Ripples...Waves...Tsunami - Article

I often hear people asking; how can I get the message out? How can I make change happen? Those who need to hear the message don’t come out to the forums where the message is being delivered… how can we make sure they hear it so they recognize the importance of it? Why don’t people listen to me? How can I change them? Make them see what they should be doing? Hear and understand the message?

You can’t. Simply put you cannot change anyone. You cannot “make” them see what they “should” do. They will not “hear” and “understand” anything if they are not willing and curious about it to begin with. And how do they get that way if it all seem hopeless.

Some good ways to do it with out having to twist somebody’s arm are:

• Lead by example
• Create the space to invite others to become curious
• Speak from your authentic self
• Speak your truth and encourage others by being curious about their truths
• Tell people what you have experienced that is meaningful to you
  

There is nothing special or extraordinary about these things. There is no need to take a special course, it is something we all have access to right now, within each of our beings; our authentic sound/voice and the ability to be curious and have fun.

You can lead by example by simply being your authentic self, decloaking your brilliance for all to see. Other can see this and may become curious about your message, your passion. They will see the confidence and clarity in you and perhaps become curious about how they too can engage in life differently.
If just one person is moved by the message you have or story you hold they will speak of it, perhaps be so moved by it they will tell everyone they see. If they relay the message to another, because your story moved them enough that they are still talking about it, they will in turn make someone else curious about it. That person begins to speak and so the ripples of change begin.

We cannot expect cultural, organizational or generative change to happen in an instant. However the ripples grow into waves, the waves grow into tidal waves… and eventually the tsunami will come. I feel that tsunami is imminent, we are literally on the cusp, the tipping point as it has been referred to by many. The momentum is out there. All organizations are buzzing about it, through the public and private sector, through all levels of government. Change is needed and the old way of running business just isn’t working anymore. Women, now more than ever, want to be an actively engaged part of this change. And it will happen with women in the lead.

Every where I turn I am meeting people who want more, who know they can make a difference and want to be ignited and empowered.

The culture is primed for it. New employees coming into organizations are not always going to be content with sitting around doing the work and not having a voice. This needs to be addressed and recognized immediately if we want to retain these individuals who are already ignited and willing to engage. We need to celebrate our diversity, not just accept it or deem it equal. We are each brilliant individuals regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality or ability. We each have a unique story to tell that if celebrated would enrich us all as an individuals, an organization and more importantly our society.

We all have a story to tell, one that will bring up information within ourselves which we can grow from.

We can all get the message out, what ever the message may be. We all have a brilliant voice that deserves to be heard and we should all live authentically to encourage change; the changes that are so desperately needed in our society.

Come to recognize your authentic voice, have the courage to speak your truth, we can facilitate change. One by one, ripple to wave…

© Lori Walton 2006

Reflections of my Self - Article reflecting "Decloaking" being published

It seems since I have taken “Igniting the Self” (ITS) my life is unfolding at an extraordinary pace, yet I don’t feel any different. I am simply me, at the same time there is so much that is happening in my life.

My articles of my awakening and my journey are being published regionally, nationally and internationally.

My “Leadership” at work is being recognized, not in my actual “job” but in committees, councils and groups. Many managers and directors in my department have encouraged me to continue my journey, continue to question, and continue to engage at work.

One manager in particular wanted to discuss the notion of “leadership” and what my experiences have been. He encouraged me to continue on my leadership path and to surround myself with positive people.

Another manager and I discussed our views on Women’s Leadership in particular and how he has observed that most women managers do not embrace their unique skills, they manage like all the other male managers. Interesting that a male manager would make this observation.

As I write this, I’m noticing how funny it is to be writing these words of leadership and my leadership journey, if you read my article in the May 2006 ChoicePoints Newsletter “My Awakening” you would see how different it is for me to be speaking in this way now. It hasn’t even been a year yet that I have come to awaken to my Self.

Many people have positive comments for me, although some just can’t put their finger on “what” is different, I just “glow”, something is “working for you lately” but they can’t figure out just what it is. Inside I think…HELLO, this is me! This is the magnificent, brilliant Lori Walton I forgot about for all of my life.

