The present is perfect ...

(copy of email I received)


Perhaps one of coaching legend Thomas Leonard's most challenging and paradoxical observations is that "the present is perfect, even if you think it's not!" It's one of those provocative statements that sets off all the "yeah but" alarms in our heads:



"Yeah but I hate where I am."

"No way buster am I accepting that THIS present is perfect!"

"You're crazy!"

"How can that possibly be?"

"This is just wrong!"

Recognize any of those statements of protest? I do. Just this morning as I sat at my desk wondering what on earth I might possibly write about this week, at least some version of those swirled around in my head. But in one of those half-second pauses between protests, Thomas' provocative idea popped into my head and "Eureka!" This week's MMC had found me!



So I'm guessing that you have something happening in your life or business right now that seems less than perfect....anything BUT what you want, right? So how can it be perfect? Because perfect doesn't necessarily mean desirable or wanted or likeable. Perfect means: that which is true for us right now. It means facing that truth, accepting it, allowing it, letting go of our resistance to it, and accepting it. And that can only be done in the present.



So maybe you're in a predicament right now....

Your job

A client

A health issue

A schedule that's too full

A relationship challenge

A personal or professional loss of some kind

And what, you ask, is the perfection in any of that? The perfection is that life has given you what it has. The perfection is that the particular set of circumstances you face is serving your greater good in some way. Your job, our job is to accept its perfection even if it doesn't make sense. Like I said, it's paradoxical.



So my invitation this week is to give up the struggle. Stop resisting and start embracing. And what happens when you give up resistance and instead accept your present in all of its "anything but this" glory? Well, I can only relate my experience and that of many, many clients I've coached over the years. That is, when you let go of the struggle created by resistance, the perfection of the universe moves forward and you can begin to see new ways of changing your circumstances, growing yourself, influencing others. And whatever shows up next, remember that's perfect too...perfect for helping you learn and grow in the ways you need to.



It's like that child's toy, Chinese handcuffs, where you put your index fingers in opposite ends of a little woven straw tube. The more you resist by trying to pull your fingers out, the tighter the tube grips each finger. But the moment you stop struggling and fighting, in that moment the tube loosens and you easily remove your fingers.



Remember, the only way out is through. And the secret to getting through your present circumstances is to accept them, perfect them, embrace them moment by moment. I invite you to take a deep breath and start perfecting now, because truly, the present is perfect.



Have a "perfect" week!

Betty Mahlik

http://www.dynamic-coaching.com



"This too shall pass"

~~Hebrew saying