Category: Improving Yourself

This past weekend I attended a retreat at Yogaville, south of Charlottesville VA. It was fabulous. We had time to slow down, take yoga classes, eat healthy, sleep, and walk in the woods. Best of all for me was the meditation in the LOTUS shrine. This shrine is dedicated to the spiritual principle: ‘Truth is One, Paths are Many’.

Focal Point

The focal point of the retreat was to enter our own ground. Through yoga and chanting we were able to leave the door of our mind, enter the gates of our heart, and rest in the pools of pure consciousness. Aaahhhh…..

From this still point place, awareness expanded, heart opened, mind stilled. Aaauuummmmmm
And then a thought arises, and another, then the monkey mind goes wild. Where was that still point I was just sitting in a minute ago??
Aaauuummmm peace, stillness…..
And then another train of thought comes into the station, blowing its whistle loudly disturbing my calm and clarity. Darn it!
Notice that judgment…… yes I’m pissed…..Awareness…….I was thinking about work next week.
Aaaaauuuuuuummmmm breathing, awareness, thought, observation
Breathing in – breathing out; in –breath, out-breath …

And so it went throughout the weekend. Clarity, calm, monkey mind chatter, to-do lists, website revisions, peace, stillness, future planning, workshops to prepare, schedules to keep, when is dinner?
Aaaauuuuummmmmm… notice the beautiful flowering trees – the dogwoods and redbuds. Look at those gorgeous azaleas. Wow aren’t they stunning?

Stillness Every Day

Finally after two days, the last afternoon I felt calm. No thoughts, just silence. I wanted to walk in silence the whole way from the LOTUS shrine to the dining hall for the final meal. I wasn’t even thinking of what food I would eat. Only pure awareness of the beautiful spring day.

Of course I don’t need to go to an Ashram for this experience. I can notice my breath as I’m talking on the phone, I can breathe deeply in a meeting, I can be aware of my thoughts as I am driving my car. All day can be my retreat, if I am in that place of awareness.

Change happens, work piles up, calls come in, calendars get full. Yet it is all breath, all awareness, all consciousness of being in a physical body. We are here. Now. Breathe.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching work, keynote presentations, seminars, and books.

Now available!! Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” – Click here to order.

Click this link to order Linda’s 10th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.

Linda has a Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson “Like” this page if you want to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

I don’t mean Brad Pitt or Brad Paisley. I mean Brad Berntson.

You don’t know him and I barely do. But after hearing from loved ones recently at his funeral he is a man whose character we could all learn from and aspire to. Despite suddenly passing at 51, he lived a life of true service. One of Brad’s younger brother’s shared a tribute to him that was about how to be like him. It was both funny and touching. This is my own rendition from an outsider’s point of view (I was there because his wife is in a women’s bible study with me). It’s made me think how I could be of better service to those I’ve been blessed to know. Because little acts of love done over 5, 51 or 105 years create lasting ripple effects.

Public service

He served his country in the army as a ranger and was recently a deputy. Those public servants like Brad who are called to give of themselves in this way help so many people whom he will never know. His dedication to protect our country and those in his county will never be known to what extent his service mattered. We all have the opportunity to serve the public around us, whether it’s to choose a similar path as Brad or to serve the public with friendly compliments when you are out and about. I will be like Brad by encouraging my family and I to do public service by picking up garbage around our neighborhood this spring. How about you?

Humble service

During his funeral service the priest, Fr. Jon Vander Ploeg, who presided over the mass, said how Brad was the opposite of what our “narcissistic” culture often teaches us to be. He was a man who didn’t want it to be all about him and thus the priest’s homily reflected that. It was message of love, truth and service that we can all aspire to. And when we are humble in our service of and for others that is when can touch the most hearts. I will be like Brad by reminding myself to do whatever it takes to make the person whom I’m serving (not me) happy. How about you?

Service to his family

It’s obvious that Brad’s family mattered most to him. The past two years that I’ve been in a small group with his wife, Julie, I could sense their loving connection in how she would share stories of their relationship. They have two sons who will carry on his legacy along with his two granddaughters. When his three brothers spoke during the luncheon after the service I was deeply moved. This brotherly bond that these brothers shared is what I plan on fostering in my three sons because family is forever. I will be like Brad by teaching my sons how to be best friends growing up so they will be so when they are grown up. How about you?

