Reflections – Seeing others

The question of how we relate to people is vast and certainly too great for a mere blog posting. However, one or two points can be pondered briefly here on the issue of seeing others.

Very few of us, I imagine, go any length of time without interacting with people in one form or another. Unless we have chosen to withdraw for a period of silent reflection, our days will consist of dealings with family members, friends, colleagues, clients, acquaintances, and indeed strangers.

Yet possibly like me, you may find such interactions are often task orientated rather than focused on human connection. It is so easy to concentrate on getting what we want from the encounter and, in the process, miss the potentially valuable contribution the meeting can offer both parties.

It can be considered idealistic to view each such occasion as a chance to expand awareness and understanding of differing positions. All the same, increasingly it seems this is where a source of life’s richness can be found.

“Our attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us, ” said Earl Nightingale. It may be argued then that as interdependent creatures our lives flourish or wither in line with the quality of our interactions.

Seeing others as they are, not as we want them to be, may mean we go beyond the limits of preconditioned thinking. By letting people be themselves we can be pleasantly surprised to find we all actually have more in common than in contrast.

Thanks for stopping by here today. If you would like to join the conversation and share your input on the subject of seeing others, please leave a comment below.

Kindest regards.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Steps to success

The old saying “Repetition is the mother of learning” certainly can apply to various aspects of life.

Yet sometimes steps to success are taken out of necessity rather than as a chosen action. Retracing, then repeating, our steps might be indispensable before understanding and learning take hold.

Time spent going over our steps may be needed before we can feel comfortable with the matter in question. Through training and practice we acquire the skills to take ourselves forward.

Each of the steps to success brings with it a valuable lesson and learning it invariably leads us to the next. Taking the steps with a measured pace is likewise part of the learning process. Rarely can we miss one step without encountering a consequence later along the way.

Thanks for stepping along with me here today. If you’d like to contact me, I can be reached by e-mail, through my website, blog or via Twitter.

Thanks again and goodbye for now.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Inspiration

Inspiration, it seems, is able to reach us in many different ways.

On occasions inspiration, in the form of a solution to a challenging question, may present itself just as we are about to renounce our involvement in a matter.

At times, we might be engaged in one activity, only to find ourselves distracted by an inspiring thought concerning an issue far from our mind right then.

In a sense inspiration is similar to the sun, ever present yet not always in sight. Trusting we can tap into its power is part of life I guess. However, actually receiving inspiration may require some input on our part.

For example, we need to give ourselves the chance to tune into inspiration. This could mean finding a quiet moment for reflection, or possibly partaking of a brainstorming session. Certainly any number of creative exercises can connect us to inspiration.

As the Buddha said: “It is you who must make the effort. Masters only point the way.”

Likewise, it is not unknown for inspiration to surface during a coaching session as the client explores options regarding objectives and actions. In any case and regardless of the setting, it appears inspiration will find us when we are open and present to it.

Thanks for reading this today. To share your thoughts on inspiration, please leave a comment below.

Kindest regards.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Silver lining

Professional development and personal growth. What, you may wonder, do they have to do with a silver lining?

Looking at the clouds has got me thinking about our efforts to acquire knowledge, build competency and expand awareness. The silver lining of each cloud can be likened to the positives we gain from any form of professional development and personal growth.

I always brief my clients that really being heard – also in the pauses as they are in a coaching session – is a sensation unlike many others experienced in everyday activities.

The silver lining analogy yet again comes into play as being the expanded vision obtained from such a focused effort of development.

The awareness or discovery need not necessarily be earth-shattering but may be considered a silver lining none the less. Or, as the American actress Rita Wilson put it: “Awareness is empowering.”

As ever, other perspectives are no doubt possible and the clouds can surely provide all manner of additional ideas. For now, thanks for being here.

If you’d like to contact me, I can be reached by e-mail, through my website, blog or via Twitter.

Thanks again and kindest regards.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Determination

“Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.” Denis Waitley, American author and speaker.

Indeed, the only uncertainty concerning such roadblocks seems to be as to when we will encounter them.  We can brainstorm, run through ‘what if’ scenarios and even cross our fingers, yet situations invariably come along to test our determination in reaching our objective.

However, just as a river finds a path to the sea, if we are fired by determination to reach our goal, we might discover a setback turns out to be an indicator of a better path than we originally planned towards our goal. Determination need not exclude flexibility in this case.

Our determination cannot easily be perceived by others. At times our actions might provide a glimpse of it, but only our results really speak for us and even then never telling the full story of the effort we have put in along the way.

Firmness of purpose, determination in other words, may suggest we are blind to the reality of each moment. On the contrary, whilst determination possibly helps us cut through the shallowness of passing fads, it can also act as a point of reference for our goal as we explore options open to us.

