Pass It On!
Scholarships to the March 2010 Renewal Coaching Institute for nonprofits and corporate CSR and sustainability teams!
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Does your culture support innovation and sustainable change for a greater good (the hallmark of wisdom)? Renewal Coaching is a way to align your organizational culture with accomplishing the most important and meaningful goals. Become a Licensed Renewal Coach or learn ideas to apply in your life or organization.
email Elle for more information: elle@wisdomout.com or visit www.RenewalCoaching.com
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| Books from Dr. Douglas Reeves and Dr. Elle Allison
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The first of three books from Dr. Douglas Reeves and Dr. Elle Allison is available online at Amazon. Our second book, (which is a workbook to accompany to first book) will be available in February. Renewal in service of a greater good leads to sustainable change. Doug and Elle are accomplished keynote speakers and seminar leaders. Book Doug and Elle to speak in your organization or at your next conference or ask us how you can become a Renewal Coach. Visit us at www.renewalcoaching.com |
Next Renewal
Coaching Institute: Become a Licensed Renewal Coach
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Announcing the next Renewal Coaching Institute with
Elle Allison, March 19-25, 2010, in Albuquerque, NM Email Elle@wisdomout.com for details, or visit us at www.RenewalCoaching.com. Renewal Coaching facilitates the simultaneous pursuit of results and a greater good, to produce sustainable change for individuals and organizations. |
Do you know a
wise couple?
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| Do you know a wise couple who use the synergy from their relationship to do something great together? Tell me about a couple you know, married or not, gay or straight that you feel are living life with wisdom. The Wisdom Out Relationship project seeks to illuminate the nature of wisdom in couples - to shine a light on the way these couples navigate life together. |
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Greetings!
You are invited to forward this newsletter to anyone you think might like it. Please keep it completely intact, including the contact, logo, and copyright. Comments or Questions: elle@wisdomout.com
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"Well isn't that interesting?"
"Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing." --Lao Tzu
Mr. Proskey was a farmer, and he was my neighbor some years back when I lived in Iowa. I met him in a panic when I banged on his front door to tell him his cows were ambling down the middle of a two lane road. I recently moved to this small farming town from the big cities of Chicago and Milwaukee where livestock lived in zoos; to my mind, cows in the street was asking for Big Trouble. Recklessly, I abandoned my car in the middle of the lane with the hazard lights flashing and made a wild eyed dash up the long driveway to Mr. Proskey's house to give him the urgent news. When he opened the door I yelled the information to him and began to run back to the road, certain that Mr. P would be right on my heels. Instead, he held his ground in the doorway, hands on hips and grinning widely. He said to me, "Well aren't you spunky!" When, what seemed like ages later, we finally got down to the road, the cows were gathered around my car, licking the paint off of it. I am not joking about this.
 In any given moment, especially when all hell breaks loose, the only thing you can do may also be the wisest thing to do. This often means that doing nothing, at least for a little while, is often the answer. Some people might think that "doing nothing" is inappropriately passive and well, wimpy. This is because we are wired to react and act out our habits and emotional patterns that may or may not be useful but that fit us like a weary but oh so comfortable pair of shoes. Resisting the urge to react is what makes "doing nothing" so challenging for most of us.
The wise people I've talked with tend to look at each fresh crisis with interest as opposed to judgment. They are less likely to see trouble as catastrophes and are more likely to say things like "well isn't that interesting" or "aren't you spunky." Perhaps they would go so far as to allow they are in a "fine kettle of fish." But they often do nothing, at least for a little while. When they do take action, it usually results in a good outcome with concern for others as well as for themselves.
What would it feel like for you to actually have the strength to do nothing when what you really want to do is react? What strategies could you employ to get better at this? Here are some wise ways to give this a try (notice that "doing nothing" is actually quite active):
1. Take a couple of breaths. Look at the bigger picture in addition to the scene right in front of you. Actually say out loud: "Well isn't that interesting."
2. Count to 10, which will reroute your emotional response back to the thinking part of your brain, where a dose of rational thinking can be injected into the mix.
3. Ask yourself if your typical reaction will be good for you and for others in the long run. If it isn't, count to 10 and then think of another option.
4. Consider what would be the exact opposite of your usual reaction and try that first. See what happens.
5. Choose to be a leader in the situation. In other words, step up and resonate a demeanor that allows everyone else to be their best in the situation.
Give this a try and then tell me your story! I love learning how wisdom works in your life.
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Wisdom Quote
"Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."
--Winnie the Pooh
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Elle Allison
Wisdom Out |
Wisdom in Action: Catalino Tapia, founder of the Bay Area Gardeners Foundation
(From the website www.bagf.org): Catalino Tapia arrived in America
from Mexico at the age of 20 with six dollars in his pocket and a sixth grade
education. He worked hard, eventually starting his own gardening business to
support his wife and two sons. His proudest moment came when his son graduated
from UC Berkeley law school. It was also pivotal. Tapia decided that more young
Latinos should have the chance to reach the same heights. He launched the Bay
Area Gardeners' Foundation, a nonprofit comprised of area gardeners that
provide scholarships to low-income Latinos. Tapia and his fellow gardeners
asked their employers and local businesses to donate to the fund, and they
raised $250,000 in the first two years. In 2007, they awarded grants to 18
students, who were all from low-income families, had a desire to go to college,
and had at least a 2.5 grade point average. Recipients also pledge to give 20
hours of community service for each year they receive scholarship funds.
FROM ELLE: When I interviewed Mr. Tapia he told me, "When
people are down, I tell them to go
forward - this is not the end of the world -the economy will bounce back. It is normal every 10 or 15 years this
happens. We just have to have
faith and continue to do the things we do. Don't ever stop - don't lay back and see what is going
to happen. If someone has a good
idea put it to work don't let it die.
Put it to work you will see the results."
Please consider the kids in your neighborhood and the effect hunger has on their ability to learn. Donate what you can to your local food bank.
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