Tidbits of Wisdom to inspire your unique life journey – Jeanne Loehnis, Songs For Your Spirit, LLC
Today, I’m feeling the urge to share an idea that has profoundly impacted how I move in the world. It was given to me in 2010 at my final Leadership Development retreat. Once again, I was overcome with feeling small, unworthy of being a leader, lacking belief in the gifts that are mine to give to the world. Finally, I reached out for help. Continue reading “The World Needs Leaders … NOW!”
It takes courage to act on our deep inner knowings and to make fundamental changes in how we live and move and have our being in this world. And, we don’t have to (perhaps dare not!) do this alone. In fact, in addition to gremlin voices (negators who live in our heads), each of us also has a team of inner supporters who believe in us, are ever-present and ready to assist. Our job is to identify the members of our team, hold practice with them regularly, then engage them in the big and small plays of daily life.
A strong team often has these positions (*) filled: the Appreciator, the Listener, the Curious One, the Self Manager, the Intuitive, the Teacher. Your team may have others.
Consider filling your team. Take it easy! Perhaps you focus on one position a day or a week. For each, pause, breathe, turn within and invite your inner wisdom to look in the following places for a likely candidate, one who represents that quality for you: people (past, present, alive or deceased, family, teachers, mentors, friends, foes), fictional characters, animals, a place in your body, a place you’ve been or one you imagine where you can sense the quality, an experience you’ve had.
These questions can help you get acquainted with each team member:
What is your job description?
What is important for me to know about you?
What do you want for me?
What is the special name I should use for you?
Finally, call upon your team regularly!
(*) Positions and questions adapted from the Coaches Training Institute materials
Yesterday, I spent time with the notion of believing in Santa Claus:
Today I’d like to take that one step further and explore belief in a Higher Power, God, Spirit, Universal Presence, Allah or a teaching such as that of the Buddha.
What value is there in faith traditions?
How does belief impact life?
I guess I can only speak for myself here. My own journey of belief has had a few twists and turns. I started life in a christian tradition and believed in God as the Creator of all life whose love was unconditional and who asked me to be and do good. I think the faith that grounded our family was a very important part of how we showed up in the world as good, hard working, trusting, loving people.
Then, life hit hard and I needed the 12 Step programs which talked about “God as I understand God” and a Higher Power. I think the deep pain in my life required me to believe in a whole new way. Trusting in something outside of myself, taking myself out of the driver’s seat in life, asking for help, softened me. I couldn’t keep doing life alone, my way. Believing that there were other powers in the universe supporting me was a gift.
Since then, I have explored many spiritual traditions and belief systems. I continue to expand and soften. I have experienced the power of meditation, come to understand the richness in the writings of many great spiritual teachers. The more I journey, the more I trust, the easier life becomes. This human life experience has challenges – lots of them! And when I focus only at the level of my humanity and try to solve problems on my own, I fail and life hurts. When I see a wider view, when I trust that we are supported by something bigger: Life, Love, a Master Creator, I let go. I allow life to be what it is – even the painful parts.
If believing is foreign to you, or if your belief system doesn’t support you in the way you’d like it to, stretch! Try something new. Read. Find a spiritual group. Meditate. Try a new church. Whatever you do, know that there is no right or wrong. Belief is personal. Your way can’t look like anyone else’s. Believing “is an inside job”.
What value would you find in believing?
How might your life change?
It’s that time of year. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas with a visit from Santa Claus, you can’t help but hear about him, especially here in the US. Over the years, I have grown to want less and less of what Santa has come to represent: over-the-top giving of stuff that no one needs.
Today, however, I am pausing to see things differently.
What is the meaning of Santa Claus?
Santa is generosity, magic, joy, delight. Santa gives without expectation. Santa follows laws of cause and effect (have you ever gotten coal in your stocking?) but is otherwise non-judgmental and unconditional love. Santa offers hope. Santa is a guide for children who need a reason to do the right thing. Despite the Santa tracker on the news, Santa is invisible, coming and going without being noticed. Santa is simply Love personified, the real deal, that which many of us aspire to.
Why NOT believe?
What is the power in believing?
As I pondered that this morning, I thought about those people in my life who brought Santa to life over the years for me and the impact of their actions. I felt loved and wanted and seen. I felt the joy and delight that “Santa” wants for me. I felt the excitement and anticipation of Christmas morning. Because of Santa Claus, many human beings gift our world with Santa’s superhuman traits.
What’s wrong with that? Nothing!
No longer a child, I am aware that I get to be Santa now. I get to bring the love and joy and generosity and delight. I get to give people a reason to believe in the basic goodness of life. And I know the joy of giving, of bringing joy to others. How about you?
What if you believed in Santa?
What would believing create in you?
It has been 10 days since you’ve heard from me. I’ve been away visiting family, blessed by their love and the smiles of an almost two month old. I experienced nature in ways I could never get at home. I vacationed from many of the usual activities of my days: writing, coaching, making music, connecting with friends.
Yet I chose not to vacation from daily inspiration, meditation and great self-care.
What was the impact?
Freedom. I was free to be fully in the experiences while I was away. Leaving behind responsibilities and self-expectations created an openness of spirit to be present to new and different. Continuing self-care and honoring my body and spirit meant that I felt well and could truly be present to the awe and magic and love which flowed in my days.
What aspects of vacation belong in every day?
It would seem that being “fully in the experiences of life, open to what shows up” is something that would be very valuable every day, not just while on vacation. So I ask:
What is “openness of spirit” in responsibility?
What habits block your openness?
What allows you to be fully open and present?
Now what?