Fast Forward
One of the exercises that we use during our Creative Golf Teambuilding Day is called “Fast Forward”. The instructions are for the participants to imagine themselves at their retirement party, and in giving their speech, note their top accomplishments and how they acheived them. The inquiry that follows is that knowing what you want to accomplish, what must you do differently now to achieve your desired results.
We put this program together several years ago, and yet I was blown away by the power of that inquiry yesterday. We took a group out for a very brisk day on the course at The Heritage. The Management Team for an International Manufacturer attended and jumped whole-heartedly into the experience. When I asked each team to go through this exercise, their responses were remarkably similar. They were grateful for their families, spouses and children, grateful for having a long and successful career and grateful for their friendships and relationships with their peers. It speaks to what really matters.
What do you need to do NOW in order to have that perspective in the future? What can you let go of, recognizing that you aren’t really going to care if that was achieved later? Can you get even more specific about your accomplishments in the future? Can you identify opportunities that lie ahead for you now?
The Value of Time
I just finished reading “The Paradox of Time” and found myself intrigued by the concept of “where” in time I focus my attention. In Paradox, you can be in the past – past positive or past negative, in the present – present hedonistic or present holistic and future – future fatalist, future trancedental or just plain old future. According to the authors, the ideal profile is past positive, present holistic and future oriented. Tied together with my readings from Tolle – past negative is similar to the pain body, present is now and future is similar to ego. Heartmath would say that appreciation is similar to past positive and heart focus/heart breathing is present holistic, future would be visualization or heart intelligence. I found it valuable to tie the different viewpoints together, to keep myself organized and clearer about which tools to use to get where I want to go. But it explains in terms of “time” why HeartMath works and the challenges that Tolle faces in getting the world to awaken.
My personal goals after reading Paradox:
- Focus on positive aspects of my past and how they led me to my current now.
- Nurture the “future” and planning aspects in order to achieve and reach my purpose.
- Differentiate between Present Holistic and Present Hedonistic in my Now.
What is your relationship with time? How do you view time? Where do you spend your “time”? To take the survey go to http://www.thetimeparadox.com/ and follow the survey link.
Finding Flow
I was contemplating my workload and the tasks that need to get done and I began to visualize a surfer, waiting for the right wave. The surfer isn’t beating himself up for not surfing faster or more efficiently, he is patiently watching and waiting for the right wave, having put himself into an ideal position by training and planning ahead of time. When the wave shows up, he is ready, and at that point the fun begins.
I reviewed my workload with a surfer’s mindset. The seeds have been sown and the preparation has been done. What can I do to find the flow that maximizes my results and creates the most fun? How can I wait patiently, but not passively?
When an obstacle becomes a barrier
I was reflecting tonight on why my to do list rarely seems to get shorter. Self coaching is a hobby I tend to do as I am falling asleep at night. Probably not the best time to do it, but sometimes insights pop up. A thought occurred to me that often I allow obstacles to become barriers. The difference became clear immediately. An obstacle is something you have to move around or over. Or just move. A barrier prevents you from moving forward. Recently, I’ve been allowing myself to bump into more barriers than moving over obstacles.
The image of a four wheel truck comes to mind. How can I stop being a Miata and instead become a Humvee, rolling right on up and over my obstacles? How will I prevent obstacles from taking on the proportions of a barrier?
Part is perspective, begin to ask which it is, a barrier or an obstacle? What is the difference. It is beginning to feel like mindset and attitude versus any reality of the situation itself.
To make it concrete: One obstacle I’ve been facing lately is finding time to walk my dog, Caro. She loves walks and I need the exercise. It has become a barrier of sorts lately, I am feeling that there are so many other things I need to focus on, that a short walk around the block has sufficed. The barrier is my mindset. WIth some exercise, I sleep better, I make better food choices, I think more clearly and Caro stays healthy and fit. The time I am walking Caro can be used wisely by practicing the Power of Now, enjoying the neighborhood and allowing my mind to be clear for creative thoughts.
