Persistence.

I’ve been trying to teach myself to take my recyclable shopping bag to the supermarket for ever!

I always remember the shopping list but remembering that bag usually only kicks in when I’m stood at the check-out.

Still, I’ve persisted. Doggedly.

Then this week, I realised that I’ve adopted it as a new unconscious habit.
I just pick it up and take it with me like that’s how it’s always been.

Persistence.
A fabulous thing.
It never crossed my mind to say “Oh, I never remember it; I’m just going to give up trying.”

A lesson in there somewhere.

My Golden Egg.

My Golden Egg is this.
If you are dealing with someone who is talking about a problem that affects them, see if you can ask,

“How’s your heart?”

At first, most people look at me quizzically as though I’ve just become a Doctor and I’m concerned about that extraordinary muscle in our chests (that beats on average over one hundred thousand times per day!)
Either by tone or change of phraseology, I convey that I want to know how they feel emotionally. Too often people express things in a mental or physical manner and something about asking
“How’s your heart?”

blasts that aside for a moment and encourages a person to address the issue from another perspective.

The breakthroughs I’ve accomplished with this simple question, asked sincerely has been beyond belief.

On a further note, if you have a person ask themselves this on a frequent basis, more often than not, the person starts to feel better about life in general.
Try it yourself

What’s your Golden Egg?

There is a chap in London who carries a small digital voice recorder in his pocket when he goes to parties.
If people end up somewhat the worse for wear, he asks them “What’s your best idea?” and records their answer.
He has several years worth of data!

I do a similar thing (just usually in daylight)
I ask people from all walks of life,

“What is your Golden Egg? Your one golden piece of insight or advice about your profession?”

In fairness not everyone can answer the question straight away but I will frequently offer my card with my email address and an expression of hope that if they can think of it, might they share it with me.

The results are… beautiful.

I receive random emails, sometimes days; sometimes weeks or months later.
Many start off with a joke like “Don’t do it; escape whilst you can” etc but then go on to offer some stunning insights.

So what’s your Golden Egg? (If you’d like to post it, please click here and a new window will open to a page that collects “Golden Eggs”)

Steal!

The previous two posts are stolen.

They were stolen from two other seperate blogs.
They were stolen because they really hit home with me.
They made me think.
They inspired me to think.
And the results of that thinking inspired me further.

Steal them from me, if you wish.
Please.
You’re welcome.

What can we do with these things that we steal?

Only one word of warning.
Steal only things that touch you.
Anything less won’t make it worthwhile.

Post on Constant Challenge credited to RG Ryan
Post on Identifying with your Religion credited to ‘SpiritSeeker’

What is the greatest challenge you face in your life on a constant basis?

Indulge my curiosity for a moment if you will and ponder the following question:

What is the greatest challenge you face in your life on a consistent basis…day to day; week to week…etc.

Should you be so inclined, I’d appreciate hearing your response.

Why do you identify with your religion?

This question is not about religions.
It is about you and your relationship with your religion.
What was / is the ‘X’ factor about your religion that had you stand forward and go ‘yes, this is for me’?

Life of Consequence: Raphael

I have this last week or so, had the immense pleasure of working closely with a department within the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum, London)In the process, I had time on occasion to explore various parts of the museum and indeed various buildings.
It is by any standard, an extraordinary museum and if this were to be an utterly self-absorbed post, I am sure I could easily write some 10,000 words and still not capture the magnitude of all I saw.

However, for the point of this post, I refer to just one gallery in the V&A at South Kensington.
The Raphael Cartoon Gallery.

If anyone has a moment to spare, regardless of your appreciation of art, I would encourage you to detour to the V&A and walk into this room.
If not for the art itself but for just a glimmer at a life of accomplishment.

So often these days we seem to do so much.
Sometimes, I think we often think we do too much.

Yet to walk into this gallery and to see just a small percentage of this mans work – and yet the enormity of it – is breathtaking … and sobering.

Wow!

As to the lessons and inspirations that can be gained when one thinks of passion and dedication, I dare not even start.
If you’ve lost your way, find your way to the V&A