A funny thing happened ...

     I recently read Michael J Fox's book, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The  FUTURE, Twist and Turns and Lessons Learned".  Published in 2010, it is geared for recent college graduates, so why am I recommending it to Baby Boomers?  Because it is about accepting and adapting.
      Most likely you are facing a career challenge because of the economy, health change or the loss of the primary bread winner in your family.  The key to overcoming this disruption in our life style is to adapt.  In this book, Michael J. Fox used humor as a coping tool.  Yes, he admitted to abusing alcohol, but we all negotiated the initial phase of this process by pretending it wasn't happening.  Some people used alcohol others engaged in reckless behavior, some gamble, we each have a poison of choice!  The important thing is that we realized that coping mechanism wasn't working and stopped.  Next, we moved into the anger phase, then negotiation and finally we arrived at acceptance.  This behavior is typical of all human beings and is well documented in psychological research.  This memoir recognizes that aspect of of life but stresses that life is a healing process.  As we negotiate each phase, there are lessons to be learned and the manner in which we learn the lesson is just as important as the lesson.
     The tool used by Mr. Fox throughout this entire process was his authenticity.  He was true to himself and used that truth as his compass.  It was this force to lead him to end his formal education in the 11th grade.  It sustained him during periods of unemployment and helped him to realize that Parkinson's disease is not the end of his career but the beginning of a new one.   Today, Michael J. Fox has obtained his GED after being awarded multiple honorary doctoral degrees, raised millions of dollars for stem cell research as well as lead political lobbies.  None of these things would have been possible without him being authentic.
     The authentic characteristic allows people to really see your vulnerabilities and still receive unconditional love.  Most people can go through life and never truly experience love because it only occurs when three things occur simultaneously.  You feel (both emotionally and physically) safe, valued (as in your existence provides some meaning to others) and finally accepted for who you are (not what you potentially could become). Michael J. Fox loved himself enough to be able to share his authentic self without expectations from others.
      It is the authentic self that permits use bond with others and is referenced in many books on sells, marketing, emotional intelligence as well as networking.  It is the trait allows others to trust us.  By learning to embrace our-self and our situation will we be able to determine the new direction that we need to take.