“Passionately Serving…”
Shared by Kristina Smedley
“Passionately Serving…”
A key DNA trait of the Mindfluent® Leader.
But can you passionately serve another, without passionately serving yourself first? A couple years ago, I would have answered “Yes.”
Thinking… “putting another ahead of myself feels natural (and is often easier than focusing in on my own stuff)”.
But today, I will confidently answer this question with a firm “NO.”
Just like the saying goes, “You can’t love another without loving yourself.”
I’m certain that we can not serve another’s highest needs without serving ourselves first.
To truly serve another requires a form of love… of compassion, empathy, curiosity, and desire.
Just like with love, our subconscious thoughts, fears, and ego get in the way of truly loving or serving another.
Left hidden, our subconscious clouds our seeing.
Dampens our hearing.
Taints our perceptions.
Left unknown and unaddressed, it lessens our ability to serve another.
I know this for certain after walking a deeply personal path of self-discovery and growth over the last year, after many years of personal development reading, retreats, and more.
Over this last year, I’ve received professional coaching focused on letting go of plans and control, and letting life unfold.
I’ve sought out somatic experience therapy to work on more deeply feeling emotions and broadening the spectrum of emotions present in my life.
Sennad and I have worked with a marriage counselor to address items pushed under the rug and may things left unsaid in our relationship that serves to undermine many of our best efforts.
I’ve learned to share my stories and be more open and vulnerable through our StoryAthlete challenge and community (led by Ryan Fletcher). I’ve learned to be the author of my own story.
I’ve read, experimented, and transformed much of my Inner Critic through the work Breanne and I have been doing together.
I am positive now that I’m better equipped to serve others.
And I see this in my relationships, in the feedback I receive at work, in the results shared by my coaching clients, and in my own thoughts and actions.
I know for certain that if we have the desire to lead others through serving their highest needs, that we must start with serving our own personal development.
But how do I encourage others to bravely step out on to this journey?
I really don’t know besides to say that I promise your view from a few steps along the personal discovery and development journey will be drastically different from where it is right now!
Still… many will never, ever take that first step.
Some are scared to get to know themselves.
Scared of what they’ll find.
Scared of what they’ll need to face.
Scared to feel broken, alone, ashamed.
Fear will stand in their way.
It’s easier to let the subconscious stay hidden. To be ignorant of its effects.
Fear will prevent them from serving and loving themselves, and therefore from serving and loving others to the extent actually possible.
Mindfluent® Leaders understand that to serve first, is to lead. They serve those around them by seeking, identifying, and ensuring that the other’s highest priority needs are being met. They build confidence in others, encourage growth, and set the foundation for healthy relationships, families, and communities.
If it is your desire to lead through serving others, you have a choice…
Step out on your own personal awareness and development path.
Or, allow you subconscious to continue to run your life, ensuring you continue to experience life as you have always experienced it.
You have a choice…
Passionately Serve.
Or don’t.
I hope you’ll join me (and Breanne!) in Passionately Serving yourself and others!
#PassionatelyServing
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