My World Turned Upside Down

Author Wayne Muller and me 
at his book signing

I heard a fascinating speaker this week that turned my world upside down -- in a very good way. His name is Wayne Muller. His new book is called A Life of Being, Having and Doing Enough. Doesn't the title alone make you want to let out a big sigh of relief?

The Discovery 
Wayne has spent decades working with people from all over the world: All income levels. All ages. All types of leaders. He's discovering that for the most part they "feel overwhelmed, and what is required of them transcends any realistic human scale or possibility...nothing ever feels like enough...the shear pace and volume of their lives seems to corrode whatever joy, wonder, nourishment or delight they may find in simply doing their best."
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The Quote That Stopped Me In My Tracks
Wayne writes, "To relentlessly force the tender wisdom, thoughtful reflection, and perceptive honesty of the human heart to conform to the ridiculously impossible, inhuman speed of the world, to its ever-increasing mind-driven technologies, is to cause violence to our most precious and valuable treasure -- the necessary guidance of the human heart. "

The gifts of the human heart require slowing the mind down and being present. A life without a deep connection to the wisdom of the heart is shallow and consuming.

The Mind Can't Find Joy
I learned so much about presence while watching Pope Francis on his recent visit to the United States. He is a leader who practices presence. If you watch him, you'll see that he connects with each moment and each situation exactly as it is occurring. The world can feel it. We can see it in his eyes. His growing popularity is a testament to the longing we have for a heart connection with someone who isn't letting their mind rob them of present-moment joy.​

​Unplugged and Plugging In
Recently I spent five days at a leadership retreat in Dillon Bay, California. I'm part of a group of five women and five men who meet every fall for renewal, learning and community. This was retreat 18. We're family now.

I unplugged from my technology devices because I was clear this was a time of renewal for me. I didn't check e-mail once while I was out of the office. What a relief! And guess what? Everything got handled without me.

My leadership group

The beauty of Dillon Beach, California

On the Beach
I spent a couple hours every day walking the beach, being in nature, watching the sea gulls and the dogs folic and play. The dogs brought such unbridled joy with them and they were so carefree and happy. I decided right then and there that I was going to find a way to get more of that into my life. 

In those hours walking the beach, I realized that joy doesn't start out there. It starts in here -- inside of me. 
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True Guidance
The mind is fast. The heart needs time. I'm consistently calming my ever-churning mind of the relentless chatter of getting things done or not-good-enough judgments. What I'm discovering is that I can hear the voice of my heart when I take moments to listen throughout the day. In a meeting or on the phone, I'm learning how to check inside for guidance and wisdom about what is or is not mine to do.

So far, I'm noticing a level of joy that has been absent for quite some time. Things are feeling easier. I'm happier. There's more internal contentment and satisfaction no matter what is going on externally. It's exquisite.

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​Wayne understands this as evident by his quote:
"What (our children) long for most is a single moment of shared presence -- to offer us what they have found, what they have seen -- something only shared when they feel held by our undistracted, unhurried time and attention."
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Aren't we all children at heart? Don't we all deserve the presence only the heart can give?

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​Have a great week!