“The Athena Principles” Intention – Principle 2 (Fourth in a Series)
“The Athena Principles” Intention – Principle 2 (Fourth in a Series)

The second of five Principles outlined in The Athena Principles, Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is intention defined as a way to help us aim, set direction and connect emotionally to what we want – it’s the heart-based “Why” behind the urge to transform.

What’s the difference between a goal, and all of its synonyms, and an intention?

A goal is defined as “the end toward which effort is directed.” Goals are future-oriented and focused on achievement. They reflect how we want to show up at a later date in our outer world.

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Kathy Robinson
“The Athena Principles” Self-Compassion – Principle 1 (Third in a Series)
“The Athena Principles” Self-Compassion – Principle 1 (Third in a Series)

The first of five Principles outlined in The Athena Principles, Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is self-compassion defined as the care for one’s own well-being in the form of self-acceptance and nurturing support.

The benefits of self-compassion are broad. Research has shown it can improve self-worth, motivation, depression, body image and overall happiness. People who have self-compassion practices develop the ability to administer kindness to themselves as soon as they recognize they are hurting.

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Midlife, Well-being, WellnessKathy Robinsonself-compassion, women, wellness, well-being, midlife, journaling
“The Athena Principles” Methodology Overview (Second in a Series)
“The Athena Principles” Methodology Overview (Second in a Series)

The Athena Principles combines wellness philosophy with a methodology that includes:

· Tools to assess your current state of wellness, provide clarity, track progress, and set new objectives;

· Principles, which provide a solid foundation and serve as a guide for current actions and future decisions; and

· Practices that, when performed regularly, aim to create good habits and increased well-being.

The methodology recognizes that wellness is a fluid process that thrives with a flexible approach. It regards wellness as a practice, honors and cultivates inner knowing, and provides accountability. It can provide you with a foundation for making change, a vantage point to help you see where you’re working against yourself, and a scalable process that can grow with you.

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Midlife, Well-being, WellnessKathy RobinsonThe Athena Principles, women, wellness, well-being, wellness practices
The Athena Principles: Book Overview (First in a Series)
The Athena Principles: Book Overview (First in a Series)

The core message of the book The Athena Principles: Simple Wellness Practices for Overworked Professionals is: Reconnecting to our mind, body and spirit through the exploration of five Principles (self-compassion, intention, consistency, positive mindset and accountability) and related practices (writing, meditation and positive action) leads to wholehearted living and optimized well-being. Readers will learn what living wholeheartedly means for them along with ideas to create a customized self-care plan that nourishes their deepest desires.

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Midlife, Well-being, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonWomen, Midlife, Wellness, Well-being, The Athena Principles, Wellness Practices, Professionals, Executives, Leadership
Lessons Learned from My 98-year-old Father’s COVID-19 Recovery
Lessons Learned from My 98-year-old Father’s COVID-19 Recovery

My father was born in 1922. When my mother passed a few years back, he decided it was time to sell his home and move into an (un)assisted living facility. Aside from some industrial deafness and impaired sight from macular degeneration, he is remarkably spry in both mind and body and strong in spirit. And last month, he tested positive for the coronavirus.

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Midlife, Well-being, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonWomen, Wellness, Well-being, Pandemic, Coronavirus
In the Pandemic's Wake
In the Pandemic's Wake

I’ve been holding a question posed by life coach Martha Beck, who likened the pandemic’s ascendance to a tidal wave, wiping out the old ways of being. But, she offered, you could also think of it as a wave you could ride, like a surfer. What would it take to let go, have the courage to point your surfboard over the lip of the wave and let gravity glide you to the shore?

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Midlife, Well-being, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonPandemic, women, midlife, well-being, wellness
Learning Through the Pandemic
Learning Through the Pandemic

In the northeastern United States, we have experienced six full weeks of “Stay at Home” orders with at least two (and probably four) more weeks on the horizon. In my April 1st blog post, I wrote about the things I was doing to keep my well-being intact during this time. I’ve kept vigilant with my practices, utilizing the green, yellow, red coding I described so I could easily track my progress. Here’s how I’ve been doing:

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Midlife, Well-being, Wellness, WomenKathy Robinsonwomen, midlife, wellness, well-being, pandemic
How to Keep Well-being Intact During Challenging Times
How to Keep Well-being Intact During Challenging Times

Much has been written about the importance of keeping a daily schedule while learning to live with coronavirus restrictions. Almost overnight, we had to find ways of working remotely, schooling children, caring for elders and tending to family responsibilities while abiding by the guidance for keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe.

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Midlife, Well-being, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonWomen, Well-being, Wellness, coronavirus
How I’m Reinforcing My Immune System
How I’m Reinforcing My Immune System

It can be unnerving to watch the Coronavirus spread into a global pandemic. We can feel uneasy and powerless. The increased stress can impact the strength of our immune defenses. The immune system is defined as “the cells and tissues in the body that make it able to protect itself against infection,” according to the Cambridge dictionary.

