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The Master Facilitator Journal | Issue #0034| January 1, 2002
7,700 Subscribers

Self-Mastery Skill

Time Doesn't Get Stuck, Have You?

Stay in the flow of time to regenerate your reality every moment.

The Point?

I thought time would be the most appropriate topic for this New Year's Day issue. After all, father time is dead today and baby time is born, or so they say. 

In our noun-oriented culture where we focus on things--material items, solutions to problems, healthy relationships, solid careers, hopeful futures--it's easy to get trapped by attaching ourselves to the image of a desired result, or to yesterday's results. For instance, we might get seduced into thinking that the relationship we dream of will be more fulfilling than the moment we have with the people we're with today. Or that last year's "business failure" still exists in the present moment. 

The truth is, everything changes. It always has and it always will. As with every truth, this can be either good news or bad news, depending on how you look at it. On the down side, human minds are probably the hardest, if not the slowest, things to change on this planet. How many of us have held on to a passing insult that happened years ago, while we miss the blessings that are parading before us today? Or how often have we held tightly to a belief that just isn't working for us?

The good news is, time is always moving. We can't stop it, try as we might. So if we can embrace it, and move with it, there exists a constant flow of opportunities for new beginnings. And we can make new beginnings a choice. If we do, the past falls away, and we move more fully into the present, the only place truth really exists.

Example

These thoughts about flowing with time and regenerating each moment can be useful for us as individuals and as facilitators helping groups move through the past, into the present, preparing for the future. Here are some thoughts about staying in the flow this new year. You might also try them on groups that are stuck in ineffective thought patterns.

- Old ineffective ideas and beliefs can be (must be) replaced with effective ideas and beliefs. Just a bad meal can be purged by sending down good healthy, fiber-filled liquids. Look at your worn out ideas and upgrade them with sparkling new ones you can be proud to hold, but only for awhile, as these WILL wear out too. Guaranteed!

- Because time is moving and isn't stagnant, we can USE the present moment to create the next. Ask what your current actions, behaviors, and beliefs are producing. Do you like the result? If not, change what you're doing. NOW!

- What feelings are your current activities producing? Your emotions are the energy of life. They are the motivating force propelling you into your future. Are they positive and uplifting? If not, decide what you want to feel, really feel it, then ask what kind of actions would be necessary to hold them in place.

- One moment births the next. Your new year will consist of one "New" moment stacked upon another. Each "New" moment will seed the next. So plant healthy seeds and reap the rewards of a happy and healthy New Year!

Action

Your assignment this week is to forget every aspect of your personal history that does not uplift you. You are not obligated to hold onto anything. And forget about making a New Year's Resolution. Instead, make a resolution to live each moment anew. Take baby steps and decide what you want to create in this moment. Forget about future moments. They will take care of themselves.  Please email us your stories and perspectives. We'd love to get hear from you! Many Blessings in the year and moment to come!

cartoon image of a talking man.

Reader Survey 
As a Facilitator, what do you do to get a group "unstuck?"

We appreciate your ideas on this question that would be valuable for other readers to know about. We may use your responses as a resource for future issues of the journal or for other works.  Please email us your responses. All those who respond will be sent the entire collection of responses. Thanks so much for your consideration of our request.

If you know someone who might benefit and enjoy this newsletter, please send this link to a friend.
picture of Steve Davis, editor of the Master Facilitator Journal.

About the Author: 
Steve Davis is a Business and Life Coach facilitating others to reach  their full potential in their business and personal lives. Please email your stories, comments, suggestions, and ideas. Or call me at 800-216-3854. I'd love to hear from you. If you find this newsletter helpful, please forward it to your friends. Thanks for reading! 

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How the 5-Day Format/Training works...
1. You dial into your class every day for 5 days (Mon-Fri) for a 30-minute focused training segment using a conferencing bridge.
2. You work a 25-point checklist during the 5 days (about an hour a day of study and field work) which you complete by Friday afternoon, or sooner if you wish.
3. During the week, you may access the instructor via email for help or situational questions.

5-Day Random Acts of Facilitation Training Agenda...
Here's what you'll be learning and doing during the 5-Day course...

Monday
Introduction to the Facilitation and Self Facilitation Skills.

1. Create the Ambience.
2. Share the Dream.
3. Get Facilitation
4. Juggling.
5. Me First.

Tuesday
Relating with compassion and understanding.

6. Be Ignorant.
7. Make Smiles Happen.
8. Hold 'em High.
9. Acknowledge the Elephant.
10. Turn on Your Crap-Detector.

Wednesday
Group Dynamics and Facilitation

11. Build the Container.
12. Build trust.
13. Mine the Unexpected.
14. Evolve Your Team.
15. Honor the Process.
16. Facilitate Full Participation

Thursday
Organizing and Presenting yourself confidently, professionally, and authentically. 

17. Prepare for Success.
18. Get Real.
19. Make Experiences, Not Speeches
20. Watch the Body Talk.
21. Be your message

Friday
Intervening to shift group energy

22. Tame the Tormentors.
23. CareFront.
24. Use the Struggle.
25. Break through barriers.
26. Facilitate from Within.
27. Embrace Facilitation as a Master's Path

Benefits to you of participating from the 5-Day Random Acts of Facilitation Training...
1. Get a great introduction to the concept and practice of facilitation skills if you are contemplating becoming a facilitator, team leader, board member, manager, mediator, etc.
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Also included with your training...
In addition to the 5-Day training described above, you also receive:
1. Free access to the participant-only website (lots of resources, forms, etc.).
2. Free access to the RealAudio version of the 5-Day training.
3. Free copy of the Portable Article Bank ($29 value).

Pricing and Dates...
The full cost of training/access is only $79 for MFJ readers ($89 for the general public) including a free copy of the Portable Article Bank ($29 value). Everything you read about above is included. And, we offer a 100%-satisfaction-guaranteed guarantee.

Registration...
Please click here and you'll be taken to the teleclass registration page. Register there and you'll see your discount computed and applied as you check out. Immediately upon completion of your registration, you will receive an email with instructions to access the course and free article bank. This course is limited to 20 individuals, first come, first served.

About the satisfaction guarantee
If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with this package, simply email us with a request to refund/credit your credit card in the full amount and we will do so immediately. It's our policy to do this and we honor this in every single case. (Why? Because we are sensitive to the fact that you are buying an e-course/product from us and we feel that if this package isn't EXACTLY what you expected or wanted, that you should be able to get 100% of your money back. This policy completely removes the buying risk for you and keeps our customer-satisfaction rates extremely high.

Thank you for reading this issue of the Master Facilitator Journal.  Look for your next issue on January 8, 2002. 

 
 

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