A MOMENT OF RESISTANCE …

Have you ever attended an event, meeting or seminar with a preconceived idea on the subject matter; however, the event unfolds considerably different?  Have you ever struggled to remain open and engaged during these moments when you adamantly disagreed with the concepts being presented.  During these moments, have you been able to remain open, or did you go to judgment and close your self from finding any value?

This past week I had such a situation occur.  I was invited to attend a Keller Williams ALC (“Agent Leadership Counsel”) training seminar.  The main theme for the seminar was ‘leadership.’  The seminar coordinators billed the day as something different – well they were right.  Personally a discussion about leadership starts with  ‘servant leadership.’  Instead the day was all about the individual ALC member’s businesses and recruiting.  I could not get over how they missed the mark by entitling the day ‘leadership’, and then focusing on the ‘I’ and not on topics about ‘service’, ‘team’, ‘collaboration’ and several other potential key themes within the concept of leadership.  Maybe the powers that be find these key themes within leadership as passé.   Admittedly in the moment, I went through a myriad of judgments and struggled with the whole presentation.  So I chose to keep my mouth shut; however, that didn’t last long (no surprise for those who know me).  I was pushed to share and could not help letting my disappointment seep through in my comments.  Afterwards I was disappointed in my choice and had to ask myself is that who I want to be?

After a couple days processing that event I began to ask myself … ‘what was the lesson of the day for me?’  Maybe my resistance was significant for reasons that at the time I was not able to accept.  The reminder to stay focused on my business, goals and vision is always positive and timely.  But is that all … ?

What are some of the components of ‘leadership’ that I need to be mindful of as the New Year rolls along?  As I reflected upon my experience with a friend, she mentioned three concepts that are at the heart of the ten characteristics of a servant leader … patience, tolerance, acceptance and humility.  Members of a group are not always at the same place at the same moment … more times than not, leaders are able stay present to a vision while allowing others to get there in their own time.  In order to realize a worthwhile vision leaders often must exemplify patience and tolerance of other people’s thoughts and opinions.  In other moments leaders must truly accept contrary opinions even when they may not be congruent to the stated vision.  Maybe that was the ‘aha moment’ in the seminar that just took me three days to realize.  I failed to embrace during the seminar any of the characteristics outlined by Robert Greenleaf in his 1970 book entitled ‘The Servant as Leader’ … maybe next time.

So as you struggle finding alignment with ideas presented by others maybe you will pause and find the value in the moment.  I hope you enjoyed the reflection, and consider in moments of resistance how you might find the value in the experience.  Most importantly, I hope you make it a GREAT day and week!!  If you wish to read all the other Mojos written for you, then visit: http://mondaymojo.blogspot.com.  As always, I welcome your feedback and if I can be of service to you or your friends, please let me know or visit us at http://www.coastalcommunityhomes.com.  And, thank you for your continued support and inspiration … each of you are a cherished gift that enriches my life in ways you will never understand … Thank you!!  Jim Peys

LIVING AN INTENTION FILLED LIFE …

So the cheer of the New Year is waning and with it many of the resolutions that we set in motion as the ball was dropping.  I see evidence every year around this time at the gym.  Every year gyms begin the year packed, regardless of the hour.  By the end of January people settle down and lose interest in those exercise goals, as well as their other annual resolutions.  Did you ever ask yourself why that is; or better yet, why do I struggle in keeping my new year’s resolutions?  For years I have moved away from making New Year’s resolutions; however, my real challenge is not in the resolution, but to remain diligent in living an intention filled life – staying present to what it is I want (my intentions) and how my thoughts MUST support and nurture these intentions.  For me that is the journey that I must stay present to as one-year rolls into another and time tests my resolve.  And you … ?

I came across an interesting quote … “[e]veryone thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed.”  Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Why remind myself now of this … well sometimes we need a reminder and encouragement to focus on what really matters … and that begins with our thoughts and intentions.  Everything that I do and ultimately how I affect my surroundings is initially conceived in my thoughts. 

The verb for turning thoughts into action or results is to ‘manifest’.  It comes from the middle English word ‘manifestus’ meaning “visible” and the Latin word “manus” meaning “hand.”   A few authors have metaphorically described this process as when you ‘manifest’ something “you reach your hand through the invisible curtain separating the tangible world from the world of imagination and pull your desired object into existence.”  First you think it, then you manifest it or you ‘materialize’ it or cause it to appear.  Everyone manifests.  Some of us manifest abundance; while others of us manifest a lack or scarcity.  Who do we wish to be in this moment … that is really the relevant question as we are continually tested throughout the year?  Do you intend in this moment to be a person who resonates from abundance or scarcity?

As we move towards February, what is it that you set your intentions upon in 2010, and how are you supporting these intentions now – in your thoughts?  Some people refer to the alter-ego that oftentimes subterfuges our intentions as the “drunk monkey.”  If you closely observe your thoughts (‘the observer observing the observed’) in light of your intentions you may begin to recognize how or when they are not congruent.  By labeling these negative thoughts as they pop up into your conscious you can begin to detach from the hold they have and begin the process of letting them go.

Professionally, I have defined my business goals for the year; however, how am I supporting these goals in my thoughts and intentions in every moment of every day?  This way I will be less likely to yield to the temptation of doing things that distract me from my intentions/goals – filling my time with ‘stuff’ that doesn’t support my intentions.  Personally, how am I reconciling my relationships and creating a positive loving environment for those around me?  These are my questions that I want to stay present to in the moment.  How about you?  How are you nurturing your 2010 goals in your thoughts and intentions as you move forward in the New Year?

I hope you enjoyed the reflection, and take the time to consider what you are living an intention filled life and supporting your goals and aspirations in your thoughts.  Most importantly, I hope you make it a GREAT day and week!!  If you wish to read all the other Mojos written for you, then visit: http://mondaymojo.blogspot.com.  As always, I welcome your feedback and if I can be of service to you or your friends, please let me know or visit us at http://www.coastalcommunityhomes.com.  And, thank you for your continued support and inspiration … each of you are a cherished gift that enriches my life in ways you will never understand … Thank you!!  Jim Peys