If you clicked on this, it’s because “living your best life” sounds dreamy, am I right? It also sounds possible, and that’s because it is. You have to do a lot of work to let go of old attachments and be vigilant about navigating your mind, body, and soul with the intention of alignment in every moment while you choose love, no matter what the trigger is. But hey, once you slay those dragons, it’s a walk in the park.
It took me 35 years of nerding out on personal growth to really get all that, so I’d like to make it super easy for you to digest and integrate into your everyday life ASAP so we can all live well together. Feels like time for that, NO?!
This is why I interviewed a world-renowned emotional and soul intelligence expert, Chenoa Maxwell, to drop some serious wisdom and shed light on how to live well even when things go dark.
I believe you can’t live well if you don’t prioritize your real health. Which, to me, is total wellness. When you are healthy, your whole system is in balance. When you are fully balanced, the ecosystem that makes up your unique self is in harmony—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually—and that is true health.
Chenoa Maxwell is an advisor, emotional sherpa, and board member for some of the world’s largest corporations and celebrities. Chenoa uses science-backed research and spiritual psychology to teach self-mastery and create new pathways of thinking that yield exponential personal growth and elevated emotional intelligence (EQ)—the catalyst for high performance and happiness.
Chenoa says, “Wellness, as it applies to your day-to-day life, has and will forever be in constant change and evolution. Six months ago, physical and mental well-being carried a very different meaning for us all. We are constantly adapting, learning, and evolving. In my private practice at Live Limitlessly, I move clients through the inner work required to move toward elevated wellness in a truly holistic way. Because we are the sum of our parts—physical, spiritual, and emotional—all of those parts must be examined, addressed, nurtured, and aligned. If you’re just beginning your work in the emotional intelligence evolution, you may not yet have the tools or even know that they exist. Just like with any practice, there are beginner, intermediate, expert, and master levels. The fundamental tools are essential and will determine how strong your base is to build. Fundamental tools are universal, no matter the situation you find yourself in.”
The cool thing is, you can navigate all of these systems within yourself, by yourself, so that you heal whatever causes you pain, clear whatever keeps you stuck, and soar freely at new levels of real health and total wellness to live your best life. However, it takes a commitment to conscious awareness. It is holistic, it is daily, and it is a way of life.
How do you know which part of your system (mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual) needs the adjustment? And how do you know what tool you need if you don’t know what you need? Good questions. Let’s ask Chenoa.
“Well, if you are versed at being present to the sum of all your parts—mind, body, spirit—then you will probably know when one or more of your systems could use an adjustment or check-in. You know, sometimes you just feel ‘off’ and can’t place it exactly. That’s when it’s time to do the check-in scans to determine which of your parts would benefit from an added dose of self-love. Humans are incredibly complex beings. Those who have not done the EQ work may have blind spots and find it difficult to discern which system could use the adjustment. Actually, you will habitually approach the same problem from the same lens—staying stuck on the proverbial hamster wheel,” says Chenoa.
Here’s a cheat sheet for your self-guided tune-up:
Q: Can you offer one way to discover if it’s a mental block and why/how to shift it?
CHENOA: “Mental blocks usually stem from internal issues. The first step is to identify the root behind what’s standing between you and your desires. Of course, you may experience exhaustion, frustration, impatience, or plain old procrastination and then tell yourself that is a mental block. But is it, or is it you not tending to other parts of your life that have taken you one step farther away from your desire or goal?”
Q: Can you give one simple way to discover if it’s a feeling or emotional block and how to sit with it?
CHENOA: “This is the cornerstone of the work I do at Live Limitlessly. Emotions are very real—anger, depression, joy, love, etc. Self-awareness is your ability to accurately perceive your emotions and stay aware of them as they happen. Emotional intelligence, on the other hand, is a flexible set of skills that can be acquired and improved with practice.”
Q: Can you share thoughts about physical symptoms, how they may be suppressed emotions, and how to receive messages you need from physical pain?
CHENOA: “This is a tricky question and not a simple answer. Remember, we are complex systems, us humans, so unhealed emotional wounds and even basic stress can manifest in people very differently. For example, the physical manifestation of a week’s worth of stress can be a stiff neck or back, but the physical manifestation of deep emotional trauma or emotional scars may be triggered in an experience. That could show up as panic attacks, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat. That’s the fight or flight kicking in. Of course, being aware of those sensations and emotions will always allow you to be present to these physical manifestations of the emotional process.”
Q: Can you leave us with the number-one most important thing you want readers to take away?
CHENOA: “Alignment! Take time every day to create a tether for your soul to spiritual energy so you can cultivate a spiritual foundation. This will allow you to strengthen your faith and fortify the inner listening so you can begin to hear, know, and trust what is truly for you. This
happens in the quiet silence of connection to your soul. It sounds easy, but it is not like flipping on a switch for most people. It takes daily practice and commitment. If you have that desire and commitment, your limitless life is manifesting even now.”
Stefani Beckerman is a brand strategist focused on the health and wellness space. A self-proclaimed “personal growth junkie,” Stefani loves to share the best and most effective tools she finds with the rest of the world. The Vice President of Consumer Engagement for Nutraceutical Corporation, Stefani is best known for her integral role at Thrive Market, the membership-based e-commerce retailer offering natural and organic products that she helped grow to more than 4 million subscribers in under two years. Learn more: www.stefanibeckerman.com | @sbeckerman
Chenoa Maxwell is a recognized leader in emotional and soul intelligence. She is an advisor to some of the world’s largest corporations and celebrities and uses science-backed research and spiritual psychology to teach self-mastery and create new modes of thinking that lead to exponential personal growth and increased EQ. Chenoa is the founder of Live Limitlessly, an advisory and private practice for life mastery. Learn more: www.livelimitlessly.com | [email protected] | @ChenoaMaxwell