Stories We Tell
How did the summer go for you?
It is difficult to answer this question meaningfully without both describing what happened– the trips, the projects, the get-togethers, the drinks, the wins, the losses, the conversations, – and contemplating what has really changed for you over the summer.
What stories do you tell about your summer, both in terms of “what happened”, and in terms of interesting take-aways that will make you move forward differently?
This summer, I realized on a deeper level how much my close friends mean to me. I felt far more grounded, creative, peaceful and energetic when we made time meet up to share our stories, or simply be around each other. Note to self: never put time with close friends on the back burner.
This summer, I dropped the idea of working with people who come with an attitude of “Coaching and intuition are nonsense, but I see smart people working with you and using both, so I want you to prove to me that what you know is worth something.” It is easy to prove my worth with a strong track record, but I stopped spending my time on it, responding to such requests with “It doesn’t seem like we are a match for working together.” As if on cue, my calendar filled up with new clients whom I adore, and with some of my favorite returning clients. If you’ve coached with me, this is exactly the approach I teach you. It really work.
This summer, I had a privilege to co-present at the Academy of Management Conference on the topic “Intuition: Research and Practice”, and learn from some of the most talented academics researching creativity, leadership, authenticity, and strategy. It was exciting and humbling. Made me evaluate what I have to give, and what I still need to learn.
This summer, my children spent more time on electronics than usual – I’ve worked a lot, and entertained them less. Still, we created time for each other: taking walks together, playing charades, watching movies, listening to concerts, swimming, exploring NYC. Being present in each part of my life, coaching and family, and learning to do each without guilt about the other, makes me happy.
So, these are my summer stories. Would you share some of your summer stories/pictures with me? (I’m at Alina at AlinaBas dot com )
The way we tell our stories shapes our view of the past, and also determines your future direction. You can see from my stories above where I’ve come from, and predict where I’m going, right?
Remember: whatever you focus on as you tell your stories – expands in your life. Test it, and you’ll see for yourself. Pick something you’d like to see more of in your life, and start talking about it frequently. Observe what happens.
Whatever story you tell yourself about the kind of person you are or aren’t – your subconscious will take it as “marching orders” for your actions and your desired destination.
Tell your stories wisely: be kind, ambitious, and generous as you tell stories, without losing the honesty, and your stories will keep you feeling like you’re living on the sunny side, whatever cards you’re dealt. (And if you want to know what is the best story you can ever tell, read this.)
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