Liz Hall is editor of Coaching at Work, a highly experienced coach, and a multi-published author. She has particular knowledge, experience and skill in mindfulness. Here, she talks movingly with Neil about her experience of using Neil’s Wheel, a couple of days after the coaching conversation.
Liz was also inspired shared this poem which she penned…
I am the river
Loved, held and invited by my trusted friend and coach
To enter- and trust- a space of mystery and emergence,
I turn to:
What are my values? What’s my calling, my meaning, my purpose?
Just a small exploration then….
There are many questions, and no answers, I say.
It feels important, I say. I notice tears somewhere out on the edges.
Then I deftly, I feel, and somewhat swiftly move to other explorations. I draw on the power of words, one of my super-powers, my mightiest defence yet often my downfall as they aid my hiding from what’s true, from what matters.
Aha, not so fast- it feels important, you say, says he. Stay with the feeling, he gently suggests.
Into the feeling I go. The tears rise, and start to fall. There’s a sense of a bubbling up. I don’t know what it is, and every time I try to interpret, stay with the feeling, he gently suggests.
Compassion. Love. Connection. These are here, I say. It’s about connecting with others, in these difficult times. Compassion, love, connection: it’s like a river, I see and say.
Need to be in the river. It’s far too painful being on the riverbank, separate.
But it’s painful being in the river too.
I AM the river, I realise-remember. That’s all there is.
I sense grief and loss, he says.
Grief and loss are part of the love, some deep wise part of me responds. You can’t have love without loss.
Deep and perennially wise. Peaceful. Tender. Connected.
I have no urge to explore further. This insight, this remembering, this re-membering is what’s true.
I AM the river. WE are the river.