Issue #90 ·
Cultivating Presence: Lessons From Teaching and Coaching
💪On how you can create a personal atmosphere, Thoughts on Great Athletes, Romanticizing the Ordinary, Pasture Fed Beef
Hello friends,
As a former teacher turned coach, I've noticed something fascinating:
the most impactful moments in both professions rarely come from what's planned.
They come from presence.
I remember my first year teaching, frantically preparing detailed lesson plans and scripts. But my mentor teacher could walk into a chaotic classroom and, without saying a word, transform the energy.
Thirty restless teenagers would settle into their seats, magnetized by her mere presence. I wanted that superpower.
This week in building health 👇
What Teaching Taught Me About Presence
Ten years later, I see the same phenomenon in coaching.
Some sessions just have that X-factor – a magnetic field where insights flow freely and transformations happen naturally. It's not about the frameworks or techniques. It's about the energy you bring into the space.
And if you asked me today, what makes up that presence, here’s what I would say:
Grounded Confidence: It's not about knowing everything. It's about being at ease with not knowing. My best teaching and coaching moments happen when the person I’m working with can feel that I’m truly giving my all to help them.
Present-Moment Awareness: When I'm fully there – not thinking about my next question or analyzing the situation – my students and clients feel it. They open up more. They think deeper. They transform faster.
Purposeful Energy: Sometimes a room needs calm; other times it needs electricity. The magic happens when I consciously match my energy to what's needed, rather than staying in my default mode.
And cultivating presence isn’t something you’re born with.
It's a practice.
Before every coaching session now, I take three deep breaths and set an intention for the energy I want to bring. This simple ritual has transformed my impact more than any technique I've learned.
Clients report feeling more seen and understood. Breakthroughs happen more frequently. And honestly? The work feels more fulfilling for me too.
What energy will you bring to your next important moment?
My favorite health things for the week
// one
More Thoughts on GOAT athletes
12 minutes | Todd Hargrove
I love watching sports. There’s something enthralling about high performers move with grace and precision.
The article dives into everything from body types to the mental game
If you've ever wondered why some people seem to float across the court while others look like they're running in flip-flops, this read is for you.
// two
Romanticising the Mundane Changed My Daily Life
12 minutes | Rosie Holding
I'm that person who needs hourly reminders to slow down.
My Google Calendar literally has 'BREATHE, HUMAN' scheduled between meetings. But when I actually listen (rare, but it happens), something shifts.
That steam spiral dancing above my mug becomes a mini meditation. The sound of rain transforms from 'great, bad weather' to nature's podcast.
The article reminded me that we don't need to summit Everest or win a Nobel Prize to find joy – sometimes it's hiding in your coffee mug, doing jazz hands in your morning shower, or chillin' in your laundry basket.
// three
Benefits of Pasture-Finishing Cattle
22 minutes | Scientific Reports
As someone who geeks out over supply chains, this week's study on pasture-finished beef hit different.
It's like a farm-to-fork detective story, revealing how a cow's final address shapes everything from its omega-3 levels to its cellular health.
Turns out, those grass-grazing cattle are basically living their best cow lives – better mitochondrial function (that's the powerhouse of the cell, as my 7th-grade science teacher would eagerly remind us), fewer stress markers, and more nutrients packed into every bite.
The difference between pasture and grain-finished beef isn't just about happy cows frolicking in meadows. It's about tracing a line from soil health to gut health, from rancher choices to dinner choices.
Until next time
Have a Healthy Weekend