The Lost Art of Encouragement: 5 Questions That May Just Change Your Life
There is a great art -- a secret art -- that almost no one actually understands, but most of us benefit from. It's something that's fueled my work and made me come alive many times in my life. A quality in great artists that's inspired me to keep going and pushing further and higher when the chips were down.
And something I've noticed recently about this lost art is it has the power to awaken hearts and souls, and burn through even the greatest obstacles and resistance.
Even though so many of us have lost sight of this art's great power, I was fortunate to receive five simple questions that awakened the Soul Fire in me, and I'd like to reveal those to you today. (I also have a dare for you.) But first, a little background...
In her classic book, The Mentor’s Spirit, Marsha Sinetar brings to life a marvelous and deceptively simple concept: The inspiration, guidance and mentoring we seek from others can be found everywhere and anywhere in our lives. In books, in films, in music and art, through friends, colleagues, loved ones and, of course, ourselves!
This book popped out at me from my mother's wonderful bookshelf the other day, so I dusted it off and opened a page to read.
“While traditional leaders may mobilize us towards shared goals and values, those with the mentor’s spirit unobtrusively uplift us. Their delicacy is their art. They whisper our verities simply by being who they are. Alive or not, real or fictional, productive mentors turn us toward our deepest, most intimate truths by expressing theirs — not by heavy-handed pronouncements. Amplifying their joyful, audacious ability to be simply themselves, mentors support life.” ~ Marsha Sinetar, The Mentor’s Spirit
As it turns out, by simply being who and what they really are, great artists serve something far greater than them. Through their simple being-ness, and the work they create from that place, they embody the Universal Spirit of Encouragement. They encourage us to keep going, to push through our limitations and strive to reach higher. They become, in effect, artists of encouragement.
What’s been really interesting for me to discover, though, is as I find those qualities I love most in myself, strive for these and allow them to work through me, somehow the way I walk in the world lifts others up too. (Simply through the beat of its own step.)
How?
Maybe because...
The greatest force in the universe is a Soul on Fire with the will to live and embody its Highest Truth.
You can quote me on that.
(And then there's the natural law of resonance.)
When we’re hard on others, it's usually because we’re hard on ourselves first! We criticize and judge, because there's a nagging belief we've fallen short in ourselves…or maybe we haven't done as well as we could have. (And that’s a belief that 9 times out of 10 is just plain wrong!!).
But what if instead of always encouraging and praising and loving up others, you did that with yourself first? Egads...imagine the thought!
Suddenly you've turned the tables -- switched the poles -- and you're creating a scenario in which you become a magnifier of Awesome -- sending the energy of encouragement and excitement into the world, and inspiring others through the simple embodiment of...who you really are.
When we love and praise others, it's usually because we strive for those qualities in ourselves.
And often when we do this, we find that it feels good -- we lift ourselves up too!
“Oh yeah...I'm liking this idea, but it's not all that easy when you're dealing with reality man...!”
Yeah I've heard that before, so I tried to make this easy as possible by showing you exactly what I did -- just this morning -- that actually inspired me to write this piece. And you know what? It took me about three minutes to answer a few questions that popped in my mind, and suddenly I had the urge and flow to write this all up (which didn't take much time since I had gotten hooked into the flow).
Okay just three minutes? Well I'm here already so sh*t...let's have at 'em!
The Five Lost Questions:
What do I love about me... and why? What do other people love about me... why?! What is one thing I’m letting go of... and why is that? What is one thing I’m striving to embody more purposefully in my life... and what have I noticed about doing this? What is one thing I’m noticing shift in myself... and what is the quality of that?
So, what do you do when such a group of fine questions arises from the mystical ethers of the muse...? Why, answer them of course!
1. One of the things I love about me is... my Rebel Soul, because... it drives me to live in a way that I respect.
2. One of the things other people love about me is... my Fiery Presence, because... it awakens something inside them.
3. One thing I’m letting go of is... the obsessive need to work my ass off to get what I want, because... I’ve noticed it works so much better when I work in unison with the Universal Energy Flow!
4. One thing I’m striving to embody more purposefully in my life is... a sense of having my house in order, and trusting the universe to provide what I need... (And I’ve noticed when I do this... it really works!)
5. One thing I’m noticing shift in me is... the way I respond and interact with the world, with a little more gentleness and compassion. (And I’ve noticed... it makes me feel a lot better!)
As I sat with these energies and answers I started noticing some interesting patterns.
For starters, the way I’m shifting in my response to myself, is the way I’m shifting in response to others and the world: Open, restful and trusting in myself and the Universe, good things come, miracles arise, ease in my relationships; Closed, restless, not trusting in myself, more of the sh*t I’m most afraid of.
And like my teacher David often says: “How we do anything is how we do everything.”
One of the big challenges of the Rebel Soul is learning to love and trust yourself first, then you can begin to do the same with others, and finally the Universe!
And learning Real Trust is a hard one, because it puts you in a place of instant vulnerability. But embracing and embodying the qualities you love and admire in yourself is a great shortcut to awakening your Soulfire. And that Soul-fire awakening holds a lot of power to burn through your doubts and fear, get you in a state of productive flow, and bring magic and miracles in your life.
As I shift into that space of allowing miracles and good-ness to flow in my life — against all odds, and in spite of any lingering resistance — the space opens to allow more Trust, and more Flow, and more good-ness in.
And just ask David -- he knows -- I've been pushed to work with TRUST a lot lately!
When you affirm the essential vision and themes of our existence and inspire us to reach out for these, you become a great artist -- an artist of encouragement.
But you gotta keep at it baby! Every day you wake up and step into your life, you’ve got to root down into the goodness of your Soul... the Soulfire, strength and Light that’s just right in there, waiting to emerge and set your life and the world on fire!
Just watch -- ask yourself the questions, open your heart to receive the blessings, and see if you don't feel better in yourself, more able to stand tall in your power, more ready to walk in beauty and make magic of your life....
Now you:
What do you love about you... and why? What do other people love about you... and why? What is one thing you’re letting go of... and why? What is one thing you’re striving to embody more purposefully in my life... and what have you noticed about that? What is one thing you’re noticing shift in yourself... and what is the quality of that?
Want to try something fun and maybe even life-changing?
Copy this section below, click one of the share buttons at the bottom, paste it in and add your own answers -- then share it on Facebook, or email it to a friend. I dare you!
I just accepted a dare to answer five questions:
1. One of the things I love about me is… because…
2. One of the things other people love about me is… because…
3. One thing I’m letting go of is… because…
4. One thing I’m striving to embody more purposefully in my life is… (And I’ve noticed when I do this… )
5. One thing I’m noticing shift in me is… (And I’ve noticed it makes me feel… )
Share your own answers -- see what magic happens -- I dare you.
1. One of the things I love about me is… because… 2. One of the things other people love about me is… because… 3. One thing I’m letting go of is… because… 4. One thing I’m striving to embody more purposefully in my life is… (And I’ve noticed when I do this… ) 5. One thing I’m noticing shift in me is… (And I’ve noticed it makes me feel… )
Now you!
Awaken hearts with your own living example, and rediscover the magical Lost Art of Encouragement.
I believe in you!
XO,
Satya Colombo
http://satyacolombo.com/the-lost-art
Want some more Fuel for your Soul?
I have participated in, and facilitated, several online courses; Soul-Fire Code is one of the few that is overflowing with abundant, rich material. The insight and wisdom in even one call is far more than enough to inspire and enliven; the entire package has the potential to move you in all ways..."
Learn what it takes to Bring the Rain in your life and work, and strengthen the legacy of your existence...every day you wake up and step into the world.