Seeing
as a Different Observer
Irene M. Kelly/Human Resource Staffing
Matthew
Sanford, at the age of 13 was in a life changing auto accident.
His family auto skidded off an overpass killing his father
and sister and leaving young Matthew paralyzed from the waist
down.
For
years after the accident, Matthew felt disconnected between
his mind and body. He turned to philosophy for an answer but
found little relief. Finally, he discovered the power of yoga,
but still he had questions about its impact on his life as
paraplegic.
With the help of his teacher, he began to explore what it
truly means to ‘live in a body.' Matthew learned to become
a different observer of his personal situation and to look
at problems, possibilities and solutions in a new way. Initially,
Matthew believed he was unable to do yoga but when he became
a different observer - the possibilities
became a reality.
Today, at age twenty-seven, Matthew has learned to use his
presence in a wheelchair as an asset. He teaches and inspires
his students to learn to be grateful for the opportunities
we all have. Matthew now spends his days as a teacher in Minnetonka
and founder of Mind Body Solutions.
I encourage you to reflect on how you observe yourself, significant
others, colleagues and the world. The observer we are impacts
our entire life and effects our interaction in the workplace.
How
do you observe–yourself, others? Yourself in relation to others?
Have you had a life circumstance that forced you to become
a different observer ? Is your life
compromised by the way you observe?