So many things are happening, yet I just am. I am not mindful of these things; I do not have a check list “go talk to the manager today”, “discuss leadership with this person”, etc. I set my intention and I focus on that intention, my intention seems to have taken on a life of its own. All these things, opportunities, conversations… are manifesting themselves towards my intention. Quite powerful to step back and notice these changes. All because I was willing to decloak and stand in my true authentic self. “Igniting the Self” provided me that clarity.

I had written an article called “Our Authentic Voice” for my department on behalf of the woman who participated in this Women and Leadership Program. What a croc that was… it definitely wasn’t MY authentic voice. My personal experience with the program was so life changing (My Awakening); I was so frustrated with myself for the article I wrote on behalf of the group. It was so small in comparison. At "Igniting the Self" (ITS) I began to get curious about what I can do about it. I decided I would approach my communications department about doing a series of articles about my experience and my journey.

When I got back to work after my week at ITS, I put together a proposal, I had already written some of the articles and I had the titles for the remaining ones. I met with my Director and discussed it with her; she was very supportive and sent me to speak to the correct people to pitch my proposal. After my pitch my department’s newsletter was not only going to publish my articles but they were also going to give me my own space on the newsletter which I have called “Exploring Our Potential”.

The first of the series of 5 articles I originally proposed was “Decloaking” and it was written to start readers off with my realizing, understanding my fear of writing my truth in the last article “Our Authentic Voices”. It was a liberating article for me to write, to decloak and stand raw in front of my co-workers, and be proud of who I am. I surprised myself when it was published by sending the link to all of my co-workers so they would be sure to read it. Funny how I was once so afraid of what they would think.

I included my e-mail with the article so, if they so choose to, my readers could contact me and comment or ask questions about my article. Other than those I already know congratulating me, I did receive one e-mail from a woman I do not know, expressing her thanks for the article and commenting on my bravery for writing it. This is one person I know I’ve touched with my story, and perhaps invited her to begin to awaken to her own self.

One by one, person by person, the word spreads, of how easy it really is, once you discover who you are, and are true to yourself. Once you are free in your own skin, to decloak for all to see.

Enjoy my article “Decloaking” and the remainder of the series that I will include here on ChoicePoints. As well, I’m including my story of releasing each article for my department, standing raw in front of my coworkers, Decloaking, for all to read.

© Lori Walton, 2006

Beneath the Bullshit and Bravado is Brilliance - Article

During my journey of discovering my own personal potential, I would often think about the people I had perceived to have kept me down. I thought of the people I bump heads with. I know now that this is all about me, they don’t know what feelings / energy they were bringing up within me. In reality they weren’t trying to keep me down, really who would consciously do such a thing?
One morning while I was doing my “Igniting the Self” training session I woke up very early and wrote down the title to this article. Once again there is an invitation right here, demanding my attention.

As I let this notion sit with me “Beneath the Bull and Bravado is Brilliance”, I allowed my attention to shift to the potential I know I have. If I have all of this potential, and I know there is more out there in my future… why am I holding others to being less. Just because in the past I held a belief that it was their actions or statements that kept me small. Who am I to sit in judgment, as I myself had at one time felt judged?

It struck me… The very people I bumped up against, are just as full of potential as I am. They can each claim their brilliance that is within them, as we all have it just waiting to be tapped into. Perhaps their need to try to put us down or scoff at our actions is something within them screaming to be recognized? How can we, knowing what we know now, not recognize this magnificent within them?

So yes, the bullshit & bravado people convey is more than likely a front or a strategy. It is an invitation to them to recognize it on their own and claim the message for themselves. Beneath of all that façade is the Brilliance that we all have.

What other people think of me is not about me, this is the same truth we can each claim, and we just have to choose to claim it.

As each of us go through our own journeys in life, remember that there is so much more out there for all of us, never limit yourself to being less than. We each have it in us.

© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.

