The Coach's Notes: Recent Episodes
Coach Clay
The Coach's Notes are my reflections, observations, and conversations about consciousness, life, and human potential.
I read this morning from a philosopher that we are "misliving." Basically he was suggesting that in our current lifestyle, we often misread, misinterpret, or misconstrue various aspects of our lives, which keeps us from living a truly meaningful life.
You know, there's this quote by Gabriel Marcel that goes like this, "Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be experienced." And honestly, I think it's such a cool way to look at life.
In this episode, we explore the realities and emotions of being over fifty, acknowledging the poignant truth that we may have more days behind us than ahead. Join us as we dive into the complexities of life's finite nature and the impact it has on our perspectives. My guest today is Nicola Jones.
For today's Coach's Notes, I want to share a conversation I had with Sarah back in May 2022. I was originally going to use this interview along with others to revive the Wisdom Experience podcast, which focuses on spirituality and inner wisdom. For whatever reason, I decided not to pursue the relaunch. But I did have some great conversations with a few people, and given the direction and mission of the Coach's Notes to explore the 6 pillars of self-improvement, with spirituality development being one of the pillars, I feel that these conversations fit nicely in the groove. Today's conversation features my friend Sarah Beth Hunt who is a writer, a yoga teacher, and a meditation teacher. We share our backstory and relationship with spirituality and spiritual development.
The journey to uncover our authentic selves is an ongoing process, marked by moments of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. By pulling back the layers of persona and examining the depths of our being, we can forge a deeper connection with ourselves and live more authentic, fulfilling lives. The authentic self is not a fixed destination, but rather a constant exploration of the ever-evolving, multifaceted nature of our inner continue worlds.
Ultimately, embracing our authentic core selves requires courage, self-compassion, and a willingness to confront our fears and insecurities. As we learn to integrate our various personas with our true selves, we can cultivate a more harmonious, balanced sense of identity. This integration not only benefits our personal well-being but also enriches our relationships and interactions with others, fostering greater understanding, empathy, and connection.
In the pursuit of authenticity, we must remember that the journey is as important as the destination. Each step we take towards understanding and accepting our true selves contributes to our growth and self-awareness. By embracing the complexity and fluidity of our identities, we can navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life with resilience, self-assurance, and a deeper connection to our innermost selves.
The notes for this episode are just under 2500 words.
I would post them, but I want you to listen to the episode instead. I know you're a busy person, so I'll be kind and share a stripped down list of what I talk about in this episode.
It's a long episode, so you might want to listen to it on your commute or while you're out walking or doing your chores!
Here's what I talk about today:
Some factors that are commonly associated with happiness include:
- Positive relationships with family, friends, and significant others.
- A sense of purpose or meaning in life.
- The ability to manage stress and cope with challenges effectively.
- Regular physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
- A sense of gratitude and appreciation for what one has.
- Pursuing activities that bring joy and fulfilment.
- A sense of accomplishment and achievement.
- A positive outlook and attitude towards life.
- Helping others and contributing to society.
- Financial stability and security.
For the details, you have to listen to the episode, so go ahead and click that play button now!
Excellence and Wisdom,
Clay
Going Small
When setting out to achieve a big goal, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that bigger is better. However, sometimes it's better to think small. In fact, thinking small can actually be the key to achieving a big goal. Here are some reasons why:
- Small steps are easier to take: When you break down a big goal into smaller steps, it becomes much easier to take action. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task at hand, you can focus on taking one small step at a time. This can help you to build momentum and stay motivated.
- Small steps lead to big progress: When you focus on taking small steps, you'll start to see progress more quickly. Each small step you take brings you closer to your goal, and this progress can be very motivating. Small steps may seem insignificant on their own, but when you add them up over time, they can lead to big changes.
- Small steps help you learn: When you take small steps, you have the opportunity to learn along the way. You can experiment with different approaches and see what works best for you. This can help you to refine your strategy and make progress more efficiently.
- Small steps are more sustainable: When you try to achieve a big goal all at once, you risk burning out quickly. However, when you focus on taking small steps, you can make progress without getting overwhelmed. This can help you to stay motivated and avoid giving up on your goal.
- Small steps help you celebrate success: When you achieve a big goal, it can be hard to celebrate because it feels like such a huge accomplishment. However, when you break your goal down into smaller steps, you can celebrate each small success along the way. This can help you to stay motivated and feel a sense of accomplishment throughout the journey.
