A lot of things happened in my life in April. I won't go into detail because that's not important. I will say though that there were weeks when I was sleeping little, being awakened at night because of all of the energy circling in me from all the good I was experiencing. Then a few weeks later, I went through another period where I slept little, this time because I would be awakened by my dear little crazy mind (more about that in a bit) mulling over doubts, fears and concerns. So the range of emotions and events and happenings was vast.

Although the details aren't worth getting into, what is important is what I learned through this. And what I learned is something I knew intellectually, but the month of April helped me KNOW it deep down. It also helped me see how far I've come and how much I'm living this truth. Ready for what this truth is? Yes, I thought so. This key truth is that each of us needs a functioning support system in place at all times.

This might sound like a given and it is. The thing you might not have thought about is what your individual support system looks like, how solid it is and if it is working for you. Also, what holes might there be in your system and how might you patch those up. That's our exploration...

So during the last 6 weeks, I realized that I have an excellent support system in place. It is something I've been building for quite some time now - at times quite consciously and at other times, not. The system consists of 4 main branches - 2 in the outer portion and 2 in the inner. Let's start with the outer.

One of the most important things for me when I'm going through something challenging is having support with processing. I have a VERY active mind. When it starts going, it can be quite the feat to get it to slow down. One way to do this is to reach out to friends and family who can help me process. They can support me in getting a bit of perspective on what is going on. This is different than simply complaining or venting (although I must admit, there may be a bit of that at times). What these supportive processing helpers do is they listen and they ask questions. Sometimes what they say doesn't ring true for me and that's ok - it just give me more information about where I am.

That very active mind of mine is what I affectionately call the Crazy Mind. I say affectionately because I have grown to understand this little treasure more and more. I know that it gets going when it feels unsafe for some reason and it's feeling VERY uncomfortable - it's essentially showing me some underlying belief. This is excellent information for me. It helps me see the areas that need some uncovering and some nurturing. Although I'm not always able to thank it while it's having one of its 'parties', I'm very grateful to my beautiful little Crazy Mind - it clearly guides me to where I still have lots to learn.

I haven't always been as friendly with lovely Crazy Mind. Instead of recognizing its gifts, I used to let it take over and/or I would judge it harshly. I didn't see it for what it was. I remember many years ago when I started working with a coach myself, I would send her emails sometimes in between sessions (this was a service included in the coaching - something I offer my clients as well). I did this when Crazy Mind would get going and would blur what I knew to be true. She would write back, asking me questions that would guide me back to my truth. This is an example of support branch #2 - The Professionals.

There is all kinds of support available when it comes to the Professional branch. For me, getting that coaching years ago served as my foundation. I learned so much about myself in that process that after a while, I was able to stand strongly in who I was. I could handle Crazy Mind on my own. One of the beauties of coaching is that at some point, your coach will say as mine did "You know you don't need coaching anymore." And I did know that. And I saw the process that led me to that point. For example, first I sent those emails in between sessions often. Then, I would write the email and then realize I didn't need to send them because I had the clarity I needed (just by writing the email). And then later, I never even felt the need to write the email - as that clarity never left me.

Although my foundation is firmly in place, there are still times I need the Professional support. These days, I have numerous coaches I can call on, and I use the services of amazing holistic acupuncturist, Katie Briggs, who I see regularly - something that keeps the energy moving and keeps me grounded. There are other modalities out there depending on what works for you and what you most need - therapists, theta healers, coaches, counselors, massage therapists, other healers etc.

So let's check in with you. What does your outer support systems look like? Do you have people to process with - who keep you grounded? Do you have professionals you trust who you can turn to if/when you need that extra support? Is there something else that would be useful for you to have in place in your outer support system?

Now that we have some clarity on the external support, let's turn inward. No matter how well your outer system is working, it won't be strong enough unless your inner support system is in place. One branch of this inner system is what I call The Tools. These are those things you do that you know help you come back to center. These take time to uncover. For me, some of the tools I use are things like walks, coaching exercises that I use for myself and with clients, breathing exercises, journal writing, being in nature, asking myself powerful questions. When YOU need support, what inner tools do you have at your disposal? And what works for you to bring you back to YOU?

And that question brings us to the heart of the matter. YOU, the inner expert, are the best support there is in challenging times. When we are in the midst of the challenge, it can feel confusing. Crazy Mind gets going and we can lose our way. AND you know the answer. Connecting with that true you inside is essentially your strongest support branch. Those other branches, when firmly in place, can help you get back to YOU more quickly. But it's the Inner Expert that ultimately supports you.

Much of the coaching I do with clients is helping them to build a well-functioning support system. We start with building the foundation - the Inner Expert. This is a process and we do it by getting very clear about who you are, what is important to you, what are your strengths, what is challenging, what is working in your life and what isn't. So, right now, you can ask yourself all those question in the previous sentence. Think of it as a little Inner Expert test. How well do you know you? How well are YOU supporting you?

Getting the foundation in place is key. This can be done on your own depending on where you are in the process. Wherever you are, though, I can tell you that the process can be quicker and more importantly, much smoother and therefore enjoyable by using the Professionals - especially in the beginning. Which professional you choose is clearly up to you - what calls you, what feels best, what sounds exciting? When you're putting those blocks down for the Inner Expert foundation, you are also exploring The Tools that work for you and putting this part of the system in place. Once the inner system is strong it's much easier to know what Professional support you might need for upkeep to enable the system  to run smoothly. You're also able to stay clear and focused when you reach out to friends & family for support. There is much less risk of you taking on their agendas, and instead you can take in whatever information you get from the processing and use it to lead you back to you.

So do you see? Do you see how beautifully those outer and inner branches work together in a well-functioning system? I felt that myself last month - a beautiful dance of reaching out AND reaching in to get the support I needed in a challenging time. My invitation to you is to take a look at your own support system. What branches are in place? What branches might need some strengthening? Are there branches that you have that I don't? Or one you see that you don't have that you'd like to develop. Wherever you are, it's fine. As I said, a well-functioning support system might take some time to put in place. Start with recognizing where you are right now and where you'd like to be. No matter how big the gap is here, know that support is at your fingertips. Which branch would you like to start with?