The image of a wooden suspension bridge across a deep chasm, came to mind during a recent coaching session with a client who is struggling to live the life of their dreams.

You’ve seen the image in so many movies … the heroine/hero desperately running toward safety is confronted by a rickety, wooden suspension creaking, swaying, seemling ready to collapse. And, crossing that bridge is the only way to freedom, safety, and the treasure.

I think that’s not a bad metaphor for the transition to the life of our dreams.

Here we are on this side of the chasm: dogged by stress … a stale, boring, job … or yearning to express our gifts. Between us and our new, shining, treasured ideal life is the chasm of transition.

And, moving through a transition is very much like making our way across that rickety, wooden bridge. The crossing sure as hell doesn’t feel safe. We gingerly step onto the bridge, much like we tentatively tip toe toward our new life. We hesitate. We want to turn back. But, we can’t. Because behind us only lurks our old life which no longer sustains us.

And, as we step further along the transitional path to our new life it feels even riskier. Often, in the movies, the bridge starts to sway as it is buffeted by winds. The same is true as we move through our transition: outside forces unexpectedly slam up against us. Will they blow us into the depths of depression? Or, will we gamely hang on.

Sometimes, in the movies, a wooden bridge plank will fall into the stygian depths. Similarly, as we transition to our new life old parts of us will fall away, lost forever. And, that’s a good thing. But, also very scary.

And, once we’ve made our way onto the bridge of transition we can not go back. Moving forward is the only option.

And, the good news is that even if we fall into the depths of depression, we can make our way out. For unlike a fall from that wooden suspension bridge, the fall into depression can expose us to hidden truths that will make us stronger — if we do some Inner work AND climb out!

My Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines essence as follows:

“1 a. the indispensable quality or element identifying a thing or determining its character; b. the intrinsic nature or quality of something.”l

For me, it is our essence that makes us truly unique.

Some years ago, I read the wonderful book The Nibble Theory and The Kernel of Power by the late Kaleel Jamison. That book helped me rediscover my Kernel of Power.

Essentially (pardon the pun) the message of Jamison’s book is two-fold.

The first half explores The Nibble Theory — the notion that our essential selves are gnawed away or nibbled by society, so we lose out on our personal growth.

The second half provides a series of exercises to help us rediscover our Kernel of Power. The Kernel of Power is that unique thing, that unique part, that unique ESSENCE that makes us US.

It is powerful to know this part of ourselves. And, hard to uncover.

But, worth it.

You can start identifying your Essence by asking, “What are the strengths (talents) I was born with?”

Then ask, “What is my primary talent (gift)?”

Then keep boring down to your CORE to get at the KERNEL, the ESSENCE of your uniqueness.

For me that ESSENCE consists of the PRIMARY GIFT combined with a clear sense of HOW you are meant to EXPRESS it.

For example, my primary gift is WORDS. What I mean by that is that I was born with a gift for speaking/expressing/articulating thoughts.

That gift was brought to my conscious awareness by a participant in a Creativity workshop I was teaching. I had been talking about the notion of the Gift(s) God give. After the class session he came up to me and said, “I know what your Gift is. It’s words!”

Instantly I knew what he meant.

That was in 1986. It’s taken 21 years for me to get the 2nd part totally clear. That is, the form of expression.

In 1986 I knew that my work roles revolved around my Gift of words. I was a trainer, a consultant, and sometime public speaker.

But, only recently have I come to understand that ESSENTIALLY at my CORE I am “A Mentor”.

My Essence then is about using my Primary Gift of Words to Teach.

What is your Essence?

I’d love for you to chime in… add your comments to the conversation.

I’m staking my territory at Technorati. Here goes…
Technorati Profile

As you know if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, I Grok Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Way!

Her tools for creativity have helped me immensely and I often teach them to my clients. BUT, if you really want to DO THE WORK of learning and applying Julia’s methods then I recommend you get your bum in gear and head over to my friend — and creativity muse — Susan Fuller’s website TODAY!

Susan’s Artist’s Way Group begins in January. AND, her reduced price EXPIRES TOMORROW.

SO, if you want to truly learn how to use Julia’s powerful tools, head on over!

Thanks to Writers Blog, a look at a video of the ANTHEM for the 2007 Writers Strike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_tWfKM8ik

Many of my American friends and clients are travelling as I write this post.

I am gob smacked at the notion of SIXTY MILLION people travelling for Thanksgiving. Lordy, that’s more the population of Canada!

Anyway, whether you are American or not… this is a good time to take a minute or six to think about who and what we are grateful for. Especially the WHO!

I am grateful for:

- my children, who loved me even when I embarrassed them,

- my wife, who has held the house together while I have been sick,

- my clients, past and present, who put their faith in me,

- my friends, who listen, laugh, and challenge me, and

- my healers, who have walked with me through my pain!

the Writer-Entrepreneur.

From the LA Times:

Hollywood is a town awash in hyphenates. TV is loaded with writer-producers. The movie biz is full of writer-directors. There’s even a legion of actor-filmmakers like Clint Eastwood and George Clooney. But as the writers strike enters its third week, I think the future belongs to a tantalizing new hyphenate: the writer-entrepreneur.

Via: Mediabistro

Yesterday a client sent me a ‘manifesto’ on time management and asked me what I thought.

I took a 20-second look and KNEW my client was in deep doo doo if he were to follow this advice.

According to Clarence Thomson, Enneagram Coach, most Time Managment books are written by Enneagram 3s — often compulsive acheivers

And, what works for 3s doesn’t work for other types — e.g. my client who is a 5 and very eclectic.

Those of us who aren’t 3s can’t keep up.

We don’t need to achieve more — harder or faster!

We need to work WITH our own style.

So, next time one of those Time Management Gurus comes your way — run like hell!

I’ve never been too PC. Which is why I really enjoyed this post by Alan Weiss on the pain in the bum nature of PC people.

My paternal grandfather lived to be 94! Still sharp and with it.

My dad just turned 86 and is doing very well.

A Chinese Herbalist recently told me I have strong genes.

So, my dream goal is to live to at least 100.

What about you?

Find out if you have what it takes here at the The Life Expectancy Calculator