Sea Change Council Blog: Find Your Voice

Sea Change Council

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Coaching E-Med: 008

WEEK 08: Find Your Voice

Everyone is different. In fact, every thing is different. There are no two things that are the same. And just as every atom or snowflake is unique, so is every human. We each have our own unique chemical make-up; our own specific genetic traits and individualized ancestries, our own environmental stimuli and lifestyle choices and each of these factors has shaped and molded us into who we are today. And we are all necessary. YOU are necessary! Your actions count and your voice matters.

One of the basic tenements of Successful Living is given to us by Socrates:

Gnothi Seauton or “Know Thyself “

And one of the most rewarding challenges on our journey through self-discovery is finding our own voice: Learning to trust our own instincts and listening to our own inner guidance system. Learning to rely on the input of others but guided solely by our own discretion. In other words learning to take advice but not orders for how to live our lives, and taking complete responsibility for our actions and their consequences. That’s what “Successful Living” is all about!

So if I may be so bold as to use my voice and offer up a little advice, or that same rewarding challenge, that I was given many years ago… (that I’m still working on today)

And that challenge is: To Find Your Voice and use it: to discover your own unique gifts, talents and reasons for being here and then to share them with the world.

I believe that every single one of us has a very real reason or definite purpose for being here, and even more specifically, at this particular time and place. And only you can deliver the message that is you. Perhaps you choose to come or you were called into being at this point because you are exactly what the world requires. Perhaps you are the “John Conner” of your future and you do matter.

Perhaps your contribution to the planet is as vital to the process as any. No matter how large or small that contribution may seem to you in this moment. I mean every snowflake matters...it might be a specific one that causes an avalanche but it couldn’t have done its “ground breaking” work with out all the others.

After all, aren’t we all just basically chemical reactions manifesting within a quantum soup of unbridled potentiality.

Who’s to say which of those reactions is more important than the other. I suggest they are all equally important. That we are all equally important as human beings, and that all living beings are equally as important to each other. In fact, in my opinion All Life is equally as important. I also suggest that it takes each of these chemical reactions to raise up a subject like a Steve Jobs or a Leonardo Da Vinci.

Men (and women) like these are held up as models of excellence in human achievement, and rightly so, and while it appears on the surface that their contribution to the planet is far greater than any of the countless millions that have fallen along the way side or amounted to “nothing” by the end of their journey.(“*”in current cultural terms). I’m not alone in suggesting that the advances and gifts, that these individuals offered the world, were predicated by all that have come before.

As Sir Isaac said:

If I’ve seen further than others it’s because I’ve stood on the shoulders of Giants

~ Sir Isaac Newton

Those Giants were standing on the combined history of all mankind…as are you.

Recently I was working with a client and they were discussing how insignificant they felt at times in the grand scheme of things. I mean if you really think about it we are just a small group of miniscule little organisms, living on a tiny speck of dirt, spinning around in a vast sea of space, inside a dynamic universe, floating in an ever expanding quantum soup of limitless possibilities.

And yet, here you are. Alive and able to adapt and respond to your universe. Able to think and feel and reason and wonder. Able to create and dream and imagine and inspire. You have come to be here at this time and place….Do you ever wonder why?

I think it’s quite healthy to think about such things and to look at life from this perspective at times. It can certainly take the sting out of a lot of minor issues when used as a tool to keep life in perspective. I also find it useful and perhaps even necessary for Successful Living to be able to adopt varied perspectives including one more reflective of the monistic side of our nature – or our “oneness” and connection with all things and our interdependence to each other and our world.

I believe we are all connected and what we do to ourselves we do to others. And by that logic we are also quite relevant, what we do and how we act is vitally important – BECAUSE it also affects others.

You have an impact. Your actions can make a big difference and you are influencing (and hopefully inspiring) others with every step you take…whether you know it or not.

Another key note here is to make sure your using your own voice and not just mimicking others. You came into the world as an original, don’t die as a carbon copy. Express yourself – follow your heart - say what you mean – be honest – stand up for what you believe in – no one else can offer exactly what you have to offer so the next time you have the opportunity to do so….speak up – get up – stand up - stand up for your rights – ja” - oops I digress… ;)

Remember, all that evil needs to triumph is for good people to be silent or do nothing.

Don’t let that be you.

This Week’s Coach’s Challenge:

Find Your Voice. Use it.

PS….The world needs you NOW, not when you’re perfect ;)