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This is the print-friendly version of the August 2009 Newsletter -
Online Issue # 22
August 2009 Newsletter
Online Issue # 22
In this Issue:
See also, the print-friendly version of this newsletter (all the articles are on one web page).
Look for the next issue in December.
The Front Page
My Unlikely Role Model
“And that's the way it is.”
Walter Cronkite
1916-2009
I've appreciated reading remembrances which appeared soon after the death of Walter Cronkite on July 17 at the age of 92. I'm one of the children who grew up listening to Mr. Cronkite almost every night on the CBS Evening News. Thinking back, it's not images that I remember. It's the familiar sound of his voice—calm, steady, knowing—the memorable voice of someone who could be counted on to be there, night after night.
I heard snippets of Cronkite's voice played in the days following his death, and again during a special program observing the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. What surprised me, both times, was how precisely I remembered his voice, even before hearing the recordings. Somewhere in the recesses of my memory, that voice had etched its pattern.
Thinking back to the evening news of the ‘60s, I've realized what a powerful role model I witnessed in Walter Cronkite. For me, and many others, it wasn't what Cronkite did as much as the way he did it. Each evening as he worked, Cronkite modeled integrity. No wonder that in 1972 a national poll referred to him as the “most trusted man [voice] in America.”
Even though my professional aspirations never included becoming a television news anchor or managing editor, Cronkite's work powerfully affected me. Walter Cronkite showed up, focused intently on the task at hand, and did it splendidly. He relied on his respected presence, distinctive voice, and thoughtful manner to talk through the news of the day. Several of the pieces I've read about Cronkite's life reminded me that, from today's vantage point, it's easy to overlook what a pioneer he was in the field of broadcast journalism.
It's occurred to me that there are ways in which the work I've chosen is not that far removed from the work I saw Cronkite performing. My primary tools are a table and chairs. I show up expecting to enter into uncharted conversation, sometimes feeling like a pioneer. My own presence is key to creating a place of safety and acceptance where the important things of life can be witnessed. Integrity is a touchstone for listening to the heart of another. There might be more, but these are the discoveries I've made so far.
These few connecting threads offered up an unexpected and exciting insight: Here was someone whose work had positively influenced my own, even though I had no clue this was occurring, night after night on the CBS Evening News, all the way back in the 1960's.
Thank you Mr. Cronkite for being a role model for me—for perfecting your gifts in the way you did—so that I could begin the process of discovering and offering my own gifts, and then go on to guide others in the discovery and expression of theirs.
With gratitude,
Laurie Mattila
Good Books
Instead of writing substantial reviews for this issue, I'm giving myself permission to take it easy this summer. I'll briefly mention a few books of possible interest to you.
Curious?
Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life
by Todd Kashdan
William Morrow, 2009
hardcover, $25.99
“Go beyond the need to predict, understand, and control your...world. Attend to what you don't know, expand the boundaries of who you are and what you do, follow your instinct of what is interesting to you and what is interesting to other people, and this will lead to positive changes....”
-Todd Kashdan
In my work I observe what happens when curiosity is ignited: it turns into a powerhouse of focus and energy. Curiosity can even fill in for courage. In spite of its importance, I don't remember ever seeing an entire book devoted to the topic.
Kashdan works as a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at George Mason University. His book identifies curiosity, rather than happiness, as the “central ingredient to a fulfilling life.” Kashdan introduces readers to the science of curiosity and then weaves in interesting stories to illustrate the concepts. You'll also find exercises intended to develop the “curious explorer” within.
Did you know there are five significant benefits to being a curious person? Health, intelligence, meaning / purpose in life, relationships, and happiness.
My one disappointment was that some of the exercises reminded me of those a researcher might use to gather data for a study.
Career Renegade:
How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love
by Jonathan Fields
Broadway Books, 2009
paperback, $14.00
“So many others I knew had found a guru and their lives seemed so much better, more directed and purposeful for it, but that never happened to me.... Why couldn't I find that person? It finally dawned on me: The person I was looking for was the one I would need to become.... Upon that realization, I began to accept responsibility not only for my life to date, but for the process of making it come alive from that point forward.”
-Jonathan Fields
I don't know why, but there is something about the word “renegade” that I enjoy. So when I saw Career Renegade mentioned on Gretchen Rubin's blog The Happiness-Project, I wanted to know more.
Although the title reminds me of Marsha Sinetar's Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow, one of my all-time favorites, this book is very different. Fields is into the practical, telling you what he and others have done so you can maybe do it too, but with your passion. He does a fabulous job of identifying resources, including techie tools, telling you why and how to use them, and what they can do for you. His information is rarely in-depth, but it will definitely increase your awareness and your options.
You can visit www.CareerRenegade.com and download the book's introduction for free.
Spent:
Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth
by Sally Palaian
Hazelden, 2009
paperback, $14.95
I just learned about this book, so I haven't read it yet. But I'm planning to check it out, thanks to Kim Ode's interesting piece, Needs vs. wants: a tough lesson to heed in a recent Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Practice Page
“Sometimes it seems as if one thing has nothing to do with another thing, but it does.”
-Burghild Nina Holzer
Here's something for you to think about, write about, talk about, wonder about, and try out.
It's fascinating for me to discover just how connected we really are, even to the point that someone else's story, fictional or biographical, contains bits and pieces of our own story. And those bits and pieces hold a gift for us, if we can only find a way to access it. Listening-writing is a way for opening to inner wisdom; it is also a helpful device for revealing mysterious inner codes.
