Meet Sheryl
So What?
How will reading this bio help you? Maybe you'll
see something of yourself in these words
and remember we're kindred spirits. Maybe you'll
know that you're not alone. Maybe you'll be
curious to find out what I've learned and how
I use my unique talents, gifts and life experiences
to support your journey. Maybe you'll trust that I
will help you remember that you're not broken,
you don't need to be fixed, that you are whole
and complete, perfect just the way you are. I'm
drawn to work with people who are tired of
listening to the inner, critical voice that tries to convince them that they aren't brilliant, sensitive,
whole, complete, and amazing.
Finding My Voice. Speaking My Truth.
Finding my voice and speaking my truth has been a challenging, lifelong adventure. Maybe
that's true for you as well. Authentically speaking my truth matters to me. So, where to begin?
When in doubt, I lean into gratitude. I love my life, my family, my friends, my garden, and this
time of life when I'm willing to listen to the wisdom that life experience has given me. I'm grateful
for the changes and challenges that have shaped my current reality. I'm grateful that I have the
privilege and honor of supporting clients along their path toward finding their voice and speaking
their truth. I hope what I've written will be helpful to you.
Practical Spirituality.
For the past four-plus decades I’ve looked for (and found) ways to live, thrive, and make a
difference in the world. Hope for my future and the future of the planet defined my twenties. I felt
optimistic about my life, my place in the world, and the future of the planet. I was passionate
about causes: the Environment, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, and the Peace Movement. I was
ignorantly blissful and naïve and believed in our potential as humans to be good and do good
in the world. I didn’t have a clue about the complexities of the personal and global problems we
faced. I loved that people came together united in a common purpose. We were connecting to
something that was greater than we were individually. In retrospect, I realize how in tune we
were to an unseen and deeply felt collective consciousness.
Even though there were only a few spiritual teachers and very limited publications or self-help
sections in bookstores, I found ways to stay centered in the midst of chaos. I feel fortunate that I
learned Transcendental Meditation (TM), a practice that has been part of my daily routine for
nearly five decades. I think of this practice as "practical" spirituality. The ritual of meditating and
the benefit it brings to daily life are more important than following rules or dogma that sometime
accompany spiritual paths. I tend toward irreverence and I'm a bit rebellious. Because of these
traits, I have a very eclectic approach to personal growth. When I'm exploring a particular
path, I ask myself: Is the approach practical? Does it feel good in my body? Does it help me
find and stay true to my inner knowing? Does it lead to feeling calm, relaxed, and peaceful?
Balancing Self-care and Service.
While my peers were going to college, earning degrees, and choosing careers, I was less
focused on the world of work and more interested in self-development, believing that by
following a spiritual path I was making a positive contribution to the planet. Inspired by the idea
that enlightenment was a possibility (even if I wasn't quite sure what enlightenment was, I knew
it was something I wanted to experience), I made choices that put spiritual practices at
the center of my life. From 1975 until 1980, I lived and worked at retreat centers in northern
California and Washington state. Daily TM practice, along with yoga and personal retreats, and
immersion in a culture that focused on the evolution of consciousness taught me the importance
of being grounded in self-care. The time invested in living in an intentional community softened
most of the hard edges that defined who I was. Although, I've remained, what my friends
lovingly call "feisty". I also experienced how deeply fulfilling and joyful it is to be of service to
travelers on their paths to enlightenment. During my years of living in retreat centers I set an
intention to act from the heart of service in everything I do. This deep desire to change the
world through service is at the center of all the personal and professional choices I make.
How will reading this bio help you? Maybe you'll
see something of yourself in these words
and remember we're kindred spirits. Maybe you'll
know that you're not alone. Maybe you'll be
curious to find out what I've learned and how
I use my unique talents, gifts and life experiences
to support your journey. Maybe you'll trust that I
will help you remember that you're not broken,
you don't need to be fixed, that you are whole
and complete, perfect just the way you are. I'm
drawn to work with people who are tired of
listening to the inner, critical voice that tries to convince them that they aren't brilliant, sensitive,
whole, complete, and amazing.
Finding My Voice. Speaking My Truth.
Finding my voice and speaking my truth has been a challenging, lifelong adventure. Maybe
that's true for you as well. Authentically speaking my truth matters to me. So, where to begin?
When in doubt, I lean into gratitude. I love my life, my family, my friends, my garden, and this
time of life when I'm willing to listen to the wisdom that life experience has given me. I'm grateful
for the changes and challenges that have shaped my current reality. I'm grateful that I have the
privilege and honor of supporting clients along their path toward finding their voice and speaking
their truth. I hope what I've written will be helpful to you.
Practical Spirituality.