Power of our Personal Potential - Article

When we step out of the box, and realize we have so much more to offer, how are those around you reacting to it? Do they embrace and support your growth? Are they cynical and judgmental about the changes? How interesting is it that people actually scoff at the notion of Unlimited Potential that we each hold.

When you are presented with the fact that we all have so much potential within us, and how amazing it would be to tap into it, and understand there is so much more we have yet to realize, what is your first instinct/reaction?

Do you scoff to yourself like some might if presented with the same question surrounded by their peers in a group setting? Or do you actually get curious about the potential you personally hold?

When I refer to our Unlimited Potential through these articles, my intention is for you to get curious about what you personally hold.

When you become curious about it, you will begin to get comfortable with the knowledge of the massive amounts of potential you hold. When you become comfortable with that knowledge, you can choose to own your concept of potential. When you own it, it becomes your truth. No one can change that truth but you.

Once you realize the potential you hold, and you choose to own that potential, you may notice you begin to act differently. You may become more confident; you may choose to become responsible for your own future, creator of your own destiny (take ownership as you make your choices). When you can realize how much you have to offer to whatever you put your mind too, you decloak your brilliance for others to see.

By having the courage to decloak your brilliance in front of others, you create the space for them to become curious about their own potential about their own brilliance.

If we all realized our personal potential and accepted the notion of continuously unfolding potential, we could speak our truths with the knowledge of there always being something more. Creating space for others to grow, recognizing that everyone; even those who you bump up against; are full of unlimited potential as well.

To recognize that even with those who are critical of you and your abilities, that somewhere deep down within them, Beneath the Bull and Bravado is Brilliance.

© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.

Stepping out of the Box - Article

Have you ever considered that there may be more out there for you to discover… if only you would have the courage to step out of your box?

If you are anything like I was; you are content with your life as it is now, feeling safe within your box. Perhaps you think, this is who I am, this is all I will ever be, this life is pretty good, I can’t do anything different now anyway so I will just live with it. Notice that voice deep down within your body that knows you could be so much more. Up until this year, I would never listen to that voice, after all I was content in my box.

From an early age I was taught to doubt my Self. My thoughts and ideas were put down or dismissed as being foolish, or ignored completely. When I did or said something I felt my Self needed to say or do, I was humiliated to the point of tears, then told that I should be good (meaning to my child self, ‘don’t speak or act independently’). So by the time I came into my adult hood I had lost my Self. I allowed others through the years to define who I was. After many bouts of depression and self hate, sadness, and loneliness I finally just accepted my lot in life…and I resolved myself to be content with that.

I put on a great façade, always smiling, laughing having a good time. Always keeping in my place, not speaking up about my feelings and opinions. Always doing for others, never able to say “No”. I was a just mom, I was just a clerk, don’t look at me for something special, I doubted my ability to step out of my box. After all, if I stepped out of my box, what would people say? I didn’t have anything to offer.

Then one day I got curious about who I defined my Self to be. As I wrote down the traits I had believed defined me, I discovered that none of those were definitions I had for myself… they were imposed on me. I was not going to be a victim anymore and right then and there I decided I would define my Self, I was stepping out of my box. After all who’s life is it?

I invite you to consider the following questions, notice how your body feels when you read them, and pay attention to that…

Is your definition of Self truly your own definition?

Are you holding yourself in a certain box because of uncertainty or fear?

Do you believe that you are capable of doing more, living more, being more?

What is holding you back from awakening to your own brilliance and true Self? Realizing the Power of your Personal Potential?

© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.

Stand Alone - Article

As women, we tend to stay out of the spotlight. We wait to be invited to speak. We wait to be asked our opinion. Rarely do we stand up alone. Is it fear or uncertainty that keeps us from shining?

Why is it that when asked to do something we step up to the plate and complete the job successfully? Why are we waiting to be asked? If every woman did what was important to them, authentically important, our lives would change. If each woman tapped into her magnificence without waiting to be asked, we could realize our personal potential. If each woman found their voice and refused to be silenced again, our future would be glorious.

