When was the last time you leaned up against a tree and reached up to grab a branch simply noticing the texture of it, swaying to whatever melody was in your head? Feeling your weight moving downward, gently stretching your shoulder and knowing the branch will hold you.
When was the last time you enjoyed a beverage, whichever is your favorite, thinking of nothing and not compelled to “move on” or “get going”? Forgetting about time and not realizing how long it took to get to the bottom, and not caring.
When was the last time you felt the cool waters of a lake, a river, or an ocean, all over your body? Then laid on the warm rocks, sand, or grass and simply listened to the living world around you. A passing prop plane, the distant hum of a highway, murmuring voices or the simple rustle of the water landing on the shoreline. Feeling the changing breeze on your skin. Faster, slower, then purely calm. The sounds, with the breeze, rocking you into a mindful presence. Realizing that your participation IS this.
When was the last time you felt your core purpose play out right here and now? Just being a witness to it with all senses in union. To exist near it, in it, with it. When was the last time you felt the speed of life? Noticing you’ve surrendered to its pace without conscious, but pure intention? Feeling it more as a vibration, a pulse, and not a line of time. Not needing to summon the past or solve the future because it’s all right here, right now, with you in this living stillness.
You remember that this pause reveals your true location and the doubts, fears, and judgements just kept going, unable to stop and stay with you. It became clear you have the power to separate from the tethers that isolate you from this moment. This timeless moment that delivers your opportunity to be a co-creator in this unfolding life.
When was the last time you caught yourself just being? Being the you that has power over who you are and how you influence the world. The one and only you that belongs here fully in purpose with the universe.
Being present is not only a way to experience and model wellness but it is also the path to having power over the results in all of your roles. The present, purposeful and powerful you!
John O’Brien, the founder of Renaissance Leadership and Princeton grad has spent his life learning from amazing leaders. One of them is Pete Carril. Pete is one of the most successful leaders in history. He coached the Princeton University men’s basketball team from 1967 to 1997. Coach Carill was known for upsetting teams that are bigger, faster and more athletically talented. John once asked Pete how he achieves this. Pete didn’t hesitate and simply said, “I get the most from my players.” When John probed further, Pete said, “I get them to be doing what they’re doing while they’re doing it.” John chuckled and asked Pete to expand. Pete continued, “think about it, if you can get five guys being together in each moment, being only and fully immersed in the present moment’s purpose, you can beat anyone.”
John was very inspired by Pete’s approach and incorporated this notion into the foundation of Renaissance’s program. After 40 years of serving top organizational leaders with meaningful action learning, this Renaissance Leadership principle has uncovered a simple truth. The difference between an average leader and an exceptional one is how often they are in the moment that matters most. Which one is this? The one that you can feel. The one that requires your eyes, ears, sense of touch, and intuition.
John always had a way with words so his clients can snap back into the present. He always took it a step further and wanted the client to uncover what gets in the way of being present. In other words, “what inhibits your potential to affect outcomes?” This exploration is for another moment, but one of John’s famous quotes points us in the right direction: “Sometimes we need to lose our minds, in order to come to our senses!”
Great Road Leadership has exclusively adopted the Renaissance Leadership Team and Leadership development offering. We are building upon 40 years of success through action learning that delivers lasting bottom line results and helps sustain positive victorious cultures.