Service to God

It sounded like sometime during his adult life he had a conversion that changed and transformed his life. One of his brothers mentioned that Brad would do things in extremes and his faith was the same. Once he embraced his love of the lord, there was no stopping him. He served God many ways one being his active involvement at church. Just a few months prior to his passing, Brad and Julie hosted a retreat together. While they didn’t get to go on their second honeymoon planned for this summer, they were blessed to serve together and share their love of God with others. And I’m sure it was an extremely transformational experience for those who attended like it was for him many years later. I will be like Brad by sharing my love of God and serving Him in whatever ways I’m called to. How about you?

May Brad rest in peace knowing that his acts of love will endure forever through all the lives he’s touched.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

I have been so filled with joy at the beauty of spring opening up all around me. Last week the Japanese Cherry trees were in full bloom. They are the ones Washington DC is so famous for having by the Jefferson Memorial.

This week the dogwoods are out in full bloom. The azaleas and redbuds are beginning to open. Spring is in its glorious splendor of colors.

Who couldn’t be happy and joyful with this kind of beauty everywhere?!

Take time this week to notice the beauty around you.

I Walk with Beauty

I was reminded of a Navajo chant the other day about walking in beauty. Here’s part of it. Repeat this some time when you get sucked into negativity at work, or feel pain, anger, or frustration.

I walk with beauty before me,

I walk with beauty behind me,

I walk with beauty above me,

I walk with beauty below me,

I walk with beauty all around me,

As I walk the beauty way.

Celebrate Spring

I have been taking videos and pictures of the beautiful flowering trees to remind me that beauty is every where around and within me.

Here’s a link to a video I took and posted on my website : Cherry Blossom Meditation

I posted this video to share the beauty of the cherry blossoms. Take 5 minutes to still your mind and let the beauty of the video fill your cup.

Feel free to visit my website for more blog posts on practical spirituality for daily living.

Here are some other resources for you to celebrate spring and walk the beauty way.

Navajo Beauty Way

Earth Chants

Let Love Prevail

Bright Blessings as you Walk the Beauty Way – Aho!

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Now available!! Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” – Click here to order.

Click this link to order Linda’s 10th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.
Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching, keynotes, seminars, and books.

“Like” Linda’s Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson if you want to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Your company is restructuring and many roles and jobs are changing. The “new organization” may make sense for the “new strategy” but where will it leave YOU?

Restructuring can affect everyone. Some people may change departments, others may change responsibilities, and yet others may be asked to relocate.

So does this mean good news or bad news for you? Will you end up with a job you don’t like or lose your job altogether? Or is this the opportunity you’ve been waiting for?

Understandably, you may not like having to re-interview for what feels like your old job or the new job that will replace it. But don’t take this personally. If your boss values you and the quality of your work, this can be a great chance to gain a challenging and interesting role in the new organization. The newly defined position may be better than your old one! Remember, you have the experience and qualifications to do this job. So grasp the opportunity and make the most of the situation!

Tips for Re-interviewing

1. Take this seriously.
You are not guaranteed to keep your job, so this isn’t simply a “rubber-stamping” exercise. This process is just as serious as applying for a different job with a different company. However, your preparation is different from interviewing for an outside job. And the interviewing approach can be different. You probably won’t be given that “getting to know you” easy warm-up at the start of the conversation. These interviews are usually hard-hitting from the start. You’re expected to know the job and you have to prove that you’re up to the challenge.

2. Analyze the job and the required competencies.
List the most important skills needed for the job. You probably have the ability to do the work, otherwise you might have been laid off in the initial rounds of restructuring. What personal areas of competence are rewarded, expected and talked about within the company? What have you done that you were given positive feedback?

3. Prepare examples.
The interviewer will look for proof that you can do the job well. Have examples of your work fresh in your mind (depending on the position, you may want to tangible evidence). Be ready to discuss five to seven examples of your skills and accomplishments. It’s best to have a good balance of examples showing technical skills (perhaps demonstrating how you did something) as well as personal competency (perhaps showing how you dealt with a difficult situation or person). Use these examples when you’re asked questions. Remember to concentrate on those areas that you’ve identified as critical to job success.

