Let’s be clear, actively living in the world today is stressful, is chaotic and you can get easily mixed up in the pushing and pulling energy of the rat race. It can feel like an un safe place.
AND… the world is also calm, peaceful, rejuvenating and ready to support you in your continuous voyage to well becoming, and we can create a safe place to explore more of these heart felt connections to ourself.
Decades Working in Intensive Care
After decades working in the Intensive Care Unit, I got caught up in the chaos and stress of that environment. All the alarms, constant engagement of my nervous system, death, dying, suffering, go-go-go and the constant engagement of my intellect and patience, had me burning out big time.
I Left the Bedside
It was at that down point, after I left the bedside, that I finally discovered the Integrative Nurse Coach® Academy and the possibility of becoming a board-certified Integrative Nurse Coach, and my healing began (and continues today).
One of the first experiences I had in the Integrative Nurse Coach® Certificate Program was a meditation practice. My fast-paced ICU brain thought- “WTF is this? I came to learn how to coach, NOT how to meditate!” I had to hold myself back from leaving the training, as my whole body protested slowing down and being inside myself.
In the end I stayed. THANK GOODNESS and so became the beginning of learning about the positive power of mindfulness, awareness, reflection, joy and ease in my life as a Nurse and human.
I’m sure your curious what we did that had me feeling so out of my comfort zone…
It was a simple practice and one that I still do today for myself and when I’m coaching others. It’s hands-down one of my favorites!
Connecting with a Safe Place
It’s called, Connecting with a Safe Place
Everyone’s Safe Place will be different, and that is the beauty. You can use imagination to tap into a place that is supportive, calm, peaceful, energizing, whatever you need at the time.
Your safe place could be a real place you’ve been, or a place you’ve never been and create using imagery. It could be in the present, past or future, and it is one that inspires your needs in the moment.
Here’s how it goes (and do know it doesn’t have to be done exactly like this, it can be done how you need it to be, so you are 100% comfortable). Do each step with patience and slowness, allowing time to gently pass and deeper calm to unfold.
- Ask yourself (or your patient or client) to find an anchoring point- this could be breath, the tip of a nose, even imagining a big toe. Focus there for a few moments.
- Ask yourself (or your client) to begin imagining a safe place.
- Now ask yourself (or your patient) to color in as much detail as possible. Stay in this place. What does it look like? What does it smell like? What do you hear? What do you feel?
- Ask, what it is like to be there?
- Ask, what is it about this place that is creating those feelings, sensations, images, etc? (reflecting on what they share with you, or what you feel).
- Stay there for a few more moments.
- Allow yourself or ask your client to bring awareness back to the present moment and the room they are in with gentleness and ease.
- Once you, or your patient, client are back into the room, spend some time integrating the experience by asking open ended questions, or offering time to journal
- Remind yourself and your patient/client that this place is available anytime you want to go back by using imagination.
Ahhhhhh. I feel better just writing about this, and I hope you will try it yourself and with your patients and clients.
Slowing down is important in our fast world. We are the ones who can bring more ease and peace into our daily lives.
You deserve it.
Thanks for being here, Integrative Nurse Coach® Nicole
Ps. I adapted the Safe Place Awareness practice from Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Health and Wellbeing textbook (p.251). There are a ton of mindfulness practices and resources there.
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Want to learn more about Mindfulness? Consider the Mindfulness-based Stillness Meditation for Nurses course
Explore a recorded mindfulness practice with me called, Let Go- here
Learn more about the Integrative Nurse Coach® Academy here
Nicole Vienneau MSN, RN, NC-BC is a recovering burned-out ICU Nurse. Through Integrative Nurse Coaching and holistic modalities, she’s on the daily voyage to well-becoming.
Nicole is founder Restoration Room and Blue Monarch Health, an author, podcast host of the Integrative Nurse Coaches in ACTION!, holds a board certification in Integrative Nurse Coaching and combines 20+ years of Nursing with 30+ years of fitness, health coaching and energy work to partner with mid-life women and healthcare workers who want to THRIVE!
She loves her husband, her two crazy cats and enjoys being in nature and having fun.
