Posted on

Do you have a Korean tour guide in your head?

Recently, some American journalists traveled to North Korea and were assigned a tour guide for the duration of the visit. The guide denied many of their requests for sightseeing and talking with the locals. They were forced to spend much of their time in the hotel!

It occurred to me that, at times in my life, I have had a “Korean tour guide” living in my head, telling me things like:

You can’t … because it’s not allowed.
Don’t go there, it’s not safe.
Don’t do that, you’ll fail.
Don’t ask questions.

Many such messages began as well-meant guidance from parents, teachers and loved ones. I heeded them and they protected me. As time wore on, however, Continue reading “Do you have a Korean tour guide in your head?”

Posted on

Just a reminder: Beginner’s Mind

As many of you return to work following the Labor Day weekend, or to school following summer break, I’d like to invite you into an idea that could transform your experience of your coworkers, employees, students and most of all YOU and your life. The idea may already be known to you but it is ever and always worth revisiting:  Beginner’s Mind. Wikipedia offers us this definition:

 In Zen Buddhism, Shoshin or beginner’s mind refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would.

How often do you go to the office eager and open,
or enter a conversation ready to learn?

Continue reading “Just a reminder: Beginner’s Mind”

Posted on

Deep Inner Alignment

Who am I? Are my actions fully aligned with the values I hold dear? Do I let you see who I am? Or, am I hiding behind activities that our culture deems necessary?

As my summer of play/pickleball comes to an end, these are the questions I am wrestling with. Once again, I am aware that my passion is deep connection with people and inviting others to deeper connection with themselves. I want you to know who you are and to answer “Yes!” when asked if your actions align with your values.

As a step forward for me toward greater inner/outer alignment, Continue reading “Deep Inner Alignment”

Posted on

I Can’t Do It All!

The truth about choices is this:

Often one precludes another

Time spent “here” means it isn’t spent “there”, at least not now.

It has been about seven weeks since I began an experiment: modify my schedule by moving most appointments to the afternoon in order to free up mornings, Monday-Friday. In that time frame, I have the option of playing two hours of weather-dependent Pickleball with an additional hour of travel and clean-up.

Here’s what I didn’t wholly account for when I made this choice: Continue reading “I Can’t Do It All!”

Posted on

I Don’t Want To!

I think I’m having a temper tantrum. The calendar suggests that it is time to write to you. Everything else in my being is screaming, “No, don’t want to!”. I’d rather listen to the birds, feel this cool, fresh morning air, follow my breath. And I am aware that there is no one who can make me write to you (or do anything for that matter).

But, there is a voice, or many of them, inside my head. Which of these can you identify for yourself? Continue reading “I Don’t Want To!”