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COURAGE: HIGH PERFORMANCE HABIT
by Patti Moore
“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Courage isn’t just something we muster up when we’re called on to slay dragons or play the hero. Our courage is tasked every day, and how we answer its call (or don’t) is a powerful reflection of our character.
How much courage does it take to step outside your comfort zone and change the way you think about something? How much courage is required to tell your boss or a co-worker that you disagree with the way they handled a situation? When was the last time you had a courageous conversation with someone? When was the last time you had the courage to stop playing small and step into your full, brilliant self? These are the real dragons; self-doubt, habit, and fear of the unknown.
The challenges we face come calling without much notice, and the choices we’re asked to make on the fly and in the moment can wind up defining us, in our own eyes and in the eyes of those around us. When my beloved brother was sick and asked me to be with him when the doctor gave him his death sentence diagnosis, I wanted to run - but I mustered up the courage to be present with him, stand with him to hear the news, and to be with him until the end. It was as awful as it sounds – but it was also a precious gift to spend that time with him, and to have the chance to express my love for him in caring for him. I’ve never regretted a moment of it, as I would surely have regretted turning away at that critical juncture because I lacked the courage to walk that path with him.
Often courage means saying “no” – to that person above you whose goodwill you need but must risk doing the right thing, for instance. More often, courage means saying “yes” – yes to something that takes you out of comfort zone, or challenges your fixed ideas about how things ought to be done. When we open ourselves to risk because it’s the right thing to do, or push beyond our limits in our service to those who need us, because they need us – that’s courage that uplifts and inspires those around us.
How much courage have you got? You’ll never know if you don’t give it a chance to show itself. Risk something; step out of line, listen to a dissenting voice, try something new. You’re bigger than you think – and all the courage you need is within you, just waiting for its chance to slay your dragons.
MY BROTHER MICHAEL MOORE, 1950-1995
WORTH READING/ WORTH WATCHING:
Those among us who embrace meditation as a tool for health and wellness are onto something, according to new research that suggests mindfulness practices may actually prevent cognitive decline as we age:
“Giving your mind a break from bustling thoughts may empower it to run more efficiently.
“A growing body of research on meditation suggests that even a few minutes of daily mindfulness is linked to lower stress levels, more positivity, enhanced creativity, and even better focus. That last trait, the ability to focus, is something that can begin to falter with age, but a new study suggests that meditating could be one way to help prevent this decline.”
IN HONOR OF HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS FOR NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH:
Every hospice volunteer has a story about how an interaction with a dying person changed their view of life - but few are as eloquent in the telling as this remembrance by Tom Tanno in the Los Angeles Times
“I was a newly trained hospice volunteer, and E. was to be my first patient. I had to work up the nerve to cross the threshold. After gently clearing my throat and shuffling my feet in an attempt to wake her, I bent low to look at her face. Suddenly, her eyes opened wide.
She was as startled as me and said, in a forced whisper, "Who are you?" "I've come to visit for a while," I replied. "Why, are you being punished?" she deadpanned.”
Wooing potential volunteers? This studymight help you win them over:
“In a national survey of 3,351 adults commissioned by United Healthcare, an overwhelming majority of respondents said they felt mentally and physically better after donating their time and effort on behalf of others. Most said that their moods improved, they experienced a greater sense of purpose, and felt more control over their health; over three-quarters of those surveyed said that helping others lowered their stress levels.”
“Everyone has goals they want to accomplish before they die and now the community can all get together and share them.
"Art is an intricate part of our life and I think it's sad when people don't take advantage of it," said Lee Borden, Executive Director of the Art Center.
But starting this month people will have the opportunity to share their artistic skills and life views on chalk boards displayed around the community. HopeWest will host their second year of the Before I Die wall --chalkboards displayed in eight locations so people can reflect on life goals. Tuesday morning CMU and the Art Center participated in the event.”
“Survivors and loved ones continue to heal more than six months after the 1 October tragedy on the Las Vegas Strip. To honor those killed in the senseless act of violence butterflies were released Sunday at the Healing Garden. People filled the garden and released a butterfly for each of these 58 victims, and those still healing.
Nathan Adelson Hospice hosted the event. The CEO said the reason for the butterflies is simple, to bring people together and send an inspirational message to everyone affected.
“Butterflies are a Native American tradition, and we use them as a way to send messages to people who are no longer with us. To loved ones, to family and friends that are no longer with us. So it's a wonderful, symbolic gesture of how to celebrate and start that healing journey,” said Carole Fisher, CEO, Nathan Adelson Hospice.”
What’s your hospice doing to create alliances and awareness in your community? I’d love to hear about it! Send your stories, press releases, and announcements to: [email protected]
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACHING CORNER:
More and more companies are hiring a High Performance coaches for not only 1:1 coaching for leaders but also for creating high performance coaching groups with managers/supervisors. Hiring an external coach to work with groups of managers can be very beneficial. Group coaching can help managers discover wisdom that they have within and the wisdom of their co-workers as well. It can create an atmosphere of learning and discovery that will expand out into the rest of the organization and help everyone grow.
There is quite a difference between Coaching and Supervision. Supervision is generally about a one way street of the supervisor telling the employee what to do and what they did right or wrong. Coaching is about asking the right questions to have the employee discover their own answers.Coaching is the way of the future that is here now. Contact me, I can tell you more about how this will help your organization.
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Phone: 352-495-2800 | Fax: 352-495-1810
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