A lovely lunch overlooking Georgian Bay yielded
an unexpected sunburn to my face. It's been so long
since I've sat still on a hot day that I obviously
forgot the consequences. Sometimes in life we need
to get "burned" before a lesson lands!
Have you ever found yourself delighted with
something that has happened or really proud of
yourself for something you did? When was the
last time that you allowed yourself to be fully
immersed in the joy of an accomplishment? Take a
moment and remember, right now, a time when you
felt completely joyful. Ah ... what a feeling.
This is where a client was sitting on our
coaching call when we both recognized that since
a stunning awareness the day before she had
actually been stalled at the joy intersection.
In spite of loads of challenges all around her,
she just couldn't shake (not did she want to)
the feeling of pure joy that was running through
her body and mind. It was almost sacred; almost
impossible to describe.
Many of us experience these somewhat "holy"
moments when we suddenly feel impervious to
negativity, sadness or resistance. It's as
though, for a period of time, we are so "whole"
that we are untouchable. It has nothing to do
with denial - we are certainly cognizant of what
is happening around us. It's just that we choose
to be immersed in a joy place. Or, as my client
was ... stuck at the joy intersection.
Too often we feel great joy and rush off into
the next feeling without letting joy fully
expand within us. The surprising contrast is
that when something makes us sad or angry we
often hold onto those feelings much longer than
it serves us. You might even be holding some
resentment or misery right now that has long
passed. I wonder ... if we are so good at
keeping disempowering feelings alive how might
our lives be different if, the next time we feel
the exhilaration of bliss we let ourselves be
stalled a the joy intersection. Imagine.
The
Greenland Expedition continues and the learning, for
all of us, is unfolding on that frozen ice cap. My
friend
Adrian Hayes is well into his trek with Canadian
colleagues Devon McDiarmid and Derek Crow to bring
awareness about climate change. Partnered with
One Planet Living they are posting special
dispatches on their blog highlighting the efforts of
schools, businesses and communities around the world to
create a better living space for ourselves and future
generations.
I urge and encourage to follow this remarkable journey
so we can all learn ways to improve the health of our
planet ... our home. For a front row seat to pictures,
information and updates visit the website for the
Greenland Expedition.
Please read this inspirational and conscious-raising
speech that Paul Hawken gave for the Commencement
at Portland University. It moved me to tears ...
and action, again. My wish would be that every
graduating student would hear this message and take a
stand for our planet and the survival of the species
that live on it ... including humankind. AND my dream is
that every single one of us finds some way ... today ...
to make this world a better place.
Read Healing or Stealing.
If you would like to share your comments, please email
be at daryl@darylwood.com. I will post them on
my blog.
* you have a vision for your life that is exciting and
... maybe scary!
* you know for sure that you want something in your life
to be different
* you are done with (or at least almost done with)
complaining and blaming
* you are willing to give up your "story"
* you believe in the power of attraction and intention
... and most of all ... you are committed to a co-active
relationship that will challenge and champion you! You
may be a good starter ... with me as your coach you'll
also be a great finisher! To learn more visit my
Life Coaching page.
"One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice"
Mary Oliver
Ms. Daryl Wood, CPCC
Author, Certified Life Coach, Transformational Life
and Leadership Facilitator
