Katie Farrell Coaching, 1051 Nipomo St, San Luis Obispo, CA (2026)

08/30/2022

Who do I want to be today?

*Mindful Pause*

A question that has single handedly shifted my existence and identity.

This question has fundamentally changed the way I think, the way I lead, the way I love, the way I grow, the way I live. This question requests a level of intentionality in who I am and how I show up. It begs us to bring to our awareness a desired self and a desired future, but with the grounding of the present moment. It is not a foreshadowing of our to-do list - it is not "what do I want to do today?" No, it is much more than that. It is our values. It is our character. It is our identity.

You see, just as everyone else, I am woefully guilty of auto-pilot, of the monotony of life. I am guilty of wishful thoughts that bubble up in daydream (If I just had "x", then I would be *insert adjective here*) - a pleading for the future to indulge me a gift for my current reality. I am guilty of waking for the day only for my brain to be hijacked by the hustle and bustle of the breadth of life.

But.... one thing I know for certain - we have an opportunity each day. Each day to show up in a way that is authentically ourselves, honoring our passions, dreams, interests, experience and wishes. We have an opportunity each day to be a little more patient with a co-worker or child or partner. We have an opportunity each day to pause for a brief moment to start our day 10 minutes earlier in a meaningful way, whether that be to take a walk, read a book, meditate, water the garden. We have an opportunity each day to choose who we want to be when we receive the gift of opening our eyes. We have the opportunity each day to be something or someone more or different than we were yesterday.

So, who do I want to be today? I want to be a courageous, authentic, zesty, ambitious, grateful human who loves reading, candles, her dog, her vegetable garden, a day of rest and connection, and a good margarita. Who will I be tomorrow? Only time will tell.

My question to you....

Who do you want to be today?

06/04/2022

I'm currently riding the Pacific Surfliner train south through California. The views and life we are passing are stunning. Each landscape filled with people, wildlife, greenery - every minute that passes is a new micro ecosystem. Some of my fellow riders are blissfully dreaming in a deep slumber, others are engaged in conversation, and some are immersed in their books or their tiny tech devices. Each individual has a unique story, a unique destination, a unique set of experiences - they come from different origins and will arrive at different destinations.

I am reminded it is the default to be focused on our destination at the cost of the beauty and novelty of the present moment. We frivolously and mindlessly switch our brains and bodies to auto-pilot and pass time awaiting a future destination. I see this not only happen in travel, but also in the day-to-day monotony of our lives, floating from one activity to another and not truly present in the given moment. We are so enveloped in the next activity, next task, next destination, next goal, we lose the appreciation of our journey.

What would it look like if we showed up and were fully engaged in the present moment? What would our relationships be like? What would our productivity be like? We would have healthier relationships and workplaces. We would notice the coyote grazing on the side of the train track. We would be be more gracious and mindful of the blessings of our life.

This shift in mindset is not simple in an individualistic, achievement-oriented world. It requires us to slow down and be mindful. It requires an intentionality that is no longer commonplace in the hustle and bustle of our lives and world.

What is the risk of not being present? Never realizing the gift of the present.

Show up.

05/11/2022

I am constantly reminded of the power we have to mold our reality. If we pause and think about what it means to create our own reality, it is quite daunting. It suggests control; it suggests a choice. Control we have over our circumstances - the people we allow in our lives, the jobs we hold, our finances, how we respond when we've been hurt or wronged. It suggests we have the power to influence all of the puzzle pieces of our life - that we decide what we want our realities to look like.

We are responsible for stepping up to an empty canvas each day and leaning in, not knowing how our vision may manifest nor what the end product will look like. We are artists, creating the mosaic of our world one brushstroke and experience at a time. With every experience, we add color to our lives. With every challenge, we add character and dimension. With every setback, texture and a story. Each blend together into new meaning, adding context to the ones around them.

And then one day, you step back and you look at the masterpiece you have created. Each stroke had purpose. Each color had motive. You trusted in the process, knowing each deliberate decision and choice would lead you to a complete picture.

Our lives are masterpieces, comprised of every moment of every day and every decision and every experience. In the little moments, we don't know what we are creating; we don't know how everything will come together. We can make deliberate decisions and choices to color our lives in a way we are proud of and that align with our values and passions and purpose. I would argue that is what creates the beauty of it.... that all we can do is show up to our canvas and choose to start and now know the outcome. The product may be messy and it may be abstract, but ultimately, it is art.

