May 2019 Presence

Welcome to the Dare to Blossom Newsletter

Reflections: Presence
Interview: with Jo Dodds, on the Power to Live More Podcast
Book recommendations
Events and ways to Dare to Blossom

Reflections: Presence

Being present, being in the moment, simply being - these are all ways in which I focus in order to feel I am truly connecting with my life, and with the people around me in each moment. As the saying goes, the past has gone, the future may never come, all we have is this, this moment.

In a recent coaching session with Amy Palko, part of the conversation was about purpose. I work with this concept with many of my own coaching clients, and with people in the groups I support. I often say, to them and to myself, what if my purpose is simply to be, to be me?

Amy suggested looking at purpose as 'presence'. Reflecting on this, a memory returned from when I was young. At one time I somehow believed that when I was not physically visible to people they would forget me. Maybe many children experience this? Maybe that is part of what 'attention-seeking' could be about, a need to be seen, to be reassured they are not forgotten by their parents?

I think I soon learned that my parents wouldn't forget me, yet the feeling persisted later in life, when I would be surprised when someone I had met once remembered me. As an illustration of how the opposite can be true, last year I was told by an ex-colleague that she found it hard to believe we hadn't seen each other for two years, 'when you seem such a strong presence.' That comment had a big impact on me, helping me to realise that my actions, my words, and simply being myself, can all have ripple effects that I will usually never know.

On a different, but relevant theme, marketing advice speaks of presence, as in 'social media presence'. In business terms I find this hard to judge, am I bombarding people with information or messages? Do my offerings slip from your mind in the plethora of other good things you may be presented with every day? And, how does this sort of presence translate into generating an income that will allow me to keep on supporting others?

Returning from these musings to the thought of my purpose being presence - the image of a lighthouse comes into my mind. Such a powerful metaphor, one that naturally arises often in coaching calls. A lighthouse doesn't run around the island trying to help everyone in many different ways. It's purpose is simply to be present, to be visible, to shine it's light to guide seafarers away from the danger of the rocks it stands on. To be consistent. To be reliable.



This is Trevose Head Lighthouse, on the North Cornwall coast, near where I live. The photo was taken on Easter Monday when I set out early and went for a long walk from the National Trust car park here at the headland to Treyarnon Bay and back. As many of you know, I love walking the cliffs and in the countryside. Walking to me is a type of meditation, when I am by myself, and sometimes with others when we walk in companionable silence.

The same week I took a walk in the bluebell woods, along the River Fowey from Respryn Bridge and up into the woods on the Lanhydrock estate.



I felt immersed in that glorious blue of the flowers, almost purple when they are 'en mass' like this And, individually they are stunning as well

.

For you, some suggestions for your meditations or journal:
- what does 'presence' mean to you?.
- how are you able to be present in your life, in each moment?.

Interview: with Jo Dodds, on the Power to Live More Podcast
I recently enjoyed a conversation with Jo Dodds, of The Power to Live More, here is a link to the podcast, on the theme of listening to our inner selves (what I call our inner wisdom)Book recommendations
I have two books to recommend this month, after not doing this for a while. If you would like to offer a review of a book you have enjoyed to be featured here, I would love to hear from you.

Nick Williams: Be Inspired. Be Inspiring. Be Yourself. Your power to draw the best out of yourself and others.

I have read many of Nick's books, beginning with his first (The Work You Were Born to Do) many years ago. His latest (the 16th, I think) is readable and full of thought-provoking ideas and practical exercises. I am just finishing my first read through, and my copy is festooned with bookmarks showing passages I intend to return to and work on in my journal. I am not yet ready to write a review as such, I can simply highly recommend this if it appeals to you. You can find out much more about the book and download a sample chapter on Nick's website here, where you can also order a copy direct.

Rose Diamond: Whole Mind - Whole World. The power of Wise Choices Creating a Future that Works for All

This book is published on Amazon on 1st May, as a Kindle e-book, and for the first ten days it will be available at 99p. Later it will be available in printed format. I can't send you a link as it hasn't been published yet. Here is the review I have written after reading a preview copy as one of the 'launch team' supporting Rose. I am looking forward to reading a print version as I always enjoy that more than reading on the screen, convenient as that can be.

"This is a book full of impact and of insights for the reader. For me, that means it takes a while to read as I like to pause and reflect. The author encourages this, offering many prompts for ‘inquiry’ throughout the book. Her own story – an extraordinary one of inner and outer journeys – is interwoven with conversations with others, and with teaching to help the reader benefit from her discoveries."


Events and ways to Dare to Blossom

Dare to Blossom Mastermind Group June The flow through the year following the Compass Rose brings us to the East pointing petal of the Power Flower in June. In the words of the poem: "From the East comes the rising sun: passion, potential."



There are three spaces not yet taken, maybe one of them is for you? It matters not at all where in the year you join the process for the first time, or even if you drop in for one Circle and come back later whenever you feel the time is again right for you. Contact me if you would like to know more. There is also a free taster call on Zoom at 10.00 am (UK time) on Friday 10th May - again contact me for details of that if you would like to join us and experience the gently powerful process for yourself before you decide. If you are a Facebook person you can link to the event here.
One-to-one coaching : I currently have spaces for four new clients. Whether you have worked with me before or not, you are very welcome to book a complimentary consultation to chat about what your aim would be for enrolling in one of my coaching programmes and how we can make it work for you. Please ask if the regular price is not within your budget right now. I am well aware that just when people would most benefit from coaching may be when they can least afford it. And, it is also true that unless people are committed to investing in themselves: in time, and in money, then maybe that true change they desire may never happen.

Three Card Listenings These are continuing to be popular with people who want a snapshot of insight for themselves. 

Cornwall Workshops: The next event is on Saturday 11th May, from 10 am to 1 pm. This time we will be exploring Passion.

Root and Branch Listenings are available at any time as a one-off, or as a quarterly 'Four Seasons' subscription. If you choose to subscribe,  you will receive your personal Listening four times a year. The next issue will be in June for the Summer Solstice, or you can still book a spring Listening now.



Point of Focus Membership: if you prefer a monthly timescale with Dare to Blossom Cards drawn for you to reflect upon, with the option of adding on one-to-one coaching calls with me, the Point of Focus subscription may be for you. Some people find subscribing to these and the 'Root and Branch Listenings' together a valuable source of support.

Thank you dear friends for visiting with me again this month and sharing my musings.

Until next time,

with love,
Mary

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