"Works helps us feel safe. The soul is safe already. Safe in its own experience of the world. Work is bounded by time. The soul of a person lies outside of time and belongs to the unknown, it is the sacred otherness of existence. Work belongs to the personality, but the soul is owned by no one, not even the personality formed around it. The personality will kiss any required part of the anatomy to rise in the world; the soul refuses to kiss anything but life itself."
David Whyte, The Heart Aroused
I. Topic: The Summer Soul Journey - Prepare for Smooth Sailing
II. Messages from the Masters
III. Coach's Book Shelf
IV. News
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I. Topic: The Summer Soul Journey - Prepare for Smooth Sailing
With greater accessibility to nature, the enhanced light in our days, and the added space we often can create, summer is the ideal season for making progress on your journey. Depending on your situation, "progress" can be in the form of inaction, or slowing down, or it can be in the form of movement and momentum.
Regardless of what journey you might be contemplating, or which tack you take, here are some basic points for your packing list, as you prepare for your career or life shift.
1. Chart Your Course
Before setting out on your journey, or if you've gone adrift during the journey, you will want to make sure you have some kind of a plan for your travels. This is where you will do work to uncover the details of your personal vision and dream. Even if you are not able to completely articulate what the end destination will be on this shift in your life, putting energy into this at the start and continuously during the process, will be key. Journal, draw, read, play, ask, sit--begin anyway that works for you. Connect the dots on your map and get as detailed a picture as you can.
2. Have Your Compass Handy
Your vision and dream will be guided by core elements of you. Assess who you are, your passions, strengths, gifts and ultimately your values. When you keep these elements as your own true north, you will arrive at your destination with much less effort, and without too much inclement weather.
3. Keep Fueled Up
Career, business and life transitions can zap your energy. You will need to be sure that you are taking great care of yourself by practicing healthy physical and emotional habits, as well as getting rid of other distractions and drains. Make time for good sleep and exercise, and address the things that loom unattended, to help you keep your focus on the horizon.Tackle only a couple of these at a time so that you can stay the course. Holes in the ship will make you sink.
4. Tune Up Your Vessel
It is important to continually assess the skills and strengths you have, relative to what your destination will require. Once you know what's required, by your own research or networking, enhance the skill areas you already have and obtain training to acquire the ones you don't. Be as prepared as possible for the journey and the elements.
5. Master the Doldrums
Sometimes you can't catch good wind to save your life. We all know it is easier to stay motivated when you can really see that you are making headway. Set milestones, log your progress and keep structure in your days. Also, when you get a block, shake things up a little by approaching things very differently than you normally would. You might try taking a break and injecting some pure craziness or joy back into your life. You might try being okay with the solitude and take advantage of any extra space. The energy or creativity infusion may be exactly what you need to fill your sails again.
6. Enlist a Crew (and even a co-captain or two!)
Winning in life is a team sport. Sorry if this sounds cliché, but it is never more important than during a life transition, that you reach out to those around you who are willing to offer their support. Whether it is through networking, advice or words of encouragement, this is a crucial component to keep on your radar. To keep your momentum going, you may want to form a partnership with someone or others also dealing with a transition. You can hold each other accountable to your goals, and keep each other on course.
7. Christen Your Ship!
When you remember to celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may appear, you are sending a message to the universe that you are accepting and endorsing these positive steps along your path. By treating each piece of progress with the credit it deserves, you are acting in an abundant way and will attract even greater success to you.
Coach Action Challenge:
Print this list and keep it where you can make easy reference to it.
Assess how well-prepared you are for the shift you are considering--and step by step, try to pack some of these points into your plan.
Make the most of your summer, and enjoy the journey!
II. Messages from the Masters
"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are written in foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers....live the questions." - Rilke
"There is no easy formula for determining right and wrong livelihood, but is essential to keep the question alive. To return the sense of dignity and honor [to our personhood], we have to stop pretending that we can make a living at something that is trivial or destructive and still have a legitimate sense of self-worth. A society in which vocation and job are separated for most people gradually creates an economy that is often devoid of spirit, one that frequently fills our pocketbooks at the cost of emptying our souls." - Sam Keen, from Fire in the Belly, On Being A Man
III. Coach's Bookshelf
What Should I Do With My Life?, By Po Bronson
A journalist that is in the midst of his own life quest, has interviewed numerous people on a similar journey, and then shares it with us. He starts out as an objective interviewer and morphs into a subtle philosopher and coach as he travels. The stories are heartwarming, challenging, transforming and real, and some subjects get to the answer, while others are still living the question. You are likely to see pieces of yourself in some of them.
Thanks to Oprah and to Andrew for the referral! Enjoy.
IV. News
Jill Berquist will be a guest on the radio show, Career Connections with Mary Jones, this Saturday, June 7, 11:00 a.m., on WDRC, 1360 AM. We hope you can tune in!
The next Coaches and Trainers Collaborative Incredible Coaches Circle will be held at Panera's of Glastonbury on Monday, June 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to join this gathering for conversation, community, resource-sharing and fun. The only requirement is a passion for coaching. For more information or to R.S.V.P. please contact Jill at 860.659.5829 or jill@ct-collaborative.com.
Jill currently has openings in her Group Coaching experience for Coaches. Now is your chance to experience the power, synergy and cost-effectiveness of group coaching. Sessions will take place via teleconference bridge line; prerequisite is minimum of six months of coaching; maximum available slots in group will be 6 to ensure maximum gain for all. Contact Jill at 860.659.5829 or berquistcoaching@aol.com for more information. |