Let The Healing Continue
Allison Crow
In light of the recent events impacting our nation, what advice would you give to people in order to help them navigate the uncertainty? Also, please share one or two available resources which can help people right now.
We are living in an unprecedented time and naturally the uncertainty of this pandemic is intense. I am an optimist and encourage you to look up and forward AND keep your feet grounded. During this time I am calm, and sober, strategic, and mindful. I am most concerned about people bypassing with mindset or faith alone. I advise a two-pronged approach:
Please, deeply care for your own mind and body - self care, rest, daily movement, and nurturing your emotions and mind at this time are foundational. Please be tender with your self and others, meet your fears with compassion, process thoughts and emotions, ask for help if you need it, and recognize that for many this is traumatic. Don't be an &%@ to yourself or to others. The last 4 episodes of my podcast I've recorded sessions to support your self leadership, emotions and deep fears - you can find more at www.allisoncrow.com/better or The Better Life Better Work Show on your favorite podcast app.
Make logistical plans for your family and business as best you can. Positivity will get us part of the way - and smart strategy can save lives! Take wise steps, rest, and then take another wise step. Manage the moment and execute your plan as best you can. Again, don't be afraid to ask for help. One of my colleagues, Racheal Cook, has generously put together a fabulous and strategic checklist and list of resources (comment section) to support small business owners as we pivot and shift in this uncertain season.
Finally, I want you to remember that you are RESILIENT. We will get thought this, together.
What is your personal mission in life?
My personal mission in life is to BE fully me in mind, body, and spirit, and to fully learn to trust myself so that I am able to teach and inspire other women to do the same. My mission is to help others rememBEr who they are- the ONE that lives deep inside and under all the layers of the world’s conditioning and expectations, and then move forward in the fullest expression and embodiment of that self-knowing and trust.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have overcome?
Honestly - I can’t say that I’ve had any kind of rock bottom life that rebounded to glorious success. I have been through childhood neglect, trauma, and abuse. I’ve done years of healing and self-discovery in these things. And I’ve lived in the context of upper middle class white privilege. I was left by a husband on a random Wednesday afternoon. I decided to become a small business owner at 32 after thinking and planning to be a stay at home wife and mom since I was a child. I have lived with clinical depression and anxiety for most of my life - like many of my family members. I’ve been sick, had a brief stint with cervical cancer that was cured with surgery. I am a recovering overachiever and people pleaser. What I know now, is that life is full of goodness AND *#@&. The truly biggest challenge was never outside of me in any of these events, or circumstances, or environments- it was only ever my deep self-doubt. Those sneaky thoughts of shame, blame, and guilt along with the excessive need to be pleasing and conform were the most challenging to overcome. I’ve come a long way in mental and emotional health and fortitude and have used life and work as a vehicle for teaching myself and others to BE ON THIS JOURNEY of BECOMING.
What one action helped you overcome this challenge?
Reading non-fiction books! Books - that I chose, when I was in my 20s’ - books that had not been prescribed by my parents, or church, or school, opened me to new ideas outside of my small little world. Reading led to personal development and a curiosity for learning about myself, and about the world around me. Reading helped me be eternally curious and look forward to possibility instead of suffering over my past. Reading led me to coaching, leadership and entrepreneurship which have been my vehicle for inner becoming.
How do you define leadership?
Leadership is a personal responsibility over a position. What is a positional leader when the person occupying that position is empty? I saw this modeled in my youth and young adult years. I decided I would be responsible for me - in mind body and spirit, and that I would model a different kind of leadership. I would model soul-full living and work. I would model a human BEING not a human doing alone. To me, leadership is creating my life - sharing my heart and showing my work as an authentic human on this journey called life and helping others to do the same.
What advice would you give to anyone ashamed to share their story?
First I have a deep tenderness for the damage shame does to our being. First I say, “I see you. And I just want to take a moment to be with you in the same breath and let you be seen.” Shame thinks it is protecting us - when really it is killing us - shame literally vibrates near death and I don’t want you to die. Releasing shame is one of the first (and many steps) of self-acceptance and self-love. Underneath the shame is the beautiful true and deliciously fallible you. There is a path to discovering her - and to being fully in love and confident with ALL OF YOU - even the stories that are hardest to tell. Your perfect story isn’t perfect....your glorious human and imperfect story and BECOMING .
People can Contact me: www.allisoncrow.com…allicrow@gmail.com
Allison Crow Bio
I am a Better Life & Better Work Coach, an Irreverent Priestess (yes, I’m a licensed minister), and Teacher. I help people learn to follow the heart path in life and work, guided by their own inner wisdom and the Divine within.
No more bullet point promises or bull@!&* list of deliverables… I just promise to hold space to help you get to know and trust yourself, your intuition, and your true Divine, Wild, & Free Self. It will probably involve some meditation, some energy work, some f-bombs, prosperity mojo, lots of stories and conversations, some silence, journaling, with a splash of strategy, and practical steps for moving forward.
I’ve been teaching and coaching in one form or another since the mid-90s. I’ve been full-time coaching as a profession for over 11 years. I have a Masters degree in Educational Psychology, am a Certified Visual Coach, and a Certified Expressive Arts Facilitator (and a die-hard Oxford Comma User). I’m also a founding member of an extraordinary community of leaders called 4PC.
My clients are soul-centered, high achievers – and often “recovering over-achievers.” They are leaders, coaches, entrepreneurs, bold artists, business owners, and even a few executives who are ready for expansion and to live life from the inside out – to discover who they were before they got lost, and then begin living in a new way. Above all, my heart sings to help people truly listen to & follow their heart, to help them find their authentic feel good…and to begin creating BETTER Life & BETTER Work
Once a hard-lined performance and sales coach motivated by outside forces and an excruciating need for approval, I finally figured out that everything I want and need already resides within me, and now I help my clients do the same. This means BEING more and STRIVING less – while still creating income. I specialize in energy alignment, Law of Attraction, accessing intuition, and courageous, creative & inspired action, and business building through client creation and online expression.
I am also a bit of a bohemian, intuitive artist and create or paint almost daily. If I am not coaching or speaking, you can probably find me in blue jeans and a LOVE-themed t-shirt and covered from head to toe in marker ink or paint, or in the grass tapping into the 6th sensory world. Or these days, possibly on FB-Live with a glass of red wine in hand.
I live in Austin, Tx with my husband and three rescued dogs, Leroy Brown, Clementine & Rocky Potato. I’m addicted to reading, facebook, macaroni & cheese, champagne, and naps.
Compiled by Tanysha W. Carroll Contributor Coordinator www.tanyshawcarroll.com