
Clear Confident Leader Weekly Observer, Issue #6
From the Greenbelt of Boise, Idaho, Leaves are Falling
Center is a state of unity in which effective action, emotional balance, mental alertness, and spiritual vision are in a harmonious balance. When we’re centered, our actions are coherent with what we care about.
– Richard Strozzi-Heckler
In the ebb and flow of life, it is easy to be up ended by a wave catching us off balance. Whether it is a surprise, a shock, unpleasant news, or just one too many requests for our attention, we can be triggered into a state of reacting to what just happened.
Consider what happened the last time someone cut right in front of you while driving in heavy traffic. What do you recall? This last week, someone accelerated rapidly past me in the right lane, cut in front and slammed on their brakes barely avoiding rear ending the car stopped at a red light ahead of us. I too had to brake quickly. Triggered by the events, my body tensed, I felt anger rising, I expressed a few choice words, and a story about the driver of the car with out of state plates launched in my head.
What do you remember about the last time you were in a hurry to complete something, and the program or system didn’t work the way you expected to, or returned your submittal with an error message? This last week a website for a program I offer with a colleague was down, and we were told about it by an interested client. When escalating it to the website company, their support was somewhat evasive, and while it was an easy resolution, it left us concerned it will continue to occur with no warning.
These are just two of many triggers that can catch us off balance, and up end us into a state of reacting out of fear or anger. Our opportunity is to develop our capacity to ground ourselves, regain our balance, and then choose to respond from a place of center so “our actions are coherent with what we care about”. When you're triggered by life's events, what practices help you ground yourself, regain your balance, and respond from center?
I work with owners, executives, and professionals to achieve extraordinary outcomes they care about, amidst events that catch them off balance. Learn more about Generative Leadership Coaching.
Let’s create a better future today!