The Simple Power of Shining a Light

In last week’s blog, I shared some of my own challenges with energy, optimism, and hope, as well as the book that I’m reading right now that is helping me heal, Hope for Cynics by Jamil Zaki.

While I normally consume a book in a few hours, or a weekend, I’m taking this book a bit more slowly, to give me time to reflect and implement my own changes to move forward.

Last week was one such action, the Compassionate Community Connection. And wow, what a moment. We had four people who joining, from Gothenburg Sweden to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and some places in between. We came together for different reasons, but I believe that everyone left with a bit of hope, a bit of compassion, and a bit of light.

You can read more about it and the background for it, and you are very welcome to join (Microsoft Teams link or scan the QR code).

I’ve long been fascinated with light in all its forms. As an amateur photographer, some of my most powerful pictures are ordinary subjects with extraordinary light. It’s not a surprise that two of the three nouns that I use to describe myself are light related: lighthouse and spark.

Light can make the mundane beautiful. In humans, many of us are drawn to another’s light or sparkle instead of the beauty pushed in Cosmopolitan or Vogue.

Light is also healing. I think that’s part of my struggle every autumn, as I watch the light slowly decrease with each day. I need to dig deeply into myself to find my own light. I also need to connect with others to share light, giving some of mine and taking from others. Light isn’t a pie, so sharing light doesn’t diminish it. The reality is that giving it grows it.

And as Zaki says “When problems hide under the surface, light can be the best disinfectant. But in our politics, plenty of rot is visible already. What’s hidden all around us is a peaceable, inquisitive majority downed out by extreme voices. Some of our cultural fault lines are based on misunderstanding, and hopeful skepticism can be a powerful tool in mending them. Sunlight - in the form of clear, simple data - reveals something that looks a lot like possibility.”

I love this quote on so many levels:

• Automotive system development where it’s much better to know your faults together with your customer and consciously decide which ones to fix. Shine a light on the faults instead of keeping them in the dark and hoping they won’t surface!

• Leadership team dynamics where there are at least three to five elephants in the room. Everyone knows they are there, tiptoes around them, and does their best to avoid bumping them. Shine a light on the elephants, name them, confront them, and diminish their power!

• Global project development where day in and day out we frustrate one another with all the small differences in trying to do good and be good. Shine a light on the differences and build a project culture based on conscious values and choices rather than assumptions!

How can I help you bring some sunshine and light to your life or organization?

A few ideas:

• Join the free Compassionate Community Connection on Fridays from 15.00 CET / 9.00 US Eastern

• Invite me for an inspirational speech during these darkest times. You can also have the warm satisfaction of knowing that the fees go entirely to developing and providing our children’s books to children in need

• Take advantage of individual or team coaching to provide a guiding light. All sessions booked in October are discounted by 25% and if you buy five hours, you get one free.

Any work together always starts with a free talk together where we explore if it's a good fit for both of us. I appreciate all connections, even when they don't lead to business together!