4. Provide supporting evidence.
Be ready to back up your claims. You can tell people that you’re great at organizing, but your statement carries more weight if you support it with solid data. How did you or your team contribute to the timeliness of the project? How much money and time did the company save because you prepared the project properly? Consider the following: Sales/revenue you generated. Positive feedback your clients gave you. Problems you solved. Initiatives you took, etc.

5. Prove your enthusiasm.
Your attitude can be as important as your knowledge and skills. There may be many capable people out there who are interviewing for the same position. The reason for hiring often comes down to “will this person fit and do well?” Interviewers want to know if you have passion for the work. Will you bring a positive energy to the team or will you bring it down?

Career Success Tip:

If you treat this interview with the same importance and significance as a regular job interview, you’ll increase your chances of being successful. Know what your skills are, know what you’ve already contributed to the company and know how much you’re worth. Your preparation will pay off!

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

In an ideal world, you would have an ideal manager: One who makes time for you, mentors you, defines her expectations, gives you feedback and supports you in getting your job done.

But in the real world, you might find that your relationship with your manager is less than ideal. In fact you might have several managers, all of whom have major projects for you to do and none of whom seem to have enough time to communicate a project’s priorities, answer your questions or provide feedback. Even if you like and respect your manager, you might find yourself feeling that you’re torn in a million different directions—and that your junior-level status precludes you from questioning her requests.

However, if your manager can’t or won’t manage your workload, then you have to. It will make your job a lot easier—and you might even get positive feedback for exhibiting a take-charge, pragmatic attitude. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Ask for deadlines.
When you receive an assignment from a superior, you might feel the urge to rush around like a crazy person as you try to complete the project in record time. But you don’t always have to do that. In fact, the eager assumption that something is due long before it actually is can lead to unnecessary stress and the possibility of hastily made mistakes.

Don’t be afraid to ask “when do you want to have it on your desk or turned into accounting or whatever?” If the answer comes back ASAP, then ask again. You can say something like: “I just want to make sure I get this to you on time. Would you like it by the end of today or by tomorrow noon?” This kind of request demonstrates that you’re organized and trying to plan your time.

2. Ask clarifying questions.
When someone is outlining a project for you, make sure you pay attention and ask any clarifying questions as soon as you can—even if she’s trying to rush through the instructions. If you say “no problem” to an assignment when you’re not entirely sure what it entails, odds are you might look foolish when you come back hours later without having made any progress.

3. Ask for priorities.
If you’re feeling overloaded and you know you can’t reasonably take on another project, there’s no harm in asking your boss how she wants you to prioritize things, or even asking for an extension on a deadline. There’s no point in being a “yes (wo)man” if you just don’t have the time to deliver your best quality work. Explain your situation by saying something like: “I have these five projects on my plate, and I’m concerned that I won’t be able to finish them all by next week. Are there one or two that are less of a priority that I could tackle two weeks from now?”

Career Success Tip:

Of course, make sure that you follow through on your promises. Your boss should respect your time, and you should respect hers. If you ask for a deadline or request to modify an assignment, make sure you stick to your side of the agreement. It’s not just about managing your workload; it’s about making sure you’re being effective, efficient and valuable to your boss and the organization.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

A dear friend of mine was really struggling at work last week. Her project was in chaos, her boss didn’t understand the complexity of what was happening, she was frustrated with herself for taking on too much of other people’s responsibilities. She was overwhelmed and pissed off.

One morning, as she was preparing for a meeting with the “Big Cheeses”, she unloaded on me. I got the image of her as a wild monkey flinging poop everywhere. It was actually sort of comical.

Luckily for me, for the last five years I’ve practiced NVC (Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg). NVC has saved me heart-ache and pain on many occasions. I didn’t take my friend’s poop personally. I let it fly by and not worry about it. I knew it was her sh—and not something I needed to deal with. I let her rant about work until she calmed down. I did my best to have her see that I understood her frustrations and that she was in pain and needing support. I asked her a few coaching questions to get her to think through how she wanted to handle her meeting. Then I let her be.

