 

And then he drove off.

          

Running through the mud I lost a shoe, but that was the least of my worries.  I screamed "please come back...I promise I'll be good...I'll be anything you want...I'm sorry!" In that life-changing instant, that spunky free-spirited little girl in me decided she was not good enough, safe enough, or loveable enough. Something was wrong with me and I had to change. 

 

So I tried to be "more lady-like", sit still, and be quiet-(none of which came the least bit natural to me!) I honed my gifts of sensitivity and intuition to anticipate the needs of others, taking care of them so they would need me and not leave me. Approval became more important than authenticity, and my real self was buried beneath the roles of people-pleaser, perfectionist, and performer.

 

Needless to say, it was hard to make true friends or meaningful connections pretending to be someone I wasn't. On the outside I appeared confident, was a straight A student, and seemed to belong...but on the inside I was scared and confused, taking cues from the petite, polite, popular girls just to feel like I fit in. This led to a love/hate relationship with food, cursing my athletic build, and burn out-- which is part of what I now call Toxic Success.

 

Over the past 26 years I've unpacked the heavy bags of shame, negative beliefs, self-doubt. I've finally stopped racing for a feeling of worthiness through high achievement. 

I've learned how to restore confidence, overcome fears, nurture healthy relationships, and use spiritual practice and self-discovery to create what I now call Balanced Success.

 

On my journey back to authenticity, I've unwrapped many priceless gifts -- compassion, forgiveness, acceptance of imperfection, connection to the Divine, self-love, and above all my life's purpose as a resilience coach. 

 

Since we teach best what we've needed to learn ourselves, I'd like to share 3 Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships that I hope you find helpful in your own life:

 

1. Look Upward for Validation: There's no need to look outside yourself for approval. You are already enough. You are perfect in your imperfection. There is no hoop you need to jump through to be worthy of love and connection. Ask for Divine Guidance in your desire to be surrounded by a healthy circle of support and friendship. Watch for "God-Winks", listen for answers, then be willing to take inspired actions to create more meaningful personal and professional relationships based on authenticity.

 

2. Befriend Yourself: The first trick to finding friends is befriending ourselves. It's absolutely essential to Know, Like, and Trust yourself. To have a good friend, you must know how to be one, which requires self-respect. Although it's not always easy, look for every opportunity to give and receive unconditional self-love, to heal your wounds, to forgive yourself, and to feel comfortable in your own skin.

 

3. Find Your Tribe: Author Jane Howard says "Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, Whoever you are, you need one." I believe we all crave the deep connection that graced friendships offer. These days I'm blessed with sister-friends who allow me to be exactly who I am, who help me grow and invite me to grow with them. Who cheer with me when I make difficult choices, laugh with me, dance with me, and revel in nature with me. They get quiet with me. They listen to my vulnerable stories and tell me theirs.  They don't judge, but instead keep their heart open, gently holding space for me to uplevel. Together we are Synergy Strong.

 

Do you have close friendships based on truth and transparency? If not, start today and take one small step ~ life is too short not to cultivate these priceless relationships!

 

Since the Synergy Success Circle is designed to provide inspiration, motivation, practical work-life balance tips, friendships, and networking, perhaps we'll cross paths this week?

 

May we BE the kind of friend we want to have,

 


Christina Kunkle, CTA Certified Life & Wellness Coach, R.N.

Master Reiki Practitioner, EFT Advocate

"Resilience Coach for High-Achieving Women

who want to thrive by building a life, not just a career." 

April 2014 Events

  

9th, Wednesday

"Synergy Success Circle"

Lunch Meeting 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. McAlister's Deli, Harrisonburg, VA

  

10th, Thursday
Dinner Meeting 5:30- 7:00 p.m. McAlister's Deli, Harrisonburg, VA

  

10th, Thursday
"Beyond SOAR II"
8-9:30 p.m.

  

11th, Friday
SOAR Leadership Development Program

 24th, Thursday
"Beyond SOAR I" 
6:30-8 p.m.
Beyond Restaurant,
Harrisonburg, VA  22801

May 2014 Special Event!

Saturday, May 17th
10am-1pm Timberville, Va

Break Free with us! Space limited, contact Christina 
Find a Cozy Corner and Enjoy the most recent Articles from "Bloom" and Health Quest Magazines 

(Click here to see all 24 articles)

Miss One? 
Enjoy a cup of tea and browse our 
issues of the Synergy Success e-zine

A Sincere, heart-felt Thank You!

Your kind referrals help me honor, serve, and inspire more women... Passing this on is the greatest compliment I can receive!

 


 

Hi, I'm Christina Kunkle, the founder of Synergy Life and Wellness Coaching LLC and Creator of the Synergy Success Circle.  My practice is dedicated to helping Professional Women squelch overwhelm and prevent burn out by promoting bounce-back resilience to stay focused, positive, & excited through challenges of work and life.  In addition to one on one coaching,  I facilitate keynotes, workshops, and retreats on topics related to Resilience and Work/Life balance. Do You know of a group that could use some inspiration and practical tips or are you curious about how coaching works?  Then I'd love to share with you what I believe to be  the most powerful tool for change on the planet! read more...                 

 

SELF-CARE AFFIRMATION:
 "I Nurture Meaningful Friendships"

A friend is one who knows you as you are

 Understands where you have been

 Accepts what you have become

 And still gently allows you to grow. 

 ~William Shakespeare

 

SPECIAL EVENT INVITATION!

 

Ready to Experience Breaking Free? 

What: 

A Customized "Breaking Free" Equine Assisted Learning Session especially for members and friends of the Synergy Success Circle

 

Why:

To experience how the powerful healing of horses can help busy women slow down, restore confidence, overcome fears, nurture healthy relationships, and build meaningful work-life balance through self-discovery and insight.

 

When:

Saturday, May 17, 2014 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

 

Where:

Breaking Free is housed at The Saddle Doctor

15150 Strooptown Road, Timberville, VA 22853.

 

Investment:

$30 per participant (space limited to first 10 women)

Snacks and Drinks provided

 

Ready to Join the Fun?

Call or Email Christina

540-746-5206

[email protected]

 

 Monica P. Johns, session facilitator

 

Licensed Professional Counselor

National Certified Counselor

Life Enrichment Services, LLC

540-908-8585


Horses are powerful, communicative animals. Their herd instincts, inquisitiveness, personality and intelligence create endless opportunities for learning. Horses have an uncanny ability to mirror human emotions, and horses never lie.  We like to say, "when in doubt, let the horse do the thinking," because the horse response is always an honest one.  

We put people into contact with horses through interactions on the ground, using horse behavior to encourage reflection and action from our clients. The size, strength and intelligence of horses offers people opportunitie to overcome fear, develop confidence, and find new ways to communicate and plan.  While there is some concluding discussion involved in every session, the focus is on the client's interactions with the horse or horses. Clients do not need to be knowledgeable about horses in order to benefit from equine assisted mental health experiences.  

People who may have trouble using words to communicate their feelings find that the nonverbal communications learned from encountering horses will open up self-discovery and insight.  People who are anxious or fearful find that learning to communicate with and through horses helps them build self-confidence and a better sense of healthy relationships.  Respect is the foundation for all healthy relationships, whether we are talking about family, the workplace or individual relationships. The size and beauty of horses requires our respect. With our horses, clients discover the healing dimensions of respect in their lives.   

Breaking Free uses both rescue horses and the quarter horses raised by Paul and Jenny Foltz at the Saddle Doctor.  
Our horses are not only beautiful, they are calm, intelligent, and well trained.
 

 

Christina's Story

Click here to read about her life-changing transformation

from Fear to Faith.