Episode 152: A Relationship with Yourself: Lessons Learned through Self Reflection
Ron wasn't always as self-reflective as he is now, it is something he learned as a result of difficult relationships. At some point he realized that if he wanted healthy, loving relationships, he was going to have to be a person who earned them, a person who learned from his mistakes.
It was a process, becoming a self-listener. Ron learned to take a step back after conversations to reflect on how they went, the good and the bad, and what he might have done right or what he could have done better. Eventually he started taking that step back during conversations, rather than waiting until afterward, so he could see where he was going and make necessary adjustments either to shift the conversation in a more positive direction, or recognize when it was time to cut and run.
Wisdom from a Veteran on Veteran's Day 2020
This week’s episode of the podcast was an unexpected opportunity to record a conversation I had with a dear friend and veteran Ron Burns – on Veteran’s Day – in my home.
We usually get together for a beer when he visits, and as we started talking, and he started sharing stories and thoughts about current events, I realized this would make a great episode. On many occasions I walk away from a conversation inspired and touched, and disappointed that I didn't record it. This time I was ahead of myself, thank goodness, and asked if I could hit the record button on my phone.
Ron grew up in the northwest part of Montana, where cold weather means significantly under zero degrees and windchill that can freeze your lungs when you inhale. You could say people there are hardy. Or crazy. Or both.
We met just a few years after my family moved to Montana. Our mutual friend Stephanie introduced us one evening at a bar where a large group had congregated on a winter evening. Five minutes into our very first conversation, he dropped unexpected wisdom into my heart, words I carry with me now, nearly 20 years later. It was about relationships, and his caring, thoughtful words were exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.
Ron wasn't always as self-reflective as he is now, it is something he learned as a result of difficult relationships. At some point he realized that if he wanted healthy, loving relationships, he was going to have to be a person who earned them, a person who learned from his mistakes.
It was a process, becoming a self-listener. Ron learned to take a step back after conversations to reflect on how they went, the good and the bad, and what he might have done right or what he could have done better. Eventually he started taking that step back during conversations, rather than waiting until afterward, so he could see where he was going and make necessary adjustments either to shift the conversation in a more positive direction, or recognize when it was time to cut and run.
This quality is something I noticed early in our relationship, and have always appreciated the thoughtfulness he puts into his language and actions.
I realized something during this conversation: If more people took the time and effort to consider their own roles in communication and miscommunication, people in our communities would be much healthier and happier.
And now... I'm introducing you to Ron Burns for your listening pleasure.
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About Sarah:
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by my band, Spare Change, in my living room in Montana.
Episode 151: Every Situation Can Become A Meaningful Story
It was tempting to hunker down and immediately get to work, even though I knew I wouldn't be inspired or productive, mostly spinning my wheels and finding opportunities for distraction.
Instead, I forced myself to put on my hiking boots and take the dog for a long walk. I knew if I could get myself outside for a little while, I'd be far more productive for the rest of the day.
I was right.
Self-Reflection Can Help You Rid Your World of "Shoulds"
I woke up the other day inspired to write a blog post encouraging people to really re-think their holidays this year, to avoid trying to make them feel “normal”, and stressing out over obligations they cannot meet.
Madly typing away, I knew I was on to something important, inspiring even!
For some reason, I saved the article without sharing or posting it anywhere.
When I woke up the next day, I was faced with two struggles:
Our major kitchen remodel would be delayed again, and we will not be back in there for Thanksgiving, and
I received an email that made me uncomfortable, and had to acknowledge something I didn’t want to see in myself, something I really don’t love.
It was tempting to hunker down and immediately get to work, even though I knew I wouldn't be inspired or productive, mostly spinning my wheels and finding opportunities for distraction.
Instead, I forced myself to put on my hiking boots and take the dog for a long walk. I knew if I could get myself outside for a little while, I'd be far more productive for the rest of the day.
I was right.
