02.01.2010


   
Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of magine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.

Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.

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How's your geography? 
California geography is a bit like the starlet who, years ago, was imprisoned for shooting her lover: beautiful but confined.

There's ocean to the west and mountains to the east; and neither Oregon to the north nor Mexico to the south is anxious to welcome their common neighbors from across the border. You fly when you leave the state, or you stay put and drive up and down Interstate 5 or Highway 101. My first Toyota, a 1985 Camry, finally gave up the ghost years ago after a quarter of a million miles. With the exception of a few forays into Oregon and Nevada--no more than a percent or two of the total--all of those miles were on California roads.

Since moving from California to Louisiana nearly six years ago, I've developed a new sense for the country's geography.

Life is not quite as contained in the East as it is in the Golden State. I've crossed into Arkansas to eat supper, and I've driven to Mississippi to shop for groceries...I've traveled numerous times from our home in Farmerville, Louisiana to New Orleans, Louisiana--through the state of Mississippi. That's just odd...I've traversed the Republic of Texas, from El Paso in the west to Shreveport, Louisiana in the east--824 Texas-size miles. If you instead travel 824 miles west from El Paso, by comparison, you'd cross the width of three states, travel through the city of Los Angeles, drive off the Ventura Pier and into the Pacific Ocean...I've driven to Illinois, by any measure a "Northern" state and just one state shy of being a province of Canada; and yet, it's practically a neighbor to Louisiana. The northern tip of Arkansas is a mere 100 miles of Missouri from the southern tip of Illinois.

It's an adventure traveling from one state to another, from one climate to another, from one culture to another. To experience the geography at your own feet, rather than from above--far up above--at thirty thousand feet in an airplane.

Now this may be new terrain for you, but people too have distinctive geographies influenced by their innate personality and gifts, family of origin, education, life experience, and other factors. Even as we pack the appropriate gear for a road trip, based upon the geography and climate of our journey, we can gear up for a difficult conversation by inhabiting a person's geography; it will give us greater patience, insight, empathy, and effectiveness.


Try it. Consider a difficult conversation in the offing. Use your imagination. How would you describe your guest's geography?

Imagine sitting across from him just now. What might you notice that you've never paused to previously observe?

Take note of your own geography when you are with him. Allow your body, right now, to reflect what your spirit feels. How many of your five senses can you engage in this exercise?

How might this exercise prepare you for a better conversation, and perhaps a better relationship?


Michael Fox
m�agine!

530/613.2774
407 Myrtle Drive
Farmerville, LA, USA 71241  
In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models
--Values, Vision, Voice
and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength--

as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.

Michael's books include
 
Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook,
and Biblio�files.

Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
For additional information, visit our website at maginethepossibilities.net.

Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.

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