Later that morning I took our dog for a walk. As I was scooping up my dog’s morning mess, I thought to myself, “Well isn’t life like that. Sometimes we have to scoop up sh—that other people leave behind.” I just simply put my dog’s poop in a plastic bag and walked on. I wasn’t upset at my dog, I wasn’t angry, I just calmly cleaned up her poop.

Eliminating Poop

Last week I wrote a blog about doing Shadow work. It involves recognizing those aspects of yourself that you don’t want to admit or allow others to see. If we feel we must hide our shi—all the time, we don’t ever get to eliminate it. It seemed like a fitting metaphor for what happened with my dog and my friend that morning. Elimination and not getting hit by flinging poop.

Some times at work people get pissed off. It isn’t pretty, it isn’t nice. Sometimes it downright stinks! Yet we don’t have to own anyone else’s sh—. We can let them fling it while we calmly dodge it. Or we can choose to pick it up without judgment or responding in anger. It takes a lot of compassion and clarity to not let the sh—stick. If you respond in anger or judgments, you’re likely to have the sh—stick. Side stepping it is usually the best trick. Offering compassion for the person in pain likely will stop the poop flinging faster than arguing back.

After my friend calmed down, she called me back and said she was sorry and just needed to vent before her meeting. I knew that was happening. I told her I understood. I didn’t take her crap personally. She called me later in the day and said her meeting with the “Big Cheeses” went well and that she felt more clear going into the meeting knowing what she had to say.

Spirituality sometimes smells like manure

The lesson I want to share here is that spirituality at work isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it means attending to someone else’s sh–. It’s up to you whether you want to step into the crap or dodge it when it’s flying at you. Should you want to scoop the poop of another, best to do so with care, detachment, and non-judgment.

The greater compassion and understanding you can muster for someone who is flinging the poop, the better you’ll dodge it. Work to stay centered and not take it personally. It has nothing to do with you; the other is simply eliminating. Great spiritual practice takes place when you see through the other person’s action to be aware of their pain or stress. Compassion is always a spiritual practice you can offer for yourself or another when the poop starts flying.

And sometimes manure is needed to help a garden grow more fertile.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching work, keynote presentations, seminar topics, and books. Starting this fall Linda is going to offer retreats on Journey of the Soul.
Now available!! Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” – Click here to order.

I had one of those rare opportunities yesterday that many of us BIG DREAMERS only dream about. I met with this amazing couple who not only believes in one of my dreams, but wants to invest their time, energy and financial resources in it!! When they asked me what I needed from them to help make this dream a reality, I was speechless. Over the years I’ve had many friends and family members invest in my dreams with their time and energy, in which I’ve been so grateful for. Yet for many, many years I (which includes my husband) have been the only one who has financially invested in my dreams.

What I’m forgetting to mention, however, is one of our greatest dreams investors that many of us forget about asking or including. That’s God. He is the greatest dream coach we ALL have available to us ALL the time. He has a BIG dream for your life and is waiting for you to ask Him to invest in your dreams. He longs for us to infuse His dreams for our lives with the dreams we have for our lives.

“Those who come to God with childlike faith must believe that He doesn’t give reluctantly or offer just barely enough, but that He is a wealth of resources waiting to pour out Himself and His blessings on those who ask. He always has more that we need.” – Chris Tiegreen

Take this dream for example. I’ve always dreamed about wanting to make a difference and wanting to make sure that other people know the difference we make in their lives. When I had the opportunity to make a difference in my best friend’s life when her mother was dying, I prayed to God and asked how I could do that. I believe He invested in my dreams as I received the divine inspiration to make a personalized recorded phone line in which people could call in and leave messages of gratitude and appreciation for my friend’s mother. Before she died, she was able to listen to these messages and I have since made them a personalized web site where they can access these cherished messages forever.

Recently this couple shared how they are in a similar situation with a loved one. Again, I prayed how I could help this family and the idea came to do the same thing that I did for my best friend. This time, not only did they want to do it for their loved one, they LOVED the idea as they had wanted to do something similar as well. So this time my divine dream coach connected me with what I needed – their encouraging support – to keep investing in this dream.

