Your Legacy
A compelling vision that inspires…
It is said that we over-estimate what we can do in a year
and under-estimate what we can achieve in a decade.
Without a long-term vision, our short-term goals are often
reactive to immediate, but temporary, concerns in our
lives that ebb and flow. Consequently, they are not
stepping stones to creating a worthwhile legacy.
Legacies are more than the chance happenings of our
lifetime. When we actively create a legacy we transform
our lives into lives of purpose, passion and inspiration.
This brings out the best in us; it unleashes energy,
determination and resilience we never knew we had.
So this year, consider taking a daring challenge: Begin
creating your legacy. We can do this at any age. What
matters is that it is compelling, that it springs from our
passion, that it builds on our strengths and that it inspires
us forward, each day, each year… to create something
that is deeply meaningful for us.
So this month, this week, this very day – why not take 20
minutes out to create your legacy? Begin with a moment
of stillness, allow your breathing to slow … your mind to
still … Imagine you are 85 years old and you are looking
(Continued below)
Thriving in Tough Times
Breakfast Seminar
If you are looking for fast, fresh ideas to add zest and purpose to
your work in 2009, this is for you! After the success of the first
breakfast seminar we are running this seminar again on January
27th. Places are filling up fast, so it’s best to book soon.
For more information and/or to book, click here.
Or telephone 01344 628329 today.
Venue: Hilton Bracknell RG12 0QL
Cost: £65 (inc VAT)
Time: 7.30am for 8.00am – 10.00am
Your Legacy (Continued from above)
back over your life – take a few minutes to recall the
achievements that bring you most joy, most satisfaction….
Now, using this vision, move to a shorter timescale. How
would you like your life to be at the start of 2019? What
will you have accomplished? What qualities and strengths
will you have developed? What contributions will you
have made at work? What relationships will you have
strengthened? How will the world have benefited from
your unique talents and skills?
These are the beginnings of your legacy; they can be
adapted, improved and elaborated upon over time. Now
consider what you would like to have achieved by the end
of this year, to bring you closer to your legacy. Make it a
daring challenge. Challenges give us something to ‘test
our metal’ against, something to strive for that we may
consider a little beyond our grasp. And the rewards of
rising to those challenges – whether we succeed or not – is
the development of new skills and qualities, new friends
and insights. So there’s nothing to lose!
Story – And the Miracles?
Doing the impossible creates opportunities for miracles
Once upon a time, centuries ago, a little reed box with a baby
floated by Pharoah's daughter as she bathed in the Nile. The
Midrash says that she stretched out her own hand and pulled in
this little boat and raised the baby who became Moses. She did it
herself, not through one of her servants who were with her. But
that's no miracle. That's menschlichkeit and common sense.
But my Rabbi, Matthew Simon, taught me that the Kolzker Rabbi
points out the miracle of that moment: the little boat was 100
feet away and yet she stretched out her hand and a miracle
happened - her arm became long enough to pull the crude vessel
to her. She began the cycle which would end with exodus and
freedom.
And this is what the Kolzker says: because she didn’t sit around
thinking, 'Can I do it? Isn't it too far away?' she just did it, the
miracle happened.
He says that's the way people-who-want-to-do-good-things
operate. They just do these things and as a result - miracle of
miracles! - they accomplish the impossible."
Danny Siegel, 1990, CAJE Education Conference
The Framework for Transformation
The ‘Here and Now’
In past newsletters we looked at the Eight Tools of Reflection. The
tools sit within a wider framework which includes 12 Principles that
map out the essential building blocks for achieving lasting change in
organisations.
The first principle is to start in the ‘here and now’ which is
the point of reality, the point of power, the point of action and the
point of potential change. All these exist only in the now rather than
the past, which no longer exists, or in the future, which does not yet
exist. So it is important that you are in touch with yourself in the here
and now and then widen that out to an awareness of what is currently
happening to your team and more globally what is the here and now
situation of your company.
Be aware of what is happening right now and let that guide and inform
your thoughts and your actions. In this way you create the future out
of the reality of the present rather than out of some notion that may
well now be out of touch with what the present requires. Too many
companies live in the past and a vague future rather than being
grounded in the strength of the here and now.
An Exercise
Allow yourself a few moments to relax, then turn your awareness to
your five senses – notice what you are seeing… hearing… sensing
through touch… what can you smell and perhaps taste? Just allow the
senses to come to you rather than directing them. Just notice… Now
turn your awareness to your internal bodily experience – what are you
feeling (sensations, emotions)? Just notice… As you have been doing
this you may also have noticed your thoughts coming and going… Your
senses, feelings and thoughts are all part of your immediate here-andnow
experience.
Gradually expand your awareness to take in your wider surroundings,
perhaps your team or department, your company. What is calling your
attention? Take a few minutes to jot down what you discovered. You
may want to repeat this exercise regularly. The more you do, the
more you will find yourself connected of what is happening right here,
right now, in the present moment – the point of potential change.
Advanced Facilitator Programme – 2009
Learn the tools to create transformation at work
Learn how to bring out the best in your staff, increase productivity
and engagement, and reduce waste.
Cost
£4990 + VAT (accommodation costs included)
Early Bird Special – £500 off when you pay your deposit of £500+VAT by Feb 27th
Dates
May 6th – 7th
June 15th
July 15th – 16th
For more information click here
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