In expanding my reach and supporting those who grow from my work, I have just completed a 6-part webinar series on Mindfulness. That is followed by a 6-part webinar series on Emotional Intelligence which includes a bonus webinar on Vulnerability. To complete this grouping, I am now recording a 12-part series on States of Being. Consequently, these packages won’t be available for sale for another few weeks, as individual series or as a package deal with considerable discount.
As I was reviewing the outline, my first thought was why so many on States of Being when the other two are really the imperative prep work and they only have six? It is so intriguing to me how we can allow our intuition and creativity to do their thing and then question the logic once we see the results. Human beings are amazing creatures. What governs you–logic or creativity?
As I sat searching for the logic, it became clear. The Mindfulness series is the beginning stage. Only once we are present, aware of what is going on within us and around us, are we fully able to recognize our emotions without judgment, as well as our reactions and/or responses, including how we honestly feel about them. I remember a patient once saying to me “I feel so unhappy but ironically, I am so excited to feel. I feel completely alive after years of feeling dead, not knowing how I felt about anything much less what I personally wanted.”
Once we are alive and present to what is happening in and around us, we can learn so much about our emotions.
What are you feeling at this very moment? What are your buttons? What makes you feel sad? Guilty? Passionate? Alive? Unlimited? When we start to develop that level of Emotional Intelligence about ourselves, we can create situations or protections that alleviate any need to go into attack mode or collapse.
When those two levels of self-awareness are established: knowing what is going on within you before a big meeting, an intimate gathering, or anything else, you are ready to then consciously decide upon your State of Being. It’s especially helpful during times of high stress.
Regarding leadership, having the ability to choose your state of being absolutely defines how you are showing up as a leader. The prep work was needed so that you can consciously choose that state of being most needed by your business and your relationships at any moment. It may sound so simple, yet I assure you in my work with so many in leadership, this level of self-awareness is a rarity. Being prepared in terms of a presentation, yes, preparation is the norm. Choosing to be in a day-long state of curiosity when having a brain-storming session or choosing to be in a state of compassion when needing to discipline or fire an employee, or in a state of receptivity when getting a review or critique, immediately changes how you show up.
In simply reflecting on the title of this blog, is it logic or creativity that decided to do twice as many webinars on the topic of States of Being? Why 12 for the final stage of effective leadership in this grouping rather than following a pattern and doing 6 as I had with the others? I followed my gut.
There are so many States of Being to choose from, does sharing more make it easier to understand or too draining to listen to so many? How do you make decisions? How comfortable are you with not knowing or caring whether it was logic or creativity, if it seems right in the end?
If more people trusted their gut, we may have a lot more authenticity and peace in our lives.
With Emotional Intelligence you would know if it was logic or a State of Allow that helped you readily choose 12 and you wouldn’t need to justify any decision you made. If needing to be logical is a driving need – why? What freedoms are you missing? If only being creative is your goal, how can you logically bring your work to the world in a way it will see it and want it? Both skills are required, which one you rely on most is personal choice, but balance, as always, is the name of the game.
It’s only logical to have a wild and creative week if your best self is to shine. Go for it!
