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"If you want to know your past, look into your present
conditions. If you want to know your future, look into your
present actions." * * * * * This newsletter is sent to you byCoachBenita.. Copyright © 2007, Benita Stafford-Smith and CoachBenita. All rights reserved. Nothing in this newsletter may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author and/or copyright owner. |
The Coach Approach, April 2007 Week One: Inspiration This month’s theme is a spring theme—hope. I will be looking at topics that bring hope and richness to life. Inspiration Wow! I’ve always thought of inspiration as the second or third definition but the first definition really intrigues me. Receiving and communicating sacred revelation. Sacred - entitled to reverence and respect So what is the divine influence that allows a person to receive and communicate sacred revelation? How would a person recognize this divine influence? How would a person communicate this sacred revelation? I read Thomas Leonard’s stages of evolution a few years back and he spoke of moving from the Information Age to the Inspirational Age. My curiosity was piqued with that idea. In the Professional Speaking arena we talk about motivational speakers being a thing of the past and now speakers need to be inspirational. My thoughts on how I stay inspired: 1. Daily reflection/quiet time A Story of Inspiration: Each day as I walked from my parking spot to my office, I went through an above ground walkway. Each morning for several months there was a beggar in the walkway. This gentleman was not well groomed and not well dressed but he had sparkling blue eyes. Each morning I gave him a toonie ($2). That was the extent of our interaction. One morning, it was close to Christmas, this same gentleman was in the walkway but he was very different. He was smelling of alcohol and looking very crazed. I noticed him look at me strangely, like he recognized me but did not know who I was. I went to give him the usual toonie. He sidled up beside me, gently nudging me with his elbow and said “Hey honey, we can work this corner together.” I felt total and complete acceptance from this man who I had nothing in common with except our humanity. I giggled to myself for the rest of the day. I never saw the man after that, he disappeared. Inspiration - a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation. Did this beggar communicate my sacredness to me? Was this possible? I think so. * * * * * Week Two: Intuition Dictionary.com: direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension. Or in my words, just knowing. Intuition has been around forever. Often referred to as a woman’s intuition, business leaders often refer to this as a hunch. People base life decisions on intuition. I certainly do. Intuition is a funny thing. The more you trust and use it, the more reliable it is. The more you doubt it, the less useful it is. Either way, the knowing is always there, it’s up to you whether you take advantage of it or not. How do you start using intuition? The easiest way to start to recognize this is to ask for the awareness. Then listen for your gut reactions. We often rationalize away the information we received via intuition. The mind is a powerful tool for us to use but can really get in our way at times. The next time you are rationalizing away some information, stop for a moment. Start trusting and acting on the information. Begin with small things. Then progressively begin to trust and listen to that small inner voice more often. Last week’s newsletter focused on receiving sacred revelations. Is intuition a sacred revelation? Does it reveal divine truth? I have heard countless stories of people not catching a certain flight or not taking their usual way home and thereby avoiding a fatal accident. Sacred revelation? Divine truth? Often people will say, I don’t know what it is, but I feel uncomfortable with that decision. This is particularly difficult in a business setting where everything must be based on numerical analysis. Yet, business owners and business leaders often ignore the empirical data and follow their nudges. Usually the nudge proves to be the right decision. How does intuition serve you? Friend or foe? Does it add inspiration? Does it add to the richness of your experience? * * * * * Week Three: Mystery Mirriam-Webster on-line dictionary: I love mystery! For me mystery adds jazz and pizzazz to life! Last week I wrote about intuition, getting a nudge or a hunch, and following that guidance. What’s the difference between mystery and intuition? I believe the difference is in how it shows up. For me mystery is like a calling, a beckoning. It is something I pursue without knowing why or understanding why. It is often an anonymous gift that arrives. It is also a beckoning to expand, step out of my comfort zone and explore a little. Mystery allows me to leave my everyday mundane world and discover new truths, secrets and often touch the profound. Caroline Myss in her book, Invisible Acts of Power, discusses reading sacred texts. She says they invite you in, tear you up, change you forever and then spit you out again to react on the world. (My translation of her words.) This was a WOW for me. The great mystery of writing caught in a few words.. How mystery shows up for me? Unraveling the mystery or “joie de vive” of another
culture by learning a new language. With each of these activities I am changed and act upon the world differently. How does mystery show up for you? What effect does it have on your life? * * * * * Week Four: WYSIWSG A term from days gone by for me, from my technology days. WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get! To be an inspiration and to be inspired, to trust your intuition and to enjoy the mysteries life offers I believe we must be very, very clear about who we are and why we are here. In other words, when you look at yourself or others look at you, is “what you see what you get”? Do you trust yourself enough to be open and honest at all times, operate from a place of integrity and have very high standards. Are you clear with others in your communication, clear about boundaries? Do you get all your needs met in healthy ways? Do you operate your life based on your values? Living from a place of clarity and focus is an amazing place to life from. Your interactions with loved ones, friends, co-workers, bosses, suppliers and business acquaintances are easy and effortless. We’ve all had interactions with people who are not authentic, what they present is not who they are and what they say is not true. It takes a lot of energy to be around these people, especially if you are trying to manage them in a workplace. Inspiration cannot survive in this kind of environment, in fact, inspiration cannot even show up! So this week I invite you to live effortlessly by ensuring WYSIWYG! |