I’ll be sure to share with you when this dream becomes an official reality. In the them meantime, don’t forget to ask THE dream investor to help provide you with what you need to keep investing in the BIG dreams of your life!

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

In some of his groundbreaking work in psychotherapy,Carl Jung coined the phrase ‘Shadow’ as those aspects of our self that we hide, deny, or avoid.

Here’s a good short introduction to the Shadow- ShadowWork Seminar and Video

What is Shadow?

We spend mental, emotional, and spiritual energy stuffing traits and hiding behaviors we’d rather not recognize or have other people see.

The Shadow isn’t just about ‘negative’ traits or behaviors such as greed, dishonesty, or stealing. Most traits have two sides. For example: arrogance and confidence, laziness and rejuvenation, bossiness and being responsible.

Debbie Ford’s book, “The Darkside of the Light Chaser” popularized the concept of the shadow in more recent times. Her book offers ways to reclaim all aspects of your life to find wholeness.

I’ve followed the work of Debbie Ford and incorporate her ideas into my programs on Emotional Intelligence. Recognizing your own shadow you’ll see how your emotional triggers get set off by others. Lashing out at others who annoy you at work often is a result of them expressing some aspect of your own shadow that you don’t like and are trying to hide or deny. As you move into a place of greater acceptance and compassion for your own shadow, you don’t react as sharply or negatively to others who show those same qualities.

Understanding Your Own Shadow

What parts of your life would you rather deny or hide? Look for the gold in them. How might those traits serve you?

Exploring your Shadow can help you reclaim parts of yourself that you have stuffed or hidden for years. You’ll need to step through your doubts, fears, and insecurities to re-claim and embrace your authentic self. It’s best to do this work with a skilled facilitator or in a low consequence situation.

Consider doing this is powerful work to find greater peace and compassion. As you see the gift behind your shadow, you’ll be able to fully embrace all of who you are. This will help you be more accepting and compassionate with others who express those same shadow qualities. From your authentic wholeness, you can then accept and understand others being their whole and authentic self.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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I came across an African proverb recently and it has some relevant lessons we can all apply to our day to day lives and managing our careers.

Here it is!

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle awakens. He has only one thought on his mind: To be able to run faster than the fastest lion. If he cannot, then he will be eaten.

Every morning in Africa a lion awakens. He has only one thought on his mind: To be able to run faster than the slowest gazelle. If he cannot, he will die of hunger.

Whether you choose to be a gazelle or a lion is of no consequence.

It is enough to know that with the rising of the sun, you must run. And you must run faster than you did yesterday or you will die. This is the race of life.”

The realities of life and death, as they relate to running, is different for the gazelle and the lion in the African bush than it it is for the gazelle and lion in a zoo. For one it is a daily priority – it’s life or death; for the other, it’s an option based on the amount of space in the cage.

What is it for you?

Is your career in a cage where no where to go? Then what are you doing to reboot or recharge it? Or is your career a daily priority? Then how are you running faster or at least smarter every single day?

Smart Moves Tip:

Invest in your career. Most people forget they really have two jobs. The first is to do what you get paid for and do it well. The second is to do what’s required to ensure your career is where you want it to go and not leave it to someone else. Also see Are You Ambitious? 7 keys to Career and Life Success and Career Satisfaction: Do You Have It?

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

I love the music and lyrics of Faith Rivera. She’s a fabulous singer and messenger. Her performances are energizing, inspiring, and touching. I want to share this video clip that I use in some of my programs to get energized.

Listen to the music and let it fill you with positive energy. See which lines you like. My favorites are:

• All that you think, say, and do, shapes the world with your truth
• If you come from need, need will be the seed of your story
• Tomorrow you can choose again

Enjoy!

Let me know how you like this video by sharing your reflections and comments below.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Visit Linda’s website- www.lindajferguson.com for information about her coaching work, keynote presentations, seminar topics, and books.

Now available!! Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” – Click here to order.

“Friend” Linda on her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/lindafergconsciouscreator

Click this link to order Linda’s 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service”.