Work Is a Beach
2 October 2023
Where do you find yourself when you lose yourself in your work?
I was inspired to share that I found myself or, more accurately, remembered part myself on a visit to Llangrannog Beach and Tresaith Beach last week. I've been intentionally giving up a day of work here and there, using the time in nature to reconnect to my purpose, my humanity and myself.
I swam as long as I could stand the cold sea (about 10 minutes) at a stunning little cove beach on the west coast of Wales, Llangannog, pushing against and laughing at the forceful, storm induced waves constantly threatening to expel me onto the beach. I regularly use cold water swimming as a way to be very present (it's impossible not to be when you are shocked with cold!) and to reset my mind, body and spirit. I was reminded that being present, letting go of what was or could be, is often when inspiration comes to us because our minds are freed up from things like anxiety or worry about what should have been or dreaming about what could be.
The waterfall at Tresaith Beach, Cardigan, Wales
At Tresaith Beach, just down the road from Llangrannog, I trekked over some rocks to avoid the encroaching surf to get to the only waterfall in the UK that spills onto a beach. After taking in the beauty of this spot and taking the obligatory selfie, I spent some time with eyes closed just listening to the waterfall. The cascade and spraying of water mixed with the waves from the sea created a natural symphony, a reminder that even in stillness nature is moving and changing all the time. I can't stop the waves nor the waterfall, but I can choose how I want to interact and be with the water (I chose to stay out of both this time, but will definitely be getting in both next time!). I was reminded that in life and work, we can't stop change, but we can choose how we interact with it. I also opened my eyes and tried to look at every single drop of water as it fell, separating out the waterfall as much as possible into the tiny elements that make it up. I was reminded of the truth that every person has a purpose, yet we are all part of team, an organisation, the human race - individually we do our part and matter, but we are also part of a bigger whole.
I am making sure I have these kinds of experiences because I am moving toward expanding my coaching practice to be more holistic for those who want/need it, focusing beyond the mind to include our bodies and spirit. As well as being a trained and accredited executive coach, I have a masters degree in Exercise Physiology with 30+ years of experience in the gym and have wanted to integrate a focus on physical wellness as part of my coaching practice. I've had a personal journey to explore my own spiritual path since I was a child, integrating learning experiences like holistic healing workshops and practicing yoga and meditation in India as an adult to understand how I can better access an understanding of my purpose here on earth. This year I have added formal study in Energy Therapy to understand how I might also integrate this into my coaching practice. As this takes more shape, I will be sharing a more formal offer for anyone who is drawn to a coaching experience that is more inclusive of their whole being - mind, body and spirit.
So, trips to the beach can be relevant to work because accessing parts of ourselves beyond just our minds is important to how we perform at work. Getting out into nature with intention can help us reconnect with ourselves in a way that can lead to more innovative thoughts, help us reconnect with our purpose and strengthen/restore our bodies (and minds). In other words, we are not just minds and what matters to performing our best is also how we feel in our bodies and connect with our spirit.
