Living the Masteries is a regular column where we invite coaches to share their experiences of Living the Masteries in their everyday lives. As we become aware of the Masteries and really understand and use them, we realise just how powerful they are and how, used effectively, they can truly make a lasting difference to the world.
This month Alison Davis has chosen to explore living Mastery Eight, Inviting Possibility, and she introduces Graham Kean from the UK.
Mastery Eight is absolutely one of my favourite Masteries. I think this is because it enables me to expand what is possible in my thoughts, ideas or actions. My awareness is stretched beyond what I am used to and I end up with more options than I thought I had! I am required to use and tap into my creativity and to remain open to possibility. I love the way this mastery enables me to develop the skill of letting the unknown present itself. I find myself entering new, uncharted areas and I often gain meaningful insights that can take me by surprise.
This is at best a collaborative process, enabling me to engage with others in a fun, creative way, such as in a brainstorming session. It helps me to transcend barriers, leave my comfort zone, get away from conditioned thinking, explore and discover. As I do this I uncover internal possibilities such as personal greatness or my higher purpose. I have found that the best way to start is to come from a place I call "beginner’s mind," meaning the place where I don’t already know anything. Engaging in this process always opens me up to new levels of enthusiasm and inspiration, which I love!
I’d now like to introduce you to Graham Kean who has inspired me with his thoughts on Mastery Eight.
I love the way the IAC Masteries weave into my work and when I consider each one, the scope and power of the distinctions is unending.
Much of the work I do focuses on the conversation, and this is where I want to start when looking at Mastery Eight, Inviting Possibility. What is the realm of possibility? Is anything possible? What is the conversation? Possibility is in the realm of what you don’t know that you don’t know. There are all the things we know, and all the things we don’t know. To remain open to possibility means being willing to keep looking, to remain open, even when you think you have an answer. Is anything possible? Yes, I believe it is.
My partner is a scientist, and scientists work in the realm of possibility all the time. They are constantly experimenting, constantly pushing boundaries, even when others don’t believe they will get results. In order to achieve we have to Invite Possibility, continually looking with new eyes.
Then there’s the conversation. We are a conversation about everyone and everything, even ourselves. Consider the possibility that we are always in conversation without even saying anything. When working with my clients I encourage them to become aware of this conversation. To begin to observe the conversation they are about themselves, everyone and everything all the time. This is a powerful concept as the conversation is determined by the past, by everything we already know. If we are to truly invite possibility, then we need to remain present to the present and take action in line with our commitments. This is future-based action, it takes courage and commitment.
As I write this I am aware of my own conversation; the IAC Masteries, for me, are a framework and each mastery is a container for concepts and theories to be explored. All in service of expansion and exploration, remaining open to potential, discovery and achieving breakthroughs. A world of infinite possibilities can be diminished by a single internal dialog, the conversation "I’m not good enough", "I’m unlovable", "I’m thick, useless, dirty, worthless" to name but a few. This is the conversation about ourselves that limits, that kills possibility. When this conversation is in play there is no opening to possibility and until we break free of these limiting beliefs, beliefs moulded over time, we can never fully embrace possibility.
When we are immersed in our shadow, we are not in touch with our purpose, our personal greatness, our higher Self. For me, the work is to create an awareness and to reconnect to our greatness, our love energy, our values and purpose. From this place invite possibility, and possibility will come.
Graham Kean is a self-employed Applied Psychosynthesis Practitioner, Life Mastery Coach, Personal Development Trainer and Thought Field Therapist. He contributes to the transformation of others and walks with them in their shadows, as they move towards self-realisation, develop self-esteem and confidence and achieve the goals they create for themselves. www.grahamkean.co.uk
This is your column. It can only continue if you share your experiences of Living the Masteries. Would you be willing to share some of the notes you have taken as you read this column, to share how you were inspired to see new possibilities for yourself and your life or how you helped others to do this? Please send us your stories as Graham did—you will inspire others. By your sharing and by talking about the Masteries, we create an echo chamber where their power takes on new meaning in the world.
Send your contributions to Alison alisondaviscoaching@gmail.com so she can share them for you in the Living the Masteries column in the VOICE each month.
Alison Davis, IAC-CC, is a certifying examiner at the IAC, coach, mentor coach and founder of the IAC–licensed virtual coaching school Foundations for Living. Discover more at www.alisondavis.typepad.com and http://coaching.positiveenergy.ch.