As I walked in the snow in the crisp, clear air, I realized the tone of my article was too “preachy.” It happens sometimes when I have an idea I really want to share, an idea I believe will make a positive impact on people.
Toby is definitely a mountain & snow dog. Mt Helena, Helena, Montana
But I know better than to write and speak about things as if I’m separate from them, that if I want to have an impact, the lesson has to take the form of a personal story. Understanding why I didn’t post the article helped me realize that THAT was the thing I didn’t want to see in myself. I had been in the mode of advising, rather than coaching, when I clearly needed to be the latter for that situation.
Finally feeling more clear headed as I walked, I realized that because of the disappointment of the delayed house project, I had a perfect story to share to make my point about rethinking the holidays this year.
Rethinking Our Holiday Season
Our Thanksgiving and Hanukkah have always been pretty low-key. We’ve lived at least 750 miles from our nearest family member since we moved to Montana 21 years ago. Even so, the holidays can be stressful for me, when it comes time to acknowledge our family with gifts that are meaningful, especially because we live so far away and don’t see each other often.
I recently recorded an episode of Unapologetically Bold, I’m Not Sorry For… with Emily Elrod, and we talked about removing the word “should” from our vocabulary. This was in the context of internal “shoulds”, like “I should go to the gym” or “I should eat a salad instead of these potato chips.” And also our external “shoulds” like “you shouldn’t eat those potato chips” and “you should change your oil every 5,000 miles!”
Should can be condescending, but worse for me is how it is associated with obligation.
Anyone who has gone to a family Thanksgiving dinner that they really didn’t want to go to understands obligation. What they might not realize is that the people at the table know you’re feeling obligated and that you don’t really want to be there.
What do you think that does to your relationships? Obligation is the precursor to guilt, neither are good for relationships.
But how to we back out without making things worse?
Imagine that you’ve invited a close friend over for dinner, and she shows up but obviously doesn’t want to be there. She thinks she’s being subtle, that you don’t know, but of course you feel it.
She felt obligated for one reason or another, and here she is. Do you notice her distance? Does it bother you that she didn’t feel like she could say something to you, to cancel or postpone the date? Or do you relish in her feeling obligated, does it make you feel good that she came only because she had to, not because she wanted to? I doubt it.
What if she said: “I can’t join you and your family for dinner, it’s uncomfortable for me, too chaotic. I’d like to have dinner with just you so we can really connect. Is next Saturday okay?”
She’s being honest about her discomfort, and though it’s a little painful that your family creates discomfort for her, aren’t you grateful for her honesty? Plus, she’s not making up an excuse, and she’s asking for a specific time – with the specific intention to spend time with you, as opposed to saying “raincheck?”
Here we are, heading into holidays full of “should”, obligation, and guilt.
Are Those "Shoulds" Yours, or Do They Belong to Someone Else?
When I say remodel, I’m serious!
I had a grand vision of Thanksgiving in our home in our newly renovated kitchen. We’ve spent 20 years in the house and have done a lot of critical projects inside this 1890 Victorian in the mountains, but we hadn’t touched the kitchen… until now.
You can imagine my disappointment when I heard the news that we wouldn’t be back in the kitchen until at least the week after Thanksgiving.
My vision of hosting our grown sons and their girlfriends in our new kitchen was crushed.
Here’s the thing I have to remember: Nothing has been normal or predictable about 2020.
Our kids know this isn’t normal, and if there’s one thing they’ve learned this year, it’s that life is unpredictable, even going to school isn’t guaranteed!
For the duration of this project I’ve been filled with gratitude. We have a place to live while this is going on, a small AirBnB apartment with a fully equipped kitchen.
On my walk, I realized I had to practice what I preach: I had to rethink my holidays this year.
This year is different in so many ways, including our opportunity to rethink what actually makes us happy, what our priorities are, and to make adjustments to our rituals and traditions to meet those priorities. We get to decide which ones serve us and our family and which do not.