A simple shift in perspective makes a chore into a spiritual journey. And a barrier becomes a small ,completely surmountable obstacle.
What is your greatest barrier and how can it become simply an inconvenient obstacle?
My Creative Edge
I am developing a new workshop for ThinkWorkPlay – Your Creative Edge. The concept is that when you are at your most creative, you are tapped into your heart intelligence and your intuitive power. This is the zone where great things happen and you reach your potential.
When I am my most creative, I am feeling relaxed, energized, enthusiastic, powerful, engaged and positive. My body is centered, healthy, relaxed, and tuned in. I know that I am in my creative zone because time goes by in a blink, I am happy for no external reason and I feel at peace.
When I am feeling blocked or stuck, I am tense, anxious, feeling pressured to perform. I might be feeling overwhelmed, over my head, not working to my strengths and uncertain.My body feels constrained, tight and achy. I am procrastinate about doing specific tasks and I am forgetful about what needs to happen next.
To move into the creative place, it helps if I take a walk, removing myself from the immediate environment. Some deep breaths, perhaps looking at a picture of my dog Caro or using my HeartMath tools, such as HeartLock In, all help me to go back to a more centered and energized space.
Sometimes I need to put myself in a creative physical place, such as an environment where other people are creating. I have found Helios Coffee Shop is good for nurturing my inner muse. Sometimes a virtual community, such as Giam helps me to juice up again.
What I have learned from using the HeartMath tools is that I don’t have to accept being stuck as inevitable. I can shift to a creative edge by choice and on demand. That has made all the difference in accomplishing the goals that I desire.
How do you shift into your Creative Zone? What is your Creative Edge?
Yes, and….
I’ve begun exploring the idea that to develop an ongoing relationship requires many of the same rules as a successful improvisation in theatre or comedy. Just as a relationship can easily becomes stagnant or worse, by lack of agreement, so too will an improvisational skit languish if an idea isn’t accepted and added upon.
The Improv process (from Wikipedia):
In order for an improvised scene to be successful, the actors involved must work together responsively to define the parameters and action of the scene, in a process of co-creation. With each spoken word or action in the scene, an actor makes an offer, meaning that he or she defines some element of the reality of the scene. This might include giving another character a name, identifying a relationship, location, or using mime to define the physical environment. These activities are also known as endowment. It is the responsibility of the other actors to accept the offers that their fellow performers make; to not do so is known as blocking, or negation, which usually prevents the scene from developing. Some performers may deliberately block (or otherwise break out of character) for comedic effect — this is known as gagging — but this generally prevents the scene from advancing and is frowned upon by many improvisers. Accepting an offer is usually accompanied by adding a new offer, often building on the earlier one; this is a process improvisers refer to as “Yes, And…” and is considered the cornerstone of improvisational technique. Every new piece of information added helps the actors to refine their characters and progress the action of the scene.
The unscripted nature of improv also implies no predetermined knowledge about the props that might be useful in a scene. As with all improv offers, actors are encouraged to respect the validity and continuity of the imaginary environment defined by themselves and their fellow performers; this means, for example, taking care not to walk through the table or “miraculously” survive multiple bullet wounds from another improviser’s gun.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisational_theatre
To take this a step further, each time there is a yes, but…the relationship becomes confrontational. Or a direct no become a non-starter. However, a yes, and….allows the conversation to continue and possiblity to expand.
Where can “Yes, and…” ehance your life and your relationships?
With Intent, Susan
Soul Mission, Life Vision by Alan Seale
I am only on Chapter 2, but thus far this has been an enlightening book for me. I worked through an exercise, stream of consciousness around four words; Freedom, Success, Power, Love.
Freedom: Create, Open, Easy, Clarity, Challenge, Open Spaces, Dance, Move, Love, Explore, Ocean, Breezes, Potential, Hope, Self, Trust, God, Choice, Available, Resources, Dare, Laughter, Wide Open, Possibility, Family, Security, No Expectations, No Judgements, No Responsibility, No Contraints, No Boundaries, No Stress, Fly, Anything is Possible, Try Again, New, Self-employed, Flexible Schedule, Ability.
