Celebrate!

I was recently chatting with a leader who was reflecting on the various people on their team. One of the items we were brainstorming was how to provide unique feedback to each individual based on their personalities and what the leader knows about how they function.  During our conversation, this leader commented that regardless of who the individual is, they are always trying to figure out how to Celebrate them - they look for specific opportunities to give them positive feedback of some kind.  

When they said that word Celebrate, my mind and heart were immediately sparked with the idea that I need to look for more ways to Celebrate.  And I am not just talking about the accomplishments of other people, but also taking time to Celebrate what is happening in my own life.

I also think it would be easy to think of this word Celebrate and put it in the context of larger milestones or accomplishments.  But I think there is something to be said for Celebrating even the small wins. If we only Celebrate the larger, more significant milestones, we miss out on all the small moments that can bring a sense of joy and happiness in our lives.

And it just so happens this is a season of Celebration for many of us!  We'll have some extra time off work, maybe a bunch of treats around, time with family and friends, and of course all of those lights and music that come with these seasons of Celebration.  So perhaps it's a good time for all of us to practice Celebrating - the big moments, but also all of those small moments that we may be tempted to miss.

During this next week, who could you Celebrate and how could you let them know you are Celebrating them? What may be happening in your own life that it's important for you to name and Celebrate for yourself? How could you slow down a little and pay attention to the joys of life around you, and allow yourself the privilege of some simple Celebration?

Here's to taking some time to really Celebrate 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. 

Whoooaaahhh!

I've had the honor of witnessing firsthand this holiday season through the eyes of a 2 & ½ year old.  Let me just say it's been magical! 

One of the things this toddler has inherited is a family tradition where one of Santa's elves comes to your house every night starting on December 1^st and leaves a small package for you if you leave your shoes outside of your room.  It has some loose connection to an Icelandic tradition about 13 Yule Lads who visit the children of that country, but regardless of its origins, this tradition has been a gift to me this year.  

Every morning I've gotten to watch a video of this sleepy toddler find their package from the elf and open it. And without fail, and no matter what is inside the bag, the response is always this genuine joy that comes out in a, "Whoooaaahhh!"  Melts my heart every day!

Earlier this week I was watching one of these videos with my usual big, cheesy grin on my face, and the thought occurred to me, "I need to embrace more Whoooaaahhh in my life!" 

There are so many small opportunities where I could find genuine joy in a moment of awe and wonder, but I don't seem to let those moments linger.  I understand that with the pressures of life and adulthood, it's often more difficult to see these moments through those eyes of innocence, but I think if I were to slow down, and actually notice more, my life and heart would be fuller and richer because of it.

Of course, this also made me think of you today, wondering how all of our lives might be enriched if we were to embrace more Whoooaaahhh. Are there places or relationships that immediately come to your mind where you might be able to find some of that Whoooaaahhh for yourself?  How could you adjust your perspective, so you were seeing the world with a little more childlike innocence? If you were to pay attention to the small moments today, no matter what they contained, could you embrace a little more awe and wonder in your life, and how might you share that with the people around you?

Here's to embrace more Whoooaaahhh in our lives 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. 

Intention

I recently read something that a wise, elderly sage said is one of their daily prayers. 

"God, help me to be the kind of old person young people want old people to be. Help me not just to talk like this but help me to walk around like this and answer the phone like this and talk to my grandchildren like this."

Regardless of your spiritual practice, I was really struck by this thoughtful desire, especially since I am also advancing in years and discovering the definitions of "old" seems to be changing!! It also made me think about it in an expanded way for all of us. What if we modified it slightly and made it work for anyone, regardless of their age?

"Help me be the kind of person others want me to be.  Help me not just to talk like this, but help me walk around like this and answer the phone like this and talk to anyone like this."

It's about setting an Intention and living and acting from that Intentional perspective.

I actually got a chance to witness this in action this week.  I was attending a community event that had some tension and contentious conversations in it, and I saw a few folks engaging with people I didn't think should be listened to (clearly, I need these reminders for myself!).  Afterwards, when I checked in with one of my friends who was engaged in those contentious chats, I asked them how it went.  I was expecting them to immediately say something like, "it was awful!" since that's what I thought it would (and if I'm honest, should) be.  To my surprise, they told me they actually felt pretty good about it and that the other person seemed more open than they thought they would be.  My friend was engaging with this type of Intention in their conversation, so rather than matching the contentious energy of the other person, they engaged with the Intention of who they wanted to be in the world and how they thought others would actually want them to be.  I was able to witness them embody this desire, and it made a difference!

"Help me be the kind of person others want me to be.  Help me not just to talk like this, but help me walk around like this and answer the phone like this and talk to anyone like this."

I really appreciate my friend acting in this way, and through their Intentional example, reminding me of just how important this is.

As you think about this desire in your own life, where are the spaces it feels hard to lean in with this attitude?  Perhaps it would also be helpful to consider who are the people you need to engage with in this way?  Are there contentious spaces or individuals you know are happening around you, and how could you approach them with this kind of Intention?  What impact might occur if we took this kind of Intentional approach in the world in the way we talked and walked and answered the phone?

Here's to leaning in with positive Intention 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.