Recently, I had a conversation with a potential client who told me that she wanted to "just get rid of my laziness and procrastination." Shortly after that I heard myself telling my own coach that I was "sick of going back and forth in my romantic relationship." In exasperation, I exclaimed, "Can't I just get rid of HER?!?" As if SHE is not me.
Fortunately, I heard myself. And, I realized that as I quit trying to get rid of HER and actually take the time to listen to her, I not only learn something valuable about me, but I also quit fighting me. And, as I let go of the internal struggle, I create space to be a better me.
I'm just beginning to get it that as I serve as a sacred witness to all of me, then I naturally evoke more of the best of me! And, it tends to be so much easier to offer that unconditional compassion and acceptance to my clients rather than to myself. Luckily, I have this great job in which a big part of my job description involves walking my talk!
What about you? Which parts of yourself do you tend to wish you could get rid of? Would you be willing to practice more
self-compassion, self-acceptance, self-love?
Can you imagine what a different world we would live in if every person on the planet were willing to let go of their own internal war? That’s a world worth moving toward!
Yesterday, to celebrate the Winter Solstice, I spent time in City Park hanging out near one of my favorite trees and watching (what seemed like) ten thousand geese. A couple of years ago, I “heard” that this particular tree’s name is Grace. which suits her so beautifully. She embodies natural, elegant grace.
As I pondered the gifts of the Solstice, I realized how completely and effortlessly Grace is Grace, the Light that is Grace. As is each of those geese the Light that is each of them. Goose number one: the Light that is Goose number one. Goose number two: the Light that is Goose number two. (I haven’t learned each of their names, yet!)
Without any strain, second-guessing or stress, every tree and every goose in the park is naturally and fully the Light that they are.
So, today, this day after the darkest day in the northern hemisphere, I offer you my deepest wish of this sacred season, given to me by the trees and the geese.
May you pause for a moment now to recognize and fully take in the completely unique Light that you are, a blessing to the world. No need to do anything, no need to be different than you are, no strain, no second-guessing, no stress. Simply breathing into the Light that is you.
“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing Light of your own Being.”
- Hafiz
While walking in the park today, I thought about my client who's on a snowshoeing trip this weekend with some friends. During our last coaching session, she was excited to learn about the StrengthsFinder™ assessment and share it with her friends so that they could all take it and talk about it over the weekend.
Then I realized that just in the last month, one of my clients and her husband and daughter all took the assessment and talked about each of their strengths. Another of my clients is going to take it with her two business partners so that they can all be more aware of each others' strengths. And yet another client took it and had her two sister's take it so they could support each other around their strength's on their annual birthday trip together. Me and my three sisters gave each other examples of when and in what situations we see the others' strengths clearly on our annual sister's ski trip a few weeks ago.
While walking, I realized that even though I don't tend to be much of a group person, I am facilitating (behind the scenes) lots of conversations around people's strengths. As I realize the impact of more people living and working from their strengths more of the time, I get super excited! What a better place the world becomes as more and more of us contribute to it from our strengths.
When Gallup surveyed millions of people, they found that only one-third felt they had the opportunity to do what they do best every day at work.
I had the displeasure of dealing with several in the other two-thirds this past week. So, I'm on a bit of a mission to get more people living and working from their strengths!
If you haven't taken the assessment yet, I highly recommend that you do. I guarantee you willl thank me!!!
(Don't buy a used book. You need an unused code from the back of the book to go online to take the assessment.)
Here's to that wonderful world in which we all fully utilize our natural strengths and talents . . .
