Feedback and Feelings


This morning at work I attended a seminar on feedback.  It's a topic I'm immensely passionate about and those who've worked with me know I often seek feedback.  It's also one of the things that I find people are most reluctant to give.  One thing that struck me in the seminar is that feedback need not always be entirely positive or completely negative... er, "constructive."  When I give a presentation or put together documentation, I genuinely want feedback.  Instinctively I tend to know if I did something well or if it could have been better, but I like to get other people's perspective.  No one is going to hurt my feelings by telling me ways I could have done something better.  It's all about perspective and what each person in the audience needs.  No one will ever hit the mark 100% of the time, so having that input only serves to improve growth.  When I got my Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology I had an emphasis in Leadership and Coaching, so a lot of the focus was on feedback.  It's important, necessary, and crucial for success.  If someone's ever gifted you with honest feedback on something you've done, be it personal, professional, or both, consider it a present because it really is.  It creates an opportunity for improvement and how can that be bad?

I have been really in tune with how I feel about things lately.  If it feels good, I proceed.  If it feels awful, I step back and evaluate.  I don't want to spend time in a place or situation that doesn't feed my soul in some way.  This includes being around people too.  I only have people in my life that I want there and it's such a freeing feeling.  I am trusting my gut and associating with people I can trust, who want me to succeed, and who are willing to be honest.  Anything less than that is a waste of my time.  In turn I am being that same person back to those I care about -- being a trustworthy cheerleader capable of honest vulnerability. 

I'm also focusing on ways I can enjoy my environment more.  I want to get a pass to the aquarium here in town because it's GORGEOUS and plan to get an annual pass to Silver Dollar City in Branson too.  They have all kinds of festivals in the fall and Christmas there is probably the prettiest light show I've ever seen.  It's been so hot here that I've remained inside most days, but that will shift and I will be able to find places to walk in the evenings and will spend weekends enjoying the festivities around town.  I also have a few people visiting me in the fall and plan to head to Mesquite to see Skyler, Kaitlyn, and the kiddos for their birthdays in October!  With any luck I'll find myself in Grand Junction for Christmas, too.  One of the things I love most is travel, but I also love spending time with family & friends.  I need to get to Tampa to see Derek & Jason and out to Phoenix to see Michy in the coming months as well.  It's all about feelings and going where it feels right.

Just to put this out there -- the people who told me along the way I was too emotional, screw that!  I am who I am and love my emotions.  They make me who I am and the BEST people I know are in touch with their hearts.  <3  Not everyone has to be and I'm not saying people who aren't in touch with their emotions are bad people at all, I'm just finally accepting my own emotions as mine and loving how they touch my life.

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