22.12.2021

Shades of Grey | Weird | Rest

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy and positive impact
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

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WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

Shades of Grey

I’ve never read “50 Shades of Grey”, and while I do love its title - highlighting that there are many shades of grey, I would argue that there are far more than just 50 shades.

We’ve had several weeks of media and public debate about dubious Christmas parties held by UK politicians, angst about the vaccine passports, mask wearing and other issues associated with the Omicron variant of Covid-19. It struck me that these are yet more divisive topics - pushing people to extreme views. It isn’t just politics that causes people to be ‘red team or blue team’, ‘left or right’, ‘rich or poor’ and ‘us or them’; we see divisive behaviour in sport, societies, in the work place, in discrimination, religion, families and possibly in the worst case - on social media.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good debate, but that isn’t what is happening. The extreme views and opinions are so far away from each other that the wonderful shades of grey in the middle - the place where we can be compassionate, kind and understanding - are alien to most people. Most things belong in the middle somewhere, not OR but AND and not WRONG or RIGHT but UNDERSTANDING. We need to let go…of judgement, bias, the need to be ‘better than’, defending and attacking, status and power and focus on kindness and coming together in the many shades of grey that exist if only we choose to move towards each other and not away.

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or positive energy; a stand-out word / s

Weird

There have been a number of times this year where I’ve heard things such as: “what a weird world we’re in” or “what a weird time it is”. That led me to wonder about the origin and etymology of the word WEIRD.

We think of it as meaning something strange or that isn’t what’s expected. However, the word actually originates from Old English WYRD meaning: "fate, chance, fortune; destiny; the Fates", literally "that which comes".

The world is weird in that what comes was destined as a consequence of things that have gone before - for example, a pandemic doesn’t just happen from nothing.

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

Rest

It’s a simple word and meaning and yet very difficult to put into practice. The word REST stems from Old Norse ROST meaning: "league, distance after which one rests". Rest is a vital part of a journey - and each day, year and life is a journey requiring us to stop every so often. Many of us will have at least a little time off over the festive break, so I encourage you to truly rest - as much as possible.

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“What have you learned this year?”

This week’s question is based on LEAPS - what have you learned this year? It could be anything. It would be even better if you wrote the question down and kept adding things as you reflect over the past 12 months.

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

The Strictly Come Dancing - Firsts

In the UK last weekend, 11million people tuned in to watch the final of Strictly Come Dancing. I discovered that the original show was Come Dancing - a British ballroom dancing competition show that ran on and off on the BBC from 1949 to 1998. Unlike the follow-up show, Strictly Come Dancing, contestants were not celebrities.

I didn’t ever watch the original show but have loved Strictly (as we all refer to it) for years. There’s something magical about the glitz and glamour, costumes, music and dance…but this year’s final was different and took my love of it to a whole new level. There should have been 3 celebrity finalists, but unfortunately one had to withdraw due to injury at the last minute. The two remaining contestants were both ‘firsts’ for the show: Rose Ayling-Ellis (a soap opera actress) with partner Giovanni Pernice, and John Whaite (celebrity baker) and partner Johannes Radebe.

Rose was the first deaf contestant on the show, and John - along with dance partner Johannes - were the show’s first male same-sex pairing. Throughout the show both of these amazing amateur dancers were able to shine a light on the issues close to their heart - the challenges and discrimination - while also showing how to not be held back by them. They didn’t appear as victims but as courageous individuals representing sections of our society that need more understanding (see my Learn!).

Rose took the title having shown jaw-dropping moments, such as her dance in silence to expose what it’s like for deaf people. I would have been happy with John or Rose winning - knowing that both were absolute winners already because as viewers, we were swept up in their dancing and the emotion rather than seeing a deaf lady or gay man.

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week I’m recommending the third book in a series from Austin Kleon: Keep Going. A great little book with strategies for resilience and motivation.

Click the button below to access a free download for the visual synopsis.

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Order Your Deliberate Year Calendar & Logbook Set

The Calendar and Logbook feature 12 books - and the visual synopses that have been created for each - including:

1. Courage is Calling - Ryan Holiday

2. The Genius Zone - Gay Hendricks

3. Never Split The Difference - Chris Voss & Tahl Raz

4. What Happened To You? - Oprah Winfrey & Dr Bruce Perry

5. Atlas Of The Heart - Brene Brown

6. The Gap and The Gain - Dan Sullivan & Dr Ben Hardy

7. The Comfort Book - Matt Haig

8. Limitless - Jim Kwik

9. Stronger Through Adversity - Joseph Michelli

10. The Everyday Hero - Robin Sharma

11. X: The Experience When Business Meets Design - Brian Solis

12. Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?