Movie continued....Pretty in Pink, that is...not mine.
I've come to this real nice realization recently:
I am absolutely fearless.
I am finally at a place where I am not actually afraid of the possibility that Ms. Wonka and I may not be able to continue our friendship. Sure, I'll be sad. But not fearful of that particular outcome if it actually comes right down to it.
Utterly freeing feeling! Sweet.
What this does is to allow me to do more is putting out some 'truth darts' her way and letting them go by being more detached from how she receives/perceives them. Ms. Wonka's feelings and reactions are hers to own. I cannot be responsible for them. Not really agonizing over the impact too much as I did in the past because it comes from my own truth and being my true, authentic self.
Sometimes we get too caught up in managing the information and not paying attention to what is REALLY being said. It is sound practice to continue developing good listening skills so that one can hear the message being sent. This entails an awareness and consideration of the message one being received and sent out.
Supporting the other person means encouraging them along the path by providing positive feedback and support. These are opportunities to teach boundaries and structure. Not only is your language important but also the way you interact with those around you by extending some common courtesies to them.
This is not a multi-national summit by 20 nations coming together to negotiate and trying to come to an agreement with supplements that total 500-pages worth of disclaimers, caveats, and punitive actions.
In the business world, we develop contracts and send out RFPs with measured deliverables and performance measures. A written contract generally serves as a record of the terms of an agreement to prevent misunderstanding and conflict at a later time thereby creating a legal, binding and enforceable obligation.
Friendship?? Forget about measurable deliverables, outcomes, quotas, statutory requirements, and contract terms. It has no place in a friendship.
Forget it! It doesn't happen that way at all.
Friendships are fluid and flexible within reason.
So I want to keep my approach to Ms. Wonka as positive and encouraging rather than 'correcting', and be more patient with her.
