MY perception is that this is a muddy hill. One that I could slip and fall if I climbed. The thoughts in my head are that I am not good enough to do it, not just on the hill but in tasks that have been presented to me. In any given day, I can have a variety of perceptions and thoughts. Those are just thoughts and perceptions. My first thought or perception was that this could be too difficult, messy and uncomfortable. Sure, that could be, but maybe not.
Just the other day, I responded to a post that a friend put on her Facebook page. I said “Your posts most recently have been perfect timing of reminders for me. Self-compassion is so important for me. I can be so hard on myself. Especially with all of the need to use technology. I was reflecting while on my walk this morning about the word I had chosen for 2020. It was mastery. I first was getting tough on myself for all the failures, but then realized all of the not so simple tasks that I accomplishments, which tells me I have mastered much this past year. And now I can look to continue into 2021. Lots of pondering what my word will be!”
The response I received back “ I'm glad you were able to acknowledge yourself for all you did accomplish rather than focusing on where you felt a sense of failure. Mastery is such an interesting word. We have a tendency to consider it as being a place where we arrive, we know exactly what we need to know and we are complete. I have been reflecting on the word on several occasions this year and I like to think of it in relation to the term master or sensei in martial arts (which I don't practice myself!). Although there is a sense of knowledge and experience, there is also a sense of it being a journey of ongoing evolution and self-development. Masters continue to practice, learn, expand their knowledge and skills. They don't really 'arrive' ... so in that sense, every step of the way is a mastery in itself isn't it?”
This journey that I am on, that I refer to as mastery, along with my clients that I provide service to is quite an interesting journey to say the least! This time of change, pauses and uncertainty, has made us really think hard about what is important to us, each of us in our own separate way. And that is totally perfect! Each in our own way. Many days, a short hill seems like a mountain to climb, and stepping through a mud puddle feels like a lake to get to the other side. But working together as a team, we all learn new strategies and skills. New opportunities await us on the other side of the muk, puddle, or just over the hill.
Together supporting each other we will continue to seek more wisdom, enjoyment and self-development. Because maybe we were thinking of the mastery as a perception of final or completed. But, in reality it is ongoing where I and we together will learn, develop, fail and get back up again. No matter what the hill in front of us is. That is really our perception!
Just this week, I am working on plans for more gatherings online, through Zoom and FaceTime. For me, this is jumping over that mud puddle of uncertainty and climbing the hill. Learning and using new supports can be scary and exciting at the same time. And during this time, one of my clients took a “leap” over that puddle and started to climb the hill by reaching out and initiating a call to me. I was so proud of him. Showing that initiative was just what he needed to feel mastery for himself. And for me, mastery of feeling connected, although not in person, was important for me.
So, as I look a more pictures of the same hill, the angle you look at it can surely have a different perception. Not as muddy, maybe not as high. If we take the time to look at it through a change in perception, it might just be easier to accomplish. There might not be as much muck or mud. The hill may not be as high to climb. But even if it was, we can persevere and succeed in our way and in our own time. Possibly just be changing our thought process. And so, as I navigate the mastery of technology, I am so glad to have friends that will take the time to show me, be patient with me and teach me throughout this process. Of course there will be mistakes along the way, but that is all part of the learning process. And it provides a bit of humor when you see the goofs!
A Place 2B ME is excited to continue to share events, thoughts, ideas and connections during this magical time of year, and as we move into 2021.