Less Sowing, More Nurturing | Incredible | The Art of Gathering
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
Less Sowing, More Nurturing
There are some staggering statistics associated to the issue of loneliness. According to a report from Nextdoor in partnership with the Marmalade Trust in 2023, 85% of UK adults had experienced loneliness in the last 12 months, with almost half feeling chronically lonely. As adults we can lose the opportunity to make meaningful connections - especially if work and family is our main use of time.
So, what can be done about this? It’s tempting to jump in and network like a lunatic, make friends all over the place and sell yourself (so to speak) to as many people as possible. This happens in business too - organisations can panic that they are losing clients and desperately grab any passing clients regardless of fit or need. Sowing seeds everywhere is exhausting, expensive and rarely pays off.
Imagine this, you’ve planted 100 seeds - they represent new relationships. We then need to water and nurture all 100 in order for them to grow and ultimately flourish. It requires a lot of effort and not all of them will make it. However, if we stop and backtrack a little we can realise that choosing to sow just 20 seeds means we can spend more time and energy per plant to help them grow and develop. This is the same with clients, friends, and building any new relationship. Don’t think of just sowing the seeds - remember the necessary time, patience, care and nurturing required to encourage strong roots and meaningful, beautiful flowers.
ENERGY
An emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Incredible
We went and saw Gladiator 2 at the cinema last week - which we thoroughly enjoyed. We discussed some of the scenes as being INCREDIBLE - epic, even. The word is appropriately from Latin (!) word INCREDIBILIS meaning "not to be believed, extraordinary" from IN "not" + CREDIBILIS "worthy of belief".
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
Reconnect With Your Past
I had to go through some old paperwork and articles recently which brought back all sorts of memories and feelings. It reminded me of my journey to date and where everything that’s happened has led me - for which I remain forever grateful. As Steve Jobs said,
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
Whether you choose to go through old photos, call an old friend or something else - reconnect with something important from your past.
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“If you didn’t need money, recognition or to overcome a fear, what one thing would you do - or do differently?”
This question was inspired by something a dear friend shared with me - which we talked through at some length! Part two of the question is this…
“…and which of the three things is most dominant to you at the moment - money, recognition or fear?”
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.
Beginner’s Mind
I’ve been invited to deliver a careers talk at my old school, something that I really believe is important. The value of experienced adults sharing their stories, journeys, successes and failures with young people in schools is much more than we realise. But, I am also as passionate about the wonderful nature of the open, naive, beginner’s mindset. The willingness to be inquisitive, ask the ‘obvious’ and ‘hidden’ questions, to challenge and explore is something that we all need to keep hold of. Shout out to the ‘beginner’s mind’.
BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
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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?
