The Power to Act

Archive for February, 2011

Over the years I’ve brought in the New Year with toasts and celebrations, and usually with a new set of goals that meet with varying degrees of success during the year. Through many years the constant is that by June, the best of good intentions have made their way into a brightly colored folder, neatly titled and appropriately filed within the wasteland of my lateral file. However, all that changed three years ago when I came across the practice of choosing a word that would guide me through the hot teaming jungle of obstacles that have derailed me in the past. What I’ve found is that words have power; they provide me the focus to stay the course, and the energy to forge ahead to create a new reality. When spoken from my heart, they catalyze.  Since I embraced that practice, how things have changed.

With the idea of selecting a word to encapsulate who I intend to be at the end of the year, I began the inquiry.   I knew that I was finished with focusing on lofty, material goals that were weighted down by implied “shoulds.” The intentions were heavy weights pinning me to the spot. Try as I could, I made little meaningful progress. What I did know is that I didn’t want to do more of the same—creating another new professional program to put out into the world, or making more money. I was tantalized by the simplicity of focusing on Read the rest of this entry »

I was recently visiting with a dear friend. As she spoke about her week, an uncomfortable feeling started rising, like yeast, from my toes, insidiously working its way into my psych. Before I realized what it might be called, it was already fermenting.

She, however, was bubbling over with excitement. She had had an inspiration a week ago and within two days had been invited to a large luncheon when she spotted the head of a well-regarded, Houston based non-profit that could benefit from her revelation. Being bold, and a master net worker, she stepped right up to this man, stuck out her hand, quickly introduced herself, and fearlessly shared her vision. Was he aghast by the brashness of the move? Oh, no. With the same spirited energy, he responded, “Where have you been my entire life?” He extended his arms to encircle his new-found comrade and extended an invitation for her to sit on his non-profit board. By anyone’s measure, this was a fortuitous turn of events. It was one of those serendipitous moments when gears meshed; when two fast flowing tributaries met, merged, and a mighty new river was formed. Why is it that at the time I should be celebrating my friend’s good fortune, my baby-blue eyes had transmuted and were now a bright shade of green?  Had the dragon envy taken up residence?

I’m not someone who cuddles up at night with envy— just the opposite. I can’t remember the last time the stench from its odious vapors polluted my world.  In fact, my upbringing didn’t encourage such travesty.  In our small blue-collar community and in our middle class family, keeping up with the Jones was never an issue. Even if I had had a proclivity for envy, Read the rest of this entry »