I texted our boys to let them know the change in plans, and that we would have a limited Thanksgiving menu this year: Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, green vegetable. I asked them what food was their favorite for this holiday, and promised to make it sometime over the weekend. (Partly because I simply love to cook!)
Guess what? They’re FINE with the change in plans. One of them even replied: “It’s all good, mom, as long as we can be together.”
We are going to celebrate Thanksgiving this year in a completely different way, in a small apartment filled with laughter, food, and likely some whiskey.
We might discover some new traditions and rituals to add to our future holidays, or maybe it’ll be just this one year that we celebrate differently.
I know it will be meaningful, and rather than stress about “trying to make it as normal as possible” (as if normal always equals good), I’ll simplify our Thanksgiving celebration.
I am giving up obligation this year and following my heart, giving and receiving based on the impact I want to have on the people around me, not on someone else’s should.
What will you do to make this year different in a good way? What new traditions will you create to make this meaningful and special? How will you acknowledge the love for your family if you cannot be with them during the holidays?
You can do this. I can do this. We’ve been through so much already this year, let’s make the most of this opportunity.
Here's a great article that describes the value of creating rituals when life feels uncertain and unpredictable:
“Having rituals is a reliable way to come back to something that is comforting, familiar and meaningful — no matter how out-of-control our life feels...” ~ Nick Hobson
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About Sarah:
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will, will be released in mid-November, and for a limited time, the ebook is just $0.99!
As a special bonus for listeners, the book will include two songs recorded by my band, Spare Change, in my living room in Montana. Keep an eye out for announcements through LinkedIn and via my Elkins Consulting Facebook & Instagram pages, or visit my website to learn more.
Episode 150: If You Dream of It, Work for It, and Make It Happen, Is it Still Magic?
Meg Nocero worked as a prosecuting attorney for 20 years. She saw every kind of human in that work, and yes, after a while the job might have contributed to trust issues.
You Can Tell Yourself a Story of Magic, of Resilience, of Persistence, and It Will Happen
Meg Nocero worked as a prosecuting attorney for 20 years. She saw every kind of human in that work, and yes, after a while the job might have contributed to trust issues.
But when she lost her mom, she felt like a corner of the foundation of her home started to crumble, causing a sense of imbalance, of instability.
Her counselor suggested that she start writing about all of what her mom left her - the legacy she left in her wisdom and stories. What started as a coping strategy turned into a blog with a big audience, and then into a book, The Magical Guide to Bliss.
Meg as a contestant on The Price is Right
That book became the renewed cornerstone for her foundation, stabilizing her home, and rebuilding her sense of self, her resilience and strength.
This is it, a dream come true! Meg spins the $1.00 on the big wheel!
Our conversation was full of laughs, beginning with Meg's hilarious story of being a contestant on The Price is Right while traveling to California as a celebratory trip after graduating from college.
If you're wondering what I mean when I say Meg is magical, you'll definitely want to listen in.
Sparkle & Shine Mantra #50, as read on the podcast.
Another dream becoming reality, standing on stage with Oprah.
You’ll hear how Meg managed her magic to end up on stage with Oprah Winfrey, and the story of leaving her job as a prosecutor to start her own business, helping other women take a similar leap - and to find their own magic.
To learn more about Meg and her work, check out the links below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-nocero-esq-686b8715/
https://www.facebook.com/meggiebliss
instagram- @megnocero
twitter- @megnocero
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCati3jiHnBi5ym6z8Pcu5iQ?view_as=subscriber
Meg Nocero, Esq. is an attorney (former federal prosecutor) inspirational speaker, certified empowerment coach and award winning author of The Magical Guide to Bliss, Daily Keys to Unlock Your Dreams, Spirit & Inner Bliss. She holds a BA in Spanish, with a concentration in Italian from Boston College; a MA in International Affairs from the University of Miami; and a JD from St. Thomas University School of Law. Ms. Nocero is the owner of Butterflies & Bliss, LLC, founded a non-profit called S.H.I.N.E. Networking Inc. that provides educational scholarships to young innovative leaders, and is a Love Button Global Movement Ambassador.
