Deep Conversations | Integrity | Presence
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: an energy (good or bad) word and it’s meaning
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge
LEARN
Something Worth Sharing
Deep Conversations
What’s the last message you exchanged with your partner, child or other loved one? Is it real, deep, feeling-based communication, or perhaps more of a transactional message to give or receive information?
Of course, there is a time and place for passing information back and forth - how else would we know what time to meet someone? However, with technology and the fast-pace of life, we tend to allow our communication to default to being just transactional.
When our three children were younger and in school, I remember the dinner conversation going along the lines of…
Me: “how was your day?”
Each child: “fine”
We now use the LEAPS structure when we eat together. Each person shares a ‘learn’, then we go around the table for ‘energy’ (how we each feel), next is ‘do’ (something we each need to do), then ‘processing’ (something on our mind) and finish off by ‘shouting out’ a person or thing we’re grateful for. Bingo! We now have much more interesting, entertaining and heartfelt conversations.
When we lose the ability to have deep conversations - that involve great questions and listening - we risk losing empathy and compassion, can miss the chance to overcome challenges and understand what’s really going on. If we rely on social media to tell us what’s going on with friends, colleagues and contacts, we make assumptions and see the edited, filtered and unreal stories. Take some time to check in on those around you - it’ll be good for them and for you.
ENERGY
An emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Integrity
I remember working with someone once who loved to remind everyone of his ‘integrity’ on a fairly constant basis - and yet was completely lacking in what - I believe - integrity means. This made me look at the word and its origins.
The word is from Latin INTEGRITAS meaning "soundness, wholeness, completeness". In simple terms, for someone or something to have integrity, it means that they - or it - is intact and whole. This means that being deceitful or holding back undermines the integrity.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
LEAPS Chat
Use the LEAPS structure and have a deeper conversation with someone - your team, family or partner.
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“What do I hide behind?”
I recently had a significant haircut - from shoulder length to SHORT! As the hair fell to the floor in the hair salon, it struck me that many women like to hide behind their hair. Some people hide behind bright colours, layers of clothes, tattoos, brands, make-up etc. What do you hide behind?
I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question
SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition - my gratitude or to be celebrated.
Exploration
When we go on holiday, I tend to be a ‘last-minute’ packer. I work right up until it’s time to go and often leave little - if any - room to plan and do research about the location. However, once we arrive I love to explore and learn what the history and culture is like. Thankfully with ‘Google’, information is close to hand - but nothing beats the joy of exploring and finding little gems!
BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
The gift is only available to those that subscribe to the weekly LEAPS email
insert sign up form here
The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, in blogs / features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences. Please get in touch. The downloads do not have watermarks.
If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.
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?
