#31

Welcome to Week #31

What whisper did you hear from #30?

Are you willing to invest for the long term like Allyson Felix?

Win learn change – great idea but how often do you do it? And do you do it forensically like Nicola?

Did you notice whether you prefer to talk or listen?

What meaning are you making out of your current circumstances?

What’s struck me this week?

1. Can you draw?

For most of us who said no… you’re wrong. Yes, you can.

Grab a piece of paper and something to write with. Click on the link and watch the first 3 minutes or so:

How did you get on? Maybe not hanging in the local art gallery yet but as a metaphor isn’t it interesting how easy it was to improve on something you said you couldn’t do. I wonder how often we go through our days carrying “I can’t” beliefs.

Now, I’ve no real interest and passion in drawing but I do have an endless interest and limitless passion for breaking through beliefs that hold us back from the progress that’s already within us.

Pick another ‘I can’t’ belief you’ve picked up somewhere along the way. Consider something - what’s one little step you could take that would move you one step away from ‘I can’t’. In doing so, it might plant a seed that with some help and guidance could grow into ‘maybe I could’. And from ‘maybe I could’ it might grow further.

2. The cubic centimetre of opportunity

I’ve written before about working towards an opportunity that you don’t know when or where it will occur but being ready when it does (one of the reasons I’ve started ugly with the Freedom Friday Podcast).

This happened to Sian Fuller – a contestant on The Voice Australia. Initially there to support her brother who was auditioning she was asked if she sang too. As she’d been involved in singing and performing for a number of years already the answer was yes. Would you like to audition then? Wait. What, now? And that’s what happened. She grabbed the centimetre of opportunity in front of her and stepped on the stage to audition after her brother. As of writing, I don’t know when, how or even if the story ends. As Branson has said many times “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” Good advice. What opportunity are you working towards waiting for the centimetre of opportunity?

3. Quote of the week – "Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve done" Bryan Stevenson (A quote from the film/book Just Mercy)

Stevenson, a lawyer, defended people on death row - those that had no hope or value attached to their lives because they had been labeled. They were broken. Stevenson noted that we’re all broken in some way and seeing beyond our/their broken-ness is the pathway to living a life beyond being defined by the worst (and best) things we’ve ever done.

 
4. Question of the week – What’s missing within me in this situation?

Often the question that’s asked is ‘what’s missing in this situation?’ A helpful question to ask in a conversation between people but this question stopped me for a second. This is asking what’s missing ‘within me’ that would help most in this situation. It might be patience, compassion, a different narrative, curiosity or anything else that helps the ‘me’ in this situation become unstuck. So, next time you’re pondering your contribution to a situation see if you can go inside and ask the question and wait patiently for the answer to show up.

 
5. Freedom Fridays - Moving from I have to, to I choose to

My intention is to openly share a change I’m making within my life. I’m hoping you can take the lessons learnt and apply them to any change you want to make.

This week Harriet Beveridge shares with us how important laughter can be to help us through changes we want to make.

Check out Episode #29.

That’s all for this week and I hope you enjoyed Weekly Whisper #31.

Feedback is my fuel so if you have any comments please send me an email at [email protected] and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Pete