Air & Flow: Helping Others in the Present

When I talk about the element of Air, I’m talking about more than just the breath. I’m talking about Purpose. Air is the invisible force that carries our intentions out into the world. It’s the clarity of knowing why we do what we do.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to get caught up in the “doing.” I’ve been deeply focused on my work and my personal wellness, but I realized something was missing: Connection. I was breathing, but I wasn’t feeling the wind beneath my wings that comes from lifting others up.

The Offering: Paying it Forward

I was recently inspired by my friend Megan to do something different for Lent this year. We are currently in the season of Lent, a time often associated with reflection and sacrifice. For my offering this year, I decided to give up grains, and that felt like a good thing to reduce from my life for 40 days. Megan reminded me that there is also value in adding something, so I decided to lean into a skill I’ve honed over years of consulting and leadership: resume reviews.

While HR isn’t my primary focus when I consult for companies, I know how much a polished, well-reframed resume can change someone’s trajectory. I’ve been on the receiving end of that kindness myself, like when Megan’s husband Gus reviewed my resume, made me a video with feedback and good pointers on how to stand out, and it really moved me. I really appreciate people like him, mentors who took the time to help me reframe my story and edit my experience until it shined well.

It’s a simple act for me to offer this season, but it could carry a massive impact for someone navigating today’s job market. I once helped someone learn how to make a Google search or find their first video on YouTube, and it taught me not to undervalue how teaching someone a simple thing can make a difference. In this case, it’s just a resume review for me, which doesn’t have to take very long, but I’m excited to do it. By opening up this opportunity on LinkedIn and Instagram, I’m turning my “Air” into action.

Purpose is a Daily Practice

Sometimes we wait for a “Grand Life Purpose” to hit us like a lightning bolt. That can be amazing, but I also find value in just living purposefully with intention to help others, and those efforts can actually help us get closer to finding that Grand Life Purpose we seek. Sometimes purpose is found in the small, but, concrete ways we help others.

• It’s in the edit: Taking a few minutes to help a friend find the right words.
• It’s in the share: Connecting someone to a resource they didn’t know existed.
• It’s in the alignment: Realizing that when we help someone else, we actually feel more connected to ourselves. We can recognize our own worth that way.

Doing things “on purpose” doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be intentional. This small offering has already helped me feel more aligned and less isolated in my own “work bubble.” It’s a reminder that we are all part of a larger community.

Finding Your Air

If you’re feeling a little stagnant or disconnected today, ask yourself: What is one thing I can do to help someone else right now?

It doesn’t have to be your full-time job or a monumental effort. It just has to be a way for you to pay it forward. How can you use your unique skills to make someone else’s path a little smoother? You might find that in the process of helping them find their way, you feel a lot more like you’re living in your own element.

Stay aligned, keep breaking, and stay in your eliment, 

Eliana

Water & Flow: Breaking the Barriers to Movement

When I talk about the element of Air, I’m talking about more than just the breath. I’m talking about Purpose. Air is the invisible force that carries our intentions out into the world. It’s the clarity of knowing why we do what we do.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to get caught up in the “doing.” I’ve been deeply focused on my work and my personal wellness, but I realized something was missing: Connection. I was breathing, but I wasn’t feeling the wind beneath my wings that comes from lifting others up.

The Offering: Paying it Forward

I was recently inspired by my friend Megan to do something different for Lent this year. We are currently in the season of Lent, a time often associated with reflection and sacrifice. For my offering this year, I decided to give up grains, and that felt like a good thing to reduce from my life for 40 days. Megan reminded me that there is also value in adding something, so I decided to lean into a skill I’ve honed over years of consulting and leadership: resume reviews.

While HR isn’t my primary focus when I consult for companies, I know how much a polished, well-reframed resume can change someone’s trajectory. I’ve been on the receiving end of that kindness myself, like when Megan’s husband Gus reviewed my resume, made me a video with feedback and good pointers on how to stand out, and it really moved me. I really appreciate people like him, mentors who took the time to help me reframe my story and edit my experience until it shined well.

It’s a simple act for me to offer this season, but it could carry a massive impact for someone navigating today’s job market. I once helped someone learn how to make a Google search or find their first video on YouTube, and it taught me not to undervalue how teaching someone a simple thing can make a difference. In this case, it’s just a resume review for me, which doesn’t have to take very long, but I’m excited to do it. By opening up this opportunity on LinkedIn and Instagram, I’m turning my “Air” into action.

Purpose is a Daily Practice

Sometimes we wait for a “Grand Life Purpose” to hit us like a lightning bolt. That can be amazing, but I also find value in just living purposefully with intention to help others, and those efforts can actually help us get closer to finding that Grand Life Purpose we seek. Sometimes purpose is found in the small, but, concrete ways we help others.

• It’s in the edit: Taking a few minutes to help a friend find the right words.
• It’s in the share: Connecting someone to a resource they didn’t know existed.
• It’s in the alignment: Realizing that when we help someone else, we actually feel more connected to ourselves. We can recognize our own worth that way.

Doing things “on purpose” doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be intentional. This small offering has already helped me feel more aligned and less isolated in my own “work bubble.” It’s a reminder that we are all part of a larger community.

Finding Your Air

If you’re feeling a little stagnant or disconnected today, ask yourself: What is one thing I can do to help someone else right now?

It doesn’t have to be your full-time job or a monumental effort. It just has to be a way for you to pay it forward. How can you use your unique skills to make someone else’s path a little smoother? You might find that in the process of helping them find their way, you feel a lot more like you’re living in your own element.

Stay aligned, keep breaking, and stay in your eliment, 

Eliana