Generous July!

Have you ever paused and thought about what the word "generous" actually means? I looked up the word and found a fabulous meaning: more plentiful than is usual or necessary.

WOW! Think about that. What are the times in your life when something has been "more plentiful than usual"?

Our minds can go to the obvious places of money or food, but what about the times you have had laughed more than usual, soaked up more sun than was necessary, or just relaxed longer than usual?

Those are very "generous" moments in our lives.

I invite you as you look the last week of July to pause, recognize, and be thankful for the "generous moments".

With that, let's catch up on what I've been up to this week...

Quote  “When you embrace your difference, your DNA, your look or heritage or religion or your unusual name, that’s when you start to shine.” - Bethenny Frankel

Reading

We’re coming up on the anniversary of my husband’s death and I’ve already received some calls and beautiful messages. And as so often happens when you’re thinking about something, resources about that topic pop up everywhere. This article was particularly insightful: Instead of “Sorry for Your Loss” Express Your Condolences With These Phrases.

We’ve all been there, right? A friend or colleague loses a loved one and we don’t know what to say…This thoughtfully and beautifully written article gives 5 alternatives to “sorry for your loss” and explains why they work.

(1) I’m here for you.

(2) Peace and be well.

(3) You have my heart and support.

(4) I know it’s hard.

(5) Let me help.

Believe me, these statements are sooo much better than saying you’re sorry!  One of my dearest friends who lives in another state told me to call her when I felt like crying so she could cry with me. That was a huge relief because in the depths of grief I was afraid that if I started crying, I would not be able to stop. Her offer to be there (like number 3 above) meant that she would be there to pull me out of that deep dark hole. 

“Let me help” is also much more powerful than “how can I help?” because the latter puts the burden on the person grieving to come up with ideas. The former puts you in charge and relieves the burden of yet another decision to be made. Oh, and in case it isn’t obvious: these 5 phrases work well in circumstances other than death—grief over the loss of your business, over the loss of a job, over the loss of a client. We all need to be more compassionate; this great article shows you how to do that with grace. Click here to read the article.

Following        

A Conscious Rethink (Click here to visit their website).  From their website: “It is about looking critically at the way we are currently living our lives – our thoughts, our feelings, our relationships, our desires, our successes, and our failures – and asking how we might change ourselves and the world for the better.” The site contains articles and blog posts that will inspire you and bring you clarity on issues that affect all aspects of your life. I spent a couple of hours reading and learning on the site the other day and I’m happy to share this great resource with you!

Connecting      

Connections, creativity and courage in all endeavors has been my personal motto for years.  I actually end each day thinking of (at least) 10 things that I am thankful for and those always include connections I made, something creative I’ve done or was a part of, and something courageous I did or witnessed. This always ends my day on a positive note and puts me in a space of gratitude for my many blessings and the lessons along the way. KarenSalmanshon calls these Blessons—blessings in lessons. I’ve had many of those and I am grateful!  How do you connect? And what are your most memorable blessons?

Celebrating      

I’ve been invited to be an Adjunct Professor at the University of Lisbon in Portugal.  The University of Lisbon is one of the oldest universities in Europe and enjoys a worldwide reputation for innovation and excellence. I’m going to be part of the prestigious Advanced Institute of Political and Social Sciences’ Executive Education Program. I’ll be teaching and training on the topic of Executive Association Leadership at the postgraduate level. I’m preparing a case study using Women Impacting Public Policy as an organization that represents, advocates, and leads change on behalf of women business owners at a national level. I can’t wait to meet the students and other faculty members!

So, now that we have had a "generous" helping of time and reflection together, what will you do to embrace or bestow a generous moment?

• Offer someone your time.
• Dance in the rain (it is very "generous" right now).
• Sit and reflect.

No matter what, always remember that you are surrounded by generous moments. You just have to be open to them in every shape and size.

And I would like to offer you a moment of my time. Click here to schedule a 30-minute session and let's see how we can help you embrace your generous moments.

Wishing you peace and joy,