Elizabeth Tull is a Professional Excellence Coach who lives with her two children outside of Atlanta Ga. www.agapelegacycoach.com A client of mine told me of a post recently by a woman who feels professional coaching is teaching New Age philosophy and that we promote thinking outside-the-box. She feels that way of thinking is not an encouraging idea to promote because it is unrealistic and a waste of time for people who want to live successfully in todays society. I had to laugh. She posted on a 12 Step chat room! Where would she have posted if Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob and Microsoft had NOT thought outside the box? My answer to this woman is: I dont know much about Mew Age but cheers, high five and AMEN for any encouragement and current day success stories that promote outside-the-box thinking! Thank you Bill Gates and Christopher Reeve to name two practical and easily recognizable outside-the-box thinkers that have lived outside the lines of normal and reasonable thinking. How about some older examples? Jesus Christ, Galileo, The Pilgrims, ancient Greek democracy and philosophy, early American colonists, The Beatles and most recently stem cell research which brought Americans out to the polls in record numbers this election? Talk about your catalysts! The treasure that I have found my way back home to is personal greatness. In my experience, living and internalizing personal greatness means not always being comfortable, reasonable and realistic according to todays society. That living-in-the-minute and having real freedom, full self-expression, creativity, innovation, excitement and joy is the result of saying yes to challenges, people or my own voices that point out it may be hard or it wont be easy as well as using my outside-the-box thinking and understanding that I might feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, stretched or just plain tired at times. Thats not an extravagant price to pay for freedom and excitement in my book. Laugh in the face of danger I say! Run with the Bulls! Swim with the sharks! Surf the pipeline!! (Well, not really unless you have great health insurance). I am not promoting unsafe measures, rush of adrenaline living or fantasy. I have had a re-awakening to a tool that I hold, live and learn by in which my highest self is captured, inspired and triggered: Doing the unthinkable, being unreasonable and living outside the lines. What is reasonable and unreasonable anyway? Tell Cro-Magnon man that weve put a man on the moon and hes left in bewilderment speaking as if we are Gods. Share the same thing with Galileo and he wants velocities and time factors. I took a powerful seminar a few years back called The Landmark Forum, www.landmarkeducation.com in which they defined it for me: Being reasonable: honoring the reasons why I cant. As I honestly look at my life, I can recall memories or experiences from childhood up through today in which my disappointment, fear, frustration or doubt was re-invented into an awesome feeling of pride, victory and accomplishment. The times when Id either thought or were told that I could NEVER pull it off. It was impossible, too hard, unrealistic, selfish or great for others, but not for me. I have heard those reasons my whole life, though as a child I wasnt listening. I was unreasonable. I was too busy discovering and inventing ways to make it work. My attitude back then was, Watch me. I didnt comprehend the words: No I/you cant Its a waste of time No one has ever pulled that off Youll get hurt Thats impossible What will people think? So why is it that at 39, I am only just rediscovering that part of the power in personal greatness that is being willing and intentional in taking on hard, difficult or risky projects? Where does that undefeatable kid spirit go? What happens to some of us as we reach numerical adulthood in which not only do we hear the you can'ts, the youll fails and the its a waste of times, but we buy into it hook, line and sinker? That only being cooperative and socially reasonable is what makes you a successful member of society? (Successful to them maybe, but how fulfilled are you?) Could these messages come from the media, our parents, peers, society, co-workers, religion, living in our own mistakes, or this one: Act like an adult. Some, like myself, buy into the smear campaign unintentionally sent out by those looking to protect us and keep us safe and a few, perhaps, even out to keep us small. Today, I am an adult. Today, I am fully responsible for family AND I am once again a risk-taker and visionary reaching for glorious heights and thriving from Higher Purpose Living. I am once again rolling up my sleeves and saying So what? or Yes it will to challenging or difficult opportunities. Today, I am unrealistic and unreasonable as far as societys definitions and my own self-imposed restrictions. Today, I love living outside the lines and thinking outside-the-box. Once again, I am an explorer. Today, I understand that the personal heights I achieve are directly proportional to the whats, hows and whys in creating my life. The larger my goals or vision, the larger the call to action. I dont need results or outcomes to turn out the way I envisioned them anymore--its all in the climb, knowing when to surrender and when to ask for support from others. So for you reader, I wish you extraordinary challenges, glorious heights, unreasonable opportunities and life outside-the-lines. When you hear It might be hard, reply with, So? Whats your point? Live Gloriously,
Elizabeth Tull www.agapelegacycoach.com
Elizabeth@agapelegacycoach.com |
