|
Self-Mastery
Skill |
Be
Here Now
The present moment
contains all the resources you need.
|
|
|
CLICK HERE FOR
$79 LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP!
I've recently found a powerful new software tool that helps me
calm my mind, re- discover my passions and FEEL alive and
passionate again. It's called Dream- Minder and if you click here,
you can learn more about this unique and powerful tool."
To boost brainpower for you and employees, check out BrainSkills.com.
I highly recommend the site and what it has to offer.
Hey,
we have plenty of room right here for your logo or banner ad! Be
seen by over 4,000 readers each week!
Go
here for details.
|
|
|
|
The
Point? |
Being
fully present is essential to effective facilitation. When you're
fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, and the intricacies of
others' behavior, you will key into nuances and kernels of
truth that you can use to help others shift their perspective--a
prerequisite to personal transformation. Being present is a
matter of constant practice. Simply notice where you are and
when you're not here, choose to be "here" now. Now I know
you've probably heard this a thousand times before and from
your own experience, you know that being present is easier said
than done. But it truly is a matter of practice and choice, and
is particularly useful during times of stress. One approach you
can try is to become aware of your body, or even a part of your
body, like your hand for instance. Then your body will serve as
your anchor into the present because that's the one thing
about you that always is.
|
|
|
|
Example |
Once
when I was facilitating a group of students through an emotional
process that involved recalling their past, one student became
very defensive and began to demand to know what qualified me to
ask people to explore these issues. A very intense dialogue
unfolded that could have threatened the trust of the entire
group. I was tempted to dive into the future and become
entrenched in fear about what might go wrong. Or, I could have
easily ran back into the past and identified with childhood
guilt about always feeling like I was doing something wrong. But
instead, I marshaled all the resources I had and chose to be
present, and in the present, there is no space for judgment of
myself, or another. I calmly responded to her with whatever
truth I felt in the moment and simply chose not to accept her
responsibility for her experience. In the aftermath, she ended
up getting very angry, left the course and tried to take others
with her. Several months later I learned from one of the
students that the peaceful way that I responded to this
situation actually spoke to many of the other students in the
class and caused them to trust the process that we were
presenting. It really wasn't so much what I said to her, but
it was the quality of who I was-a direct result of just "being
here now."
|
|
|
|
Action
|
The
next time you are under pressure or in a tense situation,
practice simply being in the moment without any expectations.
Try feeling your hand and notice your breath. Breath deeply and
slowly, and just let yourself be. Give up the need to feel
pressured and just see what comes out.
I'm interested in hearing what happened.
Please email
me your thoughts, stories, and experiences on this issue.
|
|
|
|
|
Skill
Related Resource
Wherever
You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life,
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
In his follow-up
to Full Catastrophe Living--a book in which he presented basic
meditation techniques as a way of reducing stress and healing
from illness-- here Jon Kabat-Zinn goes much more deeply into
the practice of meditation for its own sake. To Kabat-Zinn,
meditation is important because it brings about a state of
"mindfulness," a condition of "being" rather
than "doing" during which you pay attention to the
moment rather than the past, the future, or the multitudinous
distractions of modern life. In brief, rather poetic chapters,
he describes different meditative practices and what they can do
for the practitioner. The idea that meditation is
"spiritual" is often confusing to people, Kabat-Zinn
writes; he prefers to think of it as what you might call a
workout for your consciousness. This book makes learning
meditation remarkably easy (although practicing it is not). But
it also makes it seem infinitely appealing.
|
|
|
|
|
Interactive
Forum
Creating Dialogue With Our Readers
In an effort to stimulate discussion on facilitation tips,
tools, and processes that are relevant to your interests, we'd
like to hear from you. Please post your answers to the questions
at on our interactive forum
to stimulate discussion on these topics.
|
|
|
|
If
you know someone who might benefit and enjoy this newsletter,
please send this link
to a friend. |
|
|
|
About
the Author:
Steve Davis is a Business and Life Coach facilitating others to
stretch beyond their full potential in their business and
personal lives. Please email
your stories, comments, suggestions, and ideas. I'd love to hear
from you. If you find this newsletter helpful, please forward it
to your friends.
Thanks for reading! |
|
|
