Hello, it’s Siri. Welcome to my weekly newsletter on managing your energy, time and head space for work that matters to you. I am an ICF Certified Coach, with more than 450 hours of client coaching. My coaching sessions are “advice-free zones” unless the client specifically asks for advice. So I offer my best insights, reflections, advice here, in this newsletter which is published every Sunday.
In this edition, we’ll explore GRACE, a reflective framework for work and life.
“When we take time to reflect on our lives, we recognize that many things are connected and that our experiences have shaped who we are today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
The Moon Cannot Be Stolen
There is a popular Zen story called, “The Moon Cannot Be Stolen”.
Ryokan, a Zen monk lived humbly in a small hut in the forest with barely any belongings. One evening, a thief broke in, only to discover that there was nothing to steal. Ryokan, seated outside the hut, was gazing at the beauty of the moon.
Noticing the thief’s disheartenment at finding nothing worthwhile, Ryokan greeted him warmly.
“You’ve come a long way to see me,” he said. “I don’t want you to leave empty-handed. Take my clothes as a gift.”
The thief, bewildered, took the clothes and fled into the night. Now sitting naked, Ryokan turned back to gazing at the moon and whispered, “Poor fellow. I wish I could have given him this beautiful moon.”
Ryokan’s response is a profound reminder of the power of response over reaction. Instead of reacting with judgement, fear, or anger, he paused, saw the moment for what it was, and chose to respond with grace and presence.
Reflection is the foundation for this ability to respond to life with clarity and intention. It bridges the gap between our actions and our intentions. Mindful Reflection allows us to see beyond the surface of events helping us move through life with a lot more presence and grace.
Introducing the GRACE Framework for Reflection
As the year draws to a close, these final weeks are the perfect time to reflect on our journey – especially in the context of our work and career. Over the next five weeks, we’ll explore key themes of reflection through the GRACE framework:
Growth
Relationships
Alignment
Contribution
Energy
Grace is the ability to reflect with kindness towards ourselves, others and the situations that shape our lives. We will explore GRACE and dive deeper into our reflection with GROWTH this week.
G – Growth
Growth encompasses the tangible aspects of our professional and personal development: the skills we’ve learnt and honed, milestones we’ve reached and challenges we’ve overcome. It is about recognising progress – both seen and unseen – and celebrating how far we’ve come.
Focus Areas:
- Milestones Achieved
- Celebrating Progress
- Skills Learned
- Challenges Overcome
- Key Learning Moments
R – Relationships
Relationships are the intangible fabric of our working lives. Strong work relationships foster collaboration, innovation and harmony, while weak ones breed discontent, cynicism and dissatisfaction. Nurturing professional relationships, including mentoring and sponsorship can open hidden doors in our personal and professional lives.
Focus Areas:
- Work Relationships
- Communication
- Mentoring
- Feedback
- Networking
A – Alignment
Work that aligns with your values, purpose and long term goals is enriching. It makes a world of difference to how you show up at work every single day. When our work aligns with our values, purpose and long term goes, we show up more authentically and do our best work.
Focus Areas
- Values
- Purpose
- Long Term Goals
C – Contribution
Contribution reflects the impact of our work on ourselves, others and the broader community. Meaningful contributions can provide a sense of purpose and act as a buffer during challenging times. It helps us build resilience and navigate difficult times.
Focus Areas:
- Personal Impact
- Impact on Others
- Wider Community, Society and Environment
E – Energy
Energy is the investment of our time, effort, emotions and attention into work. Reflecting on how we’ve spent our energy helps us to recalibrate, realign how we give ourselves to our work.
Focus Areas:
- Motivation
- Boundaries
- Well Being
- Habits
- Work Life Sanity (not balance!)
Reflection on Growth
This week, let’s being our reflection with Growth. Growth is about recognising how far we have come, and appreciating the steps that we have taken in various aspects of our work and life. Use these reflective questions to guide your journaling or thinking process:
1. Achievements and Milestones
- What professional milestones did I achieve this year?
- What personal milestones have I reached this year that I want to acknowledge?
- What small wins or “unseen” accomplishments should I celebrate?
- Which one of my milestones align most with my core values as a person?
2. Celebrate Progress
- How have I grown or moved forward in small ways this year?
- What steps did I take towards my goals that I want to celebrate?
- In what ways have I surprised myself by doing something I didn’t think I could?
- How have I honoured my progress throughout the year?
- Who or what contributed to my progress, and how can I express gratitude?
3. Skills Learnt
- What new skills did I acquire this year?
- How have these skills positively impacted my work or personal life?
- What motivated me to learn these skills?
- How can I deepen or apply these skills further in the coming year?
- What is a skill I learned through unexpected challenges or opportunities?
4. Challenges Overcome
- What were the biggest challenges I faced this year?
- How did I work with these challenges and what mindset shift did I have to make to work with them?
- What strengths or qualities did I discover in myself while facing adversity?
- Who has supported you in these situations?
- How have these challenges changed me for the better?
5. Learning Moments
- What have I discovered about myself this year?
- What have I discovered about others this year?
- What have I discovered about the Life/World/Universe this year?
- What lessons have I been repeatedly taught through situations/people/challenges this year?
- What moments of insight or clarity shaped my mindset this year?
If I were to encapsulate the theme of my growth this year in one word, it would be _________.
If I were to set an intention for my growth in the coming year, it would be ____________.
Your Turn
Take some time to reflect. Pick the questions that resonate with you most, and journal your responses. Over the next four Sundays we will explore the remaining themes of GRACE.
