Whole

If you've been reading this weekly message for a while, you know that often the inspiration for these messages come out of the everyday leadership and life experiences I encounter.  This week is another example of that.

Within the past week I have had numerous conversations in which people in my realms of influence have opened up and shared something deeply personal they were experiencing. I realize that part of the nature of my work is to open up space for those conversations to happen, but nevertheless, I don't take it for granted!  In the process, I have been reminded of how Whole we all are as people. We try and keep personal things out of work and work things out of home and family life, but the truth is, we are Whole people and it's impossible to completely separate them. 

From a leadership (and just a compassionate human) perspective, it means there may be small moments when someone shares something with me and I can take a few extra moments and extend some compassion and care, which might make a significant difference in that individual's life. 

For example, I recently had a team member share something personal and painful with me. I took a few extra minutes and did my best to empathize with their pain. We also took a moment to talk about how this might impact their work, which was also important and appropriate. It wasn't more than a 5 minute conversation, and I mainly just tried to express my care toward them. Later in the day, they sent me a text and expressed how grateful they were for the compassion and understanding I showed. I was moved by how much of an impact that simple few moments meant to them.

As a leader (and simply as a human on this planet!), our ability to remember we are all Whole people and that Wholeness will have an impact on our lives is critical to leading (and living) well. When we can take the time to be mindful and perhaps take a few extra minutes of care and compassion in some critical moments, we can make a significant impact on the people we lead and influence.  

Are there individuals in your realm of influence who you know may be experiencing something in another area of their Whole life? What kind of an impact would it make if you took a few minutes to just check in with them and see how they are doing? How might you pay attention to the words and actions of those around you in a way that was mindful of their Wholeness? Is there something happening in the Wholeness of your own life and how might being mindful of its impact on you and those around you make you a better leader today?

Here's to remembering we are all Whole 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.

Ordinary Time!

I've shared with you that I was able to do some traveling in the past couple of weeks. It's always nice to get away and have a break from the everyday routine of life.

However, most of life actually gets lived in the everyday, Ordinary Time of life.  In fact, part of my spiritual life has included connection with a tradition that had various seasons of the year, and one of those was actually called Ordinary Time. While Ordinary Time was dispersed throughout the year, it was the longest part of the annual calendar of seasons when you added it all up. In other words, that tradition recognized that most of life is lived in the Ordinary, which means we have to learn how to live well in that everyday, Ordinary reality.  

The truth is, it's great to take time away and experience new places and new adventures, but that's only a tiny slice of life. If that kind of life was our regular routine, it would eventually become like our Ordinary Time. So it's important to appreciate the extraordinary, smaller times of adventure, but the real secret to living and leading well is to learn how to thrive and find the extraordinary in the midst of Ordinary Time! 

I think part of the secret to this is learning to see the familiar with fresh eyes and appreciation as much as possible.  For example (and I may have shared this with you before), I live in a beautiful place in Northern California, surrounded by mountains on three sides - East, North & West.  Even though I see this scenery everyday of my life when I'm home, most days I don't see these extraordinary views at all.  They just blend in and disappear. However, there are moments when I can pause a little bit, breathe deep, and take it in with a sense of awe and true appreciation.

And that seems to be the key to learning how to thrive and find the extraordinary in the midst of everyday, Ordinary Time - slow down, breathe a little deeper, and look around with a renewed sense of awe and wonder.

If you were to slow down and take some deep breaths today, then look up with some fresh eyes, what might you see that you often overlook? Besides beautiful landscapes, can you also see beauty in the scenery of your relationships? What else might be extraordinary in the midst of your Ordinary? How could you approach your Ordinary Time with a new sense of awe and appreciation?

Here's to embracing the beauty of Ordinary Time 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

Freedom

As we approach the 4th of July this week, it felt like a good opportunity for a very simple reminder regarding the freedom we have as people in the United States.

First, it's important to remember that these freedoms were not received without a significant amount of sacrifice by many who went before us. There is real value in pausing periodically and practicing gratitude for those we know, and those we don't personally know, for the ways in which they all have helped us to reach this point. This is a time for gratitude.

Second, we can't take this freedom for granted. I was an undergraduate in history and one thing being a student of history teaches us is that change is inevitable. Not everyone has shared the same freedoms as others in the history of our country, and what we have now may not always remain the same. Our freedom has not, and never will be, guaranteed. This is a time for reality.

Finally, freedom is not a static phenomenon. It's dynamic - growing and changing based on our willingness to be active agents in fostering and protecting it, helping to expand it for more and more people who aren't under its full umbrella yet. Its current condition and ongoing expression will only happen as we engage in its ongoing creation. This is a time for participation. 

Here's to being grateful for, being honest about, and engaging with our Freedom 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.