The SURVE Experience – What's Your Destination?
Promoting the Value and Potential of People, YouThe Magic of Meaningful Coincidences
Are you aware that meaningful coincidences are occurring in your life daily? The reason for my question is that most of us are so focused on urgent tasks and busyness, we miss these remarkable happenings.
By coincidence, I am referring to an event that appears on the surface to be mere chance. And by meaningful, I am suggesting that the event is full of meaning, significance, and/or purpose.
Here is an example from a typical day in my life. Recently I was on my way to Elmo’s, a favorite breakfast spot in Carrboro, to enjoy breakfast and some down time. As I was driving, it occurred to me that I didn’t have time for a relaxing breakfast as I remembered I had a phone appointment within the hour (I wonder where that thought came from?). So I immediately reversed direction and decided to stop at Merritt’s Store & Grill for their famous BLT sandwich instead. While there, I engaged in pleasant conversation with a very nice lady who turned out to be, Robin, the owner of Merritt’s Store and Grill. Then, having sandwich in hand and paid for, Robin approached me suggesting that I meet some of the Tuesday morning regulars. As it turned out, one of the regulars was Scot Cockson.
My Meaningful Coincidence was about to become clear. Remember, it appears on the surface to be mere chance, yet has meaning and significance.
My intentions for 2012 are to be facilitating Retreats focused on my recently published bestselling book, ‘seeds of Intent’. These Retreats are best experienced in natural, quiet and comfortable settings, and I was unaware of a local facility that met those important criteria. The Aqueduct Conference Center where Scot is , the Executive Director is just such a place. He showed up just as he was supposed to. Meaningful Coincidence? What do you think?
Now think about the events and relationships in your life. Have you experienced any Meaningful Coincidences? Yes? No? How about the school you attended? Meeting the person you married? Selecting an employer that launched your career? They occur daily….
seeds of Intent Bestseller Event
We are excited about starting an event of Impact to position “seeds of Intent – Cultivating the Transformational Individual Within” to reach as many readers as possible in one day, November 8, 2011. “seeds” has been waiting to be written for over 25 years and requires the reader to actually become the writer also, as the book is written for you and ultimately by you. It was written for individuals who are experiencing change either personally or professionally or desire change in some aspect of their life. Check out our page and links on FB: http://www.facebook.com/seedsofintent or email us directly at seedsofintent@survepartners.com.
To make this not only a chance to put the tools of seeds in the hands of as many people as possible but also have a little fun, we have added a reward program and the opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to share content with this audience. If you would like details for the gift card rewards program, want to share your content with our seeds readers or would like to add value to your current clients please email me – lparrish@survepartners.com.
Thank you for listening and enjoy your journey!
Lisa
What’s Really Going on with That Annoying… – Discover the Person Behind Your Problem
“Circumstance does not make the man, it reveals him.” – James Allen
As we go through our weeks, there are always little things that happen to bring us down, upset our daily routine or cause us to grumble. Maybe the person in front of us is driving well below the speed limit or we haven’t seen our waiter in quite a while or our morning paper arrives on its own schedule. If we allow ourselves to dwell on these minor irritations, what happens each and every time? Our focus remains fixed on that unpleasant situation and the aggravation in turn grows and grows. “What you focus on grows and is where you spend your time.”
Over the past few weeks, there has been a growing murmur of displeasure in a local neighborhood due to the disappearance and misplacement of the daily paper. Previously, every morning before the sun came up the morning paper had arrived, placed squarely in the middle of the driveway and not too close to the road. All was right with the world (regarding the paper delivery at least). Approximately two weeks ago, the paper was not delivered to some and arrived at others in the wrong spot throughout the subdivision. The discussions began on the sidewalk, in the cul-de-sac, at the clubhouse…”what has happened to our paper carrier? Don’t they know we pay our bills for a service? There is certainly no service taking place recently.” Soon from those discussions began emails back and forth and calls to the Complaint department at the paper. Maybe they could have used this quote..”Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.” – Lillian Dickson
Around week 3, a letter arrived in each and every one of their mailboxes.
Hello! Allow me to apologize for any inconveniences you may have encountered in the last several weeks. All measures are being taken to ensure any issues are being resolved as quickly as possible.
On January 3rd, my sister Cyndi lost her husband, suddenly and tragically, hence her sudden departure from the route. She has small children and has given you excellent service for 3 years, and would never have left without extenuating circumstances being in play. Some have sent condolences which are much appreciated.
There were substitutes covering the route but I have now taken over and I am trying to learn the route and correct any mistakes made. I appreciate your patience during this transition. It is much easier for me to correct mistakes if you contact me directly so I have placed my contact information below. Also if you have special instructions for me, please feel free to let me know and I will do my best to comply.
I look forward to getting your route back to the excellent service you have become accustomed to in the very near future.
Can you imagine what the neighbors began to think and even feel after receiving that letter?
Our words and thoughts are powerful and have the ability to build up or tear down. The paper that didn’t arrive or arrived in the wrong spot had a person connected to it, someone with a story. Next time you get that familiar feeling of displeasure or irritation, stop and think that there is a real person involved with some aspect of your experience. If you have the opportunity, uncover their story, but if not breathe and know that “life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes a difference. -Virginia Satir
The Way We View Others
The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them. ~George Bernard Shaw
This quote that I used in our most recent weekly focus not only sparked a thought but struck a chord within me. What it reveals is actually something that I believe has reached epidemic proportions. I believe that when something comes into your life as a whisper or even possibly a silent scream that we began to see things or notice what is around in a different, clearer way.
I want to start out in a simple, hopefully humorous way to demonstrate my point. Have you ever noticed that when you go home for a holiday or some other important occasion that your great Aunt Betty still pinches your cheeks and tells you as they ask for a show of hands as to who wants what to drink that you shouldn’t have Tea because it makes you hyper. Regardless of how old you are even at this very moment, Aunt Betty sees you as the 10 year old child unable to sit still at Grandma’s house during a special meal.
To give you another funny story, when my children visit their Nana inevitably she has a present for them because she wants them to remember a visit to her house with excitement and anticipation. My daughter who is 13 still receives Dora the Explorer coloring books and clothing for a much younger child but doesn’t understand how her Nana can’t see that she has changed right in front of her.
Now this example might make you say well that is just because it’s family, that’s the only place someone doesn’t realize or accept that you are quite different than you were a few years ago. The rub here is that it actually happens more often than you admit.
The same thing happens often when someone we know decides to make a change. It could be in the career path they have been on for years, by going back to school or writing a novel ie something they have only dreamed of doing for a lifetime. The person comes to us enthusiastic about their decision, actually waiting for encouragement, a partner of sorts in this new endeavor. We begin with an incredulous what? …as if surprised. We may say, why would you want to do that or give reasons that they have it good now, why change a great thing.
Even when they begin acting differently or ask that we validate their new path, we can’t quite seem to do so. We may pull away or continue to treat them and expect them to be the same person they have always been. The person we have to expect and feel most comfortable with. I think the reason we put on our blinders is that the person experiencing transformation shines a bright light from within that actually shows ways that we need to change or beliefs that are currently working for us. The blinders allow us to ignore what is right in front of our face and continue to hold onto the familiar relationship with have with our newly changed friend or family member.
I suggest that we each remove our blinders and take a moment to notice the transformed individual’s journey maybe even struggle, their newfound impact and how we can partner with them to take the steps down our personal path toward healthy changes and a life well-lived.