Bottom line is if you have a big goal in mind, don't be afraid to think small and take one step at a time.
Hello! Both holistic living and systems thinking are ways of looking at the world that acknowledge the interconnectedness of all things. While holistic living is a lifestyle that involves taking care of your whole self, systems thinking is an approach to problem-solving that considers the relationships and interactions between different elements in a system. Let's explore the similarities and differences between the two.
Both holistic living and systems thinking recognize that everything is interconnected. In holistic living, this means taking care of your mind, body, and spirit, as well as your relationships and environment, in order to achieve balance and harmony. In systems thinking, this means looking at how different elements in a system interact with one another and how changes in one area can affect the entire system.
Both holistic living and systems thinking require a shift in perspective. Holistic living involves seeing yourself as a whole person and recognizing the impact that different aspects of your life have on one another. Systems thinking involves looking at problems or situations from a broader perspective and understanding the complex relationships between different elements in a system.
However, there are also some differences between holistic living and systems thinking. Holistic living is a lifestyle that involves making intentional choices about how you care for yourself and your environment. Systems thinking, on the other hand, is a problem-solving approach that can be applied to a wide range of issues, from environmental sustainability to healthcare to business management.
In addition, while holistic living focuses on the individual, systems thinking can be applied to any level of analysis, from the micro-level of individual interactions to the macro-level of global systems. Systems thinking can also involve a more analytical and data-driven approach, while holistic living is often more focused on intuition, self-awareness, and personal growth.
Overall, both holistic living and systems thinking share a recognition of the interconnectedness of all things and a commitment to creating balance and harmony. While holistic living focuses on the individual and involves making intentional choices about how to care for yourself and your environment, systems thinking is a problem-solving approach that can be applied to a wide range of issues and levels of analysis. Both are valuable perspectives for navigating a complex and interconnected world!
Excellence and Wisdom,
Clay
In our fast-paced world, it can be difficult to find moments of stillness and calm. However, I believe that it is essential to carve out time in our lives for moments of reflection and introspection. One of the best ways to do this is by establishing a solid morning routine.
A morning routine is a set of habits or practices that we do each morning before we begin our day. It can be as simple or as elaborate as we want it to be. What is important is that it is consistent and intentional. A morning routine can help us to start our day with purpose, energy, and clarity.
For me, my morning routine is an essential part of my daily life. I wake up roughly 5AM everyday and spend an hour reading, contemplating, and/or writing. Then I spend about an hour in the gym. After the gym, I try to squeeze in a 10 - 20 minute meditation session.
What I love about my morning routine is that it sets the tone for my entire day. By starting my day with practices that nourish my mind, body, and spirit, I am more centered and focused throughout the day. I find that I am better able to handle the stresses and challenges that come my way.
Of course, everyone's morning routine will look different. What works for me may not work for you. However, I encourage you to experiment with different practices and find what feels right for you. Some people may prefer to start their day with a cup of tea or coffee and some quiet time, while others may enjoy a vigorous workout or a hearty breakfast.
The key is to find practices that bring you joy and help you to connect with your inner self. It can be helpful to start small and gradually build up to a more elaborate routine. Even just a few minutes of meditation or stretching each morning can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the day.
If you start your day with intention and purpose, you're better able to meet the challenges and stresses of the day. Plus it's good for your overall wellbeing.
Excellence and Wisdom,
Clay
Excellence is not just a goal to be pursued; it is a way of life that we can cultivate in everything we do. It is a commitment to the highest standards, to the pursuit of our full potential, and to the continual refinement of our skills, abilities, and character.
In this episode, I share some thoughts on personal power. I talk about how we limit ourselves by sinking our personal power into habits that are either bad or less than optimal.
Fear, doubt, and disbelief can be powerful emotions that can hold you back from reaching your full potential. However, with the right tools and strategies, it is possible to overcome these emotions and lead a fulfilling life. By facing your fears, practicing self-affirmation, focusing on the present moment, seeking support, embracing failure and developing a growth mindset, you can become more confident, resilient, and motivated to achieve your goals. Overcoming fear, doubt, and disbelief is a process that takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. By taking control of your thoughts and emotions, you can live a life filled with confidence, growth, and purpose.
In this episode, I explain why it's important to keep your belief maps fresh and up-to-date. Our belief maps are how we navigate reality. Reality is subjective, of course, so how do we make sure our current view of reality is the most up-to-date?
