Welcome to the latest instalment of ‘Nourishing Waters’ our monthly newsletter.

With so much employee disengagement, ill health, and disruptive external influences on the workplace we’ve never felt more committed to and convinced that the long term sustainable solutions to these dilemmas lie in unlocking the power of purpose and belonging in company cultures and everything achieving that entails.

Nourishing Waters is just one of Emei’s offerings where individuals can come and reconnect with their hidden or diminished potential and also be a place where leaders can find provocations and enquiries into what can inspire themselves and deeply connect and unlock the potential in those around them.

We have a guest columnist every month either offering their own deep insights and experiences around personal and organisational change, or a heart-felt individual story of change and purposeful practice leading to latent and hidden potential being released.

And we aim to deliver this content in a range of mediums from video and visuals to the written word in order to cater for different preferences. We hope you enjoy and drink deeply of these waters and we welcome anyone that is willing to share their own experiences and reflections.

If you would welcome a conversation about how you or your organisation could benefit from Emei’s deep knowledge and experience in this field then feel free to get in touch.

—
The Emei Team

Replenishing

A collection of the developmental insights and provocations that we have found particularly motivating this month.

• Trying to build trust? In yourself, your team, or your company culture? This post from Val Walker in Psychology Today around acting with integrity. What are particularly powerful are the "Realities" detailed behind each of the 5 myths. These "Realities" are simple behaviours that could have deeply transformative effects on your life if consistently practiced. And if you struggle meeting those simple "Realities" then maybe it's time for a more profound conversation, because you're really missing out..... Remember, read the "Realities", because that's where the treasure lies.

• A wonderful, wide-reaching, practical and thought-provoking podcast. Whatever your practice or approach, as a coach, counsellor, practitioner, mentor or facilitator, I would recommend committing the time to be present and listen deeply to what is on offer here from Dr. Kirk Schneider.

• Leaders, here's a nice easy one to measure. Don't wait for your HR department to send you the data, just look at your own team and work out where you sit on these two informative dimensions. We know you are busy, and maybe just pausing for a few minutes and asking your team about these two things and if they think there's something you could initiate in your company, is time well spent. The causes, (and solutions), are nuanced, but working them out might just make the most of the unused talent right under your noses, and kickstart all of the additional value add that comes with it.

• How accurate is your worldview? Leaders, it’s always the right time to check your assumptions. How many more of your beliefs might be worth reassessing?

• Why is it so easy to explain what a healthy and therefore productive organisational culture looks like…(in this case, just 4 sentences)…and yet so difficult to deliver? Leaders, go on, score your team/department/division/company out of 10 on these determinants and ask yourself whether there’s more work to do.

Guest columnist

In each issue, we'll either invite a guest to write a column on something related to personal well-being and inspiring leadership, or spotlight amazing companies that we've noticed doing great work around their employee experience and organisational culture.

In this issue, we welcome Danielle Precey-Wainhouse.

Danielle is an experienced practitioner who has supported thousands of individuals from local communities, schools, organisations, and businesses globally to develop their own mindfulness practice. Through facilitated activities and interventions, Danielle teaches tools and techniques to help individuals understand and manage their emotions, self-regulate, build positive resilience and support those on their path to self-actualisation.

Her aim is to support as many people as she can to become the fullest version of themselves and to allow them to thrive. To be a part of creating a kinder world and to make daily mindfulness practice for mental wellness as mainstream as going to the gym for physical wellness.

Danielle is passionate about creating communities, finding joy and creating balance with individuals in their own setting. To unlock and utilise their strengths to not only move to a space of wholeness and well-being but to ultimately flourish.

Negative Self-Talk

Our internal dialogue is that little voice in our mind that talks to us as we go about our daily lives.

Many of us tend to have a negative internal dialogue. This often means we are picking at, criticising and judging ourselves. It is almost like having a little bully constantly being unkind to you.

Now, as you can imagine, the effects of this can be vast. It can affect our confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth, contribute to anxiety and low mood and even impact the way we view and interact with the world around us.

In fact, we are often so used to being self-critical that we do not even register the unpleasant dialogue.

In this moment, I would like you to think about 5 positive qualities about yourself. Notice if you find this difficult or uncomfortable.

Now I would like you to reflect on the following—if I had asked you to list 5 negative things about yourself, would you have found them as hard or uncomfortable?

Often we bring a whole binder full of our perceived failings or negative characteristics, and yet, thinking about 5 positive internal attributes is not only difficult—but also uncomfortable. It is at this point, that many of us become aware of how unkind that internal voice can be.

We speak to ourselves in ways we would never speak to others. We place really high standards and unachievable expectations on ourselves and then judge ourselves when we are unable to meet these unrealistic expectations.

Imagine what our internal world could feel like and how much more we could achieve (not that our worth is tied to achievements) if we could shift that inner voice to a kinder, more supportive and less judgemental one.

Set yourself the intention to observe that voice throughout the day. Notice when it is being unkind, and without frustration or judgement, stop it in its tracks. In time, you can build on that awareness by saying something kind about yourself in that moment. I use the rebuff, ‘I do not need to do, be or achieve anything to be enough’ just to remind myself.

My parting thought—‘If you would not speak to your friend in that way, you should not be speaking to yourself that way.'

Soul on Deck

Our blog, Soul on Deck, is a personal reflection of our own dreams and aspirations at Emei. We know our art is our life and our lives are our art and our invitation to you is to connect and explore the unknown unfolding in front of you through this art. We wholeheartedly encourage you to embrace and yield to the unknown seas and landscapes we traverse together to help your soul to shine and to inspire and light up others.

We are on the journey with you.

At The Helm

We all learn in different ways, and at different speeds. Our YouTube Channel, At The Helm delves deeper into our purpose, values, and beliefs to help navigate contemplative thought and develop purposeful practices that support our ability to enlighten ourselves and others in our day-to-day. Providing inspiration to grip the wheel and stay the course and nurture your inner courage.

Beyond The Horizon

A fully lived life requires the constant exploration of the unknown. It is scary and fulfilling at the same time. Beyond The Horizon is our Podcast aimed at helping individuals, teams and organisations unlock their deepest intentions, get in touch with their purpose and bring all their potential and talents into the workplace and into the world in service of other people.

Thank you for reading

Our wish is for individuals and leaders like you to take nourishment in our words, practices, and provocations to help support you in accessing your hidden resourcefulness and helping change the workplace.

Change is rarely a straight line or straightforward journey and we hope we can help unlock that powerful source of trust and belief for you in a different future where your brilliance is realised.