04/26/2022

I have always been big on words. I think words are an atlas to our experience as humans. They create perspective, share the depths of our soul and ignites connection or disconnection in all of our worlds, with each other and everything. I use language as a tool to understand and also to be understood.

When I see this picture of my wonderful partner John and I, I look at my face and I think "joy". Joy to me an attitude that extends beyond my external circumstance (mind you, we are at a small melodrama performance for which I was very excited for - thank my community theatre years growing up). It defies the moment and extends beyond a fleeting feeling or emotion, which I would define as happiness rather than joy. Joy has the essences of peace, contentment, gratitude and courage.

One of the most instrumental quotes I've read on joy is from Desmond Tutu in the Book of Joy. “We are fragile creatures, and it is from this weakness, not despite it, that we discover the possibility of true joy." We can only begin to understand the beauty of life in all of its raw wholeness when we've also understood the opposite realm of the human experience, some of what we would define as suffering, loss and fear. It is because we know loss, we know love. It is because we know fear, we know courage. It is because we know suffering, we know joy. I believe we can truly harness joy for ourselves when we succumb to the wholeness of our human experience.

I think we choose joy. I think joy is a decision despite circumstance and suffering. It's a product of our courage. Courage in a world that oozes suffering, disconnection, shame and fear. You can choose joy, even when you're unhappy because joy is much bigger than that.
So with that, another quote from Desmond Tutu:

“Discovering more joy does not, save us from the inevitability of hardship and heartbreak. In fact, we may cry more easily, but we will laugh more easily too. Perhaps we are just more alive. Yet as we discover more joy, we can face suffering in a way that ennobles rather than embitters. We have hardship without becoming hard. We have heartbreaks without being broken.”

Choose joy. 💕

03/06/2022

Spend more time with people who feel like sunlight ☀️

12/29/2021

As I reflect on 2021, I am filled and consumed by many beautiful moments - Traveling internationally with my love, new experiences, new opportunity, teaching a post-graduate class, opening my coaching business, achieving two coaching credentials, making new friendships, expanding my mind, growing my relationship, getting into a new fitness style and routine. I have lived my fullest life this year, amongst a global pandemic and much global polarity.

I don’t know about you, but I’m still hopeful for 2022. I see a new year as a new opportunity - for growth, relationship, learning, living aligned with my values, using my strengths in new and different ways, setting and achieving new goals. I await what’s behind the metaphorical door of the new year with anticipation, hope and excitement. Who will I become this year? How will I grow this year? What do I want to accomplish?

2022… Here I come with arms, heart and eyes wide open. I’m ready for whatever adventure awaits me on the other side of this door.

10/27/2021

Until recently, I guess I took nature for granted. I never truly understood how much I needed it; how often I craved it; how healing it is to be immersed in it.

I’m in a busy season of life. A season of grind and hustle and sometimes 12+ hour days. I’m leading/running a business full-time in addition to having started my own business in addition to sitting for credentialing exams in addition to all other aspects of my life I make a priority, like health, connection, family, travel, and more. I need nature. I need it to feel alive, to bring me energy, to consume me and be consumed by it, to unplug, to breathe, to explore, to connect.

✨What does nature do for you?
✨How do you use it? Do you use it for de-stressing, for exercise, for connection, for work, for food, for adventure?
✨How do you define it?
✨How often do you need it?

These are all questions I’ve been reflecting on lately. I am more grateful than ever for the understanding I’ve come to… nature leads my life in so, so many beautiful, under-appreciated and unexpected ways. And I am just so grateful.

09/29/2021

Goodbye, home.

Where memories, character and values originated for me. I haven’t been to my home in 2 years and this week has filled my heart in a way that only the familiarity and comfort of home can.

This will probably be the last time at this home as my parents sell my childhood home, since 4 years old. But home is a feeling. A place you can always return to with the familiarity and comfort of family, a scent, a food; it’s inside you to always be carried and cherished and blessed by and grateful for.

And I’m certainly feeling that way this week 🏡💕

08/17/2021

“You should edit out the dog hair.” You know… maybe I should 🤪 but here I am, posting a full-of-hair, unedited pic. And why? Well because that’s how I show up about 99% of the time (why must I love wearing black?) and there’s nothing that says authenticity like being covered in my amazing, wonderful furry friend’s coat after lots of love, cuddles and snuggles. Pet parents, relatable - am I right?

Katie Farrell Coaching

08/30/2022

06/04/2022

05/11/2022

04/26/2022

03/06/2022

12/29/2021

10/27/2021

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