Inspiring Nuggets

My goal is to help YOU better navigate change and become a better leader. What's your goal?

If anything, 2017 has been about CHANGE. We've been pushed by every possible source to wake up and pay attention to life, pushed to the edge of our seat in surprise, confusion or concern. Then simply resort to ignoring it all because it's just too exhausting to keep up with. Is this you? Drained, worried, wondering what part you're to play now towards a solution? You're not alone. Let's explore your next right step.

Each season I provide inspiring nuggets of wisdom through this newsletter. Seasonal teachings come through both my personal and professional experiences and the Chinese Five Elements philosophy of Wu Xing (wŭ ching) and Tao, among other philosophies and sciences which highlight and explore unique nature-based ways to understand the processes of change. Each newsletter aims to help you create a mindful mindset to build resiliency and leadership in the face of personal, professional and cultural change. Find this newsletter useful? Be the gift that keeps giving, share it with a friend! Want to hear more? Invite me to speak at your next conference, place of business, networking or civic groups. Enjoy!

What I love about nature is that it provides a unique lens in which to see ourselves and the situation around us. Here we can discover useful solutions, patterns and reveal our next step. According to Eastern traditions of Tao, there are 5 seasons, each represented by an element, color and emotional characteristics. Here's a simplified explanation.

• Winter : Water : Blue : Stillness : Fear : Hidden Potential
  
• Spring : Wood : Green : Creativity : Anger : Growth
  
• Summer : Fire : Red : Connectivity : Joy : Authenticity
  
• Late Summer : Earth : Yellow : Integrity : Sympathy : Transformation
  
• Autumn : Metal : White : Acknowledgement : Grief : Letting Go
  

Winter is related to the WATER element which represents our emotion of fear and informs a sense of power, hidden potential, courage, stillness or mindful movement and wisdom. Through the season of winter and element of water we are reminded to be with the unknown. Like swimming in a cold sea, we can't see what's underneath. We want out ASAP and if we don't get out, we panic. When we face the unknown head-on, we're looking directly into the face of fear itself. Doing so changes the fear making it moldable, softer, approachable and makes us more available to access possibility, ideas, solutions and common sense to think our way out of a situation. We need to be present to what is then act when action is called for.

Let's be honest, facing our fear is not something we tend to readily explore. Who wants to do that?! It can be a terribly upsetting and downright scary. Ironically, you may discover that the resistance to explore the unknown is actually stronger than facing fear itself. We may all agree, to varying degrees, that today we're all facing change on an unprecedented level. Everything from fear of the future, to environmental challenges to polarized politics. How do you gain a foothold when all sides are pushing in, especially when you're a leader who others are looking to for guidance?

I encourage you to reflect through the nature of winter and water. Welcome the aspect of fear as something pointing to hidden potential. What IF all the pushing all around us is pushing us up and through a new stage of human development? What if the mess is necessary?

I invite you to draw a larger circle to encompass the importance of chaos and change as a basic fundamental of life. Breath in, breath out. Sun up, sun down. Tides in, tides out. We are made from momentous shifts of constant change. Nothing is stagnant. Ever. Take a moment to slow down and ask... "What is my next RIGHT STEP?" You don't have to do everything, just the next right one. Sometimes that's really small, like stepping away from the computer and getting a glass of water. Sometimes it's saying NO to one more thing that will push you over your edge. Sometimes it's saying YES to you. Sometimes its saying YES to something bigger than you. The point is to scale down to the next tiny right step that will point you in the direction you want to go. Want the world to go in a certain direction? Start small. Start with you.

So- let's bring some awareness here and as we move into the darkest, coldest part of winter and remember you're an intricate part of nature- in all ways. We cannot remove ourselves from the chaos of change. We can only choose how we respond to being moved.

Remember you're a human being, not a human doing. Step back from the doing to just BE. Pause to notice the small shifts in and around you. Explore the season of winter and its water element through these inquiries.

• What's my next right step, just for today?
• How much empty, quiet time do I have in my life to reflect and regenerate?
• What am I deeply committed to?
• What are my sources of power and courage?
• Where and how do I give my power away?
• If I faced my fears, what might be freed?

Humans function like seasons of the natural world. We often easily respond to the expressions and changes of the natural world. Nowadays, many of us are inside, working year-round, many are isolated with no windows to tell our bodies where we are in our natural cycles. So, if this describes you- I encourage you to give extra attention to exploring your inner nature this season by exploring in nature. Go outside, get off your devices, sign up for a class or a get-a-way to tempt, tease, teach and release your genius. Engage in exploration for the sake of savoring what's good. Invite others along to follow your lead.

I thank you all for your commitment to reading my newsletters. I'd taken a break as I work on my book and new website. (Still a work in progress! Expect new website and new video some time in the new year.) I got several comments that I my words were missed! That's nice to know! :) I'll leave you with a bonus question as we move into the holiday season and a new year. I wish you all the BEST!!

• What's ONE WORD so powerful I can use to represent 2018?

ARE YOU ONE OR MORE OF THESE?
• Are you in transition? At a personal or professional crossroads?
• Are you ready to grow, slow or explore what’s next?
• Are you interested in learning how to navigate change in a way that keeps you in control and at peace?
• Are you experiencing stress, overwhelm, grief or disconnect within your relationships, staff, team or self? IF YOU answered YES to one or more of these questions, than you're ready for a different kind of success. You're ready for coaching! LET'S TALK!

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Inspiring, informative and transformational experiences for you, your company and community. Conduit for Change, LLC

Email: annelies@conduitforchange.com
Website: www.conduitforchange.com
Phone: 919-345-8396