WOMEN: Creating the IMPOSSIBLE

I love the act of cleaning out closets and drawers. Not the work particularly, but what happens in the process. The feeling of newness is addictive. I actually find it even feels better. Another benefit is finding "treasures" you've not seen for a while. Over the weekend after a long, twisting path of writing my new book for a year --- and seeing and experiencing it being published, I spent the weekend cleaning out everything, releasing all piles of stuff, blessing the hard work, and rejoicing at the empty places I was creating, making room for new dreams to grow.

In the process, I came across a favorite book (again). Funny I find it at just the right moments. It is entitled The Tao of Personal Leadership by Diane Dreher. I opened to this familiar story with a different twist.

"The Tao Te Ching tells us that all nature follows the process of zanshin (Moving with zanshin means not becoming fixated on mistakes or doubts, not letting them break our connect to the here and now), moving from conception to creation one step at a time:

Journey of Thousand Miles
A tree that grows beyond your reach
Springs from a tiny seed.
A building more than nine stories high
Begins with a small mound of earth.
A journey of a thousand miles
Begins with a single step.

When I was in China ... I saw a vivid example of this lesson. All over Shanghai and Beijing, massive construction projects were going up. My companions on the journey were astounded to see the Chinese using bamboo scaffolding to build these towering skyscrapers. Bamboo seems so light and fragile, yet the Chinese have relied on it for thousands of years. I smiled and though of the strength of bamboo, the ability to build on what we know, the courage to reach beyond what we know to achieve what was once thought impossible."

With gratitude, I reflect on the last year with all its "stretching lessons" and miraculous twists and turns --- and series of small miracles that surrounded its 365 days. What seemed impossible, like the strength of the bamboo, seemed to flourish in the face of courage to reach beyond when it seemed very difficult.

What reflections do you have when you've drawn upon this strength inside you?

Debbe Kennedy
Author and founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the Lead

My New Book! Putting Our Differences to Work (June 2008)
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com

Join me for monthly online dialogues --- Next DATE August 12

Comments

[Shiny]

Debbe,

Your writing reminds me of the time I read Tao and other Chinese saints' literatures. For more than five thoursand years these words are still so valuable in our society. It is so amazing and inspiring to read it from some one who is from another culture holding the same belief with abounding courage.

Thanks for bringing me back to my culture for a while.:)

[Debbe Kennedy - Women in the Lead INSPIRATION BLOG]

Dear Shiny,

This is a connection I had not thought about. I have much Chinese influence in my jewelry and also in my taste in philosophy and wisdom passed down through the ages. I've always thought I lived there in some other time.

Lau Tzu gave me the foundational wisdom for my business:

"The wise leader you barely know they exist. When the aim is fulfilled, the people say, "We did it!"

Best...
Debbe

[Shiny]

Dear Debbe,

Your writing touched me. I can not agree more that knowledge and real wisdom cross the frontier. I love what you wrote about leadership from the philosophy of Lau Tzu. His time was called the striving of hundreds of schools of thoughts and a blossom of saints and great leaders!

Shiny