Tell it as it is - the speed of change when we speak from the heart
By Robyn Pearce
Every choice affects our productivity
The choices we make every day have an all-pervasive impact on the life we
lead. Everything we think, say and do has the possibility to impact our
productivity in some profound way.
An example of courage
A few months ago I attended the annual conference of the National Speakers
Association of Australia. Almost all of us professional speakers
ourselves, we bathed in a sensory feast of wonderful speakers from around
the world. From session after session we walked away, senses reeling,
going 'wow'.
We learnt management lessons from lion prides in Africa, portrayed
brilliantly, in sound, action, pictures and words by South African
gamekeeper Ian Schubach.
Laurie Lawrence, one of Australia's top swimming coaches, carried the
Olympic torch and Olympic pride right into our hearts.
Australian David McNally, CEO of a very successful speaking and
management business in Philadelphia, USA, had us soaring with the eagles.
However, the speaker that packed the greatest wallop was Lisa McInnes-Smith,
one of Australia's top woman speakers and a regular on international
platforms. For the first time in such a forum, she shared an intensely
personal struggle that her family had gone through over the previous 2
years. I'm not going to tell you what she shared - that's Lisa's story,
and maybe one day you'll be lucky enough to hear it from her. It's the
impact of that message that I want to highlight, and the power of courage
and truth to accelerate change. And anything that can accelerate positive
change has to be an effective time management tool.
Lisa's a delightful woman. Her beautiful spirit flows out to all she
meets. She and her husband are committed Christians. Because of her career
as a high-profile writer and speaker around the globe, their family is
very much in the public eye. To the outside observer it looks as if things
are pretty good in their inner world. However, for nearly two years, that
wasn't so. With searing honesty, no judgment, no false note of artificial
disclosure, and great compassion for all concerned, Lisa opened a door to
something that had dramatically impacted their family life.
She spoke from the heart. We listened. We wept with her. We rejoiced in
the overcoming of their challenge. And with the speed of an arrow, her
message went straight to our hearts - to confront the hard things we come
across in our lives; to clutch the nettle; to go beyond the boundaries.
How to avoid consuming time
As we skirt around the corners of an issue, be it work or personal, we
consume time. We waste hours agonising. Our minds are clouded. Our energy
becomes sluggish. We become less effective, in all ways.
Whenever you find yourself feeling churned up about something, whenever
you notice that your energy is depleted when it should be buoyant, try to
mentally step back for a few minutes. Ask yourself, 'What's causing this
whirlpool of discomfort, this grey cloud of unease?'
The quality of the question determines the quality of the answer - if
you've asked sincerely, and you've asked the right question, your answer
always comes!
Don't waste time on avoidance
Sometimes, when I run this process on myself, I don't like the answer. If
you're the same, you might like to try a wonderful phrase I first heard
years ago. It really helps propel me into action. I say to myself, as if
it were a mantra - 'Action conquers fear'.
What is going on in your life right now? Is there something hard you're
putting off? Are you tempted to avoid speaking the truth, in case it's too
painful?
Avoidance is a hugely time-wasting behaviour. So, where do we start to
conquer this habit, for it is a habit with many people. You may find a
clue, or inspiration, from a book, a chance conversation, some little
thing that slips past your eyes and ears with the softness of petal fall.
When we become open to resolving problems, the solutions present
themselves.
At some time in the life of a problem, the season for confronting it
will come, as it did with Lisa and her family. Listen to your intuition -
and act. Often it requires an apology, or a request for forgiveness. As we
make ourselves vulnerable, we disarm the people we've hurt.
You'll save time, lift your energy, and extend your life. Truth and
courage are power rockets to new frontiers.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience
in which you really stop to look fear in the face" - Eleanor
Roosevelt
About the author: Robyn Pearce, of TimeLogic
Corporation, has helped 1000's of folks in 'Getting a grip on their time'.
Visit http://www.gettingagripontime.com
for FREE subscription to her email that includes "how-to"
practical time management assistance, books, tapes, products, and more.
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