Episode 46: How Do You Access Your Resourcefulness? Part 2 of 3

Welcome back to Everyday Leader podcast. Shannon here with Conrad. In our last episode, we started talking about internal systems, thanks to a question from you, Conrad. We landed on this idea that our internal systems help us understand our own resourcefulness. So the question I'll pose to you is: how do you really access that resourcefulness when you need it? We've talked a little about being aware of it. What else comes up for you?

I'm aware right now of my own resourcefulness as I look for possible answers. I'm sharing my experience with that. When you asked, I slowed down. After awareness, one way for me is to turn down the noise or volume on some external aspects and look within. When I look within, I'm often looking for an image or sensation that informs the thought that moves into words. One answer emerging for me is that access to resourcefulness, which is unique for all of us, is to be present and listen. Listen within.

I like that example, especially because it talks about accessing resourcefulness in this moment and choosing to access it.

You just hit the next piece: awareness, listen, choice. There are going to be multiple resources within you, offers to yourself as you look at what you want to say back or what impact you want to create. Is it coming through that channel in a way that has the impact you want? Awareness, listen, and then choose. Sometimes that choice, and this is a continuing learning opportunity for me, is not to say anything back, to hold the space, or to allow time for the answer or next question to emerge.

Or to request more time.

Yes, request more time.

I like how you broke this down into its different pieces. In real time, all those things happened for you in about five seconds. I asked the question, you did those things, made your choice, and started talking. Now we're in the conversation. For me, it takes a lot of practice and skill to operate that way. It's a piece of your processing, your operating system. It can come naturally or it can be hard. For me, it depends on the time, the day, the person in front of me, and what I'm getting into. I like how you pointed to these moments where we have a choice around accessing our resourcefulness. What about something coming up in the future? What does accessing your resourcefulness mean then?

I go into planning, dreaming, imagining, visioning. Those are some words that come up when you say “future.” That's a different channel within. Time has a different relationship. It's not urgent in the sense of real time, the present. Being in different physical locations helps me. Movement helps me access more thoughts, ideas, and creativity. If it's future-focused, I tend to move around my environment and dream or envision what it could potentially look like.

How do you plan for what you're going to need for your internal system?

I'm laughing because sometimes I forget about that, Shannon. It's a good question. The basics, the essentials, come up: sleep, nourishment, water, taking care of the actual vessel of my body. You're going to have to ask me again. How do I plan for what?

How do you plan for taking care of your internal system and keeping it resourced? For the future, like this weekend, for example.

Writing things down, everything from a joy list to remembering to change the air filters, which I do need to write down. Processing the information out and organizing it is one way I can plan resourcefulness for the future. That's one very tactical thing.

I'm hearing you say you feel more resourced when you feel organized.

That's absolutely right. Organized. When I think about the future, this internal resource question also points to others: who might I need to partner with to blend my resources with theirs? I'm always thinking about that as well.

What are the relationships that are needed? And what do you know about your internal system and what it needs when it comes to being in relationship with someone?

I know I need to be present and grounded. That has me ready for relationship. Another way to say it is that my resources can be open and available for collaboration. Are my resources open to collaborate and integrate with others, or are they not? That's the core question. It's okay if they're not. We all need space and time to recharge, recover, and pull away from other systems or relationships. That's not a wrong thing. It's an awareness thing. Can I, as a leader, have my resources open and be open to other resources for integration? That's the next level.

Hearing you say that, what I know about my internal system is that I need space for clearing and being on my own. I need breaks from being in relationship in order to then be in relationship.

What's another way you clear? I use writing for clearing or organizing. Do you have another one?

Any kind of exercise is really helpful. Also reading, being on my own in some way where I know I'm not going to be interrupted. Where I can attend to my own thoughts or whatever needs to be attended to in my internal system. To take care of it and whatever it might need.

We want to invite you into the question: where or how do you access your internal resources?

Where are your internal resources right now? Resourcefulness is always with us. I'm asking myself this as much as everyone listening: what do you know about your internal system and your resourcefulness? What does that resourcefulness need for you to be in service, for you to be in the world?

Good.

All right, be well.