3 : Getting Off Your Ass!
(I'm not trying to be terribly 'proper' but some servers wouldn't allow through the original version of this).
Recently, I was helping a client to create a ‘Life Purpose’ statement. We do this by engaging in a number of short visualisations and then using them to create a statement of the form :
"I am the (metaphor) that/which/who (the impact you want to make)".
This reminded me of one I developed for myself when training as a coach :
“I am the wild gypsy dancer that gets you off your ass”.
(Unfortunately, with a wrecked ankle acquired 20 years ago when I literally jumped off an edge - in a cave - the "wild gypsy dancer" can only be a metaphor).
And what do I mean by “get you off your ass”? Many of you probably feel you’re so busy that you never get a chance to be on it – getting off isn’t the issue. But when you do get up do you get up to ‘dance’ with life? Or are you more like a hamster in a wheel – running very fast – but not lifting up your head for long enough to check where you’re going?
Some definitions :.
Efficient – doing things right
Effective – doing the right thing
I’d like to invite you to explore whether, when you ‘get off your ass’, you are being efficient or effective (or preferably both?).
So this week’s ‘action’ suggestion is : Stop.
Find a place at home or in the garden or go for walk – or even stop the car somewhere on your way home from work – and take some quiet, uninterrupted time to ask yourself “What do I really want from my life?” (and versions of this such as “What would fulfil me? What would make me happy? What would bring me fully alive?”. In other words, what is the 'right' thing?).
How many minutes a day does this question deserve? Decide – and commit.
You may enjoy doing this very much. Or you may find it quite challenging. Many years ago I was working with managers who had been made redundant. One element of the programme was a 1-1 session. It was fed back to me that, following the session, many people were saying that "Lynda gave me a really hard time" which obviously concerned me. However, investigation revealed that the "hard time" consisted solely of me asking “What would you really like to do?”.
Where does your mind go when you ask yourself that question? Do you have the courage to dream? The determination to turn a dream into reality? Or does the Gremlin (see 2) come up with all the reasons why not?
I was once on a Buddhist meditation retreat where every day ended with the following chant :
“Let me respectfully remind you
That life and death are of supreme importance
Time swiftly passes
And opportunity is lost
Let us awaken. Awaken!
Do not squander your life”.
This could be less ‘respectfully’ restated as “Hey! Wake up! Life is short. Get off your ass – now!”. Anyone want to dance?
If you would like to receive future articles via email, please use the Contact the Coach form and change the Subject to 'Please Subscribe'. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose or given to anyone else.
