Introspection – The ‘Perfect Space’ for a New Moon Adventures in Awareness Issue #10 “There is so much about my fate that I cannot control…but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I’m going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts.” - Elizabeth M. Gilbert, American author, essayist, short story writer & memoirist (18 Jul 1969-) Introspection - The ‘perfect space’ for a New Moon Heartfelt thanks and much appreciation to those of you who reached out because you realized my messages had been missing in recent weeks. I am aware once again that it’s important to leave a bit more white space and introspective time than I did. As I write that, I chuckle because I realize that there will likely be one or more times that will occur. You’ve never done that, right? [Wink, wink] And speaking of introspective time, I’m still immersed in that for now with a myriad of thoughts and ideas whirling that are not yet quite ready to come together. My ‘muse’ and I have agreed to go with the flow, which means this message is purposely short. As I began these ‘Adventures…’ messages, I promised myself that they would emerge...
Collaboration – The Importance of Clear Agreements Adventures in Awareness Issue #9 “If people work together in an open way with porous boundaries - that is, if they listen to each other and really talk to each other - then they are bound to trade ideas that are mutual to each other and be influenced by each other. That mutual influence and open system of working creates collaboration.” - Richard Thomas, actor (13 Jun 1951- ) Collaboration - The importance of clear agreements Having delivered a 2-day workshop for an intact work team last week with a colleague, I’m in the process of reflecting on what went well and what I will pay closer attention to in future. While my colleague and I spent several months in multiple conversations collaborating on the workshop design and how we planned to customize it for this group, we experienced a bit of a rocky time delivering it. In all fairness, it was the first time we’d co-facilitated this particular process together, and we each have different levels of experience in facilitating it. What I’m clear about so far is that it would have been beneficial to capture the verbal agreements on paper that we were making between us throughout our planning conversations. The primary benefit this would have given us is the opportunity to clarify our individual ‘definitions’ of what each agreement truly meant right up to and during the workshop. By doing so, discovery of any as-yet-undiscovered or unnamed expectations of each other can surface and be dealt with in the moment. The reality is that we were each operating under...
Courage and Self-Doubt – Your Inner Bully as a Catalyst Adventures in Awareness Issue #8 “I’ve come to realize that courage isn’t about feeling brave, it’s a willingness to move through an assumption and pass out the other side. And every time I confront this bully of self-doubt and make headway, my self-respect grows.” - Jay Fulcher, Contemplative, Colleague, Friend- Richard Thomas, actor (13 Jun 1951- ) Tomorrow brings us New Moon, which signals a time to go within and take stock [see the ‘energy soup’ below]. This month is also about ‘new alignment’ for liberation: liberation from limiting thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and yes, liberation from our very own ‘Inner Bully’. [Please see the quote in the sidebar from my colleague and friend Jay]. As I’ve been walking through my process of inner reflection for what’s next and have moved forward with new and exciting opportunities, I’ve noticed that at times my Inner Bully speaks up with self-doubt phrases like, “What you have to say has all been said before, so why bother?”. Or it says, “Who do you think you are…?”. This same type of inner dialog is also showing up for my clients as we explore what’s ahead for them, leading to feelings of fear and frustration; fleeting they may be, but present nonetheless. It helps me to remember that although what I have to offer may not be ‘new’, my perspective on it is unique and deserves to be offered from my heart as I share Life with my fellow journeyers. For me, the key has been to remember that I have a CHOICE about how...
Releasing the Old to Invite the New – Practicing New Behaviors to Instill Inspiration Adventures in Awareness Issue #7 “The stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.” - Bruce Lee, Martial Artist/Actor These past four months of 2015 have contained energizing revelations in my experience of my work, resulting from a monumental decision I made at the end of 2014. That decision was to ‘hit the pause button’ on my 18-year tenure on faculty with a coach training organization, a tenure that has comprised my entire professional identity since becoming a coach in 1997. Needless to say, this decision scared me just to think about it; I considered it carefully and seriously. Thank goodness for my coach, my husband, my colleagues and my friends who supported my emotional roller coaster as I realized leaving was the best thing I could do for myself. That is an example of a large ‘releasing the old to invite the new’ and it illustrates the impact of this month’s ‘energy soup’. Every day I recognize thoughts, attitudes, patterns and even ‘rules’ I had unconsciously put in place around myself, especially as a member of that organization. The surprising thing I am noticing is that they are ALL of my making. Sure, I had some organizational policies and procedures to adhere to but I am just discovering how those pale in light of the ones I wrapped around myself. Things like “this organizational work is a top priority” - despite the fact that it was a relatively small percentage of my book of business. Another...
Stillness & Movement – Enhancers to Brain Neuroplasticity aka ‘Response-Agility’ Adventures in Awareness Issue #6 “True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.” - Wilhelm von Humboldt, Russian Philosopher (Jun 22 1767-Apr 8 1835) “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.” - St. Francis de Sales, Swiss Clergyman (Aug 21 1567-Dec 28 1622) Having just completed the first of four modules on Brain Neuroscience, Consciousness and Coaching with Ann Betz I have a deeper appreciation of and commitment to the power of meditation and bodily movement as effective tools that enhance brain neuroplasticity. Ann defines neuroplasticity as “the capacity of the brain to change throughout life.” I think of it as increasing my capacity for ‘response-agility’ in the face of any situation I might encounter. The continuing energies swirling around and through us [see ‘energy soup’ below] are ongoing invitations to more fully let go of former patterns of thinking and believing - to access broader perspectives than ever before - to open new avenues of heart connection and meaningful conversations. All of that requires brain neuroplasticity or ‘response-agility’ in spades! Since the first of this year, I’ve been including intermittent meditation/stillness periods of five to 15 minutes each throughout my day. I’ve noticed that my creative energy has been flowing more freely, bringing to light several ideas along with the impetus to create them. I’m also allowing myself to take a meditative break whenever I feel stuck, have low energy or I’m uninspired. In order to...
