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Tag: Coaching

A Mindful Year’s End… in a Galaxy Not So Far Away 

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Every December, as the year winds down and the Wyoming wind kicks up, my family leans into one of our most beloved traditions: watching the entire Star Wars saga from start to finish. Yes—all of them. Lightsabers, Wookiees, questionable galactic politics (funny how much of it echoes today’s political scene), and the eternal struggle between fear and presence. It’s a marathon of nostalgia, popcorn, puzzles, and the occasional debate over the correct order to watch them in.

But somewhere between Yoda’s wisdom and the hum of the Millennium Falcon, I’m reminded that Star Wars is, at its core, a mindfulness manual wrapped in space opera.

So, as we close out the year, I thought I’d share a few mindful lessons from the galaxy far, far away—lessons that might help us step into the new year with clarity, courage, and a little more ease.

This isn’t about perfectionism. It’s about presence. When we commit to something—resting, setting boundaries, taking a walk, saying no—we can do it with intention rather than half‑energy or guilt. Mindfulness invites us to show up fully, even in small moments, especially in small moments.

Fear is the path to the dark side… but awareness is the path back.

Fear, stress, and overwhelm aren’t signs we’re failing—they’re signals. When Luke rushes into battle fueled by fear, things unravel. When he pauses, breathes, and reconnects with his values, he finds his way. Mindfulness doesn’t eliminate fear; it helps us notice it without letting it drive the ship.

As we wrap up the year, consider: 

What fear-based habits can I release 

What choices feel aligned with who I’m becoming 

This one feels like it was written for modern life. Our attention is our most precious resource. Where we place it—on gratitude, on connection, on what we can control—shapes our experience of the world.

Even the Rebellion needed rest.

One of the most underrated themes in Star Wars is recovery. Between battles, the heroes rest, repair droids, share meals, and reconnect with their people. They don’t hustle nonstop. They honor cycles. They begin again.

As you move into the new year, may you give yourself permission to: 

– Recharge without apology 
– Celebrate small wins 
– Step back when needed 
– Trust that rest is part of the mission

A New Hope (for You) 

The end of the year is a natural invitation to tidy up—your space, your thinking, your relationships, your energy. Not with pressure, but with curiosity. What do you want to carry forward? What can you set down?

As my family settles in for another round of lightspeed jumps and Jedi wisdom, I’m reminded that mindfulness isn’t about escaping to another galaxy. It’s about noticing the one we’re already in—messy, beautiful, unpredictable, and full of possibility.

May the Force—and your inner calm—be with you as we step into a new year.

✨ A mindful practice for the new year: 

Choose one moment each day to pause and ask,
“What am I focusing on right now?”

If it’s not serving you, gently shift.

Erin Taylor Coach Offerings

As a certified leadership coach, I utilize an assortment of proven industry-recognized energy and leadership assessments including:

EQi 2.0-Emotional Intelligence Assessment – one of the most scientifically validated Emotional Intelligence instruments on the market today. The Hogan Assessment – a powerful tool designed to evaluate personality in the workplace, offering deep insights into leadership potential, interpersonal skills, and career development.

View My Offerings

Practicing Gratitude: An Annual Invitation (and a Daily Gift)

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Practicing Gratitude: An annual invitation and a daily gift

Last November, I told you how my family returns to a beloved tradition we call our “thankfuls.” It’s a simple ritual—colorful 2×8 inch cardstock, a few Sharpies, and a basket in the kitchen—but it anchors us in something profound: the practice of noticing and naming what we’re grateful for.

Throughout the month, we aim to jot down one thankful each day…ish. Some are lighthearted (hockey, dog walks, a no-wind day in Wyoming), while others reflect deeper appreciation for each other’s presence, humor, or quiet strength. On Thanksgiving, we read them aloud. We laugh. We cry. Sometimes the food gets cold. And somehow, even with the usual procrastination, the basket always fills.

After dinner, we link the thankfuls into a paper chain that wraps around our home for the holidays—a visible reminder of the love and gratitude we’ve shared. It’s colorful, sometimes sparkly, and always heartfelt.

This tradition isn’t just about November. It’s a yearly nudge to return to gratitude, to remember that even in the busiest seasons, we can pause and give thanks.

This year, my husband and I have added a new layer to our practice: each day, we tell one another something we appreciate about the other. It’s simple, intentional, and surprisingly powerful. Whether it’s a kind gesture, a moment of patience, or just showing up with a smile, naming our appreciation has deepened our connection and brought warmth to even the most ordinary days.

Whether you use cardstock or conversation, sticky notes or silent reflection, I invite you to join in this annual—and daily—practice. Let it be a reset, a reconnection, and a reminder that gratitude is always within reach.

