One photo has the power to spark very different reactions in people. My reactions are based on my experiences and my beliefs, which are part of the family and the community in which I live. One photo can feel fun and playful to one person and yet trigger very raw feelings of distress in another. My work is to resolve the perceptions that trigger my reactions so that I can have a higher level of compassion to support others to … Read More
Rational explanations do not explain current leadership behaviour. Given the pace of change and the increasing pressure of demands, leaders at all levels are responding based on their instinct, beliefs and attitudes. When pressure is applied to retrieve rational explanations, perceptions are triggered that ignite inflammatory thoughts and emotions. Policies are put in place to correct and prevent, yet policies rely on rational thought to be effective. We push down irrational responses and yet the increased pressure fuels a higher … Read More
We strive to create a world where we can all enjoy life more fully. We rally behind causes such as gender equality, racial acceptance and religious accommodation yet these are the topics whereby unrest continues to create news headlines. We send our children to school and our employees on courses to reinforce our commitment to change. We publish books, produce shows and host conferences to discuss the importance of these humanitarian topics. So why is it that in 2017 where … 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
We all react to everyday life events. Some reactions are beneficial to our success and others hold us back from achieving our goals. However I have come to recognize that even the reactions that are beneficial to an individual’s success can be damaging to the team. And reactions that are beneficial to the team, may hold an individual back. As leaders, parents and people of influence, what is needed to get the job done may be clear. The energy bound in … Read More
Letting It Go: Relieve Anxiety and Toxic Stress in Just a Few Minutes Using Only Words (Dr. Laurie Weiss, 2016) This book explains Logosynthesis in a concise manner that is easy for all to understand. It is designed with straightforward instructions to learn how to stop worrying about things you can’t control and to help manage challenging situations. The following description about the author, provided on Amazon, speaks to the fascinating nature of this work: After over 40 years practicing psychotherapy and coaching, … 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
I believe we all want to be good parents but what we hold in our heads and our hearts isn’t always in line with the behaviour we exhibit. As parents, we hold fantasies of how our children should be based on our beliefs and past experiences. And when things aren’t as we had imagined, we react. Often we are not even aware of what triggers our reactions. What are some of our fantasies? ‘My child will be the best athlete or the … Read More
Recognizing the Need ‘I have a great life but I can’t keep up to it. I always feel stressed.’ My first step was acknowledging that I wanted reduce my stress and neutralize my reactions to people and events in my life. I knew that not only was I feeling stressed, but my need to control was stressing out those around me. I wanted to relax but despite all my ‘healthy lifestyle’ initiatives, I still had the same feelings driving my behaviour. I knew what I should do but in the … Read More
My life ‘should be’ different. But it’s not. Things happen in my life which ‘should not’ happen. But the fact is, they do happen. I do things that I know I ‘should not’ do. But I do them anyway. People around me do things that they clearly ‘should not’ do. But the fact is, they too, do them anyway. There are things I ‘should have’ known to prevent something. But the fact is, I did not know. And I have come to … Read More