Think for a moment about the power in the word ‘believe’. To know something with confidence yet without proof. How do you know with confidence? You feel it. Your experience tells you it is so. Your culture embraces it. At times, we are extremely passionate about our beliefs. We work hard to convince others that we are right. We are prepared to fight for our beliefs. We feel discomfort and fear when our life is not as we believe it should … Read More
I would like to write something profound today as I bring one phase of my career to a close and open the door to something new and unknown. The word that has been capturing my attention lately is ‘courage’. The ability to do something that frightens one. There are lots of quotes on courage from Nelson Mandela to Winston Churchill, with the encouragement to draw on our strength in an effort to overcome our failures and achieve success. As life happens, … Read More
I can appreciate that people may not understand what drives my passion for Logosynthesis. For quite some time, I had a very rationale explanation. Despite reading lots of books and trying lots of techniques, I was unable to let go of my reactive behaviours. In fact, the busier I became, the harder it was to control. Logosynthesis was a unique technique and I was open to explore. I became highly intrigued and the more I learned, the more the work drew me in. … Read More
This morning I read a post written by Dr. Willem Lammers, the founder of Logosynthesis, on work he is developing in the area of life transitions. As always, I am interested in applying the concepts to my everyday life. Top of mind is the current labour dispute between government and the teachers union in Nova Scotia. Here are some thoughts for consideration: Kicked out of comfort zones: According to Willem, we tend to cope in life by avoiding discomfort and finding stability through coping techniques, … Read More
Tension leads to stances: As tension escalates on contract negotiations between the teachers union and the government, the public is left feeling very angry and confused. The situation is reactive and irrational. The latest straw to fuel another work-to-rule mandate was our premier’s ‘clarification’ that the teachers two ‘new’ days off were for marking and classroom preparation. So I view this as new material to apply and I have identified the importance of stances, defined as a way of thinking about something, especially … Read More
The teachers in Nova Scotia have been telling us they are overwhelmed and they want change! Their union has been negotiating with our government to come to an agreement to improve working conditions. In the interim, students, parents and taxpayers are not feeling their needs are being met. When it comes to educating our children and future leaders, we all have strong beliefs about what is required. I am offering my perspective based on what I have been hearing: Teachers are … Read More
Leaders listen to embrace diversity. What happens when leaders listen? At the Community Town Hall in Dartmouth, NS last evening, our Prime Minister listened to questions from a ‘friendly’ audience. I attended with a question to ask but as I observed the dynamics, I received my answer without needing to stand at the microphone. As I listened, I noticed how he was able to disarm controversy by acknowledging diversity of opinion and respecting the concerns of individuals. As he accepts the responsibility of … Read More
Leaders assume important roles at all levels of our society. We rely on them to set the direction, focus the group and prevent things from becoming overwhelming. We expect a great deal of our leaders and often forget that everyone leads based on their own beliefs. And what each of us believes is different based on personal experiences and societal norms. My reactions are an indicator of the energy tied to my beliefs. We all react. In the reactive state, our energy is not available for productive, creative thought. Change and … Read More
Spiritual health is recognized in our constitution. We place a great deal of emphasis on health in Canada yet spiritual health is placed in a separate bucket from physical and mental health. Our healthcare system demands evidence-based research yet our constitution recognizes the supremacy of God. When the Canadian Constitution was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the following wording was incorporated: ‘Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and … Read More