Sounds bleek, doesn't it? I know, that's what I felt when I read it in January of 2005. I was embarking on new way of life and I needed some much needed wisdom. I went to my local Borders and picked up "Start Where You Are" by Pema Chodron. I consider this is book a Bible in my day to day work and life. I especially enjoy the chapter, "Abandon Any Hope of Fruition".
"One of our deepest habitual patterns that we have is to feel that now is not good enough."
This literally teaches us to accept the present moment as it is no matter what we're feeling. Isn't that an oxymoron in the professional world? We're always aspiring to be something we're "not" today with our goals and visions of granduer, our behavior with colleagues or wanting our speaking engagements teeming with people who are eager to hear our wisdom. There's always that deep tendency to want know how it's going to be. We're always hoping our audience is going to give us praise and standing ovations. Our ego craves it. There's always that subtle sense of disappointment after our presentation when we perceive our audience is feeling we're mediocre. It's because we aren't feeling we're enough in the first place.
Give up being your best. Give up that people will love you, and it will lead you to your best presentations.
