Human 2

In one of my more recent messages (a few weeks ago now!), I referenced the importance of being kind to ourselves by giving ourselves permission to Be Human, especially if we are sick or facing difficult circumstances beyond our control.  Little did I know how much I was going to need my own message, because for the past two weeks I've been dealing with a severe illness that included 10 days in bed and a trip to the emergency room. I realize there is some risk in sharing that kind of vulnerable information, but it's relevant to this week's message - Keep Being Human!

When I took my lovely trip to the ER, I ended up encountering a friend who works there. I had actually sent her a text, knowing she's an ER nurse, wondering if she might be on shift that day, so when I headed up there, I knew I was going to see her. What I didn't know was the significant impact it would have on me to see a friendly, caring face once I got there. 

When I arrived, she came out to the waiting room and said hi, gave me a small comforting rub on my shoulder, and I then asked her to sit down next to me so I could give her a hug. Those small acts of kindness and comfort in the midst of some real physical struggle, somehow gave me a sense that everything was going to be ok. In the course of her day, they were very simple, small gestures of kindness and care, but for me, they felt like someone had thrown me a lifeline.

This is my point this week about Being Human - not only is there a permissioning we give to ourselves to be kind and gracious toward ourselves, but when we act with humanness and making simple connections with others around us, we may never know the significance of the impact those small actions may have on them. Our ability to Be Human toward another Human - to see them for who they are and connect with them on that simple Human to Human level can make all the difference in the world to them.

As you reflect on the past couple of weeks, are there moments like that for you when someone took the time to create a simple Human connection with you? What kind of an impact did it have? Maybe you can think of a few encounters where you had an opportunity to see and connect with someone else - where you helped them feel known and understood?  What kind of an impact do you think it had for them, and in what ways did it also impact you?

Having come through these previous couple of weeks, I can tell you the significance of this can't be understated, so...

Let's just Keep Being Human together in the world!

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.

Unique Impact

I was chatting with a leader this week about the best ways to leverage their strengths in their current role.  We spent some time dialoguing about how others might tackle that role differently than them, but since they are the one currently serving in that role how important it was for them to recognize the unique perspective they bring, which also creates an opportunity for them to make a Unique Impact. 

I was also listening to a podcast that was a conversation between two authors. One of the things they said to each other was how they had to let go of thinking, "Others have already written about this," and replace it with, "I've never written about this before." They chatted about how freeing that was for them as writers to recognize the unique perspective they bring and to simply write from that place of being authentically themselves. Even if others had written about their topic before, they never had, which allowed them to make a Unique Impact with their writing and perspective.

I think too often we can hold back or even withdraw from situations because we are too busy comparing ourselves to others and the way "so-and-so" may be doing it.  We forget that our voice and our perspective matters in the world and that we have an opportunity to bring our unique perspectives, gifts and strengths into the spaces and relationships that are part of our circles of influence. Because we matter, its important to take action and allow our Unique Impact to actually happen.

Where are the spaces you are tempted to limit your voice and your perspective? Are there certain situations or people you tend to fall into the comparison trap with too much? How could you embrace the fullness of who you are and unleash your gifts and strengths into your circles of influence? What would it look like to step in with confidence knowing your voice matters?

Here's to making our Unique Impact in the world 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.

Be Human

Let's start with a confession today - I have been very sick for the last 36 hours.  Caught some type of stomach bug and I've been miserable.  As a result, I have had to cancel or reschedule several meetings.  I always feel bad whenever I have to do that, partly because I am a people pleaser and I don't ever want someone to be inconvenienced because of me. So, of course I reach out with an apology, as if I have some type of control over getting sick! As you would imagine, everyone is always very gracious and says they know what it's like to be sick too, and wishes me a speedy recovery.

The truth is, this is what it means to Be Human. 

We all get sick. Life throws us curveballs. Unexpected circumstances arise that we don't have any control over, but that requires us to pay attention to them, sometimes right now! This is what it means to Be Human.

And here's the hard lesson for me - part of Being Human is admitting there is no such thing as a perfect life, or a perfect week, or even a perfect meeting.  This doesn't mean that I don't strive to do my best, or work with excellence and give my full effort. What it does mean is that I am willing to also give myself some grace and know that I am human like everyone else. Being Human involves admitting and accepting that we are imperfect beings, and that there is something actually beautiful and life-giving when we are willing to embrace our Humanness!

How about you? Have you experienced something in recent days that has reminded you that you are Human too? Maybe there is a particular area of life that seems to remind you of that more frequently? How could you give yourself some grace this week for those situations, and could you find the beauty in admitting that it's ok to just Be Human?

Ok. I'm going to go rest some more.

Here's to Being Human 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.