Alfred Korzybsky, a philosopher and mathematician, is known for his concept of "the map is not the territory." This idea refers to the idea that our understanding of the world around us is limited by the language and symbols that we use to describe it. In other words, the way that we perceive and understand the world is not the same as the actual world itself.
Merely writing down your goals is not a guarantee of success. To increase your chances of achieving your goals, it is essential to set an intention, examine your intent, establish a significant ritual related to your goal, and take action. Check out the show notes for more information.
The Logical Levels framework is a model for understanding how different aspects of a person are interconnected and how they influence one another. The model was developed by Robert Dilts, a pioneer in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
Logical Levels are a way of looking at how different aspects of our lives are interconnected and how they can influence one another.
Click here to see the full microlearning post.
I know how it feels to be a procrastinator. I've been there, and I've woken up with a long list of things to do and nowhere near enough time to get them done. To combat this, I have a few tips for you.
In this episode of the Coach's Notes, I share two rituals with you. One old ritual that I have been doing for years, and one new ritual.
I love it when you can dip back to the ancient Greeks and pull out a bit of wisdom. Speaking on emotional intelligence (of course they didn't call that back then) Aristotle had this to say about anger:
“Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy.”
The thing about emotions is that as kids we were never really taught how to handle the beasts. Instead of learning how to deal with our emotions, we were taught to suppress them. If we got angry, our parents or teachers told us to calm down. As a male in my household I wasn't allowed to cry...the whole men don't cry was a real thing in my household. Crying just brought more punishment.
We weren't taught that emotions are useful and beneficial to us and by expressing them we can learn more about our authentic selves.
emotional intelligence teaches us how to recognise and respond to our emotions both toward ourselves and others.
Take anger for instance. If you're seeing the red mist of anger and you're about to explode someone telling you to calm down isn't much use.
A better way to go about it is to ask yourself is there another way to interpret the situation that's triggering you? This can also buy you some distance from the situation and make it less personal.
To give yourself some more options you can ask yourself what would (think of someone you respect) do in this situation? How would they respond?
Doing those two things alone will naturally disperse some of the anger giving you time to decide if anger is the most useful response given the situation.
Anger often gets a bad rap, but don't forget anger does have its benefits. Anger:
Energises us
Motivated us to solve problems
Drives us toward our goals
Protects our values and beliefs
Pushes us to reach deeper into ourselves
To name a few of the benefits.
You can use the above framework on any emotion. My go-to response to an emotionally charged situation is to ask myself:
Given the situation, what is the most useful emotion to help me achieve the outcome I want?
"The paradox of feeling that matters of extreme importance are occurring, whilst at the same time nothing seems to matter, is a part of the atmosphere of existential themes. Within the desert, we can search and search for something we sense is there, only to uncover more sand."
Crossing the border into existential territory on this one. Join me.
Points of Reference
Transpersonal Dynamics: the relational field, depth work, and the unconscious - Stacey Millichamp
The Hero with a Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell
That Which You Are Seeking is Causing You to Seek - Cheri Huber
I spent some time out in nature reflecting on the gift of being human. It's easy to take our existence for granted. We wake up in the morning, do some stuff, then call it a day. We wake up the next day and do it all again without pausing to marvel at how truly amazing it is to be alive. In this episode, I share with you what I am most grateful for about being human.
I explore this question on the Coach's Notes today:
What do you need to unlearn or what patterns do you need to break in order to manifest the future you really want?
It's from Patricia Adson's book, Deep Coaching: Discovering Archetypes for Empowerment, Growth, and Balance.
Today's Coach's Notes is going to be a bit of a mind-bender, which often happens when you talk about spiritual growth, Self-development, consciousness, and things of that nature.
I've been getting the ship ready for another voyage into the murky waters of the unconscious mind in search of the "I" that is my True Self.
I've sailed these seas in various forms in the past and now I'm ready for another inner adventure.
This time I'm using as my guide, Roberto Assagioli and his work on psychosynthesis.
The show notes are a little light today because I feel it's easier for me to explain the Egg of Being verbally rather than in writing. Here's the model I'll be talking about in the Notes:
cover art: jaci XIII
Fear shapes our limits
I've read somewhere that we are born with only two fears...the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned.
And what that means to me is, if you can learn a fear, you can unlearn a fear as well.
I think the first step in that is to uncover your fears. In what ways does fear show up in your life?
What is fear? I like the acronym version: FEAR...False Evidence Appearing Real...
