Finding Refreshment for All Three Centers

RECREATION. Our summers often revolve around deeply welcome, maybe overdue vacation trips. One of my CEO clients recently spent 10 magical days in the National Parks with his wife and two teenage boys! He came back with glowing reports of adventure and laughter. Relationally they were renewed; emotionally and mentally he was renewed. Physically, he was exhausted.

In our next coaching session, we talked about the three centers of being--heart, mind, and body--and how each of them has its own language and wisdom for our leadership. And each one needs active, conscious monitoring for its particular well-being. On this memorable trip, he was deeply restored in two of his essential dimensions (heart and mind), while he had to move into recovery mode for his body.

If any one of our centers is "in the red," our leadership effectiveness suffers. And when one of our centers is in deficit, we lose traction on our three key leadership markers: authenticity, confidence, and joy (which will be the subject of another post :).

RE-CREATION. Looking at the word this way offers insight into the greater gift it offers. When we think of "recreation," we generally conjure various kinds of sport and play, a downtime after intense seasons of vocational focus. Like family hikes and mountain-rimmed campfires. One of the most powerful ways we can evaluate the impact of vacations is by the degree that you feel renewed, reinvigorated, re-created.

GRAVITAS INVITATION. Whether you are pre-vacation or post-vacation this summer, run a quick check-in on your three centers: Do you feel expansive, passionate, and purposeful in your heart? Do you feel light, clear, and focused in your mind? Do you feel grounded, rested, and strong in your body? Whichever part of you is riding low in the saddle, direct your evening, your weekend, or your vacation toward re-creating what is vital in that center!