“A sense of humor …is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.”—journalist Hugh Sidey.
So here I am again, for the umpteenth time, committing finally to becoming computer proficient. My kids are probably laughing, not truly believing that the day may soon arrive when I do not rely on them for technical support.
Those who knew me in my former career as a high tech PR executive will be dismayed to learn I was probably the last person in my generation to move my hands from an electric typewriter to a personal computer. I have resisted technology all my life, even though I know how to write about and explain it to the media.
I am anticipating, however, that my social media publicist and webmaster, who have patiently led me through computer glitches, will be greatly relieved when I can talk to them as people versus as a panic-stricken, frantic woman trying to fix a minor problem under a deadline.
The commitment of conquering my fear of technology is so strong that I have left my home base, where I can no longer distract myself by doing laundry, paying bills or emailing friends. This time, rather than learn one-on-one which I’ve attempted on numerous other occasions with a private tutor (to avoid the shame of having others seeing how easily frustrated I am when working with my PC), I am in a six-week adult education class at a local technical high school.
Surrounded by twenty other people who are 40-, 50- or 60-something, I think to myself, “Someone should make a comedy show out of this scene.” Three of us huddled into corner seats work in an assembly-line fashion. Once someone learns a task, we pass along the directions to the person sitting next to us. I could have sworn that the man who sat next to me during the first class would surely pick the most distant seat away next time, after I and the woman beside me badgered him with so many questions. Instead, we became a team of sorts, laughing our way from one Excel spreadsheet to the next.
In this foreign setting, I am discovering something new about myself. I actually enjoy living in this left-brained world after coaching and writing all day, using primarily the right side of my brain. And, I can be quite funny. My classmates enjoy hearing my spontaneous remarks and silly basic questions.
Humor aside (although I intend to keep it more at the forefront of my life moving forward), I leave each class feeling proud and satisfied. Knowing I am addressing one of my greatest professional weaknesses, I am becoming increasingly confident. For, as a coach, I know that if we do not attend to our greatest shortcomings, we often hold ourselves back, at least mentally, by believing we are not good enough.
I do not expect to be the next Steve Jobs, but I do intend to become more self-reliant as often as I can. Rather than yell “help me” when I hit a technical challenge, I am disciplining myself to see what I can first do on my own. I know I have the intelligence to use technology more productively. As a young girl, I was a top math student in elementary school (yes, I am aging myself. I grew up in an era when girls were not encouraged to stay on par with boys, especially in math). The other top math student in my class went on to MIT (I wonder what he is doing now? Yes, I did try to locate him via LinkedIn and Facebook as I am so technically savvy now, but had no luck locating the right person by his name).
In balancing my nurturing and empathetic nature with more hands-on practical skills, I am adding laughter and lightness to the serious sides of delving into the psyche to create anew.
For my clients, I encourage them to risk learning something new, such as a skill that holds them back from being all they long to be or helps them become more marketable. And, may they take humor with them as their companions, remembering part of learning initially is not knowing how to do something.
BELIEF TIPS OF THE WEEK:
1. I allow myself to increase my sense of confidence by updating my skills.
2. I allow myself to embrace humor in the learning process.
Beth Shedd’s lighthearted photo reminds us to continue to seek both the learning and the humor as we embrace the new.
FALL COACHING PACKAGES:
- “Filling Up The Empty Nest” (a six-week coaching package done by phone) is now available.
- “Welcoming New Possibilities: Letting Go/Letting In” (a three-session coaching package walking the sands of Crane’s Beach) is available through the end of October.
To sign up or learn more, contact Gail at 978-887-1911 or GailJones@SupportMatters.com
Gail Kauranen Jones is an intuitive coach, gifted wordsmith and inspiring teacher who has been leading others through transformation for more than twenty years. She is the author of two books, Cancer as a Love Story: Developing the Mindset for Living, and To Hell and Back…Healing Your Way through Transition. Both books were met with rave reviews on Amazon and elsewhere.
She recently appeared as a guest “worthiness coach” on CBS TV’s award-winning talk show The Doctors and on Sirius FM Radio. Her articles and “tips” on worthiness have also appeared several times in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper.
She has taught many leading-edge workshops at top spas and wellness centers. She now leads Zoom group coaching programs and is a guest speaker at many related events.
Gail lives a passionate and simple life writing, hiking, connecting in meaningful ways, aligning in joyful collaboration and thriving in nature.