News & Updates

March 2015
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This month the Conditioning Leaders newsletter is written in collaboration with Caroline Hopkins, founder of One Million Suns. What inspires this partnership is both of our commitment to surround, support, hold accountable, believe in and push one another.  It is in this spirit that One Million Suns and Conditioning Leaders collaborates with, promotes and gratefully receives support from like-minded women leaders and their initiatives.  Enjoy this months inspirational vignettes about being in and taking action.
Cheers,
Madeline and Caroline

Being in Action
by Madeline McNeely

I have been a member of a boot camp community for over 2 years. It's made an immense difference in my life physically, emotionally and mentally. I work out intensely 2-3 times a week. My body fat ratio has gone down. I am physically strong and more confident.  I am more resilient to adversity of all kinds as a result of the intense physical pressure I put on myself a few times a week.

 

One of the lessons I derive from consistent physical workouts is to be in action. At Boot Camp I am in action even when I am tired or depressed.  I show up to Mike's class and I lift more weight than is comfortable, do more and better push-ups and run faster than I think I can. Annie Dillard says "the way we spend our days is the way we spend our lives". The lesson of being in action has transferred to other areas of my life as well. Read more

 

Tipping Into Action

by Caroline Hopkins

 

I recently moved houses. After 4 ½ years of living with minimal bedroom furniture I decided now was the time to finally purchase a vanity of some sort to house vanity type things and upgrade from our battered hand-me-down bedside tables. I went from store to store, learning what was available, trying the options on in my mind's eye. I filed each option away, sending it to the back of my mind as I continued my search. And one day, without much forethought in the moment, I walked back into a store where I had seen not the perfect option, but the good enough option and plunked down my credit card. It didn't matter that it wasn't exactly what I had imagined or that it was going to take 6 weeks for delivery. I had reached my tipping point; I simply did not have any more appetite to continue looking. 

 

This is my pattern. I research, gather information, seek the guidance of experts and friends, compare prices, weigh pros and cons, analyze all the information in my conscious and unconscious mind. As a (recovering) perfectionist I sometimes spend too long in this phase hoping perfection will show itself, or afraid I'll make the wrong move. But then, invariably, one day it's enough. I feel restlessness, an impatience, an exhaustion with research and reflection. I experience an undeniable desire for action.  Read more 
One Million Suns and  Conditioning Leaders are here to support the actions you want to take professionally and personally.  If your current strategies are not getting you into the action and results you want, we'd love to support you. This is the year of action for One Million Suns and Conditioning Leaders.

Join us and share your stories.

Madeline and Caroline
Leadership, Neuroscience
  and Somatics  

May 16-17, 2015
 
Madeline has been leading these workshops with a lot of interest and success in the past 2 years. You will learn how to shift your relationship to stress and pressure using the body. This work is designed for those interested in developing their leadership, overcoming trauma, and learning how the way we sit and stand affects the way we think and feel. Click here for details.
Past Newsletters 
Did you miss one of our previous newsletters?  All of our past issues are now archived here.  We'd love to hear from you if something sparks your interest.
Women in Leadership Survey 
I teach Women in Leadership at Interaction Associates. Please take 3-5 minutes to fill out this survey about advancing women leaders - how does your org stack up? Find out.