A New Journey in Learning – Please Join Me!

Luanne PaynickPosted by Luanne Paynick on February 1st, 2010 | 0 Comments

In January of 2009, as you know, the bottom fell out of the financial world, as we knew it. And, I must say, I felt just a bit of anxiety about that. (Ok – I was scared out of my mind!) I found myself wondering just what I would do to take care of my family and myself if VoicePro® went away.

Well, fast-forward to 2010, and I must say things are more than “Ok.” We have survived the storm, and have explored new opportunities in ways I never thought we could. But, I digress. Back to January and February of 2009. I found myself asking, “Just what will my next steps be in my career?” It was a question that popped up over and over again in the dark of the night – awakening me and keeping me awake. So, being who I am, I hired a coach – Jim Smith as a matter of fact. And he, with tremendous skill and insight, helped me figure out my next steps – steps that would work for me and for VoicePro®.

One of the very big steps I decided to take was to sign up for the Newfield Coaching Training program, with the end goal having the Newfield and International Coach Federation certification. I am just beginning the pre-course learning that the Newfield Coach Training has offered me. I am so excited to stretch my boundaries and see the world through new lenses. And, with your permission I would love to take you along for the ride (so to speak). My world will be even richer if, through the sharing of my “aha” moments, you can benefit too.

 I have read my first “paper” and I am in the process of dissecting and analyzing it. I must say, that though I am not thinking, “Wow, that’s new. I never heard that before!” I am thinking, “Isn’t that concept framed in a new and interesting way?” And, “How might I apply this in my life – right now?”

 For example. According to Humberto Maturana, “Everything we say in relation to what we observe (the world) reveals the kind of observer we are.” As soon as I read this quote, I wanted to step outside myself and listen for the words that reveal just how I am observing my world. 

  • Am I the distrustful person who states, “I’ll never be able to do this.”
  • Am I the person who says, “Learning this is hard for me,” thus opening up to the possibilities at hand?
  • Or am I the person who invites the assistance others can offer with a comment like, “I need help doing this.”

 It is exciting to me to know that my reaction to the world, the words I choose to define the experience or situation, will determine the possibilities for the actions I will take. I certainly see how our participants experience this reality in our programs. How they define their learning experience most definitely determines the actions they take within the program, and even more importantly the results they gain upon completion. For some reason, I haven’t really sat back and thought about the magnitude of this concept, and it’s impact on my world outside the classroom. I believe it’s time for me to pay more attention to the language I am using and what it says about me, and the actions I take that define my life.

So, I invite you to join me by doing the following:

  • Become an observer of YOU! Pay attention as you interact with others.
  • Listen to how you define the challenges facing you – personally or in the work place.
  • What does your language have to say about how you approach your world?
  • What kind of impact is it having on your outcomes?
  • If you were to define it (speak about it) differently, would you get a different outcome?

 Let me know what you find out. I’d love to hear!

Image by http://www.flickr.com/photos/dexxus/2532351811/

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