The Art & Act of Life – Work Flourishing
Now, more than ever there is need to develop resilience in the workplace. With jobs becoming transient, career-paths creative, and employees on the move, workplaces are less predictable than ever. Today’s manager may become tomorrow’s competitor. Today’s contract may become tomorrow’s liability.
When you are hit with misfortune, how do you respond? Do you tend to fall apart or do you rebound from it? Have you ever wondered if you have this essential trait called resilience?
“Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, or stress. It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences…..It is ordinary, not extraordinary…..It is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.” The American Psychological Association.
Shaun White reclaimed his Olympic title winning his third gold medal in men’s halfpipe in the Winter Games 2018 at Pyeongchang. Having won gold medals in 2006 at Turin, in 2010 at Vancouver, he missed the mark in 2014 at Sochi, coming in 4th place. He applied himself painstakingly to the task of reclaiming his title. He had accidents during practice in New Zealand last year sustaining severe injuries and the last one splitting his face open requiring 62 stitches! Yet, he persevered. He has a passion for snowboarding and he had his sights set on the gold. “Honestly I just felt it inside that I had it..……I knew I had it, but I still had to do it,” Shaun White said in an interview. What would you call that combination of passion and perseverance to achieve your goals?
How do you grow and tend Gratitude?
LIFE AREAS
PHYSICAL | EMOTIONAL | INTELLECTUAL | SPIRITUAL | SOCIAL | FAMILY |
WORK | FINANCIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME/OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | OVERALL
Have you ever squeezed an orange such that a burst of citrusy sweetness squirted right into your face? Do you recall the squeal of glee and laughter that ensued? That is what a new surge of learning does to us. It delights and energizes us. Love of learning is a gift that has been handed to us that never tarnishes, fades or diminishes. Its luster is everlasting that we can but polish and brighten.
LIFE AREAS
PHYSICAL | EMOTIONAL | INTELLECTUAL | SPIRITUAL | SOCIAL | FAMILY |
WORK | FINANCIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME/OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | OVERALL
It was a cool, misty October morning in Atlanta. I was in the waiting area of an auto body repair shop. A woman who appeared to be in her 60’s asked to change the TV channel to news. As a detergent commercial came on, she settled back in her seat and beamed. “I love the smell of detergent” she announced cheerfully to no one in particular in a room ironically filled with a greasy odor. That was the start of a friendly chat between her and me. She declared with notable pride, “I do laundry. I go to people’s homes to wash, fold and iron their clothes. I am very clear: I don’t do housekeeping, clean, cook, baby sit or dog sit. I only do laundry.”
LIFE AREAS
PHYSICAL | EMOTIONAL | INTELLECTUAL | SPIRITUAL | SOCIAL | FAMILY |
WORK | FINANCIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME/OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | OVERALL
Sitting outside Gate C at Tampa International airport offered a kaleidoscope of rich emotions of people passing by. Apprehensive travelers rushed to find their way to airsides or baggage claim. An elderly gentleman and his wife looking purposeful navigated their way gently leading each other. Two animated friends chatted freely as they maneuvered their way with ease and poise.
LIFE AREAS
PHYSICAL | EMOTIONAL | INTELLECTUAL | SPIRITUAL | SOCIAL | FAMILY |
WORK | FINANCIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME/OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | OVERALL
Have you ever wondered why people start their day with a comment on how they slept the night before? “You will not believe the dream I had”, “I did not sleep a wink”, “I slept like a baby”, “Why are you so chirpy this morning?”, “I got sea sick from your tossing and turning in bed”, “I was dead to the world”, “The roar of your snoring kept me up”, “A kingdom for a good night’s sleep!” It is all with good reason.
LIFE AREAS
PHYSICAL | EMOTIONAL | INTELLECTUAL | SPIRITUAL | SOCIAL | FAMILY |
WORK | FINANCIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME/OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | OVERALL
Many people start off sheepishly with, “Oh, I think I eat fairly well.” Pause. “Come to think of it, I tend to snack on junk food more often than I should.” And so the story unfolds of the eating habits of more of us than we’d like to admit. Food tends to be a very sensitive topic that people are less forthcoming about than even let’s say personal hygiene. Who wants to announce how many blue chips were quickly devoured on the way out the door, or the Snicker’s bar that was smoothly purchased at the gas station?
LIFE AREAS
PHYSICAL | EMOTIONAL | INTELLECTUAL | SPIRITUAL | SOCIAL | FAMILY |
WORK | FINANCIAL | RECREATIONAL | HOME/OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | OVERALL
I asked a woman in her 20’s what exercise meant to her. She quickly fired off the obvious medical benefits of physical exercise, then added, “Improve endurance, strength, health and speed,” before pausing, grinning broadly and declaring, “And it’s fun!” She identified activities that are truly enjoyable to her and quickly realized she could engage in these more often than previously imagined. That is the crux of it: figuring out the meaning of physical exercise for each of us. In the flash of an eye it becomes much more attractive to us, ergo, more achievable. We are motivated to engage in physical exercise once we acknowledge its value to us, personally.