Note: any of these can be entire posts and may become one. Starting with three concepts first.
Growth is in the Wobble
On a recent call with he talked about this model.
The idea that we are spinning tops in our lives.
When things are flowing, we spin upright and move through life more easily. Stable. Congruent. Grounded.
Other times we may wobble. We may falter or be knocked off center. We may be able to manage through the wobble and/or we may need some help to get stable again. Growth, opportunities, and novelty come through the wobble.
Sometimes we collapse. We fall or are knocked over completely. On the ground. Help is required, we can’t get upright without it. We are changed. Transformation is possible. We may spin differently afterwards.
Growth and opportunities are in the wobble. Transformation is in the collapse.
Grains of Sand
How do you move a dune of sand?
Action to start, followed by relaxing.
Motion is started, the first grains of sand move, momentum builds, grain by grain, over time, the whole dune is shifted. At some point the last few grains of sand finally settle into a new position.
To change, to make change, requires a beginning followed by action.
If action is carried out for a long enough time, anything is possible.
Begin, then keep going.
This is how it is in life, things can change slowly over a long time period, and then suddenly all at once it is complete.
Play the Long Game
It’s the only game to play.
Your reputation crawls into town and rides out on horseback.
Your reputation. How you show up. How you treat others - matters.
Seem obvious?
“You will be judged by how you treat those who can do nothing for you.” - Kevin Kelly
Showing up, treating others well, doing what you said you would do, offering kindness, telling the truth, checking in on others, helping others, and simply being a decent person can have immediate and long term benefit.
As I am working to build this coaching business and another business, I am aware of the gifts of how my past self showed up.
Realizing that a number of professional relationships (and friendships) have lasted well over 20 years is gratifying. These relationships have been maintained, sometimes across long distances.
The reflection is that long before now, I took the opportunity to show up as best as possible in my life.
My past self took care of current self.
This can make all the difference when staying in touch with people and reconnecting with others.