Thinkers & Feelers

At a recent presentation at Legacy Center, a business education center, there was a review of the personality polarities included in the Briggs-Meyer personality assessment. It really started to come into focus for me when the presenter explained how the polarities might be expressed.

Thinkers have a tendency to think in numbers, "this" therefore "that", black or white, A+B=C, etc. Feelers have a tendency to look at the consequences of the decisions that such "equations" can create.

Feelers tend to look at human consequences, organizational consequences, process consequences, customer service consequences.

This really brought to light for me the need for both polarities, to embrace "both, and," as opposed to "either, or." If one of us has a tendency toward one, the inclusion of the other polarity will create a better balance of perspective and outcomes.

As I look at the political climate in our country, I also see the Thinkers and Feelers of our world. When a position is stated from the Thinker perspective, it is usually spoken in such terms as to leave the human consequences subjugated to the mandate of yes or no, or absolute numbers.

I would hope that we could find a balance within ourselves and our nation to look for the "both, and" answers that will create safety, prosperity, and healing for all. That is my vision.

Growing Up

"Getting old is inevitable. Growing up is an option."

It's funny how many directions this little quip can send my brain. And then my old beliefs catch up and add a little color to the tapestry.

I'm really beginning to look at growth as part of my life and awareness, since it is a huge part of what I do with my life and in my work. And this concept of growth has really hit me full force after my experiences over the past two to four years.

In terms of growth, I was thinking of a young child, and the bursts of growth they experience and that we observe in each day/week/month. And yet, we have no judgment about where they are in their growth. They are where they are, in their physical abilities, their speech, their social skills, and their spiritual awareness.

And do we have the same compassion for those around us? I know I am grateful for the tolerance of everyone around me over these many decades, to accept and allow for my place in my growth. To find the joys of my innocence, to tolerate the gaffs of my social ineptitude, to observe my blooming essence.

Now it is with this compassion for, and acceptance of, myself that I can connect with everyone around me. Perhaps I am the 4 year old instead of the 2 year old, and there are plenty of people more developed than I who can show me by example. I also have the opportunity to be the presence in others' lives as I grow up and acquire new skills that give me joy and peace, while living in the Universe that is my playground.

These are photos from the last Rock Solid Workshop that I conducted at WatsonClay Studios with about 7 participants who explored their meaning of eternal essence and spiritual self in the transient world of the human experience. This "playshop" is a time of pure play, as children, as people who don't have the answers, yet are brave enough to explore the questions metaphorically.
I live in a beautiful valley that has been compared to the Smoky Mountains National Park right here in Northern Kentucky, 20 minutes from Cincinnati.
Join us. I don't have the answers. You do. You can never do it wrong. Find your courage. Discover.
May 26 1:00 - 4:30
lunch - 11:30 -12:30 at Tokyo Dragon
Fee is $45 or a gift that makes you feel good. Deposit of $20 with registration at Eventbrite (below).
Maximum of 12 people.
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After a powerful course in Heartmath, I was able to discover what my positive core values are. As I find myself discovering what discipline means, I realized the usefulness of those core values.

What are core values? Where do they come from? What do they mean? When do they come into our daily activities?

I'm pretty excited to explore these concepts with you in the next few articles.

So, what are core values? My first attempt at defining core values was similar to a corporation's attempt at a mission statement: full of ethereal, ambiguous, esoteric words that are intended to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy. And just like those vague mission statements, my first stab at core values consisted of descriptions of intangible "things" that could not be quantified. Worse yet, they covered a lot of stuff by mere application or intention. In other words, they were far from a litmus test in my life.

So I had to take a step back and look at the tangibles in my life and how they affected me. Which activities and pursuits light me up?

That's it. Simple as that. What activities and goals get me excited and energized, and can move me into the "flow?"

Once I had these 7 or 8 things in a list, I could then evaluate my life in any particular moment based on how much I was involved in those activities/pursuits.

Why would I care? It was made clear that when I am NOT involved in those core values, I experience stress. And nothing is more important than that I feel good.
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Next article will explore the source of our core values.

Please "Follow" this blog.

Larry Watson
Mastermind Guru.

Core Values

As I was reviewing materials from a major HeartMath (www.HeartMath.org) program, the segment on core values jumped out at me. Heartmath has created constructive ways to deal with stress, and part of it is based on our focus in life.

The essence of this segment helped me to realize that when I am not in,or coming from, my core values, I am stressed. Pretty simple, right?

And when I am stressed I have a tendency to ignore my core values. What a cycle.

There is the confusion. What is the solution?

Time to use a little discipline and look for a core value in everything I do. It seems that much of the things I do can have a positive core value behind them if I start with that Intention.

Start with an intention of authentic connection, of service, of spiritual growth, and each task and activity will have a gift within.

Poem

Though this has nothing to do with business, I just wanted to share it. I wrote it a long time ago, and when I found it among so many thoughts, it seemed like something I have to put out there.

Speed of Beauty
In the spontaneous search for an ear to speak into
your lips fluttered across my cheek,
their softness lifting heartbeats
above the speed of beauty.
My own lips tingle with
the dream of
abandon;
slowly, deliberately placing them
in the sun-dappled path
of your own
to meet in the meadow of tenderness.
-Larry Watson

Frustration- What is it?

In Linda Galindo's book, "The 85% Solution", there is a paragraph that talks about frustration. In it's simplest form, it is the emotional response to unmet expectations. An excellent Buddhist lesson is embedded in that statement.

The Buddhist lesson about attachment has everything to do with frustration. The Buddhist view is that wanting is the source of suffering. This is because wanting is the result of being attached to an outcome. If we are not attached to the outcome actually occurring, then there is no suffering. The desired outcome might happen, or it might not. If we are attached to one or the other, then our suffering will be the result of how much we are attached to what did not happen.

Can you look at all of your disappointments and see that this is true?

You might be thinking that some of these expectations are perfectly normal and everyone is entitled to them. Is that true? Who has decided? Where did you learn that?

These expectations are the source of our frustration. If you enter into a situation without any expectations, then frustration is not a possibility.

Is this practical?

Aren't there some things that we should expect? If someone Says they are going to do something, shouldn't we expect them to follow through and deliver? Yes and no.

You can expect them to do it, but if you are attached to that expectation, then your frustration is proportional to your attachment to that expectation. On the other hand, if I expect that to occur, but I am not attached to it, then my frustration is negligible. I am prepared for all contingencies, knowing that I am responsible for myself and for the work that I entrust to others.

Wait a minute; I am responsible for what I entrust to others? Ultimately, yes. You might be feeling resistant to this idea, so hear me out.

If I take responsibility for all aspects, then I can let go of the unmet expectations. Responsibility does not mean automatic recriminations. I just accept that this was my responsibility, that I delegated this activity, and I accept if it doesn't work out the way I wanted it to, and I learn. My options for future activities at this point are wide and varied.

Frustration = unmet expectations. All of which are directly proportional to the attachment we have to those expectations.

Set expectations. Set them high. And accept the responsibility without judgment of good or bad. Decide if it was skillful or unskillful, and what you can do to support better results.

If you want to learn more about this, read Linda's book. An eDrivenBookClub for this book will be starting in about 4 weeks.

Comments- please! Subscribe now.

Peace
Larry