Recently, I've had the privilege of working with an executive coach who assigned me a thought-provoking exercise. I was tasked with reaching out to friends, colleagues, and even a few acquaintances to uncover the qualities that they see most in me. These qualities, known as my essences, are said to be innate and will remain with me throughout my lifetime.
I approached individuals who have known me for a significant period of time, as well as those who have only recently come into my life. To those who participated in this exercise, I am immensely grateful for your valuable insights. My coach carefully analyzed your responses, searching for common themes. And so, without further ado, my essences are revealed: Peace, Wisdom, Devotion, Unity, and Grace. Perhaps these come as no surprise to you. While I can acknowledge these qualities within myself, they may not have been at the forefront of my mind had I been asked the same question.
While I possess numerous other qualities, these essences shine the brightest, like facets on a sparkling gem that represents who I am. I have taken the time to explore my personal interpretations of these essences and have compiled a list of words and phrases that resonate with me. However, I won't delve into my interpretations here; that is a topic for another post.
Now, when I find myself out of alignment or behaving in a manner that doesn't align with my desires or goals, I can intentionally choose to embody one of these essences instead. They are readily accessible to me and accompany me wherever I may go. To quickly tap into a particular essence, I have begun considering what I need to be reminded of in each moment. Allow me to share with you what I've come up with. I believe these reminders are universal and can benefit us all from time to time.
Peace – Embrace everything exactly as it is in this present moment, and then decide if change is needed.
Wisdom – Have faith in my own inner knowing.
Devotion – Remember that I have nothing to prove.
Unity – Recognize that I am enough, whole and complete.
Grace – Allow life to unfold naturally; struggling and suffering are optional.
If you'd like to learn more about discovering your own essences or transformational coaching, please don't hesitate to reach out.
