Kisses on the Wind

The wind is an enigma – think about that for a moment. 

The wind has no start or end point.  It can appear ‘out of thin air’ and just as quickly be gone.  We can’t actually see the wind, yet we can easily observe its effects.  The wind can come forth as a fierce and destructive gale or just as easily arrive as a nearly imperceptible slight touch.  For these reasons, I find the wind to be a perfect focal point for meditation and reflection.  It is quite simply one of those things in life that can draw you into hours of amazement and wonder, suspending you from time and attachment.

The wind can be refreshing and relaxing in the midst of a hot summer day as it cools and rejuvenates.  It can be exhilarating and alive like a burst of cold air on a Fall day.  Then again, the wind can bite and sting like the swirling burst of energy on a snowy Winter day.  Have you ever pondered the wind?  Science can explain the mechanics of wind, measure its effects, characterize it, and even determine its speed and direction.  But even in doing so, a precise reading is only good for an instant because the wind is always changing.  The wind is freedom – you cannot capture it or hold it even when harnessing its energy, it’s simply just passing through.  Life is like that as well.  We are all just passing through like the wind.  Whatever captivity we may feel is of our own making – we can be as free as the wind if we choose to be.

It’s impossible to see the wind or to hold it in our hands.  We can only see the effects of the wind whether it’s in the rustling of leaves or clouds drifting by.  We know the wind is there based on its effect on other objects, but we don’t ever see the wind itself.  The wind is an energy that can have a major impact on our world just like the energy we experience in ourselves and others.  I’m sure you know of people whose energy is an obvious presence.  There are some who quite literally can suck the air out of room leaving others grasping for breath and suffocating.  Yet there are people whose presence literally light up those around them and lifts their own energy in such a positive way that everyone feels valued.  Being aware of the energy in your presence is a critical element of mindfulness.  It all starts with intention and a sincere desire to lift others rather than trample on them.  Being the “big personality” in the room drags others down when it’s ego that is driving.  When we choose instead to be authentic and genuine, it’s like stepping out into the vast openness of a majestic mountain inviting others to join you.

Reflecting on something as simple as the wind can be profound.  We exist in a world full of energy and forces that cannot be seen but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist or aren’t present in our lives.  And like the wind whose effects we can see without observing the force itself, our lives can positively impact the world around us in ways others welcome with joy.  Lifting others so they can gently soar on the energy of the wind and float gracefully through life is an obligation and a privilege.  However, when we let our egos get in the way, we can be like a hurricane or tornado leaving a path of destruction and suffering.  But when we live from our mindful, authentic self, we are capable of great benefit to others bringing forward an energy that others sense and can thrive in.  Sometimes, we leave a cool refreshing breeze on a hot day that lifts the spirit of another.  Then there are times we are called on to deliver a burst of cold air to awaken the soul challenging others to raise their awareness.  When we intend to bring forward peace and love, even a challenge can be accepted in the spirit it is delivered.

So next time you have a quiet moment outside, take the time to carefully be aware of the wind and in doing so, ask yourself what kind of affect are you having on others.  Think of the air you breathe and ask yourself if it’s so obvious that something you cannot see or hold can sustain your physical life, then it just may be equally true that the energy you bring forward is also present and experienced by others.

Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action, a strategy execution specialist at the intersection of employee engagement and executive leadership, igniting innovation as a lever to accelerate your growth.  Follow Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.  Learn more by visiting www.connect2action.com.

You can find Duane’s blogs at:

www.mindfulperspectives.blogspot.com

www.connect2action.blogspot.com

Not What but Who

Updated: 12/17/2012

As we continue on our life's journey to uncover our higher purpose and deeper meaning of our existence, we often confuse what we do with who we truly are.  Separating the two can be a deeply painful experience as it often forces us to question past decisions including in many cases our choice of profession.

A common theme lately in the coaching I’ve been doing has been dealing with the important difference between who you are versus what you do.  For those of us ‘Type-A’ personalities especially, we are often so driven by what we do that we come to confuse it with who we authentically are.  It’s an easy trap to fall into but one that creates a significant barrier to embracing and living our true purpose. 

Many of the folks I’ve worked with lately are struggling with this topic.  They are having great difficulty separating the two topics to the point where they believe that if they aren’t actively doing something that completely aligns with their authentic purpose, they'll be unable to find happiness and satisfaction.  While I’m a champion of finding alignment, the fact is that who we are is more a matter of how we show up to others than it is directly mapped to what we do especially from a career perspective.  Being authentic to our true self is a full-time deal that transcends not only our careers, but every engagement we have with others. 

Particularly in business, when we introduce ourselves it typically comes with some form of a title or function versus who we are.  While I’m the CEO of the company, who I am is more authentic to what people should experience when interacting with me.  Imagine if I introduced myself each time as the “quiet, reflective servant-leader” which at its root is who I am.  Most people would probably look at me puzzled by such a response followed almost immediately by “what does that mean?” as they are so accustomed to the more formalized introduction.  But what I want people to experience is someone who shows up as an intent listener seeking a way of serving them with a spirit of leadership. 

