“Indigenous cultures recognize that storytelling can reshape an individual’s experience or life story. Many shamans and medicine people are gifted storytellers. Such people are called “shape-shifters,” because they have the capacity to shift the shape of an individual’s story, or even to shift the shape of their own physical appearance. A shaman who has this ability is considered a healing catalyst and change agent. Contemporary shape-shifters are the gifted writers, therapists, counselors, and others who assist people through life transitions.”
Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., Cultural Anthropologist & Author of “The Four-Fold Way”
I have devoted most of my life to understanding human behavior, with a profound curiosity about what inspires and motivates people. Both an empathic and logical person by nature, one of my key strengths has always been the ability to see the world through another’s eyes, while at the same time observing the patterns formed by behavior. I credit the union of my parents for the skill – one a logical engineer, the other a creative artist. For nearly twenty years, that curiosity was funneled into selling ideas and products, as well as into developing the employees I managed in the political and corporate worlds.
In 2007, I chose to begin the process of creating a new now. I became certified as a life coach and transformational workshop facilitator through an intensive year-long program consisting of over 500 hours of training, which I fit around the edges of my busy corporate lifestyle.
By the time I left the corporate world permanently in 2009, to move to Costa Rica and become certified as a yoga teacher, I was clear on two overarching goals. I wanted health and happiness for myself, and I wanted to devote my energy and curiosity to helping people find balance in their lives.
Shape-Shifting
I shape-shifted my life by focusing on the five dimensions of the self – Feel, Flow, Believe, Observe, Connect – which I adapted from yogic science, ancient wisdom traditions, and proven change management practices from the business world.
Video clips:
Rehabilitated arthritic hip through yoga and holistic methods
Through holistic and all-natural methods, I rehabilitated my arthritic hip which was once destined for replacement surgery. It remains mostly pain free to this day and so strong that I could fulfill a dream and walk a 400 mile pilgrimage across the north of Spain in 2010.
Shape-shifted from size 14 to size 6
Studied the philosophies and developed the practice
Transitioned career to serving people
On a personal note, I am a risk-taker who has never been afraid of change if it presented the opportunity for growth and an improved quality of life. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia, absorbing unique aspects of other cultures and adapting them into a lifestyle most suited to my needs. I currently divide my time between Costa Rica, New York and Spain.
Like most other graduates of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, I consider myself a citizen of the world. While studying with colleagues from 70 different countries, I earned an MBA combined with international and language studies at the school, which has been top ranked for over 20 years in international business and focused on responsible and sustainable global leadership. My undergraduate work earned me a Bachelors of Arts in communications and journalism with a minor in psychology from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania.
If you are interested in the credentials and skills I spent my first career developing, please check out my profile on Linked In.