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Midlife, Well-being, Wellness, WomenKathy Robinsonwomen, wellness, well-being, immune system, coronavirus
Gardens of Ease
Gardens of Ease

It’s been said that nature heals. Studies and related findings point to the benefits of spending time in natural surroundings, including lowered anxiety and stress levels. Nature-oriented therapy is a growing field (pun intended) with the use of therapeutic gardens in institutional settings such as hospitals, recovery and correctional facilities on the rise.

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Midlife, Wellness, Women, Well-beingKathy RobinsonTherapeutic gardening, Well-being, Wellness, Women, Midlife
An Early Spring
An Early Spring

Spring seems to have arrived early in the northeastern United States. The daffodils are about to bloom in my yard, the birds are more active and I feel an uptick in my own energy level. The groundhog did not see his shadow and the long-term weather forecast shows no sign of snow for the next ten days. I know we’re not out of the winter woods yet, but I’m already preparing for longer days.

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Midlife, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonMidlife, springtime, rejuvination, women, wellness, wellbeing
Regenerative Wellness
Regenerative Wellness

On a recent flight to the west coast, I watched a documentary entitled The Biggest Little Farm, a story about a professional couple with a dream of running a farm with a focus on regenerative soil methods.  During the course of the film, they build a thriving ecosystem where every element of the farm, even the challenges, have purpose.  Their approach to farming is akin to a natural approach to personal wellness.

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Kathy Robinson
Fitness = Independence
Fitness = Independence

“I don’t want to be dependent on anyone,” says CrossFit enthusiast, Jacinto Bonilla. At first glance, it might read like an unremarkable statement, but consider this – Jacinto was born when World War II was in full swing, a gallon of gas cost 18 cents and male life expectancy was under 61 years. Today at 80 years of age, Bonilla can deadlift 300 pounds, squat 200 and keep up . . .

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Midlife, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonWellness, Midlife, CrossFit, Aging Well
Metta for a New Decade
Metta for a New Decade

A new decade is dawning and this moment feels significant.  It feels like an opportunity to expand capacity for acceptance.  It feels like there’s an opening to shift the dialogue from exclusion to inclusion.  It feels like the perfect time to focus on our human commonality – starting with compassion for ourselves and then expanding it out into the world, like rippling concentric circles of kindness.

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Midlife, Wellness, WomenKathy Robinson2020, New Year, Compassion, Metta meditation, Midlife, Women, Wellness, Wellbeing
Looking Back to Move Forward
Looking Back to Move Forward

A new year is on the horizon. For many, it’s a time of planning and making promises for a healthier lifestyle. But what if there was no need to set New Year’s resolutions? In my forthcoming book, The Athena Principles, Practices for Optimizing Vitality and Wellness, I outline a simple exercise called “Addition and Subtraction.” I’ve adapted that exercise to take the place . . .

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Kathy Robinson
Savoring
Savoring

Small steps taken towards enhanced wellness can have big impact. Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a half-day silent retreat where we used mindfulness techniques as an anchor to the present moment. This was done through a series of exercises that included walking, listening, observing and eating, the latter being the perfect precursor to celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family a few days later.

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Midlife, Wellness, WomenKathy Robinsonwomen, wellness, midlife, mindfulness, meditation, savoring
CrossFit Curious at Midlife – On Ramp Introduction
CrossFit Curious at Midlife – On Ramp Introduction

At the end of my last blog post, I mentioned that I was heading to my local CrossFit box (i.e., gym) to check it out.   Yes, I’m familiar with the horror stories:  the ridiculous workouts, the crazy injuries, and mid-workout visits from “Pukey the Clown.”  Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I’ve been intrigued for a while and finally decided to give it a try.

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Midlife, Wellness, WomenKathy RobinsonCrossFit, Women, Midlife, Wellness
Getting Old is Optional
Getting Old is Optional

Last year at this time I was getting ready to run my first ultramarathon.  It was the culmination of three years of training for endurance cycling and running events.  In 2019, I decided to focus on boot camp workouts and shorter trail runs.  A few weeks ago, I began thinking about my next wellness challenge.  I wanted something on the horizon to keep me enthusiastic through the upcoming dark winter months.  But what?

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Women, Wellness, MidlifeKathy RobinsonWomen, Midlife, Strength Training, Weightlifting
An Introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion
An Introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion

Last month I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Christopher Germer speak on the topic of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC).  Dr. Germer, along with his colleague, Dr. Kristin Neff, are both psychologists and pioneers in the field of self-compassion, having authored several books on the topic.  They also co-founded the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (centerformsc.org) that offers resources and training.

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Kathy Robinson