I was on a call this week and the call was disconnected two different times in the 30 minutes we spoke. Before we hung up, my coaching colleague wondered aloud… “we don’t usually get disconnected on our calls; I wonder what it means?”
Of course, it might not mean anything, but I was curious to see what meaning I could find. Where could I and other leaders become “disconnected?” What is the impact of being disconnected?
Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives. - Brené Brown
It can be very easy, when under pressure or tired or otherwise unfocused, to become disconnected from your purpose, the “why” of your life. During the last 4-5 years of tumult in my life, it has been easy to get so distracted by the newest challenge that I forget to link my response with my purpose. As I so easily coach my clients, “keep your purpose in front of you, especially in the hard times,” I know it is easy to disconnect from your purpose. Take a moment to remember, to physically or metaphorically reconnect to the reason for your being.
I think that half of us feel fraudulent in our lives anyway. There’s that strange disconnect of not really knowing what we’re doing sometimes, or why it matters. It’s our existential crisis. Carrie Brownstein
We can also become disconnected from the lives we are living. We can go through the motions, following a path that may not have meaning anymore. Or worse yet, following someone else’s idea of the life we should lead. Reconnect to the life you want by asking: What am I doing here? What meaning, if any, is here? Is this what I want? How do I get back on track? Then listen and act.
I love those connections that make this big old world feel like a little village. Gina Bellman
Relationships can get “disconnected” too. There are many reasons for this, most of which are in our control. We get “busy” and don’t take time to connect with our loved ones, friends and colleagues. We allow ourselves to become insulated out of fear or apathy or antipathy. Somehow the “things” in our lives become more important than the humans in our lives. Answering texts or posting on social media takes the place of meaningful conversations. We decide it’s just easier to let our friend, colleague or spouse fume, rather than try to reconcile. And, yet, when we take a moment to smile at the cashier in the grocery store, or have lunch with a colleague, or visit an ailing friend, it can give us a refreshed perspective, the energy that joy can bring and renewed meaning.
The more in harmony with yourself you are, the more joyful you are and the more faithful you are. Faith is not to disconnect you from reality - it connects you to reality. Paulo Coelho
Like the power cord for our computers or the link between sunshine and rain and the beautiful flowers in spring, we “light up”, we thrive when we are connected to ourselves, to our purpose, to our day to day lives and to those around us.
What are you doing to stay connected? Let me know!