Thanks for connecting here today. If you’d like to share your input on the issue of determination, please leave a comment below.

Kindest regards.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Trusting the road

Once we have decided our destination or objective and undertaken the necessary preparation, there is little left for us to do but set out on the chosen path.

Trusting the road is very much about letting go of doubts regarding the choices made and concentrating our energies on reaching our goal.

We might encounter any number of unforeseen situations along the way and may also have to cope with managing our concerns during the darkest moments. Trusting the road is about trusting ourselves. Without this element we will rarely complete successfully any undertaking.

The intuition, motivation and passion which led us to choose one destination or objective rather than another can seldom be explained in mere words. Indeed attempting to explain aloud our decisions can at times cause confusion. We know and most likely that is enough.

Yet when needing to change direction in order to maintain progress, it can be helpful to recall the words of Tom Stoppard: “Every exit is an entry somewhere else.”

Thanks for being here today. If you’d like to contact me, I can be reached by e-mail, through my website, blog or via Twitter.

Thanks again and goodbye for now.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Reducing the tension

If we are to believe numerous social, economic and political commentators, many countries are struggling to keep afloat right now.

What’s more, the slow release of details regarding supposed rescue packages rather than reducing the tension seems to be adding to the problem.

Perhaps it comes down to the general fear of being unable to cope in the event of what may or may not happen tomorrow.

Unfortunately tensions are easily stoked in tough times. Indeed, examples of violence abound locally, nationally and internationally. As Mother Teresa suggested, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Whilst much is beyond our power of control, if we so choose we can help in reducing the tension prevalent today. And our circle of influence, to use an expression of Stephen R. Covey, will undoubtedly benefit from us undertaking such an exercise.

The advice the Plastic Ono Band eloquently offered us in the song Give Peace a Chance is something we can certainly choose to follow, regardless of our position or situation in life right now. The future will remain unknown yet would at least be faced with a smile instead of a frown.

Thanks for reading this today. If you’d like to join in the conversation here and share your input, please leave a comment below.

Kindest regards.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Myth and reality

We may envision aspects of life in various ways, and occasionally a myth can mirror reality.

As standardization transforms differing societies into photocopies of one another, certain myths regarding traditional habits, localities and cultural pursuits may seem to be nurtured to the point of them becoming realities.

The establishment here is a fine example of what the so-called English pub is commonly believed to be like. Yet is it a myth brought to life or merely reality underpinning the myth? The line is blurred, though the atmosphere is pleasantly real.

How we choose to see things determines our feelings towards them. Whether it’s a myth or reality makes little difference if we are indifferent to the matter in question, ‘a pub is a pub is a pub’.

Likewise if we are attached to something, we may add labels such as ‘the best’ and talk about it as ‘ours’. As ever, we can choose to give as much weight to a myth and to our perceptions of reality as we wish.

For now, thanks for being here. If you’d like to contact me, I can be reached by e-mail, through my website, blog or via Twitter.

Cheers and Happy 2012 to you.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Clearing the decks

As one year draws to a close, all that is left for us now to do is perhaps follow the input of productivity expert David Allen: “Sometimes the greatest gain in productive energy will come from cleaning the cowebs, dealing with old business and clearing the decks.”

Even the popular saying ‘Out with the old, in with the new’ points to the idea of clearing the decks.

Letting go, whether of ideas, beliefs, or merely accumulated clutter, is possibly so tied to this time of the year precisely because the new year is traditionally held up as ‘a new beginning’.

Naturally if we choose, we may view every moment as being a fresh start. As such, the exercise of clearing the decks can take place whenever we wish.

Nevertheless, with the emphasis on the coming year all around us, it seems appropriate to clear the decks now to offer space for new opportuniites to come into being.

Thanks for reading this today and indeed for all your support throughout the past year.

Happy 2012 to you.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com

Reflections – Distractions

Concentrate the mind on the present moment – Buddha

With the holiday season here, distractions may present themselves in all forms, with food and drink it seems leading the way.

However, taking each moment as a unique instance can provide a respite from the pressures to join the current retail-driven frenzy.

With focused attention we may discover that regardless of what the advertising world chooses to tell us, life need not only be measured by our capacity to consume.

The value of the present moment may possibly be determined also by a smile from a stranger, a hug from a loved one or a kindness from a colleague.

Concentrating on, connecting with even, the present moment can bring to light treasures too great for any fancy gift boxes.

Despite the many distractions of the moment you are here and I thank you for this.

Happy Holidays to you.

Brian.

http://www.bgdtcoaching.com