What are you and I learning this week?
What are you learning?
Are you learning new skills? Thought processes? Or a different way of relating to the person you work with or for – or works for you? Are you trying new things at least weekly? Are you learning about yourself and your values?
Values are really what (should) drive us. What are your big values? Do you and I live them out? How? How can I do what I teach and “preach”?
As a coach and supervisor and as an educator with a Master’s Degree in teaching, I “know” a lot, and I know my big “Whys”. But do I practice what I know and how do I do it? What about you? Is there a disconnect between what you do and what you know (you should do)?
A while ago my Inter-Vision group discussed this topic, and we reminded ourselves that maturity is a life-long process. We are all on journey of discovery. Hopefully, we are all better than yesterday and tomorrow we will be better still. We know a lot but practicing it is not always easy.
Two ideas:
Let’s start with emotional regulation and integrity, as integrity is one of my whys.
I once posted a quote from Twitter that is a “goal”, as my cousin Mary puts it – something to reach for:
“You can learn so much about a person by:
1. How they react when something unexpected happens or they don’t get their way.
2. How they speak about people when they’re not around.
3. How they behave when they’re stressed or uncomfortable.
4. How they respond when you share how you feel.
5. What they do when you don’t agree with them.”
@Dr.NicoleLePera on Twitter (X)
I have often written about integrity (what I do and say is really what is inside me) and some about emotional regulation and I still highly recommend “Emotional Agility” by Dr. Susan David. There is a lot to say on this but let us leave it there for consideration.
AND there is also our personal reflection process – do you and I take the necessary time to reflect upon our work, learning and activities?
Then there is the healthy living question: do you and Ido what we preach – do I follow what I challenge almost all of my clients to do when it comes to a better lifestyle?
Finally, do I put into practice my favorite healthy reflection activity, my PPF© Model? (This is a challenge for you to do- preferably daily!).
I DO try this, but need to practice, too, just like everyone.
PPF©s:
Past, Present, Future (PPF©s) self-application for preventing burnout- for myself, for my clients, AND for you.
PAST: Remember the past and be grateful, PRESENT: savor what we have in the present and FUTURE: anticipate the good things the future holds with hope.
PAST:
This past week has been one of fun and of challenges overcome, for me and family members. Since it is “their story” more than mine, let’s leave it at that.
Also, a while ago I was able to watch “Sweet Bean Paste” because a friend mailed me her DVD – and it is lovely (based on the book of the same name).
One of my clients once totally had a difficult time because of work, life and crises. So, we postponed the supervision meeting. Then we moved to the next best date- it is good to know our limits.
A friend of mine is moving her live: business and abode all at once, and so we meet less frequently than we would like to at the moment. But there is always the next time.
I can relate to having a lot to do while having other stressful situations at work (or home) to deal with at the same time. Maybe you can relate, too.
That’s why premortems are so helpful for us: they help you see possible future glitches in a plan and prepare for them. More about that in a later blog, but now we are focused on the PPFs of life to carry on with a good attitude. That is enough to learn for now.
My other BIG past (ATM) to remember and be grateful for is my work experience at my university. It is with great pleasure that I worked for the university and taught a few thousand (GASP!) students.
PRESENT:
What can I savor and enjoy at this very moment?
My PRESENT right now is the beautiful greenery I see outside the window and the birds chirping. I am savoring the color and the light, breathing in the smell of flowers from the garden and just enjoying my breath - in the present moment and just being for a moment. I am enjoying this moment and breathing.
My FUTURE for today is a near future activity: I am meeting friends I don’t see very often for a coffee catch up. I am also looking forward to even more holidays next month and in August. Lots of fun to look forward to in hope.
I also have a very very future plan to visit a dear friend who recently moved to Germany. But that is hopefully an early fall future. There are more – but that is enough to write about for now.
Now it’s time for you to try (and learn) PPFs:
What can you remember from the past right now that brings you joy? Where is that joy coming from? Let it come and enjoy the experience once more.
Then what can you savor right now? Maybe it’s a cup of coffee or tea during your mid-morning or afternoon break.
Maybe you can go for a walk and enjoy the beauty surrounding you.
What can you look forward to?
Make you plan now:
You need to make a plan to remember the past, savor the present and anticipate a hopeful future and practice it. If you do make PPFs a habit, it will help you get through tough times.
Everyone knows it’s hard to make changes, so I give you these three tips to plan a change:
· Decide how you are going to set PPFs in motion
· Tell a friend for support- and allow them to check up on you
· Fix your environment for positive success (eg: turn off the news until further notice, or buy treats to enjoy in these next difficult days) – get a journal ready (or use your electronic device)
Whether you need help with PPFs, with doing what you know or if you want to talk more about the difficulties you are having and how to change your life for the better, just give me an email, and remember to try something new and learn something new as much as possible (well, within reason, as we should automate a lot of things so we can focus on our whys).
Have a good rest of your week moving onward and upward!
Patricia Jehle patricia@jehle-coaching.com
