The Power Of Context

At the beginning of this year I chose my context for the year as being health and well being.

I chose this context because I was very tired and had been working very hard pushing myself to finish what I had started.
In 2007 I had been travelling overseas for long periods to support our clients globally around culture and the integration of their chosen paradigm of "I create the whole of my own reality". Very exciting stuff and very rewarding work but a lot for one person to take on. However, I was on a mission.

What became apparent to me at the end of the year was how out of balance my life had become and it was important that I take stock and make some different decisions around self support. I was very much "at effect" of what was occurring around me with never enough time - you know the drill I am sure.

I was experiencing pretty much what I coach others to take responsibility for and make some changes.

What eventuated for me was cancer and the conversation with myself was "ha ha I chose health and well being and look what happened?"

Becuase of my cancer I had a very long rest; my body demanded that I rest and listen and learn. The treatment for my cancer was very intense with physical side effects that were way harder to deal with than being tired. However, what occurred was that I was able to look back and see just how tired I had let myself become and how long it had been going on; how many times I had over ridden my body's messages and how healing the world was a focus for me at the cost of my own well being.

The amazing light bulb moment I had today was that I have a greater understanding of my health and wellbeing tha
I have ever had in my life. I understand why it is important, I understand what I need to change, I understand how every choice I make with my diet, my exercise, my work, my fun, my family - every single actio
I undertake affects my health and wellbeing both in the short and the long term and I I didn't change anything it would affect my very quality of life.

I have always had a really strong body and my exectation of my body was that it would be easy to getback to full health and "get on with it" once I had recovered, not this time, things had to change.

I have been wondering why I am now able to follow a really strict dietary change with ease, how my focus on exercise is becoming easier, why I am considering a personal trainer (something I wouldn't have considered in the past) and the answer comes easily to me - because I now see why it is so important. I am in awe of the resilience of my body and I really want to support that as much as I can.

I look at old people today and think to myself with a huge smile - WOW you made it to old age, well done, you are amazing. It is food for thought isn't it?

So look at your context, look at what you are actually experiencing today and think about what you are learning within that context.

My context still has until 31 December to run so there is still some learning to be had by me yet, though when I look back over the past year I am so grateful for the experience I could weep. As I said to a friend today so many people have experienced huge challenges this year, we are in a time of change - we owe it to ourselves to respond and create a context that supports all of our challenges and all of our wins too.