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Everything’s Connected
Table of contents for Change, Transition and Transformation
Part 7 in the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series
When my neck was in pain, I knew that my muscles had tightened up and locked into place. According to Dr. Lou, my chiropractor, the massage had not been effective because my muscles were not the source of misalignment. Rather, the muscles had tightened up in response to the misalignment of my vertebrae.
I continued to see Dr. Lou so he could make adjustments to realign my spine. But, in between visits, my back would become misaligned again and the pain would return. Interestingly, the muscles were so used to being in a tightened, resistance mode, they would fall back into the familiar role by force of habit, pulling my spine out of alignment in the process. The muscles, rather than supporting the adjustments, were working against them.
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Balance, Alignment, and Support
Table of contents for Change, Transition and Transformation
Part 9 in the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series
As James Baldwin stated:
“Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.” As we undergo change, even desired change, we do temporarily lose ourselves – we lose the identity that we knew and that was familiar to us. As a result, we end up feeling unsafe, uncertain, and off balance.
As is clear from my earlier posts, being able to move through change and transition and successfully come out transformed on the other side is about balance and alignment. Read more
Change, Transition, and Transformation for Executive Directors
Over the last few months, I have been facilitating a monthly Learning and Support Group for executive directors of New York City nonprofit organizations with the support of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.
I developed this series after having conducted a few roundtable discussion meetings with these organizational leaders. What became apparent during these discussions was their difficulty finding time to step back and reflect on their work, their roles, their visions for their organizations and their professional and personal development that is crucial to their ongoing success and effectiveness. Read more
Stories As a Means to Make Sense of Our Lives
When I was undergoing my personal transition (see the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series), I had to find ways to pay attention to, see and understand the connections between my mind, body and spirit to tap into a new sense of focus and creativity.
Another vehicle for becoming aligned and integrated as individuals involves stories.
Stories as a Mean to Enhance Mutual Understanding
Since stories are the way we make sense of our lives, story telling is an important vehicle for gaining mutual understanding. It is by telling our stories and hearing and understanding their differences that we can begin to create larger more inclusive and fully integrated stories. Like quilters, story-tellers piece together what is otherwise unconnected. Read more
Stories About Ourselves and Stories About Others
I had an experience recently in a long-term learning group that I was in. All the participants had made a commitment to attend six 3-day sessions over an 18-month period of time.
Making Up Stories
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we human beings are to find ways to create “in” groups and “out” groups – how quickly we are able to connect with some individuals and simultaneously disconnect with others based on the smallest of differences.
Weapons of Disconnection and Inattention
The very tools that are supposed to make us more productive and effective have become weapons of disconnection and inattention. Cell phones and email are wonderful when used in moderation. Read more
Difficult Conversations
Many of my coaching conversations center around “difficult conversations.” These are the conversations that my clients least want to have – and, paradoxically, most need to have. Read more
The Power of One Person’s Authentic Presence: Barack Obama
Barack Obama’s campaign for president is a example of how one person’s authentic presence can change the world. Obama’s way of being in the world is in stark contrast to that of George Bush. Ever since 9-11, George Bush has played on people’s fears as a way to increase his power and control. Fear, while an effective mechanism for control, does not bring about positive change. Rather, it leaves people paralyzed and/or apathetic. Read more
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For information about Deb's book, The Quilt of Humanity: A Metaphor for Healing and Reparation, click here