Be Like the Trees – Always Share Your Gifts with the World

I was receiving a coaching session about my frustration that my motivation, attention, and output of my talents waxes and wanes – Sometimes from day-to-day, sometimes from moment-to-moment.  When I more immediately see the benefit to others or receive compensation from my work or talent, my desire to continue the output is much stronger and more sustainable.  I want to maintain my motivation and creativity whether or not I am receiving outside influences or acknowledgement at that particular moment, and to continuously enjoy the process of being my gifts.

The coach assisted me in tweaking a declaration and a new body stance of opening and outpouring my gifts to eagerly awaiting receivers.  The image of a tree frequently comes to my mind when I coach others, as it did this time.  I love the image of a tree because it has roots that go down into the ground and branches and leaves that reach toward the sky.  I relate this to our connection to our vision/sky, and maintaining grounding/roots to enable us to bring the vision into reality in the world.  A tree gives many gifts to us.  A tree provides shade, absorbs carbon dioxide, ozone, and other air pollutants, and gives off oxygen.  They save on energy costs and control storm water. A tree exemplifies beauty, and offers shelter and sustenance for animals and birds.  It provides fruit and nuts/nutrition to us.  And who can quantify the soul-enriching essence of trees?  Serenity, harmony, strength, longevity, inspiration.

I had a realization - Trees never withhold their gifts…A tree won’t say, hey, you are not appreciating me and noticing the lovely shade I am bringing you, so I’m going to fold up my branches and see how you like the sun beating down on you today!  Trees are giving all the time they exist.  

Make a Request – Change the Future

Requests are a way we can exercise power to influence the future. If you want someone to do something or change his/her behavior and you never ask for anything different – it is very likely that nothing will change. If you do initiate a conversation and make a request that he/she stop doing or start doing something and that person says “Yes,” now there is a possibility for creating a new future.

I was presenting for a film class at a local college. The students were gathered outside the classroom within the library, and I observed the following. One of the library staff came up and said to the students – this is a quiet area and your talking carries through the library and downstairs; there isn’t supposed to be any talking in this area. The students glanced blankly at the gentleman and continued their conversations. The staff member spoke with a student assistant who then came up to the students and nicely said – could you please move out of the hall into this room so that your conversations will not be heard in the library. The students complied immediately. There was a clear request, direction, and even a reason (stating the outcome if they comply). Learning to make more powerful requests can change your life and those who commit with a resounding yes in response.

“Get to the Verb” – Meaning, put the action item in the beginning of your spiel before you lose the listener. How are requests (asking someone to do something) or offers (asking someone if they want your service or product) influenced if we stop beating around the bush when we speak and Get to the Verb?