Success: Challenge, Growth, Learning, Being of Service, Learning, Being of Service, Global, Responsible, Passion, Build Trust, Inspire Others, Open Communication, Be Proud, Love Self, Share, Write, Explore, Dreams, Visions, Family, Expansion, Income, Resources, Proven, Professional, Clarity, Authenticity, Cutting Edge, Energy, Plant Seeds, Be at Peace, Be Present, Laughter, Joy
Power: Gifts, Awareness, Personal Power, Presence, Knowing, Seeing, Acknowledgement, Relaxed Strength, Potential, Grow, Learn, Openness, Improvise, Appreciate, Validate, Accept, Receive, Articulate, Share Wisdom, Stand Ground, Honesty, Challenge, Help Others, Be a Coach
Love:Aware, Caring, Responsible, Impact, Heart, Self, Peace, Energy, Radiate, Unconditional, Children – Pure Love, Family, Expansion, Communicate, Openness, Available, Validate, Explore, Support, Empower, Give what Need, Generosity, Set Expectations, Receive, Loyal, Careful, Trust, Believe, Faithful, Energetic, Expansion, Future Path, Gift, Abandon Need and Control, Dogs, Meditation, Now, Source
So, what to do with my braindump? I am still working through the exercise, but thought I’d share the process here.
Have a Powerful, Successful, Lovely, Free Day.
With Intent, Susan
How to Choose Your Emotions
One of the things I have learned from working with ThinkWorkPlay as a Certified HeartMath Provider is that we all have the capability to choose how we feel. Some of us have strengthened that muscle more than others, some are unaware it is even available to them, but all truly do have the capability to choose, should we want to make that shift.
Why would we want to choose a new emotion? When you are feeling upset, stressed, anxious, angry, part of you is actually enjoying it, thriving on it even. In Eckhart Tolle’s vocabulary, that is your ego. But what you are doing to yourself physically isn’t worth the fuel you are feeding your ego. By choosing differently, you are freeing your body to move in a more relaxed and comfortable state, healthier even.
How can you choose a new emotion? First you have to gain awareness of your current emotion and acknowledge what it is. It could be anger, anxiety, boredom, fear, depression. By naming it, you have made the first step in identifying what you are moving away from.
How would you like to feel? What would feel better? Calm, relaxed, at ease, forgiving, appreciative, challenged, creative. Whatever the emotion, can you shift yourself into a place where you are actually feeling that emotion in your body? What does it feel like? Can you remember a time when you felt like that and put yourself back in that place?
I have an emotional memory of a peak moment, riding a bike in Ireland, moving through a valley,downhill, wind blowing me backwards as I sped past my companions. The air was cool, slightly damp, the sky was overcast and the road was bumpy. Even now, I get goosebumps when I think about what that felt like, the joy and freedom I had in that moment. That is my go to moment when I need to shift out of funk.
The biggest challenge for me is letting go of the resistance to move into a positive emotion. I have to recognize that I am stuck and cannot move forward as long as I am choosing to stay negative and powerless. Only when I move into a positive emotional state, do I tap into the Universal Power that allows me to create, collaborate and reach my potential.
Ten Thoughts on Whole Living from body+soul, June 2008
Ten Thoughts on Whole Living
Look for reasons to get active and let your inner radiance shine.
Your attention is like a muscle; it needs to relax in order to reengage.
See your more difficult moments as opportunities to rise above.
Health is the manifestation of internal balance.
Don’t miss a chance to get outside and experience the warmth of the season.
Once you decide to take action, you’ll be surprised by how things fall into place.
Discover ways to embrace boredom. It’s part of the human condition.
Your words have a bigger impact than you realize.
Eating sustainably involves not just what you eat, but also how much.
Sometimes the expression of love is the most powerful healer of all.
The Four Agreements
I have read Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements several times. I’ve found myself winding back and forth between following The Four Agreements and totally forgetting they even exist. It helps me to hold them in mind, keep them in front of me.
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