Don't get me wrong, fear is a useful device. It's part of our survival mechanism where we are able to image a future event, war-game it in our minds...imagining the worse-case scenarios, experiencing that awful sensation of fear in the present as if the event is happening now so that we can motivate ourselves to take some action in the present that will prevent the worst-case scenario from happening.
The thing is though, the experience of fear can be so powerful that it stops us dead in our tracks. And instead of using fear as it is meant to be used...as a warning sign to get ourselves in the best, most resourceful state, so that we can do what we need to do to be prepared to handle or avoid the worst-case scenario. Instead, we have a tendency to use fear as a stop sign and do nothing, take no action toward the future event.
For example, let's say you have a big presentation coming up in a few weeks' time, but you hate speaking in front of groups...especially large groups. Immediately, your fear factor kicks in and you start to feel anxious and nervous just thinking about having to stand up in front of all those people.
What's happening here is you're imagining the worst-case scenario and your body is reacting as if it's actually happening now, when in fact, it's all in your mind.
The good news is, you can change the pattern by imaging how you want it to turn. Imagine the best-case scenario and watch your body respond as if the best-case scenario is happening now in the present.
The BIG secret here is that both scenarios are happening in your imagination. The events are not yet real because they haven't happened yet, bid our bodies are responding as if the event happening in the present moment.
As it is happening in your imagination, you can control the narrative and focus on the best-case scenario - what will you see, what will you hear, what will you feel. Harness the positive vibes and use them to focus on getting yourself prepared.
Focus on what you want, not what you don't want. Use your imagination as a force for good.
Acknowledge the worst-case scenario, but don't dwell on it. See it for what it is...a warning sign...warning you to take the necessary action to make sure the worst-case scenario doesn't happen and if does, that you have a contingency plan to deal with it.
Now refocus on the outcome you do want to happen and then do the necessary work to make sure you are positioned to get the best result you can.
Today is one of those days where my mood is as gray as the sky outside. Watching the rainfall, my mind drifts from thought to thought without rhyme or reason. I settle on the thought of imperfection and how much time we spend trying to correct our imperfection.
Personally, I'm inclined to go with the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi which is concept that:
motions us to constantly search for the beauty in imperfection and accept the more natural cycle of life. It reminds us that all things including us and life itself, are impermanent, incomplete, and imperfect. Perfection, then, is impossible and impermanence is the only way.The Principles of Wabi-Sabi:
- Through acceptance, you find freedom; out of acceptance, you find growth. To resist this is to suffer.
- All things in life, including you, are in an imperfect state of flux, so strive not for perfection, but for excellence instead.
- Appreciate the beauty of all things, especially the great beauty that hides beneath the surface of what seems to be broken.
- Slow and simple, is the only way to feel the joy of what it means to be alive.
- To be content exactly where you are with all that you already have is to be happy.
Hat Tip: Omar Itani
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I like this idea of having no plan B.
I often tell the story of Gen. Grant and the siege of Vicksburg.
Vicksburg was a strategic city on the Mississippi River during the Civil War. He who commanded Vicksburg commanded the Mississippi River and the supplies traveling up and down it.
All of the Union generals before Grant had failed to take Vicksburg. The Grant came along. He was known for doing things differently. He didn't play according to the standard war-fighting playbook. Warfighting at the time was heavily dependent on having clear lines of supply. Your army lived or died on its lines of supply.
To take Vicksburg, Grant did something crazy. He cut his own lines of supply. For him, the armies had gotten too dependent on them. They could have all other military advantages but if the lines of supply were not clear or cut, then the military sound thing to do at the time was fall back, regroup, reestablish your supply lines.
Grant said, the heck with that. We're taking Vicksburg without being tethered to cumbersome and vulnerable lines of supply. The land would provide all his Army needed.
For him Grant, it was Vicksburg or die! He fused to be forced into a Plan B if his supply lines were cut, which the South and their cavalry were good at doing.
No Plan B.
Reminds me of another one of my favorite generals. The famous Carthaginian general, general Hannibal. He was determined he was going to attack Rome by land instead of the sea. To do that, he had taken his famed and feared war elephants through the Alps. His generals said it couldn't be done, to which General Hannibal famously said:
"We will with find a way, or make one!"
I love that.
I say all of that to say, our approach to obtaining our dream goals should have that same tenacity.
Often we don't. We have a Plan B. We say to ourselves, well if this doesn't work out, I can always do X. If I set up this business and it doesn't work out, I can always go back employed and find another job.
