What Do You Really Do? - June 10

During a moment of fresh insight, Liz realises that while her job titles include teacher, facilitator, and coach, those labels don't quite capture the heart of what she does. What feels more true is this: "I help people see which thoughts to trust and which thoughts not to trust."
In today's 5 Minutes In Nature, Liz explores what she means by that and reflects on the difference between what we do and how we describe it. As you listen, you're invited to consider a question for yourself: Beyond your job title or daily roles, how would you describe what you really do?

Transcript

Hello and welcome to five minutes in nature with me Liz Scott taking a stroll in a very early morning footpath in Exeter. I'm up looking after my mum at the moment and I love this little footpath. I take it during the summer months when it's nice and light in the mornings. In the winter it's just a bit too dark to navigate. I love it because it's got woodland on one side, It's got houses of Exeter on the other side, But there's always a lot of birds around and it just lifts my heart to hear them. And today I'm reflecting on what it is I actually do. And I heard somebody talk about this, Somebody who also is involved in the Inside Out understanding, The three principles. And the way they described it, I thought, Yes, That's what I do. And let me give you a bit of background. I work as a coach and a facilitator and I love recording on an insight timer, I do a bit of writing. But a lot of the time when, You know what it's like when someone says, What do you do? I kind of think, I don't know. I mean, I help people with wellbeing. I like working with older women and helping them find their voice. So I have lots of ideas about what it is I do. And then I heard this interview with this lady and she said, When somebody says to me, What do I do? I say, I help people see which thoughts to trust and which thoughts not to trust. I help people see which thoughts to trust and which thoughts not to trust. When I heard her say that, I was like, Yes, I absolutely do that. It kind of gave real clarity around all the questions I had about what is it that I really do. And I thought I'd just share that with you here today. Because we have, All of us, A myriad of thoughts that pass through our minds. My thinking and thought tends to be like a commentator, Like a sports commentator, Commenting on my life and on other people and on circumstances, Yadda yadda yadda yadda in the background. I know, When I see those thoughts, I know when to trust them and when not to trust them. And I'm going to give you a little example very recently my mum yesterday she suddenly developed she's very bad at mobility she needs a walker to get around anyway yesterday she developed a really sore leg it seemed to come out of nowhere and her mobility which is already bad became even worse so much so that when I took her to bed she couldn't lift her leg into the bed it was just so painful and I was trying to lift it up for her but it was obviously causing her a lot of pain so we had to keep stopping and starting and stopping and starting. And in that moment, I had a lot of thinking. Things like, Oh my goodness, Some of them were quite selfish, I have to say, Oh my goodness, I am going to be awake all night, So I'm not going to sleep very well, I'm going to have a really bad day tomorrow. So that was one of the thought loops that was chuntering along. Then it was like, What if she becomes so unstable that she falls over? Or what if I can't get her into bed? How am I going to manage if I can't get her into bed? Where is she going to sleep? It is. So then it was the, Oh my goodness, I'm not going to be able to cope with this situation kind of thought loop. And both of those thought loops ran around crazily in my mind. And here's the thing. I don't get rid of thoughts. They just do their thing. They're like unruly children letting off steam in a play park. I let them do their thing. But there was another thought that arose and came through. It came from a quieter place. It came from a place of wisdom. I call it my inner compass. I know to trust this thought. And this thought just said, You'll work it out. When you need to, You'll work it out. And as it was, We spent a bit more time, And she got herself into bed. And I did need to help her once in the night, But she said it began to ease a little bit, So she was able to help herself during the night. And it didn't matter. Whatever happened, I would have dealt with it. I would have known how to deal with it. So that's a really simple scenario of the thoughts I know which thoughts to trust. And I know if I've got wild thinking, Agitated thinking, Unsettled thinking, Frustrated, Angry, Scared thinking, I know not to trust it. If I've got something that arises and I have a thought that comes from a place of groundedness, Of clarity, I know to trust that one. So yes, I love it, The idea that I help people know which thoughts to trust and which thoughts not to trust. I'd love to know what you do. What is it that you actually do? Look beyond the label. Of the job that you do, Can you think what is it that you actually do? I'd love to know and don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.

Reviews

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. The question when asked “what do you do?”. It’s easy for him, he can say he’s a lawyer. I often feel inferior because I didn’t have the opportunity to go to college so I can’t answer as easily as he does. I used to raise a family but not anymore. I use to race in triathlons but not anymore. I used to do many things, volunteering among them. Now at 62, I have a big garden I’ve created and I tend. I keep house and cook, I get daily exercise and we have a dog. I told him I often don’t feel comfortable in circles when everyone is saying what it is they do. He told me I should say “I’m at a point in my life where I do whatever I please”. I don’t think I will say that, but he also told me that I make our life and our home a refuge, that I take the burden from him outside of his work, and I liked knowing that and hearing that.
I look forward to listening to you daily Liz, thank you.

This is a sensitive one for me Liz. I confess I almost listened in earlier but after reading the description I had to give myself time to reflect on my morning walk in nature!

When I am asked I say I’m a yoga and meditation teacher. The first questions I often get asked are - how many yoga classes do you teach a week, OR what type of yoga! Then, because I am polite I answer these questions and hope that will encourage deeper questions but alas it doesn’t often.

On a positive note, if I ask my Chair-Yoga group they will say I’m a connector, an encourager and I remind them of their inner power - plus I make them laugh!

I think I need to journal on this one and thank you for sharing this and I can relate to your situation with your Mum 💗🙏

Gosh! I guess I don’t really know what I do!!! But I will consider it….💕

♥️ realizing which thoughts to trust & which ones not to trust.

Good day Liz. Funny you should mention your mother's mobility issue. I have recently been working with an Occupational Therapist to help my mom get up from bed and toilet etc.

We actually purchased a special bed for mom that does all the up and down tilting etc. So to ease her getting in and out of bed I am asking the care aides to show her how the lower down the bed button is. It seems easy but it frustrating that a simple button can be so hard to learn and use. It may happen or it may not. We will see what happens.

What is it I do?

I live life as peacefully as possible, and by doing so invite others to discover their own peace.

✌️❤️