She published her book Sparkle & Shine, 108 M.A.N.T.R.A.s to Brighten Your Day and Lighten Your Way in October 2020. Her memoir called Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief will be published by She Writes Press in September 2021.She is a contributing writer for the collaboration entitled Price of Greatness, Thrive Girl Thrive and a contributing author for Amy Butler’s book Blossom: Create Love-Express Beauty-Be Kind released in January 2016 in addition to her on-line magazine of the same name.
About Sarah:
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will, will be released in mid-November, and for a limited time, the ebook is just $0.99!
As a special bonus for listeners, the book will include two songs recorded by my band, Spare Change, in my living room in Montana. Keep an eye out for announcements through LinkedIn and via my Elkins Consulting Facebook & Instagram pages, or visit my website to learn more.
Episode 149: The Story of Your Life Starts Early When Your Future Presents Itself to You
Michael sat with his mother when she went to the hospital for breast cancer treatment appointments. He was struck by the compassionate care of her doctors, the fact that they treated her with dignity, kindness, and as if she was far more than a patient or a diagnosis.
He was in high school at the time, and had all kinds of ideas about what he wanted for his future. That experience, though, gave him the inspiration and motivation he needed, and he signed up for pre-med classes the following semester.
One Experience Inspired Michael's Career Goals
Michael sat with his mother when she went to the hospital for breast cancer treatment appointments. He was struck by the compassionate care of her doctors, the fact that they treated her with dignity, kindness, and as if she was far more than a patient or a diagnosis.
He was in high school at the time, and had all kinds of ideas about what he wanted for his future. That experience, though, gave him the inspiration and motivation he needed, and he signed up for pre-med classes the following semester.
When he graduated from high school and started school at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, he was well on his way toward his dream - he would be a doctor.
Michael Fuller and I have been friends for years, thanks to my introduction to his parents. I've always found both Michael and his brother, Joshua, to be thoughtful, considerate people, and that isn't at all surprising, given what I know of their parents.
As he's grown into himself and his future, we've taken opportunities to go for long walks together, sit in coffee shops, and even have a beer together (after his 21st birthday, of course), and have had deeply thoughtful, insightful conversations.
Michael Fuller, Summit of Mt. Helena, March 2020
It occurred to me that his story is one many can related to: The decision to go into a specific area of study and work as a result of watching a loved one go through a difficult situation.
You'll hear that Michael finished his bachelor's degree and has been accepted into a few medical school programs. He hasn't decided yet where he'll go. I know that whatever his future holds in terms of a career and location, he will contribute an extraordinary amount of courage, kindness, compassion and healing to those fortunate enough to find themselves in his care.
And if I'm lucky, I might just get a hold of his brother for another episode of Your Stories Don't Define You.
About Sarah:
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will, will be released in mid-November, and for a limited time, the ebook is just $0.99!
As a special bonus for listeners, the book will include two songs recorded by my band, Spare Change, in my living room in Montana. Keep an eye out for announcements through LinkedIn and via my Elkins Consulting Facebook & Instagram pages, or visit my website to learn more.
Episode 148: Your Stories Don't Define You. How You Tell Them Will
This week’s episode of the podcast is a sneak peek of the audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will, to be released in mid-November. For a limited time, the ebook is just $0.99!
As a special bonus for listeners, the book will include two songs recorded by my band, Spare Change, in my living room in Montana. Keep an eye out for announcements through LinkedIn and via my Elkins Consulting Facebook & Instagram pages, or visit my website to learn more.
Sneak Peek of the Audiobook to be Released November 2020!
Hi, I’m Sarah Elkins, your host, and Chief Storymaker at Elkins Consulting.
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
This week’s episode of the podcast is a sneak peek of the audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will, to be released in mid-November. For a limited time, the ebook is just $0.99!
