Coaching The Bible

'Everything that is past is either a learning experience to grow on, a beautiful memory to reflect on, or a motivating factor to act upon.'

--Denis Waitley

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What's the first thing you remember in your life? Your first/earliest memory?

Not a simple question!

Now, do you actually remember it happening or do you know that it happened and more so remember people around you talking about it so often that it's 'become' a memory? 

Almost imprinted on your mind...

I think I have a pretty good memory (not even sure what that means anymore!), but I had a hard time with that question...

It's questions like that that we'll explore in this week's episode of Coaching With The Bible!

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Hi all!

This is Episode 129 (S3:E20)

Our topic: On Memory & Remembering

Happy Learning!

For those celebrating this week: HAPPY PURIM!

'Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.'

-Vince Lombardi

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Hi all!

This is episode 128 (S3:E19)

Happy Adar! Purim is on the way! woot woot!!!

Our topic this week: Perfection

Simple question: Have you ever not started something because you knew that in the end, it would not be perfect?

Another simple question: Have you stopped pursuing an idea, a project, or an opportunity because you felt that it wasn't 'just so'?

I imagine the answer to both for most of us is 'yes'.

Why? Because for whatever reason we are conditioned to believe that 'perfect' is a thing that we can achieve and on occasion, it creeps in and stops us from going after what is real: excellence.

Let's dive in.

Happy Learning!

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”

― Mark Twain

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This is Episode 127 (S3:18)

Our topic this week: Following The Majority

Picture 2 moments in your mind:

The first, where you followed the crowd simply because they were doing something (good or bad), but without any real thought as to why you were there.

The second, where you DID NOT follow the crowd and you held your ground, stayed with your logic, reasoning, and point of view.

^ What was the difference?

^ Why in the first did you follow and in the second you did not?

THOSE are this week's questions and discussion!

Happy Learning!

'The vision is true north for the soul. It is a permanent, intuitive compass direction for a human being. Every person inevitably strays from the path. Life is an endless experiment and course correction. The vision brings one back to the true path.'

--Thomas G. Bandy

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Hi all!

This is Episode 126 (S3:E17)

Our topic of the week: Sinai

Not simply what happened at Sinai. I think we all know that part.

^ But what does Sinai mean for us in the day-to-day?

^ Have we experienced our own 'Sinai' moments?

^ What impact has those moments had on our life?

^ Do they direct us, orient us, and anchor us when we have to make decisions?

^ Do we leave them in the past purely as memory?

In this week's episode, I'd like to introduce you to the term 'Sinaitic experience' and the concept of 'true north.' I am not the author of either though I am intrigued by both. I hope you will be, too.

Happy Learning!

'Singing provides a true sense of lightheartedness. If I sing when I am alone, I feel wonderful. It's freedom.'

--Andrea Bocelli

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Hi all!

This is Episode 125 (S3:E16)

Our topic this week: On Singing

The Bible this week tells the tale of the crossing of the sea and the subsequent Song of the Sea recited EVERY SINGLE DAY during the morning Jewish prayer.

It's a fascinating thing to me to imagine what the scene must have been like at the sea, hearing 2mm people reciting a song in unison.

The power, the spirit, the energy, the emotion, the freedom.

^ Where does that come from?

^ Why do we sing?

^ What can we take away from here?

So much to learn! Enjoy!

'Compassion is an act of tolerance where kindness and forgiveness reign. When we make the compassionate choice, we enhance the dignity of each individual, which is the very essence of loving them.'

--Leo Buscaglia 

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Hi all!

This is Episode 124 (S3:E15)

This week we read the story of the last 3 plagues, the commandment of the Paschal lamb and the exodus (Parshat Bo).

Our topic: On Compassion

We will dive real deep into an act of kindness not found in the text, but in the famous commentary of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, known as Netziv, that takes place literally in the dark. 

This singular act will set us on the journey to try and begin to understand what it means to be compassionate.

Super, uber interesting!

Happy Learning!

'Accountability and self-responsibility are critical to our in personal, professional, and public life. However, we often look for those character traits in others, rather than inculcating them in ourselves.'

--Vishwas Chavan

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Hi all!

This is Episode 123 (S3:E14)

I hope you had a great week!

Our portion of the week is Va'era

Our topic of the week is: On When The Boss Is A Dictator 

How many of us have worked for a 'Pharoah' in our day?

The boss who takes all the credit, dismisses all the blame, points fingers, fires at will, listens to no one...

I bet it's a lot of us!

So this got me thinking about what it might have been like to be a magician or advisor in the court of the most powerful person on the planet: Pharoah.

Could you argue or disagree without consequence?

Could you have alternate ideas?

Could you yell, rant, rave, and scream at such a supreme leader?

Amazingly, the answer would appear to be: YES!

And that got me thinking about how best to live with or survive in a difficult work situation.

Could you even thrive in such a place?

How?

Happy Learning!

'Don't think about why you question, simply don't stop questioning. Don't worry about what you can't answer, and don't try to explain what you can't know. Curiosity is its own reason. Aren't you in awe when you contemplate the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure behind reality? And this is the miracle of the human mind - to use its constructions, concepts, and formulas as tools to explain what man sees, feels and touches. Try to comprehend a little more each day. Have holy curiosity.'

--Albert Einstein

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Hi All!

This is Episode 122 (S3:E13)

We begin Book #2! The Book of Exodus and the story of the formation of the People of Israel, from slavery to freedom, from a nation of tribes to the chosen nation.

Our topic this week: On Curiosity

All week I have been thinking about this topic and I think we generally both overlook and undervalue its importance.

At the heart of our creativity, our freedom, our thinking, and our success is the quality/value/skill of curiosity.

But I wonder, how much time do we give ourselves to continue to develop it, to cultivate it, to grow it?

If this is so vital to who we are (and I think it is), why don't we spend more time understanding it and working on it?

So, this week, we blend Moses, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, killed cats, and a Curious Monkey named George!

Happy Learning!

'True success is attained only through the satisfaction of knowing you did everything within the limits of your ability to become the very best that you are capable of being.'

--John Wooden

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Hi all!

We complete Genesis... AGAIN!

This is episode 121 (S3:E12)

Our portion of the week: Vayechi: detailing the end of the life of Jacob, Joseph, and the generation that went down to Egypt as well as the blessings bestowed on each of the 12 tribes.

Our topic this week: On Predicting Success

^ How can we better 'predict' our goals and the results we seek in life?

^ Can we even do that? Is it even possible?

Happy Learning!

-- Eknath Easwaran

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Hi all!

This is Episode 120 (S3:E11)

Our portion of the week is Vayigash

and our topic of the week: On Me vs We

All of these questions point to a conversation that the Bible is having throughout the story of Joseph and his brothers. 

The heart of that conversation is this question: when is it about 'me' and when is it about 'we'?

Can't wait to dive in with you!

As Always Happy Learning!