For the past four-plus decades I’ve looked for (and found) ways to live, thrive, and make a
difference in the world. Hope for my future and the future of the planet defined my twenties. I felt
optimistic about my life, my place in the world, and the future of the planet. I was passionate
about causes: the Environment, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, and the Peace Movement. I was
ignorantly blissful and naïve and believed in our potential as humans to be good and do good
in the world. I didn’t have a clue about the complexities of the personal and global problems we
faced. I loved that people came together united in a common purpose. We were connecting to
something that was greater than we were individually. In retrospect, I realize how in tune we
were to an unseen and deeply felt collective consciousness.
Even though there were only a few spiritual teachers and very limited publications or self-help
sections in bookstores, I found ways to stay centered in the midst of chaos. I feel fortunate that I
learned Transcendental Meditation (TM), a practice that has been part of my daily routine for
nearly five decades. I think of this practice as "practical" spirituality. The ritual of meditating and
the benefit it brings to daily life are more important than following rules or dogma that sometime
accompany spiritual paths. I tend toward irreverence and I'm a bit rebellious. Because of these
traits, I have a very eclectic approach to personal growth. When I'm exploring a particular
path, I ask myself: Is the approach practical? Does it feel good in my body? Does it help me
find and stay true to my inner knowing? Does it lead to feeling calm, relaxed, and peaceful?
Balancing Self-care and Service.
While my peers were going to college, earning degrees, and choosing careers, I was less
focused on the world of work and more interested in self-development, believing that by
following a spiritual path I was making a positive contribution to the planet. Inspired by the idea
that enlightenment was a possibility (even if I wasn't quite sure what enlightenment was, I knew
it was something I wanted to experience), I made choices that put spiritual practices at
the center of my life. From 1975 until 1980, I lived and worked at retreat centers in northern
California and Washington state. Daily TM practice, along with yoga and personal retreats, and
immersion in a culture that focused on the evolution of consciousness taught me the importance
of being grounded in self-care. The time invested in living in an intentional community softened
most of the hard edges that defined who I was. Although, I've remained, what my friends
lovingly call "feisty". I also experienced how deeply fulfilling and joyful it is to be of service to
travelers on their paths to enlightenment. During my years of living in retreat centers I set an
intention to act from the heart of service in everything I do. This deep desire to change the
world through service is at the center of all the personal and professional choices I make.
Lifelong Seeker.
I'm a lifelong seeker who is insatiably curious. I'm also practical. Over time, I came to realize
the importance of finding balance between attending to my inner life and earning a living. When
I was 35, I enrolled in college, earned a bachelor’s degree at 38 and a masters in Applied
Behavioral Sciences (the MA/A.B.S. behind my name) just before my 40th birthday. I didn't have
a clear vision or plan for my future, I simply sensed the importance of pursuing formal
education. Over the years, I've attended many workshops and devoted countless hours to
personal and professional development opportunities, including completing EFT-Advanced
Certificate of Completion and EFT-CERTIFICATION-Level 1, Dave Ellis's Falling Awake
Coaching Program, and Rebecca McLean's Circle of Life Health and Wellness Coaching
Certification. I've also studied with Byron Katie, who developed The Work. I continue to take
advanced coaching and energy modality courses whenever I can.
My choice to be a lifelong learner has led to several opportunities to apply my knowledge and
skills as a helping professional including director of a non-profit, organizational development
consultant, management coach, trainer, counselor, academic advisor, and health/wellbeing/life
coach.
While attending college, I discovered that I have a
natural talent for teaching. Over the years I
deepened and refined my abilities. Currently, I teach
Meridian Acupoint Tapping Techniques
(Emotional Freedom Techniques--EFT) in an
Integrative and Holistic Health Professions program at
a community college in Fort Collins, Colorado.
A Zig-Zag Path to Enlightenment.
Fast forward…I’m now in my late-60s. I’ve lived a few lifetimes in this life. I've made mistakes.
Often, I learned from them. Sometimes it took more than one mistake to "get it". I've made wise
and not-so-wise choices. As I look over the landscape of my life journey I see peaks, valleys,
scenic routes, and both intentional and unforeseen detours. It looks like a zig-zag, spiral path.
Life has been a process of elimination...I didn't always know what I wanted, but eventually I
figured out what didn't work for me and adjusted my course accordingly. Sometimes it felt like I
was waiting for happiness to come from outside of myself. That's a painful space to be in. The
life I envisioned and believed to be possible four decades ago is still evolving. The changes and
challenges that shape my current reality include a painful divorce, deep depression, chronic
illness, and weight issues. I've learned to embrace disappointment and discouragement and see
the "shadow side" as a very important, and necessary, part of my journey.
I’m grateful for clarity and contentment. I realize that enlightenment isn't a destination, it's an
unfolding journey that occurs everyday in every encounter, experience, thought, and feeling.
Sometimes the unfolding appears to be "positive" and sometimes it appears to be
"negative". I've learned that they both contain insights that support my next steps along the
path. I've discovered, and continue to find, ways to tap into inner and outer resources that
remind me that, no matter what it looks like "out there", I can choose to respond with ease,
harmony, and grace "in here".
