“Hey, Ginger
It’s nice to hear from you. Your session was definitely a highlight! Making CONNECTIONS with others who do the same job was AWESOME! And for the record, at the last breakfast, eating with new people, someone broke the ice asking What’s your zen?!”
This is part of a message stream in LinkedIn with a recent audience member from a keynote I delivered. The room of 130+ association members, annual conference, all-in.
The keynote was the ZYXs of Connection, a crowd favorite partially because it’s so interactive with the audience. They’re there to have fun, so am I. Fun’s memorable.
waiting to go in to a keynote
In my follow up post-event I like to connect meaningfully with as many people as I can, those who made an impression, signed up for the newsletter, bought a book, had a conversation with, are actively interested in working together.
The comment from the kind person above stems from the ZYXs, since we start with Z.
“Z is for Zen. What’s yours?”
That’s the first letter we dive into; a word most people know AND beginning with a calm feeling-word is a winner. Zen is part of connection. Knowing what refuels you, what regenerates our selves, what helps us be and stay grounded. What activities do we ‘do’ so that the ‘who’ we are at our best is nurtured.
I invite audiences to share their zen with elbow neighbors or, in this case, with the table mates they happen to be sitting next to. The shared insight from this kind audience member confirms that what I shared is having an immediate impact. People are Doing toward better Being. Success in every way.
When we know what helps us be healthy, rejuvenate, refuel, then we can better help ourselves and others. If we only exhaust our energetic supply, then we are in continual depletion mode, and that’s disconnective.
So, tell me in the comments: what’s your zen?
One of mine is canning and preserving. Another is walking in nature – by myself and especially with my kids (dogs) and My Fine Husband. Water activities, notably cold plunging, and reading.
Know thyself and improve your self-connection. It’ll build and boost your positive connections with others, the planet and neighbors. And we all can benefit from more positive connection.
Cheering you on, yours in zen-ness,
g