Listen to how Burghild Nina Holzer describes this process, “But you trust, by writing down the daily fragments of awareness, that a larger network will gradually emerge, that images will come forth, a theme or direction may appear, all of which you could never have outlined, but which emerge out of deep necessities within us.”
Challenge:
Pay attention to the “daily fragments of awareness.” You could also think of these as clues seeking you.
Listening-Writing Experiment:
Here's an excerpt for you to read, found on pages 54-55 of EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert. I had a difficult time choosing just one selection from this book because there are so many remarkable passages. If you haven't read it yet, treat yourself before the summer ends.
“Tonight, this strange interior gesture of friendship—the lending of a hand from me to myself when nobody else is around to offer solace—reminds me of something that happened to me once in New York City. I walked into an office building one afternoon in a hurry, dashed into the waiting elevator. As I rushed in, I caught an unexpected glimpse of myself in a security mirror's reflection. In that moment my brain did an odd thing—it fired off this split-second message: “Hey! You know her! That's a friend of yours!” And I actually ran forward toward my own reflection with a smile, ready to welcome that girl whose name I had lost but whose face was so familiar. In a flash instant, of course, I realized my mistake and laughed in embarrassment at my almost doglike confusion over how a mirror works. But for some reason that incident comes to mind again tonight during my sadness in Rome, and I find myself writing this comforting reminder at the bottom of the page:
Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend.”
If you prefer to work with another selection, go ahead and do that.
With pen in hand, read the selection again; this time, highlight the words that are part of your story, too. Keep in mind, there is no right and no wrong, no too-many and no not-enough.
Here's an example of what this step might produce:
interior
gesture of friendship
when nobody else is around
reminds me of something
New York City
I walked into an office building one afternoon in a hurry
waiting elevator
I rushed
glimpse of myself
forward
my own reflection
with a smile
to welcome
name I had lost
face was so familiar
realized my mistake
laughed
embarrassment
incident comes to mind
my sadness
myself writing
comforting reminder
the page
once upon a time
you recognized yourself
a friend
The next step is to read all the words you selected, as though you were reading a sort of list poem. Whether you do this alone, with a partner, or in a group, I think it's helpful to read out loud. In a group it's interesting to hear which word combinations are repeated.
Working with your own list, choose one or more of these “fragments of awareness” to explore further in writing. Here are three possibilities created from the above list:
• gesture of friendship - reminds me of something - embarrassment
• waiting elevator
• incident comes to mind - myself writing
As you begin to pay attention, your fragment of awareness acts as a listening-writing prompt. It gets you started, but it won't define or restrict what you hear and what you write. Listening, without judgment, and writing what you hear, also without judgment, swings open the door that leads to discovery.
Discovery of what, you ask? There is only one way to know, and that is to pick up your pen, listen, and write what your hear.
Laurie Mattila
© August 2009
Upcoming Calendar:
Discovery Writing: Creating A FutureSM
celebrating 15 years of listening-writing
For NEW Students:
Discovery Writing: Creating A Future
For 15 years Discovery Writing has been helping people to hear and trust their own knowing, in order to create a life of their own choosing.
This six-session class uses a simple “listening-writing” process as a way to explore what you truly desire; it is also a path to follow in creating your future.
View the online flyer to learn more about Discovery Writing: Creating A Future
Fall Schedule 2009
Wednesday evenings ( 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. )
September 23 October 7, 21 November 4, 18 December 2
For FORMER Students:
2009 Discovery Writing Weekend Retreat for Women
The fall Discovery Writing retreat is scheduled for the weekend of October 16-18. We'll be gathering at StoneyWoods Retreat Center, as we have for the last nine years.
This annual retreat is open to all former and current Discovery Writing participants. If space remains available, the retreat will open to any woman interested in personal discovery through listening-writing.
Detailed information will automatically be e-mailed to past registrants, as long as I have your current e-mail address. Let me know if you do not receive the retreat e-mail by August 15 and I will send it to you.
If you are new to Discovery Writing and interested in attending the retreat, please send me an e-mail requesting retreat information to LaurieMattila@aol.com . Expect a response after August 15.
2010 Discovery Writing Yearlong Group
This listening-writing group for former Discovery Writing students begins in January and meets monthly through December. If you're thinking this might be the year for you to participate, pencil the second Wednesday of the month on your calendar. Watch for details in the December newsletter or call and let me know you are interested: 651-644-7766.
Intentional Living—Meaningful WorkSM
celebrating its 10th year
For ALL who are Interested:
Intentional Living—Meaningful Work group
September 2009 to May 2010
In September, I'll begin another nine-month group that will meet once every month through next May. This group is open to anyone interested in exploring “living with intention and working with meaning,” whether or not you've taken the class. Our focus is on paying attention to the lives we are creating.
We will meet on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at my office in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul. The cost is $125 per quarter, payable in any month of the quarter. Limit of 8 students.
Meeting dates (by quarter):
September 17, October 15, November 19
December 17, January 21, February 18
March 18, April 15, May 20
To register, or for additional information or questions, call my office at 651-644-7766 and leave a message, or send an e-mail to me at LaurieMattila@aol.com .
About the Newsletter
This newsletter is created several times a year for my clients and students, and anyone else interested in listening to and trusting their own deep knowing. It is designed to support your process of discovery and growth, and to bring you up-to-date about my practice. It offers encouragement, guidance and resources for you.
You will find new issues posted on my website in the months of April, August and December. I hope you add my website to your favorite places and check back when the next issues are scheduled.
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