Don't give yourself the out. If you do, in the back of your mind, you'll be thinking you always have the option to quit and go back to doing your old thing. Instead, be like Grant and Hannibal. Find a way or make one, no Plan B. There's no going back. Victory or death! Ok, that may be a little extreme in the case of everyday business. But you get my point.
Don't give yourself an easy option out. Your dreams are worth more than that!
Go all in or don't go in at all.
How do you tell the difference between the voice of reason and the voice of excuse?
So you know how when you have this big dream that you want to accomplish. In your heart, you want it so bad. You want it so bad you can taste it.
But your head has other ideas.
In your head, you start hearing what you think is the voice of reason telling you all of the reasons why now is not the time to pursue this dream.
You know the reasons, classics like:
But what if I do this and it goes horribly wrong? I could lose everything I’ve worked so hard for, and at my age, I can’t risk starting over from the beginning again. I’m too long in the tooth for that.
Or how about this one:
I need more information.
I need more money.
I need more time,
I need more data.
I need more merit badges that prove I’m worthy.
And the list goes on.
Or how about this sneaky one:
I’m not 100% sure what is it I want to do or where I want to be, so let me just hold off not rush into things, and see what happens
These all sound like reasonable things to do but what’s insidious about them is that they cause it to take no REAL action towards pursuing your dream.
You give in to the voice of excuse.
And I know you’ll come back at me and say, but no really, these are valid reasons.
And you’re right, they are. And that’s what is so insidious about them; they are excuses masquerading around as reasons.
In order to make something happen, have to take action
What’s really going on here is our need for certainty. We are hardwired to seek certainty. You want to know if you take ‘X’ action, you’re going to get ‘Y’ result. You want to know if you do this thing, it will be successful.
The thing is unless you’re some kind of psychic who can predict the future with 100% certainty, you’ll never know if the thing you’re going to do is going to be successful.
You have to take the risk of action. The only way you’ll know for certain is to take the action. Get a result. Then respond to the result you get. If it doesn't work out, try something different. If it works out, good, on to the next thing.
So, the next time you stop yourself from actively pursuing your dream because your voice of reason told you now is not the time, challenge that voice and make sure it’s not the voice of excuse pretending to be the voice of reason.
Do you know, even with a map, you can still get lost.
Even after 20 years in the game, I still have moments of doubt and feel the cold hand of despair squeezing my heart.
Fortunately, I'm prepared for these moments.
You see, I hold this mindset, this belief, this confidence that I know what to do when I don't know what to do.
I love the concept: of knowing what to do when you don't know what to do.
And it all stems from having a compelling vision, something that inspires me, that motivates me, that demands of me to keep going even when I'm unsure of where I'm at.
A compelling vision helps you re-orient.
I'm laughing to myself right now because I just remembered as a young infantry lieutenant the worse thing you could do out in the field was be lost. So we would say, I'm not lost; I just don't know where I am.
I liken a compelling vision to magnetic north.
When you take out a compass, regardless of where you are, the needle will always point north. You can use this, along with your map, to reorient yourself and get back on track.
A compelling vision helps keep you on track. When you don't know what to do, revisit your vision, remind yourself of why you do what you do and what is that you want to bring into the world.
Let your vision be your magnetic north, and you'll know what you need to do next to get back on track.
Which reminds me, it's so easy to get caught up in the day to grind and lose sight of the big picture. Therefore, a good habit to get into is periodical, every other day or two, to revisit your vision, check your map (plan), and make sure you're still on track. Feel that magnetic pull toward your ultimate goal: seeing your vision brought to fruition.
The sociologist Bernice Neugarten pointed out that members of society hold expectations of what people should have accomplished by certain points in their lives and if you meet these checkpoints, then you are considered to be living a successful life - you've "made good". Sociologists call this the social clock pattern. Research has shown that those who live in time with the social clock have less stressful lives, overall better well-being.
I'll spare you the new year, new me talk. This is about crafting a clear vision of what you want in 2021 and then committing to yourself to make it happen regardless of any obstacles you might face. It's your Rubicon moment! No plan B.
When in do-mode, I find it hard to make time to sit and reflect. My body gets agitated. My mind rebels and acts like a toddler, easily distracted, wandering off to chase the next shiny object. The best I can do is squeeze out a few sentences at a time. But really, the best thing for me to do is MOVE!
So that’s what I did. And I brought my audio recorder along to capture the flow of my thoughts.
