A Satisfied Mind

Good Morning!

With so much happening, with our senses being saturated by stimulus, what do you focus on?

What we focus on matters and it's something we have more control over than you might think, literally.  

What you're focussing on will influence what you think about, what you feel, what you do, what you believe. And vice-versa– what you believe will influence what you focus upon. The point here is to simply be aware of it all.

Have an awesome day. 

I think it's a tragedy that too many people go through life not knowing the positive impact they've had on others' lives. Often it's not until it's too late that we really make a point of acknowledging the people who have helped us, who love us, who we appreciate. 

Today, make a point of thanking that person. 

You'll never know how much they might need to hear it. 

Life feels a bit serious at the moment. 

I get it, there's a lot going on.

But I think we've forgotten to have fun, to do those things that feel good, that bring joy. I wonder if there's even a feeling of guilt around making time to have fun, instead of being more optimised or productive and working harder.

If ever there was a time when we need to connect with those things, those activities, that music, those people that bring joy to your life, it's now.

What does that look like for you?

What brings you joy, that you've not done for too long?

Dixon Patten is a proud Yorta Yorta and Gunnai man and  Founder, Director at Bayila Creative.

In this conversation we covered plenty of ground and we went deep. One of the themes that ran through this conversation was connection. Dixon shares what connection means for him, how this translates to his work, to his art and the way in which he works with clients. We talk about his process and how important, how essential it is to take time, to allow space for art to be expressed.

We talk about what it means to connect, to self, to others, to country.

We talk about some of the challenges around identity he experienced growing up and how that has influenced his work and the work he’s doing now with young, emerging artists and how we can support more aboriginal owned businesses. 

Towards the end of this conversation Dixon shared some lessons learned through loss, and the grieving process. 

This conversation had a huge impact on me and has changed how I think about work and how we do it, especially when it comes to how we spend time and what we spend it on.

Please make some time and space for this conversation, it deserves it.

You can find Dixon's work here www.bayila.com.au and follow him on Instagram here @green_eyed_turtle _

If you'd like to share some feedback please contact me via instagram here @mikey.ellis or via the website www.mikeyellis.com

And please share this episode, it's an important conversation. 

The most valuable commodity is time. 

How are you spending it?

Is it an investment, or sunk cost expenditure?

And is how you're spending your time aligned with your intentions for what how you want to live,  aligned with what truly matters to you?

So many questions, so little time! 

This question was inspired by a conversation I had with Dixon Patten of Bayila. That conversation will be published soon in another episode, look out for it, it's full of so much truth, integrity and wisdom. 

We spoke about tall poppy syndrome and what a waste it is when we don't acknowledge or share what it is that we love, what we love to do, what makes us great. 

Today's question relates to that thing you know you need to do, but aren't, yet. Perhaps for fear of failure or not getting it right, or not being ready or 'good enough'. What is that niggle you're ignoring, what's that guidance in your gut that's encouraging you do to something important?

Fuck it. Do it. We need you to. 

What do you know, that you're pretending not to know?

Good Morning!

This question comes from the great Michael Bungay-Stanier, whose book The Coaching Habit is the best book I've read on coaching – buy it, read it, you'll be a better person for it.

For more info on Michael's work visit his 'Box of Crayons' website here.

Buy the book here. 

And do some great work through asking better questions. There is perhaps no better question than this one. 

Have an awesome day!

Good Morning!

This is one of my favourite questions, for a few reasons:

1. It a generous and humble question - it's a offer to help without the assumption or presumption that you know exactly how to help.

2. It's an invitation – it's easy to brush off an offer to help by saying, "Nah, I'm all good thanks". With this question, instead of asking whether you can help, it's an invitation for the other to share how you can help. 

3. It's elegant and efficient. Rather than tip-toeing around vulnerability, it cuts straight to identifying the need, sharing it and then hopefully having that need met. 

It's a beautiful question for both the asker and the recpient. It's a gift for both of you. 

Have an awesome day. 

When it comes to doing that thing you know you need to do, that thing you want to do... this is a rhetorical question. 

The answer is in how you feel responding to it as you rattle off a list of fears dressed up as excuses. 

You know what you need to do.

So go do it. 

What are you waiting for?

Your new life is going to cost you your old one. Time to create space, to let go.

What are you letting go of?