I explain my recent hiatus from podcasting and plan for producing content into the future. My recent extended trip to Portland Oregon led me to an epiphany about gratitude. That was ignited and reinforced by a video of a spoken word by Br. David Steindl-Rast. 

I use a three step iterative process for coaching leaders. This approach mirrors how humans change from one perspective to another. In doing so, behaviors change and authenticity can increase...leading to different outcomes.

None of us are broken. We are where we are in any given moment and it's all serving. Part of (more easily) moving into a new perspective involves honoring what has served in the past and embracing what's desired in the present moment. 

A random meditation imagery about tennis led me to realizing that my individual authenticity was no longer matching the collective authenticity of the organization I was working for. New revelations and insights about change emerged.

In matters of change, people's openness and willingness to change is most important when assessing whether change will truly manifest. In organizations, openness and willingness to change even supersedes people's skills and capabilities. Being clear on who you are allows you the space to let go, make a change for yourself and move out of resistance...even when it feels risky. 

Do we ever truly release everything that we try to let go of?! That's the big question that I continue to ponder. My experience of considering a watch purchase forced me to revisit my sense of worthiness. Getting to a place of recognizing that I am truly worthy led me to believe that I don't have to do anything to demonstrate worthiness to another. In this particular experience, I realized that I didn't need to purchase watches that I didn't really want to demonstrate that I was worthy of the watch I truly desired. In my experience, watches have always been a symbol of success. I finally feel like I've been able to let all of that go. But have I?

*Correction - the "last episode" or "last week's episode" that is referenced in this episode is actually referring to Episode 7. - What Am I Holding Onto?

In this episode, I evaluate how many of us choose to define success based on what we are taught at an early age. We spend are much of our lives chasing "success". As one becomes more authentic, thoughts about success begin to change. My personal barometer of success has become rooted in whether I’m happy or not. That has shifted my need to chase after money, titles and material things…which I’ve experienced as creating a fleeting experience of happiness. The feeling of success becomes temporal. For organizations, being singularly focused on what success looks like can create unintended consequences.   

This episode focuses on a very difficult exchange I had while in a romantic relationship. What the exchange uncovered was that I thought I had completely healed from all of the pain associated with my ex-wife and my daughter's abduction. However, I was still holding onto something. Becoming aware that there was still some level of connection to that pain from years ago, allowed me to embrace the difficult exchange and begin to "let go" even more.

A friend and former colleague reached out for career advice as he struggled to decide between three different opportunities. Encouraging him to lean into his intuition and how the opportunities felt made making the decision much easier. It's important to follow the energy that leads you towards something rather than running away from something (because of fear). Those are two very different energies and have a significant impact on how we experience transitions. When we feel clear, we feel more authentic.

Being courageous requires us to overcome F.E.A.R. (false evidence appearing real) and take risks. As we learn to take risks, we develop confidence. Demonstrating courage is a way to break out of your current perspective and feel more authentic. Developing a visual imagery and/or a mantra can support that change in perspective.

00:00 - Introduction
01:28 - My courage journey
02:57 - Taking risks and confidence
03:33 - A powerful vision
05:31 - My "courage mantra"
08:42 - Tips to becoming more courageous (developing a visualization and mantra)


#authenticity #individualauthenticity #courage #takingrisks #courageous #authenticitycontinuum #mantras #visions #confidence