In this episode of the Coach's Notes, I share 4 key questions to ask yourself when faced with uncertainty.
In this episode, Clay and Nicola talk about the Overextended Persona in the Lumina Spark Model and how the persona relates to stress. You can watch the video version here.
In this episode of the Coach's Notes, I get together with a couple of my friends, Jennifer Brown and Lynsey Weir, who are also leadership coaches, to talk about what they have been finding out in the field as they interact with leaders coming to grips with leading teams, many of them remotely, in a pandemic world.
The world is on fire and that's causing a lot of stress and anxiety. In today's Coach's Notes, I share an idea with you to help you relieve your stress and anxiety. As always, please pass this on to anyone you know who may need to hear the message.
In this episode, I catch with Coach Andy Chandler to talk about what it takes to be resilient and deal with uncertainty in a time of crisis.
For all my friends in the UK, welcome to Lockdown 2020, week number 6. I hope you had a fabulous weekend and managed to get some sun (in your back garden of course!). This week has started off quite reflective for me. During my morning reading period, I couldn’t concentrate. All of the stuff that […]
Today I returned to a practice I haven’t done in a while, a practice called morning pages. In this episode of the Coach’s Notes, I recap on the practice and what led me back to it.
Audio podcast version here. For the video version go here. I’m a big fan of behavioral style profiles and personality tests. I think they’re a great place for you to start your self-development journey. Tests like these give you a basic insight into your underlying motivations and behavioral style preferences. And this goes a long […]
Day 8 of lockdown and I’m beginning to rethink my relationship with time and establishing a new rhythm that is not tied to the industrial revolution construct of time.
In today’s ‘cast, I share some thoughts on remote working for people who may be new to this way of working. You can follow this link and listen to the episode or find me on Apple Podcasts and subscribe and have The Coach’s Notes delivered straight to you. Search: The Coach’s Notes.
Many of us Gen X types are standing at a crossroads in life wondering which path we should choose next. Staying on the same path no longer seems a viable option. But which path should we choose?
Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what their core values are. Be honest…if I asked you right now what are your authentic core values, could you rattle them off without hesitation? Could you tell me how you arrived at the core values you hold? And could you tell me how you […]
I went on my annual pilgrimage to London for the Learning Technologies Conference and exhibition. I met a number of characters from my past, including the dude responsible for getting me into the UK some 20 years ago.
In this 'cast, we go for a walk in the woods and I share my core values with you and share why it's important to be intimately familiar with your core values.
I'm a dude who loves knowledge, but sometimes knowledge or the search for knowledge can come between you and reality. We get lost in our endless quest for more knowledge.
I spent some time with Ken Wilber, Terry Patten, Adam Leonard, and Marco Morelli's enlightening book, "Integral Life Practice: a 21st Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awareness."
One of the things I really love about the book is how they simplified the explanation of the AQAL to make it relatable to life in practice.
Music by: ZigZag" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
I had to deal with the power leak of self-importance today. And self-importance, as Carlos Castaneda said, is our greatest enemy.
Just because it's a cliche doesn't make it any less true. None of us are getting out of this gig alive and one of these days the Universe is going to call your number, so make every day count.
The past is no more and the future is not yet: both are unnecessarily moving in directions which don't exist. One used to exist, but no longer exists, one has not even started to exist.
Osho
In a world full of distractions, it's sometimes hard to separate the signal from the noise. If you're seeking answers from your Inner Guide, you have to pay close attention because the answer can come to you from anywhere, at any time.
This podcast started out as a simple reflection on potential.
I was driving into work today and noticing the various people on the side of the road walking to wherever they were going. Some of them were young. Some were old. As I watched these folks, I began to wonder about their potential. You can hear the rest of the story on the podcast.
This afternoon, on a whim, I sent an informal poll out to my WhatsApp friends. The question I asked was this:
Which resonates more with you: unlock your potential or unleash your potential?
I wasn't expecting what I go back.
It seems, unlock resonates more with women; while unleash resonates more with men. Most of the women said unlock was more gentle. They felt unleash was too aggressive. The men sided with unleash because they felt it was more powerful.
I concluded the podcast a similar notion as my lawyer friend who said:
"The answer would depend on whether the subject knows it's abilities or not."
Do you consciously choose how you want to show up for people? Or do you show up however you show up regardless of the effect you might have on others?
Kindness given is kindness returned. You never know when you'll make somebody's day with a little random act of kindness.