Tag Archives: Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.”

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“A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, American writer and philosopher

576Image from Flickr by ruifernandes.

Whether you are a loyal subscriber to The Quotable Coach, or you are reading this blog for the first time, we have something in common: a commitment, even a passion, for growth and development.

This characteristic is right up there with optimism and open-mindedness as critical factors associated with success in a coaching relationship.

One of the most important reasons for this is what’s often referred to as “social support”: beyond the coach’s direct support of your journey, it is imperative to have an advocacy base amongst friends and family.

Exercise:

How can you, through your association with highly capable, committed, and supportive friends and family, expand and enhance the choirs of their support to more completely realize your fullest growth potential?

“Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

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“Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, American writer and philosopher

572Image from Flickr by Genista.

One of my favorite magazines is Fast Company. It offers a regular (over)dose of what’s new, what’s happening, and what’s hot in technology, business, and design. Its focus is on three different franchises, including most innovative companies, most creative people in business, and masters of design.

Based on creativity, real-world impact, risk-taking, and successful execution, the people and companies profiled are without question building some of the world’s best mousetraps.

Exercise:

What are some of your vocational and/or avocational projects where you hope to attract the world to your door? What new or better mousetraps will you build to do just that?

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful. Welcome it in every face, in every sky, in every flower.”

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“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful. Welcome it in every face, in every sky, in every flower.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, American writer and philosopher

507Image from Flickr by Parvin

We are a couple of weeks into spring and with daylight savings time here in North America, the hours of sunshine and even the temperatures are headed in the right direction. Just this week, I’ve noticed a broader smile on the faces of many of my clients as they walk in the door.

Emerson knew that beauty from virtually any source has a transformative power that can add a special and very noticeable boost to each and every day.

Exercise:

Imagine that the windshield of your car, the lenses of your glasses (if you wear them) and even the lenses of your eyes enhance your ability to see beauty by 100%.

Consider capturing this awareness in a journal, or even in your smartphone by taking a photograph.

Sometime this week, bring a bit more beauty into your physical world, at home or at work, to enjoy the boost it provides.

“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.”

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“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, American writer and philosopher

487Image from Flickr by Celestine Chua.

Self-reflective work, as part of a coaching journey, can produce remarkable results. Pursuing greater inner peace through some of the seven strategies below may help:

1. Seek to love and appreciate others and not control them.

2. Moderate your convictions and consider the viewpoints and perspectives of others.

3. Increase your tolerance of others who are different; learn to better “live and let live.”

4. Embrace your ability to have compassion for others and avoid all forms of violence.

5. Seek forgiveness when you hurt others and be willing to forgive those that may hurt you.

6. Create a naturally beautiful place of peace in your world to provide a sanctuary away from the chaos of your fast-moving life.

7. Do work that you love – that makes a difference in the lives of others – even if this is not your primary vocation. Consider volunteering for a cause you believe in.

Exercise:

Please engage with at least one of the strategies above and determine how it helps you live a more peaceful life.

Consider discussing this list with others in your world, so that you can take this peaceful journey together.

Please reply to this post with some of your best peace-producing strategies to add to the list.

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could…”

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“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher

455Image from Flickr by jovom.

I have a pet peeve: receiving the answer “not bad” when I ask someone how they’re doing. What constitutes a “bad” day and what exactly does “not bad” actually mean? Sure, we all have those days when things don’t go exactly as we planned – in fact, they rarely do. The question to ponder here is how upset you get when this occurs.Consider daily blunders and absurdities as very tiny leaks from a great glass of your favorite beverage. No matter what happens, you can always maintain at least a half-full perspective, knowing that each new day starts overflowing with possibilities.

Exercise:

Try on the idea of “what you get done each day is what you get done” and learn to be satisfied with whatever shows up. With each new day, consciously choose to be fully alive.

Our Greatest Glory

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“Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image from www.imdb.com

Image from www.imdb.com

One of my favorite movies of all time is Rudy,  in which the main character is a small and very feisty football player with a passion for the University of Notre Dame. Through dogged determination, persistence, and a tenacity rarely seen, he takes quite a beating by being a veritable practice dummy for the first team – and eventually rises to glory in the final hours.

Exercise:

What are your passions and commitments to which you give your all, no matter how often you fall?

What inspiring “Rudy” stories have you participated in or observed?

What stories are yet to be written, in which you will experience future glorious moments?

“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.”

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“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson, leader of the Transcendentalist movement

When I begin a coaching assignment, I include a core value exercise. A high percent of the time, my clients include the values of “personal growth” and “realizing their potential” on their list.

My personal journey into the world of coaching began when I watched the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games, where there were approximately 2,000 coaches supporting 5,000 athletes. It seemed that Olympic levels of achievement were highly correlated with the support of a coach to help each individual achieve their best performance.

Exercise:

What percent of your fullest potential have you realized, professional and personally?

Who are the people in your life that encourage and stretch you to do all you can?

#89: “To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom.”

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– Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher

What does it mean to live a good hour? It could mean:

  • Being fully present to each person and fully engaged in each experience.
  • Living in the moment, not dwelling on the past or daydreaming solely of the future.
  • Living a life of meaning and purpose beyond your own concerns.
  • Being generous and sharing your special gifts and resources with others.
  • Learning and growing in some way each day, and sharing your knowledge and life experiences with others.

Exercise:

What does living a good hour include for you?

What next step will you take to move toward greater wisdom?

Quotes are posted on The Quotable Coach a week after being sent out by email. To get the latest quotes straight to your inbox, pop your details in the sidebar to the right.

#2: “Do not follow where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

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– Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’re wired to doing what other people expect of us. We learn (from parents, teachers, and other influencers) that we should try to fit in and not stand out.

Yet many of us regret that we did not follow our own muse, passions and visions.

Ask yourself:

  • What inspires me?
  • What am I passionate about?
  • Where do I lose all my sense of time?
  • Where and when am I the happiest?
  • What are my unique abilities and talents?

Exercise:

How will you find the courage to chart your own life journey? Where will you go and what will you do?

Quotes are posted on The Quotable Coach a week after being sent out by email. To get the latest quotes straight to your inbox, pop your email address in the sidebar to the right.