“Know me better, man.” Scrooge was asked to know the Ghost of Christmas Present (and to see the present) better. Last week, I asked you to know yourself better. I asked you to write out a list of the skills, talents, abilities and knowledge, supplies, people, time, space, assets… available to you now.   What were you able to identify as those resources available to you?  Were you able to think about how you could use these assets to help you with becoming a better you? Did you see new ways that these resources can help you achieve what you want to achieve? Considering what you have to work with, did you identify ways that you can help others and thus add value to their life creating or enhancing your own personal value proposition? 

This Week’s Talk

I asked you (and me) to spend the week taking time to look around and be grateful for what you have.  I said that this may be our best exercise yet.  Little did I know that this week I would have to work hard on focusing on that myself. I would struggle to see what to be positive about Vs all the negativity.

I had a meeting with my boss this week. Not that he had anything negative to say.  He just had nothing positive to say. No appreciation, no thanks, no recognition.  I spent the next day and a half ruminating on the discussion.  I kept trying to push myself to break the pattern and to dwell on the positive. It was exhausting.  Then I sat outside. I enjoyed the beautiful fall weather. I watched a couple hawks floating in the afternoon thermals.  I enjoyed the sound of leaves rustling in a soft breeze.   As Scrooge sets eyes upon the Spirit the book says there is “Holy, mistletoe, red berries, ivy, turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, meat, pigs, sausages, fruit, and punch.” Such is the scene as described in the book and portrayed in the movies.  I think that Dickens was trying to point out that the past is behind us, tomorrow is a day away. Now, today, this moment; the now is filled with riches. It is up to us to see it.

This Week’s Assignment

The Ghost of Christmas Present introduces himself to Scrooge. Explains that more than 1800 of his kind have come before. Scrooge seems to acknowledge that he has not come to know the spirit of Christmas, yet.  We see a change in Scrooges disposition when he addresses the spirit in this discussion.  In the original book, we read “Spirit”, said Scrooge submissively, “conduct me where you will. I went forth last night in compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is working now.  Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.”

You have worked through 16 lessons so far. You have thought about what Scrooge went through to find parallels with who you are and where you are with your life right now.  Scrooge acknowledges that he learned a lesson(s) from his travels with the Ghost of Christmas Past. Your assignment this week is to reflect on your travel with me these past 16 sessions and enumerate the lesson or lessons you gained so far.  Sit down with a piece of paper, physical or virtual, list out the lessons from our travel so far, and then describe how you are actually applying that lesson. If you learn something but do not “profit” from it, did you really learn it?

See you next week.