Friday Review: Coach-Ability
How “Coach-Able” are you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
How do the good and bad examples set by others offer you lessons on how to live?
“Things that aren’t your fault can still be your responsibility.”
“Things that aren’t your fault can still be your responsibility.”
—Author Unknown
Image from Unsplash by Markus Winkler
When we examine our world closely, it’s amazing to see just how many aspects of our lives are not within our control.
It can often feel unfair when we experience bad breaks in either personal or professional matters.
At such times many of us default to pointing the blame for how things go down elsewhere.
Although many of these messy situations may be caused by others, we often find ourselves with mops and brooms, cleaning up after them.
How well do you manage and navigate such events?
EXERCISE:
Where and how do you embrace your responsibility for things that aren’t your fault?
How could taking this stance more often empower you to live with greater dignity and self-respect?
“You should have something to show for each day you were lucky enough to live.”
“You should have something to show for each day you were lucky enough to live.”
—Ryan Holiday, American marketer, podcaster, Stoic philosopher
Image from Unsplash by Guille Álvarez
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that the new year is off to a great start!
Beyond the gifts you received—and perhaps a few extra pounds—what else do you have to show for these days?
How lucky and grateful do you feel each day you roll, step, or leap out of bed?
In the year ahead, how will you bring greater intention and purpose to your days to contribute even more within your various communities?
EXERCISE:
Consider setting up a show-and tell time with family and friends.
How can your individual and collective efforts help everyone to feel even luckier to be alive?
How often do you project your current mindset and assumptions into past and future events
“How often do you project your current mindset and assumptions into past and future events?”
—Author Unknown
Image from Amazon
Over the past several years—and especially in the past few months—I’ve become increasingly interested in the phenomena of conscious and unconscious bias.
When I examined my upbringing and the various communities in which I operate, I experienced repeated rude awakenings.
It was always easier to see other people’s biases and be blinded to my own. Though books, seminars, and conversations with friends and colleagues, I’ve gotten a better look at myself and didn’t always like what I saw.
With greater awareness, I am inspired to do better, and filled with a sense of hope.
EXERCISE:
How aware are you of your current assumptions and biases?
When and how often do you use them to protect and justify your views?
Consider reading the book Caste — The Origins of our Discontents, by Isabell Wilkerson to take a deeper look into this important issue.
Bring yourself to this moment and experience it fully. Where attention goes, energy flows
Bring yourself to this moment and experience it fully. Where attention goes, energy flows.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Shantung Kulkarni
During a recent holiday gathering I went out of my way to be a more focused observer of everyone in attendance.
Of particular note were the four children ages 2, 5, 7 and 10. Throughout our time together, it was interesting to see how present the kids were versus many of the adults.
With football games in the background and many cell phones in hand, it was obvious that many of the grown-ups could have benefited from some kid coaching.
EXERCISE:
Where are you most focused and attentive in your life?
How energetic do these experiences feel compared to when you are pulled away by competing distractions?
Friday Review: Blame
Friday Review: Blame
Where do you notice the blame game being played in your world? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“Finding fault replaces peace of mind.”
“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get better.”
On a Scale from One to Ten
On a Scale from One to Ten… This post is a fill in the blank exercise.
Image from Unsplash by Mike Tinnion
Consider the following statements and choose the number (1-10) that represents where you are today.
My level of happiness is_______
The quality of my relationships is_______
My mental and physical health score______ and _____
My career satisfaction is_______
The level of balance and personal freedom I experience is_______
EXERCISE:
Create a list of one to ten items for 2023 and rate yourself.
Consider partnering with a friend, colleague, family member or coach to clarify, pursue and achieve far more tens in the year ahead.
A useful book that can help with this exercise is Your Best Year Yet by Ginny Ditzler.
I try to be available for life to happen to me
“I try to be available for life to happen to me.”
—Bill Murray, American actor and comedian
Image from Unsplash by Alexander Grey
What does it mean to be available to life?
What qualities would you possess if life entered and soaked you, body and soul?
Consider all the experiences we have with our five senses. How fully do we use them?
What if we had super senses like certain animals or plants, and how they magically take in water, minerals, and mix it with sunshine to make food.
How alive might we feel?
EXERCISE:
Where are you even more active as you happen to life?
Where do your intentionality and efforts infuse the world with your special gifts?
What are you bringing to the party?
Don’t let finish line anxiety keep you from ever crossing the starting line.
“Don’t let finish line anxiety keep you from ever crossing the starting line.”
—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood Blog
Image from Unsplash by Joshua Hoehne
Many of life’s races have no specific timeline. Although we often have preconceptions that they exist, we can come to realize that many of them are just made up.
What will be accomplished and by when is often of our own choosing.
Even with this awareness we frequently fail to start because of some false milestone and game plan set by outside forces.
EXERCISE:
How can your most important commitments supersede your comfort to remain in the starting blocks of life?
How will you summon the courage to begin and run your own race?
Embrace all of your wins no matter their size
Embrace all of your wins no matter their size.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by National Cancer Institute
As we begin a new year it is a common practice to reflect on the year gone by to see how it compared to our expectations.
Far too many of us experience regret and even shame for coming up short of our grandiose plans. With the wind knocked out of our sails, it’s increasingly difficult to shoot for the stars again in the year ahead.
Instead of looking through these lenses, consider the phrase What I got done today is what I got done today.
Acknowledge all your wins, in which you met the many challenges that landed in your lap the past 365 days.
EXERCISE:
Display the phrase What I got done today is what I got done today on your bathroom mirror.
Reflect on its simple wisdom each morning and night as you brush your teeth for at least two minutes.
Better dental checkups will be an added bonus!