The Wind and the Sun fable

This morning, my coach shared with me an Aesop fable that I'd love to share with you for this week's coaching assignment.

The Wind and the Sun, an Aesop Fable
From http://www.taleswithmorals.com/aesop-fable-the-wind-and-the-sun.htm

• The Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a traveller coming down the road, and the Sun said: "I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveller to take off his cloak shall be regarded as the stronger. You begin." So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveller. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveller wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveller, who soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on.

In this fable, the Wind expends so much energy, but doesn't get anywhere. But what does the Sun do? The Sun merely has to be the Sun, expressing itself fully and beautifully.

When you read this story, I invite you to think about the ways that you move in your life. In what ways are you being the Wind, using so much energy but not really getting anywhere?
I also want you to think about the ways that you're being the Sun. I bet if you think about it, you're experiencing parts of your life that do feel easy, effortless and joyful, all because you're being authentic as you. In what ways are you being the Sun?

For this week's coaching assignment, I have two tasks for you:

• Acknowledge and celebrate the ways that you're being authentic. Where in your life is life flowing with ease and grace? Too often, we overlook what's working in our lives. Let's take the time to be in gratitude.
• For the areas where life feels like you're expending energy without much result, what can you apply from what's working in your life to this area?

Sometimes it's good to take a step back and look at your life as a whole. Especially as we move towards the end of this year, it can be a helpful exercise for you to take a moment of reflection.