The Leadership Blog by Ann Vanino

I read blog post today by Alexandra Levit on speaking up when you are feeling overwhelmed at work.

Her angle on speaking up when you feel overwhelmed is intriguing to me. When I work with someone who is overwhelmed at work, I usually help them first turn their focus inward. We look carefully at what is going on at work and how they are responding. After they have centered and gain a clear sense of what is going on, we get to their speaking up, if they need to. After reading the blog piece, I thought what if I started with the recommendation for them to speak up? It’s an interesting approach. When things are too much at work, you can start by imagining a conversation with your boss and refining it from there. This gets you right into action and on your way to rebalancing.

Tranquility is not a state you usually think of in relation to work. Does it have a role? Should you seek tranquility in your work? It may have benefits. When you have tranquility you are calm and centered. That certainly can help in decision making. When you are tranquil you see things more clearly. Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually you benefit from tranquility. Is it achievable? I think it is a state of mind to strive for. Just because it is not common in today‚s work place does not make it an unworthy pursuit. I’m going to give it a try to be more tranquil in my work.

How do you create an environment of hope for youth as they begin their hero’s journey?  Listen to them. Be there as they develop and explore their dreams. Allow that their dreams are real. Support youth as they pursue their dreams. Love their dreams and let them know you do. It is their dreams that will propel them forward. Help youth build their strength to withstand disappointments and challenges. Nurture the idea that each youth is on a hero’s journey that will be a wonderful adventure that includes great times and difficult times. Hope will get them through. Start with your hopes for their realization of their dreams and their hope will be nurtured and grow.

How balanced are you? How do you juggle the many requirements of your life and still have time for you?

Balance is a state of equilibrium among the various demands of your life. Maintaining balance allows you to function effectively and productively. In sports, a balance of offense and defense produces a winning season. Upsetting balance creates a condition of disproportion and chaos in your life.

Maintaining balance requires that you step back and look at the state of your life on a regular basis. What elements of your life are out of balance? What can you do to bring your life into balance?
EXERCISE
Use the wheel (click here to download PDF) to assess how balanced your life is.

“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living.” — Joseph Campbell

In the past year, I have found a new passion: developing ways for youth to build meaningful and fulfilling careers. As I worked on a Foundation project focused on the needs of out of school youth, I became aware of how the Hero’s Journey can inform youth. The Hero’s Journey comes from the structure of ancient and modern mythology. This structure contains elements that inform the lives of its readers. In ancient times, as well as today, myths informed people about the mysterious and unknown aspects of life and how to live their lives well. In the Hero’s Journey, there are stages: ordinary life, the call to adventure, refusal of the call, meeting mentors and allies, saying yes to the call, tests, inner searching, big challenges, rewards, completing the journey and returning to the world a changed person.

As youth grow and prepare for life, they begin a Hero’s Journey. At times, society pressures for conformity (don’t worry about liking your job, find a job that can support you financially, and forget about your crazy dreams). In contrast, the Hero’s Journey is an adventure that will lead youth to finding who they are and what they love. What better way to approach life.

I’ll be writing more about opening the door to the Hero’s Journey for youth. Stay tuned.