Find the Gift Already!

So here’s what I’m noticing.  Here in southwestern Ontario we’ve all been preparing for a major snowstorm — lots of snow, blizzard-like winds, freezing temps — the sort of stuff that makes the roads dicey to say the least, if not entirely undriveable (I know, it’s not a real word, but you get my point).  The sort of weather where it really does feel better to stay in your jammies, cuddle up under a blanket with a cup of tea or hot chocolate and just read a good book.  No matter how bad the weather, however, it doesn’t happen all that often that employers close their doors or reduce their open hours — after all, there’s stuff to do, work to be completed, etc; etc;.

Well, as circumstances would have it, our particular geographical area has had a few of these crazy-weather days in the last two months, AND our schools have actually been closed for 6 of those thus far, including today (5 were before the Christmas break).  Many services and business operations also closed their doors based on the weather which was sometimes predicted to be worse than actually transpired.  Which doesn’t really bother me; I’d rather have people be safe than sorry, and I know that we can only make decisions to the best of our ability with the information that we have at hand.

Here’s the thing:  it would appear that many people — actually, a LOT of people — cannot take the gift that’s been handed them, namely an unexpected, unplanned day to relax and rejuvenate, without griping about how they’ve got far too much work to do and don’t have time for this.  I know, I can be just as guilty of this sort of thing.  What I know for sure, however, is that the “work that has to be done” can actually wait.  Even if there’s a deadline attached, there really isn’t anything that’s indelibly carved in stone.  Deadlines can be changed, the world will not stop if a deadline is missed, believe it or not the sun will rise again — even if you stop and take the gift of this day and just go nurture whatever other aspect of your life needs to get nurtured.

I think the challenge in this is that those of you in leadership positions have got to lead the way.  You’ve got to be a model of working efficiently for sure, however, you’ve also got to model being relaxed enough to go with the flow, to trim your sails to match the wind, to show those following you that you can find the gift — the opportunity — in every situation and make the best of it.  This isn’t about being a Pollyanna; this is about taking whatever circumstances  you’re given, being grateful for it and embracing the gift therein, knowing that the regular routine will resume sooner than you realize.

Bottom-line:  I know you’ve got stuff to do, people to meet with, issues to resolve.  Let it go for a day.  Whether it’s the weather or illness or being needed by your family, quit griping about “having to stay home” and just do it already.  Embrace the gift of the situation — more rest, more family time, the opportunity to bake or meditate — and know that you’ll move on when you move on. Don’t look a gift-horse in the mouth — even when (especially when!) the gift-horse is the universe or mother nature.

Humility: It’s Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be

“…excessive pride is a familiar sin, but a (person) may just as easily frustrate the will of God through excessive humility.”  ~Ken Follett

I want you to take a minute and re-read the above quote.  In the event that God-language offends you in any way, feel free to replace it with whatever works for you — universe, higher power, higher self — you pick.  And now think about what this quote is saying.  It’s from the book Pillars of the Earth, and the upshot of it is that so often people shy away from pride and arrogance, knowing that these qualities can trip you up on your path to success.  There’s no doubt about it; too much pride can blind you and doom your plans to failure every time.

The challenge is that, in an effort to avoid the crime of pride or arrogance, you very likely swing the pendulum too far and stand in a place of too much humility.  Don’t believe me?  Answer me this:  what are your strengths?  What are you good at?  What gifts do you bring to the world?  What are your inherent talents?  In working with clients for almost a decade now, I know that questions of this sort often elicit blank stares or the ever-popular “I don’t know.”  My guess is the same is true for you.  You may acknowledge your strengths quietly to yourself, but there’s no way you’re going to “toot your own horn” to the world, right?  That would be wrong, right?

Well here’s the thing; there’s actually a pretty fine line between owning your strengths — acknowledging the gifts and talents you’re meant to bring to the world — and walking around with excessive pride.  Because the world at large teaches you the dangers of arrogance without teaching the virtues of confidence (and that is what we’re talking about here) you very likely feel challenged to confidently step into and acknowledge what you’re good at.  And until or unless you can do this, there’s no way you can live up to your full potential and accomplish whatever it is you’re meant to accomplish.

So, here’s my challenge to you:  today, right here, right now, acknowledge your strengths, gifts and talents.  Not in a whisper to yourself, but out loud, to the world.  Write these on a piece of paper and post it on your fridge.  Call up a colleague or two and tell them — confidently, not arrogantly — what you believe your strengths are.  Start living your talents confidently and watch how the way you show up in the world changes.  Notice how your impact in the world changes.  Notice what you can accomplish when you step right up to the line that separates confidence from arrogance.

Bottom-line:  if you want to accomplish great things, you’ve got to know what you’re great at.  Don’t let excessive humility be your downfall.  Whatever you’re great at, own it.  Leadership requires confidence, not humility.

The Wrapping’s Not Very Pretty, But…

…it’s definitely a gift.  That’s what I’ve gleaned out of some of today’s experiences.  For example:  I had a meeting scheduled for this morning, and I was really looking forward to the productive brainstorming that I was envisioning happening.  Unfortunately, my colleague and I ended up at two different meeting places due to a misunderstanding as to location.  On the one hand, bummer — because I couldn’t share my ideas visually and receive ideas visually.  On the other hand, great gift — because I was out of my usual workspace and got two degrees closer in clarity as to what I’m trying to create PLUS I got to enjoy a white mochaccino, one of my secret indulgences, while I waited.

Then, I came home to deal with an ongoing blood sugar roller coaster (this one’s been going on for a couple of days now).  Bummer — because I couldn’t go for the run that I would’ve liked to experience — running when my blood sugar is wonky is just asking for trouble.  Great gift — because it allowed me to slow down and breathe through a very healthy lunch meal.

Finally, I hit a creative wall in the middle of a project this afternoon.  My brain actually stopped generating any ideas whatsoever.  Bummer — because I felt like I was on a roll.  Gift — because it forced me to reach outside of myself and enlist the help of some other folks in generating ideas, lean into community as it were.  And community is always a gift.

Bottom-line:  the day’s not unfolding as I might have envisioned it.  And I know that that happens sometimes — it’s part of the leadership game.  Heck, it’s part of the game of life.  I realize that I could get all bent out of shape about it.  Except that I also realize that the way it’s actually unfolding is better than what I originally envisioned.  I’m needing to step into a new vantage point to see the gifts; and the gifts are there nonetheless.  Pretty cool thing to remember, I think.