Diane Bolden’s Synchronistically Speaking

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 Have you ever walked by a building under construction and been curious about what was being built?  Perhaps there were people working diligently, each focusing on their own specific task.  Maybe there were steel girders, half constructed walls, and unidentifiable objects at some stage of completion.

At first glance, it may appear chaotic and messy.  But amidst the sawdust and cement blocks there is something that pulls it all together.  Though we may not know exactly what is being built, over time the construction begins to take shape and we start to recognize a room here, and another there.  And then we may begin to surmise the purpose and function of each room. 

As the walls are plastered and the paint is applied, the appearance becomes neater.  And suddenly, it is completed in all its glory – a stunning compilation of raw materials, sweat, and focused action. 

 Perhaps we too build things in this way.  It is nice to know in advance exactly what we are building.  But at times things may feel chaotic, disconnected and random.  We have some experiences that uplift us and others that disappoint.  We may find ourselves without an explanation of why certain events and experiences are taking place. 

But maybe underneath it all, there is a larger plan at work – one that will reveal itself over time.  As we undertake each new experience, another wall is constructed and a new room is being built.  What if we were willing to experience our lives with the same wonder and curiosity with which we look upon that building that is under construction?  And what if we were able to engender that same enthusiasm and optimism in everyone around us? 

Are you willing to entertain the thought that somewhere within you there is a perfect blueprint of everything your life and your leadership will bring about?  And can you delight in the mystery of its gradual unfolding?

Copyright Synchronistics Coaching & Consulting 2010.  All rights reserved.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy In the Flow and Life’s Perfect Classroom.  Download these and other articles for free at www.DianeBolden.com/articles.  While you are there, you can subscribe to receive a new feature article each month.  You will also receive my free report on 10 Traps Leaders Unwittingly Create for Themselves – and How to Avoid Them.

Living on the Job

Do you ever feel that work is something you must “make it through” in order to get to the weekend?  I think at one time or another we have all felt that way (myself included).   When you look at the way most of us are indoctrinated into the world of work, it is easy to understand why many compartmentalize and keep it separate from their personal lives.  Work, we are often told, is not supposed to be fun.  That’s why they call it work.

Yet most of us occupy more of our waking hours in this activity than any other.   For better or worse, we spend more time with our coworkers than we do with our own families.  To live a life that is truly meaningful, we must factor in this large part of our everyday lives.  Life is too short to only truly live after 5pm and on the weekends.  And if ever there were a place that offers us a chance to perform our God given talents in a way that makes even a little difference, it is at work – where we are surrounded by others with whom we can pool our energy and passion to create something worth working for.  Day after day, we return to another opportunity to shine. 

To what degree do you show up on the job?  I don’t mean physically – but mentally, spiritually, holistically.  Do you see your work day as a series of boxes to be checked so that you can go home?  Do you refrain from sharing your humor, your dreams, your honest opinions and wildest ideas with people while you are there?  If so, you may not only be cheating them, but also yourself.   

People I coach who desire greater satisfaction and fulfillment at work often believe things might be better in a different job, with a different boss, or even in a different organization or company altogether.  Some believe they must leave their current situation in order to make a bigger impact.  While this may be true, once they have decided they cannot find what they seek where they are, they risk cutting themselves off from achieving it at all.   We cannot put conditions on our ability to be the people we were meant to be.  Either we are doing it, or we are not. 

When we are aligned with our true selves – those parts of ourselves that are creative, unique, strong, inspired, connected, passionate, present, and of service to others – we will find joy and satisfaction wherever we are.  We can zone in on that which we would most like to do in the future, and find small ways to embody it now – no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.  In the process, we will touch people’s lives and improve the quality of our own.  Challenges that require what we do best will find us, and as we rise up to meet them we will attract additional opportunities, resources, and people of like mind to assist us in rising to greater heights.   

In order to do this, we must resolve to live fully – both on and off the job.  In what ways might you have a greater opportunity to bring more of who you are to what you do?  What are you waiting for?  The world needs you now.

“Whatever you do in this life, take time to sit quietly and let the world tell you what it needs from you.  Take a moment to honestly understand what your gifts are – you all have them.  The way you choose to live your life brings meaning to your life.”  ~ Ann Reed

Copyright Synchronistics Coaching & Consulting 2009.  All rights reserved.

If you like this post, you might enjoy You Can Be the Change We Need.  Download this and other articles for free at www.DianeBolden.com/articles.  While you are there, you can also subscribe to receive a new feature article each month.

The more I work with people, the more I realize how very similar and connected we all are.   At one time or another, we all ponder deeper questions of who we are, what it all means, and how we can take what we’ve got and use it to make an impact in some small (or large) way.  More and more, people seem to be focusing their energy and attention on creating a life of meaning and significance and bringing more of who they really are to what they do. 

This act of bringing out the very best of ourselves and others and focusing unique talents, strengths and energy into something that contributes to a greater good is what I call leadership.  It transcends vocation, title and role.  And it is more important now than ever.

Every day gives us a new opportunity to learn more about what we are capable of, what is possible, and how we can become part of something greater than ourselves.  We learn both through our disappointments and our successes, as well as those of others.  The best leaders habitually look beneath the surface to behold something greater and find a way to leverage it.  There is much to be said on the convergence of life, learning and leadership.  And that is exactly what this blog is about.

I believe there is something to be gained from collectively musing and reflecting on every day experiences.  Perhaps by examining seemingly unrelated events, we can understand and appreciate the synchronistic current that seems to pulse through all of our lives.  In the process we can unearth and harness the raw potential that lies waiting to be rediscovered within each of us – and in so doing, practice true leadership.

I don’t have all the answers.  It seems no one really does.  But I do have a lot of questions.  And sometimes all it takes to find what we seek is curiosity coupled with the awareness that these answers come from many sources.  May this blog be one more source of that wisdom – through the collective pondering and musing of a community of seekers like me and all the people I have had the good fortune to cross paths with over the course of my life.

Welcome friends, and Namaste.

For more on learning from and leveraging your everyday experiences, download Life’s Perfect Classroom at www.DianeBolden.com/articles and subscribe to the Synchronistically Speaking ezine while you are there.