Search results for patti digh

Wednesday Bubble: Go deeper than the symptom

Posted by Liz on Oct 29, 2008 in emotions | 1 comment

Too often we find ourselves paying attention to what we want to “do” as opposed to what we want to “be.”  I’m not referring to the smaller “be,” as in, I want to be a ____ when I grow up. But rather, the intrinsic yearning that forms the fabric of our souls and lays the foundation for our footing.

I spoke with the extraordinarily gifted Patti Digh last week to discuss her book, 37 Days, and try to gain some insight into the book’s messages. Patti shared much of the magic behind her words and our conversation was so inspiring and provocative that I have decided to break up the interview into several posts.  Today, I’d love to share with you what Patti said about yearning and how it defines who were are.

So what does Patti mean when she says “go deeper than the symptom?”

“I do a lot of work around story,” explains Patti, adding that author Robert Olin Butler once said that “story is yearning meeting an obstacle.” She describes meeting lots of folks during her book tour and having conversations about what it is that they yearn to do. Not be, but do, the bigger picture if you will. For example, “it’s not so much that I want to open a gift shop,” she says, “but there’s a yearning below that.”

The challenge lies in gaining a larger sense of what the yearning is that is driving the desires and also, what the obstacles are.

When was the last time you stopped yourself from doing something because of lack of money or time or overcommitments? And do you truly believe that these are the real obstacles or is there something larger lurking below the surface that is keeping you from moving forward?

“A lot of times we stay at the surface of things and we don’t go below that to [explore] what’s beneath that, and beneath that, and beneath that,” notes Patti.

In essence, what Patti is describing is the distinction between the self and the soul. Not surprisingly, her book has been described by critics as a “soul-help” book. But what does this truly mean?

“I think that self is a construction of sorts that we learn very early in life to create to protect ourselves, to ingratiate ourselves to others, to play, to perform in the world that we find ourselves living in. So I think that there’s a deeper part of us that is untouched by that and if you can tap into that, you are better able to blossom and hold space for who you are.” Self, on the other hand, is more ego-driven and a barrier to soul and the connections to ourselves and others.

Within each of the book’s six sections are essays, followed by an action step, often a writing exercise, that allows the reader to tap into process of change, and then a movement challenge, which for all intents and purposes, provides a strategy to move abstract thought or change into reality so it becomes a permanent part of your fabric.

Start with “I”

In the second chapter of 37 Days, appropriately named “Start with I,” Patti writes that she stepped back from three years of writing and suddenly “saw patterns of colors, lines, contexts, and meaning that never existed while on the ground.” Perhaps patterns keep emerging because we keep not seeing them, she says. What would happen if you suddenly started to inhabit your life, rather than living right on the surface?

So ask yourself, as Patti did: What is holding you back from fully participating in your own life?  And when was the last time you gave up the”self” to “go below the symptom?”

So today, I am challenging myself to stop waiting for permission, throw away the excuses and start breaking down the barriers that prevent me from defining my yearning and stepping into my full potential. I am going to start by taking care of the “I.”

What about you? Why not try to dip your toes, even if it’s baby steps. Today, go deeper than the symptom.

She works hard for the money

Posted by Liz on Oct 26, 2008 in stress | 1 comment

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8A0ynBDSE4&feature=related]

Work’s hard enough without having to worry about menopausal symptoms, right?

A recent survey of 961  busy female executives suggests that in addition to work stressors, a majority (88%) of professional women have personally experienced menopause and a whopping 95% have experienced symptoms. What’s more, 79% report emotional symptoms.

In a nutshell, menopause symptoms significantly affect daily personal, professional and social lives, which is why it is so important that we continue to have open communication and dialogue about this transition in our lives. The thing is, what are employers doing to insure that female workers can continue to be productive AND comfortable? I would suggest that most employers don’t even consider this obvious issue among their workers. And with the health of the current economy, I would also guess that physical health takes a back-seat.

So, when it comes to your work, what can you do to reduce the additional stress and interference brought on by menopause symptoms?

I had the opportunity to interview Author Patti Digh last week about her book, 37 Days. This week I’m going to be writing about what we talked about. Not surprisingly, many of the strategies that Patti discusses correlate to how we can make our lives easier as we grow older, even in the midst of blood, tears and well, sweat!

Meanwhile, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do YOU do to relieve some of the extra stress brought on by menopause symptoms while you’re at work?

Wednesday Bubble: Jump Out of Your Own Shadow

Posted by Liz on Oct 8, 2008 in Inspiration | 4 comments

[Image:  Underwood, Philly Shadow, quilted silk]

Time for a bit of Wednesday inspiration.

On tap is a post that I am dedicating to author Patti Digh, whose wonderful ‘soul-help’ book ‘Life is a Verb‘ has been inspiring and challenging me for about a month now. If you’ve not heard of Patti or her book, I encourage you to take a look; her writing is fresh and the book is something you’ll revisit over and over again.

I hope to interview Patti for an in-depth exploration of her vision, as there are a few chapters that seem to be to be directed to mid-life. In the interim, here’s perfect little taste, an amuse bouche if you will.

“Today – not tomorrow – is the day to jump,” writes Patti Digh.

How often do we stall in a comfort or discomfort zone because we do not trust ourselves and our instincts?

We stay in an unhappy relationship rather than facing the truths underlying that unhappiness. We remain in uninspiring careers, live in a place we’d prefer not to live, continue to forge new relationships that are unhealthy or put x off ‘until tomorrow’ because, as Patti writes, “we need more data…about how and where and with whom we will land.”

How often have you found yourself looking for the “more” before cashing in your chips?

I believe that fear of the unknown can and should be turned into excitement about what’s just around the corner. This may sound odd coming from me; those who know me best will attest to the fact that I don’t “do” change well and never have.

And yet, I started my own business when many were encouraging me to stick with the old and seek another job in a field that I found very stagnant and stale. I left my home – NYC – after 20 years and moved to Maryland (even though I was terrified and tearful and completely sure that I was out of my mind). I finally took the carrot that my Ex had been dangling in front of me for months and ended an unhealthy and unhappy relationship.

At times, the road has been hard and painful and heart wrenching.  But every single time that I’ve trusted my deep instincts, my gut feelings, and finally said “enough,” I’ve landed on my feet, happier, more fulfilled, and hopeful.

There is no better time like right this second to place fears about the unknown into a small box and close the lid. Remind yourself that the fabric of life is interwoven with all that is good and bad, that the small challenges are what forge growth, and that it is very possible that you are, as Patti writes, “casting your own shadows.”

So today, I am challenging you to take a leap of faith, and ‘jump out of your own shadow.’ Do something outside your normal comfort zone. Visit a new place that has been on your list of “must sees.” Volunteer at a non-profit organization whose activities stoke your creative fires. Join an alumni group and start networking for new career opportunities. Say hello to the cute guy at the gym who smiles at you everyday. Or better yet, try a social media community such as Twitter or Linkedin and take inspiration from what the rest of the world is challenging themselves to do. Take a class, set some limits… trust yourself.

Patti Digh says to remember that you are never more than three minutes from the ground.

Jump.

Bet you’ll be glad that you did.