“I worked with Bidisha as a coach during a period of challenging personal and professional transition. Bidisha exorcised my demons! She asked questions and framed explorations that got to the root of the matter, and then provided tools and practices to address what we found which were highly effective. Bidisha helped me tremendously to maintain my grounding amidst stress, and access joy and relaxation even when faced with challenging situations. Working with Bidisha was one of the most impactful experiences I have had with a coach.” -Mira Manickam-Shirley, former E.D. Brown Girl Surf, creative organizer and twin mom of six year olds.
Expected Outcomes for Individuals:
Enhanced Feeling of Safety, Belonging, and Connection. When you take time to take in the good, and receive support in holding contradictions, you increase trust, decrease anxiety and increase self-leadership.
Recovery from Burnout. Often, not having a vision means that you feel frozen and unable to clarify what you want. When you take time to bathe in all the good you’ve already brought about, and all the good that surrounds you, you are more able to move towards creating the reality that will be most fulfilling for you.
Confident Decision-Making. Too often, people pleasing or another survival strategy holds us back from bridging contradictions. Repeatedly visualizing what we want and connecting to our intuition helps us move confidently in the direction of our dreams while ensuring we notice synchronicities (the coincidence of inner and outer reality).
Network-weaving. Often, talking to someone who has taken the courageous step you’re considering taking, or supporting someone by connecting them to a “weak tie” in your network leads to newfound confidence in your own ability to engage with systems change.
Affirmation of and alignment around social justice goals and spiritual values. During this time of collapse, clarifying our social justice goals and vision is critical for birthing the new world that is possible.
Expected Outcomes for Groups:
Increased sense of safety, belonging, connection. Increasing trust while navigating difficult emotions related to our unprecedented times.
Increased ability to anchor in spiritual values and engage in deep listening with people from other perspectives.
Increased Wellness and Mental Health for Employees. For five years, I’ve worked as a mental health coach for Modern Health, a platform that serves corporations worldwide. I’ve received a Five Star rating throughout, and maintained long-term relationships with executive clients.
Conflict Management. For five years, I supported the Richmond Community Foundation and its clients (ranging from senior executives to untapped folks) with conflict management and rupture and repair, and have received extremely positive feedback for this.
Greater confidence in becoming a coach or facilitator themselves. I’ve served as a mentor coach for BIPOC groups learning about how to become a coach for the Richmond Commuinty Foundation for two years.
Increased sense of hope and agency for people engaged in anti-authoritarian social change. I’ve served as a mentor for the Dalai Lama Fellows since 2011 and value my lifelong relationships with these global changemakers.
Before
Lack of clarity around balancing personal and professional life
Struggling with organization
Feeling burned out about social justice vision
Imposter syndrome
Challenges with conflict and trust-building
Struggling to innovate
Anxiety
Unsure about parenting
Lack of hope
Struggling to meditate
After
Clear boundaries around personal and professional life
Clear priorities and systems for what to do when routines break down
Feeling resourced about social justice vision
Confident
Facing conflict with discernment, and making powerful offers, requests, declines, insists, quits, and commitments where appropriate
Tapping into the wisdom of the body to innovate
Replacing anxiety with humor, creativity and pleasure
Clear about parenting challenge
Enjoying customized meditation practices
Leaning into active hope