Using Your internalGPS to Illuminate the Darkness 4

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
– Edith Wharton, 1862-1937, Author

I love reflecting the light back to my coaching clients. It is sometimes a challenge for them to see their own light that is buried under big challenges. They need a Coach to reflect it back in order to see it.

I also saw the power of my clients doing this in my team coaching this summer. Part of the process is to ask team members to acknowledge a peer for something they did that made the team more successful. The team became stronger and more effective as they all shared their acknowledgments of each other more regularly.

We are five weeks away from our wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Take this challenge: each week for the next five weeks, acknowledge someone who has made a difference in your life by telling them what they did and how it positively impacted you. It could be something as small as them buying you a cup of coffee and how it brightened your day when you really needed it.

Please share a comment about a powerful acknowledgement that you have given or received and how it made a difference in illuminating the darkness.

photo credit via Flickr creative commons: magnuscanis

4 thoughts on “Using Your internalGPS to Illuminate the Darkness”

  • Ann Videan

    Powerful idea, Paula! A friend/colleague and I had both listened to a set of CDs on the value of tithing as recognition for the inspiration a person, group, church or whatever was providing in your life. At Christmas time, my friend and I independently included the same significant monetary amount in a card and gave it to the other. Talk about appreciating each other at the same level. What a great feeling!

  • Brenda

    Thanks Paula – so insightful! I was fortunate enough to be in Las Vegas for a coaching conference a few weeks ago. On the first night, there was a concert @ our hotel, the Mandalay Bay on the beach. I wanted to attend because it was a beautiful night and music, especially live music always brings joy into my life. I walked over to the concert entrance and one of the other attendees was there with 2 tickets and she gave 1 to me! We enjoyed the evening together – singing, dancing, laughing, barefoot in the sand, stars out, perfect weather – it was awesome! While I was initially worried about attending a conference alone and had walked circles around the evening event trying to find a place to land/fit in, this person reached out to me and welcomed me and made me feel certain that I was where I was supposed to be at that moment. I couldn’t ask for anymore illumination than that. It gave me a renewed spirit and purpose! We all need to “hold on loosely” and be willing to seek out new doors to open!

  • Paula Shoup Post author

    Thanks Brenda! I so appreciate you sharing this story of synchronicity and it was wonderful meeting you at the coaching conference. I look forward to staying in touch.

Comments are closed.