Greetings! July 2003 I hope you are enjoying the summer! This upcoming month seems to be a month where many of us take vacations, we relax and enjoy the warmth before September kicks in. It is also a time of "letting go". With that, I thought I would introduce the theme of “Knowing” and to be able to let go of having the need to know what is next. I hope you enjoy the "Monthly Workout"! If, at any time, you would like to unsubscribe, simply go to the end of the newsletter. With joy! Jean M. DiGiovanna, President, ThinkPeople Monthly Theme Monthly Workout Monthly Poem Upcoming Workshops/ Events To Know or not to Know? That is the Question. How often do you wish you could see into the future and know how it will turn out - what it will look like, what you will have and who you will be? So often, we want to know the outcome in advance. Will I get that job offer? Should I stay where I am or should I move? Will he/she say yes? We question whether we are making the “right” decision and then before we know it, we control the situation so much that we force an outcome. We may get the result we want…or not! It is natural to want to know the answers to important questions in our life. But, what often happens is we get so attached to a particular outcome that when it doesn’t happen, we are disappointed. Have you ever had a situation where you were so attached to what you wanted, and in the end, it didn’t turn out that way? But then, a week, month or several years pass by and looking back, you realize, it turned out better than you could have possibly imagined. What if you didn’t always feel the need to know? What would be possible if the pressure were off? There is something available to us when we let go of having to know the answer or even more specific, having to come up with the “right” answer. It is when we attach to a specific outcome or result that we get ourselves into trouble. I’ll never forget a quote a dear friend of mine shared with me years ago when I was struggling with where to take my business and what I really wanted in my life to be fulfilled. He said “Your life is none of your business”. When he told me this, I was shocked. “What do you mean, my life is none of my business?!! Of course it is!” Then, after playing with the quote a bit, I got to see what it really meant. That we “think” we can control everything in our life, but in reality, there is very little we can control. And, there are so many things we cannot know. It is not to say that we shouldn’t attempt to create the life we want, for that is our true nature. What I am pointing to is that we don’t always have control of the outcome. Do you find yourself “pushing” and “controlling” things, or are you allowing your life to unfold and staying open to what is possible? To allow is to trust that your life will unfold in just the perfect way. There is beauty and power in the mystery of the unfolding and there is incredible freedom in letting go of the need to know. The choice is yours. What will YOUR choice be today? Cheers, Jean M. DiGiovanna Monthly Workout: Letting go of having to know Think of a situation you are currently facing where you either feel unsure of your direction, or you feel the need to know, or you notice you are “pushing” or “controlling” the outcome. Take a step back for a moment and answer the following questions: What is the outcome you would like? (e.g. I would like to get the job offer) How attached are you to having that outcome? (e.g. very attached!) If you were able to let go of the attachment to the outcome, what would be possible for you? For others? How might you feel? (e.g. I could be more present in my current job and relationship. I might feel more relaxed in my day-to-day. Others around me would be less stressed) What would you need to give up or take on to let go of the attachment? (e.g. I would need to take on the belief that if I am meant to get the job, I will get it. And, the belief that if not this job, another one will show up. I might need to give up worrying about whether I will get it or not) Are you willing to give up or take that on? (e.g. Yes, I am willing…yikes!) If you are ready to let go, I invite you to take on this challenge: Every moment you feel attached, practice letting go in that moment. To continue to build the muscle of "letting go", create a structure that will keep it alive for you. This may be in the form of reminder notes with affirmations on them of what you are giving up or taking on. It could be asking the support of a friend to call you on it when you get too attached to an outcome. Create a structure that fits and works for you. Continue to stay open to the unknown and allow for the answer and outcome to unfold!! I look forward to hearing what transpires for you! (please e-mail me at jdigi@thinkpeople.com) Feel free to call me at 617-566-8775 if you feel stuck. Remember: This may sound simple, but it is not always easy. It is a shift in mindset and takes rigor, commitment and sometimes a leap of faith! Poem of the Month: KNOWING How will I know what path to take, what steps to make, for there is so much out there to experience, to see, to learn. There are times we may feel we need to know the direction either way, but is it really crucial in order to live day to day? The day will come, when I will wake up and know. Know not what the future will hold, but what path will unfold. We must consider this, my dear. We don’t always need to know. Cherish each moment as it comes and allow for what it has to show.                          ~ by Jean M. DiGiovanna Upcoming Workshops, Events, Announcements For those who coach - Check out Coaching with Clarity Cards, a new product under “The Coaches Toolbox” at http://www.thinkpeople.com/szw I will be taking the summer off from running Workshops, so stay tuned for upcoming workshops in the Fall. Curious about what coaching is like? Call for a 30 minute complementary coaching session. Bring a topic, get a resolution! Call 617-566-8775. I hope you've enjoyed ThinkPeople's Monthly Workout and found value out of it! Feel free to forward to your friends, family and colleagues. To read past editions of ThinkPeople's Newsletters and to learn more about our services and products, visit us at http://www.thinkpeople.com/resources.html If you wish to unsubscribe, please e-mail unsubscribe@thinkpeople.com Copyright Info: ThinkPeople's Monthly Workout for the mind, heart and soul is ©2003 Jean M. DiGiovanna. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher. Jean M. DiGiovanna, Publisher Amy Rewakowski, Editor ThinkPeople ~ Playground for Shifting Reality jdigi@thinkpeople.com http://www.thinkpeople.com/ 617.566.8775