Creating space for growth.
Resistance is part of change and growth. As our country is aglow with Canada150 celebrations, we see a strong message emerge, symbolized by erection of a tipi on Parliament Hill. Not all is comfortable in our land! What if we had a coaching model that would allow us to acknowledge these feelings of discomfort and also, release the energy in these reactions? This would allow us to create a space for growth.
While Canada150 is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with family, friends and neighbours, it is important to stop and reflect on what it means to be Canadian both individually and collectively. From our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we were challenged in 1981 by Trudeau as follows ‘We must now establish the basic principles, the basic values and beliefs which hold us together as Canadians so that beyond our regional loyalties there is a way of life and a system of values which make us proud of the country that has given us such freedom and such immeasurable joy!’. To achieve this, we need to both embrace our past and share new experiences.
Our country is young, expansive and diverse but we all carry our past with us. We may move geographically but we are strongly connected to our roots. Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, provides a very interesting example of how our reactions to insult are influenced not by where we are now but where we come from. (http://gladwell.com/outliers/harlan-kentucky/) As we celebrate multiculturalism, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the strong pull of our individual and collective past. This past influences how we react today. We benefit from recognizing that resistance accompanies change and growth but we don’t need to remain stuck in reactive patterns.
Constructive conflict.
We are trained to play nice together but growth comes through conflict and contrast. It is not enough to avoid situations we don’t like. It can be challenging to address conflict each of us needs to find a way to acknowledge and neutralize our individual reactions. Many times we ‘agree to disagree’. But what if we could embrace our differences and ‘agree to agree’? What if we could accept things as they are rather than as they should be? What if we free ourselves of the weight of our past so that we can be in a better position to talk about solutions together?
Logosynthesis is a powerful coaching, counselling and psychotherapeutic model. It guides a process to notice our reactions, especially stressful patterns. It then identifies the underlying mental imagery that triggers these reactions. These are the energetic memories, beliefs and fantasies that we carry with us, often outside of our awareness. When we shift this frozen energy, we create space for growth.
From my experience, I have come to appreciate that often my beliefs may not be wrong but the energy that I carry in my beliefs is not beneficial to collaborative discussion. Just as our Prime Minister sat down to listen and to talk, we all are challenged to improve this skill. Each one of us can benefit from learning how to identify and release the emotional triggers from our past to create space for growth and opportunity to share experiences to establish our values and beliefs.
Get started now to resolve resistance.
Each of us has an important role in continuing to establish the values and beliefs of this great country, Canada! This will involve conflict. You can make it more constructive by noticing what bothers you and resolving your stress triggers.
Check out these resources to get you started. You can also watch the guided video below to experience what can shift. Firstly, grab a glass of water and find a quiet, uninterrupted place. Allow at least 30 minutes so that you are not rushed. And then, simply follow my guidance on the video. Energy shifts can feel subtle or intense, so take some time to notice what shifts over the next few days and weeks. Enjoy!