The Penny

When I was in an early leadership role and processing some challenges, one of my mentors asked me if I had a penny. When I had one in my hand, he asked me to hold it right up to my eye and then tell me what I could see. Of course, I couldn't really see much of anything except for the penny.  He then asked me to hold the penny out at arm's length and then tell me what I could see. Obviously, I could see everything around me, including the penny.  Then he said,

Sometimes we can allow things that are actually very minimal to cloud our vision so they are the only thing we see. But when we can get a little perspective, it's easier to see things for what they really are, including that "problem."

Yesterday I had to run an errand that required driving on a two-lane road through a mountain pass. On the way up I was really inspired by the beauty of the natural world around me.  But on the way back, I got stuck beyond a truck and trailer with a driver who was not in a hurry at all!  Since I was now trying to get somewhere for another appointment, I got so focused on the back of that trailer and trying to figure out if there was any way I might be able to get around it, that I didn't even notice it was still a beautiful day and I was in a spectacular place!  That's when my mentor's words came to my mind again:

Sometimes we can allow things that are actually very minimal to cloud our vision so they are the only thing we see. But when we can get a little perspective, it's easier to see things for what they really are, including that "problem."

That trailer had become my Penny and had prevented me from being able to see the bigger picture all around me! I did my best to adjust my perspective and tried to enjoy the rest of the drive, arriving at my next destination no problem.  However, had I allowed the trailer to still be my Penny, I would have arrived at my destination at the same time, but with lots more tension and anxiety bottled up inside of me.

What are you facing today that feels like it's clouding all of your vision and taking all of your focus? How could you shift your perspective to see things in a new way? Who could you chat with that might help you look at that Penny from a new angle?  Could you create some distance from the Penny, and if so, how might that impact the approach you are taking toward it? 

Here's to letting the Penny, just be a Penny this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.

Loss for Words

I suppose you can tell this isn't coming to you on my typical Monday morning.  Truth be told, I have really been struggling with what to write this week and I realized that I am at a real loss for words.  That's actually challenging for me, because words are often a real source of help and inspiration for me and I love sharing them with others.

(Also, the irony is not lost on me that I am using words to tell you I am at a loss for words!)

But it's been a rough week. Some personal stuff with extended family. All the events happening both locally and in the national arena, let alone the rest of the globe! So much going on and it seems like EVERYONE has an opinion and they're willing to use their words to express it! I even heard people (from every perspective) say things like, "If you're not using your words right now, then you aren't being a good human and standing up for what's (our version of) right!"

But sometimes I just don't have words. In those times it feels like the best I can do is attempt to sit with myself and the fullness of my emotions and let them flow in healthy ways so they don't get clogged up in my system.  What I have found is that if I allow the waves to form, build, and crash, they don't last forever and often there are words on the other side of that flow.  

So rather than try and find some inspirational words for us this week, perhaps I could just invite all of us to find some space and give ourselves time to allow the emotion to flow in some healthy ways. 

What might that look like for you? How could you give yourself permission to let the waves form, build, and crash in ways that are productive? When you find yourself without words, what other practices do you use that let your emotions flow so they don't get clogged up in your system?

Here's to still moving forward when we are at a Loss for Words!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.

The Wins

Remember those X-Ray glasses from last week that helped us see The Weight people were carrying around?  I was sharing that idea with a group of leaders last week and one of them remarked, "I wish there was a way for those glasses to also show us the joys that people were carrying around too."  

That really struck me!  Perhaps because of some of The Weight I am carrying around myself right now, I hadn't really thought about the opposite also being true. Maybe those awesome glasses wouldn't just show us the weight, but they also revealed the joys and gratitude people had!

The very next day I was with another group of leaders and one of the people brought up the idea of celebrating our Wins, even if they are small.  They shared how they can often get so focused on the difficulties they are facing that it's easy to lose sight of the good things happening in their lives. So, they have started a practice of regularly looking for the small Wins in their life - the moments or interactions that are a reason to smile, be grateful, and experience a little joy!

Obviously, I was being handed a message from the Universe to pass along to you this week!

What if these awesome X-Ray glasses not only revealed the weight people were carrying, but also allowed us to see the Wins in their lives?!  Perhaps that would add a smile to our faces and hearts!  Maybe it would create an opportunity to celebrate and share in their joy with them.  What if it meant we got to see something and name it for them, because they were having a hard time seeing it themselves?  The glasses helped us notice a Win in their life they didn't even realize was there, and we got to see it and help them celebrate.

As I've been thinking about this image some more, I'm picturing the Wins are like helium-filled balloons which are attached to the Weight we are carrying.  Every time we notice and celebrate a Win, even a small one, the weight is lifted, even if it's just a little bit.  It's not as if the Wins remove the Weight, it's just that the Wins help to lighten the load of the Weight.

What kind of Wins could you celebrate from your life this past week?  Do you have something coming up which you think could be an opportunity for a Win, and what would it take to pay attention and make sure you didn't miss it when it happened?  Have you seen some Wins in the lives of others around you and how could you point that out and celebrate it with them? Are you working with or leading a team that got a Win, and how could you recognize it together so it brought some joy to everyone?

Here's to creating smiles and lifting loads through some Wins this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.