When my title as CEO (or call it whatever else you want) is what comes first, it’s my ego that is talking and not my authentic self.  It saddens me that this is not only the norm, but is the expectation.  Unfortunately it creates a context that delays if not prevents authentic dialog.  People view me from a perspective of position rather than a fellow human on a journey of discovery toward our higher purpose (also part of my life’s purpose).  When I dispense with the formalities and authentically approach someone with my purpose foremost on my mind and heart, there is almost immediate connection that enables deeper dialog, builds trust, and creates value not only for the other person, but myself as well.

What I advise people to do is to reflect on the values that define the heart of who they are.  Values are important indicators to what makes us tick inside and knowing those areas where you would never compromise tells us much about who we are.  Breaking through the habit of representing ourselves based on ‘what’ we do isn’t easy but it’s so worth the effort.  While the words I use to describe my life’s purpose may be refined and evolve over time, there are some principles that represent the unique qualities of my human existence.  That is who I am and it is my obligation to do everything I can to ensure that people experience me in that way. 

What are the values that define you?  What principles would you stand firm for regardless of the situation?  What do you want to leave behind?  Find your authentic center and stand in it for there you will find yourself.

Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action, a strategy execution specialist at the intersection of employee engagement and executive leadership, igniting innovation as a lever to accelerate your growth.  Follow Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.  Learn more by visiting www.connect2action.com.

You can find Duane’s blogs at:

www.mindfulperspectives.blogspot.com

www.connect2action.blogspot.com

The Human Connection – More Precious than Gold

For those of you who regularly read my blog, you’ll have noticed the tree theme lately in my reflections.  This is another piece inspired by the Fall colors and the beauty we are treated to each year.

Here in Colorado, we get an explosion of gold as the leaves turn.  Our trees have been nothing short of spectacular this year.  As I sat quietly soaking in the warm afternoon sun filtering through the bright leaves, it brought me to a point of tremendous revelation.  In this world of ours, we are too often absorbed in chasing gold rewards for our efforts.  But just like the beautiful display of leaves on this tree, the money we work so hard to earn provides only a temporary moment of joy.  Those gifts of gold will soon fall from their branches, dry, and transform into refuse.  So too is the money we pursue in our lives.  We marvel at the gold before us only to have it drift away on the winds before our very eyes.

The people in our lives however are not fleeting like Fall leaves or financial rewards.  The one thing that holds its brilliance and value are the people that I’ve been privileged to share my journey with.  Relationships have eternal value and bring a depth of joy and peace that nothing in our physical world could ever come close to.  They nourish our spirits in incomprehensible ways while offering us the opportunity to return the favor.  Many have said that money is the root of evil, yet it is more accurately stated that the “love” of money is the root of evil.  To try and hold onto money hording it with greed is as futile as standing under this tree doing everything possible to keep the gold from fading and the leaves from falling.  In the end, people matter and everything else is just temporary.

Some people are like evergreens standing steadfast regardless of the change in seasons.  They are often those closest to us or that inspire us the most and are there for us when we need them.  Others are like the beautiful trees that flower and leaf in the spring, offer shade through the summer then fade into our memories with a last explosion of color.  I’ve had the privilege of having my life touched by many people who came into my life, shared just a part of the journey, then left me with wonderful memories upon their departure having added to the palette of my life.

At the end of the day, remember that the connections we have with people whether they are close or just fleeting are the most precious gifts we have.  They can bring color and joy to our lives like nothing else can.  So as the leaves of Fall offer up their last few days of beauty, perhaps you may be inspired to think about those people that have graced your life with such joy.

Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action, a strategy execution specialist at the intersection of employee engagement and executive leadership, igniting innovation as a lever to accelerate your growth.  Follow Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.

Living Life as a Channel

Weeks ago I posted a blog entitled “I Am My Own” (http://bit.ly/OEI0W2) in which I reflected upon the realization that I am fundamentally unique in the connections I open myself to and less so because of what I know.  I began to realize as reflected in that piece that what I think is really “my own” is not and instead I am simply a means through which energy and wisdom has the opportunity to flow.  This thought has stayed with me and in my meditation today, the image of a channel became vividly present.  But it wasn’t a channel in a modern sense like a TV channel or social media channel.  Instead, the channel that I experienced is an ancient one created by the flow of water that over time can create a great canyon.

Water is similar to energy and wisdom and relies upon a willing channel through which to journey.  Wisdom exists in infinite quantities and has been available from the beginning of our universe as people have drawn from it and added back into it.  Some things quite simply haven’t found an open and available channel to flow through and are just waiting for that willing individual to connect through.  I began to realize that the momentary ‘flashes of brilliance’ that have come to me occasionally including this very reflection, were not at all the product of some great thinking on my part and I now “own”.  Instead they come to me at points when I’ve been an open receptacle, willing to let energy move through me. 

