I was in the forest a few mornings ago, before the sun had hit the forest floor. It was cold at the top of the trail and frigid by the time we hit the bottom of the canyon. To stay warm, my running partner and I decided to run “backwards” on one of our regular loops. This would get us moving uphill right away, and we would get warm quickly.
As we started up the trail, I noticed that I had to pay attention in a way that I normally don’t. The fallen tree that we usually hop over was a climb in this direction. The roots and rocks that my feet are accustomed to navigating without notice were in different places and posed a tripping hazard. When we came upon a fork in the road, I had to stop and look because it wasn’t immediately obvious which way to go.
I love this kind of experience! It makes me wake up! It brings to my attention, all of the ways that I go through life on auto pilot without really noticing three-quarters of what is happening around me.
And, it reminds me how imperative it is that we find regular (but not habitual) ways to “shake-up” our perspective and try to see things with a fresh mind. Driving home a different way from work; trying a new restaurant or a new food; reading a new book on a familiar subject… all of these are ways that we can shift our perspective and see the world “anew!”
And of course, my favorite is taking a class! (I’ll bet you guessed that!) Professional development is about more than just getting better at your job skills. It’s about stretching yourself mentally- and sometimes emotionally. It’s about meeting new people and hearing about new ways of doing things. It’s about looking inward, and assessing how you are doing from a new point of view.Contact us if you want to learn more about the courses we offer!
Written by Claire Laughlin, Consultant & Trainer
As we started up the trail, I noticed that I had to pay attention in a way that I normally don’t. The fallen tree that we usually hop over was a climb in this direction. The roots and rocks that my feet are accustomed to navigating without notice were in different places and posed a tripping hazard. When we came upon a fork in the road, I had to stop and look because it wasn’t immediately obvious which way to go.
I love this kind of experience! It makes me wake up! It brings to my attention, all of the ways that I go through life on auto pilot without really noticing three-quarters of what is happening around me.
And, it reminds me how imperative it is that we find regular (but not habitual) ways to “shake-up” our perspective and try to see things with a fresh mind. Driving home a different way from work; trying a new restaurant or a new food; reading a new book on a familiar subject… all of these are ways that we can shift our perspective and see the world “anew!”
And of course, my favorite is taking a class! (I’ll bet you guessed that!) Professional development is about more than just getting better at your job skills. It’s about stretching yourself mentally- and sometimes emotionally. It’s about meeting new people and hearing about new ways of doing things. It’s about looking inward, and assessing how you are doing from a new point of view.Contact us if you want to learn more about the courses we offer!
Written by Claire Laughlin, Consultant & Trainer
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