leadership

Knowing and the Wind

We are more closely connected to the invisible than to the visible.

Novalis

How do we know that the wind exists? How do we know it is wind?

Recognizing

We hear it. we feel it. We revel or revile it. We chose how we define our experience of it. The trees, the shrubs, the dust are the face of the wind. The visual of what cannot be seen but is seen. There are signs of the wind. We don’t say the wind does not exist because we cannot see it. We bear witness to it in the dust that spins, giving the wind a form, an image, and we can see the wind dressed in the dust it spins, dancing for us, driving us, divining us of all that cannot be seen but is still present.

Knowing, Trusting

What can you not see but know is present? How do you know it is? What are the signs? Check out the reality. Without the wind the dust would not dance? Do you have confirmation that what you think, and feel is truly known to you? I encourage my clients to trust their own knowing.

Do you trust yours? Do you know what it is? How does it come dressed? Want to discuss? Contact me.

Self-Reflection through Loving Compassion

First learn to see yourself, then learn to see others, last help them to see themselves.

Mme Ehrenfried

Humans are amazing. Yet we can be absurdly unaware of ourselves. There are times when other’s can see us more clearly than we can see our own behavior. In a profession such as mine we spend a great deal of time getting clear about ourselves, our history, and our reactions to the world around us. We develop skills to effectively manage and cope in the world with choice, and deliberation. We do this so that we can learn to see others clearly, and then help them to see themselves more accurately. This is no easy task for us or them. It is an ongoing work of self-discovery, unfolding the layers, and serving so others can more effectively help themselves and others. It is for this reason that we take this humbling journey so that we can with love and compassion assist others to be more loving and compassionate with themselves, and others. In this way we pass goodness and love from person to person into the world and we make it a kinder more loving place to be.

Care to increase the kindness in your world? Contact me.

Leadership: Lead like a Mare

Want something done?

Tell a gelding. Ask a stallion. Discuss it with a mare.

Anonymous

Is leadership different for men and women? In herds of horses stallions and mares are vital to the herds survival. What does it mean to lead like a mare?

Leadership Mare Style

The lead mare of a herd is keenly alert to changes in her environment. In the wild the life of the herd depends on the lead mare. When she whinnies the herd listens. Where she goes the herd follows. She finds food and water, she leads them away from danger. As a partner, the lead mare is responsive and lets her needs be known. She can be subtle, or she can be forthright. She cares little to be the center of attention but doesn’t shrink away from it should it occur. The lead mare sees and inspects the subtlest changes. She demands respect and refuses cruelty. She fights back if needed. She is slow to trust, and long remembers a wrong done to her. She holds a grudge if the betrayal is too large.

Leadership Versatility

If the herd stallion falters, and the herd becomes trapped some lead mares will protect the herd as the stallion typically does. Her first call is always the preservation of her herd, her sisters, her foal, and she works in concert with the stallion to ensure its safety. Make no mistake the stallion respects his lead mare. She sets limits, he respects her “no,” and checks out her fears. He listens to her intuition so where she goes he follows, after all it is his herd also, to look after and protect.

Leadership Sensitivity

Mares are incredibly sensitive. Not particularly loving, but fiercely protective of their young. Mares speak clearly, and if you don’t listen there will be a consequence, so pay attention to their signals. Taking a mare from her herd is interesting. She will be fine until she hears her herd calling her in distress, the stallion or foal concerned for her will create agitation for her. For a mare to lead there must be a herd to follow her.

Leadership Reflection

Who’s your herd? How are you leading? Where are you going? Who is following you? Where are you leading them? Is your energy that of a stallion or mare? Are you pushing when you might need to pull your herd? Are you leading, and no one is following you? Let’s talk!

Love like a Stallion

Horses & Lunch

Why Women are More Effective Leaders than Men

Drop the Anchor!

The bad news is I’m the problem.

The good news is if I’m the problem I’m also the solution!

Steve Chandler

Have you ever had problems with someone only to discover you are the problem?

This happens to me all the time. I hate to admit it but it is true. I’ve tried to be perfect but of course that always fails because I’m not. Then I have tried to deny and blame the other, but that always backfires because I always have a part in it. At times, I have tried to pretend as if I have it all together, but then of course I’m fooling no one because I don’t. So, then I beat myself up for being so perfectly imperfect. Then wow, I get so excited because I have indeed found something that I can do correctly. I can in fact be perfectly imperfect!

Unfortunately, my ego so hates being wrong, human, and facing my own fallibility that I give myself quite a verbal tongue lashing. It would so much simpler if I stopped making myself miserable, and became okay with my perfect imperfections. Yet in my humanness I to often chose to hold onto the anchor of negative self talk that takes me down, instead of dropping this needless anchor of ego I carry round, and allow myself to graciously and joyfully float up the ladder of consciousness. Which can be done so simply by taking a deep breath, and letting go of my need to blame myself and others and stop creating painful thoughts and emotions for myself!

Where can you drop the anchor of your ego?

How could you float up the ladder of consciousness?

When do you need to take a deep breath and let go?

What would it be like to remove your ego from the driver’s seat, and let your loving self take charge of your journey?

Would you like a place to explore letting go and moving up the ladder of consciousness? Then visit the websites below for information regarding the retreats I am offering this fall in beautiful Arizona! Join me in exploring our humanness with joy and grace!

Attend an Upcoming Retreat

October – The Power of Your Presence

November – Yoga and Horses

Love like a Stallion

Horses can teach us about life, if we take the time to observe, and understand their behavior. Fin, my Andalusian stallion reminds me of the importance of letting those we care about know that we do. Fin, like most stallions knows his first and foremost job is to support his herd. Fin nickers whenever his mare comes or goes, even for the shortest time. He can be in the pasture with his mare, and enter the stall next to her, two minutes later, and nicker as if he has been away from her for weeks. He is so delighted to see her. No matter her reception to him, Fin makes sure that his mare knows that he has her back, and he is there to protect her. He respects her “no”, and never pouts. He is always glad to see her and supports her.

In life, we could use this as a metaphor for how we attend to others in our life. What would it be like for your spouse, partner, colleague, boss, employee to know that you supported of them? That you were glad to see them? That you valued them?

How might this change your relationship with them?

Difficult relationships? Let’s talk.

Your Posture, Impacts You

Be fully in the moment, open yourself to the powerful energies dancing around you.
Ernest Hemingway

We know that our posture impacts how others see us, but did you know it also may impact how we feel about ourselves? We know that a change in facial expression such as a half-smile can lighten our mood. Amy Cuddy’s research supports the idea that intentional changes in our body posture impacts our physiology, thus changing how we feel about ourselves.

Here is a short clip of Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk discussing the impact of body posing on physiology.

Amy Cuddy Shortened Ted Talk

If you are so inclined here is Amy’s Ted Talk in its’ entirety!

Body Language and Presence

Amy Cuddy discusses power poses in this video.

Power Poses

Practice using a power pose(s) throughout your day to move yourself to an emotional space of confidence, peace, power, and contentment. Does it change how you feel? Are you a powerful, peaceful person? Yes? Would you like to be even more powerful, present, and peaceful? If so, let me know!

The Value of Knowing Nothing

Communication solves all problems.

Steve Chandler

What is the value of knowing nothing about another?

This might be the one truth that is truly useful in forming and maintaining relationships, team building, and leadership. It forces us to call on our curiosity to learn about someone else and their circumstances.

Simple wonder, awe, sincere question asking creates a state that allows us to call forth that which is not yet known to either of us. Thus, providing a solid foundation for insight, exploration, and exchange.

Questions create clarity and understanding.

desireemarsha 214x300 - The Value of Knowing Nothing

What if You are Perfect?

q 214x300 - What if You are Perfect? I mean perfect as you are…that you did not need to change anything about yourself.

What if you knew that at the very core of yourself that you were not flawed but whole, and wise? That no matter what anyone said, or did past, or present, you did not question the wonder of who you are? You did not question what you knew to be true for you, and that it was okay for it not to be true for everyone.

What if you trusted your own choices?

What if it is perfect for you to change your mind? To make another choice?

What if it is perfectly okay to create the life you wanted?

And it is perfectly okay to ask for assistance, if it would be helpful to you!

Amongst the Wild Horses

I spent a day with the incredible, executive coach, and friend, Karen Davis. After we had played for several hours with my horses, and had a relaxing lunch, we made the hour drive to Tonto National Forest where we hoped to located and view one of the wild herds of Salt River Horses. As clear intention, or wonderful luck would have it we found, first a small band of three stallions, and then a larger herd with a stallion, mares, and babies.

I am always awed by the sight of these horses. They tolerate humans watching, and photographing them in stride. Yet they keep a reasonable distance. About 19 months ago these horses were destined to be rounded up, and most likely destroyed by the federal government, however the horses were saved by many individuals, and organizations that stood, and spoke up in order to save them. The state of AZ has acted to protect the wild horses. The people have requested that the Federal Government follow suit.

When I stand among these wild horses, I am flooded with the feeling that these horses know that the people that come to see them, saved them, and they are grateful. Perhaps it is my own gratitude that flows out for these beautiful horses, in this amazing national land that has been preserved for us by those that stood up, and demand the right thing be done.

In those moments when I was full of being present to myself, the horses, to the land, to the connection that goes between the people, the land, and the horses something greater moved, and moments of oneness with all of it occurred for me. When I become still, and quiet with horses in nature the incredible occurs, and I find my peace, and place in the world.

Where do you find your peace? Where is your place in the world? Can’t find it, feeling lost? Contact me, I can help you find it.

Love, Marsha

PS. For more incredible BreathWork & Horses consider our October, Power of Your Presence Retreat!

PSS. Coming soon information on Yoga & Horses Retreat also in the beautiful Sonoran Desert November!

The Space Between

Life is lived in the expansion and contraction of the breath. Life is lived between the seconds, between the cells in the moments of presence to what is now in this moment…the moment inside me, the moment outside me, the moment in the connection to all that is greater than me. Expansion to see beyond me, Contraction to see within me. To be me, here, now before it becomes next. Life lived in this very breath, moment, space is where you find love and peace.

Expand, Contract, Breathe between your cells, the seconds, and find peace in the now.

No peace? Contact me to find peace.

12 3 4 5