I have two personal requests, a web updates, then I will share
a reflection about the forest, fear, and magical thinking.

1. Spread the word
It would be a great help to me if you'd tell a couple of people
about the upcoming NexusEQ Conference. This page has buttons,
a PDF flier, and text for talking about the event, plus a "tell a
friend" link to make it easy: http://www.NexusEQ.com/tell.html

The word is: This will be a phenomenal emotional intelligence
conference -- an incredible group of speakers, a global mixture
of delegates from many sectors and nations, all collaborating to
share best practices in using EQ to create and sustain change.
The goal? More caring, healthy, and effective businesses,
schools, and communities.
http://www.NexusEQ.com -- Jan 15-17, 2004, Orlando FL.

2. Productivity Survey
I am conducting a mini-research project, and your help would
be MOST appreciated if you are working in any kind of job. It
takes 2 minutes. Thus far, the results are intriguing! I won't
say more because I don't want to bias your responses.

Here is the full URL:
http://www.6seconds.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=158

Or just go to the web site (www.6seconds.org) and see "Help please!
2-minute Productivity Survey" Click on Read More, and take the survey!

Again, I'd appreciate it if you'd send a few other people to this as well.


Web update:

I added a new page to 6seconds.org about our current projects --
with PDF fliers for each one. Please download and share!
http://www.6seconds.org/new

There is also a free download area on the site now, see the menu.



Now -- onto the reflection!!


The Forest

Emma and I finished "Little House on the Prairie," and have begun
"Little House in the Big Woods." So, this weekend instead of going
to the beach, Emma lobbied for a trip to the woods.

As we drove into the Forest of Nicene Marks, Emma kept telling
Max not to be scared -- in that way that makes you scared.

For those of you who are men and married, remember in the months
before your wedding, all your friends and family saying, "Are you
nervous??" -- so many people asked me that I finally figured there
was something to be really nervous about!

Anyway, Emma was creating drama in the back seat, and talking
about the spooky trees, and then reassuring her brother. "Don't
worry, I got ya," she said. Then, "See these fish?" Asked Emma,
pointing to the decals on her window, "These are fighter fighter
[fire fighter] fish. They'll protect you."

Max did not seem scared at all, but he was appreciative of
Emma's attention.

When we left the car and started walking through the trees,
Emma pointed to the butterfly on her shirt and said, "Max, this
is a Powerful butterfly. It will be poison to any mean animals,
but not to nice ones, so you don't have to be scared."

Probably Emma's assurances were more for her own sake than for
her brother's -- but the choice to focus on giving care and
protection made her all the stronger.

I was struck by the power of her magical thinking -- like
Dumbo's feather. Here's a four-year-old redefining her world as
a mechanism to change her feelings. And of course it works --
the "magic" of magical thinking is that beliefs shape our experience
of the world. Rather than fear, Emma chose to experience power.

First her imagination created the fear based on some beliefs --
beliefs from past experience (probably the experience was seeing
the scary wolves in "Beauty and the Beast"). Most of us stop there
-- recreating the past because we believe that's the way the world
is. But if we choose to care for others and unlock our imaginations
a little more, we'll find a hidden power to create a brighter future.

Both kids remarked that their favorite part of the trip was when
we climbed up from our visit to the river. They each negotiated
the steep path without my help (except my foot strategically placed
next to Max's each time he started to slip -- but don't tell him that!)

They both experienced the victory of a challenge just beyond what
felt possible. Again, there is power just in reaching -- in
stretching. Succeed or fail, you are more fully alive when you
have to climb with hands and feet.

So as you engage in the start of another week, give yourself
permission to imagine that you have all the power you need.
Find someone to protect and nurture, and let that care galvanize
you to go beyond your own fears to create a new possibility.

Warmly yours,
- Josh

Joshua Freedman

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This is an EQ Reflection from Six Seconds. Please forward and share
-- and keep this part too:

©2003, Joshua Freedman
Josh is a leading expert in teaching people to apply and enhance
their emotional intelligence (EQ). He works with organizations
and individuals around the world developing EQ programs that
increase accountability, motivation, and purpose. Read about his
speaking at http://www.jmfreedman.com -- and for more about
emotional intelligence, visit the Six Seconds EQ Network: http://www.6seconds.org .

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