Think about it… women are creators, we are nurturers, we are financial planners, we are managers, we are master schedulers and able to keep, not only ourselves, but others on target and we work on top of all this. We have the ultimate power, the ability (if we chose) to create life within ourselves. Why do we keep ourselves small? We have everything we need to create a successful life for ourselves right here within ourselves. Why do we continue to doubt our power, our magnificence and our absolute brilliance?

When did someone in our lives, make us feel that our voice wasn’t important? What was going on with that person that they felt threatened by our voice? Why did we allow it to happen? Was it what society at the time dictated or just how the workforce was? It doesn’t have to hold true for you forever.

Times have changed and society is changing; we are all brilliant and have a valuable voice. A voice that is strong and true to our values. We only need to speak. Think of what knowledge we could learn if we all spoke our authentic voice and listened to each other’s wisdom.

We can choose to listen to our voice, to realize our potential and by trusting ourselves we can change the world we live in.

Each and every one of us, woman or man, has this power somewhere within ourselves, we just have to create the space, for the information our bodies already know to move, so our brilliance can flow.

Think about Stepping out of the Box that you hold yourself to be in. By finding our authentic self and trusting our voice, it is easy to stand alone. By having the courage to stand alone, we become a beacon for those who want to do the same.

© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.

Decloaking - Article

Isn’t it curious how when we experience something that is meaningful to us, even life changing, we don’t talk about it as we should? I’m curious, is this something that everyone does? When have we let someone silence us - to make us think that what we have to say isn’t important?

It was very freeing for me to begin to speak like this, “From my experience” - those are powerful words when you think about it … nobody can argue with your experience, because it’s yours, you own it.

Too often we ignore the voice of brilliance and truth inside of us. We begin to have an inner dialogue with ourselves asking questions like, “what do other people want to hear?” “What will happen if I say that?” We second-guess ourselves. When did we stop trusting our magnificence and stop believing in ourselves?

I did this with the article I penned for my Departmental Newsletter on a “Women’s Leadership Pilot” program I was part of. Instead of writing about my experience and how it changed my life, I “neutered” my words, thinking they would be more acceptable to my co-workers. I used the excuse that I was writing on behalf of the group, so how could I express my life changing experience in this group collective.

As days went on I didn’t feel satisfied with the article. This was an invitation for me to get curious about why I felt that way. The article was so much less than the experience. It struck me that I had used the group collective as a scapegoat. I was afraid to decloak and reveal my true voice in front of my co-workers. Heaven forbid that people might look at me differently.

Through my experience with Women’s Leadership and completion of the “Igniting the Self” program, I became aware that I have something to say, I can contribute, and I have a voice. If I decided to finally speak up and say what I think, what I feel, what I am, I can make things happen. I can share the changes I have experienced in my life. Some people might not agree with me, and that is okay, what other people think of me is not about me and is not my business. What is important to me, is that those who are interested in what is happening are able to hear about my truth, my experience, and perhaps it will invite them to get curious about what is speaking to them from within.

I am now willing to decloak, to not silence myself, to not neuter my experience anymore. This is me, this is who I have become, take it or leave it. I just am, and I now have the courage to Stand Alone and share this with others.

© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.

My Awakening - Article

Static
By L.Walton

Asleep, unaware, voiceless and needy,
To dream of more was just fantasy.
Dependant, eager to please, no sense of self,
Settling for less, just static.

Feeling insignificant, worthless and small,
Lowly, less than others, stupid, not me.
Doubting my ability to become a leader at all,
Not knowing there’s more, just static.

My highest intention, was to become,
An empowered woman, nothing more.

It seemed unachievable at the time,
Now I know there is much in store,
I will remain static no more.

It is pretty amazing for me to reflect on my journey of awakening, of allowing myself to get curious and unfold as I was always meant to do. To read my journal and see the stages I have gone through, realizing there will be many more journals in my future.

My awakening began in January 2006, through a pilot leadership program my Regional Director created with the help of Cathy Carmody, a WEL-Systems® Catalyst. The program they developed was to take 10 – 12 women and over a 3 month period, offer a number of group sessions, and one-on-one coaching in between sessions, with the assistance of Cathy’s co-facilitator Celine Burlock, also a WEL-Systems® Catalyst.

