How Coachable Are You?

On Being a Work In Progress

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." It's a phrase I take to heart as a lifelong learner seeking a balance between loving all that is and improving with the art of life.

For those who don't know me well, my priorities in life begin with my faith in God, devotion to my family, and art, including writing, photography, and painting. As the famous Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei said : “Art is life. Life is art.” We might as well make the most of it even though it would appear to most of us that the world is falling apart.

How about you? I'd love to know what aspects of your life you're improving upon. Send me a message or contact me at CliffordJones.com . Tell me what you're working on, what's holding you back, and where you need help. I'll do my best to guide you.

The Power of Being Coachable

As an executive and business coach for over twenty years, I have learned that the first tenet of coaching is being coachable. I consider myself a beginner because that mindset resembles a child who loves to play. Being coachable is powerful because staying humble gives us a better chance to learn and improve.

For example, I’ve hired a writing coach half my age. He possesses the wisdom of an old soul. His name is Matt, and he lives in England, which is appropriate considering he’s helping me improve my English use.?

Because of my recent coaching experience, my writing is about to leap forward. I’ve been accepted and published in three of the most significant publications on Medium , the world’s premier community of writers.

Beyond that, I’ve been writing in a flow state of radical clarity. Since writing is my first art before photography and painting, I’m working hard to increase my reach and income from publishing articles. It’s already working!

I’ve been a paid member of Medium since April 2018, and when Matt reached out to me, he said, and I paraphrase, “Your writing is too good to be lost in the weeds.” The truth is, Matt studied the platform a few years ago when he joined, and he’s one of the top writers in the world. Like me, he writes for love, and the money follows. The difference is that he makes far more of his writing than I do.

Three weeks into my coaching with Matt, I’m excited to share a new level of storytelling with you. If you enjoy my writing, I encourage you to stick around because I intend to serve you better by delivering better stories that relate to the art of life. I'm shifting up creatively.

My Spiritual Shift

Beyond the progress with my writing, I’ve experienced a massive, personal spiritual shift over the last few years. I have realized that my pursuit of the way, truth, and life found me in all the wrong places. But the good Lord knows every hair on my head, and he's guiding me to a higher plane of unconditional love, forgiveness, and seemingly sustainable health based on this year's medical checkup.

The biggest news in my personal life lately is that I’ve found a new church near our home. I'm excited to learn another level of theology and translate it into daily life. I’m converting to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which I’ll tell you more about in the weeks ahead. The church is Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, and the theology is precisely what I've been seeking since I was one of the worst Roman Catholic altar boys.

The feeling of growing closer to Him in humility and faith is beyond words, even though I'm a decent wordsmith. The new church is an exhilarating find for me, considering I’ve been churchless for a long time. Unlike in all my years seeking the way, the spiritual fruits I experience when attending church are unlike anything I've experienced. It's like finding a home after being lost for many years.

Janice, my best friend and wife, is as supportive as ever. She is a saint. That’s all I can share for now. She's always been that way. She's an angel by my side, and we celebrate thirty-nine years of marriage this month. It's the primary reason I believe in miracles.

Never Stop Loving, Learning, and Growing

My humble conclusion is that life on Earth can be challenging and demanding. However, life is a gift; we are in a school called Earth and, in the grand scheme of things, here for a very short time.

Our highest purpose is to discover the light within each of us and share it to dispel the darkness. Good Lord willing, more of us will find the middle way through the muck of the current election cycle. We will find a way to meet others where they are, love and accept them unconditionally, and live in relative peace amid the world's turmoil.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Thanks for being along for the journey. Stay tuned for the rest of the story about what’s been happening in my life lately.

I write about the art of human transformation, transcending suffering, and overcoming challenges in the School of Life with unconditional love and forgiveness. You can learn more about my work at www.CliffordJones.com .