Graphic that reads: Smart Things People Say: "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." - Aesop

Mindful Moments: The Wake of Gratitude

The One-Line Journal 📝

Each evening, write a single sentence that begins with “Today I’m grateful for…”
This practice is intentionally brief, making it sustainable even on busy days. Over time, it becomes a powerful archive of small joys, meaningful moments, and personal growth.

 Appreciation Exchange 💙

Invite a loved one, friend, or colleague to join you in a daily exchange: each person shares one thing they appreciate about the other. This can be spoken, texted, or written. It builds connection, strengthens relationships, and helps both people feel seen.

Gratitude Pause 🙏

Set a timer once a day to pause for 60 seconds. During that minute, take three deep breaths and mentally name three things you’re grateful for in that moment—no matter how small. This micro-practice trains your brain to notice goodness in real time and cultivates presence.

Erin Taylor headshot

Erin Taylor Coach Offerings

As a certified leadership coach, I utilize an assortment of proven industry-recognized energy and leadership assessments including:

EQi 2.0-Emotional Intelligence Assessment – one of the most scientifically validated Emotional Intelligence instruments on the market today. The Hogan Assessment – a powerful tool designed to evaluate personality in the workplace, offering deep insights into leadership potential, interpersonal skills, and career development.

View My Offerings

Introducing Erin Taylor Coaching LLC

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Erin Taylor headshot

I’m proud and excited to present, Erin Taylor Coaching, LLC!

Erin Taylor Coaching works with executives, association leaders, teams and emerging leaders to build resilience and meet their goals – essentially, to cultivate their energy to live life on purpose. Building from a bedrock of professional experience of more than 20 years of association leadership, board management, government relations, public affairs, and politics, I am happy to announce a new venture that combines this experience by helping others through executive coaching and workplace mindfulness training.

Specializing in wellness, life-balance, intuitive leadership coaching, in addition to workplace mindfulness, I utilize several proven assessments to measure your how you are showing up and develop your leadership potential.

One of my favorite quotes is from Viktor Frankl: 

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

It is in that space where I learned how to change my life for the better and am a big fan of incorporating mindfulness practices into my coaching. I have seen firsthand what it can do in the world of politics, a corporate environment, and my family. In the simplest of terms, it worked for me – I discovered the Space Between. This is what one client has to say,

This is what one client has to say, 
“As a coach, Erin knows how to help you bring your personal and professional goals into focus — recognizing that they are intrinsically tied together. She meets clients where they are at, utilizing her extensive mindfulness and meditation training along with experienced business acumen to create a program that works for you. Erin is resourceful, compassionate and encouraging while providing the accountability needed to tackle your biggest challenges.” 

I am excited to work with executives and teams both in Wyoming and nationwide to do just that – bring your personal and professional goals into focus by aligning your energy with your values and mission. Thank you for your support – here’s to new ventures ahead!

Discover the Space Between

Book cover, titled: "go. follow. lead. by janna magette butler, ph.d"

Books on my Bedside:

go. follow. lead: from my journey to yours
by Janna Magette Butler

What’s interesting so far?

Butler believes leadership is about bringing all of yourself to everything you do. Her favorite word is “go.”

Taylor Takeaways:

  • I love the idea of writing a letter to someone you know once a week. (This is just one of the many great ideas in the book and is THE REASON I am reading this book. A friend sent me a letter and told me about this book). Maybe it’s an encouragement to someone you mentor. Perhaps it’s a thank you or acknowledgment for someone or something you saw from afar.
  • 52 letters, 52 weeks. I’m going to try it!
Graphic that reads: "Smart Things People Say. "A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life." - Christopher K. Germer

Mindful Moments

One of my favorite methods to employ the tiniest bit of mindfulness into my day is to “practice the pause.” It’s simple – find something during your day that allows you to tune out, tune in, focus on your environment, or simply “be.” It could be something like the following:

  • Make a cup of tea. Heat the water, take in the aroma of the tea, let the hot water warm your hands, mindfully take that first sip. This is favorite way to pause.
  • Take a break before you sit down at the start of a new meeting to set an intention for the meeting. How do you want to show up?
  • Consider a “moment to arrive” at the beginning of every meeting. Use the minute to literally leave the rest behind you. Collect yourself to be present for the next meeting, put away any distractions, and take a deep breath.
  • Take the stairs and intentionally think about the benefits the activity brings to your body
  • Think about how your food came to be on your table – think about the farmer, the processer, the transportation, the storage, the preparation, the service, the garbage. How is this food nourishing your body?
  • Get outside!