Brad Isaacs and I offered 20 men and women an Invitation to Get Real this past Saturday at the Fairfield Library. We promised to give them an experience and, boy, did we!
I outlined in the opening of the program that we would take them through a process to reality that follows a format I learned many years ago when I began my journey towards self-improvement–letting go of things that kept me from being fully alive: cigarettes, caffeine, sugar, etc. Here’s the formula I learned and have appreciated ever since:
First it gets BETTER, then it gets WORSE, then it gets DIFFERENT, then it gets REAL.
On Saturay:
- First it got BETTER
- Then it got WORSE
- Then it got DIFFERENT
- Then it got MUCH DIFFERENT
- Then it got MUCH WORSE
- Then it got REALLY DIFFERENT
- Then it got REAL
- Then it got MUCH BETTER
That is to say, many unpredictable things happened during the workshop that were very real and created a lot of disturbance. Brad and I used all of our leadership skills to steer the event and keep it a safe space for everyone there. Every voice got heard as we worked through what had happened.
Allowing every member who chose to speak that opportunity, profound changes happened for all of us, including Brad and myself. As I said at the outset of yesterday’s session, “What I want in my life is REAL, no masks, no phoniness.” I got to have that in spades on Saturday and know that it helped others develop the appetite for it as well.
(The photo was taken at my Leadership course in California where we did high ropes work–40′ up in the air–which helped prepare us for these kinds of challenges.)
Jane,
I feel we are all there now. And you know what? As long as we don’t idle too long (it’s ok to be in observation mode for awhile) and we are open to change, then that is ok. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter where you started from or where you are going. What matters is–you have allowed yourself to go there, in your own time and space, and it’s all about being positive. I can tell you I am going thru your stages with my girlfriends–and my boyfriend–and whom ever is there at the end of it all–is who should be here and alive in my life. I need topost his to you Jane for whom this would not have happened…..
Hi Jill,
Thanks again for everything!!!!! It was wonderful to meet you both! You have my permission to use the pics of Sooner and I for your website! We would be honored! We are successfully a team as of last Wednesday. We will be at the June graduation! We went to the Newington Veterans Hospital today for the first time as a team and we were a hit. He did awesome! It is absolutely wonderful what you and your organization have done for me. Without your help we wouldn’t be the team we are! So many, many thanks again! I am so greatful! We’ll keep you posted. See you in June.
Alexis and Sooner
PS thanks for the pics….they were great!
PS Jane–I couldn’t have done this with out you–can I call you to express my feeling real time at some point???
Jill
@Jill
I appreciate your comments. Yes, I’d love to talk in real time.