As a special bonus for listeners, the book will include two songs recorded by my band, Spare Change, in my living room in Montana. Keep an eye out for announcements through LinkedIn and via my Elkins Consulting Facebook & Instagram pages, or visit my website to learn more.
Episode 147: Every Person Has A Story to Tell if You Ask the Right Question
It was one of at least a dozen stories like it that my aunt, my father’s sister, told me when she visited. Each of her stories would start with something like “when we moved and needed to…, we met the nicest person!”
My uncle, who is far less exuberantly friendly, would shake his head, and with a small smile on his face he mumbled: “You always say that.”
How Stories Can Bring Out the Best in the People Around You
Everyone has a story, and I mean everyone.
Fran & Jeff at the Dearborn River, Scapegoat Wilderness Area, Montana, 2020
“When the guy came to deliver our new washer and dryer, he kept looking at me like he wanted to say something, like he knew me. Instead of just letting it go, I asked him if he grew up here, or if he was from somewhere else. Most people around this town aren’t from here. He said he was from northern Virginia, so I asked where he went to school. That’s when his eyes lit up: ‘You were my teacher! I knew you looked familiar but I couldn’t place you!’ I couldn’t believe it, I was so happy as a flood of memories came back to me. He was such a sweet kid, of course I remembered him. I said: 'Yes! Ryan! Now I recognize you, you’re not the little boy I taught anymore. How is your sister?'”
"We had a wonderful conversation and caught up. He told me about his sister, I remembered she was having some reading problems because of an eye condition, and then he told me the story of how he ended up here.”
It was one of at least a dozen stories like it that my aunt, my father’s sister, told me when she visited. Each of her stories would start with something like “when we moved and needed to…, we met the nicest person!”
My uncle, who is far less exuberantly friendly, would shake his head, and with a small smile on his face he mumbled: “You always say that.”
Fran & Jeff & Sarah, at the Dearborn River, Scapegoat Wilderness Area, Montana, 2020
Having my aunt around was a welcome reminder of my father. Until this visit, I never realized how similar they were, and now that my dad is gone, having her around gives me a sense of his presence and keeps his memory closer. It was an awesome visit, we took long hikes together, took time to explore this little town, and ate outside together, constantly sharing stories.
It wasn’t until after they left that I started to think about the way my aunt would tell a story of a contractor, delivery person, or someone else they met when they moved from Virginia to Arizona. My uncle was right, my aunt always had a story to share about the people she met, what they had in common, something interesting the person shared, the kindness they showed toward her and my uncle. Almost every story ended with “they were SO nice.”
It’s months later, and those stories are still with me. I realized that she almost always has these stories of people she meets when we have our marathon phone calls.
It’s not that she is a magnet for interesting, kind people, it’s because she is interested and kind that nearly everyone she meets demonstrates those qualities. People are interesting to her because she demonstrates curiosity and care when she asks questions. People are kind to her because of her kind, open nature. She expresses curiosity instead of judgment when someone does something she wouldn’t do, and when she tells these stories she tells them from a place of observation and thoughtfulness.
Our kitchen under construction. Yes, this is serious.
Our major kitchen remodel began a couple of months ago when I reached out to our local bank to ask about refinancing rates. I went straight to the broker who served us three years ago. I had done a little research to find out typical, current interest rates, but I didn’t bother applying through anyone else. We had a relationship. I knew I could trust her, that she would do her very best to get me the best rate, and that she would have everything in place for the closing, which means less stress for me and my husband. She has great stories to share about her son who is a musician, and the funny things that happened when she and her husband started a similar project.
The company I reached out to for the electrical work is owned by a couple I met while kayaking on the Missouri River. When I called, the woman I met was grateful that I remembered them, and though they’re swamped right now, like all the other good contractors around here, she said she would fit our project into the schedule.
The evening after I met the electrician they sent to do the work, I was telling my husband how kind he is, that he has a degree in something related to wildlife biology from the University of Montana, and that he spent the last many years living on an Indian reservation, where he went to become a certified electrician. I told my husband about his daughters and that he was thrilled to be invited to take a bagful of apples from our trees so he and his youngest could use their new dehydrator as an evening activity – quality time.
