Spotlights & Insights, Vol. 1 – September, 2017
Welcome to the first issue of Spotlights & Insights – a new monthly feature on the Five Winds blog!
Here, I’ll share with you the best links, resources and stories I’ve come across this month on the topic of Performance & Wellness. I’ve also included updates on Five Winds and my top insight this month from my work as a Performance & Wellness coach.
It’ll be quick, fun and inspiring!
So mark your calendar for the last Friday of the month, and subscribe to the blog below or in the sidebar to make sure you don’t miss an issues.
Let’s dive in. ????
My September “Aha!” – Truth: It’s who you are.
“Telling the truth is not just what you say, it’s how you show up.
It’s being the truth.”– India.Arie
I posted this quote on Facebook a few days ago, and I think it sums up pretty well what I’ve been thinking about this month. I’ve been inspired lately by so many artists and athletes, both in the US and elsewhere, who have been using their platforms to stand up to injustice.
I have always felt that the platforms we have as performers; our stages, our fields, our online profiles, are both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s important that we honour and respect that privilege by ensuring that we speak truth (in whatever form) from these platforms.
But India.Arie takes this one step farther, asking us to embody the truth – to be the truth.
For us performers, this means staying connected with who we are at our core – outside of any “role” or persona we take on while performing.
This means ensuring we’re physically, mentally and emotionally prepared before we step into the “spotlight” – setting boundaries around ourselves and between us and our audiences. It also means we take time to cool down after being in the spotlight – taking the time to reconnect with ourselves, and our truth.
That connection to ourselves is what ensures we stay on the right track with our performance careers. It allows us to show up with integrity and authenticity – which is what our audiences will connect with.
And this is ultimately what all my work at Five Winds is about – helping you, the performer, protect and connect with yourself.
So that you can go out there and not just speak the truth, but be it.
Much Love,
-Mairin
Updates & News
Interested in Performance & Wellness coaching, but not sure if it’s for you? Have questions about the process and how it all works? Interested in connecting with me before you book a session?
Let’s Chat!
Now you can book a free 15-minute phone chat with me straight through my website. We can get to know each other, talk about your performance coaching goals and I can answer any questions you may have.
Look for the “Let’s Chat” button in the footer of Five Winds website or links on the Work With Me page. Give em’ a click and you’ll be taken to a page where you can choose a time and date for our call. Once selected, a calendar reminder will be sent to both of us to keep us in the loop.
It’s that easy! So let’s talk soon. ????
Read, Watch or Listen
Who’s a Performer? – You are!
In case you missed it, here’s all your answers on my work as a Performance & Wellness coach, who I work with and what we do together.
www.fivewinds.ca/blog
Meditation: Coming Home to Being, Tara Brach
A great short meditation from one of my personal favourite meditation teachers. Here, Tara guides us to explore the state of our hearts, asking the question: “How is my heart right now?”. An insight that is the essential first step to identifying the self-care we need as performers.
https://www.tarabrach.com/?powerpress_pinw=8448-podcast
Hillary Clinton and America Ferrara on Pain and Progress (and Hiking)
I posted this one on Facebook earlier this month, but it was too good not to include here. Two elite performers – one of the political arena and one of stage & screen – discuss the challenges of constantly being judged from the outside and what inspires them to keep going, through it all.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/16/style/hillary-clinton-america-ferrera-table-for-three.html?mcubz=0
A Little Bit More…
The Ways We Inherit Historical Trauma
This is a fascinating read for everyone, but particularly performers dealing with roles, circumstances or stories from past generations in their work. This also reflects the idea of “vicarious trauma” I talked about in my article in Intermission Magazine earlier this year.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/17/books/elizabeth-rosner-survivor-cafe.html?mcubz=0&_r=0
Susan Sarandon Doesn’t Care About Losing Gigs Because of Her Activism
So technically this is from August, but I couldn’t resist. An awesome lady using her platform to step up and speak out.
https://youtu.be/39zRbLRteN4
As Trump Takes on Athletes, Watch Them Rise
Another great one I posted on Facebook earlier this month. Saluting athletes using their performance platforms for integrity, justice and reflection.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/23/sports/trump-steph-curry-lebron.html?mcubz=0
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This blog is a part of my work with Five Winds. It’s a space where I share thoughts and ideas on performing and wellness, and offer tips and ideas on how to stay balanced and healthy (body, mind, emotions and spirit) while living the life of a performer.
Find out more information about me here, or how to work with me here. To stay connected, subscribe to this blog in the sidebar or find me on Facebook or Instagram.