Meet Karin Mitchell

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karin Mitchell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karin, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

In 2012, I went to see an acupuncturist for the first time to see if he could help with my insomnia. He did a long intake, asking many questions about my physical and mental health. He then inserted the needles throughout my body and asked one more question “Why are you here?” Confused, I said “for insomnia.” And then he replied, “no, why are you here on this Earth?” And then he left the room and I laid there for 30 minutes with all the needles in me, thinking “what the? How dare you ask THAT question!” I initially became defensive in my mind, but then eventually softened and gave into the examination of “why AM I here??” And so started the ‘next chapter’ in my life….coming off auto-pilot of my life and really living my life intentionally.

First, I enrolled in a year-long life coaching program. This program had a very dedicated, serious mindfulness/meditation component to it. It was here that I learned how to meditate, and created a daily practice. This practice alone allowed me to get in touch with the deeper brain states that increased my abililty to connect with others more, to regulate my emotions better, and to reduce judgment of others, thereby increasing my capactity for compassion and love. I started to teach introductory meditation courses in my community and wrote a mindfulness curriculum for elementary school students. I did a lot of work on my self in this program, including identifying my values and my character strengths. I found that when I worked from these two lens’, my purpose became clearer and felt effortless. My purpose, on this Earth, is to help people live meaningful and fulfilling lives through various modalities: coaching, meditation, and teaching.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am focused on helping people who feel stuck in their lives to create a life that is intentional and fulfilling. As a coach, I don’t have all the answers, but I ask good questions, to help my clients figure out what goals they want to set and the steps to take to achieve them. My clients say its my deep listening and profound respect for who they are and the struggles they are experiencing, that make the difference for them in creating a better life for themselves. Coaching with me is a powerful partnership that is all about deepening one’s understanding of how they are showing up in their life and then creating real, specific goals that lead to meaningul change.

I am also passionate about helping people learn about Meditation and Mindfulness. I want this aspect of health and wellness to become so mainstream that ‘everyone does it’; much like working out it of one’s body; ‘working out’ of one’s mind becomes an essential aspect of life. Additionally, I am a published instructor on the Apps Insight Timer and Burnalong, leading meditations, insightful talks, and teaching coaching concepts and offering life tips/hacks.

Services I offer are: individual coaching, meditation/mindfulness classes, and speaking engagements.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I think my most impactful skills or qualities are my deep listening, non-judgemental, calm presence with people, and belief that every problem is solvable or workable. This last one was really instilled in me from my parents, who were very active in their community and church serving others and who always believed in the capacity of people to overcome their hardships and to solve their problems. With support from another caring individual, anything is possible.

My advice for people who are early in their journey is to do three things: 1) Hire a coach; 2) Identify your 5 Core Values; and 3) Identify your character strengths or what you are already naturally good at (www.viacharacter.org offers a free test). Working with a coach will help you get clear on your fears, goals in given life areas, and will provide you with accountability. Identifying your 5 Core Values will help you know what matters to you truly, so that you can use these values as a guidepost for your choices and decisions in life. And knowing what your top character strengths are can remind you that when you work from a place of natural, true strength, then life is easier and you will have the energy to tackle its challenges.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who feels stuck in one or several areas of their life. They feel unhappy or deeply unsatisfied in such things as their career, in their relationships with others, or with their own health. They have focused much of their energy in one or two areas of their life, leaving themselves feeling very out of balance. This out of balance feeling has real, measurable impacts on one’s physical and mental health. And when we suffer medical or mental health challenges, this impacts ALL other areas of our life. My ideal client wants something better for themselves. My ideal client wants to have a legacy, at the end of their life, that is made up of their dreams, not of their regrets.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kmitchellcoaching.com
• Instagram: karin.g.mitchell
• Facebook: Karin Mitchell Coaching
• Linkedin: Karin (Karin Garwood) Mitchell
• Soundcloud: Karin Mitchell Coaching
• Other: www.insighttimer.com/karinmitchellcoaching
  www.burnalong.com – need a subscription to access my videos here (many companies use this in their health & wellness benefits)