Duality of Meraki- Being vs Doing
Let me introduce myself!
Hello my friend! My name is Zoé Shields, aka, The Meraki Coach. I am a Certified Professional Creative Life Coach. I work with blocked and burnt out creatives, reframing their inner monologue of limiting beliefs, assumptions, and interpretations. We began with the internal work then moved externally to better understand how to build tools around feeling grounded and confident not just in our lives but also in their craft.
A bit about me, My name is Zoé (ζωή), which originates from the Greek word meaning, LIFE. Having an abundant life is at the core of living into my name. I derive from three generations of brilliant, intuitive, and powerful women. Each of them helped shape who I am right now. People in my orbit know me as a life coach, actor, costume designer, and teaching artist. I am so honored to have a multi-hyphenate title that grants me the ability to blend with many thriving communities.
Growing up, I was given sage advice to lead with my body, mind, and soul. Rooted from that concept, I am a product of creating my own desired path and not abiding by society’s plan for what my life “should” look like. I am a soulpreneur that presents room for creativity, business, spontaneity, and realness. We are all complex humans with many facets. Life is not so black and white, there are grey areas, let’s learn to embrace our uniquenesses.
My origin story into coaching was from a moment in my life where I wanted more. I was ready to take on an operation that melded all my loves together, collaboration, discovery, and creativity. These are the three phases of life coaching. Anything is possible if you are in alignment with your trifecta (mind, body, and soul). I would be honored to guide and collaborate with you on your journey to embracing your authentic self, identifying your aspirations, and taking that first step into your own generated power.
A few things I love: corgis, deep conversations, flying airplanes with my wonderful partner (I’m a professional co-pilot), acting, designing, spending quality time with family and friends, and building my tiny home on wheels!
My main purpose for this platform is to educate, inform, hold space, and create community along the way. Hopefully through the process we can all experience how to intentionally embody the art of Meraki.
Duality of Meraki- Doing vs. Being
Define Meraki
I use the word Meraki a lot! Hey, it's even in my name! Meraki is a Modern Greek word, meaning labor of love, to do something with pleasure, through soul, love, and creativity. It is applied to tasks, usually, creative or artistic tasks but can be applied to any task at all.
How did Meraki come into my life? I am Greek American, and ever since I was little, I found that my strengths of expressing myself, thoughts, and emotions were through dance, art, acting and designing. My mom would call me her "Little Meraki". My coaching is through the lens of Meraki, it is for blocked and burnt-out creatives - reframing their inner monologue of limiting beliefs, and building tools to feel grounded in life and their craft, and also live in Meraki (joy).
Duality Doing vs. Being
There is duality in intentionally embodying Meraki, being and doing. Meraki is a concept and art form that helps you connect to your highest self. Intentionally embodying Meraki is a daily practice, checking in with yourself, just like mindfulness practices does. Asking yourself is this thought, action, or environment making you feel joy and at your optimal creative ability. The Art of Meraki. You are always at choice and whatever the outcome is acknowledging that you cannot make a mistake, there are no wrong decisions. You can either win from the situation or learn from it. Each moment describes who you are, and gives you the opportunity to decide if that's who you want to be. Being Meraki is living in joy and exuding it, energy attracts like energy, others will want to know how you sustain joy and will want to know your process.
Who is Meraki for?
You can be anyone, working any job, living any type of lifestyle and still INTENTIONALLY EMBODYING MERAKI into your life. When I say I work with Creatives, that means you!
Are you someone who:
communicate with others??
collaborates with a team of people??
passionate about finding solutions to problems??
an artist??
a writer??
an original thinker??
lawyer??
barista??
actor??
shoot, you could even be an accountant!!
the list goes on!!
Coaching vs. Therapy
When I introduce myself as a life coach, people respond in either two ways...people assume it's therapy, or the other side of the coin is consulting. As I build this world around you, I would love to break down what coaching is and isn't. Let's clarify and inform, because coaching isn't new! It's been around for a long time but not too many people know how to approach it or know if coaching is a good fit for their life.
Tell me, what do you know about coaching?
It’s important to talk about what a coach is not –
Therapist – typically focus on problems rooted in the past, why things happened
Friends/Family – focus on their own agenda, advice, shoulds, should nots, are well-meaning
Sports coach – focus on winning, win-lose, perfecting your form/game)
Let me tell you a little more about what coaching is. There are a lot of people out there doing what they call coaching, but true coaching is done by a certified professional and in a very unique way.
Coaches help you be the very best you can be and inspire and champion you
They get you to do things beyond what you thought you could do
Help you come from a place of confidence
Coaching helps you break through what holds people back from manifesting their dreams – and challenges people to focus time on what they want to do
Coaching challenges people to focus time to do what they really want to do
Clients know the answers
Will hold clients’ agenda and help you be accountable for what you say they’ll do
Coaching is solution-focused
It is a partnership where you design a plan based on the client’s agenda – coaching takes what’s inside and translates it into outer goals that you accomplish step-by-step.
Here is the take away! Therapy takes the client from dysfunctional to functional, allowing the client to expose the trauma and work through the healing and recovery process. Life Coaching takes the functional client to optimal. This can look like a lot of things, such as; building tools on how to move in the world past all the trauma that has been worked on, reconstructing your mindset, connecting your logical brain to your heart space and emotional capabilities, learning how to be vulnerable, accomplish goals, the list goes on.
The coach and client relationship is a brilliant and honest one. I work with clients, establishing a shared vocabulary, coaching agreement that allows the client to express how they want to be coached, and we begin working from the inside out. If we both understand the energetic makeup of the client, we can build upon their experiences, either current or past, and the thoughts and the emotions that go along with their experiences to utilize them in their current life.
Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Assessment
As humans we love taking assessments to shed light on how we show up, take up space, and are perceived by others in our world. You might know personality assessments such as Myers Briggs and D.I.S.C. to just name a few.
The Energy Leadership Index Assessment (ELI) is an attitudinal assessment, which is based on an energy/ action model. This assessment differs from personality assessments as it is not intended to label a person and have them work within the label. Instead, it measures your level of energy based on your attitude, or perception and perspective of your world. Because let's be real, attitude is subjective, it can be altered. By working with a (CPC) Certified Professional Coach using the ELI, you can alter your attitude and perspective, make a shift in your consciousness, and increase your energy as the result.
There are no limits as to the potential growth you can achieve. Once you realize that your level of consciousness is directly related to your actions, you can move from functioning effectively to functioning optimally.
Looking Onward & Upward.
New to Life Coaching? Think of me as your personal guide, collaborator, and accountability partner who is cheering you on. Who helps you actually builds tools to achieve your personal and professional goals. That way you can get back to your practice of craft and sense of self. Let's make sustainable habits a high priority.
Fearing Less and trusting the Leap!
That career move or business idea you've had for a while but still haven't started.... let's make a plan of action!
My approach is for blocked and burnt-out creatives to reframe inner monologues of limiting beliefs, build tools to ground in their craft, and intentionally embody the art of Meraki.
If you are done procrastinating (or know someone who could benefit from life coaching) and keen to have me as your new Creative Life Coach and Collaborator.... Book a FREE Initial Session with me!! Visit www.themerakicoach.com to book a free session.
Not sure if it's right for you but curious to find out more??? Contact me, through my website, I will hold space and answer your inquiries.
Can't wait to watch you leap into your Meraki!
Much Love Much Meraki,
Zoé Shields BFA, CPC, ELI-MP
Creative Life Coach
she/her
