Jann’s Jottings #5

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Dec 6

Jann’s Jottings # 5

“The most practical pages for perusal on the web”

Jotting (defn): short details of significant events, behaviours and conversations about wellbeing, growth, and career.

Wellbeing Jot: Disappointment as Teacher

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell and got back up again”

— Nelson Mandela

Our needs and longings are the deep cries of our soul; however it can be difficult to hear these in the busy-ness of everyday. At this time of year, we are completing, finishing, and closing the requirements of the year and we can carry a feeling of disappointment and self-judgement of perhaps not doing our best, or reactions that we are less than proud of, or perhaps it is the weight of unfulfilled promises we made to ourselves and others.

Disappointment can feel like sadness or displeasure caused by not fulfilling our hopes, expectations and promises. What to do?

Identify your feelings of disappointment.
Be kind to yourself and put judgment aside.
Say sorry where needed.
Find a colleague, friend or partner to support you.
Consider what learning you can take from the experience.
Get moving and get back in the game – we need you!

Disappointment is inevitable, but can also be a sign that opportunities are just around the corner. Some of the most remarkable discoveries were made by mistake.

Ponder this: What have you learned through disappointment this year that will serve you in doing things differently in the new year?

You’ve got this!

Growth Jot: Exercising Courage

The word courage comes from the French word ‘couer’, meaning heart or have heart.

Having heart requires us to take action on what really matters. Like the Lion in the Wizard of Oz, who states, “My life is simply unbearable without a bit of courage”, we all have what it takes to be courageous when something larger than fear is at stake. Our body responds to fear, through a high heart rate, sweaty palms, shaking, shots of adrenaline that can be channelled to support us to make a bold move despite our fear.

Recently I completed an ocean swim trek in the Whitsundays, which was awesome. Growing up at the beach and a strong swimmer, on the face of it I knew I could handle the conditions well. But standing on the boat, waiting for the go signal, I felt all the familiar fear signals based on one word that was circling in my mind – shark! My body went into a fear state, but my desire to swim in those warm, clear waters with beautiful coral reefs below me, was greater. It took courage, composure, confidence and lots of positive self-talk to jump in anyway and I am here to tell the tale!

We have the strength and courage to take a stand for what is important to us. What challenge will you set for yourself for 2024 that will take courage?

You have the skills, courage, and drive to achieve your goals. I know you can do it!

Career Jot: The Gift of Choosing

“The first job of any leader is to inspire trust. Trust is confidence born of two dimensions: character and competence. Character includes your integrity, motive, and intent with people. Competence includes your capabilities, skills, results, and track record. Both dimensions are vital.”

— Stephen M.R. Covey

When we show up as fully as possible, make decisions using our character and competence and be ourselves, it has a trickle-down effect on others, especially as leaders. Living and working with the mask of perfection on is tiring, disheartening, and confining. When we can courageously show up, living our values with honesty, making decisions as a caring and professional leader with integrity, we give ourselves and others the opportunity to show up authentically and be themselves too. We can choose: