I used to declare, "I can't do that..." So I understand how it's easy to look at your surroundings, whether family, work, or circumstances, and have a less-than-rosy perspective. I have been there and done that. If you find yourself there right now, don't despair.  Change is the one constant in our lives. 

Remember when you were a kid, and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up?  You could have had an 80's childhood response mirrored after a popular national toy chain "I don't want to grow up; I want to be an XYZ toy kid" This attitude could have served you for many years. I know some people who have not changed their lifestyle in the last 30 years. 

Meanwhile, others have overcome extreme odds, pushed societal expectations, or discovered new lands. I assume that they have more of a growth mindset.  

What difference does this make in how we show up in our careers? It's the difference between empowerment and perspective. 

For example, I can't do math in my head versus I can't do math in my head yet. Remember, we are all works in progress.  Forty-something years ago, I couldn't walk, but I started crawling and worked up to all weight on two versus four limbs. Sure, I had several learning opportunities where I fell, but everyone encouraged me to keep trying.  

What happens to us between birth and bachelor(ette) parties that diminish our "can do attitude"? We lose our cheering squad of external influences; thus, the weight of perfection weighs us down. I like to call that the "Eeyore syndrome," where we just put one foot forward and get through life but never push, test, or increase our comfort zones. 

Is there an area like this in your life?  Could you use some additional encouragement? 

@Antonio Aversano

Today I followed up on a topic that came to mind over the weekend—learning about tea. 

I need clarification as to where I should be posting. 

Hi, my name is Fara, and I am new here but have fallen in love with the weekly Writers Circle Group. @Antonio Aversano 

Below is: 40 minutes of work - research to post

Timeline
Recognized as China's national drink pre-1000 during the Tang dynasty, however, preparation of whole leaves in the water started in the 1300s, under the Ming dynasty. 

 
Europe
In the 1300s, Marco Polo wrote in his travel writings about tea in the East. A hand of God, a Portuguese missionary delivered tea from China, but it took the Dutch in 1610 and the Dutch India Tea Company to launch its corner of the European market. Due to high costs, it was a luxury enjoyed by the royal and aristocratic classes. You can have a cup of tea to show class, exploration, and connection with faraway lands of an Eastern adventure.

 
America
Tea and taxation were at the foundation of our American democracy giving new meaning to a tea party.  However, the World's Fair of 1904 in St Louis lead to the American tea discovery over ice. Over 100 years later, iced tea remains over 80% of the consumption of this worldwide treasure in America. 

Questions to research further:

What is a dynasty? 

Why is Marco Polo a water game?

I am Dr. Sarah Bonza, the founder of Bonza Health, an online medical practice dedicated to helping women navigate the perimenopausal changes. Our focus lies in a deeply holistic approach, with an emphasis on wellness coaching, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. Today, I'm excited to talk to you about the future of medicine - a future that I passionately believe rests firmly on the pillars of wellness and lifestyle medicine.

Why the future of medicine rests on the pillars of wellness and lifestyle medicine

In recent years, the healthcare sector has observed an alarming rise in chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Conventional medicine tends to address these ailments primarily with medication and surgical procedures, which can certainly be effective in the short-term. However, this approach often falls short in addressing the root cause of these conditions, which are frequently rooted in lifestyle choices. Enter the roles of wellness and lifestyle medicine, as they're proactive rather than reactive approaches, emphasizing disease prevention through healthy behaviors and lifestyle modifications.

The beauty of wellness coaching is that it isn't solely concerned with disease prevention or reversal. While these are vital aspects, wellness coaches also work with individuals to envision an ideal future - one that encompasses not only physical health, but also emotional well-being, career satisfaction, happiness, and deep, meaningful connections. It's about crafting a holistic vision of wellness that's sustainable in the long term.

Why is wellness particularly important for women experiencing perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a critical life stage that signifies the transition to menopause, typically occurring between the ages of 40 to 50, but can begin as young as 35 years old in some women. This stage is characterized by a decrease in estrogen levels, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and mood fluctuations. Thus, perimenopause isn't merely a phase of hot flashes and irregular periods. It is, in fact, a pivotal stage that can set the trajectory for a woman's health for the rest of her life.

Decreased estrogen levels during perimenopause can impact a woman's body in several ways. For example, low estrogen can lead to an increase in belly fat, which is associated with an elevated risk of heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, it can also lead to bone loss, heightening the risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, this hormonal shift can increase the propensity for mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

Given these complexities, every woman navigating perimenopause could benefit greatly from a wellness coach. A wellness coach would not only help them understand these changes but also equip them with strategies to manage symptoms, adopt healthy habits, and minimize the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Why should your physician be offering a wellness coach?

Simply put, the synergy between a physician and a wellness coach can create a comprehensive, holistic healthcare approach. While physicians are excellent at diagnosing and treating medical conditions, wellness coaches can provide invaluable support in lifestyle modifications. They can offer personalized strategies, continuous motivation, and hold you accountable for your health goals. This combined effort ensures a higher quality of healthcare and can greatly contribute to a patient's overall well-being.

Here at Bonza Health, we understand the power of combining medical expertise with wellness coaching. We believe that this approach, especially during perimenopause, empowers women to "reclaim their vitality" and set a strong foundation for a healthy future. Together, we can redefine healthcare, prioritize prevention, and embrace wellness for a life well-lived.

Until next time,

Dr. Sarah Bonza

Two nights ago, I watched George's video with Tad Hargrave coaching people on their niches. I found it incredibly generative. Here's some possibilities I'm playing with now: 

1. Tad suggests "your deepest wound is your truest niche." What I immediately recollected was a despair in me saying, "Will I ever figure this work thing out?"

*To be clear, I don't feel so much despair in this moment, but over the past year, I've become aware that it's there. 

2. Tad talks about talking someone from Island A to Island B. One framing, in line with the work focus, was Island A (stressful work) and Island B (work lightly, ease). 

3. Tad asks, "Are you selling the boat or the journey?" The boat is often modalities (e.g. for me, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Coaching broadly), and the journey is the end destination (e.g. for me, it could be transforming the way you work or inside out transformation broadly). 

Tad says either can work, but it depends on who you're targeting. For example, if I put doing IFS or SE front-and-center, then I'm best positioning myself to speak to those who already know what IFS, SE or "somatics" even really is, and they're actively seeking a practitioner; whereas, if I focus on stressful work to more easeful work, and then I take the "point of view" that somatics (and perhaps, other tools like an energy audit) can support that transition, then I can be speaking towards someone very different (e.g. someone in their 20s working at a startup who wants to work differently but doesn't know how). 

What's emerging for me is a real curiosity again about the latter, i.e. focusing on work life in this way. It feels personally truthful to me; fits into others' conceptions of a "coach" (e.g. usually more work-related) vs. therapist; can also fit into a context of what someone would buy (e.g. $150/hr coaching, often compensated by the company, to support personal development); and can give an arc of transformation (i.e. stressful work to working lightly) that is clearer all-around, from at the outset being an "easily referrable issue" that someone identifies within themselves and seeks help for, to framing the journey throughout and providing a framing for "clear and obvious benefit" at the end. 

This is the niche soup I'm swimming in right now!