I've been attending the November meeting of the Conference Board's Executive Coaching Council. Today we had a presentation from two facilitators from Heart Math (www.heartmath.org). Something to think about in the hallway. When was the last time you stepped back and asked yourself, "how crazy is my lifestyle?" We learned some interesting coping mechanisms today but the biggest take-away for me was asking the question, "is this REALLY a threat?" We go into crisis mode and dump noxious chemicals in our bodies when we feel we are threatened. Real threats are related to saber tooth tigers, which our ancestors didn't worry about, by the way, until they smelled them! Some of the "saber tooth tigers" we identified today as a group were:
- email from boss with unreasonable request
- sideways look from a colleague
- flight delay
- missing shirt button
- inability to find document
- text from husband saying "don't buy that high-fiber bread again"
So, entertain me--what were your saber tooth tigers this week? Hint: laughter is restorative!
This week it was about losing my office in Secaucus due to space restraints. When I got the news I was stuck thinking about the inconvenience of working out of a cubicle, the hassle of having to find JIT rooms for coaching calls, trying to figure out how on earth was I going to find room for all my books and binders and just the notion of not having a permanent base that I could breeze in and out of. I went home that night having purchased a big box of Belgian chocolates which I intended to have with a glass of port (I have generally found chocolate and port to be very helpful as you ponder life's "darkest moments" -- all within moderation of course). At any rate the next morning as I woke up and realized that I really didn't need an office at all and that my problems could be easily solved by adding another bookcase to my home office and learning how to use all the features of an all in one printer. The universe was pushing me to become more organized and efficient! Then I started to think about how all of the postive sides to this "problem" ie if I wanted a change of scenery I could achieve that by visiting my client locations a little more often, I could sign up for a water aerobics class at the Aqua Center that I had been thinking about, and many other things. So I sat up in bed pulled out my blackberry and sent a note over to my PC and started asking about the mechanics of how to make this all happen. It's like when you're swimming at the beach and a big wave swells up in the water the worst thing you can do is to try and run away from it because you'll end up being knocked down, tossed around with a lot of sand in your pants. Best thing is to dive into the wave and through it!
ReplyDeleteThis week it is about traveling and the details of my life unraveling without me to keep them in control. What would actually happen if I didn't send a reminder to the nanny.....well, one child doesn't get a volunteer in the classroom and another misses soccer practice. Yes....it is true, my life runs most smoothly when I am in control! But.....honestly, how devastating is it to miss soccer practice. They will live! So, I guess I can give up some control.....
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