I am no longer teaching at Westchester Community College. I know, really quick turn around right? I taught the first couple of classes that I had prepared almost a year for and it was magic—I felt at home, the students were engaged and sharing, we were creating a fertile learning environment together.
There was brief recognition of my success, but soon after I felt that I was not being supported in running my class in a way that I felt would provide the students with the best learning experience. I knew in my whole being I had to get out of this disempowering situation. I listened, trusted and acted on that voice. The power, strength and will I felt in taking decisive action was amazing. I also felt great love for myself—I was taking care of myself on a deep level.
“This above all: to thine own self be true”
William Shakespeare
The loss of the potential of this opportunity was at first a crushing disappointment. But despite the confusion and replaying the situation in my head, as I dropped into my body, I felt peace, calm and great freedom there.
Free to be my fully empowered self without judgment, criticism or projection from another. Free to practice the method of coaching I was trained in that I find truly ingenious. Its foundation is clarifying one’s life purpose and then building your life around the purpose for ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment. It holistically addresses the whole human being in a dynamic way that supports nothing short of personal transformation.
One of it’s major impacts for me and many of my clients has been the shift of one’s focus from doing for the sake of doing, to doing for the state of well-being—This is what life is all about and underlies everything we do—the why we pursue and do anything and everything in our lives. Being conscious of the states of being that are important to us becomes a great motivator to create more and richer states of well-being. It’s such a beautiful awareness.
What I learned from this teaching experience was how much I love teaching and mentoring, how energized and inspired I am by the coaching conversation and guiding others to coach others—the proverbial pebble dropped in a pond, creating ever widening concentric circles of empowerment.
I now have an even more confident presence, clear about what I am capable of and catching glimmers of many new ways to be of use in this world, in addition to coaching people one-on-one, with my speaking, teaching and writing abilities. So stay tuned…
How about you—what have you lost, at first to great disappointment, only to discover it was opening the door for bigger and better opportunities?
And if you have not had a free one-on-one consultation with me, contact me to schedule it. There is great value for you in this conversation–to clarify what is next for you to create the great life you desire and to strategize about how to get there.
A Pebble Dropped In A Pond
In our day to day lives we can choose our attitude
How will we be with each other?
Will we judge, or let be, will we give empathy?
Will we choose to spread kindness to all?
And be a star, a guiding light in the night?
Like a pebble dropped in a pond
That ripples throughout the whole
Each one of us touches everyone else
With who we are, with what we say, with what we do
In our day to day lives, we can choose our way to act
How will we care for creation?
Will we use and pollute, Or honor and renew
Will we choose to spread reverence on earth
And be a star, a guiding light in the night?
© 2005 Lyrics by Diane Ingram/Music by Chris Farrell
Dear Diane,
I wish you a magical year 2014 and just wanted to congratulate you on your decision to listen to your own guidance before other “reasons”.
Great example for all of us.
Blessings to your path
Love
Gisela from Berlin
Thank you, Gisela–I’m hoping my experience inspires others! And wishing you a most magical 2014! I hope life is grand for you. Much love-Diane