My highest intention (which I didn’t believe I could obtain) for becoming a leader, was to be an “Empowered Woman”. My definition of this was “An empowered woman has their poop together, she doesn’t carry around any baggage, she is confident in how she speaks, looks and feels. She is calm in the face of conflict. She has good self-esteem. She knows where she is going in life and has the tools to get there. She makes others feel good about themselves, inspires them and is a role model”.

Through the next few months, things began to happen for me. I had begun to be that “Empowered Woman” I had hoped to become before I started the program. Day by day, life was unfolding, never the same as yesterday, always more than today. I am now an empowered woman through this program and I see there is so much more I can do. The possibilities are limitless, as is our potential to shape our models of the world.

I found my voice, I began to speak, I spoke to the Regional Director General to share my vision on the future of our department, I spoke to my Supervisor about my opinions and ideas on the future of our section, I spoke with my family who I needed to hear my truth. Each conversation I had, I began to feel lighter. At the end of each conversation I felt at peace, knowing what I said was from my truth. I felt that my voice was not just listened to, but heard. I’ve never experienced that before.

Through the WEL-Systems I have learned that everything I feel or perceive about a person or situation, is all about myself, I own it. By knowing this and living this I have been able to find the confident me, the leader in me who is a leader of my own destiny.

I have created a business case to further aid me in my perusal of growing through the WEL-Systems and have been accepted to attend “Igniting the Self” in June at Oceanstone, NS. I have taken steps to advance my career, by meeting with people who work in areas that interest me. By taking courses that will assist me in that transition, by manifesting things as I want them to be, because we all have that power and potential do shape our destiny, to have an impact on our world.

My current intention (I say current because it evolves as I unfold each day)… my current intention on being a leader is that I can help change the world I live in. In getting curious about the potential in all of us and in our communities, inviting others to become curious and realize their limitless potential. Helping to create a world in which we all have space to speak our truths and impact our futures.

This can be achieved by remaining clear about my intention, by always speaking my truth, by continuing to evolve, by never becoming static again… If we all did this can you imagine what an awesome world we would live in? Think about the potential. Then think about how much more that there may be out there, that we don’t know, we don’t know. It’s amazing to me to imagine this possibility. It’s almost unexplainable the hope, love and light that fills me when I get curious about this possibility. Truly awesome. I feel excited and at peace in the same moment.

I now believe that we all hold the universe at our fingertips, if only the rest of the world would be willing to recognize this potential and become awake and aware, we really could shape the future of humanity.

What Louise LeBrun has started and nurtured, and what Catalysts like Cathy Carmody and Celine Burlock have invited us to become involved with, is causing huge waves. People are standing up and getting curious about what is going on in our lives as they watch us evolve and excel in whatever we set our energy to do.

It begins with a change in your dialogue with yourself; it eventually leads to a change in dialogue with others, to changes in how people react to you, changes to your life and eventually your world.

For me I have omitted words from my vocabulary, particularly those words that I had used to define myself in the beginning, which no longer serve me.

I know that my highest intention now will change as I evolve, as each days passes, as each new insight is learned, as each piece of energy is moved, as each way of thinking is shifted.

There is no end to this process, no end to the potential, no end to the possibilities. Why limit our thinking? Life is ours to continuously explore, question and shape. We can start ripples of change by being clear and speaking our truth. Unlimited potential, ever unfolding, continuously evolving… our journey continues. The universe is ours to shape and mould.

I look forward to continuing on this journey, to never be asleep again, to never be static.

Something More
By L.Walton

Waking up, moving through, questioning why
… there is always something more.

Finding out, looking back, working through
…knowing there is always something more.

Discovering, realizing, finding self
… yet still knowing there is something more

Expectations, anticipations, curiosity
… realizing there is so much more.

Dreaming, hoping, living, unfolding,
Into what you used to just dream about.
Knowing there will always be… something more.



© Lori Walton, 2006
Unlimited Potential. Ever Unfolding. Continually Discovering. Authentic Self.