That evening as I spoke to my husband about the electrician and mentioned how kind and interesting he was, I saw the same small smile cross my husband’s face as I saw on my uncle’s face. He didn’t have to say anything. The smile said: “You always say that.”
Our kitchen, now with subfloor!
You won’t be surprised to hear that I’ve had many stories since then about the people working with me on this huge project. I’m acting as general contractor, and all of the service providers have had to be patient with me as I figure things out.
From the woman at the city who is handling the permit process, the plumber who showed up at very short notice to disconnect and cap the gas line to the stove so our movers could get it into the truck, the contractor designing and building the cabinets who made a gorgeous turned bowl from one of the 100 year old fir wood beams removed from our ceiling, to the movers and insulation teams who worked with us in those first two days of the project, every story begins or ends with “they were so interesting (or patient, or understanding) and kind!”
Every time I walk away from one of the people providing our services, I think: “I’m so lucky to be having these positive experiences. I know they’re all so busy and fitting us in despite their crazy schedules. We are behind schedule and have found some unexpected issues, and everyone has worked together to do their best to get us back into our kitchen.”
Last night as I finished getting ready for bed, I looked in the mirror and smiled when I saw my father and my aunt looking back at me. Everything suddenly made sense:
People are interesting when you ask the right questions. Every person has a story to tell, and when we listen – when we really listen, the best of who they are is revealed.
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Thanks for listening to this episode of Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will. The book of the same title is now available, and the audiobook version will be released in November, 2020.
If you’re ready to uncover your stories, and learn to uncover the stories of the people around you to create stronger connections and healthier communities, visit elkinsconsulting.com.
While you’re visiting the website, you can learn more about the book and the work we do to improve communication among teams and through our one-to-one coaching.
Episode 146: Transformation Requires a Retelling of Your Story
When we talked about "liminal space", I started to truly apply what I had learned from that article years before, clarity coming as a gift from Heather about liminal space and its relationship with transition and transformation.
Holding Space for Others Leaves More Room for You
I didn't realize until partway through our recording that it was Heather Plett's article about holding space that had caught - and kept - my attention for five years.
When I read the article, I remember sharing it widely and making great efforts to apply Heather's guiding principles to my conversations with our sons, my husband, and my coaching clients.
Heather sent me her book as a gift prior to our conversation, and as I read it I found myself nodding in agreement, immediately connecting dots around my work in communication coaching, and having enough "ah ha" moments about where I've fallen short in my efforts that it made my head spin.
I had to slow down and absorb, rather than rush through so I'd be prepared for our call.
As we talked through some of the parts of the book that really stood out as I read, it finally dawned on me that this was the author of that article I loved so much, and that had such an impact on me more than five years ago.
Heather shared some great moments on her journey so far, about the origins of her viral article, her thoughts about what "holding space" means now, after that phrase has become overused, and how she sees different layers in how we can listen more compassionately and deeply depending on what's being shared.
When we talked about "liminal space", I started to truly apply what I had learned from that article years before, clarity coming as a gift from Heather about liminal space and its relationship with transition and transformation.
The entire conversation was a gift to me, and hopefully a gift to listeners. You will want to get your hands on this book, The Art of Holding Space, a Practice of Love, Liberation, and Leadership.
Be sure to visit Heather's website to learn more about her work, and follow or connect with her on LinkedIn to see what she shares on that platform.
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Sarah Elkins loves to guide individuals and teams to improve communication, using storytelling as the foundation of her work. She is a Gallup certified Strengths coach and uses that tool to coach her clients to improve their communication in all relationships, and to find more satisfaction at work and at home.
Her book, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will is available on bookshop.org (supporting independent booksellers), and on Amazon.
The audiobook will be available on November 4, 2020, and includes two songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change! Visit her website for updates.