Eunice Aquilina - Embodying Authenticity: A Somatic Path to Transforming Self, Team & Organisation

Use of self is such a critical concept both for leaders and for any people/system helpers in OD and other disciplines, and it is the fundamental process to tap into that deeper level of our and others humanity. Eunice in this book has added an important contribution to both the concept and the practical application work in this area through her exposition of the significant concepts of the Somatics field of work. That competent exposition of the key concepts are supported by her amazing case stories. By doing this, Eunice has given life to concepts of being, integrative and coherent way of being, how to engage in the process of deeper knowing so that we can access the innate wisdom that resides in our head, our affective centre and our body. Tracing the flow of the book, I can see her skills in mapping the seamless journey of awakening grace -yearning for deeper sense of self and life, going through the Void before being ready to engage in the transformation grace of seeing, hearing for the first time while working against those patterns that have been so familiar, to the empowering grace of self-renewal, continue in learning to access the innate wisdom one has about how to proceed in lifes journey while intentionally making the impact each of us have from our soul calling. A beautiful book that nourishes ones yearning for more. More is what this book can offer.

Dr Mee-Yan Cheung-Judge, Director: Quality & Equality Ltd, author of Organization Development: A Practitioners Guide for OD and HR

Many of us work in organisations that we wish were different and we often talk to colleagues about what needs to change it seems so obvious to us and we are amazed that the management cant see it. This book invites you to approach this situation differently by starting with yourself and thinking about how you could be different in your life and work. It then takes you on a journey to explore how you could start this journey of being different. If you want a quick leadership fix this book is not for you. But if you have an interest in understanding how your attitudes, and behaviours influence your world and are prepared to be brave and start changing them then read it now.

Carrie Birmingham, HR Director: The Times and Sunday Times

Eunice powerfully reminds us how, in a complex world demanding emergent approaches to change, the rhetoric of the last 20 years that change can be linear, scientific and formulaic no longer (if it ever did) applies. This book illustrates how the leadership styles that are associated with this rhetoric are not helpful to our organisations, employees, nor to the leaders themselves. Instead Eunice offers a new model for leaders; humble, inquiring, able to connect to themselves and others. Her stories illustrate and provide evidence of the impact this can have and guide leaders towards some simple first steps.

Gifford Tanser, Head of Corporate OD: Boehringer Ingelheim

Sitting on the train, reeling from a familiar and frustrating day where once again more process and discipline was advocated as the solution to make change happen, I settle down to begin Eunices book. Immediately it slows me down, calms and nurtures me. The words are wise, sensible, and the concepts intuitive, yet difficult to sustain or sometimes even notice in the hub bub of busy organisational life.

I have scratched the surface of somatics, experiencing and valuing Eunices practice as a Somatic Coach, and this book draws me in once more. It makes we want to learn more, experiment further and be bolder. It helpfully reminds me of the importance of purpose and taking action from this position. This book is presented in an open, authentic and clear manner. Whilst not a step by step guide, it uses real stories from real people willing to share pivotal moments for them as professionals and human beings to explore the topic. I would encourage OD practitioners, coaches and leaders of change to read this book, but in addition anyone seeking to make sense of themselves, questioning deep-rooted patterns of behaviour and wanting to explore how they show up in the world.

Caroline Taylor, Director, Talent Management: European bank for Reconstruction and Development.

This is a refreshingly different book about leading transformative change. I say this because Eunice made me think about my way of being and how I create the context for people to express their anxiety, to grow and change. It uniquely connected me with my own transformational journey with the organizational journey I have been on and triggered my curiosity about how I hold (or not) the space for my team and others to learn. From the outset Eunice encouraged me to wake up to my habitual reactive patterns of behaviour and to notice how they support or limit my capacity to effectively navigate the constantly changing environment.

Paul Collin, (SVP) Group Head of Leadership Development: Asea Brown Boveri ltd

Eunice artfully weaves together theory, her personal journey and soul-baring stories of transformation for leaders and organisations. She builds a compelling case for somatics as the missing link not only in leadership development but in culture change programmes and OD, and even beyond. This book speaks eloquently to the zeitgeist of integration between organisations and individuals, between humans and the world around them, between mind, body, heart and soul.

Liz Hall, Editor of Coaching at Work, author of Mindful Coaching and editor of Coaching in Times of Crisis and Transformation

In a world at times dominated by the intellectual perspective, Eunice Aquilina has produced a book that examines the impact of our entire body on our self, whether we are a leader, coach or organisational development consultant. Illustrated throughout with useful stories, this book offers the questions to enable you to start moving through life in a more authentic and centred way. Refreshingly the book doesnt offer seven steps, or five ways, to develop, but remains true to the messiness of change, and instead opens up a perspective on how our body impacts on our self, by providing you with the key questions to apply.

Dr Caroline Horner, Managing Director: i-coach academy

In this inquiry into somatics, with her warm, conversational style, Eunice invites us into a dialogue to consider our own story, our own self and how we might become our whole selves through somatic interventions and practice. At the same time, we can listen to her story and the stories of others who have engaged in this practice and achieved significant and lasting personal change in their journey to become more fully themselves. Her knowledge and experience is well grounded in theory, and without being an academic treatise on the subject. Her work is supported by leading authorities in the field of somatics, transformational change, organisational development and leadership. There are also very powerful examples of applying somatics in organisational change interventions.

Dr Alison Hodge Founder Alison Hodge Associates

This book is a wonderful collection of insights and wisdom that serves the population of people who are on the path to self-realization. Dr Eunice Aquilina offers a narrative that is current, attainable, and rooted in the fundamental mechanisms of how to be human.

Amy Castoro, Vice President: The Williams Group

Embodying Authenticity

Eunice Aquilina

First published in 2016 by:

Live It Publishing Ltd.

27 Old Gloucester Road

London, United Kingdom.

WC1N 3AX

www.liveitpublishing.com

Copyright 2016 by Eunice Aquilina

The moral right of Eunice Aquilina to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.