Episode 63: Are You Listening to Your Instincts?
I was introduced to Bill Fox, who lives in Estonia, by a woman who lives here in Helena, Montana, who was introduced to Bill by her husband, who worked with Bill at some point in Washington DC.
So many things had to happen for us to have met, and statistically, it was highly unlikely. And yet...
These days, when a trusted friend or colleague suggests the Bill reach out to someone to connect, he doesn’t hesitate - not for a second.
Over the past 7+ years, every one of those suggestions has turned into something important, something magical, and something life-defining, if not life-changing.
If you’ve read or listened to my work over the past few years, you’ll know that I don’t believe in coincidence. I also don’t believe strictly in fate; that’s an awkward line to walk. Opportunities are everywhere when we’re looking for them, as are obstacles.
Our subconscious minds are powerful - far more powerful than our conscious minds. Our subconscious can pick up all kinds of information from our surroundings that our conscious minds could never keep up with, much less process as subtle, specific things. So when something happens that is incredibly unlikely, our subconscious mind has already picked up all sort so clues about why it happened. It was prepared for this likelihood, even when that thing happening is highly statistically unlikely, because statistics are human-made with information we absolutely know and have available at any specific moment.
Like me, Bill Fox has learned to trust his instincts and his subconsciously-given cues, and that’s how he ended up in Estonia with the love of his life.
Visiting her for the first time, she asked him: “Where will you park your car?”
“At the airport.”
“But what if you don’t return home?”
Learn more about how Bill Fox is helping leaders lead effectively with humanity and compassion on his website, Forward 2.0, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
This image was taken atop of one of the many 14th century artillery towers in Tallinn. It was a magical place and I was amazed to discover this space after climbing (crawling really) several hundred feet up a very narrow and steep stairwell that twisted around the tower. It’s called Kiek in de Kök.
Episode 60: No Such Thing as Coincidence
When We Connect the Dots, We See Purpose in Life and Struggle
Carol Campos doesn't believe in coincidence, but that doesn’t mean she knows exactly why anything actually happens.
But when she looks back at each decision she made, each relationship she spent time nurturing, and each of the choices she made, she can see all of the connections among those choices, bringing her to where she is right now.
From the last couple of years of high school, until she reached a point in a successful career, she followed the path she believed was expected of her. Though she switched gears periodically, and took different steps, she continued to move forward, almost stumbling through her career without real thought or intention.
And then - everything changed. Carol realized she was not only dissatisfied in her career, she didn’t really know how she defined success for herself. So she left her cozy career and took time to really dig into what she wanted, how she defines success, and what she wanted to do next.
So many of us are in transition right now, and with the current workforce shifts, the world of career and professionalism looks completely different from how it looked just five years ago. When we spend time looking back at our patterns, and how each of our choices connects to lead us forward, those transitions become smoother and more comfortable.
Here are a few references from our conversation:
E-Squared, by Pam Grout
Embracing Life Transitions As the New Normal, Podcast episode about transition, restaurant analogy
Elizabeth Gilbert: Flight of the Hummingbird The Curiosity Driven Life, Elizabeth Gilbert
Carol has worked in the corporate world for over 20 years, most recently in a leadership role at a Fortune 10 company. For years she felt that she was meant to do something different, but could never quite put her finger on what that was. For the last 7 years she has immersed herself in classes and workshops, learning about energy healing, meditation, as well as numerous spiritual and holistic topics. In early 2018 she left her corporate job and made the leap into the unknown. What she discovered was that she could combine her extensive business experience with these new, soul-aligned interests. Thus, The Divine Breadcrumb was born!
Carol is a certified Reiki practitioner as well as a certified Angel Card Reader. Most recently she was certified by the HeartMath Institute as an Add-Heart Facilitator, teaching a technique used by thousands of people, including Navy Seals, to achieve heart coherence — a state which greatly improves emotional and physical health.
Carol is passionate about traveling, learning about new cultures and helping people on their own path. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Hofstra University. Carol resides in Massachusetts with her rambunctious rescue cats, Petey and Emmett.
I Don't Believe in Coincidence
Bad things happen to people; how we respond to the good and the bad is what defines us and demonstrates our character.
I really do not believe in coincidence. Though I don't believe strictly in fate, there seems to be a universal plan that provides a sort of balance between fate and free will. Just over a year ago I published a post, An Amazing Universe, about good things that happen when we're open to connecting with people. I have examples of unexpected opportunities that came during good times, but there are probably more that were a result of something bad happening.
Bad things happen to people; how we respond to the good and the bad is what defines us and demonstrates our character.
It has been a hard week for my family. Our home was burglarized while we were asleep upstairs. Thousands of dollars of electronics were stolen from our house. The burglars were silent -- quiet enough to not even wake the dog. We woke up to notice our television was gone, as were my laptop (and backup hard drive), our new camera, my husband's phone and wallet, my purse, and a variety of other items. While I called the police, I was rummaging around my room to find the copy I had made of the credit cards in my purse. The police were knocking on the door as I finished one of the many calls that would be required over the next few days.
Our two boys were especially disappointed to lose the tv, Xbox360 and games.
I'm not optimistic that we'll get any of our valuables back, but I'm hopeful the people will be caught. I'd love to have a chance to talk to them, to show them the face of a person they hurt, to tell them this was not a victimless crime.
Thinking back on the week, from the moment we realized we had been burglarized, I've been on an emotional roller coaster. One moment all I can think about is how grateful I am that no one was injured, that no one woke up to confront the burglars. How would we know they weren't armed? What could have been waiting for one of us as we came down the stairs, unprepared to see strangers looting our home? And the next moment I see RED. I'm so angry! I can't stand to feel like a victim! ...And yet. I think about the people in our community who have responded with such compassion and caring, having heard what happened to our family.
Why did I start this post with my statement that I don't believe in coincidence? Because, although I'm heartbroken for my family's loss of security, my loss of valuables, including hours & hours of writing stolen with my laptop, I'm also hopeful. The universe puts obstacles in our paths and we have a choice in how we view them. I choose to view this as an opportunity to see things differently. Though I'm still angry and hurt, I'm not sleeping well, and my muscles are sore from exercising to clear my head, I remain hopeful that this obstacle the universe put in my path is just another opportunity waiting to be discovered.
Do you choose to see opportunity in challenges? Do you choose to find the lessons?