Originally from NY, I began my professional career over 25 years ago in the corporate world, dabbling in health and life insurance – from mail room, to claims processing, to underwriting, to managing. On the weekends, I nurtured my creative side by singing professionally with a 7 piece band! I tried to create a balance even then.
Eventually though, I felt empty, despite my seemingly “fulfilled” life. I found myself being drawn to California. At first, I did not know exactly why, but it did not take long for me to know that I needed to pursue my true calling in the healing arts. In California, I settled in the San Francisco Bay Area where I earned my graduate degree in Marriage and Family counseling at San Francisco State University, and subsequently obtained my license in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
For almost 10 years there, I saw clients in a private practice with offices located in San Francisco and Berkeley. I saw individuals, couples and families from all walks of life and learned much about diversity, mutuality, and thinking "outside the box!"
After some time however, I realized that I wanted to raise my family in a locale where the sun, the sand, the water, and the beauty of nature were easily and readily accessible all year long. San Francisco was a little too cold and foggy for me. Having relatives in the area, South West Florida seemed like a perfect destination. So, 6 years ago my family and I moved to beautiful Naples. All of this was in preparation for the purpose I have at this exact moment in my life.
Of course, things have changed dramatically since 2002, both in the world in general, and in Naples in particular. While Naples is still a beautiful place to look at, all of us know how expensive it has become to fill our tanks, buy groceries and pay our regular bills. How many of us rode the wave of the real estate market and now can not afford to live in the homes we thought would continue to grow in value?
During the course of the last 6 years, I have experienced many of these drastic changes too – both personally and professionally. Although at times, I did not understand why my world seemed to be crumbling, I ultimately came to realize that the pain I was going through could be used as a way to grow. I learned that when everything of form is stripped away, all that is left behind is your true Self. I realized I could either take this opportunity to connect with this Truth, or continue struggling to "control my destiny" in the way I had in the past - including all the stress, anxiety and fear. I made a bold, but inevitable choice to let go of the past...
It has been an exhausting process, but the more I came to trust the path I was on, and the less attached I became to the outcome, the more peaceful I felt. I began to question some of the ways I identified who I am and how I measured my value, and something started to shift. I began to feel less anxious, and more calm and grounded. I know that inner Peace exists because I experience it. I know that it is an ongoing process, but it gets easier, more familiar, the longer I stay with it.
Of course, my outer world still presents challenges, and it always will, this we can not change…Thank goodness for that because these challenges provide the opportunity to dig deep and really come to know ourselves. Once we can do this, it becomes easier to find the Peace within, despite the turmoil of the outer world.
I continue inward every day. This journey helps me live my life in the outer world with Peace in my heart. I am amazed by the profundity of the lessons that are available to us, if only we awaken to see them.
I would be honored to help you in the exploration your own inner world as a way toward Peace.
Phone: 239.434.5855
Fax: 239.434.5955
Email: carol@MindfulLivingSWFL.com
I invite you to view and join the discussion on my Blog Site:
http://mindfullivingswfl.blogspot.com/