The Story Behind | Understand | What Happened To You?
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
The Story Behind
I have previously had the great honour of working on a project for Dr Bruce Perry - an incredible American psychiatrist, who is currently the senior fellow of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas. I watched a video last week in which he was chatting to Oprah Winfrey, and shared a wonderful quote by Abraham Lincoln:
“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better”.
The reason that Dr Perry was talking to Oprah is because they co-authored a book called ‘What Happened to You’ (see my gift to you below). The idea of it - and the Lincoln quote - is that what we experience, and are conscious of, is the result of something else. There is always a story behind. When we seek to understand that story, the dislike turns to kindness and empathy. It doesn’t mean we need to become best friends with someone that’s possibly being mean, just that there is a reason for the behaviour we are experiencing.
Too often we can jump straight to: ‘what’s wrong with you?’ or more commonly, ‘what’s wrong with me?’, but in both cases, there is a story that explains that something happened to them - and to us. Very often a bully was first a victim of bullying themselves. Remembering that there is always a story behind what we see and experience is incredibly valuable to all concerned.
ENERGY
An emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Understand
Such a wonderful word - in application and in meaning. The origin of ‘understand’ is from Old English UNDERSTANDAN: "comprehend, grasp the idea of, achieve comprehension; receive from a word or words or from a sign or symbol the idea it is intended to convey".
It is believed to be formed originally from Latin INTER "between, among" + standan "to stand". We need to change our physical and mental positioning to best understand something - to walk round and explore fully.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
Structure
Take something and see if you can can improve its structure or organisation - your computer files, your cupboards, your diary…
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“What’s my story?”
We all have a past. We all have a story. What’s interesting is how we perceive and share that story. Are you the hero or victim? Who has been a major role in your story and why?
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.
Unsung Heroes
Such a lovely shout out - and one that matters all the time. We must remember to acknowledge and shout out all of the unsung heroes in life - the ordinary folk that do the extraordinary. Some wear uniforms - such as rescue services and armed forces, and others are simply people that step in and help without it being expected. To all of our everyday heroes - thank you!
BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
The gift is only available to those that subscribe to the weekly LEAPS email
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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?
