Do you know the ancient symbol of the ... snake with its its tail in its mouth, forming a circle? In one ... or another, it's present in many ... Jung would say it's part of the
Do you know the ancient symbol of the orouborus--the snake with its its tail in its mouth, forming a circle? In one variation or another, it's present in many cultures. Jung would say it's part of the collective unconscious. It's a symbol for beginnings that are endings, and endings that are beginnings. This is a concept that's difficult for us to grasp, and it's a very significant one.
It's common for all of us to mistake the beginning for the end. We wait 9 long months and then go into labor and our work is done, we think. The baby is finally here. But then, as every parent knows, the work is just beginning. The birth is the end of the pregnancy, but the beginning of a whole new thing. A baby!
We work hard for four years and get through college and what's the end of it called? Commencement. (Beginning.) Why? Because the reward for all that hard work is ... to get out there and find a job. More work at a whole new level.
I work with clients who want to identify and develop their strengths. We use an assessment tool and work interactively, and explore their propensities, and then voila! We discover and identify their talents. And then what? Talents need to be fortified with learning and skills in order to be brought to fruition. We have a new beginning.
And then once they're strengths, they need to be practiced, applied, used. Action must be taken. Another beginning. Just exactly when do we get to rest on our laurels??
"Don't worry about your problems with mathematics," said Einstein. "I can assure you that mine are far greater." No rest for the weary.
The gifted poet John Berryman wrote a profound poem about 'the end of strengths' which I felt moved to illustrate (URL:http://www.geocities.com/pocketpeach2 rainer.htm) It's about a proficient animal trainer who's in burn out. He's used his natural talents and strengths ... too long? too hard? too often? without balance? without adequate support? But that's a whole 'nother story, burn out, and there we have orouborus again: some clients can recycle from burn-out. For others, it's too late.
Understanding the endless cycle of beginnings and endings is part of adjusting to the constancy of change in our lives.
The Top 10 Things I Learned Lecturing on a Cruise
Coaching has come of age! Recently I ... ... lectures on a ... cruise. Here's what I ... Nobody in the audience had heard of ... work is cut out for us!2. People are
How to Survive Lean Times When You're a Solopreneur
Building a viable coaching practice takes time, ... months or years before your practice is ... Here are some ways to ... your income in lean times, generate money quickly wh
10 Intuition Busters
Everyone has ... it's ... in us. ... wants more ... it's a great ... for ... ... ... and making good ... It can be ... but you
