Today’s Challenge …..Hold the mirror up.
Always do your best…….listen so you can hear. It is human nature to sometimes defend, ignore, or disagree with something we don’t want to hear. But if we always do it; that’s a sign, one that suggests our ego is making all the decisions in the kingdom. Sadly, once ego takes over we do not have the capacity to hold the mirror up and see our own opportunities for improvement and growth. We don’t know how or when to get out of our own way. So the experience for others is one of being judged and challenged by our ego. An ego that challenges the integrity and intelligence of those around us. Then the spot light is on everyone else but us. Giving feedback to an individual whose ego is out of control is like walking through a mine field of communications. They cannot hear that truth….and so they come out swinging.
When we become angry when someone gives us feedback, it is a sign of what needs to be healed. Our inability to hear what is being said, is hiding a pain body from our past. In childhood, perhaps you were always caught doing things wrong. Or, maybe it was unacceptable to make mistakes. Or perhaps your ego is so large you simply cannot see how others experience you. Either way it affects our personal brand when we walk through our lives without awareness. So take some time to today, to hold the mirror up. Imagine what it is like to be in a room with you. Think about how you leave people. Is it better than you found them? Ego will tell you to send a shot across the bow……mindfulness will always teach you to leave people better than you found them. Because everyone is attracted to a kind and generous mind.
Iyanla Vanzant said “People who are afraid to hear the truth, make up the truth the way they think it should be. There are some people who can only hear what they want to hear. It is, however, extremely hard on the people who are trying to communicate with them. People who hear what they want to hear usually miss the point, and misinterpret the meaning. People who hear what they want to hear can feel accused, degraded or criticized regardless of what is said. They are extremely defensive which makes it difficult to talk to them, even about important things. Just for today, practice not adding meanings or diminishing the value of what is said to you based on who is saying it.”
By Lisa Scott ~ Executive Life Coach