What was the best gift you received this year?
Posted on December 28, 2018 by P T, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
The best gift I received this year was the one I gave myself when I decided that I am no longer going to give away my soul.
I admit I am curious – What was the best gift you received this year?
Before you blurt it out, I need to ask you just a few questions to build my own anticipation of what it is you are going to say. I like to create the story in my mind of where you were, who you were with, what music was playing, if you had a frosted sugar cookie with a hard-outer shell and a soft gooey inside nearby…. you know…the important things. Ok, so tell me:
· Are you the type of person who gives a gift with no strings attached?
· When you buy presents, do you think of what a person really needs, or what will bring them joy in the moment?
· Do you view gift giving as a form of payback for acts of kindness, or to honor the recipient in where you don’t expect anything in return?
I’m just curious, and seriously, I don’t mean to delay your joy as you anticipate getting back to the best gift you received this year. Exciting isn’t it? I just want to know how you give, so I can understand how you received that best gift this morning! I think it’s kind of important – don’t you? So many quotes about reaping what you sow, what you put out is what you get back, if you throw it into the universe it will be returned, and then my favorite – Never underestimate the power of giving a good book – which really doesn’t have anything to do with anything else, but if words have meaning and you were already developing your giving list for next year, I just wanted to share how much I like books.
I didn’t mean to get us off track, and I know you are patiently waiting to tell me about the best gift you received this year, and trust me, I really do want to know. But…. can I just share one more thing before we focus on your gift?
I awoke at 3:30am today, 30 minutes earlier than normal, got my coffee, looked out the window for Rudolph (…no luck…), and then read a quote by Alaric Hutchinson that caused me to sit and ponder for a few minutes longer than normal: “We are treated exactly the way we expect to be treated by the world and its people.” I sat at my desk and read that quote three different times and what stood out for me was the word “expect.” It got me thinking about all my non-verbal ques, what influences the messages I send out (i.e. beliefs I learned as a youngster, social norms I have acquired, etc.), as well as what I unconsciously say about how I want to be treated. It also got me thinking about how I give and receive, which shifted my perspective on the best gift I received this year.
The best gift I received this year was the one I gave myself when I decided that I am no longer going to give away my soul. Not for money. Not for titles. Not for security. Not for anything other than what I believe to be my life’s purpose. I gave it to myself earlier this year and didn’t even realize it until I was working with my coach, who literally coaxed it out of me without me even knowing. By giving myself this gift, I am now able to receive Clients who are ready to give to themselves the gift(s) they have always wanted to receive.
So, what did you receive this year – what was that best gift? I really do want to know and look forward to our next session, so I can hear all about it. Merry Christmas.