For example, I thought more deeply about why people hire me in my consulting business.  Is it because of my intelligence and experience?  I don’t think so as there are many people with equal or greater quantities of both.  Instead, my most successful experiences have been when I’ve been a catalyst to release energy and thought and helped removing obstacles enabling frictionless connections.  In those instances, I offered an open channel and from there invited others to add their own flow of energy to create an even greater and more powerful current capable of carving an even deeper channel.  Clients have told me that I brought a tangible energy into the space and I left them with even more.  What a confirmation of the importance of connection and being an unrestricted conduit for energy, wisdom, creativity, and knowledge to flow through.  There are far too many instances for me to recall when the words I shared with others came from a source I cannot identify and did not exist in any prepared remarks or material I had developed.  I am both humbled and astonished when this happens and more than anything else grateful for the privilege of having been the simple outlet.

Some people open themselves and become like a super-highway of energy and wisdom leaving behind a beautiful legacy much like the Colorado River has done through the Grand Canyon.  These people lived their lives realizing that the flow of energy through them to humanity was what their life was all about and at their passing, they left behind such beauty that others marvel at it for eternity.  But like the Grand Canyon, they didn’t live their lives with the self-serving intent to become a grand edifice for others to honor.  Instead, they took the selfless path and allowed themselves to be methodically carved by the eternal wisdom shared through them.

Others live like a quiet stream meandering through a meadow.  While the waters gently bubbling and drifting along may not carve great canyons, the effects of water’s movement are evident nonetheless.  For people like this, the flow through their lives brings great peace and serenity to those willing to sit quietly for a few moments.  We know when we’re with people whose lives are a gentle channel as they bring such a presence of peace to an often-hectic world. 

Still others hoard and protect what they know as if it’s theirs.  They erect large dams in their lives holding back the vast energy behind a wall of concrete and steel never realizing perhaps until too late, that it was in sharing and connection that authentic value is experienced.  Energy has no value without a channel and a willingness to allow it to flow.  People that protect what they know as if it belongs to them are perceived as self-serving and the results are equally self-destructive.  Social media expert Kim Garst frequently Tweets about the importance of being an open channel and sharing; she knows that wisdom is expanded when selflessly shared and opportunity is lost when it is not.  Of what value are you to others if you accumulate a Hoover’s Dam worth of knowledge and never release its energy to the universe?

I’ve talked with people who share instances where a new invention or idea surfaces and they proclaim with both surprise and disappointment that they had that very same idea years ago, but failed at the time to act on it.  A connection had been made, the insight delivered, but the switch was never turned on.  A friend of mine holds the conviction that a cure for most cancers already exists in the repositories of great minds and intellectual property of companies.  However, those people and organizations are reluctant to share what they know in connection with others holding the false belief (in my opinion) that they will be the ones to ultimately capitalize on the solution.  They believe sharing what they know will somehow diminish their claim to financial and heroic glory.

It is a humbling experience to realize that our lives are meant to be channels through which others can be enriched.  When you think of what you know in this context, how could you ever believe that you are somehow better or more gifted than someone else.  The key to “success” then is in how open and available you are to the flow of wisdom and energy available to everyone and then most importantly, how willing you are to reflect it back, share it, and build upon it.  There is no room for arrogance or self-serving pride when you offer yourself as a humble channel.  So, to use a modern term, tune in and once you have, be selfless and allow what flows through you to carve itself into an incredible gift that is as timeless and magnificent as the great canyons on our planet.

Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action, a strategy execution specialist at the intersection of employee engagement and executive leadership, igniting innovation as a lever to accelerate your growth.  Follow Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.  Learn more by visiting www.connect2action.com.

One Leaf at a Time

Sitting quietly this early morning outside under the Fall trees, it occurred to me just how incredibly beautiful life truly is.  With hardly a breeze in the air, I marveled, as a single leaf would slowly drift from its branch, giving up its final show in selfless love before gently touching the ground.  An occasional light wind would prompt several leaves to make the journey from their perch above to join the growing pile on the ground around me.  Holding a single leaf in my hand, I wondered and meditated on the life this single leaf had lived before giving itself up to the inevitable rhythm of the seasons.  Oh how our lives are like this!

I wonder at the end of my own journey will I be ready to gracefully fall from the tree of life and offer myself to those that follow as my own leaf falls to the ground to rot and my body becomes nourishment for others.  Will I have joyfully stretched my face to the sun and soaked up its warmth reflecting it back to others?  Will my life had absorbed the rains and served to deliver refreshment to the tree of humanity as selflessly as this leaf had for its parent?  How would I have endured the summer gales – would I have been strong enough to hold fast and steady or did I snap loose only to die too soon?  And at the end of my life, will I deliver such a spectacular show of color allowing others to reflect on the fruits of my life with great thanks and joy like the joy I have for this single leaf now in my hand?

Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action, a strategy execution specialist at the intersection of employee engagement and executive leadership, igniting innovation as a lever to accelerate your growth.  Follow Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.  Learn more by visiting www.connect2action.com.