I'm a lifelong seeker who is insatiably curious. I'm also practical. Over time, I came to realize
the importance of finding balance between attending to my inner life and earning a living. When
I was 35, I enrolled in college, earned a bachelor’s degree at 38 and a masters in Applied
Behavioral Sciences (the MA/A.B.S. behind my name) just before my 40th birthday. I didn't have
a clear vision or plan for my future, I simply sensed the importance of pursuing formal
education. Over the years, I've attended many workshops and devoted countless hours to
personal and professional development opportunities, including completing EFT-Advanced
Certificate of Completion and EFT-CERTIFICATION-Level 1, Dave Ellis's Falling Awake
Coaching Program, and Rebecca McLean's Circle of Life Health and Wellness Coaching
Certification. I've also studied with Byron Katie, who developed The Work. I continue to take
advanced coaching and energy modality courses whenever I can.
My choice to be a lifelong learner has led to several opportunities to apply my knowledge and
skills as a helping professional including director of a non-profit, organizational development
consultant, management coach, trainer, counselor, academic advisor, and health/wellbeing/life
coach.
While attending college, I discovered that I have a
natural talent for teaching. Over the years I
deepened and refined my abilities. Currently, I teach
Meridian Acupoint Tapping Techniques
(Emotional Freedom Techniques--EFT) in an
Integrative and Holistic Health Professions program at
a community college in Fort Collins, Colorado.
A Zig-Zag Path to Enlightenment.
Fast forward…I’m now in my late-60s. I’ve lived a few lifetimes in this life. I've made mistakes.
Often, I learned from them. Sometimes it took more than one mistake to "get it". I've made wise
and not-so-wise choices. As I look over the landscape of my life journey I see peaks, valleys,
scenic routes, and both intentional and unforeseen detours. It looks like a zig-zag, spiral path.
Life has been a process of elimination...I didn't always know what I wanted, but eventually I
figured out what didn't work for me and adjusted my course accordingly. Sometimes it felt like I
was waiting for happiness to come from outside of myself. That's a painful space to be in. The
life I envisioned and believed to be possible four decades ago is still evolving. The changes and
challenges that shape my current reality include a painful divorce, deep depression, chronic
illness, and weight issues. I've learned to embrace disappointment and discouragement and see
the "shadow side" as a very important, and necessary, part of my journey.
I’m grateful for clarity and contentment. I realize that enlightenment isn't a destination, it's an
unfolding journey that occurs everyday in every encounter, experience, thought, and feeling.
Sometimes the unfolding appears to be "positive" and sometimes it appears to be
"negative". I've learned that they both contain insights that support my next steps along the
path. I've discovered, and continue to find, ways to tap into inner and outer resources that
remind me that, no matter what it looks like "out there", I can choose to respond with ease,
harmony, and grace "in here".
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Life Happens.
When life throws the unexpected at me, I’m sometimes surprised that “life happened”. Sometimes I hear an inner, critical voice that says...“That’s not supposed to happen,” or “I should know better,” or “How come I didn’t see I was out of balance?” or “What did I do to bring this on?” and I stop and breathe. In those moments I know that I’m beating up on myself for “attracting this” into my life, so it's my fault. Like many of us, I sometimes have an active “spiritual tyrant”. It's the voice that is neither kind or gentle when it tells me that when life happens I'm not spiritual enough, or my karma is bad or it's my fault that life isn't “perfect”. And then I say: There has to be another way to be... I hold the belief that there are no accidents. Believing that nothing is random brings with it a need to take responsibility for what’s going on in my life without judging myself. With fresh eyes, I see that there’s a gift in everything that happens if I choose to look for it. When something’s not working, I can judge myself or I can ask: “What’s the gift in this?” or “What’s this event, person, or circumstance trying to tell me?” or “What’s the old story I’ve been telling myself, and listening to?” or “What can I do differently so that I don’t have to get this message in such a painful way?” I delight in thanking the universe for the awesome way it works and in remembering that it’s all good. We’re not meant to suffer, although I can choose to…and that’s okay, too. Getting the message, seeing my choices reflected back from "out there" offers opportunities to love myself anyway, choose again, and live a life of outrageous joy! |
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We have within us a miraculous power,
and if we live our daily lives in mindfulness,
if we take steps mindfully, with love and care,
we can produce the miracle
and transform our world
into a miraculous place to live.
and if we live our daily lives in mindfulness,
if we take steps mindfully, with love and care,
we can produce the miracle
and transform our world
into a miraculous place to live.
Thich Nhat Hanh (Cultivating the Mind of Love):
I know in my heart that the world needs each of us and all parts of us...our intentions, our
passions, our dreams, our humanness, our spirituality and our practicality.
passions, our dreams, our humanness, our spirituality and our practicality.
