45: Marie Connor-Glenfield, A Profile in the Healing Power of Presence

Unleashing Social Change

In this episode, I sat down with one of my first mentors, Marie Connor-Glenfield, who I met when I was sixteen. In our first encounter, she held space for me to process profound loss. She identified my pain and didn’t try to push me through it, but rather sat with me as I sat with it. Since that first meeting, she has continued to be there for me in seminal moments of my life. When I was lost, when I was celebrating, and when I wasn't sure what my next move would be, Marie accompanied me.

I have witnessed Marie bring healing energy to many people and organizations over the decades I’ve known her. I am so happy she was generous enough to share her deeply personal stories of listening to muses and grounding herself in the interconnectedness of life with all of us.

Her creativity and commitment to be of service has always inspired me to stay true to that part of myself. I hope you get as much from this conversation as I did!

Show Highlights:

• Holding deep emotions through presence brings healing
• Listening to the inner voice when it says “I know I can help, so I’m going to”
• Being of service so that others don’t have to experience the same pain we did; or, if they do, they don’t have to do it alone
• When we’re fully present, we’re connected to everything and everyone
• How do we stay in our truth when we’re having a bad day, week, or month?
• Judgment is not useful. It is a way to avoid the truth
• The importance of creating a daily practice of paying attention
• The struggle between ego and presence and how to differentiate between the two
• Our circumstances are not our story
• Sometimes it can be terrifying to get clarity on your purpose
• Acupunture as a “legitimate front” for being a healer
• Taking responsibility for the change you want to see in the world without burning out

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